"OWWW!!!! WHY DO YOU HIT US THAT OFTEN??!!" Alloy shouted after Soran shut her impulsive worries with a fist to her head.
"LISTEN TO ME!!" He shouted. Forcing Alloy to shrill quietly.
Soran sighed, closing his eyes as he began his explanation.
"Alloy… this symbol… it represents a guild…" Alloy's eyes widened. "Specifically, the guild symbol of Zephro." He heard a loud irritating high-pitched sound, only to open his eyes and find Alloy squealing in happiness. She held a smile Soran had rarely seen before, her eyes watered with tears and they just let themselves run down to her chin. She was ecstatic, over the moon, from what Soran saw… she began crying as she hugged Soran tighter than she ever had before.
"Alloy…" he said, pulling her back a bit. "This might not be the good news you think it is…"
Her smile narrowed a bit, "What do you mean?? This means I can leave!! I can go and… AND I CAN FIND AND SAVE IVY!!"
"That's true… but if he did it without telling the kingdom, it means you have to leave alone… without any help from anyone on this island… I fear I worr…"
"THAT'S PERFECT!! YESSS!!!!" She jumped, in even more excitement. Soran's face went blank, utterly sure he was confused.
"Soran!! I don't want to leave with people I already know… I want to meet new people, see new things, see the world!!" She gently placed her right hand on her neck. Feeling it once more, making sure it was real…
"With this… I can make a guild myself!! I can become a captain of my own ship!! I can travel the world!!" She looked down, holding her bracelet that now… had something new added to it.
"And most importantly… I can save my sister from those monsters that took her… I will not miss this chance, Soran." Her eyes sharpened.
"Heh…" Soran chuckled. And eventually laughed. "You are a strange child, Alloy-kun… I believe brother Zed would sa…"
"I need a boat, Soran!!" She interrupted him, her smile completely back.
"You and your father's ability to ruin moments continue to astonish me." He sighed, "You'll have to head to Korra. The port there has boats that fishermen use around the area there. Once you take one, the current you catch will get you to the nearest place after Zephro… No one knows you past these lands, but I believe you'll find people to join you."
Alloy smiled.
"You might have to steer clear of The Arcane Syndicate. They cover the rest of this planet like an infestation,"
"Like Qete??" Alloy interrupted.
"No… there are good and bad people all over, and while some are skilled in the Eastern and Western Seas, most are lackeys, they won't be a problem for you as long as you get stronger in your jour…"
"They won't be a problem," Alloy interrupted with a smile. This reflected on Soran's face as well, the sharp look on her eyes reassured him that she wouldn't be held back, that she was determined. "I'll be gone by tonight." She said. Hugging Soran once more. He patted her head with his final words to her.
"第七星縁 - Dai Nana Hoshien (The Seventh Star Cross)."He began. She gazed up at his towering figure with her eyes wide open. "To get Ivy back, I'm sure you'll have to go through this… Perilius figure… to get to her."
"I will." Alloy said.
"Even though the sword was stolen, it still belongs to me… Once you defeat her, I would like to grant you the sword to wield as your own. Protect the friends you'll meet, fight for what you believe is right… and bring Ivy back to us… will you??" He spoke as a tear found its way down Alloy's cheek.
"I promise, you won't have to worry about me. I'll avenge Trogan, I'll bring her back, I'll find my parents, and I'll be back to tell you all how I did it!!" She smiled, the pride and utter resolve in her words moved Soran enough to drop a tear.
"Be safe, Alloy-kun… we will wait for the day you both come back to us with a story to tell." Soran turned and began heading back to Navi, he took a mere five steps before he heard Alloy's final words to Zed.
*****
""Thank you, with this, I won't be alone anymore." Her last words were to you." Soran finished his story, drawing tears to the other three in the room, Lore however, cried with a sadness and happiness heavily weighing on her heart due to Alloy's words. Eliza and Zed were smiling from ear to ear with tears filled in their eyes. They were happy, ecstatic even, Alloy was okay, and she was excited for her new adventure. While there were still tough journeys ahead, they were excited for her and believed in her.
"She must be far from us by now, I hope she'll be fine." Zed said as his laugh settled.
"She will," Eliza said, smiling as well, and reassuring her brother.
"This world's sea is dangerous… unpredictable… vast…" he looked up with tears in his eyes and a smile Lore never forgot. "But it also holds some of the greatest memories and relationships."
"Then we'll wait for her, adventure comes with stories, you've had yours Zed" She stood to get the kettle from the table. "Let's hope hers' will be more… interesting." She smiled as she poured Zedlis a cup.
Lore had a question she had kept at the back of her mind for a decade, it was never her place to ask it and she never minded that. However, if there was a time to ask… it would be when they were bonding in such a situation.
"My Ki… Zedlis," She corrected herself.
"Yes??"
"Where is Alloy from??"
Zed smiled.
"I wish I knew…" He sipped his tea and set the cup down on the table. "Maybe she'll tell us when she gets back…"