The Captain's Quarters

The skies were still pitch black, with no signs of dawn, when Prishu landed onto the airship with Ui carrying the Duke. As soon as they got closer to the deck and the whirring propellers, Ui spotted Miront, standing near the edge, strapping a sword in its sheath around his waist.

“Right on schedule,” said Miront as they landed. Prishu saluted him after she gently placed Ui on the deck. Ui was still carrying the Duke on her back. “Now that we have a proper captain, it looks like it's time for me to join the cleanup crew.” Miront addressed Ui. “Take him to the captain’s quarters.”

“Served, Princess.” Prishu smiled at Ui. “And the Prince she’s carrying.”

“They really hurt you, didn’t they, Bourin.” Miront examined the Duke, and for a brief moment, lost his usual composure and showed signs of anger in his face. But he quickly went back to normal. “Let’s go, Prishu.” Miront seemed in a hurry. “She’ll be back to protect the ship once she drops me off.” A few seconds went by as Prishu started getting ready to pick up Miront.

“No! Prishu…” Ui had a hard time voicing her selfish request. “Go… find Cro. Or take me and let me do it.” They all remained still, unsure of how to proceed.

Miront, however, seemed to have already calculated that possibility. “We need someone here to protect both of you in case someone manages to find us, or we have a traitor on board—”

“She can handle herself.” Prishu picked up Miront in her arms before he could say anything else. “They called us the Bruiser Girls for a reason, Miront.” She turned around and winked at Ui.

“Please… find him.” Ui had never seen Prishu’s confidence fade, and that night, it was no different.

“I will.” Prishu turned around and started flying downwards with Miront. Ui couldn’t help but feel uneasy looking at Prishu disappear into the darkness and the distance. She stayed on the deck, nervous, until there were no signs of Prishu left, and all that was left was Ui’s uncertainty.

A weak, cold hand on her shoulder disrupted her thoughts. “Ui, trust them… trust Cro.” The Duke spoke weakly, and that made her realize she had stood there carrying him in the cold, thin air, unfit for someone in his weak state. She scrambled nervously through the ship and into the captain's quarters, where Miront had cleared everything to give him a comfortable warm bed to rest on, food, water, and some lights.

She placed the Duke on the bed, and covered him with the blanket that had been set aside for them. She also poured some water for him, and sat on the other side of the bed.

She couldn’t sit still, nervously fidgeting on the bed, until the Duke at some point intervened. “We can’t… do everything ourselves, Ui.” He coughed, but sipping some water seemed to improve his state. “Sometimes, we must share the burden.”

Ui was still distraught, thinking about Cro, and Yula, and all the former and current Royal Mages battling in the capital. She wanted to help, but she knew someone had to stay with the Duke. She sat there deep in thought, looking at the Duke absentmindedly. “You look awful.” Her thoughts escaped through her mouth involuntarily.

The Duke smiled, avoiding the pain that laughter would bring him. “You look beautiful, and the dress is nice, too.” The Duke seemed to notice that Ui was nervous once again. “Pardon the honesty of someone in such a weakened state. Looks like Lullaby was right about us Umans…”

Ui was too distracted by the Duke noticing her outfit that she couldn’t think about what he said, and answered nervously. “Thank you… The dress, it’s… a gift from someone in the north.”

“Is that so…” The Duke, after sipping more water, lay down flat once more. “It’s full of flour. You look like a baker.”

“I used to want to be a baker…” Her honest, truthful, melancholic tone revealed her feelings in an uncontrolled way.

“You can still be one,” said the Duke. She smiled, and the Duke responded with a much weaker smile. “Did you manage… to deliver my letter?”

With everything that had happened, Ui had completely forgotten about the letter she was supposed to deliver. She blushed, remembering their moment together at the park, and everything she had done as Lullaby that had made her feel unworthy of his praise during her trip. She never managed to open the letter, and she’d left it behind in Aure. “No… I’m sorry.”

“It’s a shame,” said the Duke, his voice noticeably sadder. “I would’ve liked… to meet her. I think we could just… share so much.”

Ui’s thoughts went back and forth over whether to trust the Duke with her secrets fully or not. She was desperately trying to keep her nerves under control.

“Your hair… is such a pretty color, Ui.” She couldn’t dare looking at the Duke after she heard those words. “Maybe when we get back, you won’t have to hide it… We can share Udari outfits like yours with all of the capital, too.”

Ui noticed the Duke’s voice becoming weaker, and her anxiety over his condition took over. She tried to reach out her hand to touch the Duke’s shoulder, but he was freezing cold, and that frightened her even more. She had to try something. She didn’t care if her secret finally came to an end.

Ui hummed to warm up her voice, making the Duke turn his head to watch her.

“Surukai elonai

Uruma Irua”

…

Ui clenched her fists in frustration. “What were the words?!” She tried recalling Yula’s Song of Healing, but she only remembered the bliss she felt during it. She wasn’t able to remember the words. She tried several times, hoping that she could land the right words if she kept trying. She knew she must’ve guessed at some point… Yet nothing happened. The room was not filled with the same beauty that Yula’s song brought, and the Duke was getting worse and worse.