Chapter Two

The music takes a more serene approach as we gorge on the simple yet delicious bounty of beef crab noodles. But the real delight in our lunch is a conversation I never expect to savior while arriving in Gear Box.

"Surely you jest!" Aurodha does not even attempt to hold back her awe. "Did that truly happen?!"

I proudly nod. "Almost five hundred years ago." I clarify. "This guy had, again, thirteen ships, and he was going up against, I think it was three hundred ships!" I can't help but be eager to see her reaction of what I'll reveal next. "Long story short: Not only did he won the battle, but he didn't even LOSE a single ship!"

The look of Aurodha's saucer eyes blink while having traces of noodles dangling down her chin shows how much she's invested in this epic historical record.

"That was very clever for him to choose the place of battle." She keenly states. "Plus the narrow strait was sure to work in his favor against such odds."

I can't help but be amazed at that astute observation. "You catch on quick!" My smile turns crooked. "Though you... might not have approve of him using superior range and firepower to his advantage."

Aurodha cocks her head looking puzzled, which perplexes me. "Why would you assume that?"

I cautiously toy with the remnants of the noodles, rippling the rich colored broth in the bowl. "Well... what I mean is... he might have been- no, he was outnumbered like ten-to-one, but he still had more advance ships and better weapons at his side." I feel like I'm belittling the legacy of a living legend at this point. "Even with the odds stacked against him, he still had big advantages over his enemy all throughout the war. The only thing he lacked were numbers and skilled swordsman, but... it just felt like he didn't need them, because... well you get the idea."

I let out a sigh. "I just can't help but wonder sometimes if he would still have that impressive streak of all wins no losses if his foe were on more equal footing with him, or slightly superior."

"Ken, listen." Aurodha's low but intense voice catches my attention. "I'm going to divulge little a secret: technology and numbers can only carry one so far." She smiles confidently. "When I was younger, a festival held this legendary duel that pitted this rather plump platted knight knight with armor distressed from relentless conflict and an opponent who was... well essentially bare with a big crude tool."

I smile already knowing how this story will conclude.

"Naturally, everyone placed their bets on the knight, and who can fault them? This man knew the art of the flail like a master!" She can't hide her smirk. "Little did they know that the unremarkable underdog was quite finesse in reflexes and struck flawlessly."

"And our underdog won against all the odds?" I assume trying to sound as innocent as one can be.

Aurodha casts a annoyed scoff. "Well that's one way to spoil the momentous occasion!"

I risk a snicker at her outburst. "Sorry! Sorry! I take there were a lot of betters heartbroken over losing their fortunes?"

"That is putting very generously... the whole festival devolved into a feral riot after that." Aurodha sips her broth and I wait with bated breath for her continue this crazy story. "Many were genuinely distraught and offended that their supposed winner would not deliver them a plentiful victory. You would not fathom how many times I heard blatant accusations such as 'rigged' and 'robbed' in under a minute!" She sighs casting the interior of her hand over her brows. "Truly, a bizarre occasion!"

I snicker. "Rigged Robbed."

She flashes a half lid smile. "You're hopeless."

"And you're just figuring this out now?"

"At least your charm redeems you." She clears this throat. "Any who, my friends and I had were quick to intervene and restore order, pacify the amok, rescue those trapped by the chaos. Though I will concede that it was truly thrilling."

"You never were one to back down from a good fight." I state an undeniable fact. "Still, even if the festival was a bust, I wish I would have seen it."

The sight of Aurodha's cheeks tinting to a rosy red is a sight to behold. "Well... maybe one day, Darling. Still, my respect for that knight has not dwindled, even after meeting his match."

“Meeting his match?” I curiously curiously repeat. "As in he was the type that never lost a fight?"

“As in he has never known defeat even against unimaginable odds.” She adds with pride. “Allow me to paint a picture of our hero and his rag tag vagabonds being encircled by heavy cavalry eager to trample to life out of this fleeting resistance."

I am immediately hooked by this tale and allow Aurodha continue blessing me with such a romantic story.

“Little did these imbeciles know that the steep hill hampered their assault” Aurodha does not hide her bias, but it doesn't matter as I want to know more. "Only to have the eruption of hand cannons and the firm clicking of nailsticks bludgeoning their numbers with the scarce few who did survive the carnage to be cut down behind the small fortress of steel wagons."

There were a few moments in my life I forgot the breathe because of something capturing my undivided attention. This is definitely one of those moments doing exactly that!

"Many lost the will to fight and those who possessed it quickly cast it to the winds after being made an example of." She smiles. "How can I not admire such bravery and tenacity."

“Holy moly, Aurodha.... the way you went about that... you make it sound like you were there..."

She expels a quick laugh. "Must have been a blessing from my father. He was a natural of mending together the grandest tales for me to be entranced by. No different than the feat your hero performed at sea."

She's too generous. 

"I don't think I have your father's... elegant vocabulary."

"Not yet, at least. But do not use that as an excuse to diminish what you have spun for me." She murmurs resting her chin on her locked fists. "And it was truly wonderful."

I can't help but avert my gaze, as if I want to hide my idiotic smile. "W-well... I'll be sure to tell you more about him later on."

"Hmmm... I'll hold you to that." 

"Still though." There is one thing that I've been itching to say since hearing this tale. "That duel with the underdog... when you say bare... do you mean..."

“Well… it is as if they were not all-naturalle. Rags and garments did not violate any rules.” She specifies.

“And… no armor… of any sort? Just for the protection?” I ask before sipping away at my broth.

Aurodha flashes a proud smirk as she answers with a low smooth. “I am certain that they would adorn armor if they planned on being hit."

Perhaps it’s not a good idea to hear such a badass retort while drinking as I am just finding out with my broth forced down the wrong pipe.

Coughing wrecks my very essence as I desperately try to find the moment of respite to expel that nasty sensation from my soul. It’s only when Aurodha’s gentle yet firm hold on my shoulder is when I evict a foul cough is when the air begins to flow normal enough within and out my being.

Though the ordeal leaves me battered as I am nearly keeling over. Thankfully, the small circles being traced around my back serve as the perfect balm for me to slowly recover.

It doesn’t take long to find Aurodha sitting beside me with worried visage that melts the heart before sprinkling it with a hint of guilt.

“Are you better now, Ken?” She asks before offering me a simple rag. “For your chin.”

I offer my thanks before wiping the leftovers from my chin. “Sorry, what you said… was one of the most Chad things I ever heard.”

Aurodha banishes a heavy sigh and gives me a look that deigns me a hopeless one. “I have no idea what you said, darling, but guess I’ll have to go more into that story another time then.”

“Wait- wait,”

Sadly, my protests fall on deaf ears as Aurodha is quick to spring to her feet.

“Well, come along then! We have quite the day ahead of us!” She declares offering her hand. “And we have many ways to spend it before we we are graced with tonight’s production!”

“Wai.. wha…?” I am at a complete loss.

Aurodha flashes a toothy grin, though I notice that her smile does fully reach the edge of her cheeks. “I’ll only reveal this: You will rather see this madman’s story rather than hear about it.”

I choose to not pry if anything is bothering her and take her hand. “So then… where to.”

My worries are put at ease when she hums innocently and strolls away towards the center of the plaza.

I call out for her to wait up only to be paralyzed by the sudden bursts of water erupting from the ground. That’s when I realized that I’ve walked right into her trap!

“WHY YOU-!”

My hunt for a giggling Aurodha is spun in a circle, becoming victim to more of her traps before I manage to dodge them.

Although I could not catch up to her, I did earn a small victory when Aurodha becomes a victim to her own schemes, yelping and giggling while doing so.

We then continue our delicate yet daring dance through this small attraction, with the spirit and energy of youth sustaining us.