Chapter 9: Early Search
Back onboard the airship, Alura had enjoyed a nap before waking and stayed put as Marenzo had requested. Complaining aloud to herself about how she was going to starve, the wizard showed himself with a nice selection of food for them to share in their cabin. “Heh you may want to slow down or you’ll choke.” He warned with a small laugh which, after gulping down what was in her mouth, resulted in her slowing down. He took a few bites of food and enjoyed the flavors of what they had to offer. “Not bad.” He turned his attention to his friend. “So, can I ask you if anything has shown up in the book?” 799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoMNXETDHJ
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Alura was quiet and stood from the side table, rooting through her bag and brought over the book that she gently slid over to him. “Read for yourself.” She went back to eating, not making eye contact. “I saw pieces of a scene where mother and Nightrayne had a large family but that family was slaughtered by their eldest named Azuma.” As she began explaining without looking up, Marenzo was already reading and twisted his face with disturbed disgust as he read the newest entry. “He apparently had left for a trip and when he returned he lost it and killed his brothers and sister, as well as mother and nearly Nightrayne.” She sadly said with a released sigh. “That’s where that dream ended but you’ll see where it mentions him speaking to a woman.” She took a bite of food, “that’s where it ends sadly enough.” She swallowed and looked up to the wizard finally.799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CC51jMJjN
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Marenzo finished reading and nodded while closing the book. “I see…that is terrible but I’m sure it all worked out. If Lyru is your mother in a past life then maybe she was reborn or something?” he guessed and saw Alura shrug her shoulders softly. “Now come on, don’t be so glum. It mentioned Azuma’s siblings having families of their own and they were back home for their parent’s anniversary.”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcnKg7Sc4h
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“Yea but what if what caused Azuma to go nuts is inside me?”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ydmj6ScT7
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“I’m sure it isn’t.” he assured while reaching over to place his hand on hers. “You won’t go nuts because of your father’s or mother’s power.” He gave a small smile, “the gods wouldn’t have picked you if you would go nuts, I’m sure they aren’t that stupid.” He chuckled and gave her a reassuring wide grin.799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21J5dS4DD2
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Alura smirked then smiled back with a small nod. “I bet you’re right, thanks Marenzo.” She leaned over the table and gave his cheek a quick kiss which caused his cheeks to flush red. They finished eating and finished their drinks before Alura stood up from the table. “Want to go out on the deck with me?”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0iisbc6bL
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Marenzo shook his head. “Nah, I’m gonna just relax some here. I’ll come up later.” She nodded and took her leave. He stretched and sighed as he brought his hands down and leaned on the table after moving the tray out of the way. “Damn it, how can I tell her she just made my heart skip a beat?” he muttered while staring at the door she just left through. His eyes closed as he released another sigh. “If this is love and she does love me, or even if it’s a crush, I don’t want to tell her how I feel first if she isn’t wanting to be in a relationship.” He began to pout. It’s annoying when affairs of the heart are so confusing.799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI18Xvsht0C
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On the deck of the airship, Alura made her way around the above deck and control room structures before coming to a stop as she leaned over, resting her arms on the metal railing to stare out at the night sky. “Hello there, you bored as well?” a young gentleman asked from behind her but she didn’t acknowledge him. The young man walked over and stood beside her before leaning back on the railing, resting his arms on it. He watched the cabin and control area silently before turning his light brown head to look at her fallen face. “Hey, you okay? You seem down.” She didn’t answer him again so he decided to continue. “Wanna chat about it?” she sighed looking to him with a hateful glare.799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ86I57Npk1
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“No,” she grumbled while turning her gaze off him. “I don’t wish to converse with you about my problems.”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0P0TDFqz1K
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“I see, well then, where is it you’re heading to?”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2ZDS9IY0E
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Alura rolled her eyes at his seemingly stupid question. “Duh, Meldano, the same place this ship is always going to and from.”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdhqJNEyHV
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He chuckled nodding as he scratched his head. “Oh yea, hehe, I guess I forgot this isn’t one of the multi-stop ships.” Alura sighed and lowered her head to rest it on her arms as she felt more annoyance towards this man trying to converse with her. “I’m actually heading there to help out some family prepare for their inspection. Last thing we want is anyone punished or arrested for anything not being accounted for.”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFx4Oabhcl
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“What?” she lifted her head to look at the man, now curious. “What inspection?”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zBttN7C7J
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“Each month those registered as merchants, which have living quarters in Meldano, are inspected to see if they have all their paperwork in order. I have family that work as merchants and if they have any stock left over then their paperwork needs to support why.” He explained and saw the young woman was interested by the light in her eyes. “So when they do this, they go from home to home or warehouse to warehouse and make sure if anything’s amiss then it becomes resolved.” 799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3u7x0mH5B
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“Why?” she questioned softly.799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGEKXXUYA7
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“Because, Meldano has a spotless reputation for being an island with the best trades and goods. No one can beat’em or not their attention to detail when people come to do shopping on the island.” 799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5MiFW1RRK
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“I see…”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCIC0ta5jp
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He nodded gently lifting a hand, “plus when someone takes their goods to other islands or regions to sell, they are required to state how much percentage they plan to have sold before they return at the end of the month or months. Their time gone is dependent on how much they are departing with.” Alura nodded as that seemed reasonable. “When they return if they have fallen short of what they felt they could sell or have any out of place paperwork, they receive up to fifty lashes which are done publicly.” 799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiltnidW3RV
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“That’s horrible! How can someone do that to his or her own people?”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWos649n8X
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He shrugged, “what do you expect from a dictator?” she didn’t answer as she looked down at the deck before looking out to the sea of stars. “He also has four mages but only one is really considered a threat and that’s because that fourth one is rarely seen, yet is said to be the strongest but has not been given the title of sage.”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzNIct4F9S
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“Well that’s weird. If someone’s ascended to the title of sage why are they not given that title?”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDgTThPVFC
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“Got me there,” he shrugged, “if it were me I’d like the title that reflected my skills if I could do magic.” There was silence between them before he thought of something to continue with. “Also, I should let you know just in case, as I’ve met some women who can fight with weapons.” He turned to face her more. “You should keep them hidden or do away with them. It’s forbidden for women to carry any weapons in Meldano.” Alura looked at him confused by this. “It’s not seen as proper for a lady of any age to carry a weapon. There are no women soldiers only men so keep that in mind in case you do have any weapons.”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ROzgniAo2
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She nodded and was quiet thinking as she looked away then glanced at him once more. “What happens if I’m caught with any type of weapon?”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfA7HLKZtW
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“You get publicly executed as a max penalty or you are publicly humiliated by ways of a lashing, sometimes worse but it depends on what type of weapon you have and how many you have on you.”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7RSm68mcG
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“Got it,” she felt relief knowing this info now. “Thanks for the warning,” he nodded, “um but why isn’t there something posted on the airships that go to Meldano to let people know the laws that would affect them?”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAchQzIu6f
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The man shrugged. “How should I know? You’d think that’d be reasonable but some reason the dictator decided that wasn’t needed.”799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlq2mNDRWjC
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“What a jerk he is then but…I’m glad you let me know. I’ll need to hide my blades.” He nodded to her and looked at his watch before pushing away from the railing.799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnI7Ukw6s6
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“I’m going to head back to my cabin. You take care, alright?” she nodded as he bid her goodnight and she returned the parting word before turning her sights back out to the peaceful sky passing by.799Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvUVb3twTc
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