𝕳𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖘𝖘 - (Ranboo)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖

"Venus, where are we going and why are we on a ship?" Hertha asked, extremely confused and sick from the rocking. "It isn't like you to travel without Dove either." She frowned curiously.

"Well, for once, we have somewhere to go. And the ship didn't allow animals larger than birds." She replied and looked over the edge onto the ocean. "Dove is with someone I can trust. They know what happens if they fail." She added ominously - letting Hertha huff in amusement from the comment. It was the first time in a while Hertha had been on a ship, and her stomach was not used to it at all. There was a queasy feeling taking over her as she looked over the edge, Venus spoke up once more, "luckily for you, my dear, the trip is short, in fact, we're nearly there." Venus smiled and looked over.

"Thank goodness, we've been on this ship for two hours already." She sighed in relief and walked into the centre of the deck. Seaweed had such a sickly look to it, and the more Hertha could see it sticking itself to the side of the boat, the weaker her stomach felt. Venus went over and wrapped an arm around Hertha happily, feeling slightly excited to see Hertha's reaction as the temperature began dropping more and more, "Venus..." she trailed off, seeing the woman get ready to speak for herself.

"What? Oh never mind. Here, take this. You'll know what to do with it, and what not to do now that you have it." Venus acted as though she read Hertha's mind and gave the girl her classic red over-jacket, along with her black cloak, which fit her better than the longer, slightly heavier one in her bag. It was the only reason Hertha didn't wear it as much; it was just too long, and so it would get dirty. Hertha thanked her and watched Venus take out her own lump of fabric, which she wrapped around herself as she leaned against Hertha quietly.

Venus began telling Hertha all about these magical orbs, showing her one. It was a dark turquoise, with a deeper blue core. It looked like glass. She explained that they could teleport people, that if she threw one, it would break on impact and send her there.

Hertha wasn't sure why Venus was explaining such a concept, nor why Venus gave some to her, but it made sense as they began slowing at the docks of a snowy, pale white mass of land. It wasn't snowing, the sky was clear - but it was freezing. "One last thing," Venus picked up their bags, "well, two: first, these are technically forbidden in this kingdom, okay? So careful - don't want to be seen holding one. Secondly, I hope you can run in those." She chuckled and motioned to Hertha's boots. Of course she knew how to run in them, she'd avoided death in them multiple times. And what could make those pearls so bad? Well, they were rare, Venus hadn't mentioned them until that point.

"You damned spalpeen!" A man, with a rough voice and large features yelled as Venus pulled Hertha off of the ship. Hertha had never heard the word before, "get those girls! They've paid in fool's gold!" He barked as Hertha felt herself running alongside Venus. She didn't even realise she was sprinting with the girl until Venus pulled her for a sharp turn.

"Venus what did you do!?" Hertha yelled with panic as yelling could still be heard.

"Smuggled us! Come on! We have to be quick!" Venus urged and pulled out the orb she explained to Hertha, "throw that way! We're going to the castle!" She looked behind her and cursed, "not yet, let's go!" She suddenly began running again, pulling Hertha out into the street and sprinting through the cobbled paths. Hertha appreciated how the paths weren't covered in snow, so the place looked somewhat ahead of its geography. Not that Hertha could appreciate it for long, she was vaulting over food stalls suddenly.

"I've never done any of this before!" Hertha laughed with adrenaline carrying her, "I'm never this athletic!" She exclaimed and spun past a couple walking.

"You'll feel it later!" Venus called back and dove through a cart, "now we just have to run!" She added and split off, "meet where we have to!" She vanished into the crowd. Hertha was left alone with one man chasing after her.