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"Omnia causa fiunt"

- Everything happens for a reason

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The repairs were to be done the next day as she ship managed to dock at a sand bank in the middle of the ocean. Aeris didn't know from where it had arrived yet the crew seemed to be familiar with its small terrain, tearing the small leaves of growing trees and spearing fish that they cooked over the wood brought from the ship. 

The smell had made her stomach turn, making her rush to the side and into the bushes- taking a few breaths to calm the nausea and make her way back with a braver front and mint leaves smeared under her shirt and around her neck just incase. 

Hongjoong disappeared along with Mingi in the morning hours, the others didn't seem fazed yet kept a wary eye on the rising waves and the crescent moon that rose over it. Aeris could have sworn on some nights she could hear the shriek of drowning sailors but- in the end, it was all in her imagination. 

"He'll figure it out" San had promised- no names mentioned-sitting by the fire and spearing the meat while the sand shifted below her feet. "He always does"

Wooyoung had come to her side, the flames rising to cast shadows of orange on his face as he nodded in agreement, a small smile on his face as he looked at her. "You'll be out of here in no time," his tone was wary, "don't worry you won't have to see our faces after that again-"

"Is there nothing we can do to convince you to stay?" Yeosang's words seemed to disappear to the wind as he sat with his head in his book- a herbal remedies book- and tone light as he shook his head when asked to repeat. 

"Distral is close by, just a two day's sail from here in the westward direction and you can get off- hopefully" Seonghwa cut in, crossing them as he spoke and casting a glance at the two approaching figures from the other end of the island, the slight pronounced limp on one of their legs and the height of the other making the seven aware of who it was. 

"They've gotten an answer."

"So," the meeting was a furtive one- beginning with the slight lisp of the red haired boy's words and ending with the words that made Aeris's heart sink even further than it had been before. 

"We can't see it anymore" 

"Well thats good news then," Jongho cut in eagerly- earning an endearing look from Hongjoong and Seonghwa and a ruffle of his hair from Mingi before he continued. 

"That's why we can't set sail yet" 

"What?" Wooyung cut it, "but the ships repaired, were prepared due to Captain and Aeris-" his voice faltered, "She wants to leave so why are we wasting time like-"

"We aren't wasting time" Hongjoong spoke, low and steady. "We are looking at the best option for your safety" 

"And I say the safest option is to get out of here" Yunho soured at the thought of spending another night on the beach, hands itching for the tug of ropes and the smell of the sea as he scowled. 

"Leave this side, never come back- go North- figure it out, I don't know. We don't know when that thing will come back, hell we don't even know if it's below us right now." 

"Would you rather risk your life in the sea or on land, where- sadly- we have the advantage?" Seonghwa answered, crossing his hands. "It's a kraken for god's sake, you've all heard of it, you know what it can do and you all think you're so brave and so good that you can defeat it? In it's home turf?" 

"So you'd rather hide a coward?"

Aeris could only watch as it unfolded, hands glued to her thighs as the team began to divide into two- one side willing to go and the other wanting to stay. Their words were harsh, no accusations going unsaid before it was seconds away from turning into a fistfight. That was until one word rang clear from the background. 

"Guys wait!" 

Yeosang stood up on his seat, hands fumbling excitedly towards a page in his book and a wide smile overcoming his face- his hair blew in the wind, rising high as a happy glint overcame his eyes. 

The laws of apothecary

"I think I know what we can do?"

"Yeah give the kraken some lavender tea" Mingi snorted, "I'm sure he'll love it" 

Yeosang steadfastly ignored the comment, walking over as the confused crowd crowded over his shoulder and Aeris found herself dragged with the bunch- the steady hand of San holding onto her wrist and dragging her into the fray as she stood next to the medic.

The boy had opened the book to one of the last pages- frayed from tear and the writing fading into constant touches of water and yet the title was clear and bright. An elegant cursive decorating the pages and a drawing of the very monster they had faced running along the edges  

"Well," Mngi whistled two minutes later, "I wasn't entirely wrong"

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