Children of mischief

Chapter 9:Snake's Creek.

Milo P.O.V.

Luma took us as close to the Creek as he could. I went on the main deck in the morning, stretching out my arms and back.
"G'morning."
I looked at the bridge to see Luma at the helm. I walked up to him.
"Good morning. Did you sleep last night, at all?"
Luma laughed. "Not really we had some bad winds and I had to keep the flight smooth."
"Well,we're ready to set anchor. You can take your rest now."
Luma waved me off. "I'm fine. We'll have a long way till Maedian and I honestly want to make it back to the Hidden Market,hit the first bar and just unwind." He paused. ''You sure you don't wanna come with?"
I took a deep breath. I dreaded the thought of going back, and I had every reason to. I betrayed the oath High Priests take by joining a murderer and a former enslaved fighter. I betrayed Mae's prinicipals of keeping straight morals, white separate from black and toeing the line, by walking in a grey area. If I were to go back...
"I'm sorry Luma, but I have a mission. And...I don't think I'll ever go back either."
He stopped stirring the ship and turned to me. ''What?"
"I broke my oath."
"Of celibacy?"
"Spirits no! The other oath."
"Ohhhhhhhh...Yeah, going back would be a bad idea. Well,I'll see you again then. If you need me,send a Messenger Moth my way,ok?"
"I will,thanks."
He smiled and clasped my shoulder. "I mean it,ok? We have a lot of years to make up for, so don't be a stranger."
I looked away. "Y-yeah, you're right. Don't worry, I'll keep in touch."
"Good. Well, take care ok?"
He went back to the bridge,stirring the ship so he could throw ancor.
I went below deck, waiting for the others to wake up, and that's when I bumped staright into Brian's chest and for once, my calm, always smiling friend looked trully troubled. I didn't like that. He frowned down at me.
"What's wrong?"
"You can't go back." It wasn't even a question,it was a statement.
"Have you been eavesdropping?"
"I happened to hear."
I took a deep breath." Ok,what did you happen to hear,exactly?"
"Everything. Are you honestly going to keep in touch with him?"
I sighed. "Look, I have had my whole friking childhood erased from my memory. If we're going to meet a stranger for Mo to -presumably- learn more about thier father and true past, so am I allowed to keep in touch with someone I do have memories with. At least I know for certain my source is true."
"Hey!"
Ah shit.
Mo crossed their arms over their chest, shifting their weight on their left side. "Why are you like this?! You make Yue feel bad, you keep trying to make me doubt her, you influence Brian to think the same, are you even on our side? We know there's a traitor, how can I know it's not you?"
I was left stunned. They couldn't be for real, could they? I looked at Brian,who looked away.
"You...you can't be serious!"
Mo gave me a frim look,crossing their arms. "I am. You have done nothing but critisize and oppose everything this whole things was.''
"What?! I saved your ass how many times?! And Brian, say something Spirits damn it! You know just as well as I do that I am not the traitor! You saw how Yueliang was acting, you know why I have the oppinion I do and you agree!"
Brian looked away. "I'm sorry Milo, but...Mo and Yueliang talked to me last night and...their points were much more valid."
My eyes widened. How...how could he out of all people turn on me? Ok,Mo was influenced,but him?
I took a deep breath, my fists clenching besides me. "Fine, if that's so, I guess I'm of no further use,right? But just know, I'd rather sell my soul to Kryos than betray you. But hey, I'm just the guy who put his life on the line to help the ones he loved.''
Both Brian and Mo's faces droped.
"You..what?"
"In Maedian, the White Robes have gave an order:whoever is helping a member of the Hidden Society or one of their allies shall be sentenced to death. I also broke several of Mae's commendments by helping you, and I knew it and I owned it."
Mo seemed to have second thoughts. "Milo I-"
"No no, I understand perfectly. Have fun getting backstabbed by that bitch."
"She's not a-"
"Yeah yeah, keep up the lovestruck puppy thing, it'll sure drive you in an early grave."
Brian tried to put his hand on my shoulder. "Ok,maybe we should calm down."
I pulled away. "Don't touch me!"
His face was regret ridden. "Ok,maybe it wasn't smart to throw ac-"
"Save it. You,Yueliang and Mo get off here. I'm leaving with Luma."
Mo looked away, while Brian caught me by the arms. "No, look, this has been a missunderstanding, you can't just-"
"A misunderstanding in which I saw your true colors."
"Stop cutting me off,damn it!"
"What more is there to say? How the hell did you two turn on me so quick, then apologize? What the actual fuck?! No, I'm not staying."
Brian looked away and Mo went Spirits know where. I turned my back on my friend, or..well, former friend and went to Luma.
"I changed my mind."
"Say what?"
"I'm coming with you."
He looked surprised. "I mean, ok, sure! Welcome to the crew." he gave me a crooked smile.

Brian POV.

Saying I fucked it up was an understatement. I let myself missled by Yueliang was one, driving Milo to the point where he turned his back on us was another. I felt the guilt gnawing on me from the inside. This was stupid. This was unfair.
"What the fuck is worng with me?" I muttered,heading for my cabin. Mo seemed to trust Yueliang still. Of cours they did, she was their girlfriend. But me? I had no excuse. I knew the truth, but maybe...I just hoped, for Mo's sake, that it wasn't true, and for that I made a big mistake. I sighed while slinging my bag on my shoulder. I had the water canteen, my change of clothes, sheated gladius, medkit...what was I missing?
"Pager!"
The Messenger moth peered it's head out from a pile of blankets I sat last night. "Hi buddy. Ready to go?"
'Chirp!'
Pager flew on my shoulder and sat on it. I scratched it's chin, half-smiling. Pager found me when I escaped the Coliseum amd helped me find the Underground and the Five A's; I owed this little buddy my life.
Mo and Yueliang were waiting on the deck. Luma got the rest of the crew-with who we didn't really interact much-up and read for a new day of sailing the skys. I saw Milo along them, and my heart clenched. It was my fault and my fault only...
"Brian?"
I looked over at Mo. "What?"
"I asked if you're ready to go."
No. I was certainly not ready to go. I cast one last glance at Milo, who was helping out with spreading the sails out. I knew he most likely broke the telepathic link, but I still thought I'm sorry.
"Let's go.''
We were left off in the green of the lush forest. Wherever you looked, you could feel both the life and the magic coursing through it. A few birds were singing rapidly in the trees and flying from branch to branch. Our path got cut by two fox pups chasing eachother.
As we walked closer and closer to the Snake's Creek border, the scent of raw magic got stronger. I never actually understood how it worked. It felt different from person to person, it mimicked what braught your heart most comfort. What I felt was the faint scent of lavander, rose and jasmin. It was the scent of the incense my nanna would light up at the shrine of Medora, Spirit of Family and Home. I can still remember the always hot days and nights of my home town and how we'd all gather in the garden for prayer once the moon was high enough in the sky.
...on a night like that, they took us and locked us away, like animals.
I shook my head clear of the unwanted memory.
We now stood face to face with the entrance to the Snake's Creek.
"Welcome!"