Rēïncårnātē

Chapter Seven

"Land ahoy!"

The ship approached a rather small island with a small port, they parked the ship carefully and the recruits ended up helping unload any goods that they had brought from the capital. She picked up a rather hefty crate and slowly carried it out of the ship.

Ling was unsurprisingly a bit too strong for his age as he seemed to be carrying the heavier barrels without any problems. His body didn't look muscular in any way yet he was able to carry something almost twice his weight, she silently sighed in gratitude that she was a girl, at least now she had an excuse as to why she wasn't as competent as him.

By the time they had finished unloading the ship she was exhausted, she couldn't help but collapse on the floor just allowing her aching muscles to recuperate.

"Wow, you're pretty weak and scrawny." Ling pierced her pride once again and her eyes became dark, she really wanted to be this kid to a pulp but if she tried wouldn't she be raising a death flag?

"Let me be I'm still a kid." She said with her brows twitching slightly, what an irritating person.

"We have the rest of the day off, and lucky the island is celebrating a popular festival, the one they call Giorno Della Morte."

Such a name piqued her interest, she seemed to be reminded of Italian or Spanish in her old life. "What are they celebrating?" She put out her hand which he took and helped her stand up despite her screaming thighs that just wanted to remain still.

"It's a sort of Remembrance Day, for the dead."

The day of the dead? Another odd parallel, coming to think of it... she looked around seeing people dressed in gorgeous colorful flowing robes and some in bare feet rags. The majority of the people around were merchants with a few peasants here and there, this place seemed like an area that the majority were rich, why is that?

"This is the only island that belongs to the empire that's away from the mainland." He began to explain giving her a vague idea of exactly why there were so many rich individuals there.

"So it has become a major trade route for any kingdom under the empire's protection."

That settled it, this was definitely a capture target! His in-depth knowledge of politics only confirms that he is definitely from a noble family! Unfortunately for her, she could not remember exactly which one.

The streets were decorated in beautiful colors, small stalls were set up everywhere and the festivities seemed to improve her mood greatly.

At times she saw various women waving to the passing merchants from their windows with too much skin exposed.

She couldn't help but hide behind ling, they slightly intimidated her and made her feel slightly embarrassed as she was a girl too.

"Junior brother, have you never seen a harlot before?"

Of course not!

Looking up again she feeling a complex emotion she tore her eyes away and followed diligently after the older boy.

This place was so colorful and full of life that she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable, there was something wrong with this island and she knew it, so why was she still following him through the streets ignoring the strange stares that came their way and the way the women looking out from their windows their lips pulled a bit too far when looking at them like they were prey. 

"Senior..." she began immediately stopping unwilling to go further down, something was wrong. The older boy stood still as he noticed it too, after a while his eyes widened. 

"Get back to the boat!" He tried to drag her hand and run but it was too late, the streets warped folding into itself and disappearing and the two were left surrounded in darkness.