Abnegation

True treasure

                           -The group all smile, until they hear some yelling...-

Leopold walks out of the bedroom with a saddened look on his face, but he immediately straightens out to a neutral, emotionless expression like before "Aron is... uninterested in the book: I suggest you come back at, at least... 9:00AM tomorrow, then maybe you can have a different effect on Master Olimpia...". Gawain takes the book back "Alright, thanks..." he replies, almost wanting to pat the man on the back, as one could tell the sadness in his voice as compared to the excitement from earlier... 

The group goes outside... "Well, I guess we're staying at the inn.." Gawain says. Lise tilts her head in curiosity "Wot? I thought you guys booked a room in one of the hotels near Azure coast?", the paladin and mercs droop over, their shoulders slumped down as Jacob explains "We wanted to, but nobody has the money!", another merc adds "The prices are SO much higher than we thought they'd be!". Gawain looks away in embarrassment "I'd probably have enough for one day there, without putting a dent in my savings, but: I didn't expect we'd have to stay long here: I left most of my money at home.". Lora wonders at them and asks "Then... how did I get a room?", the paladin turns completely away and said "We didn't have enough money to book rooms separately, even with our combined money: we got you a room... for about...3 hours. Even if you were to go back, they'd kick you out soon... unless they knew you're a princess..". Lora sadly smiles "Well, let's all stay in the inn! Thanks for your gestures of kindness, but don't spend every cent you have on me, again, alwight?", they uniformly answer "Yes princess..."

The group later goes to the inn near the ports, laughter and fighting can be heard from the pirate ships near there... Lora turns in that direction, as the others go in the building... Gawain notices the princess still outside and steps back out to talk to her "Um, princess... you're not..." he starts. Lora looks up over her shoulder "Yes, we're so close: if we see her now: we can resolve this.", Gawain smiles wryly "But princess, it'll just be another few hours: surely you're tired, right?". She sighs "Yes... We walked all the way here and to the shipwreck, even the small nap I took at the hotel wosn't enough. I am tired... maybe... I..." she looks into the water... Gawain looks too... They both see a orca fin come up over the waves, and sink down just as fast... blood can be seen floating to the surface. The paladin then says "You're right, we could check: but please stay here!", Lora looks up again "Wot if a pirate comes to the town, while you're there? I'll be safer with you!". Gawain sighs "Princess, you're such a tomboy...", he walks next to her "Fine... only because stuff's happening faster than we thought: orca whales aren't even indigenous to Neptune: this means that the magical-conscious is drawing in animals and creatures that don't live here, too... Imagine what could happen to Hyperborea and the rest of the world, if everything gathered up here..". Gawain alerts the others of Lora's order and they walk to bar at the end of the pier... Many pirate ships can be seen along side the long, creaking wooden bridge, it spans out in different directions to different stands, selling food and curious looking items. The pirates and ne'er-do-wells there seem to take very little interest in them/Lora, because of the armed, trained fighters around her. Gawain and the mercs kept their game-face's on, since all pirates there are in fact killers... Fortunately, this was true for them too and nobody attacked... Until they get into the bar...