Setting sail

Sniff ~ Sniff

'what is this smell?' The first thing Caroline noticed when she woke up in the morning was the aroma that spread through the room. Taking a deep breath she felt saliva spreading through her mouth, causing an intense desire to find the source right away.

Opening her eyes to scan the room she noticed Eragon who was still lying beside her when she fell asleep was gone.

Getting out of bed, she resisted the urge to find the source of the smell as she entered her shower to wash her face and brush her teeth. Putting a shirt on before exiting the room, Caroline went towards the kitchen where she believed was the source of the smell.

"Good morning gorgeous"

"Good morning" as she entered the kitchen she was greeted with the sight of Eragon who was in the middle of setting the table, turning her attention to the middle of the kitchen she saw pancakes and omelets.

"You don't have to do this every time, you know. I might not be better than you at cooking but I can still cook very well!" taking her seat at the table she couldn't help but comment while she watched him work, knowing from past experience he wouldn't want help as every time Eragon return home he will always insist on cooking for her.

"I know, I just want to pamper my woman a little. Don't tell me I can't even do such things?" Raising his eyebrow, he answered as he always did when she said she wanted to cook. Eragon did it for himself as much as he did it for her, he always felt guilty about leaving her alone for weeks, so the least he could do to pay her back was to let her feel happiness while he stayed with her.

Caroline showed him a smile as she listened to him, feeling currents of warmth spreading in her heart" And how long are you going to pamper me this time before you leave again?"

When everything was set Eragon brought the food to the table before taking his seat next to Caroline "Well, yesterday I said we would leave in two months but I have an idea that would allow us to stay together longer" Eragon grabbed a fork and he started serving her pancakes and omelets "How about joining me when I leave this time? Of course, I'm not going to take you with me on a pirate hunt"

"The ship that will take us to Marineford is on the island of Moyer, where there is a Marine base. So I thought maybe I would drop you off there at some hotel, and while I'm finishing my mission you'll be waiting for me there, and that way I would not have to waste time going back and forth to pick you up, which will leave us more time to be together, what do you think?" putting his hands on hers he asked her in a gentle questioning tone.

Eragon was out for a month and a half before he came back this time, knowing it was his fault he was late, he thought of a way he could compensate Caroline. Especially now that he probably won't be able to come back in a month as well.

"Does this mean we'll not come back here anymore? That we're leaving for good?" Caroline didn't answer immediately, after a few moments of silence she asked him back in a quiet voice. it's not that she didn't know they will leave eventually, but she didn't think it will come this quickly.

"Honestly, I don't know… we might come back or we won't. It's not like we're selling the house or something, you can consider this as a long vacation" knowing it wasn't an easy decision, he didn't try to force her against her will as that wasn't even his intention to begin with, he only wanted to make her happy "I understand if you don't want to leave now, I just want you to know all of your options"

Not answering immediately, Caroline allowed Eragon to hold her hands as she looked at his blue eyes, she could see in his eyes that he truly only wanted what was best for her.

'It's not like I didn't know this day would come eventually… and although I have good friends here, I'm not leaving for good, I'll be back someday to visit them. Besides, Eragon is my only family that I truly need' after a few moments of deliberation she finally made her decision to leave the island with him.

"you know what? let's do this!" hardening her will she said in a confident voice, squeezing Eragon's hands to show him her determination.

"Excellent! I can't tell you if you made the right decision, but I can tell you that I will do whatever I can to make you happy" Eragon showed her a smile and spoke while caressing her face "let's eat before we start packing our stuff?"

"OK" a smile also spread on Caroline's face as she started to eat. The food was delicious as always, she really couldn't understand how using the same ingredients Eragon's cooking taste so amazing while hers only tastes normal.

Eragon didn't try to hide any secrets and he tried to teach her how he cooks, from the Intensity of the fire to the positioning of the frying pan. Although she did get better and the food she made was excellent as well, it still didn't come close to Eragon level. Obviously, it wasn't her fault as Eragon's skill [Cooking] allowed his expertise while making food to soar to new heights every time he made a dish. At his level, just a random dish will taste like it was made from a Michelin 3-star restaurant from his past world.

After they finished eating they started packing, and since Eragon told Caroline to take only things that have a sentimental value they didn't have to work for long. While they were packing, Eragon created some Kage Bunshin to make a few rounds to the ship so that they won't have to take all of their stuff in one trip later.

After a few hours, they finally finished packing and sending everything to the ship, going to the window to look at the sky Eragon saw it was only noon and there was still time to set sail today.

"I think that's everything, what do you think? did we miss anything?" he asked Caroline while looking around the house to see if they forgot anything.

"I think that's about it, now all that's left is to cover the furniture's so that it won't get full of dust" Nodding her head in agreement she went to the closet to grab some sheets for the furniture "Oh, right, are you sure we have enough food and water on the ship for the both of us?"

"Of course there is, you know it's not my first time salling at the sea right?" feeling amused Eragon could feel his mouth twitch upwards in a small smile before he continued "And besides, if we really run out of food and water we could always eat fish and I can make water with my Chakra so you don't have to worry" Eragon tried to assure her so she will stop worrying.

"How about I will finish here and you go and say goodbye to your friends?" taking the sheets out of her hands he suggested so that they can save some time. Being a reincarnated soul plus always staying outside training and hunting to get exp points, he didn't have any friends in the village he felt the need to say goodbye to. But Carolina was different, she usually stayed in the village all the time and had quite a few friends that she will probably miss.

"Fine, when you finish I will wait for you at the village entrance" Before she left, her gaze wandered around the house one last time in sadness.

After Eragon finished his work he locked the house before using 'Body Flicker Technique' to speed towards the village entrance. He didn't want to meet anyone for some touching farewell and since Caroline was outside for a while now saying goodbye to her friends he figured everyone in the small village already knew they were leaving. Luckily for him his 'Body Flicker Technique' was fast enough that the villagers could only see some blurs at best.

Finally arriving at the village entrance he saw Caroline already waiting for him and next to her was a fat woman in her late 50s which Eragon immediately recognized her as one of Caroline's friends, Kate the wife of the grocery shop owner. He immediately know a headache was coming his way.

"Hope I did not make you wait long, hey Kate" Quickly approaching them he asked in a smile.

"There you are! I didn't even know you were back and now you plan to leave for good without even telling us?" Putting her hands on her wide hips Kate shouted at him with a dreadful glare.

"Well, you see, I returned yesterday in the middle of the night and I didn't see anyone, and besides who told you we are leaving for good?? of course, we will come to visit in the future!" wearing an apologetic expression he tried to bullshit his way out, if it was any other person he would have just ignored her but Kate was always good to him and Caroline even before he became famous. When they didn't have anything to eat she would sneak food for them from the grocery for free without her husband's knowledge, so he always felt closer to her than to the rest of the villagers.

"Calm down Kate, you know you have heart problems so you shouldn't get too worked up" with a worried expression Caroline tried to calm Kate.

*Ptooi*

"Would I need to get angry if he at least came to say goodbye?? No! Caroline you are too soft on him, ever since he got a little famous he started thinking that we are all beneath him, watch how to make him straight!" scowling deeply, Kate spat on the floor while she rolled up her sleeves like she was going to have a fight with him that very instant!

'Thank you but I am absolutely straight without your help…" feeling his eyebrows twitch Eragon knew he has to resolve this quickly before more villagers gather and then they will definitely not set sail today. Taking a deep breath, he slowly closed his eyes.

"You are right, I know I should've come to say goodbye, I'm sorry" lowering his head his expressions shifted between gloominess and paleness.

"you…sigh, Don't forget your promise, you have to come to visit us in the future. Now fuck off, I don't wanna see you anymore" After his apology Kate was left speechless, she couldn't really fight with him and he already apologized so there was no point continuing to reprimand him.

"Goodbye Kate" signing in in relief Eragon immediately grabbed Caroline and used 'Body Flicker Technique' as fast as he could, disappearing from the spot in an instant.

Seeing Eragon leaving like he was fleeing from a crime scene Kate could feel all of her anger return again, Involuntarily yelling as loudest as she could

"Eragon, come back this instant!!"

Hearing the shout behind him, instead of slowing down Eragon speed up even faster until he finally disappeared from her line of sight.

'Hahaha like hell I will return only to hear a mouthful again'