Multiple Visits in one day

With the sun now once again in the air, another ship manages to pick up the grand duke. Leaving Aya, Secessus, and about 6 men of her crew on the cog. Secessus sits alone in the crow nest waiting for the assassin to arrive.

"What have you been up to?" The familiar voice of Cornelius asks. His suddenly appearing and disappearing at will, is not that surprising anymore.

"You will have to train Alessia for a few days. I'm busy." Secessus replies, sending Cornelius away as he beckons him to leave with his hand.

"Don't take too long." Cornelius says before disappearing.

As midday approaches, the crew gathers to eat. Secessus is also invited, as he's described as a temporary ally, and has thus received "eating permission."

Aya and Secessus sit next to each other in complete silence. Minding their own business as they eat.

"So, what do you do?" One of the six crewmates asks, not able to hide his curiosity.

"I hope to be an adventurer."

"And at the moment?"

"Eating with smugglers."

"I mea-."

"Ders, stop asking so many questions." Aya commands, bringing silence over the meal again. Noticing the hostility of their own captain and the stranger who suddenly arrived, the crew decides to simply talk between themselves.

The day passes by slowly as Secessus mainly keeps himself in the crow's nest keeping an eye on Aya who's on the deck. The lake of Stillness is beautiful during the after glimmers of the midday sun. Pieces of branches, flowers, and leaves drift about in the crystal clear blue lake. The life underneath the water is also plentiful, The amount of different fish is staggering, making it clear why this spot is popular with fishing men.

As the evening slowly approaches, Secessus's gaze lands on the different schools of fish trying to eat a white flower.

"EEY! Soup's ready!" one of the 6 crew yells toward the crow's nest. The clanging and spilling of some of the food was a source of frustration for many of the crew. Secessus makes his way down as he prepares to join them. The crew especially rushes toward their evening meal, probably the highlight of their day for these lake-bound seamen. They gulp down without a care in the world as they share stories they haven't told their compatriots yet. Aya and Secessus are the last two to eat. Aya lets Secessus go before her, just like in the morning.

"Why don't you go?" Secessus decides to ask.

"Because I'm the captain."

"Care to explain."

"I lead, so if there isn't enough food, then I should be the one to suffer first." Aya explains as she still has her gaze on the lake of Stillness. Secessus doesn't respond and sits down. He grabs a bowl of soup and also begins to eat.

*COUGH,COUGH* The one member of the crew that seemed to want to talk to Secessus in the early morning begins to cough violently.

Looking like he might have been too eager in gulping down the soup, one of the stronger other crew members begin to hit him on his back.

*COUGH,COUGH,BWAARGH* The cough only becomes more violent as his eyes start to turn bloodshot red.

Aya rushes toward the crew member and immediately performs the Hemlock maneuver.

"Come on Ders! Get it out!" She yells, frustrated, as she tries to save her crew member's life.

*Cough, COUGH* Three other members of the crew begin to slowly cough.

"Coug..Cap...Cough,COUGH..Ca..Bwaarg" One of the coughing crew members tries to say something but the even more violent cough makes him unable to speak.

Aya as captain of this vessel looks with shock in her eyes. She's still preoccupied trying to save one before she can worry about the others.

"Sol! What's go-!" Aya yells at her new ally, not finishing her sentence, as the sight before her shocks her greatly.

Sol's hands cover his mouth as she can see crimson blood being coughed up violently. Looking at everyone dying around her, the answer is quickly found.

"Dammit, Poison!" She yells in frustration, dropping Ders from her grip as she feels the body go entirely limp.

She rushes toward the stairs to go below deck. Her copper eyes blazing with the fire of pure vengeance. A dagger flies past her cheek, leaving behind a small scratch.

"I can presume you to be Aya?" A slow voice with strange intonations speaks. Almost like the words he speaks are unfamiliar to him.

"Show yourself, miscreant." Aya responds as she draws her cutlass, preparing for battle.

Soundless, a figure appears from the stairs she was rushing toward. The figure is a shorter male with sickly yellow eyes. He has covered himself pretty well as his lean build is covered with these black robes combined with red sashes. His armor is clearly light whilst also covering some of his identity as a half mask covers everything from his chin up until the nose. One of his hands is not covered, revealing the tattoo of a humanoid face swallowing a rapier.

"I can consider that threat a positive affirmation, correct?" The male assassin asks, not drawing his weapons.

Aya doesn't respond with words as the captain of her now-death crew rushes forward with her cutlass. Quickly closing the distance, she immediately thrusts toward the assassin's heart. The dexterous assassin however nimbly dodges as he spins aside and creates distance between them once more.

"I've not come here to battle Aya "Sytrich's headache." I've only come here for my quarry." The assassin explains still not drawing his daggers.

"So you kill my crew and want to negotiate now?" Aya responds her cutlass drawn before her.

"Indeterminable factors are unwelcome. Throw away your blade. I've wasted enough time."

Aya looks over as she sees her six crew members laying dead on the ground. Looking at their murderer, she throws the cutlass toward him.

"Let this blade thrust your kneecaps or feel my wrath!" Aya yells, her voice filled with wrath, a clear command.

The assassin again simply dodges the cutlass as the cutlass flies past his chest.

"You should've aimed lower then." The assassin declares unimpressed.

The sword is now past him as a sudden deep pain appears in the back of his kneecap as the cutlass is twisted deeply through it.

"Fine, but if he escapes, I'm blaming you." A figure cloaked in darkness says, still holding the back end of the cutlass. The green emerald eyes are ice-cold as his hands are still covered with his own crimson blood.

"You can do your job later! He has to pay the price for touching my men first!" Aya yells, rushing toward the assassin again.