Chapter 28

Delicately, the sun rose over the vast expanse of the sea as the crew upon the galleon stirred. On the seventh day at sea, Aiko awoke and stepped out onto the deck to find Luca standing at the edge, gazing out over the water. She approached him quietly.

"Hey, morning," Luca greeted without turning his head. "Did you sleep well?

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smiled wryly. "Morning. Actually, I slept quite well. What about you, Luca?"

"It was alright," Luca said from beside her, his voice a little listless compared to his usual.

Aiko caught the difference in his tone and asked, "Is something troubling you?"

Luca blew out a great sigh, his eyes still fixed out to sea. "I just feel. down. Constantly putting you all in danger, and it's gnawing on my guts."

Aiko didn't need to be told twice, embracing him from behind and making Luca jump with surprise. "We're more worried about ourselves than you," she whispered. "You are the only one who can fight the Naxsons. We can't even help."

Luca placed his hands on Aiko's shoulders and turned to face her. "Without you all, I wouldn't have made it this far," he confessed, drawing her into a warm hug. Aiko squeezed him tighter, her face crimson with emotion.

"Oh, Luca," she whispered, lost in the moment.

Then, out of nowhere, Lefn appeared with this awkward tone. "Umm. this is. nice," she said, quite obviously feeling uncomfortable.

Embarrassed, Luca and Aiko hastily let go of each other, turning to Lefn. 

"I think Leon needs me for something," Luca said in a rush as he started off in a trott.

"And I forgot to make breakfast for everyone!"

Aiko hurried to the kitchen, her mind racing. What. what was that? she wondered, still feeling the warmth of Luca's embrace. We hugged for so long. I didn't want to let go. Her hair started to be fidgeted with, while in her mind, the scene replayed over and over.

Luca, pacing now on deck, was no less distracted. She clung to me so tightly, he mused, the memory clearly within his mind. It was so hot. I didn't want to let go.

Lefn, still standing where she had, blinked at the empty space where Luca and Aiko had had their stance, her face taut. "They embraced for so long," she thought. "It was. painful to watch."

****

Hours later, savory aromas billowed from the galley of the ship as Aiko prepared a seafood feast-plump scallops, jumbo shrimp, tender fish fillets, and mussels she had fresh off the ocean. herbs in a rich, fragrant broth that filled the air with the scent of the sea.

With the crew sat down to eat, the mood drastically lightened. Rich flavors of the stew melted in their mouths.

Luca took a bite and instantly fell in love. "Aiko, what is this?" he asked, wide-eyed, addressing her. "How did you make this heavenly food?"

Aiko blushed, proud of her work. "Well, I used the fresh seafood we caught yesterday. I used some herbs I brought with me from home. Then, I let the broth simmer to concentrate the flavor."

Luca leaned back in his chair, seemingly impressed. "Gee, you are one great cook. One day, you'd make a great wife."

Aiko's face brightened to a deep crimson as she fidgeted with her hair. "R-really, Luca?"

Before Luca could even respond, Lefn suddenly popped up beside them, grinning mischievously. "Yeah, Aiko! You're such a great cook; you'll make a perfect wife for some unknown guy we don't know yet, right, Luca?"

Luca stuttered, his face reddening at Lefn's tease, "I. I think so?"

"That's right!" Lefn chimed in with a mirthful grin.

Meanwhile, Mei of Leon's group addressed her little brother, Mao. "Hey, Mao, can you heal my leg?"

Mao nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, sister." He placed his hand on top of Mei's leg and a soft glow emitted as her injury started to heal.

Leon took notice of it and asked with interest, "What happened, Mei?"

Mei shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing serious. I just tripped this morning."

Leon smiled in relief. "It's a good thing we have Mao on board."

Lefn suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Mao. "Mao, I didn't get to thank you properly for healing me the other day. Thanks to you, I'm alive. I'm truly grateful."

Mao blushed at the attention given to him. "It's.it's okay, Miss Lefn. It was my pleasure."

"Please, just call me Lefn," she insisted with a gentle smile.

That was when Luca burst out laughing. "I forgot how Lefn can be at times - so formal".

While washing the dishes with Leon later that day, as the sun drew to a close and evening set in, they enjoyed the cool breeze outside.

"Thanks for everything, Luca," Leon said abruptly.

Luca turned to him, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean. saving us all the time. I don't know what we'd do without you."

Luca shook his head. "It's my job. I'm the reason you're all here in the first place."

Leon hesitated before asking, "If you were a chosen hero. what would you do?"

Luca's eyes widened at the question. "What do you mean? I'd kill the Naxon King and end this war."

Leon nodded but grave. "That is what all heroes say. Not a single one killed the King of Naxon, neither did this hero of yours. So again I ask you. what would you do?"

Luca was dumbfounded by his question, but he answered sure of himself after a moment of silence, "I would die trying."

Leon's eyes went wide with surprise with his response, but he nodded in understanding. "I see.

Later in the night, Luca lay in bed, and Psyros's all-too-familiar voice echoed in his mind.

"Luca. we need to talk once we reach land."

Luca sat up, frantic. "Is everything okay?"

"You will know soon enough," Psyros replied at an evasive volume.

Luca's heart was racing as he lay back down, staring at the ceiling, wondering what awaited them when they finally reached land.