“Really? How can you tell?” Ezekiel asked.
“Look at those designs. Definitely of the make of a water adept,” the rogue clarified.
“Just because it is a water adept ship doesn’t mean it is from your homeland,” Kara reminded Faux.
“Yes I know…but it is a good chance that it is,” Faux said, quickening his pace. “And I be they have food!”
“Well there is only one way to find out,” Kara said cheerfully.
The three of them hurried towards the station. Upon reaching it, Kara dismounted and walked up to a raspy old man with a large stick.
“Excuse me, sir, but we were wondering who’s ship that is?” the paladin asked, indicating the boat nearby.
“That’d be ours…” a whimsical voice responded. The tune of it seemed to perk Faux’s ears up, and his eyes shined with excitement.
“Hah! I told you it was a ship from my homeland! That’s the dialect!” Faux exclaimed.
“…but you don’t sound like that,” Ezekiel reasoned.
“Yes…but…I was just a child when I left that place, so I grew up learning to speak differently. I’ve been back there, and that is most definitely the way they spoke there,” Faux responded.
“He’s right you know,” a gruff yet still whimsical voice said.
All three adventurers turned to see a couple walking towards them. Both were fairly tall, about Faux’s height, and had blue hair. The female, however, had a fine line of shimmering white running down in front of her face.
“Allow me to introduce us. My name is Reala Mei. This is my husband, Wevin Lo,” the woman said, that same whimsical voice playing pleasantly in Faux’s ears.
“You mean…you don’t have the same last name, yet you’re married?” Kara asked, confused.
“No no, those from the Vilimea Lake region don’t have last names, nor do we share them when married,” Wevin Lo said, his voice gruff but eased.
“So…Fo isn’t your last name, Faux?” Kara asked, turning to a beaming Faux.
“Nope, it’s part of my whole name,” Faux said with a chuckle. “I just never corrected you because it really doesn’t matter to me.”
“Oh, I am so sor-” Kara began to say.
“Don’t worry about it. Keep calling me just Faux if you want,” the rogue was quick to interrupt.
“Uh…don’t you guys want to know who I am?” the raspy old man finally said, waving his stick in the air to get attention.
“No Granen, just go back to your work,” Wevin Lo said, waving away the old man.
“No one ever wants to hear my tales…” Granen grumbled, slowly walking away.
“So, Faux Fo, you say? Well met,” Wevin Lo said, offering a friendly hand to the fellow water adept.
“Yeah, that’s me. Good to see you as well,” Faux said, calmly shaking Wevin Lo’s hand.
“You say this ship is yours, eh?” Ezekiel asked.
“Oh yes. We’re one of the few carriers that cross these dangerous waters. I’m sorry, I didn’t catch Faux Fo’s friend’s names. Who might you two be?” Reala Mei said.
“The name’s Ezekiel. Just a simple adventurer,” Ezekiel said.
“My name is Kara Kitsurui, paladin of Rullenfay,” Kara said, using a more formal introduction with a slight bow.
“…Rullenfay, you say? You wouldn’t happen to be that ‘Guardian of Light’ we’ve been hearing so much about, would you?” Wevin Lo asked, his expression turning somewhat sour.
“Y-yes I am. Why do you ask?” Kara responded, sensing the uneasiness between them.
“I see…well, we certainly have ourselves a special ticket today. Wouldn’t you say, Reala Mei?” Wevin Lo said.
“Yes indeed. Please don’t mind Wevin Lo’s disposition, he used to be part of the Vilimea Army, and after that little altercation with Rullenfay he’s always been a little weary of soldiers from there,” Reala Mei explained, putting a calming hand on her husband’s shoulder.
“Oh, I see. I remember that, even though I was just a lass in the monastery. You do not have to worry, after the Treaty of Goorse, Rullenfay has had no harsh feelings for your people, nor do I. I am not concerned with the military that much. I fight for my god and monastery, that’s it,” Kara assured, fingering the holy symbol of Keith around her neck proudly.
“I heard you’re quite the popular person back in Rullenfay. What brings you out this far?” Wevin Lo asked.
“I was sent on a mission by my monastery to cleanse the evil that resides within the recently rediscovered Adept’s Stone. These two gladly offered their assistance to me, and I am grateful for it,” Kara explained.
“Yep, that’s only because we’re friends,” Faux clarified, rubbing his hungry stomach as it began to growl again. “I have to ask, what are the two of you doing on this river? It doesn’t even connect to the Vilimea Lake.”
“Ah, I figured that question would present itself sooner or later,” Reala Mei said. “We sailed all the way down the coast of Liteo and into the Lesser Litean Ocean. From there, we sailed up this river. Eventually, we simply took up the job of carriers for certain travelers or merchants who are daring enough to come this way,” Wevin Lo said, his smile returning in the reference to his journey.
“You have been to the Lesser Litean Ocean?” Ezekiel asked, a glint of interest showing in his eyes.
“Yes, and the Greater Litean Ocean as well,” Wevin Lo responded proudly.
“That is a tale I am eager to hear someday,” Ezekiel said, rubbing his chin at the thought of the ocean.
“Anyway!…you two wouldn’t happen to have any food that we could have, would you?” Faux said impatiently.
“We do but…” Reala Mei began to say.
“But what…?” Faux asked.
“The only way you’re getting it is if you ride our ship!” the woman answered with a laugh.