Last chapter, Elio, Amandeath, Metallic, and Quilline returned to the abandoned apartment building Seric and Karia were stationed in. After trying to lie about what the four were really up to while Seric and Karia slept, Elio indirectly forced a confession out of Metallic- which disgusted Karia.

With Karia warning the quartet to not come anywhere near the boat for the time being, the four were left to their own devices. During that time, Elio started to interrogate Amandeath to see her true thoughts and motivations on the attack- which irritated Amandeath, but she started to open up after Elio compared her to Quilline.

Seric's P.O.V.

A few minutes earlier...

I finally hear Karia walking inside my boat's cabin after she called me to come out a few minutes ago, scared the shit out of me since I was sleeping- but I decided to stay inside once I heard Metallic tell me to. Since yeah, Karia didn't seem to argue with that... have to say I was a bit worried that Metallic shut her up by force though, glad she's ok.

Enough reflecting though- I get out of my sleeping bag that I was lying in for some extra comfort, walk past the bits of stuff I have on the pure white floor of my small room, and open my bedroom door to meet Karia in the boat's main indoor "lobby" as we call it.

"He- hey! Is everything alright?" I flinch and stutter as she slams the door to my boat's cabin shut.

"Crap, should I have gone out to help her after all?" I think to myself with a bit of worry, but try to keep my cool so that I won't start dripping flames in here and make a mess.

"Does it look like things are fucking alright? ...Sorry- that was too harsh. But yeah, so it turns out our lovely, FANTASTIC allies decided to attack a Hopian Army training base while we were sleeping. Which means new recruits were the victims there, which probably means conscripts- and that could mean anyone from 16 and up, if the recruitment age hasn't changed since I've been there. And considering Quilline probably planned out the attack? The ones who died quickly probably got off easy." Karia says which makes my eyes open wide,

"Oh no... oh shit that is bad. But wait. We already kinda knew that Quilline and Amandeath's morals were screwed. But Metallic, what about him? Was he just dragged along, or?" I almost have a small panic attack due to that probably being a guaranteed sentence to hell for them, but I recover pretty quickly when I realize they were already doomed to go to hell a long time ago.

"Metallic's hands were bloodstained, plus he tried to lie about them attacking the base, and when Elio forced him to tell me the truth- Metallic fully tried to justify the attack. Sorry kid, but there's no using his ignorance to clear him of the shit he did this time around. Even Amandeath looked more shaken up than he was, he didn't seem to care at all." Karia says with a frown as I sigh and stare down at the ground.

"...Your boat is soundproof, right Seric?" Karia asks me as she glances back at the cabin door behind her.

"As long as we talk quietly the boat should insulate most normal sounds from inside here, yeah. Why?" I say in a quieter tone back to her, have a strong feeling about what she's going to say.

"...I know you like Metallic but... well, you've already given him tons of chances to improve himself. But he's just getting worse. So-"

"I'm not leaving him." I firmly state, and before Karia can continue I go on,

"Back when we were in that beach simulation, Metallic told me something- and I think it's kind of true, as messed up as it may sound. Considering the situation we've gotten ourselves into and the enemies were facing because of that, well I think you already know this but- we're going to need to do some immoral stuff to survive. And I for one sure don't want to be the guy to do most of that stuff, and I doubt you do either." I say, and Karia doesn't reply yet and so I continue my point since I think she agrees so far.

"Metallic told me he knows that fact as well, and so he wants to- how did he put it... right, he wants to "be our monster". Even if we may see him as being evil, everything he's doing is for us. To make up for the mess he was partially- or mainly responsible for getting us into. So, my point is- with that in mind it wouldn't feel right for me to just leave him behind. Sorry." I say, a bit worried about Karia's reaction here but- well she doesn't seem angry at least, just disappointed.

"...OK, I guess. But bottom line, you don't agree with what he did right? Like attacking the base?" Karia asks me with a glare.

I actually take a second to think which is a bit scary, "Probably not. If-"

"Probably not?" She asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Ok ok I know that sounds bad but, I have no clue what they were thinking- so I'm not going to fully judge them yet. I'm like... 95% sure I don't agree with what they did though. Even if the point of their attack was to scare and throw off the army for a bit, they didn't need to kill anyone to do that- let alone conscripts." I say, and Karia nods.

"Fine. And just so you know, I'm referring to leaving them AFTER we get to Dalkan by the way. So- Quilline's a given, but what about Elio and Amandeath then? Would you be willing to ditch them if we get the chance? Though it seems like Elio may have been "tricked" into helping the other three so, maybe he is somewhat decent still. Big maybe though- and that's only if he's telling the truth." Karia says which makes me think...

"I mean... probably Amandeath, yeah. If she really is insane enough to target and kill innocent people who are forced to fight, then leaving her would be fair... probably. I don't know, didn't you say she seemed to be shaken up after coming back though? If she can just stick to killing the people who need to die and NOT targeting innocents, I really wouldn't mind keeping her in the crew- she's nice to have around. To me at least. Also, wouldn't Metallic flip out if we left her?" I ask as I cross my arms.

"...Yeah. Ok, Elio then? Would you be willing to ditch him? Ah damn it- but then Amandeath would be pissed, which would make Metallic pissed- ugh. What a mess. ...OK, how about this. I'm not saying he WILL but, if Metallic dies before we get to Dalkan- then would you be willing to leave the other two, if they really are monsters like Quilline is?" Karia asks in annoyance as she starts tapping her foot on the floor of the boat,

"...I would probably be ok with that." I say after a second, which seems to make Karia sigh in relief.

"A-'

"If you're about to warn me to not set Metallic up to die, I promise- I won't. I'm not gonna prioritize his life by any means, hell no, but still I won't actively try to take him out because I know you somehow still like the guy. Even though he and Quilline might try and get rid of me anyways... assholes." Karia eases my worries, but that last bit still makes me feel bad...

"If you want of course, we can try and stick together even more. Would be harder for anything to happen to you that way. Then again if they DID try to take you out, they'd probably do it by making it seem like your death was an accident- or they'd put you in a bad position in a fight that would get you taken out." I offer, but realize the offer is pretty crappy after saying that last bit out loud- staying around her more wouldn't even matter much.

"Thanks. Yeah not sure how helpful that would be when we're just in the base like this but, when we're fighting anyone or travelling somewhere- would sure appreciate you keeping an eye out for me. I'd say I'll do the same for you but, well you DO seem to be unkillable with your regeneration so..." Karia says which makes me frown.

She smirks, "Kidding- yeah I'll watch out for you too. Then again I need to keep you alive anyways since if you died or even got captured then, well yeah I wouldn't be able to fulfill my promise to Bersia- AKA completing the trials. And that won't be good news... makes it scarier knowing that something horrible will "await" me if you die, but not exactly what." Karia finishes as she brushes a stray hair off of her forehead.

"True, does sound scary- and thanks. Also... on another note. Is two days really enough time for us to prepare to permanently move to a different continent? Like isn't there still so much you guys need, or want to do here- like saying goodbyes even?" I add in that last bit just to sound nice but, really I am more concerned about supplies.

"We do still have a solid amount of food, water, and clothes stored up on the boat- but yeah true that we're going to need to go on a big shopping spree really soon. Probably today actually. Kinda sucks that we may be using Quilline's money for it but, fuck it whatever- least it'll hurt her wallet. Gonna need disguises for that too though... guess we can get Elio to go out for us actually." Karia says and I nod, not a bad idea.

She laughs right after that, "And as for goodbyes? Hah- I've cut everyone who's ever loved me loose a long time ago. Even by the time I broke you free I already lost all of my friends. Only ones I have left now besides you are the souls inside of me- who I can't even hear." Karia says as she thumps her chest twice, which gets me thinking... hm.

"Sorry if this is a sensitive subject but, what about your family? Did they die, or were you just not close to them o-"

"Never had siblings, Mom died when I was a kid, and my "father" broke down and became a NEET for years after that. Mom was the main breadwinner before she passed as well so, me and the old man were left being pretty broke as we slowly burned through the money we had left from her. You know, because my mom never got life insurance or whatever it's called nowadays." Karia says and I nod to show her I'm listening,

"Anyways, so his solution to get some more cash? He sold me to the Hopian Army as a teen. That "youth program" I got put into was always kept low-key and made to seem like a happy thing, like a kid going to a bootcamp or something- which is why no one's ever really protested against the program. What a joke, and to think my dad expected me to ever come see him again after that..." Karia scoffs at that last bit and kicks at the ground.

"Jeez... I'm sorry. That sounds awful. Kinda understand why you were... aloof before? Or why made the choices you did at least." I say with a frown.

Karia gently punches my shoulder, "Augh, don't say that shit- I'm trying to change remember? I don't need anyone telling me my bad choices were understandable. But I know you were just trying to be nice so, thanks either way." I nod and then change the subject,

"So what now? I mean, I know you're mad at the other four but- shouldn't we start planning really soon? They might be evil but, we do still need them to make it out of here..." I ask as I scratch my chin... not sure if she's ready to see them yet.

"Breakfast is first, I'm starving. Then- yeah we can start the planning right after." Karia says as she turns around and starts to head to the cabin door, to get to the few portable and wireless cooking "machines" we've always had outside on the deck of the boat.

"Um- won't the other four be mad if they can smell what we're making though? Don't want any fights to start from jealousy is all..." I say, adding in the "we're" since I feel bad for Karia cooking on her own for the past while. She said she was just paying me back for how she treated me before but, I think Karia's done a lot to apologize to me by now as is.

Anyways she replies, "It's fine, we need to set more boundaries with them now anyways- and this is a good time to do that. This boat is yours, people should only be able to come on it if YOU want them to." Karia says- and I hold back the urge to say I'd want Metallic to eat with us then... guess I can talk to him right after we eat though.

🍳🍳🍳

"So! The gang's all together again, awesome awesome. Guess I'll lead this meeting unless anyone else can prove to be a better planner than I am. Firstly- a recap for where we stand, especially for Seric and Karia. After we ambushed that army training base, Elio used his Blessing to display a warning to the Hopian Army to give us a 2 day grace period or else we'd strike again. And considering the H.A.'s dealing with protests AND a boost in crime now, think we might just get that grace period." Quilline says with a clap as she sits down on the dirty floor of the hallway we're in, and crosses her eerily long legs. Amandeath, Elio, and Metallic are sitting by her- but me and Karia standing a bit away from them.

"Would've liked to get some alone time with Metallic first but, guess prioritizing planning is smarter." I think to myself with a frown as I glance over at him, he notices and gives me a small wave and a small smile. I wave back, but don't smile. I look back to Quilline as she continues on and start to focus on what she's saying again,

"And of course, within that grace period is when we'll go to Fixed Reality Casino to either win you all the tickets to Dalkan- or just force our way through the teleporter that's locked away somewhere in the Casino. First off, a test. Someone tell me some of the big no-no problems that we need to come up with solutions for right off the bat." Quilline says as she glances around at the group, and I'm the first to raise my hand. She swings her arm up and points at me.