Voyage Of The Villainess

Malaya and the others were currently having a short break and trying to reflect on everything that just happened during the first stage. Since, after the fight with the two Krakens and the crossing of the whirlpools, they didn't have much room even to breathe with ease. And looking at the surroundings, everything was utterly quiet. There was no wind blowing and the waves were even calmer and soothing in their ears.

Iris picked one roasted tentacle of the Kraken and ate it like a savage. 

"Ugh! There is always something uniquely tasty where you put a lot of effort into hunting your own food. Hmm, I think our hardships are worth it." Iris broke the silence while eating the tentacles and the other hand was holding another piece of tentacles. 

"Yes! Yes! It's so tasty and delicious!" Lila said. "I totally agree with you! This is my first time eating such delicious tentacles, I add this to my favorite foods aside from the squids."

Then after hearing those words from Lila. Malaya suddenly remembers their first interactions when she was eating squids. 

Well, after those arduous fights and paddling she was really hungry. The same with everyone who was now eating like there was no tomorrow. And none of them were uttering a single word. The only thing that could be heard at the moment was the sound of their plates and the rustling sounds of fires that were roasting the food.

'Looks like everyone was enjoying their food huh,' Malaya said while observing the whole team.

Some were even resting now after eating enough food. Hyun Jae, Lila, and Rhyme looked extremely tired and were now sleeping in their cabins.

After an hour, Malaya was above the deck, looking at the second stage that they were approaching soon. Despite the calmness of the place they were in right now, ahead, one could see the thick dark clouds along with a few lights from lightning.

"Why are you not resting?" Malaya turned when she saw Iris approaching her. " The captain must take care of her health so she can lead properly"

"The rushing of my blood is still not cooling down." Malaya simply answered as she gazed ahead.

"Rushing your blood?" A playful grin escaped Iris' lips as if there were some demons playing inside her head. "You mean about your CPR?"

At the mention of that, Malaya suddenly felt all the blood rush to her cheeks. 'How could she almost forget that. No, she should have forgotten about that. But some idiot just knows how to make fun of her.'

"You know that it's the only way to save him," Malaya said, avoiding Iris' contact. "There is nothing behind it."

"Are you certain?" Iris grinned even wider as she looked at Malaya's flushed face. This was the first time she was seen embarrassed like this.

"Hah," Malaya let out an exasperated sigh. "Think whatever you want."

"Yes, yes, I'll think whatever I want." Iris laughed out this time. 

There is a few seconds for pausing that keep the silence."Alright! Enough with the jokes," Iris also leaned forward then looked ahead at the darkened place they were heading. "This place has really red water." 

"Yeah, the border that is separating from your story to another world out there," Malaya said. "Do you really have no idea about how the Red Current came to be?"

" Yeah,I don't have an idea." Iris shook her head. "As I said, this Red Current is something I didn't write. Only the whole continent of Illahayah. Where the main events of the Fate of the Stars happened like what I told you before."

"I see..." Malaya gazed ahead. "Then perhaps we might find out the truth of this world, once we reach that new world outside your book." She extended her right hand to the horizon and closed it as if she grabbed something." Isn't that interesting, right?" 

"Hah. You really have such a huge dream. Sometimes I wonder about myself why I followed such an ambitious and insane person like you." Iris said.

"Well, that can't be helped. Since if you want to make history you have to do some things that are insane things no one has done before." Malaya chuckled. "And I need insane people who will help me to accomplish that as well."

"Now, it only means you're calling me insane." Iris shook her head. "I guess I'm really insane for following you. I just don't know about the others though. Malaya..."

"Hmm?" Malaya waited for Iris to continue her sentence.

"You told me before that you have one major desire to achieve in this lifetime, right? You said that it was your dream to travel the world. Not just to travel but also to make history in this world and you are doing this because of your promise to your father. That is why you are doing all of this."

"Yes," Malaya simply answered.

"But that dream was just the outcome, and the promise you made and the making of history is just additional drivers to push your dream. It's not like you are trying to prove that the world is round, or given orders to search for new lands to seek treasures either."

"What are you trying to imply, Iris?"

"Say Malaya, what is the root that stemmed out of your dream?" Iris asked. " In other words, what is your  deepest 'why'?"

"..."

After a few moments of silence, Malaya finally answered. "Is there a need for a reason for you to dream?"

"Yes," Iris said. "Poor people dream to be rich because they are poor. Politicians want to succeed in higher positions to gain more power.  Most kings and emperors dream to make their nation prosper because this is their duty. And I follow you here because I have no direction to head-on. Malaya, there is a root for everything. There is always a reason behind our actions and I know your root or your deepest why was quite powerful to act at full of determinations. Everyone always has something they are willing to work on and that ' something' makes their souls ignite even the most dangerous and darkest part of their life. But if you're not comfortable saying that to me, then it's alright."

There was another heavy silence that filled the air. It took a few minutes before Malaya spoke.

"No, it's alright," Malaya said. "I'll tell you since you are the one who will write everything about this journey." She glanced up towards the red skies. 

Iris looked at Malaya this time waiting for her words.

"I wanted to travel the whole world, because," a faint smile escaped Malaya's lips.. "Because it's the only way where I can pay for the sins I committed."