Voyage Of The Villainess

The sun was already rising in the east painting the skies with red and orange hues. Iris opened her eyes, then stretched her arms and let out a big yawn. The cold breeze of the air made her shiver a bit causing her to rub both of her shoulders. However as she turned around, she realized that Malaya was not tied anymore. She became worried and looked after her. 

'How does she remove those ropes from her?' Iris thought. ' That was impossible for her to do on her own. I'm sure there is someone who can help her remove it. I told them not to help her.'

"Good morning, Iris." 

She turned to see Malaya holding two cups of coffee with her. "Have this." Malaya reached the cup to her and she received it without saying anything. It was almost a minute since Iris didn't speak anything so Malaya just directly looked at her.

"What's the matter with that look, Iris? It looks like you saw a ghost." Malaya sat beside her. And after a moment of silence...

"Who freed you?" Iris said with a scowl on her face.

'Oh! That was what she was thinking about.' Malaya thought while grabbing her cup of coffee beside her. 

"I simply freed myself," Malaya said as she sipped some of the coffee. "It is pretty easy if you have some hidden sharp objects and such. Sometimes if you want to prey on someone make sure that they don't have any hidden equipment in their body so in that way they can't survive."

'Is she trying to preach to me now? This girl's attitude is out of the world.' Iris thought while closing her eyes trying to control her irritation and to calm herself.

"Haha alright! So in the end, you always have something to help you to survive," Iris released a deep breath. "So I hope during those moments there is something that comes out inside your head.  Now, tell me, what is your plan? Are you still going to proceed with your idiotic plan?"

"Yes." Malaya chuckled.

Iris just looks at her with sharp eyes while raising her right eyebrows.

"Oh, easy! I'm not done yet. " Malaya chuckled when she saw Iris in those situations.

"How I wish she saw herself," Malaya can't help herself but laugh.

" What's funny?" Iris is now completely irritated at Malaya's behavior.

"Nothing, so I decided to follow my old plan. However, I don't plan on doing it alone now. Or else I might be tied up again."

"Yeah, you better be," Iris said. She grabs the coffee and takes a sip on it. "I'm glad you learned your lesson."

"Well, you're right. This time I realized how you are so concerned about me." Malaya looked down at her coffee and played tapping her fingers on the cup "I was too focused on my goals to the point I forget that there are still people who are willing to help me."

"I'm just afraid that the main character of the novel I'm writing will be dead before she could complete her journey," Iris said as she looked away from Malaya. "You know, I want my stories to have a happy ending. So my readers will not bash and hate me."

"Hahaha. That's indeed a huge problem." Malaya even laughed more. Then stood up. "We will be heading back to the ship. And plan everything from there."

"How so, it is not like we can carry the ship up here? What are you thinking?" Iris asked. 

"That might be a good idea. I'm going to tell everyone tomorrow." Malaya smiled. "Since you tied me up, I have been able to think properly again."

Malaya brought out her Tyr. "Let's go, since you sleep like a log, all of them have started heading down now." 

Just then Iris realized that there were no other people than them now. 

"See you down on the ship," Malaya said as she fired the Trinity. And jumped from the cliff. 

Iris was surprised by this and immediately checked on her. She was already a few distances away from her. "You better start climbing down now Iris!" Compared to climbing, going down for Malaya was far easier. Since she had her Tyr, she jumped from rock to rock so easily without any hesitation on her face.

"What an unstoppable woman! That girl really knows no fear," Iris said as she started making her way down while biting some dried meat that she stored in her pockets.

After another fourteen hours of climbing the steep cliff, they finally reached the bottom again.

Dorris and Rhyme greeted them as soon as they made their way back to the ship. 

"Hyun Jae! Lila!" Dorris ran to them with excitement and hugged them. "How's the top of the cliff? What is on the other side?" She asked as her eyes sparkled. Dorris was patiently waiting for their response.

Lila yawned as she stretched her aching arms. "It is as the old man said. It is where the water ended up and fell into eternal darkness. We think he was right about the end of this."

Hyun Jae also took a seat to rest her aching arms and legs. "There was nothing but absolute darkness. It was scary yet fascinating at the same time, knowing that we finally hit the end."

"Dorris, Rhyme." They both turned to see Rhyme and Kayden, approaching them. Kayden simply walked past him without saying anything and entered the cabin. 

"How's the ship when we are gone?" Rein asked.

"Everything was fine when all of you were climbing out there. I think nothing out of the ordinary happened." Rhyme said. " By the way, how's the journey?"

"I see, Good." Rein also walked past him. "We will tell both of you about everything. For now, let's have some proper rest. Better rest as well, lady Lila and lady Hyun Jae. It was a tiring moment for us. Let's all take back all of our energy first." 

" Okay! Thanks for reminding Rein" Lila responded while Hyun Jae just moved her head and smiled at him.

"By the way, where is Lady Malaya? and Lady Iris?" Dorris asked. "I don't see them with you, even their shadows are out of sight," worry was written all over her face.

"Don't worry about them. They will be here soon." Rein said as he tapped Dorris' shoulder then entered the cabin as well. And after a few minutes, Malaya and Iris landed on the ship as well. Both of their faces were equally tired and the sun had already set once again.

The next day, all of them were now gathered at the upper deck for their meeting.

"As what I have told everyone, I intended to go down there," Malaya said. "And I needed everyone's help. Though this might end for all of our deaths." 

Everyone grinned at her response. 

"I'm already a wanted criminal and there is nothing for me to do," Iris smirked. "I don't have anything to lose whether I die or not. So, for me, it was a win-win situation."

"Milady, no matter where you go, I will follow you even if it's to death," Dorris said.

Rein simply bowed and Kayden remained quiet. 

"If there is a way for me to go back to my original world, then I'm prepared to face any obstacles ahead." Hyun Jae said.  "No, I have already told myself that nothing is going to be easy."

"I've long been prepared for any dangers since I joined the crew." Rhyme said with determination in his eyes. " And at this moment I'm confident to die with you"

"I didn't know that all of my crewmates don't fear death. How courageous." Malaya smiled.  "But because of that, we have made all our way here. Another obstacle like this is not something that is going to stop us now. So listen everyone, the plan is very simple."

Everyone looked at Malaya waiting for her next words with anticipation.

'Go, whatever it is Malaya.' Iris thought while looking at her directly in her eyes.

A grin emerged on her lips as she glanced at each of their eyes. "We are going to bring the Bituins all over the other side of the cliff."

Everyone was just looking at her with confusion but Iris broke it all.

"So you will really go with that." Iris just laughed. 

"Of course, what will we use to sail in the undiscovered world, if we don't have our ship," Malaya said as she chuckled as well. "So we need to bring Bituins as well with us. Plus all of our supplies are here. Even if we managed to make it at what goes beyond the Red Current, we will be dead without any provisions."

"All right, fine I get it." Iris sighed. "So genius, what will be this crazy plan of yours to bring the ship to the other side of the cliff?" She asked as she looked intently at her. Everyone looked at Malaya for her answer with more anticipation.

Malaya's grin grew even wider.. "Let's call this plan, Operation Shooting Star."