Holy Draconi

"Scrrraa"

Unsurprisingly, the teal draconi was more than eager to answer my questions once I threatened to remove his genitals.

Funny how that threat is more effective than the threat of death. Probably natural instinct. It's probably against the Geneva Conventions, but they don't have those in this world, so I don't really care.

"Who are you?" I ask.

The draconi opens its lizard-like nozzle, then begins speaking in a scratchy voice, like it was unused to the human language.

"I am Drought Batani."

"What were you doing in Tayde?"

Batani growls, then glances down at the blade hovering over his crotch before replying.

"We were to follow. Track you when you left."

"Why? Who asked you two follow us?"

"Mmm, not asked. Ordered by Great Gaia."

Ugh, the Cyrene are really starting to get on my nerves. Since I couldn't sense Batani's mana signature earlier, and Elizabeth didn't see him when she was checking the crates, whatever skill he used to become invisible probably hides his mana signature, as well.

I bet he was in the room with us, listening to our conversation. That's probably how he knew when were were leaving, and what ship to go to.

"Were you behind the other ships going missing, too?"

The draconi nods carefully, not taking his eyes off the cleaver. For his sake, I hope Elizabeth's brother is alive. Otherwise, she'll probably cut off his genitals herself.

"There should have been a blonde man with golden armor on one of the other ships. Did you kill him and his party?"

"Scraaa"

"What does that mean?"

"No," he growls, "Golden armor man and magic girl too valuable. Sold them to slavers."

"And the others?"

"...Crew killed them."

From the way he said that, I wouldn't be surprised if he killed the others himself. Either way, it doesn't matter.

"Who did you sell them to? Where?"

A few minutes later, I return to the deck, the borrowed meat cleaver covered in fresh orange blood. The battle on the deck has died down. Along with almost everybody on the opposing side.

Elizabeth and what remains of our crew is guarding a tied-up group of prisoners. I see Vol helping patch up Irene's arm by the railing.

"There you are, Seb. We were starting to get worried."

"I'm fine. I was just interrogating a draconi."

I turn to Elizabeth.

"It sounds like they sold Jonas and the mage from his group to some slavers. They should still be alive."

She seems to relax a bit. It's not the best situation, but definitely more positive than them being dead.

Based on what I got out of the late Drought Batani, him and his group were some sort of religious extremists, following Gaia's words to the letter. They were stealing the metals to prevent us from rebuilding the manacaster. Apparently, it's "heresy." Not sure how that's heresy and slavery isn't, but what do I know.

Quite a few hours later, we arrive back in Tayde with the shipment of metals, which are promptly partitioned out to the various blacksmiths in the area.

While I keep the impatient Elizabeth company on the boat, we wait for Vol to get permission for us to head to Kira Isle, where Jonas and the mage were sold. About an hour later, him and Irene return to the ship, looking pleased.

"We're good to go, Elizabeth," he tells her as she stands up, expectantly.

"Crew need rest. Only we go," Irene says.

"You're coming?" I ask.

"Yes. Is my ship. And you help us," she says, holding the bloodied bandage on her arm, "Want to help back."

We sleep on the ship while Eve's cleaning crew gets rid of the bloody mess of corpses strewn across the ship. The following morning - significantly past sunrise, per Vol's request - we set off to Kira Isle. The trip to Kira Isle isn't nearly as long as the one to Cavern. We settle in the docks just after lunch.

Kira Isle is a small island, which is still mostly inhabited by nature. Kira is the only town on the isle, and is accessible from a few small ports, leading into the town center.

Tall wooden buildings place the entire street in shadow, but it's a much nicer place than I had expected for a place where people sold slaves. The houses are old and creaky, but look to be in generally good shape. The road is well paved and live flames in small glass spheres light up the entrances to buildings.

"So... where do we start?" Vol asks nobody in particular.

Vol first looks at Elizabeth, before they both turn to Irene and I.

I point in the direction of the darkest, dingiest alleyway, which smells a bit like rotting corpses. I haven't really traded in slaves in my previous lives, but sometimes I'd walk past some "naughty business" in a back alley. It strikes me as the best place to begin.

"Let's try over there."

Vol chuckles and I see Elizabeth's lips curve slightly upwards before falling back into her blank expression again.

I look beside me to see Irene pointing in the exact opposite direction. I glance over to where she's pointing. A big sign hangs from a large, ovular tent.

"The Finest Slaves In Kira"

Ah.