Not anymore

Clangh!

A fight broke out. A primitive one. Without any sort of malice. Neither party seemed to be in a fighting mood and were just going by the motion. I didn't bother participating and by the looks of it, Shia wasn't interested either.

"I didn't see Rexy," I said.

The sweet smell was kind of making me want to go and hug the siren but I had enough sanity to know that wasn't the best of ideas.

"She was about to jump into the water after you but I held her and later she just disappeared within the ship. I thought she really jumped in but no. We found her on your bed where she fell asleep."

"Where even is the ship?"

"We got shipwrecked, remember?"

"Yes, I do remember but neither of you have answered where Rexy is right now."

"Huh!" the siren yelled, raising up a wave of water around her, using it to shield herself.

Alustur merely flicked his sword and cuts surfaced in the water.

"Can we take a break?" I yelled. "We can always play around later."

I got annoyed looks from both of them. I shrugged and got back to Shia.

"Well, you see…" She hesitated. Something had happened, I guess.

"You can tell me. Right now, I don't think I'd be that surprised…"

"Well, good news is, she's on this island."

"And the bad news?"

"We don't know where…."

I sighed.

Of course, there had be bad news. "Where'd you lose her?"

"Just when we arrived on the continent, here."

"REXY!" I screamed. Obviously, I wasn't expecting her to come running back to me.

Just on instinct.

Slither.

And some rustling… and a couple of seconds later a white lizard dropped on my shoulder.

"Rexy!" I marveled.

"I searched for that thing for three days and it just appears when he shouts once?" Shia groaned and the two fighting warriors ceased their fighting to come to me.

"Oh, so that's the lizard you were searching back then," the siren said. "Indeed, she does have beautiful eyes."

"So, what will it be. Will you lead us to your elder?" Alustur said.

"I will, I will." The lady said and stood close to me. "Precious little thing, aren't you?" She patted Rexy with her finger and moved back into the water. "Come back in a couple of days. I have to notify them first."

"Alright. You have our thanks," Alustur said.

Afterwards, we made way back to the city.

Rexy didn't put up any fuss and just fell asleep on my shoulder. Shia kept staring awkwardly and Alustur led us.

"There are some things I want to do when I get back," I said. "Firstly, I'd like to back Den. But not through military strength. That will be too stupid. I have the backing of a Duke but compared to the church, that's nothing. Instead, we need the backing of the church itself."

"What?" Alustur stared at me, half confused, half infuriated. "Why the church and how?"

"Why? Because I want to use their poison against them. How? I'm not sure yet. Maybe I'll accept their proposal."

"What proposal?" Shia said.

"Remember that mail I got just before setting out? There was a marriage proposal in it. Sent by the pope."

"Julius? Are you certain?" Alustur said.

"I'm sure. They already know I'm betrothed to… but they're still willing to take me under the blanket of the Church. I think they're playing rather cautiously. They don't want to risk anything and either use me or dispose of me entirely. So, instead of resisting, why not play along and bite them when they think they've won?"

"You're not making sense Sol!" Shia said. "That's too reckless! Besides your mother woul-"

"My mother would not come back to life. But millions won't have to die every year either. Actually, I'm sure I'll regret either way. I'm sure there will be issues no matter what choice I make. I'm sure people will suffer either from the church or because of their absence. But I got to do, what I want to do. I will get back at them. And I will destroy them. It's no longer a matter of if. It's a matter of when."

We'd reached the gates and climbed up. Once we were on the other side, we made way for our inn.

Meanwhile, neither of them said anything and they weren't trying to stop me. I suppose they didn't have a way to stop me. My mother had died and I was within my rights to demand revenge and justice. Even if said revenge was going to screw up the world. The world didn't matter to me.

Not anymore.