The group then returned to the village safely, with the head of one of the giants as proof of their victory.
Loki, who had been left behind for his safety, immediately flew to Hael's shoulder, the worry and relief evident in his eyes. "Are you alright?" He asked Hael, though his eyes also looked over at Ceremus as well.
Hael smiled. "Yes, we're fine." He then turned to face Hypsipyle. "There shouldn't be any more giants causing you guys trouble anymore." He said.
Hypsipyle was taken over by emotion when she heard this, her body trembled and she felt a huge sense of relief overtake her. They had been dealing with the giants for months now and ended up losing a few of their people along the way. But now, with only a single day, those giants that had been a blight on their lives were now gone. She could hardly believe it, but the proof was right in front of her—severed and oozing with blood.
The Village Head bowed her head, this time with tremendous respect and reverence. "Thank you so much, Your Majesty, I don't know how much longer this would've gone on…we couldn't have defeated them without you, the both of you. Thank you."
The other villagers did the same as they bowed their heads in gratitude, even Cecilia did the same, but this time, she meant it.
Hael's eyes softened with warmth as he looked at the group of women. It always felt good to help others, and the fact that he could do it alongside Ceremus made him feel even happier. He hoped Ceremus felt the same way.
"…It's fine. Think of it as payment for letting us stay here," Ceremus replied, his voice slightly strained, though there was an undercurrent of something deeper beneath his nonchalant demeanor. "You should consider selling that head. You'd fetch quite a price for it," he added, gesturing toward the severed giant's head.
The king could feel a flush creeping up his face, and Hael couldn't hide the amused smile tugging at his lips, seeing how embarrassed Ceremus was.
Ceremus cleared his throat once more, trying to regain composure. "It's quite late. You should all get some rest." With that, he walked away awkwardly.
Loki, perched on Hael's shoulder, watched Ceremus retreat and couldn't help but scoff. "What's his problem? Does he not know how to accept gratitude?"
Hael patted him on the head. "Hush, he's dealing with it the best he can and that should be all that matters." He replied.
Loki eyed the young man with a scornful glance. "You always come to his defense."
"Of course I do, and I always will," Hael replied matter-of-factly, leaving the bird momentarily speechless.
"Uh, sure, alright then," Loki mumbled, unsure how to respond.
The following morning, Ceremus let the crew know that they would be setting sail that same day. They had rested plenty and the Village Head as a gift for defeating the giants, helped them restock their supplies and bring food that would last them then next seven days.
With everything prepared, they were ready to set off.
"You all are more than welcome to stay a little longer, Your Majesty." Hypsipyle said.
Ceremus shook his head. "No, we are expected to arrive at our destination in a certain amount of time so we cannot afford to be derailed right now." He said sternly.
"I see. Then you best be off. I wish you all safe travels and hope you find what it is you are looking for." She said.
Her last comment was said in a rather strange and mysterious way, and Ceremus wasn't sure how to take it. Luckily he had Hael by his side who thanked the older woman in his stead.
They glanced at the Island of Gynē, the villagers who looked up at them with kindness and gratitude instead of wariness and the King couldn't help the little smile that appeared at the corner of his lips.
I was finally able to pay the island a visit, father. Though I wasn't able to confirm whether or not the curse is true, I learned much from the visit. He thought to himself.
As they sailed off, Hypsipyle raised her arm in a farewell wave. The sleeves of her robe slid up slightly, revealing her forearm, covered in small red patches. The sores glistened in the morning sun, an unfortunate sight that Ceremus was unable to witness.
~*~
Elias sat at his desk, boredom weighing heavily on him. Ever since his break a few months ago, he hadn't had a moment's rest. The guild had grown busier, and as a result, so had he.
For days now, he'd been trapped within the confines of his office, drowning in paperwork. He missed the presence of other people—not just his vice-captain, lieutenants, or subordinates. He saw them every day; they didn't count.
No, what he wanted was to see someone from the outside. Someone like… Anemone.
He couldn't help thinking about the capricious, and Elias realized just how long it had been since they last spoke. He missed his presence—missed the way Anemone disrupted the monotony of his routine. A strong urge to see him took hold, but one glance at the towering stack of paperwork crushed that thought immediately.
There was no way he'd be able to see him. Not anytime soon.
"Captain?" A voice called, followed by a knock. The sound snapped Elias from his daze, and he lifted his head, eyes shifting to the closed door.
"Yes, come in," he said.
The door swung open, revealing Casper—the first lieutenant of the Royal Guild. He stepped inside, glancing around the office, his brown eyes glimmering with a mix of amusement and sympathy.
By now, everyone knew how long the Captain had been holed up in his office. His endless workload had even begun to stir concern among the guild members, prompting them to devise a plan. Every hour, a huntsman not on duty would take over part of Elias' paperwork, giving him a much-needed break.
The real challenge? Getting him to leave his desk in the first place.
That's where Casper came in. Clever and cunning, he had concocted the perfect bait—one he knew even Elias couldn't resist.
"What is it, Casper?" Elias asked, rubbing his temples.
Casper straightened his posture, schooling his expression into one of urgency. "I'm sorry to disturb you, Captain, but there's an emergency at the palace that requires immediate attention. Lord Anemone has specifically requested your aid."
Elias' head snapped up so fast Casper almost flinched. "What did you just say?"
Casper barely kept his composure, suppressing the urge to smirk at the sheer alarm on the Captain's face. "There's an emergency at the palace, Lord Anemone—"
He didn't even get to finish before Elias shot up from his chair and pushed past him, moving with a speed he reserved for battlefields.
"I'll be taking my leave," Elias called over his shoulder.
The office door slammed shut, leaving Casper standing in stunned silence.
A beat passed. Then another.
He blinked. "That actually worked?"