"It is not that extreme...If anything, I believe if I want to be free of these pained memories then I really should do this."

"But can you promise me that you'll tell me if you don't want to do this anymore?"

"Come now, Hadeki. I may a little disoriented but I'm no human. I'm still a God..."

"Ei."

The woman playfully rolled her eyes and leaned in to kiss his chin, his height being a disadvantage to her.

"Alright, alright...I will."

With a satisfied smile, Hadeki releases her and swoops down to pick up his rather sizable bag.

"So...where is this transport you spoke....of?"

Ei stopped as she followed Hadeki's gaze to the farther sight of the ocean. A giant and proud ship made it's way towards the dock. Once it did get closer the true scale of it's presence came with it as it anchors in place.

"Is this not a bit....excessive? I thought you said we'd be discreet about this..."

Ei asked worriedly as Hadeki helped the docking of the ship.

"Of course, no one would expect the likes of us leaving and coming in something this obvious, also because of it's origins. And besides..."

A large ramp slid out from the ship and fell onto the dock side. A familiar elegant strut with a lively laugh followed as the Captain of the merry ship stepped down.

"You actually kept your word, huh?"

"Saved an entire nation, as you requested."

The two individuals stepped up to each other and firmly shook hands in a loud thud when their arms collided.

"Ha! You made history here, Hadeki Obiyash."

"I just had to compete against the old and respectable tales of the Uncrowned Lord of the seas."

Ei quietly approached the two as Hadeki lifted his hand towards her.

"Our special passenger."

"Who's this lovely lady?"

"The Electro Archon." He replied.

Beidou face, that was always filled with a confident and welcoming smile, suddenly turned into a frown of utter shock as her one eye widened.

Ei side eyed the man next to her. "Whatever happened to keeping things low profile?"

"I'd rather not be lying to the kind Captain who'll be taking us. She's been great help to me and I wouldn't want to break that trust."

"W-wait, you're actually serious?" Beidou asked.

When Hadeki nodded, the pirate bowed to Ei then lifted her arm towards her to offer a hand shake with eyes now filled with brimming wonder.

"It's....really an honor to meet you, your greatness."

"Captain Beidou...I do remember you. I heard many tales and reports that most of our foes in the seas fell victim to a fleet of pirates." Ei shook her hand, a new gesture of greetings she's experienced thus far. "At first I never imagined any human without a vision would be capable of such things but you were always on everyone's mind whenever we had records of dead sea monsters washing ashore. Your reputation proceeds you."

"I'm speechless really..."

"But as strange as this may seem, please do not think of me as another adventurer for the time being, I am merely taking this opportunity of travel for myself. And I must also ask you to not speak out about my presence to anyone, if you can.."

Beidou gave a confused glance towards Hadeki who just smiled as if telling her to play along to the best of her ability. And so, she gave her word and the trio make their way up the ramp.

"Shall Kazhua be joining us?" Hadeki asked.

"Doesn't seem like it." Beidou answered as they board the ship and tend to their luggage first. "With the Decree out of the way, he's had more reason to stick around Inazuma and actually find some peace in being in a nation he was once driven out of."

...

"No offense-" Beidou quickly says to Ei.

"None taken. I'm fully aware of the things that have happened and taken full responsibility of them personally." Ei nodded politely.

"We've had our run ins with him, and all is well." Hadeki further explained. "I do think he deserves this time however."

Now with preparations complete and their nightly get away now secured, all that was left was to let the waves guide them to their new destination.

A returning solace to Hadeki and a new beginning to Ei. The land of contracts awaits them and a new years celebration will welcome them.

It is up their own tuition of things will go well and hope that it would be worth the trip.

If only Ei had remembered to cease the storms of the seas as they departed so the journey would be less troublesome.

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[Sorry for the delayed posts! At the time of writing this and a few days prior, I've been extremely sick and haven't had a good night's sleep in some time. For the time being you may have to expect late uploads but hopefully not for too long! As much as I love writing these stories, I can't really disregard my health over it.]