Voyage Of The Villainess

{"The last stage," Luiz Crallum paused for a moment and everyone could sense the intensity of the energy that covered them all. Everyone was looking at the old man waiting for his words. "The truth is, the last stage which I had never ever been able to cross was and as just the rumors had stated."

The old man looked at all of them and was now more serious than before. "The last stage was the end of the world. All the waters ended up falling down in an infinite abyss that I can\'t even fathom. The only way is to go down. It really looked like the end of the world." Everyone was silent and had an intense focus on the old man.

"No, I am certain. It is the end of the world, and there is nothing that lies beyond the Red Current."}

---⚓⚓⚓---

The words of that old guy, named Luiz Crallum suddenly passed towards Malaya\'s mind out of nowhere. He mentioned that all the waters ended up falling into an infinite abyss. But what lies ahead was not something that he mentioned. Up ahead in the horizon of the crimson sea...

"Hmm, did he mention about a tall cliff?" Iris asked as soon as she made it to the upper deck of the Bituins. 

"No, he didn\'t mention anything like that," Malaya said as her eyes were fixated on the towering rocky cliff or more like a wall. No matter where she looked, that was where the crimson sea ended. And it extended anywhere she looked at.

"Yeah, it doesn\'t look like some sort of abyss. It is more like a wall blocking our path. Iris said. "If this is what it really looks like then what should we do now?" 

Malaya held her head in contemplation. "hmm..."

\'These two, don\'t they know when to take a break!\' Rhyme cried inside his mind when he heard what Malaya and Iris were talking about.  \'But still even though sometimes there is childishness inside of them they still manage to handle the situation properly and wisely.\'

But then both of them suddenly received a light punch on each of their shoulders. They looked at the perpetrator and before they could get mad, they saw that it was no other than Hyun Jae.

"Hmm, I think we still have a long time to think about it, right?" Hyun Jae smiled at both of them. While Malaya and Iris just look at each other without any idea what to say." Hmm how about we have some rest, for now. Then clean the ship. And then that\'s where we plan our next move. There is no need to rush now so that we avoid the danger, right?" Rein smiled at them. But his smile was not reaching his eyes.

Rhyme, Lila, Dorris, and Hyun Jae looked at Rein like she was an angel sent from heaven,

Malaya let out a sigh. "All right, I think that was a good idea. Then let\'s rest for now." She then started heading back to her cabin. When she passed towards Rhyme, she tapped his right shoulders. "Thank you Rhyme for leading us here," Malaya whispered. " You did a great job for today, you must rest too."

A genuine smile formed on Rhyme\'s lips as he turned towards Malaya. But before he could speak anything she was already far from her. \'Captain, and everyone. Thank you as well for trusting me.\' But his momentary joy was interrupted when someone patted his shoulder again. 

\'Why did everyone like to pat my shoulder?\' he thought.

"Don\'t be overjoyed yet. If it happens that we need to return back, you need to navigate all the way we have been through." Iris said as she walked past him.

\'Navigate all the way?\' Rhyme shivered at the thought of the hardship they needed to face if indeed they would need to get back. \'She is really a devil in disguise.\' But nonetheless, a smile still escaped his lips. \'Still to Captain, and everyone. Thank you as well for trusting me.\' 

---⚓⚓⚓---

When Malaya reached her room and closed the door, she finally slumped on the ground. All the tiredness of her body that had built up was now starting to come at her. But there was a huge smile plastered on her face. "We made it to the last stage."

"It was really not an easy journey, huh."

She looked at her hands that had blisters. Due to the inefficiency of magic at the Red Current, all the potion and healing magic they had were utterly useless. "Everyone must also have the same blisters as I am."

With her knees not having any strength. She decided to just lie on the floor. "Ah, I feel all greasy all over my body. I want to take a nice warm bath with soothing music playing in the background. If I sleep on the floor, I might catch a cold. But my body is too tired to move right now." Malaya whispered to herself. "And I am sure that everyone must be tired as well." Her eyelids were now getting heavy. "Each and one of them did their best and truly worked so hard to get here. I\'m really grateful to have them all."

With that said, Malaya finally let herself succumb to her tiredness and sleep. 

Moments later...

Someone opened the door to her room and creased his head when he saw Malaya was snoring lightly while lying on the floor. \'I\'m here to call her since I prepared a meal for everyone. But not only is her door not properly closed but she is sleeping on the floor?\'

Kayden walked quietly to her and scooped her in his arms. He then placed her gently on her bed and removed her shoes. \'Her clothes are still dirty. Just how careless can she become? I should tell her maid about this.\' He tucked the blanket towards her.

When he turned around, Malaya muttered something that made him stop his footsteps. 

"I\'m sorry, everyone." Her tone was sad and in pain. Very different from her outgoing and happy-go-lucky self.

"Is she sleeping talking to herself now?" Kayden said. His brow furrowed more when he saw her conflicted sleeping expression. He released a deep breath as he walked towards her. He then slowly caressed her head, the same thing that his real mother did to him before he went to sleep when he was just a small child.

Malaya\'s sleeping face started to become comfortable.

"You are really a very handful one, Malaya," Kayden muttered.