Voyage Of The Villainess

In the small and yet peaceful island of Gican, the night skies were clear and glittering with sparkling stars and a few groups of small and tiny insects flying around them. Malaya's group decided to create a small bonfire outside the house of the old man Luiz. There, they roasted different kinds of seafood and everyone had a wonderful feast together. Surprisingly, the old man Luiz was quite adept at playing the ukulele. He was playing as the kids, the little Lila, the big Lila, Hyun Jae, Dorris, and even Iris with a cup of coconut wine in her hands were merrily dancing. They were laughing and sharing some different kinds of stories.

Lorn, who was helping and volunteering to clean some of the plates instead of joining the bonfire. He just simply smiled seeing his little sister being happy with them.

'I wish that smile would stay with her throughout her life.' He thought while staring at her sister. ' I love seeing you wearing that genuine smile, Lila.'

Malaya just calmly watched the fun as she drank the hot coffee that was prepared for her by Rein. Rein was also sitting and observing quietly by her side looking at the scene.

"Do you believe that it is only the end of the world, at the end of the Red Current?

"I will have to see it with my own eyes, Milady." Rein simply answered. "That must be the same for you, as well, right?"

"Yes. Whether a new world exists out there or simply the end. I have to see it with my own eyes as well." Malaya said. "Say Rein, you have been by my side for all these four years. But I never got to ask why you chose to be my butler instead of pursuing becoming a navy?"

Rein stopped from what he was drinking. Then he placed the cup of coffee on the plate on his lap. Then she looked directly at Malaya.

"Why did you ask all of the sudden?" Rein's glare became deep. "It is because this is my oath to your brother. I swear to protect you and serve you with my life, Lady Malaya. And I don't want to lose my words"

"Protect and serve me, huh." Malaya also looked ahead in front of her." Do you like what you are doing? I- I just want to know your point of view when you are giving a service to me."

The cold wind suddenly passed through to their faces causing Malaya's hair to slap on her face. Rein removed the blue hair of Malaya on her face " Yes, I like it," he simply said. 

"Another thing is, this is also what Lord Jules has done right? He sacrificed his life in order to save you, his youngest sister. It is really something worth dying for." Rein stood up. "If that is… you're really his sister."

Malaya dropped the cup she was holding as she looked in surprise at what Rein said. "Rein…" she tried to call out to him. But Rein had already joined the other people and talked to them.

Malaya's right hand that was reaching towards him when she called him out, clenched as she dropped it down. 'What does he mean by that? Could it be…'

"You dropped your cup." She glanced up only to see Kayden standing in front of her. He already had the cup she dropped earlier. 

'He was in the ship the whole day, not coming out from his room there. And now he suddenly appeared here. Why can't I just get used to him, appearing out of nowhere  I think he has the ability of ghosting, where he just shows up whether he likes it or not..'

"Kayden, since when did you arrive here?" 

"Just now." He casually took a seat beside Malaya. 

"You seem troubled about something?" Kayden said then looked with a menacing glare at Rein. Malaya followed his gaze." What is your relationship to him?"

"Ah, he's my butler and also my cousin," Malaya said. 'Why am I even saying these things.' She shook her head. "I mean, we just have some minor talk about going to the Red Current. And some painful memories came to me when he left."

"Painful memories?" Kayden asked.

'He sure is quite talkative today or perhaps he was interested in what we are talking about. But it's not really a secret that I hide there is no reason to do it."

"It is almost, five years now, I guess. Because of my foolishness back then both my father and eldest brother died saving me from the Red Current. And before my father died, I promised him that I will cross the Red Current no matter what." Malaya looked at the ground with a pained smile as she remembered once again those painful memories. "And somewhere deep inside me, I'm hoping that somewhere out there. Maybe even just a small chance, there's a way I can bring them back to life."

"Why do you even try to bring them back if they have already died and sacrificed their lives for you?" Kayden said. "You know that once a person dies, they can never come back to life."

'I know.' Malaya clenched her fist. 'But since I got reincarnated when I thought I died, maybe there will be a chance that they can come back to life. If I don't come here in this world, both of them should have remained alive. But this is something I can't tell you.'

Malaya just faintly smiles as she looked ahead. She stretched both her arms. "That's why I said if there is just a small chance. I will search for that chance."

"And what if you fail?" 

Malaya suddenly stopped when she hears Kayden's question. "What if I succeed?" And at this moment her eyes were full of dedication.

---⚓⚓⚓---

After an hour, the rest of the group finally ended their merry little party. Iris, who was drunk and unconscious in what she was doing and acting, was carried by Rein back to her room. While the rest of the girls settled into their room. Kayden also disappeared once again, after a few more moments of having an idle talk with Malaya. Well, they didn't really have any more talks after Malaya told her story. And just watched the ongoing party with silence.

An hour had already passed as the moon was at its peak. But Malaya couldn't still sleep and decided to take a seat at the shore. The waves kept rocking back and forth through the sands. And the wind was chilly making Malaya clutched more to her cloak. But she just looked at the vast and peaceful energy of the ocean.

  She takes a deep breath while feeling all the scenery that the ocean offers."Tomorrow, and the next coming days. We will be going to the Red Current." Her eyes gave off a melancholy gaze. "I will be back again there."

{"Ah! Please help me!" Malaya cried. Tears continued to flow from her eyes. 'I don't want to die again! At least not now, when I haven't fulfilled anything again.'

Jules, even with a pained expression, flew directly at her. He grabbed her out of the boat as it fell right in the whirlpool.

"Malaya. Live." Water enveloped Malaya as she flew towards her father as soon as she heard those words from Jules. But Jules was unable to accompany her. He plummeted down in the whirlpool.

"Father! Jules is about to fall!" When Malaya realized she couldn't see Jules in the swirl, she screamed in panic. " Noo!" Malaya screamed.

"Jules!" Malaya kept screaming hoping that Jules will respond to her.

"This is his choice," Malaya's father said as they flew away from the Red Current. His voice was deep, firm, yet in pain.

They eventually make it to the shore, but as they land, Malaya's father's body suddenly collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood.

"Father!?" Malaya's eyes widened. Her voice was laced with fear and despair.}

Those memories played to her mind again. She clenched her fist as her heart lumped with a heavy feeling. She outstretched her hands in the wide sea. "This time, I'm prepared now Jules, father. I will now take another huge step in fulfilling my promise and my dream. I will make it come true and watch how I do it."

{"Carolle, such a lovely name." The Duke, her father's gaze shifted to the starry night sky.

"From now on, we will be watching you with your brother and Malaya at the Origin of life." He smiled one final time and closed his eyes.}

Malaya stood up. "I will cross that Red Current no matter what. Wait, that's not quite right, I remember that I'm not alone on this journey. " Malaya closed her eyes. "Together with all of my friends, we will cross that Red Current."

Then she looked at the countless stars above. "Please continue to watch over us from the Origin of Life, Jules, father, Malaya."

From a distance away from Malaya, hiding behind a coconut tree, a shadow of someone stealthily moved away.

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