The Book Of Flowers
Captain Alice (5)
-- The next day, East Crux---
"Hoam..."
Cyth yawns as wide as his mouth can. His body began to stretch as he enjoyed the sunlight that hit his face
He had long since gotten out of bed, but his body still did not feel comfortable. Waking up all night seemed to make his body go limp
"Yo, dummy"
Cyth looked back and heard someone say hello. Broke came towards her while eating some smoked meat
"It's like you haven't slept all night"
"That's how uncle..." Cyth replied weakly
He rubbed his eyes, then went back to trying to stretch
"I don't think I'm going to be working too much today..." He said again in a disappointed tone
"It's okay. Then you have time to accompany me to eat, right?"
"Could... Can I have one of those meats?"
He pointed towards the pouch containing the smoked meat in Broke's hand. Broke opened the mouth of the pouch, then handed 2 to Cyth
"... Tumben gave me more than one" Cyth was astonished
"I want to be nice"
Cyth. To distract him, he started chewing on the smoked meat
"Mending you did a long time ago if it's like that isn't it?" Cyth replied with a mouth that was still chewing
"... Please take care of Alice"
...
Cyth wonders why Broke gave up that responsibility specifically to her? Why is Broke talking as if only Cyth can be relied upon in that regard?
Whatever it is, Cyth just nodded. After all, even if Broke didn't ask for it, he would still look after Alice
"Oh, Captain!"
Cyth turned his head, and found Alice who was being accosted by the others. The smile from his captain who looked happy was...
Maybe we'll be leaving soon with Uncle Broke...
After Broke's departure, it was clear how much Alice would be dejected. Somehow Cyth will control the situation and make Alice smile like that
"Hm?"
Cyth then catches sight of Walter being seen talking to Captain Alice
Not only does it seem to talk. Walter's face at the time...
Indicates that he is angry
Walter even had a glance at Cyth who was standing quite far away from them. A very piercing glance
He then looked back at Alice while continuing to talk to her, while Cyth was immediately confused by the meaning of the gaze just now
But, the more they talked, the more upset Walter looked. Keep going, until Alice suddenly leaves looking upset. Since Alice was facing the opposite direction from him earlier, Cyth only noticed Alice's irritated expression when she left Walter's presence
An annoyed expression mixed with regret
On the other side... Walter just silently stared. He did not even move in the slightest, even his gaze remained in place. Cyth even doubted he was breathing at the time
On that day, it was the last time he could meet Walter
......................
-- The next day, Alice's Room----
"Captain?"
Alice sat quietly on her bed. Her body was facing Cyth, but her face was not. In an instant Cyth asked to speak with four eyes, he knew what Cyth wanted to say
"... I don't want to talk about Walter. He also wanted to leave, right?"
Although he did feel very sorry for Walter's departure, what else could he have done at that time? Looking for Walter all over Crux just to apologize for which he's not sure he'll accept?
Alice's remorse grew when Cyth handed her a letter. The last letter from Walter before he could disappear
The letter alone was enough to explain that he was very disappointed. Whatever Alice says later, she's sure Walter won't come back
"Captain-"
"I don't want to talk about it. You don't need to know what I said that day"
Alice cut off Cyth's words as if she already knew what Cyth wanted her to say
"... Capcaptain. I can't support you if you're rude to her that day"
"... Then you think I can back up his words?"
...
"What... did he really tell you at that time?"
"... He wants me to choose between making Broke stay here or he'll leave"
"What's your answer?"
"... Let's just say I told him to shut up after that, in the worst way you can imagine. I don't have time to explain because I'm annoyed he forced it like that"
...
Cyth looks more and more riled up. Coupled with what Alice had just described, she was increasingly clueless as to what else to say. He knew that the atmosphere would deteriorate if he continued to drag on the conversation
Therefore, he walked out with a disappointed heart. Ignoring Alice who tried to stop him, he walked out looking for someone else to spill his frustration
...
-- Ship Deck --- -
He walked there looking around. But, most of the crew members are still busy looking for Walter. In the hope that he would still be inside the east coast area of Crux, they wanted to find Walter again not just because of Alice's orders. But also because they wanted everyone to remain complete on that ship, without anyone suddenly disappearing
"They're very busy, aren't they...?" Cyth muttered, then limply complained at the edge of the ship
...
A thought began to cross. If they're looking for Walter who's gone up like this...
... What are they gonna do when Uncle Broke leaves?
Are they also going to continue searching and chasing after him like this? Even if leaving was Uncle Broke's best choice?
"... When Uncle Broke leaves later, what fate will the Black Hunt face"
He doesn't know. He cannot see the future. He could only rely on his premonition that he had rejected due to that bad-tone. The only sense of hers she could rely on was rejected outright by herself
He didn't want this crew to just crumble. But, just like a building, if one were to release one of its supporting pillars, a group would collapse, not least Black Hunt
"Oh ya~? Tumben once I saw you moaning all alone like this"
Cyth glanced back as he recognized Broke's voice. But, he did not look at all enthusiastic about meeting Broke
"Why? Struggling with Alice over cheese again?" Uncle Broke continued
"It's not so uncle. I'm..."
Cyth looked down, not daring to look at Uncle Broke as he uttered his words
"I'm afraid that this crew will be destroyed, uncle"
...
Silences. Neither of them spoke when Cyth spoke
But, after a while, Cyth again spilled everything on his mind to Uncle Broke
"Uncle. You are the one who brought us all together. And since my existence makes the captain more favoritist, you alone can put this entire crew in place. Neither me nor the captain who is now will be able to do his best. No one knows how to bring everyone together as well as you
You're the father of this crew. If you leave, I'm afraid..."
...
Broke will still go, whether they want to or not. Rest is what is needed by him. But, Cyth just scratched a trace of regret into Broke's face
Body shaking. He wanted to apologize, but his selfishness said no. His selfishness wants Cyth to continue to force Broke to stay with them
"... Then, son Cyth. I have one question for you
What's the point of a ship?" Broke asked
Cyth gasped at the question, and in the end, dared to look back at Broke
Broke was still waiting for his answer, while looking at the ocean that was still sparkling in the sunlight
"... To sail, circumnavigate the world" Cyth finally answered
"... The complaint that you are making to me right now, is the same complaint I made to my friend"
"...! You mean"
"Yes. Father of Alice. The head of this crew first
I made that complaint just as he was on his deathbed. But he asked me that question. The answer is very simple, but that's what drives me to be right now"
Pushing...
"That means..."
A ship, made to sail over the ocean. They are made to be in the blue ocean, crashing through passing waves and extreme weather
If they did not sail, the ship would be useless. Just stay in place, without being able to take people to a new place towards a new land
"Just like the ship, Cyth, everyone has to keep moving, no matter what. No matter how big the waves are, the weather is as bad as it is, monsters as scary as it is, they still have to move forward. Fear is totally unacceptable in sailing, and as a sailor, you know it"
'All cowards must remain on land', it was a mockery among the sailors. As a sailor, Cyth and the rest of the crew were supposed to be people who were constantly looking for new plains, looking for new things
But, to reach the new plain, a ship that houses them must be sturdy to go through all those obstacles. Otherwise, the ship would break apart and sink everyone on it
"You think me and the captain can do what you did uncle?"
...
"You don't have to do what I do, Cyth. Everyone is special from birth, because only they can be themselves"
"... But that means no one can take your place"
"Of course you can. Maybe it's just better. Because whoever has the greatest intention and effort is the one who will succeed later. Don't let anyone affect your spirit
Such an answer was also given by Alice's father to me. I don't know why I'm repeating all his words using my style"
Cyth laughed
"He sounded like a wise man to a pirate"
"He's the biggest bastard, what do you mean try?"
Cyth and Broke chuckled because of that little joke
...
"Everything will end, Cyth. If you are too afraid of separation and force all things, you will only speed up the separation"
"... Then what should I do uncle?"
"... If you find someone special to you, spend as much time with them as you can. And most importantly, cherish your time with them. You won't be able to find people like them again when you're apart"
"There's no one like them anymore after parting ways...?"
Broke let out a tired sigh
"... I have to admit, if no one on this ship, not even Alice, can take my friend's place in my heart. Captain Alfi's words were absolute to me, but somehow I couldn't feel it from Alice
That's why you have to value someone's life. And so, that person will always cherish your life as well, even when you are separated, just like me and my friend Alfi. So Cyth, keep Alice as strong as you can. I'm counting on you for that too"
"That was also the word of Captain Alfi?"
Broke smiled at Cyth's question
"That's my advice. Use it as best as possible"
Cyth was just stunned astonished at the fact
Broke ended the conversation with a smile and a pat on Cyth's shoulder. He then went inside the ship to speak to Alice four-eyed
Self-control. Become someone who can bring everyone together. Take them to a new place. Be yourself in your life. Appreciate everyone who is with us
All of this he will remember
All that...
......................
-- Nowadays, the waters of the kingdom of Xiang----
"Captain. Captain"
Cyth woke up feeling something shake his body
Veskal immediately took one step back looking at Cyth who was already seated
"Why...?"
"It's dinner time"
Cyth immediately stretched his body and started to get out of his bed
But...
"Captain...?"
...
When Cyth turned back towards Veskal, his tears were discovered flowing from his cheeks
"ahahaha. What tears are you trying? I may dream of being chased by giants to the point of fear and crying"
He pretended to cover it up, and tried to wipe everything away
Those are not tears of fear. From a glance, Veskal knew that it was tears of sadness
He took her handkerchief, then handed it to Cyth
"Don't on the lap in the shirt. Use this"
After the handkerchief was received by Cyth, he immediately walked out to meet the others
"Hurry out captain. Everyone was already waiting" He said before disappearing from before Cyth
Cyth was silently staring there. And because he was alone
Her tears are getting bigger...
His tears were growing as if he was shedding everything after a long time
The dream he had just had. The face of Alice that she always remembered. The words of Uncle Broke were always ringing in his ears
He remembers everything. Every second he was in that dream. Every second he was with everyone who had already left, and who was still by his side
Everything feels real. That was because what he was experiencing was not a dream, but a recreation of his memory. Recreation of all events that were precious to him
He spent a considerable amount of time standing in the room, wiping every drop of his tears with the handkerchief he held
Then, a word from Broke flashed on his head loudly
'I can see you being a great person in this crew. I not only feel it, but I can see it too'
"really. I won't let down Uncle Broke and captain Alice. Sure"
The memory passed through him and only left a spot inside him. From now on, Cyan Keith would step forward to become the one to be expected
Everyone by his side, both in the past and the present had high hopes for him. It's time for him to show that he can bring results to the expectations of all those people. He has to prove he can
