Voyage Of The Villainess

"You are just overthinking things, Dorris." Rein said. "Why would I do that to Lady Malaya? I swore to serve and protect..."

"You already know, don't you?" 

Rein's brows kneaded at Dorris' words.

"Lady Malaya. No, the real Malaya are already gone four years ago,"

"What are you talking about, Dorris?" Rein asked. His expression remained unchanged making it hard for Dorris to decipher what might he had been thinking.

"That time when I started serving Lady Malaya, I heard stories that her ladyship was poisoned by his uncle. And there was another thing that I heard, that Lady Malaya became more mature or kinder than her spoiled attitude from before. I thought nothing at it first, however, she kept making things that are not created yet in this world. However, whatever Lady Malaya was hiding I don't care, as long as I served her. Lady Malaya will always be Lady Malaya to me. Since she is the one who saves my life. And treated me as her real family." Dorris said as she looked at Rein seriously.

"That day when we were on the island where Sir Ruiz was living, the night before we departed, I saw you alone outside while looking at Lady Malaya with a pained expression. As if you were deeply contemplating something."

This time Dorris saw a quick flash of something cold to Rein's expression. However, she continued on with her words.

"When did you find out about the truth about Lady Malaya?" She asked. Dorris' gaze was stubbornly fixated at Rein. "No, is the reason why you are setting a distance to her, is because you couldn't accept the truth that the one residing inside Lady Malaya's body is someone different? Please tell me what you are truly feeling, Rein."

"Dorris,"

"What? You said that you swore to serve her. Why are they like this?"

"Dorris, it's..."

"Are those just mere words...mmm..." Rein stuffed a dried fish into Dorris' mouth so that she would stop talking.

"Dorris, you are seriously imagining things. Why would I distance myself like that to Lady Malaya? I have known her since she was a child. And just like you said, I swore to serve her. That is why I am looking for her." Rein patted Dorris' head. "You're overthinking things like always. And just like you said, Lady Malaya will always be Lady Malaya no matter what."

Dorris' brows kneaded and seeing that it had the same usual and calm expression of Rein. Maybe she was indeed overthinking things and she was... No, but what's with that pained expression?!

She would speak again, however, Rein fed her another dried fish.

"You can go back and check for them." Rein said. "I'll wait for you in that cactus," he pointed to the direction of a tall cactus.

Dorris pouted. "Hah, alright. Don't ever leave that place alright?!"

"Yes," Rein gave a faint smile. "I promise to stay here and wait for you."

Dorris started chanting, and a teleportation circle started to form beneath her feet. Before she disappeared completely, "Better remember your promise, or I'll hunt you down."

"Yes, you can count on it." Rein said.

Then Dorris completely disappeared. When Rein was the only person alone, he couldn't help but sigh. 'So she knows that as well about that.'

Memories, when they crossed the whirlpools back at the Red Current, resurfaced inside Rein's mind.

{Malaya went up towards the upper deck. When she spotted Rein, she reached the other bottle that was containing petals towards him.

"These are flowers for brother Jules." Rein was a bit startled at first, then accepted the bottles.

"Yes, Milady."

Malaya then poured the white petals towards the red sea. "I am finally able to give you flowers, Jules."

Rein also did the same. "Young master." He said as he gripped the bottle in his hand looking at the red sea. }

'What I'm really feeling huh. No,' Rein glanced at the clear blue skies. 'I wonder if Jules finds out about this, what will he do? What will he feel? Will he save that child, knowing that she is not her real sister?' He chuckled lightly. "No. Given his personality, he would still save that child no matter what even at the exchange of his life."

"What if I tell you that he wanted to live? And not die?" Rein was alarmed when he heard a sudden voice of a man behind him. 

He immediately set a distance between him and the man. 

"Who are you?!" He asked as he brought out his sword. The man was wearing a red cloak and his face was also hidden behind a white mask.

"You don't need to know who I am." The mysterious man said not minding how Rein was pointing a sword towards him.

"If she didn't come here, your master would not die as well. If she didn't act out of her selfishness, you will be able to fulfill your dream and become his loyal knight. However, none of that happened because his life was taken away by some random soul."

Rein kneaded his brow, hearing the mysterious man's words. "You seem to know a lot about me."

"I know everything that is happening in this world." The mysterious man said. "It's really commendable how she and her crew were able to cross from one storyline in this world to another storyline. Even the goddess of light didn't see it coming. It caused a huge stir in this world."

"If you want, I can grant you revenge in that soul, for taking your master's life away from you." The mysterious man added.

"Revenge?" Rein scoffed. "I don't need anything like that. If I do that, it will be disrespectful to him!" Without further delay, Rein dashed towards the mysterious man. Rein aimed his sword at him, however, what Rein hit was only the air.

He felt another presence behind him, but yet again he only struck the air.

"You are truly a pitiful young man." The voice echoed throughout the desert. "We will see each other again and I assure you that time, you will accept my help."

After those last words from the mysterious man, the desert was entirely filled with an agonizing silence. Rein's grip on his sword tightened then he put it back to the scabbard.

"I knew it!" Rein was startled when he heard Dorris squeal. "I know you will leave without waiting for me!"

"You returned already?" Rein asked calmly as he faced her. 

"Yes, Rhyme is safe and sound, and the Bituins are really starting to have its shape and figure," Dorris explained as she crossed both her arms. 

"What about Lady Malaya?"

  At the mention of that, Dorris' eyes sparkled. "He found already, Lady Malaya!" Dorris excitedly said. Her scowling face from before couldn't be seen. "We don't need to continue to travel through this hot desert!" 

"I'm happy to hear that. How are they?" Rein asked.

"We can go back now, and see it for yourself," Dorris said. "I haven't seen Lady Malaya as well since she went to someplace first."

"Then let's go back now." Rein said. And Dorris started chanting once again for her second teleportation magic circle. Rein gave once last look to the empty desert where that mysterious man disappeared.

'I should keep my guard at all times.' His thoughts as his hands unconsciously went to the scabbard of his sword.

"Rein, if we see, Lady Malaya this time," a sincere smile escaped Dorris' lips. "Let's be honest with her and settle everything at once. Let's hear her story as her servants. No. As her family."

Hearing Dorris' soft and sincere words, a smile escaped on Rein's lips. "Let's do that." The teleportation magic circle glowed more vibrant and within seconds, they disappeared in the blink of an eye.

However, as soon as they arrived at the Bituins.

*Boom!*

A huge explosion shook everything in the surroundings. It was like a volcano erupted. However, that was not a volcano, rather a strong fluctuation, and waves of lifa were hovering in the air. The Bituins that were standing, waved back and forth on the shore. Dorris' felt nauseous just by sensing this. While Rein remained still as he looked at the source of the explosion.

At a faraway distance from the Bituins, they could see different lights that were forming beautiful kinds of flowers.

Although, it was only one time they saw such a scene, however, fear started to develop inside Dorris and Rein.

It was the same scenery back when they condemned that duke of Taleba. It was the same exact scene when he self-destructed and almost cost the life of everyone in the mansion back then, if not for Dorris teleporting him in the sky.

However, they were seeing multiple flowers that symbolized magic being lit up in the air. Along with the multiple tremors from explosions.

"What is happening, Rein?" Dorris asked with deep worry.

"Rein, Dorris! You're back!" 

They both turned to see Rhyme running towards them.

"Malaya and the others! They are in danger!"