Later that day, Noah and Nyx made their way back to Airi's house.
As soon as they reached the front gate, the door swung open.
"Noah!" Airi called happily.
She ran over and wrapped her arms around him before turning and doing the same to Nyx.
"You came back!"
Nyx smiled and hugged her back.
"I told you we would."
The front door opened again.
Kiru slowly walked outside, leaning on a wooden cane.
He smiled when he saw them.
"You made it back."
Noah looked at him.
"I guess you're doing better."
Kiru let out a small laugh.
"A little. I'm still in pain though."
"I can see that," Noah replied. "At least you're standing."
"That's thanks to Airi."
Airi smiled proudly.
"I told you my medicine works."
Nyx suddenly wrapped an arm around Airi's shoulders.
"We have something important to tell you."
Kiru's smile faded.
"...What happened?"
Nyx looked toward the house.
"Let's go inside first."
A few minutes later...
Everyone sat around the small table.Noah folded his arms.
"When we went back to the ship..."
He explained everything about what happened with the guards, he didn't tell them about what he told Emma and the others about him going back into the past.
"WHAAAT?!" Kiru shouted.
He jumped up too quickly and grabbed his side.
"Ow...!"
Airi quickly pushed him back into his chair.
"I told you not to move too much!"
Kiru ignored her and looked at Noah.
"You met Ligeon?"
Noah nodded.
"Yeah."
Kiru swallowed.
"He's the governor's right-hand man."
Nyx rested her chin on her hand.
"He didn't seem very impressive."
Noah looked at her.
"...That's because you're scary strong."
Nyx smiled proudly.
"I am aren't I."
"Yes, you are." Noah said.
Noah's smile slowly disappeared. He leaned forward.
"Emma doesn't want us getting involved with everything happening on this island."
Airi lowered her head.
"I don't blame her."
"My plan," Noah continued, "was to take you and Kiru with us and leave this island."
He looked at both of them.
"But..."
"I already know your answer."
Airi slowly shook her head.
"I can't leave."
"My grandmother is buried here."
"This is my home."
Kiru nodded.
"And if we run away... everyone else will still suffer."
Noah closed his eyes for a moment before letting out a long sigh.
"I figured you'd say that."
Nyx smiled.
"They're stubborn."
"They're brave," Noah replied.
Nyx shrugged.
"Same thing."
Noah suddenly looked at Kiru.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"You said your family were blacksmiths."
Kiru nodded.
"Do you know how to repair ships?"
"I do."
"I learned from my father."
"I can repair ships... build weapons... pretty much anything made from metal."
Noah smiled.
"That's useful."
Kiru looked at him.
"Why?"
Noah stood up.
"Will you join my crew?"
Kiru looked surprised.
"...Me?"
"Yeah."
"You'd make a good shipwright."
"And Airi is already training to become a doctor."
Noah smiled.
"I'd be getting a doctor and a shipwright at the same time."
Airi blinked.
"You really wanted me to join your crew...i thought you were joking?"
"I do and i wasn't joking."
Kiru stayed quiet for several seconds.
Then he smiled.
"I'll join..."
"...Only if you save this island."
Nyx laughed.
"There it is."
She stood up and stretched.
"Looks like we're saving a country."
Noah rubbed his forehead.
"Emma is going to be so angry."
"Very angry," Nyx agreed.
"But it'll be worth it."
She chuckles a little bit.
"It's about time we broke a few things."
"No."
Nyx looked at him.
"No?"
"We need information first."
Noah crossed his arms.
"I don't even know how strong the governor is."
"I don't know how many soldiers he has."
"And I don't know the real reason why Kaido is buying weapons from this island."
"We rush in now..."
"...and people will die."
Nyx sighed.
"...Fine."
"We'll do it your boring way."
"My smart way."
"Boring."
"Smart."
"Boring."
Kiru chuckled.
"You two argue a lot."
"We do not," they answered at the same time.
Airi giggled.
"...You even said that together."
Both of them froze.
"...That doesn't count," Noah muttered.
"It absolutely counts," Nyx replied.
Everyone laughed again.
After a few moments, Noah became serious again.
"From now on, you two can't stay here."
Airi looked confused.
"Why?"
"The governor knows where you live."
"If his men come back..."
"They'll keep searching until they find one of you."
Kiru nodded slowly.
"I guess you're right."
Noah looked at Nyx.
She understood immediately.
Nyx snapped her fingers.
A black portal opened beside the wall.
The dark space inside rippled quietly.
Airi stared at it.
"...I'll never get used to that."
Nyx smiled softly.
"Go ahead little cat."
"I'm not a cat." Airi said.
Kiru slowly stood up with Airi helping him.
Before walking into the portal, Airi turned around.
"...Thank you."
Noah smiled.
"We'll see you guyson the ship."
The two stepped through the portal. The portal slowly closed behind them.
Noah looked around.
"This place can't stay standing."
Nyx nodded.
"If the governor finds an empty house..."
"He'll know they escaped."
"But if he finds ruins..."
"He'll think they're dead."
Noah unsheathed his sword.
Blue vectors gathered around his blade.
"Vector Manipulation..."
Cold air rushed through the room.
"...Glacier Fang."
BOOM!!
Ice exploded forward, the house shattered apart.Wood, stone, and ice flew in every direction, a cloud of dust rose into the sky.
When it cleared...
Nothing remained except frozen rubble.
Nyx looked around with a smile.
"Nice."
"Very dramatic."
"I try."
She looked at the destroyed house one more time.
"They'll probably think everyone died in the explosion."
"That's the idea," Noah replied.
He looked toward the town in the distance.
"The real fight..."
"...starts now."
Nyx smiled.
"I've been waiting to hear those words."
Noah sighed.
"I just hope Emma doesn't kill me first."
Nyx laughed.
"Oh..."
"She's definitely going to try."
Both of them disappeared in a flash.
Blip ⚡️