Fair Trade Ch 35 - Rising Waves

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“So you have nothing then?” Korina glared at her brother as he stepped into her cabin. His dour expression told her all she needed to know before he even had a chance to say anything. 

“No, the one that managed to reach us has informed me that our spies are quickly going missing.” He sighed heavily, preparing himself for the fit she was about to throw. 

“Gods be damned!” She immediately threw the wine glass that was in her hand. It shattered not far from his head, but he didn’t even flinch. He was all too used to such behavior from her. “They're all useless! Get out there. I want to know who the emperor has fallen for and I want her dead!”

“It's too soon for us to return to shore.” Emilios sighed inwardly. “If we are spotted then we are as good as dead.”

“Then don't get caught!” She narrowed her emerald eyes at him.

“Sister, take a moment and calm down.” He hated when she got so irrationally angry. Normally she was so clever when she was collected. It had been some time since Emilios had seen her livid enough to fail to consider basic self preservation for them both. “You are smarter than this. I know you can come up with a plan.”

“You're right…” Korina sat back down dejected. She felt a wave of exhaustion hit her as though her outburst took everything she had. “I don't mean to be angry with you. It just feels like there's been something clawing at my mind every time we are out at sea. I never sleep well.”

“I understand the feeling,” Emilios let out a sigh. Seeing her wilt so rapidly really reflected what he felt himself, he was just better at hiding it than she was. “I can't say I've had pleasant dreams out here. I heard a rumor at the docks that it's been quite common as of late for sailors to be unable to rest. Perhaps there is substance to these rumors after all.”

“What? Some sort of curse?” She raised a brow.

“I don't know about that.” Emilios wasn’t well versed in magic or curses but there was something about those dreams that felt unfathomable. “Lately I've dreamt of being beneath the waves. Some beast, something wicked is lurking in those depths. Angry and desperate to get to the surface.”

“Strange, I've also dreamt something similar.” She was too tired to wrap her head around what that truly meant. 

“I wonder if there is something trapped beneath the waves. Something with the power to reach out to the minds of those nearby.” Emilios wished he could understand the potential threat. He preferred having countermeasures to anything that threatened his sister and intangible threats always set him on edge.

“Say, do you think this is some power we could harness?” There was a seed of an idea in which such a thing would be useful but she really had no knowledge to stem off of. She often thought of turning to occult methods to aid in her ploys for the Meihua throne but Emilios always swayed her away. “Certainly would be helpful in trying to outwit that Master Diviner.” 

“With how sinister this feels, I'm not sure this power is something we want to mess with.” Emilios closed his eyes and shook his head.

“Who's to say they haven't been wronged?” Korina shrugged.

“Is that the impression you get from your dreams?” Emilios was starting to worry she was going insane.

“Well someone or something trapped it there. Who's to say it's not just itching for revenge?” Korina smirked. It was all possibilities but the idea of unleashing something for the upper court to focus on other than them was an intriguing concept. 

“You're hinging a lot on possibilities,” Emilios couldn’t tell if she was being serious at this point. “Try and get some rest won't you?”

“Hmph, fine,” Korina huffed, waving him away. Emilios left and she rested her head on the armrest of the couch. Almost instantly drifting off.

Deep beneath the waves an oppressive yet amorphous figure lurked in the shadowy depths, calling out to her. A faint whisper she strained to hear, muffled by the water. She didn't try to swim to the surface this time. Curiosity welling up. It was just a dream after all, what harm could come to her? So she just let herself sink and the voice became clearer. 

“Mortal, break the seal!”

The ship lurched and Korina startled awake, practically thrown off the couch that was bolted down. She growled in irritation as she brushed her dress off, storming outside to see what was occurring. 

The people on the ship were shouting and scrambling about their tasks. Rain battered the deck as waves crashed from all sides with such force it seemed the ship would break apart.

“A storm?” Korina narrowed her eyes. There was a strange familiarity with this situation. She had no idea where it came from. She glanced off to the port and caught a glimpse of a mountain amidst the haze of the rain that further solidified the strange feeling. She stepped out into the rain and up the stairs.

“How in the hell have you steered us so off course?!” Emilios was yelling at the captain. 

“We weren't, I swear! As far as I could tell there wasn’t supposed to be a storm either!” The captain looked genuinely baffled by the whole situation. He was trying his best to turn the ship starboard but there was such extreme resistance as he did so he was straining. “Something’s wrong with the ship.”

“Take us to that island!” Korina pointed towards the distant mountain she saw.

“What? There shouldn’t be an island out here yet!” The captain was further confused. He looked out to the port but couldn’t see anything though the haze of the rain and sea spray

“Sister, there’s nothing there,” Emilios also didn’t understand what she was talking about. 

“I know what I saw! Turn port now!” Korina barked.

The captain and Emilios exchanged glances. Korina clicked her tongue and shoved the captain out of the way, turning the wheel the opposite way the captain was trying with little problem.

The ship carved through the waves with surprising ease, despite their previous struggles. The storm was tossing them around less and almost seemed as if the winds were aiding them. It was as though the very sea wanted them to head in the direction Korina dictated. 

The haze seemed to lighten though the rain fell almost just as much. A small island came into view. It didn’t seem as though there were any signs of life. It was all jagged rock and stone arching upward towards a mountain peak. The stone itself looked like the very waves they were traversing. 

“How did you see this?” Emilios asked. 

“I just knew it was here…” The more Korina thought about it she couldn’t help but think it was strange. She’d traversed these seas for years but never without Emilios. He would know their environment and surroundings more than she would at any given time. She knew she had never seen this island before but there was something she needed to do here. “Find us a way onto that island.”

“What for?” Emilios asked, his eyes wide. 

“Just do it!” Korina snapped. She didn’t know how to explain it. Emilios was always one to follow her whims. Even if he questioned them, he always obliged in the end if she truly insisted. Despite his conflicted expression, he let out a sigh and started barking out orders for them to anchor once they determined the safest route to the island. 

Standing on the beach, Korina knew exactly where to go. It wasn't far and she couldn't help but smile. As she started off towards her destination Emilios grabbed her arm. 

“Where are you going?” Emilios couldn't take this strange behavior. “What's gotten into you?”

“Our future is assured if we get what's hidden here!” She stated confidently. 

“How do you even know what's here?” Emilios was skeptical. 

“I couldn't tell you…” She seemed less and less bothered by this fact. It was like an obsession was taking over. “I just know. It's here…”

Emilios groaned internally. He could tell there was no changing her mind. All he could do is keep her safe from any danger. He let her go and followed her as she set off eagerly.

Weaving through the spires of stone, they made their way to the base of the lone mountain. Emilios had to catch Korina more than once as she slipped on the slick stone. She certainly wasn't dressed for such activity but she didn't seem the least bit bothered. This just put him more and more ill at ease as it wasn’t normal for her. She would normally throw a fit.

They came across a dilapidated shrine of traditional Meihua origin. Talismans with faded illegible ink made it impossible to read. The air itself smelled of decay and felt stagnant despite how fiercely the wind blew as they approached. 

“It’s here,” Korina grinned. She approached without a hint of fear.

“Korina, what is this?” Emilios was on edge. He felt as though he were dreaming once again. Those very eyes that watched him as he slept on the sea, he felt now and it terrified him.

“Here we can set him free!” Korina reached out for the statue, bound in rope.

“Who?” Emilios snatched her hand before she could touch it. 

“The one we dreamt of. He’s been calling us. Can’t you feel it?” Korina looked excited. “He showed me the way. I’m certain of it now.”

“Korina!” Emilios raised his voice. “The powers that dwell in Meihua are not to be trifled with. They seal things away for a reason. Their gods are not as mischievous and spiteful as ours. Whatever is here is dangerous.”

“All the more reason to unleash him.” Korina laughed victoriously. It was as though the idea was starting to take root and sprout. “We can go undetected if the upper court is busy with the chaos that will follow.”

“Korina…” Emilios wanted to take her away from here. She’s surely gone mad. He was starting to regret letting her obsession with conquering Meihua get so out of hand. 

While he was ruminating, Korina drew his sword and slashed at the frayed ropes that bound the statue. What remained of the ropes burned away along with the talismans that were plastered on the surrounding stones. The statue cracked and pieces started crumbling away as though an outer shell of stone encased the man that was standing there.

The imposing figure flicked his sleeves and the remaining pieces on his robes turned to dust and fell away and he was spotless. His dark hair was tied into a loose pony tail, from beneath it eyes deeper than the very ocean looked down at the two of them as though they were insignificant pests. The very eyes that were upon them in their dreams were now there in reality.

The man took in a deep breath, “Ah, how long has it been since I’ve been able to take in the fresh air?”

“You’re free now!” Korina beamed. “As the ones who set you free, surely you don’t mind repaying us.”

“Hmm?” The man narrowed his eyes on her. He’d called out to many mortals but she was the first to listen. The first to be receptive enough to imprint his location upon. While he felt he didn’t owe her a thing, he still figured she would be helpful in reestablishing his place in the world. “It certainly would be a fine way to pass the time until I find that pesky beast that put me here.”

“We can certainly help you with that as well!” Korina beamed, clapping her hands together. “My name is Lady Korina Styliani and this is my brother Emilios.”

“Foreigners?” The man hummed contemplatively. “You are in the presence of The Great Shendu. Grant me your reverence and you will receive what you desire.”

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Villain chapter teehee

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