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Day 10 of the 5th Month, year 1220

There was a time when one thought that life would always go the way you wanted it to go. But that was just a thought after all this always happened only inside our mind. If you didn’t persevere in your own hands, don’t really expect that things would always go the way you wanted them to be. In life, you can’t control everything and there are always unexpected events or situations. However, if things didn’t go like how you expected them to be, then at least you have taken action. If you can’t find the way, you must create the way. You are not just creatures but also creators of your own life and that must be kept in your mind. 

It might be disappointing that even if you take action, nothing goes your way but it was much better than being regrettable. But so far, there was nothing regrettable nor disappointing that happened right now. Whether one could call this fortunate or mere chance, it doesn’t really matter.

We have finally crossed through the first stage and second stage of the Red Current. And to anyone who was thinking if it was easy? No, it was never easy. So if you’re not someone who is not sane enough and doesn’t fear death feel free to cross the Red Current.

***

“U-u-u-ah-ah!” Iris put down the quill on her hands after writing all the details of their current travel so far. 

“Right Baru?” She stroked her white monkey’s head when it leaped through her right shoulder. “So you are hiding in my room this time, huh?” She let the ink dry first on the book she was writing. Then she stood up and stretched her limbs. “I am finally able to write down everything again.” 

Baru jumped to her bed as she started to walk out to her room.

Everyone was now busy cleaning the Bituins. While the gentlemen were doing the repairs of the ships. When Iris reached the upper deck, she spotted right away that one long ocean blue hair. Along with her female lead Hyun Jae.

Iris couldn’t help but sometimes be amused at this scene whenever she spotted these two together. Although Malaya was not really Malaya since there was a different soul who reincarnated in her body, still her role was still the villainess before. While Hyun Jae was the sweet and caring female lead. Seeing these two girls together was really ironic.

“Yo, Malaya, Hyun Jae!” Iris energetically walked towards the two. 

“Iris!” Hyun Jae faced her with a bright smile on her face. While Malaya simply gave her a single wave-like she was not even worthy of her attention. 

‘Seriously this girl, when she had the chance, she always tried to piss me off and she always succeeded in making my blood boil.’ Iris also smirked. ‘Well, am I in love doing the same things, kekeke.’ She snickered inside her mind on the ways on how she could annoy Malaya as well.

“Iris?” Hyun Jae had a confused expression when Iris suddenly giggled with a creepy look on her face. ” Is everything alright?”

“Hyun Jae how many times do I have to tell you that when you see creeps like her, never approach them.” Malaya pulled Hyun Jae apart from Iris. “It was a safety reminder for you and for your own good.”

‘Wait?’ Hyun Jae tried to recall her past if there is something Malaya said that before. ‘When did you tell me that? I don’t remember anything,’ Hyun Jae wondered in her mind.

“And Hyun Jae, when someone is taking your freedom of choice, you should also go away from people like that.” Iris pulled Hyun Jae back to her. ” Don’t let anyone control your own free will by their own decision. Stand with your own and not be so dependent on others what need to do”

“Hyun Jae, we have already known each other back at the academy, and you know that I never harm any of my friends.” Malaya pulled Hyun Jae back to her. ” I know that you know me very well.”

Hyun Jae looked at Malaya then Iris. ‘What are they doing?’ She kept moving her head. 

“Hyun Jae,  listen to me, I have known you ever since you were born, and I can give you the best wine in the world if you go away from her.” Iris pulled her back.

‘Best wine? But I’m not into wine that much,’ Hyun Jae taught.

Dorris and Lila, who were just happily chatting with each other, froze when they saw the trio and their antics. ‘We didn’t see anything.’ They silently went on their way. Malaya was going to pull Hyun Jae’s arms again toward her but it doesn’t happen.

When Hyun Jae, who couldn’t take it anymore, screamed. “Stop!” That also made everyone get their attention.

“Please guys, don’t fight over me.” Hyun Jae said which made the two literally stop.

Both Malaya and Iris turned their backs on Hyun Jae without saying anything. Hyun Jae was even confused when she saw their shoulders trembling. ‘Are they mad now at me?’ She thought with worry. 

“I didn’t mean to yell, it was just…” But before she could finish her sentence, Iris faced her, with a serious face. 

“Please guys, don’t fight over me,” Iris repeated while she rubbed her hair and looked at Hyun Jae. Her almond eyes were seductively beautiful. And at the same time, Malaya finally burst into laughter.

“Ah, I can’t believe you would say such cringe words, Hyun Jae! Hahaha!” Malaya held her stomach as she couldn’t stop herself from laughing.

Iris just repeated Hyun Jae’s words again. “Please guys, don’t fight over me.” She laughed as well.

  While the others kept looking at them with worry in their eyes. ‘ I hope they are mentally okay’ they taught while moving their head sideways. 

This time Hyun Jae’s entire face flushed with redness. “You’re both the worst!” She screamed then pouted when the two were still laughing.

And in the end, both Malaya and Iris received a bump in their head when Hyun Jae smacked their head. Before she could completely leave them, “Malaya, please think of what I asked before, alright?” she said and walked away from the duo. 

‘ I will take revenge. I promise’ Hyun Jae thought while the color of her face turned like a  tomato.

“Hah, who knows the sweet Hyun Jae can have such a temper.” Iris retorted as she touched the back of her head.

“Well, it’s your fault for teasing her.” Malaya simply laughed.

“You can’t blame me. Such lines, I thought I would not hear in real life.” Iris burst out laughing once again. 

“You just really love  and enjoy annoying people” 

“You also annoyed her. You’re the one who was laughing the loudest earlier.” Iris said. “By the way, what are the both of you talking about earlier before I arrive?”

“Hmm…” Malaya glanced ahead to the huge cliff that was in front of the ship. “Hyun Jae asked me if we will climb the cliff, she wanted to be one of the climbers.”

“I see, is that what she wants you to think about before she leaves?” Iris asked.

“Yeah,” Malaya said. “Actually I have already made the group who will climb but she is not on the list.” 

“Why don’t you let her be part of the climber?” Iris asked a question. 

“I know that her body was not strong enough to do that since I think she might not handle the burden of climbing.” 

“Given her frail physique, it can be true. But Hyun Jae is not that weak despite her appearance.” Iris said. “What will you do?”

“I know that Hyun Jae is strong but this is when she has her magic,” Malaya said. “But when don’t have any magic, her body can’t take it”

“Malaya, you know that people are not defined by their magic?” Iris said with seriousness in her voice. “You of all people should know that.”

“Yeah, I know.” Malaya just faintly smiled. “But I cope with it by training physically and using magic items. But I guess, it can’t be helped then. Since she volunteers herself, then I guess, I should just let her be. I will just take more extra precautions.”

“Then if that is what you decided to do, Captain,” Iris said as she glanced to the high cliff above them. “Do you think Luiz climbed up that cliff all by himself?”

“Beats me.” Malaya just shrugged her shoulders. “But he saw that it is where all the water ended falling into the abyss. I don’t know what he meant by the abyss. My guess probably is that what lies beyond that towering cliff, is some sort of huge waterfall.”

“A waterfall, huh?” Iris pondered for a bit. “That can be true as well. But if it will be the case, does it mean, there is nothing but the end of the world behind that cliff?”

“I don’t know that yet,” Malaya said.. “I have my own theory, but I needed to confirm it with my eyes first.”