Kiada, Blood Servant System Reborn

The storm was starting to pick up as we sailed back but we still had to travel two hours to get back, and it was already lunch. Lesha was standing with me at the bow of the ship, as we stared out into the open sea with the storm assaulting us.

"Can we go inside now? We don't need to be out here, and the waves are starting to swell. Don't you think it would be safer inside?" Lesha pulled the treated canvas coat closer around us.

"I saw something out there, and I want to see if I can see it again. When the lightning flashed, I saw a tall figure that almost reached the clouds. It looked like a person, but it was far too big," I said while staring out, trying to pierce the darkness with my eyes, but the rain made my eyes not really much better than anyone else's.

"That the Storm Caller! Come on inside and I will tell you about it!" Braum called to us from the lower deck.

I turned with Lesha and then slipped out of the coat, letting the rain buffet me. I went down the stairs, giving Lesha my hand as she stepped down, but I had to catch her as the ship dipped.

"Thank you," Lesha said with a cute smile as I helped her stand up straight.

We both followed Braum inside the cabin hall and headed back to the room we had changed in. Braum let us go inside first and then pulled the boys out so we could get changed, but once we were done I called them back inside.

"So, I have a couple of questions. I have knowledge of the sea and such things to do with it, but I have never seen that green jello you put the Gem Hearts into, what is it?" I asked as I sat down on one of the three wooden benches with Lesha.

"Sure, I will help you where I can, but I thought after your big speech there was nothing that we could tell you that you didn't already know, haha!" Braum joked with a laugh, taking a seat on the bench that the boys sat on.

The four other girls were sitting on the last bench, but they were all just cuddling up for warmth. The drop in temperature wasn't horrible, but mixed with the wind and rain, it was getting a bit chilly.

"As I said, I know about the water and the things in it, but I don't know things that are specific...to this world? I don't know how to explain it, but none of the past experiences that I can remember have anything to do with this world we are in," I said, but the part about the worlds had just come out, and I didn't really understand what it meant.

Where were the other worlds? Places like this? Entire worlds filled with completely different people? The thought was almost staggering.

"Worlds? Hmm, that is strange. The way you talk reminds me of the gods, but you were born here, right? Over in that far mountain range, right?" Braum asked, but it sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than me.

"Yes, I have lived there my entire life, so I don't know where these memories are from. Regardless, I want to know what the Storm Caller is. That thing only appeared in a lightning strike."

"Yes, but first the jelly, we got a bit side-tracked, and to tell you the truth, I still have many questions for you. The Acrid Gel is an acid-based gel that cures and hardens the Gem Hearts. I can guess that you have never seen one before this so you wouldn't know. After they are cleaned the bell falls off of them, and they are a heart shape and then get a cloudy coating that has to be buffed off," Braum explained.

"So, that's why we have to pay to get them cleaned," Lesha said in realization.

"Yeah, and without the Acrid Gel, the Gem Hearts would break very easily. If one breaks, nothing short of dirt or moisture will stop the gel that comes out. The Flexil Gel is more corrosive than the actual fish, so you need to be very careful when handling them, and NOT touch them together," Braum said, looking directly at me, and I looked away with a small smile, but the point was not lost on me.

I could have broken one of them and done serious damage to myself or even death. I looked back up at Braum and gave him a nod that said I understood my mistake.

"Good. Now, the Storm Caller is a myth, and most just think it's an illusion. Still, some believe that it is real. I personally believe it has to be real because it only showed up when the gods did. The biggest problem is that when it's spotted, it's never in the same place, and those that try to find it, never come back," Braum said with finality.

"Well, that will just have to be put on the to-do list. Do you think that we will have trouble getting back in this storm? It doesn't seem that bad, but I don't know what your crew is like."

"Don't worry, these boys will get us back to port! Fifteen years on this old bird and she hasn't touched bottom yet! Do worry, we are staying close as we can to the coast and there are no cliffs around here so the water is so good to get us back. I just might take us a bit longer than usual," Braum explained as he stood back up and walked to the door, but then he turned back to Corbit. "Come on boy, let's go do some training."

"Training? I asked looking at Corbit, who was starting to look green.

"Yes, to use this Mana stuff. I still don't really get it, but I have figured out ways to improve it. Why? You and the little one want to come and learn? I can smell that sweet berry smell coming from the two of you, so if you want to come and join us!" Braum said, motioning for Mei and me to follow.