The next morning they arrive at Halipawa island. A tropical island known for being a trading hub and relaxation spot. It has long mild beaches, and a significant population.

  Wow, I love this place. I'm hungry after that long boat trip, so let's buy food! We will finally be able to get some fresh food, let's find a fish restaurant at the pier! Zad says enthusiastically.

  Yeah I'm starving, Baldric agrees.

  It's nice to be on solid ground again. I say we find an inn first, I desire a good bath. Alina says she didn't enjoy the sailing trip on the way there, the cramped rooms and lack of hygiene is a horrifying experience to a girl of her status.

  Well let's have some food first since we're at the piers anyway, then we can find a room afterwards in the center and relax. We don't have anything else to do today anyway, Kilian suggests. They agree with him and walk over the piers.

  Well you guys can go ahead without me, I don't like fish. Foley doesn't want to pay for what would probably be in his eyes an overpriced meal, there's fishing ships docked here everywhere, nobody would notice a fish missing. However the fishermen seem to unload their fish first and finding a suitable moment to slip in unnoticed would require more time. He's not in a rush and considers different options. Walking over the piers Foley spots a medium sized transport ship, seemingly unattended. It's got a Sanoran design, you can tell by the prominent use of geometric decorations on its hull. It's bound to have leftover food aboard, although fresh fish is unlikely. He enters the ship and makes his way downstairs to the storage room. Rats everywhere move aside to hide in the darkness as he enters. Using his knife he pries open a crate. Ores, bummer. He pries open several more crates till he eventually finds dried and salted sausages. Finally, the good stuff! It tastes great, whatever meat this may be. He starts stuffing his pockets when he hears the sound of a wooden board hitting the floor, quite loudly. Shit, they must've caught me. I'll just tell them I'm here to check for contraband.

  He turns around and sees a hooded figure climb out of a crate and fall to the floor. They're carrying a staff.

  Oh a freeloader, if I turn them in they'll reward me handsomely.

  That's it freeloader! Drop the staff and show me your hands! You thought you could get away with this huh? Little did you know justice would be served! Foley shouts confidently, drawing his bow at the figure. The hooded figure faces him and shows its face. It's a teenage girl, bags under her eyes and stains on her face and clothing. She looks in poor shape. Strangely there's a large crow resting on her head.

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  I'm sorry, please, is there any way I could convince you to look the other way? I can help clean the ship or if you give a day I can come up with some money to pay for the trip. I had to run away and I was- Foley cuts her off, you're a mage, I recognise those symbols on your staff. You're from the Arcana forces! There's no way I'm letting you get away, your people are horrible.

  Please, I didn't do anything bad. I deserted from my military service, I don't want to harm anyone. I didn't have any money and they were looking for me so I hid on this ship, please don't turn me in. The girl remarks, with tears in her eyes. She falls to the floor on her knees and locks her fingers to beg.

  Before they can continue the door to the storage room opens. It's Kilian and the rest.

  Hey Foley, we saw you enter this ship and we knew you were going to steal food, we decided to pay for you, you shouldn't get into trouble here.

  I don't want anyone to pay for me, I can take care of myself. I don't need anyone's help. Besides there's a different problem now, look, I caught an Arcana mage. She was hiding in a crate, let's turn her in to the authorities, we might get a handsome reward. I hear mages are extra valuable because they're higher ranked.

  Please don't turn me in, I'm not affiliated with the Arcana kingdom anymore, let me explain. I'm Desdemona, I'm an arcane mage and I was part of a group of mages. My group was mostly tasked with crushing rebellion uprisings in the Sanoran lands, but these coastal towns kept rioting and never wanted to submit, so they sent us to make an example out of a town called Teradona and ordered us to kill everyone that lives there, even children. Most of the people there weren't fighters, they were just scared civilians , trying to hide, so they set buildings on fire to lure them out like rats, and then we had to murder them. They said it would be good practice for our skills.

  I didn't agree with it, but I knew that if I disobeyed they'd torture and kill me, so I ran away under all the chaos. I didn't know where to go so I just kept going North because of the sea, but I knew they would come after me. After several days I made it to a port, under the cover of night I sneaked into this ship. I don't agree with what the Arcana kingdom does, I'm not evil, I don't want to harm the innocent, please give me a chance, if you turn me in they will send me back to the Arcana kingdom, Halipawa has a treaty with them, they would torture me to death.

  Well I think it's not right to turn someone in if they're trying to do the right thing, Kilian says. We should help her. Zad, Alina, Ennius and Baldric agree. But Foley isn't happy about this. He doesn't trust her. Moreover he despises anyone affiliated with the Arcana kingdom. People don't change. But he chooses to stay silent for now. It's useless to argue at this time. You can come with us Desdemona, we were just going to visit an inn to get some food, I'm sure you're hungry too after what you've been through. Desdemona smiles a little, she is relieved, she has made it to neutral territory and already made friends, this is the start of a better life. The group enjoys a nice meal of locally caught fresh fish together mixed with fruits. Then they look for a room and they offer Desdemona a bed too. At night when everyone has fallen asleep, Desdemona remains awake. She can't sleep. She decides to head to the lobby and starts writing a letter, which she gives to her raven Avias who then flies off into the night.