Chapter 125: Departure
TL: Etude
Allen yawned as he walked out of his room, only to find an unexpected person before him.
“You… you’ve been allowed to leave?”
He looked at the girl incredulously. The women imprisoned there never seemed to have permission to leave, so how could this girl come here?
The girl nodded and then spoke, “I am leaving this island.”
The boy’s mouth fell open. This ice-cold girl was leaving the island? Had the pirates let her go? Could pirates be so kind?
“Are they transferring you to another place?”
The girl shook her head, “No, the pirates can’t control me anymore.”
Allen became excited, “How did you manage that?”
“Barnett is taking me away. The pirates can’t stop him.”
“Barnett? Who is he?”
The girl shook her head.
Despite the mystery, Allen eagerly asked, “Can he take me and my companions too?”
This time, the girl looked down, seemingly unable to meet Allen’s gaze.
“Alright, I understand.”
A wave of disappointment washed over him, leaving Allen feeling miserable.
“But congratulations to you, for finally escaping this hellhole.”
The girl looked up at Allen, slightly surprised, and said, “Thank you!”
She seemed to ponder for a moment, then clenched her small fist, “I will come back to rescue you.”
“Uh… thanks.” Allen felt something was off.
Then the girl’s face turned slightly red, and she hesitantly asked, “Your name?”
Come to think of it, they had known each other for so long without asking each other’s names. Well… if that could be considered knowing each other.contemporary romance
The boy immediately replied, “Allen, Allen Alfred. And you?”
“I?” The girl was momentarily speechless, then said somewhat sadly, “I don’t have a name.”
Someone without a name? Was she taken by pirates to this island before she even started to remember?
Allen scratched his head, “It’s tough without a name, especially when returning to the normal world. You’ll have a hard time without one.”
He suggested, “Let me give you a name.”
The girl blinked, her expression still somewhat cold, but her eyes revealed a clear eagerness, clearly very willing to have Allen name her.
Allen crossed his arms and closed his eyes in thought, “What name should I give you?”
“Mary? No, too common.”
“Carol? Somehow, it doesn’t suit you.”
The boy muttered to himself, agonizing over a suitable name, while the girl watched him quietly, not blinking.
“Ha! Got it, how about ‘Cristal’?”
“Cristal?”
“Yes, Cristal, symbolizing a crystal clear ice, a transparent soul.”
Allen seemed to forget his current predicament, proud of coming up with such a fitting name.
“Alright, from now on, I will be called Cristal.”
The girl—Cristal—nodded in agreement, accepting the name Allen had given her.
Suddenly, she thought of something and removed a bracelet from her left wrist, “Take this!”
“This is for girls, I shouldn’t…” Allen started to say but stopped himself, seeing the determined look in Cristal’s eyes.
“Uh… okay, thank you.” He accepted the bracelet and wore it on his left wrist.
“Let me give you something in return.”
Allen took off the Pisces pendant hanging around his neck, broke it into two fish, and handed one to Cristal.
“My mom said this pendant was blessed by a priest. If you thread it on a thin rope and wear it around your neck, it will surely keep you safe.”
Cristal stared intently into Allen’s eyes. Just as he began to feel embarrassed under her gaze, she quickly grabbed the pendant as if afraid he might change his mind.
“I will definitely rescue you,” she repeated.
“Thank you, but you must promise to keep yourself safe first.”
As they were talking, a person wrapped in a black cloak appeared nearby and called out, “Little girl, it’s time to go.”
Cristal bid a reluctant farewell to Allen, “I’m leaving now. Take care of yourself.”
Then she turned and walked towards the person.
“That must be the one taking her away from the pirates’ den. How I envy her.”
Allen thought to himself. Although uncertain about the stranger’s intentions, he knew that any future for the girl would be better than staying in the pirates’ den. He was beginning to understand what the place where Cristal had been held was used for.
As he was lost in thought, Cristal suddenly turned around and gave him a slight smile.
“Uh… so she can smile, and it’s actually quite beautiful.” Allen watched the direction she left, amazed by how much she had spoken today.
He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Take care of yourself too!”
…
Cristal followed Barnett to the ship.
Soon, the ship slowly left the harbor, venturing into the vast, silver sea.
“Can’t we really take him with us?” She looked up and asked again.
Barnett shook his head once more. The first thing the girl had asked him after learning she could leave the pirates’ den was whether a boy could come too.
“I’ve told you many times, he’s not one of us. I won’t take a mortal with me.” The wizard was somewhat impatient. Since yesterday, the girl had been asking the same question.
Cristal didn’t continue to ask today. They were already on the ship, moving farther from the island, so it was pointless to ask anymore.
Seeing the evident disappointment in her eyes, Barnett said, “You’ll realize soon enough. You, me, and the brothers and sisters who will welcome you, we are not like ordinary people. We will wield incredible powers, and ordinary people, including that boy, are just mortals.”
“Little girl, when you think back on this moment in the future, you will realize how naive and ridiculous you were.”
Cristal didn’t argue but said, “I have a name now. It’s Cristal.”
“Did you pick it yourself? Well, it saves me the trouble.”
She looked at the receding dock, “I will come back here again.”
Barnett chuckled, “Seeking revenge? It’s understandable, having been imprisoned for so many years.”
Then he said with a hint of disdain, “Once you master your powers, the mortals on this island will become mere playthings in your hands. Work hard.”
done.co