Enatic Clans

Clandestine, why has it always been like this? I am tasked to apprehend a ruffian. The problem is the bigger ruffian is the one who's issuing orders. What is this - some kind of disciplinarian action or a mischievous shenanigans who desire not to fall in line? What a world we live in. When a huge rascal couldn't control his petty rascals, a herd would be bound to fall. Sure, in this pirate republic, they behave like dogs - a wolf pack.

"Strange." I breathe, mumbling under the spite of my breath.

Marooning is a prevalent form of punishment. In the end, I failed to shackle the target. Drenched in sweat, bloodied in bruises. I ended up killing my prey. And now, going home under the sounds of the rakish peddlers and scorching heat. Ah! And thus, I don't have to see such a much awaited spectacle in the future. Shame.

"I endured the struggle and that prey managed to incise a cut or two. But now, he's dead meat. Damn, this is infuriating… !" sighing in an exasperated groan, I look up in the skies.

"Lord Ameniah! How's the patrol going?" says the one whom I know, as he pats the back of my left shoulder.

I quickly give him a death glare. Calling me that name would only compromise both of our positions - so much more hiding our identities. Not only will it complicate things, maybe we never see the sun peak the other day.

I shoot, maintaining: "Ameniah? Clef, who are you referring to… ? Are you mistaking me for someone?" my eye contact upon Lord Guan.

Just for the record and of course, Clef is of his name as of now whilst we are in the murky waters. He has only one job during his stay on this fort island. This is the purpose why we set ourselves up under false pretenses. Survival and covertness. And for his initial dry run, I judge that he is being unsuccessful. What more if he goes alone without Maison on his side? I am having doubts about him per se.

"Oh no, Lord Guan… you won't be able to last long in the mainland." thinking, as I want to say these in front of his face.

"I'm sorry about that, Æ. How's your duty?" he acts as if nothing happens, then I brush his hand stuck in my left shoulder by a shrugging motion.

I feel annoyed by his recklessness then he briefly dismisses it. Uneducated. Careless. Crass. Uncouth.

As I can't stop myself, uttering: "Why the hell are you still here? You're supposed to be sailing off the waters, aren't you? Tell me, Clef. The purpose of this-..." Damn, whereas I recently actualize, that I should overstep not beyond my anger threshold, "Forget it…" clearing my throat and averting my gaze off of him.

"Sir Æ, I'm not attempting to assume what happened between the both of you earlier but that's harsh speaking to Clef like that…" this fool intervenes in-between the conversation defending Lord Guan, after he clears his throat. What now, are you trying to look good to your recently recruited pupil-junior?

Does he have a death wish? It makes me want to strangle his neck and after that, bend it to the opposite motion. I then realize, it is futile due to the fact that I can't do such marvel since we are at bazaar. So crowded and bustling. Too many witnesses. I couldn't risk it. If this lad's throat gushes and his trachea splutters, it will be messy. And lastly, Lord Guan may lose his scholarship if this foolish man is gone. Who is this again? It does matter not, nevermind. I know whom he serves - the esteemed gentry family of Dormitar. But this inbred acts so haughty like owning the authority of this place.

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"Right, right… apologies, Clef." I practice to show humility before both of them. Bowing then spreading my two arms wide open.

I intend to save face by pouring a sincere apology towards Lord Guan. If only not that he was a fellow member in the inner circle, I should have had his head in my hands by now. I thoroughly despise this fool the younger?, junior?, second?, - whatever though. Disregarding caution, nearly unveiling our monikers, superbly in of his character, and is a deadweight. Overall, my apology is half-hearted. He should be lucky to have my mercy by then. Lord Guan doesn't deserve an ooze of forgiveness from me.

"Good. I anticipate such deeds won't be happening like this again." this fool the first is no good as well, whereas he attempts to contend with me.

"Oh, really? He has the gall to bite back? Who is he, anyway? He is just some lad flaunting the Dormitar crest on his chest. And I despise being disrespected like this - Lord Guan knows this quite well." my sane rational is slowly slipping away, trying to reason out at the rear of my head, as I bite my lower lip then grit my teeth.

"Oho… I thought we came into a consensus that saying sorry would suffice. And I did, right? So what more you are demanding, Sir Remer?" I really do want to hack him now, my hands are itching.

Not only have I been flunked cornering that naughty catch into my hands but this time around Mister Righteous wanting to insert himself into my problems is rather daring. Clandestine, look at this pipsqueak - he's ready to die by my hands, and my hands say: 'do mind not, if we both do'. Almighty God, forgive me for what I am about to do to this petty manlet. The atmosphere is then becoming heavy… not that I mind not, this is befitting to those will about to paint their blood on my clasp. It exhilarates my body. This kind of pressure. With people watching? I reject my rationality, I am in for the bloodshed.

This guy refuses to back down, as he is undertaking to be toe-to-toe with me. Our faces are in proximity. Lord Guan then distances us away from each other, expanding his arms sideways, from fringe to fringe. The unsettling pressure is subsiding, yet fully not basking on it. Shame, he takes aback a bit. I do pity him not now, I want him to know how my patience disintegrating is and how heavy I could kick his face. As Lord Guan does the unimaginable…

"Now, now, now. You two should calm your chests down." Lord Guan does his best to separate us with all of his might. What is this, he is now growing a spine as of lately?

"What is going on, boyos? Are you having fun, nay?" another voice tries to intimidate.

Captain Leonis, himself, drags his behind all the way here. Together with his naga lover, Habaraef, and several on-the-second men. He fashions a bicorne with plume ornate to the left hemisphere, one of his usual types in headwear collections. By the way, his hat gets some spunk effect. Where he poses his dominant hand anchoring on the right side of his waists, his left hand carries cane in lieu of his typical smoking pipe. Habaraef makes a distance between her captain and herself. No embraces? No hand holdings? No clingings? … Are they self-conscious about public display affection? Peculiar. But they are pirates, they can do the Kigal whatever they desire!

"Captain Leonis…" I turn around fully 180°, as I genuflect before his presence - not destituting myself further.

"Captain Leonis…" as the duo follows suit, demonstrating their own prostration.

In response, the captain himself forms a smirk on his face. After a while, He approaches me first. The captain lends his cane to Habaraef, who's besides him. He then straightens up my posture and he fixes untidy strings stuck out of my apparel. The captain then gives at me in a side glance stare.

Three gentle slaps on my left cheeks, saying: "Now, now, Sir Æ. You're supposed to be the harbinger of peace in this place." as he follows it with two kisses - left then right.

"Apologies, captain… but I-..."

"Uh. Uh. Uh. Uh." straighten his index finger, as he interupts me from speaking, "It's alright. I have heard you ended up killing the poor prey. Such a shame." with his tone is rather considerate despite my failure, I then nod in response filled with humiliation.

He adds, smacking: "Arts is not perfection. Capturing and killing are distinct. But they fall under arts." as he clicks his tongue with a hanging stick out one-eyed wink. That's what Lord Gervþas always says in theory. Everytime. Or somewhere in of the essence.