[voice]

[abundantlove]

Hello, everyone! This is Aida Mana, captain of the Shepherd! I'd like to thank everyone for the words of encouragement they gave me, and let everyone know that I'm resuming my role as captain of our crew!

I know it looks like we have a big challenge ahead of us all, but I'd like everyone to know - not just my crewmembers, but everyone out there on those high seas, that we can get through this! We've survived a lot so far, and we'll keep on doing it, no matter how tough things get!

If there's anything these last few months have proven to me... love, courage... it will all see us through! Even if we can't see it, it's still out there, over the next horizon! Whether it's the Navy, or the sea witch... it doesn't matter! I believe in you!

[locked to the Shepherd crew]

Just reminding everyone our next destination is Port Chance, where we intend to use the treasure we recently acquired in order to upgrade to a bigger ship! The Shepherd has carried us far for so long... we should take these next few weeks to remember what it's done for us! It's been our home, our safe haven... we'll never forget it!

That said, we have to be diligent, given the Navy is out there... I'm counting on you all!

Comments

[abundantlove]

Her fortress collapsed and the Scurvy Dog said she got sent "back to where she belongs".

[sage_of_aspio]

I'm gonna take that to mean some kind of highly unpleasant afterlife and try to move on with my day.

I've... I've faced something similar back home, is all. The perp got a lot less than he deserved.

[abundantlove]

It shouldn't be about giving people what they deserve.

It should be about protecting people.

[sage_of_aspio]

... Me and my friends are still working on that part.

[abundantlove]

Mn.

It's... not my place to tell you how to live your life. Just... what I would do, really.

[sage_of_aspio]

It's one thing when you're stopping a would-be tyrant from using a weapon to threaten the world into subservience.

Quite another when the threat to the world is a gigantic uncontrollable beast.

[abundantlove]

It sounds like you've had to endure a lot. I'm sorry.

[sage_of_aspio]

Meh. I'll handle. Thought this whole "Trapped in a place with no Blastia" thing certainly doesn't help.

[abundantlove]

Blastia? What's that?

[sage_of_aspio]

Thanks for reminding me.

Anyways, the in-short is they're a way to do magic-like effects. The actual details are based on the science of Aer manipulation, though.

[abundantlove]

Ohhh! So kind of like the Lovies my friends and I use to perform special attacks!

[blastiaobsessieanonymous]

... Lovies? That seems like a kinda odd name for... Well, that.

[abundantlove]

It's a magical trinket! Sort of like a piece of jewelry!

[sage_of_aspio]

So it's basically a Blastia, then.

[abundantlove]

I have no idea what one looks like, but I'll assume so!

[sage_of_aspio]

[A quick sketch of the one on Rita's neck is quickly scribbled into the journal.]

I can focus Aer through this to cast Artes, basically.

[abundantlove]

I see... mine is a bit more like this!

[Mana's is a crude drawing of a piece of jewelry, with what looks like a heart shaped arrow design on it]

[sage_of_aspio]

Huh. I'm going to guess you didn't choose the design?

[abundantlove]

Uh, nope. Lovies are mostly created by Ai-chan. She's a fairy!

She'll sparkle and say "kyu-kyupa!" and bam! We have a new Lovies!

[sage_of_aspio]

... Wait. Fairy. Just... Summoning Blastia.

... That seems wrong somehow.

[abundantlove]

Really? Why do you say that?

[sage_of_aspio]

Let's just say Blastia aren't the best thing, it turns out.

Side effects that are kinda... Poisonous to the entire planet. Sorta.

[abundantlove]

... you don't still use it, do you?!

[sage_of_aspio]

I don't exactly have a lot of choice, given that without ours we wouldn't have much ability to face monsters - or other people who still use them.

I've got a plan to long-term-fix the problem once I'm back home, but... Well, now I'm here.

[abundantlove]

... I see.

But... it's good you're working to fix it in the long run... too many times in my world, we do harmful things because we think it's easier or that we have no choice...

[Mana wants to be prime minister some day. She has to think of such matters]