When Ariel woke up the morning, he saw Maks still sleeping beside him. He got up and looked around. He did not know where he was or who this strange man. Sleeping beside him. Ariel tore the curtain down and made a sword out of it, pointing to towards Maks' body. Just then, Aleksei walked inside the room, "Oh, you are awake. Why do you have a sword in your hands?"

"Who are you? And where am I? And where's Jevelene" He asked. Aleksei was dazzled. He looked at the gold bracelets on his wrists, "Are you..." He wished to speak, but he decided to not say anything at all.
"Answer me!"
"Ariel!" Jevelene walked in, "Why do you have a sword in your hand?"

The sword turned back to a curtain, "Jevelene!" He walked towards her, "Do you know these men?"
"They helped you last night, when you were fighting those monsters,"
Ariel looked at Aleksei, "Thank you. I am sorry, I did not know that you were my benefactor. I hope I haven't offended you,"
"Oh, take no worry at all,"

From all this conundrum, Maks woke up, "Master,"
"Maks, make the arrangements. We ought to reach our ship in another two hours,"
"Yes," Maks got up and went out of the room.
"Can we come to China with you?" Jevelene asked Aleksei as he walked out.
"Jevelene!" Ariel intervene, "What would we ever do in that foreign land?"
"Find a home. I trust Mr Aleksei. He's an exorcist,"

"Then, we shouldn't be around them. Exorcists meet all kinds of spirits, ones that don't hurt you, ones that do. I don't want anything to you, Jevelene,"
"If anything does, won't you protect me?" She smiled.
"Well, I wouldn't say I won't,"
"Then, I say we should go. We can't keep running away from your master. In China, he would never find you,"

Ariel did not say anything so Jevelene assumed he agreed with her. She told Mr Alexsei that they too, would love to join them in their journey. Aleksei was more than welcome. On the way to the port, Maks sat beside the porter ahead. Aleksei sat with Ariel while waiting for Jevelene.

"Your shackles. You are a slave? A runaway?"
Ariel looked at his wrists, "Yes, I am,"

"You should get rid of them before you run into the sorts that know what that is. They would take right back to your master,"
"I can't get rid of them. They don't break,"
"I shall see to that soon,"

When they reached the port, Aleksei hired a blacksmith to release the shackles. He paid him two silver coins to keep his mouth shut about it. Ariel kept his wrists on a huge, polished stone. The blacksmith held up a hammer and brought it down with all his force, but they would not break.
"Maks," Aleksei finally said, "You try,"
Maks took the hammer from the blacksmith, he raised it up and brought it down so hard, the entire rock beneath Ariel's wrists developed a crack, but nothing happened to the golden bracets.

Jevelene looked at Ariel, "I suppose they really cannot be broken,"
"They can't," Ariel got up and rolled his wrists, "But that is quite okay. They are nice ornaments,"
"I hope they don't get you in trouble," Aleksei said.
"In China, I shall be fine," Ariel smiled.
"You are probably right," They heard the ship captain whistle and quickly boarded the ship. This would be the longest journey Jevelene would ever have, and the first away from Italy. 

Father, now I know why you were always away
In oceans, in seas, in salted bays
The journey to the ocean is a pilgrimage of the soul,
a path stitched with whispers of mermaids and salt.

The scent of seagulls, the march of reefs 
The corals flanked by dunes that breathe..."

She looked at Ariel, "Should I call you Ajax now? Since that is your real name,"
"I like Ariel more. Perhaps, I'll take upon it. Ajax is a slave, but Ariel is free." His hair and its brunette curves seemed to be kissed by the sun and shadow.

The horizon shattered into an endless blue, a vast canvas of motion and stillness, where waves hum an ancient, unbroken hymn as a month passed. 

https://youtu.be/TrGnE4MQFL4

Maks and Aleksei sat in their chamber, watching Ariel and Jevelene sleep on their rugs.

"My lord," Maks looked at Aleksei, "We have brought these children here with us. But how would we ever provide these children with what they need? Could you be a guardian to them? You've never fathered a single child,"
Aleksei looked at Ariel's shackles, then at Jevelene's face, "I do not know what I am doing. Perhaps I am driven by emotions...That boy..."
"He has divine energy,"
"He is a god's child, I'm sure he is,"

"Is that why you took him with you,"
"His powers... They shouldn't fall with the wrong sorts,"
"You are right. But must that mean that we take them in? How would you ever raise a child? You are always travelling. We are rarely home. And you told me you would never have a child, your occupation as an exorcist would put the child in grave danger of coming across evil spirits and getting corrupted or damaged. Would you still take that risk,"

"The boy shall be fine. As he grows up, he will only get stronger. The girl, though. I am more worried about her. I can't leave a young lady with a stranger, but I can't have a human girl beside me. Women are too fragile for the astral world,"
Maks smiled, "You think Vierne was?"
"Vierne was no ordinary woman; she wasn't even entirely a woman. She was half-woman, half-god. She had a great sila, and a greater star spirit to protect her. Jevelene does not possess any of those,"

Maks looked into his eyes, "My lord, do you think of her as a burden to you,"
Aleksei looked up at him, "Not yet. But I do not want that thought to arise,"
"Then, where will you leave her? Or with whom? You aren't particularly close to anyone trustworthy,"
"I shall see to that,"

They heard the captain's whistle and walked out of their cabin. Maks looked ahead at the land he could see, "China is here. We shall reach the port by morning!" The captain yelled. Aleksei looked back. Ariel and Jevelene were still fast asleep. God, do not make me make a wrong choice. I feel like I am about to make many wrong choices in the upcoming years. My first one started with the decision to keep the girl.

-To be continued