Violet spent that evening crying in her room, not able to understand her feelings anymore – she loved Arubah deeply, yet her mind dictated it was wrong because he wasn't truly as kind as she had previously thought. Another voice argued that he was a godly being, hence could judge circumstances in ways that her feeble human mind could not possibly comprehend, but other voices opposed this idea and accused her of justifying her sweetheart and vainly believing in his kindness when she had in fact fallen for a dangerous tyrant who ruled according to his own whims. The freedom he promised was the freedom of choice as long as that very choice did not contradict his desires. If there ever were people to choose to stand in his way, that very 'freedom' would be completely squashed under his boots. Was that what she wished for Earth, her homeland? – Certainly not.

However, her poor heart was still beating for the man, because she could remember every word of his, his cute gestures, that benevolent, warm smile, those godly eyes full of wisdom and care... Was he truly a tyrant? – As a boyfriend and even just a friend, he certainly was not. He was indeed beyond her comprehension. The only truth that she failed to, or did not want to realise, was that her heart had long been placed in his crimson claws, to beat forever for him, never to regain its freedom from his clutches.

Another certain truth was that not only Violet grieved for such a complicated outcome. If Ellie, this little child, had long been charmed by the young man, their father Gunther was of other opinions. He never liked his daughters to be so infatuated by these pirates, to begin with. Now, after beholding Arubah's heartless conducts, he got assured he should do something. He didn't know what, for he was well aware he would be powerless against that omnipotent man... but was he truly omnipotent? Did he not have some weakness? He was half-human, wasn't he? To understand his 'opponent' better, Gunther decided to seek help at the hands of his good friend and mentor – the Pirate Emperor's very own father, Roderigo Alvarez.

He accessed Roderigo's room. Luckily for him, that ferocious Daluma-Herminoid wife of his was absent – according to Roderigo's words, she was in the bathroom and would stay there for long since the Daluma would spend quite a lot of time in the water to cleanse their bodies. The men, thus freed of their family toils, decided to feast upon some Golden Beer that Roderigo had gotten as a gift from his son's friend and supporter – Daluman pirate, Captain Richder Mahut.

"So, anyway," Gunther sipped the Golden Beer his friend had handed him, "I've always wondered since I got to know you, Roderigo – how did you handle an alien family? I mean, what attracted you towards them in the first place? I apologize if it is somehow rude from my part, but, I was utterly curious to know..."

"Heh, no issue, Gunther, no issue!" Roderigo chuckled, "It was indeed tough at first. I was still a teenager with quite a bitter past full of difficulties, bloodshed, deaths in every corner where I looked... I bet you can understand me, we both are war veterans. Appearing in Malu's hands was really the last straw for me. I acted like a crazy berserker. She tormented me quite a handful in order to subdue my outbursts. At first, I was scared of her and hated her, but gradually, as I grew beside her and contemplated her and Sinbad's lives, I came to understand their species better. In the end, we all are still Hermin creatures, come down from them – the Herminoids – so, we've quite a lot in common. If we, humans, grow more open-minded, we'll find even more similarities of ours to our source race – the Herminoids. In the end, I grew to sympathize with her problems. The way she understood me and everything that was going on in my mind, cuddled with me and acted like a kind-hearted mother I had long lost, I could no longer resist... Before I knew it, I loved her deeply, so deeply that I'd be ready to move mountains for her sake".

"Remarkable... And there have never been times when you regretted your decision?"

"With Malu? No, never".

"Not only with your wife, Roderigo. I meant_"

"Oh, you're about my little idiot, then? I'm not a mind-reader but, I guess those events of today are still on your mind?"

"You've guessed correctly. I really wonder how you can cope with being a father of... him".

"Yeah, I bet that question would bother anyone who gets to know us, the Arruroe family. The way that idiot leads his life it is only natural to have those questions. You're right – there are a lot of traits of his that I wonder, even now, where he got from. I guess it's all due to our three races merging into a single entity. Malu did have those vile sensations within – the lust for vengeance she had subdued long ago. Same goes for me – every human child is vengeful at some point if not educated otherwise. Arubah too had inclinations towards that as a child, but we raised him as was due. The lust for bloodshed and other at-one-glance hideous views remained because some of them were traditions and beliefs of the Herminoids, and some of them – like that necrosculpting insanity – belonged to the code of conduct of the Daluma. Even nowadays, the Daluma tend to keep crystallized skulls of their enemies as souvenirs. In their culture, it equals strength, pride, and dignity. How can you argue against that? Just like a predator believes it is only natural to eat their prey no matter these latter ones too, yearn for life, so it is for the Daluma, only natural, to crystallize their enemies and take their energy for themselves. It is equal to them feeding themselves, just like we, humans, tend to eat meat and fish. People expect me to punish Arubah for that? I cannot, even if I want to, because, it is natural for him, no matter how atrocious and immoral it seems to me. The only thing Arubah can do for me to show me his respect, which he does, is to crystallize enemies when I'm not looking, hide them away in his closet and nurture himself with their energy when I'm not present. I do value his regard and consideration... That's all I can do, as a father of a species foreign to me".

"And... you can still cope with that?"

"Gunther, I know you now regard it as impossible, but, think of it: aren't there any traits in your daughters – at least some – which you don't really like and are against your own principles? Yet, will that affect your love towards your daughters? They're our children, Gunther, our treasure, how can we ever hate them for whatever they do? We might get sad, might cry, might even hate our own selves, but we can never hate those little diamonds of our blood, or else, we are no longer to be called parents".

"Yeah, now that you put it that way, I guess you're right..."

"I live with deep depression at times, for the life my son leads which I would certainly wish to have been otherwise, but in the end, it was my choice to give him birth. I brought him to this life, so whatever punishment might meet me, I shall take the responsibility for it".

"You truly are a legend as they describe you back on Earth, Roderigo".

"Nah, that's just flattery that eases my heart. I'm not a legend, Gunther. I brought to existence the greatest threat to the universes – a personified god – and he's going to survive for 100 000 Earthly years, which is quite enough for a lot of stuff to happen".

"That is indeed a lot to bear... I wonder how you've still survived for all these years and not died from depression or a heart attack".

"Sturdy blood of the Hispaniards, amigo... Sturdy blood of the Hispaniards".

Roderigo chuckled and sipped his Golden Beer to at least somehow quell the wave of depression that had just now struck him. Gunther wanted to speak again when the wardrobe at a wall moved, to reveal a hidden passage. The entity that came out of it frightened Gunther, who still couldn't forget the events of that afternoon – it was Arubah, with his chest bare and his scars visible, a scarlet night-coat, black shorts he wore in bed, red fur slippers covering his feet, and a cookie in his mouth. He paused and eyed them like a casual dork he often seemed, and then put the wardrobe back to its place as if nothing.

"Yo. Sorry for the intrusion!"

"Speak of the devil..." Roderigo rolled eyes much with annoyance, "So pronouncing your name indeed works as your summoning, huh? What the hell are you doing in our room?"

"I said sorry, papá! Come on now, aren't you happy to see your cute son?"

"Not in the least, thank you".

"Aww, come on, papá, am I not your treasure?"

"No. Your mother is my treasure. You were never planned, to begin with".

Gunther blinked in stupefaction since he could hear this level of rudeness from Roderigo for the first time, while Arubah pulled a sad face of a young boy hurt right in the core:

"Papá, so evil... You're tearing my heart to pieces..."

"I'm well aware of what I'm doing. So then, what the hell have you come here for?"

"Where's mom?"

"Not here".

"Thanks, so helpful," Arubah grimaced in discontent just like Roderigo used to whenever something displeased him (which happened quite often). "Sorry again for disturbing, I didn't plan to, but... I somehow ran out of my elmor dust supplies back in my cabin and wondered if mom had some I could borrow".

"Somehow ran out? I bet you forgot to refill your drawers like you always do".

"Hmph, yeah, you got me..." Arubah rolled eyes much in Roderigo's own habit, bit his cookie, and began rummaging through the wardrobe, apparently looking for his mother's elmor dust supplies, "Anyway, you said you were talking about me?"

"I never said that".

"You said 'speak of the devil' hence you meant you were talking about me".

"So what of it? I shall talk about whatever I want. You mind your business".

"Is there something I did, papá?"

"You do a lot of stuff. Explain better".

"Don't play so cold, you know what I'm talking about! You were conversing about me with Mr. Hawthorne. It is clearly about today afternoon, isn't it?"

"You could easily read my memories and see on your own if you were so interested_"

The bloodthirsty Pirate Emperor, who had coldly disposed of the rule-breakers that very afternoon, now fell to his knees before Roderigo, a human, while his eyes had slowly begun to fill with tears.

"You know I'd never do that! Unless you bless me with your permission, I'd rather kill myself right here than meddle with your mind, papá. Please mercy! Don't torture me so much... I pray to tell me how I've wronged you. Let me make it right!" he hit his forehead to the floor, bowing down to his father, "I beg you papá, I can't bear your rage!"

"I'm not angry".

"You are! I can feel it. I don't need mind-games for that, it's obvious!"

"Go to your room and sleep. Take the elmor dust. Malu keeps it on the highest shelf right there_"

"Papá! You expect me to sleep after you've already struck me with those killing eyes of yours?" Arubah looked up at him with tears gushing down his cheeks, "Please, tell me anything! I'll do anything! Just don't be so angry with me!"

Gunther watched them astounded, for he couldn't understand why this young man acted like a helpless child before a simple human. So what if he was his father? He had enough power to end Roderigo's very life with a single swing of his hands. How come such a bloody criminal had enough morality as to not raise his hands against this powerless human who continued belittling him, and sometimes, even insulting him direly? What was that power that helped Roderigo subdue this outrageous bandit?

"Aru, I'll ask you to do something now, and if you comply, I promise to let your today's behaviour slide, alright?"

"Ask me anything!"

"Now, first things first – apologize to Gunther here, for those atrocities he and his daughters came to see. I told you a zillion times we, humans, don't tolerate such code of conduct of yours, and I don't care how rightful it is".

"I am sorry! I... I won't do it again! I'll never_"

"Okay, calm yourself, that's enough. Now, with utter sincerity, as only a Herminoid can do, promise us both here, that you shall take good care of Violet, will be the best guy you can possibly be, and even better than you can be, to her, and will treat her like the queen she is. Am I clear?"

"I promise to you both! I'd never do otherwise!"

Gunther glanced at Roderigo in a stupor:

This man's truly a legend, to be able to subdue this outrageous criminal with sheer willpower! That I call a father...

"Okay, you've convinced me. I'll be watching you, though. Come here!" Roderigo grabbed Arubah's arm and embraced him tightly. "Now, now, papá's not angry anymore. You're not a bad guy..."

"I am hideous!"

"Now, don't go whimpering, you know I hate it... Act like a man".

"I'm sorry," Arubah quickly wiped off his remaining tears and gave them a faint but hearty smile: "I'm sorry for this afternoon. It is my business and I shouldn't have made you see it. I'll be more considerate next time. Thanks for forgiving me, papá. I won't disappoint you, I swear".

"I know, muchacho. You're the diamond of my blood, there's no way you'd ever disappoint your proud papá," Roderigo winked with utter joy that was so unlike him, and tossed off the Golden Beer he held in a mug: "This be for your prosperity, Aru!"

"Aye aye, Hermin's bliss!" Arubah's face shone in a broad grin, beholding his father was in a good mood again. "Gracias!"

"De nada. Now get your butt out of here. Gunther and I need some friendly time".

"Haha! I'm vanishing!"

Arubah grabbed the elmor dust sack his father had pointed him on and rushed out of the room through the same hidden passage he had appeared from. Once he was out, Gunther hastily turned to Roderigo:

"How did you do that? I mean, even if he is your son, he's that Blood Diamond, the Galaxy Pirate Emperor! Even humans rarely listen to their fathers, and this!"

"Exactly, he's not a human, he can understand more. I've told you just now, Gunther, haven't I? – All those atrocities he commits are mostly because of those beliefs and principles of the three species merged in a single mind. However, it has its perks too – he can understand far more than any of our three races can do alone. And, there was once this occasion... When Aru was a child, he did indeed intend to kill me, for real. He crystallized me altogether, and if it weren't for Malu, I'd be long dead. She quickly broke the spell before it was late. She was so mad that she almost hit Aru with her Ihridahlia technique – one of those high Herminese techniques that are able to create or end lives. I meddled in and changed her mind. She agreed to let me judge Aru. The child was so frightened he thought I'd beat him or something... but naturally, since he was still a little kid, I showed him another way of handling things – I forgave him and taught him how he should control his powers and temper. I guess that day really stuck into his mind, because the scars I got from his attack still remained, and every time he sees them, I can notice the deep sorrow twinkle in his eyes," he pointed on crimson crystal dust stuck into his hands and neck. "Since then, there was not a day when he wouldn't comply with my requests and listen to my orders. I think that was also the day he understood we humans are quite stronger than others may think..."

***

While Arubah had gone to his parents' room to find some spare elmor dust to fill up his supplies, Violet knocked on his door – she apparently couldn't bear so many contradictory thoughts and wished to settle the matter once and forever by having a frank talk with him as she often used to. Even though Arubah was gone when she arrived, she still entered the cabin, having decided to wait for him inside. She couldn't help her sneaking habits and soon, with nothing to do, walked to the Young Captain's writing-table where a lot of notes, scrolls, books, gadgets, and crystals were piled up, as always. Most of them were Yuuh Arruroe's and other famous writers' Mind-Books, Hispanish and other Earthly literature, normal books in different alien tongues, maps, navigation devices, etc. There was some novelty, too – that tiny notebook which had always been closed, even locked with Daluman powers, now lay open on the table, at a particular page wetted with... teardrops? She peeped into it with the utmost curiosity that had been gnawing her heart for long, only to read out a small poem written in perfect Hispanish:

"Cuando caerá el rocío en la mañana,

Y el cielo de la alborada brillará carmesí

Entonces, oh, veré el brillante mañana

Y los rayos lavarán mis pecados de mí..."

(TRANSLATION from Hispanish (largely based on Spanish):

"When the morning dew falls,

And the dawn sky shines crimson,

Then, oh then, I shall see the bright tomorrow,

And the rays shall wash my sins off me...")

"What does this mean, and why are there tears?" she stroked the dusted, yellowish pages of the notebook, "The poem is so beautiful, though..."

"Still a sneaky bean, eh, amiga?" Arubah had returned from the hidden passage with a sack of elmor dust in his hands. Before Violet would come to her senses, he threw the sack on a shelf, walked up to her, and completely cut her ways of escape: "You wanted to see me, gemstone?"

"I... I'm sorry".

"No issue. You are unusually pale, though... I figure you too have some complaints about my today's behaviour?"

"Me too? Who else complained?"

"I just received a smack from both of our fathers, but mostly my own".

"What? My dad complained to you?"

"Nay, he was just there, but I figure he complained to my father and then, of course, this latter smacked me. Can't say I didn't deserve it, though. I am sorry to you too, for making you see all that..."

"It's not just that I saw it, Arubah. All those crystals in that room of yours," she tremblingly glanced over his shoulder at the wooden door locked with a Daluman spell – the chamber where he kept his atrocious treasure, "they too must be from that same action, huh? Is that your way of handling things?"

"We could say so. It's more of an art, though".

"How can you be so calm about it?"

"It's a Daluman art, dearest. There's nothing to be astounded about. It's called necrosculpting. Quite a fascinating and difficult craft, if you ask me".

"It is hideous, Arubah! Are you really that heartless?"

"Am I? I'll leave that for you to judge. Personally, I'd say I'm rather pitiless... but depends on the circumstances. I'm of the Herminese descendance, after all. There's no way I wouldn't inherit a certain amount of pitilessness when I've inherited the whole Herminese legacy from my mother. As for calling my actions hideous, I'll have to disagree – just like you love eating meat and fish, dearest, so I need to steal the energy of my prey in order to survive. My grandfather used to do this, too, and many on the Daluma Asteroid do as well. You love keeping animal meat in barrels, salted fish, fur which you even put on... So we Daluma love keeping the energy of our hunted prey and feeding upon it when in dire need; just like you slaughter animals and plants and use them for your benefits or to produce pieces of art, so we use these crystallized bones to our pleasure. Hideous? Nay, it's just different prey, but the same actions".

"You find justification for everything!" Violet burst into tears for she could not hold them back anymore, "You really are brutal! What if I didn't qualify as 'special' to you? I bet you'd crystallize me too?"

"Oh? Where did that come from?"

"Who cares? Just answer me!"

"When I'm asking a question, my little one, it means I care. When I care, it means I should receive the answer I demand. Am I clear?"

This strict tone put an end to her complaints – she got quickly reminded she was in the presence of not some casual dork but the very Galaxy Pirate Emperor of the Seven Universes. Not able to withstand his penetrating gaze anymore, she cast her eyes down in awe:

"I... I apologize, Captain".

"Goodie. Accepted. Now, I suppose there's only one man who could possibly put such ideas into your mind. So, after talking with Sinbad, you concluded that I am using you and my feelings are not genuine?"

"I..."

She dared no more to raise her voice against the mighty Pirate Emperor, so she remained silent, gulping her tears. After beholding those atrocious and coldblooded conducts of his, she realised she had begun to fear him even more than she did Sinbad, and that it was not some benevolent god as she had previously thought, but rather an Aztec deity. Of course, Arubah's sharp eyes couldn't miss her troubles. His sturdy hand softly caressed her on the hair, sending her warm, divine energy, which eased her heart a great deal:

"Gemstone, you've begun to doubt me?"

His eyes had filled up with tears as they often used to when he felt sincerely sad. What Aztec god... he was a dork all over.

"I don't know anymore, Arubah, I can't really understand my feelings! I know I love you, yet, I've begun to fear the thought that if God forbid, you hadn't considered me 'special', you'd have crystallized me too, just as Sinbad said!"

"Why are you thinking about what might've happened? You think the fact that I considered you special was because you were lucky? Well then, that's not true at all. Luck has nothing to do with it. It's because you are the person you are, Violet, that I've chosen to not just spare you, but show you my support, offer you my friendship and even more. I'd never have hurt you in any case, because you'd never be some other person. The beautiful soul you have would remain the same. Hence, my actions would've always been the same. Does that satisfy you?"

"Beautiful soul?"

"Beautiful human soul, the crimson diamond of my heart... Come here, you silly bean!"

Before she could even blink, the young man's lips pressed upon hers and gave her a passionate, ardent kiss, sending her the crimson energy of his own soul. She closed eyes much in affection and submitted to his embraces. Arubah grabbed her by the waist and pushed her down to his bed. He pulled off his scarlet night-coat, sprang beside her, and clutched her in his energetic grip again, to cover her in lustful kisses and receive her caresses in return. The crimson energy leaked out of his body, losing control and embracing the girl all over, while her curls fell upon his short hair and got caught into his connection-strings. Both of their hearts began violently beating, for they shared the complete bond. Violet breathed the enchanting air of the Crimson Ardour much in a trance, while Arubah continued to gift her ardent, passionate caresses.

Sharing all of his feelings by their connection, Violet had no more doubts that the young man did not just love but adored her for the whole essence of hers, that there could be no one else to claim the side of his throne as his one and only, forever-cherished empress. Did she want that kind of fate? Not really – she had never had high ambitions, to begin with. She zealously studied all the languages and cultures of the wide world of the Seven Universes, in order to return to Earth someday and give her knowledge to future generations – she wanted to become a teacher. She never wished to be a pirate, an empress, or even a casual sailor or traveller. Yet now, able to conquer this godly being's heart and earn his everlasting benevolence, she realised that whatever path she pursued, she'd still remain in his clutches... and unlike before, now she had no doubt it was the fate she had chosen on her own.

After sharing this mutual delight, they tiredly fell upon the captain's bed and their hair disconnected too. They both sighed with delightful relief. Arubah covered the maiden with his fluffy blankets, letting her sleep beside him for that night.

"By the way, Aru..."

"Yes, my treasure?"

"I accidentally read your poem".

"Accidentally? Wow, that's some news!" he burst out laughing, "So, what accidental question might you have?"

Violet couldn't help but giggle at such a hearty joke of his. She cuddled tighter with his scarred chest and inquired much with curiosity:

"Why were there tears?"

"Oh... Well, I wrote it when I was a child".

"But it was such a sad poem! What made you write it?"

"As a child, I too tended to make a lot of mistakes, but this one was the gravest of them all. Only a kind soul such as yours could ever forgive me, and he did indeed".

"Huh?"

"There was once an occasion... I was too small. My father enraged me over something trivial. I crystallized him with my powers, meaning he underwent torturous pain and even turned into a scarlet statue. He was about to die. Even now when I remember it, it sends me shudders. My mother rushed in to help and decrystallized him. She was ready to severely punish me, but my father objected. For the first time in my life, father showed more compassion and mercy than my mom. I realised that his compassion was coming from the very heart, his whole essence, unlike my Daluma-Herminoid mother's. When mom consented to pardon me and handed me to his judgment, forbidding me to lay a hand on him or else she'd make me undergo torment, I stood before my father, shaking in fear. You know what he did?"

"W... What?"

"He raised his hand, and I thought he'd hit me, but instead, he gently rubbed my head and said: "You are quite powerful, Arubah, but don't take that for granted – with great power, comes greater responsibility. If your heart is not as grand, you shall be consumed by your own might and hurt your loved ones unintentionally when you give vent to your rage. We all make mistakes, but for you, it will come at a greater price. So control your powers, and think well before hurting others. Whenever you desire to inflict pain, think of how it would feel for you to be so hurt, and only then raise your hand against others. If you still feel that, in that person's shoes, you too would be fit to take upon that punishment, it is most likely the right judgment. But if you waver even slightly, then know that what you're doing is wrong. Promise me you'll do it the next time, alright?" I promised him I'd follow his advice. Then he asked if, according to the instructions he had given above, he still deserved to be punished by my hands. Of course, I realised that, if I judged according to how he had told me, my rage was beyond reckless and stupid. So, as per his teachings, I apologized with the utmost sincerity of mine. Then, he told me those words that stayed forever in my heart and mind: "Do not ever forget, Aru – you are the diamond of my blood, so shine brightly, brighter than anyone else, with the kind ardour you hold within..." I was totally smitten – the strength he possessed was beyond any alien's comprehension, even mine. How could he forgive me so easily when I had, literally, killed him? If my mom were any later, he'd be dead! Only when I grew, did I understand what that strength was: the willpower, that ardent force only human souls can possess – the power to continue on one's path no matter the mistakes and obstacles, and never give up on one's true essence. I wrote that poem as my repentance and the remembrance to never again defy my father's teachings. After bearing that little moment in my heart for so long, my father's kind words and his teary smile, I decided to make up my alias in his honour – the Blood Diamond".

Violet listened to his passionate narrative with the utmost attention, and then landed a soft kiss on his chest – right on his heart:

"Now I am completely sure, Arubah – you truly are human... and a god".