ROSES HAVE THORNS-Chapter 62 - Small Reunion

"What the hell? He really is a ship geek."

Kurt watched Dominik with amazement as he skillfully managed to dock the ship all by himself. From slowing the ship down and flying around to lower the sails, all the way to securing the fenders and setting the docking lines.

"I must say that’s really impressive."

"Diana. Good morning." Kurt looked to his right where she stood and greeted her.

"Good morning, Rosie." She kissed him on the cheek. "Last night was amazing~"

"Haha. It was for me too. Although next time we should do it, we’d best make sure that we’re alone. I think we traumatised Emelie by being so... wild."

"Emelie has thick skin and is probably just irritated because of the... lewd noise we caused." Diana blushed when she remembered what they did. "But I should apologise to her. Where is she? She wasn’t in her room."

"She fell asleep at the helm. However, make sure you apologise to her after cleaning up. Otherwise, you’re in for one nasty stink eye... Trust me, I know..." Kurt smiled in self-deprecation.

"Oh, Rosie..."

"Alright people! We’ve docked safely and are ready to unboard!" Dominik yelled from the helm.

"How is Emelie sleeping through all that shouting?"

"Like I said. Thick skin."

"Kurt! Principal Valentine, good morning~" Dominik wiggled his eyebrows.

"Change that stupid look on your face before I cut off your eyebrows."

"Yes ma’am." He straightened his posture and his face.

"Thank you. Good morning to you too, Dominik. I trust that you can handle taking in these cultists and safely escort the women to the station?"

"Of course! There is no safer place to be at than with me and no evil shall escape my grasp. Besides, there should be a few patrol guardsmen to help me out."

"That’s reassuring to hear. I need to freshen up and go back to the academy in order to catch up on missed work. Mia must’ve been struggling without me. I’ll also tell Chief Hudson that you’re on your way and that he should swiftly send out men. Now, Rosie," She turned to touch his cheek.

"I know I’ll be busy for the next week, but I promise to make it up to you once the tournament is over. Also, it’d be nice if you could pop in for a quick visit whenever you can. Goddess only knows how much I hate being apart from you."

"I definitely will. I also hate being apart from you for too long."

"Rosie~" She quickly looked at Dominik, who picked up on the hint she was giving.

"Ahem! I’m gonna go get transport for these criminals and these ladies. Adios."

When he left, Diana then wrapped her arms around Kurt’s neck and kissed him slowly, to which he returned the gesture by holding her body close and slipping his tongue inside her mouth.

"Hehe~ *Smooch~* Stop being so irresistible, Rosie. I need to leave. I love you~"

"Love you too." He smiled.

She blushed as she waved at him one last time before teleporting away.

SHWOOSH

"That was a nice scene I guess." Emelie commented from above.

"Emy, I didn’t know you were a pervert who likes spying on other people’s love life~" Kurt smirked at her.

"More like it was shoved in my face. I woke up to a ’StOp BeInG sO IrResIsTabLe, RoSie~’ Hahaha. But I’m glad you make her happy. She really deserves it..."

"Right. Thanks. So what are you gonna do now?"

"Me? Although he probably doesn’t need it, I’m gonna act as Dominik’s personal guard as he escorts the cultists and women to the city. And you?"

"I figured I’d–"

"Rossana!" A familiar voice called to be from the docks. "Rossana! Kurt Rossana! ’Tis me! Willy!"

"Old man Willy? Sorry Emy, I’ll be back shortly."

"No need. Let’s all meet up in the city after some R&R. I’ll tell Dominik you went to catch up with a friend. If you don’t know where to find me, just go to Sophie’s diner at around 6:00pm. You’ll find the place the near border gate at–"

"Sophie’s Diner? I know the place. The owner and I are friends."

"Oh. That makes explaining unnecessary then. Have fun hanging with your friend and make sure to clean up before the next meeting."

"Hahaha! Thanks, Emy. See you later!" He jumped off the ship and went to look for Willy.

"Laters." She waved lazily.

........

"Old man Willy!"

"Kurt, me boy!" They both shook hands with a thunderous clap. "’Tis been what, five days since we’ve seen one another. Felt like an eternity ago!"

"It is crazy to think it’s only been five days. So much has happened during that time."

"Aye. I told ye this would happen!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"What would happen?"

Willy pulled out a newspaper and showed Kurt the front cover with him plastered on it.

"I told ye that ye’d be in the newspaper! Hahaha! Already famous ay laddy! Ahahahaha! Look at ye all covered in blood! Ahahaha!"

"Argh, that’s already old news, Willy. It was all just a big misunderstanding."

"Old news?! Kurt, lad, the women round here are using this story as nightmare fuel to scare their little ones into sleeping! The Bloody One-Eyed Doctor they call ye! If ye ain’t in bed by eight at night, the Bloody One-Eyed Doctor will break in ye home and steal ye little eyeballs so that he can eat ’em! Ahahaha!"

"Oh my God... Does it work?" Kurt asked curiously.

"Haha– Huh?" Willy stopped laughing when he did not get the reaction he was hoping for out of Kurt. "Aye. It works. The little ones are absolutely frightened..."

"Really? Hmmm. I wonder if it’ll work on adults?"

"Why would it work on adults? ’Tis a scare tactic used for kids to go to sleep. Most adults know ’tis fake."

"Oh, don’t mind what I just said. I was thinking out loud. By the way Willy, I have something for you."

"Hmm?"

Kurt reached for his personal tag and imbued it with magic. Then he summoned out a pouch of coins and handed it to the old man.

"What?! I done never seen this much gold in my hands?! Holy mother of–"

"Quiet down Willy!" Kurt put his arm around him and checked whether anyone was watching. "We don’t want anyone catching wind of this..."

"B-But how? This is so much..."

"Let’s just say I had a lucky encounter. Also..."

"Hey Kurt!" Dominik called to him from a horse that’s pulling a cage with the cultists inside. "Emelie and I are leaving now. Here’s your loot sack."

Kurt walked up and took the sack from him then asked, "Where’s Emelie and the women?"

"Emelie’s quickly getting Courtney who is still blacked out drunk from last night. Principal Valentine really wasted all of them with the liquor they found. The rest of them are on the carriage behind us, groaning about the headache they have."

’No wonder I didn’t receive any complaints from them. They were passed the hell out.’

"Why if it isn’t Dominik!"

"Senior Willy! It’s good to see you again."

"You guys know each other?" Kurt asked as he watched them shake hands.

"Yeah. Senior Willy was my, well, my senior back when I was still a patrol guardsman in the city. After which I got promoted to prefect while he got stationed down here at the docks."

"Aye. And I much prefer being here than in the city. I get to meet people from all walks of life when I’m here. Case in point, I met Kurt when he passed out drunk near the market! Ahahaha!"

"Whoa. For real, Kurt? You were being a public disturbance?" Dominik gave him the side eye.

"Ahaha... y-yeah. Silly me..."

"If it weren’t for Madam Valentine curing ye, ye would have probably been sent to the hospital and then a cell."

""Diana – Principal Valentine?!"" Both Kurt and Dominik yelled at the same time.

"What’d she do?" Kurt asked Willy first.

"I’ve no idea to be honest. I seen her do some magic thingamajig and soon enough ye was calm and sober."

’Is that how the pain went away? I need to thank her when I see her again.’

"Hey Dominik, I’m all done getting the ladies. We can leave now."

"E-Emelie Herst!? My granddaughter is a big fan of ye! And I am as well! Ohhh if only she were here!"

"Errr... thanks, Mr...."

"W-Willy! Patrol Officer Willy! May I have your autograph? For my granddaughter of course!"

"Sure. You got anything I could sign?"

"I– I don’t..."

"Worry not, Senior Willy!" Dominik grabbed a poster and marker from his robes.

’He’s seriously prepared for anything, isn’t he?’ Kurt looked at him mildly surprised.

"Dominik me boy! I thank ye!" Willy grabbed the items and handed it to Emelie, to which she proceeded to sign and give back to him.

"Thank ye, Ms. Herst! My granddaughter and I shall be at the tournament to support ye all the way to victory!"

"Thank you. That means a lot." She smiled at him. "Now if that’s everything, shall we leave Dominik?"

"Yep. See you later, Kurt!" Dominik whipped the horse to encourage it to move forward. "Until next time Senior Willy!"

"Later Kurt." Emelie rode past him next with the women’s carriage to her side. "Don’t forget, at Sophie’s. It was nice meeting you Willy. Tell your granddaughter I say, ’thank you for the support.’."

"Aye! It was good seeing ye both!" Willy and Kurt waved at them as they left.

"That’s unbelievable, Kurt. How ye come to be friends with such amazing people?"

"Probably the blessing of Goddess Bula like you keep talking about."

"Wha–"

"By the way, you know where I could appraise and sell all these?" He lifted up the heavy sack with one hand.

"A-Aye. Follow me."