Day 8

With the arms of his glasses pinched between his fingers, Leo hung haphazardly on the railing like clothes on a line. He opened his eyes to a squinting, getting a good look of the gentle waves crawling up the hull of the ship, before the bright light reminded him of why he closed his eyes to begin with.

He felt as if the only reason all his innards wouldn't crawl out of his mouth at once was because they all had gotten stuck in his throat while trying, and the saliva dancing in his mouth had assumed a somewhat tangy taste. The tireless squaking of seagulls from every direction certainly didn't help. He couldn't tell if they were far away or close; the infernal noise still rang through his ears.

The bloated fingers of the insurance agent ran through his sprouty red hair, collecting the pearls of sweat that had gathered in spite of the cooling breeze gliding across the sea. The steps of hard boots as they clacked against the deck approached Leo from behind.
"I spoke to the the captain," Sarah said to the washed down Leo, "We have been following the course as planned, and we are expected to see land by tomorrow at noon. By that time I will expect you to have all your things gathered and ready to depart."
"Uahhhgh... " Leo moaned without even turning his head, "Don't bother with me, Miss Sarah. I'm at ****'s door. By that time tomorrow, I will already have kicked the bucket. I'm... I'm just glad my parents aren't alive to mourn my passing..."
Sarah sighed, "That is nothing but seasickness. Nobody in history of Orderdom has ever died from sea-sickness."
"Maybe I'd rather die than live another moment in this misery! Why, oh, why did I agree to step on board this boat! Never could I have imagined that a hell like this could exist in our mortal realm!"

Sarah slipped her gloved hands behind her back and tugged on her wrist, biting her lower lip. If she didn't restrain her hands she may well toss the man overboard in a fit of passion.
The monster slayer inhaled, "My good sir... Your melodrama is scarcely appreciated. If it is indeed dragons responsible for the incident, then we may well be facing the apex of monster kind. No creature is more dangerous or terrifying, beyond the Demon Lord herself. This mission will surely be a test to all your faculties, so you are best adviced to remain focused throughout our mission."

With a groan Leo pushed himself up by the railing, took a step back before his forehead landed with a thonk against the railing. This was done partially on purpose, under a misguided attempt to counteract the throbbing aching within his head with a searing pain from outside. Predictably it didn't work, and a frustrated moan escaped his lips.
"Pass..." He folded his arms on top of the railing and rested his weary head there like on a cushion.

At that point Sarah had had it. Her otherwise stoic face broke into an expression of searing rage, as she raised her open hand over her head and swung it at the poor seasick redhead.
Before it could connect, her palm stopped in its track to hover above his frizzy hair.
Sarah took a deep breath as she regained composure, "In the venerated name of the Chief God, I beseech Heaven to look favourably upon this soul; to grant him benediction, and let him find respite from his ailments. Amen."

One last throb was felt in Leo's head, and to his relief he found the next one never came. Lucidity returned to his mind as fatigue escaped his body. He blinked and opened his eyes.
"...I'm cured. I'm cured!" With rejuvinated steps he turned towards Sarah with erect posture, wiping his glasses before putting them back on, "Thank heavens! I'm finally relieved of my suffering! Oh, Sarah! I could kiss you!"
Sarah winced, "...Restrain yourself. Please"
"How did you do that though?"
Sarah held her open palm in front of herself and beheld it, "As a monster slayer, I have been bestowed the authority of miracles of the Chief God."
Leo's face lit up with admiration, "Oh, gosh! The Chief God's warriors are so cool! You know, I didn't want to say this, but when I was a kid I wanted to be a monster slayer! I always hoped to be the one who would finally get to slay the Demon Lord!"

"That is a noble motivation, Mr Grinley..." Sarah's clear blue eye wandered momentarily towards the now all too giddy man's unkempt red hair, "Noble indeed, but tragic all the same."
The dreamlike smile of the insurance agent melted away, as he scratched the back of his neck, "Ah... Is... Is it hard to do? That healing miracle of yours?"
Sarah cleared her throat, "Far easier than without the divine mana that suffuses all monster slayers, but it is hardly my specialty."
Leo raised his hand, "Oh, oh! Let me guess! Is it... Is it laser beams? Or weather control? Something to do with illusions, right?
"I am afraid I can not indulge you that, Mr Grinley," Sarah said, "And if you would excuse me, I feel at this moment it is in both our interests if I were to keep it confidential."
"Oh, sure. Sure thing. Can't wait to see you in action."
"You know what, Mr Grinley." Sarah shot him a faint smile, "Neither can I."

Leo's eyes lit up with epiphany "Ah, but you know who could really use a miracle, Miss Sarah? Wilmore! He's in a worse shape than I am. Haven't even left his cabin all day. He absolutely refuses to come out for any reason. I swear, he didn't even show up for breakfast."
Sarah sighed, "See, this is why I was so **** to use my magic. I did not look forward to you lot getting the impression I am your personal doctor."
"No, I get that, Miss Sarah, but... I'm really worried. You know?"
"You have no reason to be though." With a flourish of her neck that swung her ginger ponytail, Sarah turned on her heels and walked, her rapier swatting against her thigh with every other step, "He merely has seasickness, just like you had. Just leave him be, and he will be on his feet by the time we dock tomorrow."
"Ah, I don't doubt you, Miss Sarah, but... Wouldn't you like to check him out? In that case, you will only help him if he really needs it, and if not, you can just leave him be."
Sarah groaned, "...Fine. I will take a brief look. And after that, I will expect you to not say a single word about this again. And I answer to Sarah or Miss Deschanel. Is that understood?"
Leo smiled, "Y-yes Miss Deschanel. I mean, I understand perfectly."

Sarah descended the stairs, and headed for the cabins. When she arrived outside Wilmore's room, she rapped on the door with the knuckle of her middle finger.
"...Yes?" Wilmore's voice as heard from the other side sounded even whinier than usual.
"This is Sarah Deschanel. I am merely checking up on you, as I heard you were under the weather." Said Sarah.
"...I am quite fine, miss Deschanel."
"In that case," Sarah folded her arms, "you will of course not mind if I come inside for a moment."
"I would rather you did not." Wilmore said.
"It will only take a moment." Sarah said.
"I insist. I am not decent."
"I am perfectly fine with that, Wilmore. Trust me, in my line of work you see far worse things than your shame."
Wilmore's groan could be heard from the other side, as Sarah turned the handle.

As the door to Wilmore's cabin open, the darkness made way to the only source of light coming from the hallway, since the curtains to the porthole were closed. Sarah could make out that Wilmore was thankfully not in the nude, but dressed in a white tanktop, the lower half of his body covered in a blanket that was clutched with both his hands. His blue hair was unkempt, but unlike Leo's red hair, which seemed to fly off in every direction like the spines of a hedgehog, Wilmore's voluminous hair hung down his neck and part of his face like a cloak. The pieces of Wilmore's regular outfit were strewn about the floor of the cabin, the stool and even the foot of the bed.
The man Pollard had told Sarah about was exactly the man Sarah had come to know until they set foot on the ship. That man would never even consider leaving such a mess.

"There. You have checked on me. I hope you are happy." Wilmore turned his back to Sarah as he dug his face into a pillow, "Now if you excuse me, would you kindly close the door on your way out?"
"Is anything wrong, Wilmore?" Sarah walked closer.
"Nothing. I merely wish to be left alone. Is that too much to ask?"
Sarah could see the hand clutching on to the blanket trembling, and his staggered breathing could be heard from the other end of the room. He was even paler than usual, and cold sweat adorned his brow.

Sarah approached the wreck of a man with outstretched hand as she leaned in. Her open palm hovered over the exposed top of his head, and Sarah spoke the same prayer as before.
"...Miss Deschanel, I know you have disregarded my words up to this point, but I must firmly draw a line here; right now I am very much not in the mood for contact."
Wilmore's words dripped with such cold hostility that Sarah reflexively grabbed the hilt of her sword.
"Certainly. You have nothing to fear, Wilmore." Sarah withdrew her hand as she withdrew from the bed, noting how nothing changed, even when she applied her magic. The miracle worked by magnifying the natural ability to recover of the target's body. It did nothing against ailments for which the body had no resistance. It also did nothing against mental ailments.

"Wilmore..." Sarah sighed, "In one and a half hour, I will come down with supper for you, and then leave. I will expect you to finish all of it when I am done. Is that understood?"
"I will eat when I have the appetite." Wilmore said.
"This is not negotiable. You will need to be at full strength when we land tomorrow. I certainly hope you do not intend to let down your employer."
A long moment of silence was broken by Wilmore's words, "I shall eat as much as I am capable of."
"That is all I ask for. I will leave for now. Will you be all right on your own?"
"Mhmm..."
Sarah could not help but smile as she looked down on him, "Just... Try to calm down. And get some rest."

As Sarah closed the door behind her, she leaned against the wall next to it and sighed. She was definitely not in the mood for any of this... But at least she was able to be there for him.
She headed up the stairs on to the deck, and Leo turned to face her as she passed by.
"So..." Leo started but was interrupted.
"It was just as I said," Sarah said, "He just needs to be alone."