Chapter 234: Lifeboats
"Orion!" Soleia screamed out helplessly, her hands stretching out instinctively as though she could just reach out and grab him back. But of course, her fingers curled around nothing but empty air. She struggled to break free from Ricard’s hold, trying to get to the side of the boat to take a closer look. "Orion! Where are you!"
The waters were pitch black, and she barely made out the silhouette of two heads bobbing in the water as they fought. The waves sloshed violently between the men.
"Well, that’s it for my brother." Ricard’s voice was loud against her ear as he gave a theatrical sigh. "He had a good run. I’ll make sure to leave some flowers at his funeral."
Soleia paused, stunned by the cavalier way Ricard spoke about Raziel. "You have so little faith in your brother?"
He wasn’t going to save him?
"Raziel can’t swim. I know, I know, it’s unbelievably pathetic," Ricard replied boredly, and Soleia’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"I had always told him that this would be the cause of his death one day, but he didn’t believe me. I bet he’s regretting it now. Aren’t you, brother?" Ricard raised his voice at the end, causing it to echo over the ocean waters.
Hope began to bubble within her― Raziel being unable to swim would dramatically improve Orion’s chances of victory. Orion would live, and he would return. Soleia kept her eyes and ears peeled, hoping to catch any sign of life. However, the ocean was depressingly still, save for a few splashes that could have been due to fish.
After all, water was still steadily rushing into the ship, thanks to Orion’s earlier blow. The one crewmember who could have fixed this mess was also overboard, and Soleia hoped he was knocked unconscious.