It was clear by now that Blue Water was everything but an ordinary amulet. Both Jean and Nadia had realized that there was more behind it, although both didn´t know why exactly Blue Water could have been so valuable for a mysterious, yet powerful seeming person. Maybe Blue Water was the key to some unimaginable power or to a certain place? Or maybe did it hold some ancient power that man wanted to release? And if Blue Water really was such a valuable item, then why did Nadia have the amulet since her childhood? Nadia slowly began to think that she might have been more than just an ordinary girl. And maybe her parents played a large role in all this, this mystery surrounding Blue Water. These thoughts were just another reason for Nadia to go search for this enigmatic and mysterious figure working in the background. That man certainly could provide her with the answers she was always searching for. Maybe she would finally be able to know who she really was and who her parents were. Everything she knew about her past was that she was found by the circus troupe one day when she was still a baby, and even back then she had the Blue Water with her. This fact her friends from the circus told her about seemed like another part in this jigsaw puzzle that would provide her with the truth about her family and herself. And Nadia was hell bent on solving this puzzle, no matter how dangerous and disturbing it was. Mainly because of that man who hired Grandis. Although she had never seen him before, Nadia was frightened by the things Grandis told her. Why did he know simply everything about her? Did he have the Compass of Order? (oops, sorry. wrong anime) Was he even related to her in some way?
Grandis looked at Nadia, for once with a serious expression in her face.
"So, I told you what I know about my employer. Now it´s up to you. I take it you know how dangerous it´s going to be, huh?"
"Yes, I´m fully aware of that."
"You must know that this guy is not just some ordinary madman or something. That Gargoyle certainly is up to something big. And I don´t know about you, but it seems to be something dangerous."
"..."
"So, do you want me to take you to our meeting point?"
Of course Nadia´s answer would be "yes", if there was even the slightest chance to finally find out who her parents were, there was no way she would refuse such an offer, no matter how dangerous it could have been. But there was a problem. Since it was going to be dangerous for sure, Jean would have been in trouble as well, especially because of his size. Unless they found a way to grow him back to his normal size, their whole adventure could have been an unimaginable ordeal for Jean. So she had to ask Jean first, and if he chose not to go on such a dangerous journey, she would have decided not to go as well. Her love for Jean was still stronger than her wish to solve the mysteries surrounding her entire existence. She looked down on her palm, with her tiny hero sitting there on its soft surface. She was getting used to it quickly, and it actually gave her good feeling to have him there, being so near to her.
"Jean. What do you think? Should we go see that man?"
"Of course! If we can find out more about you and blue Water that way, then we should not let this opportunity fade away."
"But you know it´s going to be dangerous, don´t you?"
"Heck, I do. But you know what? That doesn´t matter. I´ve been through so many dangerous events recently that it doesn´t make any difference. I mean, I´ve survived being inside a woman´s stomach. Twice! Well, actually three times, but whatever. And I honestly can´t think of anything more dangerous than a female stomach, but I´m still alive, as you can see. So don´t worry about me. I´ll live through that experience as well."
"Jean...you don´t have to do this because of me. If you feel in danger, stay back. I won´t go then as well."
"You wouldn´t go there and stay with me? But why?"
"Jean, you´re my best friend! And you are even more important than my past. No matter how you decide, I won´t leave you. I´ll always be there for you."
"Nadia..."
Well, it was quite a normal talk between the two, but as Grandis witnessed the love that emanated from this conversation, she somehow felt strange. She never saw a couple like them before. Not only because one of them was an almost insignificantly tiny, eccentric boy, but also because their love was so honest and heartwarming. Although they knew each other for merely a few hours, they had developed an emotional connection that was so strong and pure unlike anything Grandis ever saw. She wished she would have met a boy like Jean in her past as well, such a lovely and honest person.
"Nadia, I know that you wouldn´t let me down. But I want to help you solve that mystery. I want to know more about you. And I´m always keen on going on a little adventure...no matter under what circumstances. And I mean...an undersea boat? That sounds just too incredible! And there certainly is even more like that, and I want to see these things."
If Jean would have only known that 14 years later, submarines were part of a nightmare called the Great War, drawing the world unto fear and sorrow by introducing things the world had never seen before, like poison gas, tanks and of course submarines, with Ypern and Verdun being the synonyms for the cruelty of that war. But that and was being 14 years in the future.
"In any case I will come with you, Nadia. You can count on me."
"Thank you, Jean."
Those feelings between the two...they made Grandis sad. They made her realize that she was never able to embrace the love of a man like Nadia did at that moment. Unconditional and honest love...she was wondering whether she would ever meet a man who was able to offer her exactly that.
"Nadia...I envy you."
"Grandis?"
"There are only few men like Jean in this world. You certainly are lucky."
"..."
"I wish I...had met someone like him as well. Maybe my life would have been different then."
"Grandis...I...I..."
Nadia slowly walked toward Grandis who was looking down onto the ground, with her sadness being clearly visible in her face. Nadia didn´t know what to say. She was her arch enemy just a few minutes ago, but now she was like her big sister, and as she saw her being so sad, she wished she could just made her sadness fade away.
"I guess...I´ll never meet the man of life. Who could possibly fall in love with someone like me?"
Nadia perceived something she would have never dared to think of. She saw tears flowing down Grandis´ cheek. For the first time the woman who seemed like a complete lunatic when they first met her showed her emotions in an honest way. And while Nadia couldn´t think of any words to cheer her up, Jean decided to do something very unusual and kind.
"Grandis, don´t talk like that. I´m sure there are thousands of men who would do anything for you."
"Huh?"
Grandis thought her ears were deceiving her. That boy who hated her with a passion sad a nice thing to her. She could understand his anger toward her, so she was perplexed to hear him talking like that.
"I mean, you are a beautiful woman. And you have a good heart, too. There´s no way a man could not fall in love with you. Well, except for me. I already lost my heart to someone."
It was clear who he meant as he looked up into Nadia´s smiling face. Grandis wiped her tears and looked at Jean, confused. She brought her head closer toward Nadia´s palm, looking at the tiny boy.
"Jean...why are you saying these things? Especially after all I´ve put you through!"
"I forgave you, remember? I know now that you´re not a bad person at all, not by any means. Sure, you´re acting strange sometimes, but that´s all right. And you really are beautiful, believe me."
"...Now I understand why Nadia cares about you that much. Your words can make a woman forget her grief, and your words are not only kind, but honest as well. Thank you, Jean."
Grandis finally smiled again and looked at the dark skinned, kind girl and the tiny gentleman standing on her palm.
"I´m sure traveling together with you won´t be as bad as I feared."
"Oh man, HOW funny..."
"Come on, it was just a joke. Well, did you two decide? Will you let me guide you and take you to Gargoyle?"
Nadia and Jean looked at each other, and their smiles made it clear what the answer would be. There was no way they would want to miss such an adventure, especially as they considered what places they could visit, what things they could see, what people they could meet and what results their journey could ultimately provide them with.
"Grandis...we gladly accept your offer and come with you."
Grandis smiles contentedly.
"Good. You people are not such a bad company. I was getting tired of traveling with these two jerks Hanson and Sanson alone."
And at last, the true adventure for Nadia and Jean was about to start. A journey that would change their lives forever.