SparkaTale: Read it, Write it

Chapter One - "Lost at Sea"

* Ten Leagues ago*

Aaeson twirled the rock in his hands, transfixed. It was a solid slice of the sea, the upper layer coated in blue with the greys of the rocky seabed underneath. Sometimes he held it up to the sun, catching the reflection. His father called it apatite, a mineral not native to Rongholdst. He remained tight-lipped when his son asked where it came from, only adding to its intrigue.

From his window, he spotted the ships on the horizon, preparing to dock with their goods. Lymifa was a small town on the edge of a sheer cliff, shaped by the wind and the salt it carried; he remembered a time when he traveled with his friends to the very edge of the rocky plains on the outskirts of town, only for the ground beneath to collapse. He would had perished if not for the hand of Erson, the boy saved his life more times than he cared to admit. Even now he knew his friend was waiting for him near one of many caves that formed a series of interconnecting tunnels beneath the mountain, taking advantage of the low tide to hunt whatever game they could find. He placed the apatite on its usual pedestal, dressing himself in his quarters before heading outside.

He had the same dream again; he would find himself lost in a crowded town, packed with the ugliest buildings his eyes had seen. Men and women, boys and girls walked from place to place in the most ridiculous outfits while rats scoured many a path. The smell was almost unbearable, and Aaeson couldn't figure out whether it came from the streets or the people themselves. They gave him the strangest of looks, like he was the outcast and not the other way around. Unlike his usual dreams he had full control over where he went and what he did, so the cobbled paths were usually left behind. It was really rather frustrating that he kept waking up in the same spot. Whenever he awoke back in his own bed he would swear at the gods and banish its events from his mind.

Lymifa was preparing for the vessels to dock, the warehouses were emptied and the paths cleared as they made way for the merchandise. There was going to be a celebration in the evening, with enough ale to go around. As such, the journey was uneventful, not a single person to be seen as he left the safety of the town behind and walked further down the cliff towards the sea. The path had remained unchanged since he was a baby, but he still put one foot in front of the other carefully, holding onto the stone just in case he lost his footing. The ships edged closer, carried by the favorable winds. Aaeson knew that his parents weren't sailing with this fleet, but would return a few days later. They were sailing outside the usual boundaries, documenting the islands they found and the resources they kept. Father was a sea dog, only comfortable whenever he was on a deck. He wondered what sort of treasures they would bring back.

Distracted, he placed his foot on a loose footing, breaking way. He instantly regained his composure, but not before he felt the rush of adreneline as it coarsed through his body. He needed to be careful, lest his parents returned to find themselves without a son.

The seabed, stripped of the ocean waves for a few scant hours, layed bare small treasures normally hidden from human eyes; several polished stones glistened in the usual granite, most of which could fetch a small amount of coin if one cared to shine them and remove any imperfections. Some fish careless enough to be caught in the tide were left stranded, already beginning to rot in the morning sun. The smell wasn't entirely plesent. Erson would had wrinkled his nose at the sight of them, for a fisherman's son he would faint at the sight of his father gutting his catch.

He was a contradiction in himself, the lad.

The cave was only visible when the tide came out, with no way of escaping should the waves rush in. Still, they lived there long enough to know what time they had to exploit, so when Aaeson finally arrived he found his friend sharpening his blade, a harpoon fastened to his back. It was clearly borrowed from his father, should he realize what his son was doing he'd have his hide.

"You're late." He cried out as Aaeson approached. For a boy who was afraid of skinning his catch, he sure was excited to hunt in the first place.

"You've known me long enough by now." He replied, reaching for his own blade. "Besides, the ships will arrive soon. We better finish this before they catch wind of where we are."

Erson smirked while he inspected his harpoon, making sure the rope was fastened securely to it so it could be retrieved. His aim was true and devastating, many an unsuspecting crustacean fell victim to his hands.

"You'd do well to bring a larger blade next time, that skinny lil' knife won't handle the larger Abscr." He may had been right, considering that if left unchecked they grew as tall as a man. They dealt with larger prey, however.

"It's served me well so far, you strike and maine them, and I will finish them off."

"As always."

"As always." Their combination worked well for them so far, there was no reason for them to change their tune now.

The cave was dark with a rocky footing, drops of water falling as they travelled deeper inside. Stalactite pillars hung from the ceiling, comprised of different minerals and material. Some of them were grey as the clouds while others sparkled like diamonds. Aaeson's father had a keen interest in those sort of things, but aside from the apatite he was gifted his son didn't share that entusiasm.

"They must be adjusting their sails by now, first time 'he poor sods had seen land in ages, I'd guess!"

"Give 'em a break! Even sailors get sick of their sea legs."

"Not my old man, I wonder what sort of treasures he found this time..."

"If you don't watch where we're going, you won't return to find any sort of treasure!" Aaeson warned, the sound of scuttling breaking the silence. They moved sideways, feasting on the fish that were doomed when the tide went out. Their stench filled the air, forcing Aaeson to breathe through his mouth. His blade - hardly larger than a knife - was unsheathed and ready. Erson lit his lantern, small enough to be placed on his hip. He offered the same to his friend, making sure there was just enough light for them to see where they were going.

Their light was a double-edged sword; they knew where they were going, but there was nowhere to hide from the Abscar. Two of them appeared in sight, heavily-armored with their shells, their mandibles racing. They were impartial to whatever could be eaten - including humans. Erson reached for a stone cautiously, a smooth, round piece of rock that was shaped with the passage of time, and threw it as hard as he could. One of the Abscar darted out of the way, easily avoiding the projectile.

He swore, they weren't dealing with the usual old and vulnerable creatures.

They lunged towards their attacker, but the boy was swerved to the side, quicker than his prey on their unsure footing. Aaeson followed not long after, exploiting their weak spot since they were distracted. It was the claws they were after; heavy but valuable, they were able to fetch a hefty amount of coin. He reached for his blade and found their exposed spot, away from the hard shell.

Erson launched his harpoon, the end of the rope tied to his arm. He missed - albeit barely - but the force of the momentum thrust him out of harm's way before they could react. Their cries were deafening, echoing throughout the chamber. He readied his weapon again, preparing a second pass. Aaeson made sure to give him a wide bearth, switching his own lantern off so the Abscar would find it difficult to spot him. Erson found better fortune with his second attempt, striking one directly between the eyes, slicing its head apart. It's body crumpled to the ground, defeated. Its partner howled in rage, pressing forward even as it struggled to walk on the rocks.

That was Aaeson's moment to strike.

The boy swung in from the right, surprising the Abscar as his blade found its left eye. He moved as it lashed out, dark-green blood spewing from the wound as it swung at air and not much else. His friend extracted his harpoon from his catch, readying a third and final throw.

"Move!" He cried out, but Aaeson's eyes looked past him, and at the three new Abscar that joined the fray. He moved just as his friend threw his harpoon, but its target had managed to turn his shell in time, bouncing uselessly against it. At the same time Aaeson was on the move, grabbing his friend as they ran out of harm's way.

"There's too many of them, we better high-tail it out of 'ere!"

"One was struck down! We can't leave our prize behind!" The fool responded, shrugging Aaeson off as he pulled on the rope, fetching his weapon. The Abscar must have noticed the harpoon's movements - a glistening of light against the metal, perhaps - but they chased after it, moving quicker than the boy could pull. They latched onto it and pulled, forcing Erson to untie the knot on his hand and let it go lest he be taken with it. Aaeson shoved him in the right direction, sprinting towards the entrance and out of harm's way. They were adverse to daylight, but they weren't taking any chances with them. Neither boy looked back until they were at the foot of the cliff's path, breathing a sigh of relief when the creatures weren't to be seen.

"We'll need to find a new harpoon." Aaeson commented, beginning their hike back to Lymifa.

"I can't decide whether I'd rather my father's wrath, or the Abscar's." Erson was dealt a losing hand, he was going to have to play it as best he could.

The docks were packed, made of stone and standing the test of time, they harbored many a fine ship throughout their time, and they were about to greet yet more of them. The Antschmer Aes took pride in their naval fleet, their ships glistening in the sun with brass and gold, their proud sails on full display. Each were coated in the family arms of the men and women commanding them. Aaeson knew he had to be patient, a few more days and nights before his own family arrived. People of all ages gathered, ready to do their part. Aaeson knew many of the children around his age from school, their usual classes suspended in light of the Antschmer's return. Aristrol walked alongside his father, a tower of a man for fifteen leagues and resembling more of a man than he did a boy.

All of a sudden the horns sounded, officially announcing the arival of the fleet.

They sailed inside Lymifa's territorial domain, dropping anchor and taking their place at the docks. The nearest one - The Jewel - was the largest one of all, ornamented with pearls along the entire starboard, its sails coated the deepest shade of blue either boy had ever seen. The exotic goods from the most southern point of Rongholdst would be retrieved first, followed by other necessities. There were few resources in Lymifa, relying almost entirely on their shipping routes to deliver what they needed. That was why the Antschmer Aes were treated with such high regard.

That was also why Aaeson's father was regarded as the greatest of them all.

The very first object that came from the Jewel's deck dazzled onlookers; a giant horn from an unknown creature, various different shades of pink that shined softly in the afternoon sun. It took twelve men to carry it off the ship, most likely intent for the castle stronghold stationed in the West. No other family in town could afford such a thing. Taking his eyes off of its beauty for a moment, he noticed cuts and scrapes across the Jewel's hull, though its decorative pieces remained intact. It looked like the ship and its crew had a few stories to tell.

"Any idea what sort of creature they fought to retrieve that?" Erson whispered, just as curious as his friend. They noticed Aristrol's arms around it, one of the men tasked with carrying it ashore. It was the closest any of them were going to get to it.

"Whatever it was, it didn't surrender without a fight." He noticed the battle scars on the ship, as well. "All part of the adventure, after all."

"I doubt we'll ever see the fine folk here again once we make it outside of the pier."

"Come now, we'll have to dock sometime. We can't have too much of a good thing!" Aaeson warned, not that it dented Erson's enthusiasm in any way. They watched as yet more goods were gathered; most of them were hidden inside wooden crates, their treasures a closely-guarded secret. Colorful fabric from all four corners of the land were gathered, bundled into enormous balls of yarn and hoisted in groups of two and three. Other ships dropped anchor and various other bundles and parcels trickled into Lymifa. Aaeson made sure he spared enough coin to buy what he needed in his families' absence. It was a shame he didn't have any Abscar claws to barter.

They strode into the center of town, the bright-white walls of the buildings contrasting against the summer sky. The heat was tolerable, though in time they would reach the peak of the summer sun. Women prepared the food of a feast fit for several Kings; freshly-made loaves of bread and cream of butter while others lit lanterns all across Lymifa's pillars. The all-important barrels of ale and beer were being rolled into the tavern, the largest building outside of the castle. Aaeson knew Mr. Tervigton from when he was but a small boy, a great jolly man whose black hair had turned slightly grey, although the eyes never changed. He seemed to revel in his role, gratefully accepting the stock that would keep his business running.

"Boys!"

Chaester rushed towards them, her red hair an unkempt mess. The lass had disappeared for many a day behind her swordsmith families' doors, helping her old man to craft the perfect weapon. Her presence took her friends by surprise.

"The Warrior Princess returns!" Erson greeted, though she wasn't impressed with the moniker. "How goes the blade?"

"I'm sick to my stomach with watching that blasted thing! I don't know what father sees in making such an ugly sword."

"Nobody will complain about the look of it when it is busy slicing through the air." Erson had a point and Chaester knew it.

"True... I suppose it's destined for the Acknl Ightskn, anyway. They can do as they please with it."

Truth be told, there was a shroud of secrecy behind them. They acted as the royal guard, but royalty hadn't entered the castle in a long while. Still, the sword needed to be retrieved somehow, whether it was by a lone messenger or its intended owner. Neither option really mattered right there and then.

"Since you're free from that labor, anything you'd like to see in particular before the adults drink through the night?"

"Whoever said it would be just the adults that are drinking?"

"You seriously plan on stealing from the tavern?" Erson raised his eyebrow, "Or will you be relying on your father to fetch you a glass or two?"

"I am more than capable of fetching some for myself. They won't miss it if they never recieve it to begin with."

"The sword has driven you mad, hasn't it?"

"It will take more than that, I'm afraid." She replied with a sly smile, but before long she admitted that she was needed elsewhere. Aaeson bid her farewell as both boys walked further, catching all sorts of trinkets and toys as they were placed on makeshift stalls. Different fish were put on display, from the long, lightly-colored Shetfica to the relatively-rare Shfiorsew, its serrated bill having already been severed. It was little wonder why Chaester decided to leave when she did, hunting never appealed to her and neither was gazing at the result from such hunts.

The day was filled with excitement; kids with wooden weapons fought in the center of the courtyard, under the careful watch of their parents lest one of them grew too entusiastic with the battles they were reenacting. Aaeson remembered when he was but a child, taking part in those same fights. Erson had actually struck him in the eye once upon a time, the closest their friendship had gone towards breaking point. How trivial that seemed now. Now they were fighting wicked beasts together, and they hadn't even head out to sea just yet.

The kid had done well to have him as a friend.

Lymifa took on a whole new vibrancy at night; those same lanterns, lit throughout the day, had a multitude of different colors depending on what oils one used before igniting them. Hence, houses were covered in unusual colors from saffron to lavender, fuschia to gold, their white walls a perfect canvas. As expected the tavern was full to the brim, virtually everybody sipping freshly-imported drink while the Antschmer Aes spoke of tales from around the provience and even beyond. Rumors were abound that they fought off wicked beasts, skeletal men that never seemed to die, but of course the creature who posessed that horn was the subject of everybody's questions. You couldn't trust a drunken man and their tall tales, but there had to be a sliver of truth in them.

Chaester was true to her word.

She ran into Aaeston and Erson, a wicked smile on her face and her hands full with large wooden cups. The stench of alcohol was overpowering.

"I'd like to ask how you managed to fetch these." Erson commented, but took his cup without complaint. It was clear he never swigged ale before, but he played up the pretense nonetheless.

"They're too merry to protest. Besides, they can always order another."

At the end of the courtyeard, away from the lanterns and the hubbus and the noise, one could look out across the ocean. The pier looked peaceful, the waves noticeably choppier once one left the protection of shallow waters. Still, it looked serence with the backdrop of the moon against it, stars that twinkled in the night. It almost felt like they were trying to whisper something, flashing in a language they couldn't speak.

Aaeston was handed his own drink, and they three sat together along the edge of the wall, looking out at the expanse.

"They should be back, come the morn'."

"More drink, I bet!" Chaester proclaimed, clearly after have a sip or three already. The two boys glanced at each other with knowing eyes and laughed, drinking their drink as they spoke about the future. All three wanted to command the same ship, set out on grand adventures of their own before they enlisted with the Antschmer Aes. They had all the time in the world.

"Wait... what is that?" They were sure Erson saw nothing, or maybe he was imagining things. The other two looked out to sea, trying to catch a glimpse of what ramblings the boy was going on about... until they spotted it. It was a single ship, little larger than a dingy. Its sails bore no insignia that they could spot, though the moonlight did little to help.

"Not one of ours." Erson noted, concerned.

"We should fetch somebody from the Aes." Aaeston's comment made little sense when they were dancing merrily in the tavern, not a single sober soul in sight.

"We don't know their intent, even if it's a single boat."

"Well then, we're just going to have to go and ask what intent they 'ave." Erson proclaimed, hopping from the wall and gulping the rest of his ale. They didn't know what good a trio of drunken minors would be to the ship's occupants, but that was about the warmest welcome Lymifa was willing to offer that night. They travelled through the well-worn path downhill while the boat drew nearer, careful with their footing. Grass tickled Aaeston's ankles while rocky crevaces scratched them. He needed to fix the leather of his shoes, torn and tattered almost beyond recognition. His hand was by his blade, just in case. One had to be careful with the creatures that lurked just outside the town's boundaries.

That boat docked just as the three arrived at the shore, moving cautiously let the men aboard were more foe than friend. In the cover of the moon not a single soul stirred, the boat a haunting sight. It didn't even attempt to drop anchor, instead washing up on the sandy beach.

"I don't like this." Chaester whispered.

"The sooner we see whose aboard this boat, the sooner we can head back 'ome." Erson began, but stopped when his eyes focused on something along the boat's hull. " By the gods. Look!"

It was difficult to see just what he spotted, but the coat of arms was unmistakeable - the symbol of the Ackbl Ightskn. The vessel must had been a lifeboat from a larger ship.

They rushed towards it, ignoring the stench of seaweed and rotting timber, discovering three men as they layed motionless on the deck. They were covered from head to toe in armor, though it looked like the protection did little for them. One laid without their helmet, their eyes glassed over. The sight was too much for Aaeson, who doubled over. Erson simply stared at the scene, horrified.

All of a sudden, one of them moved.

He coughed up water, threatening to choke. Chaester ran to his aid and wrest it from his head, watching as the old man heaved some air into his lungs. His beard was patchy, owing to months of neglect out on the sea, though his legs never moved.

"Tell us what happened!" Aaeson commanded, crouching to his knees so he could look directly into the man's eyes.

"The Lionetaba... she capsized..."

The words rang hollow in the boy's ears. That was the ship his family commanded, the ship Erson's father resided on. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Aaeston grabbed the Ightskn's chest piece, anger in his eyes.

"Where?"

"Out in the middle of the New Beyond - " He attempted to speak, but the fit he had put a stop to that. There was water in his lungs, the salt would damage them long before any cleric or healer could arrive. After only a few more gasps he sighed his last, slumping against the wall. Erson checked the other occupants, trying to find a pulse in any of them. He shook his head once he'd gotten his answer.

"We're going out there!" Aaeson cried, tears in his eyes and his hands coiled to fists. "If this ship made it off, then so did our parents!"

"It's madness going out there at this time of night, and you don't know how to pilot a ship!" Chaester warned, but the words fell on deaf ears. Aaeson ran across the sand, trying to find a dingy or boat that would be small enough to pilot. Unfortunately they were stowed away in their larger counterparts. When reason finally filtered through the boy's madness he fell to his knees, unable to stop the tears.

Little did he know of their fate, or the journey that awaited him after that fateful night.

3: Chapter Two - "No Place for Lovers"

Chapter Two - "No Place for Lovers"

Antschmer - 363 A.E

"Tis' a fine morn', the waves have calmed and our vessel sails smoothly. We glimpsed at a rare sight 'round these parts; an Eal so large it rivalled our ship. I was but a lad when the ships came in to Lymifa, carrying one of their horns. It's better attached to the creatures, I'd say.
The crew attempted a mutiny, but it 'as to be expected. They stormed into my quarters only to find Erson and I with our weapons drawn. Took a while to scrub the deck and the quarters after we were finished with 'em.
I'm worried about 'im. He's been my friend through the highs and the lows, from both the waves and the journey. We're still no closer, perhaps he lost a bit o' faith.
The apatite on my desk stops me from feeling the same. I need to listen to one more blasted story about Father's adventures before I fall asleep one last time.

Until next time,
Aaeson."

The Antschmer wasn't christened the Antschmer at first. She was a fine ship, one of the quickest its captain had ever laid eyes on. It had a long and varied story according to the parchments stored in their private quarters - all epic tales of fighting pirates and monsters, witnessing faeries and was even at risk of capsizing one fateful battle. Still, none of that mattered when Aaeson and his crew stormed through its deck and held the crew to ransom. The man's blade - itself stolen from an earlier vessel - held it to the captain's neck, just enough for a trickle of blood to drip down his shirt. Aaeson wouldn't kill a single soul that day, instead converting the crew for his own use while granting him and those still loyal to him to flee. They had long since returned to their homeland, warning others that the Antschmer was now a hostile ship. It mattered not to Aaeson, nor to his first mate Erson.

What mattered was finding the truth, using any means necessary to get there.

He cradled the apatite in his fingers, lost in the ocean-like layers. Time had eroded it somewhat, but it still gleamed the brightest shade of blue. It reminded him of simplier times, when the dream of becoming an adventurer still held a tinge of promise. He was granted his wish, but not under the circumstances Aaeson wanted.

Life was never so simple.

He stretched his legs and reached for his boots, saddling up for another day of hard work. The crew - what was left of it - worked overtime to keep her running, but there was only so much a pair of hands could do, and they couldn't be everywhere at once. The sails were constantly adjusted to account for the erratic change in direction the wind blew, cannons were inspected to ensure they were in firing order while ropes were tightened. Sea salt was a constant enemy, so the first task Aaeson performed was inspecting said ropes, shaking his head when he found that a pair of them had eroded to the point of no return. They needed to dock anyway to recruit more hands, no harm in gathering some supplies while they were at it.

An unenviable task, considering the notoriety of the ship.

Erson looked out into the distance, his teloscope in hand. The three of them returned to Lymifa when they found that lone Ackbl Ightskn boat, though they were too drunk to properly heed their warning. It wasn't until the morning after when Aaeson gathered the three of them together, proposing to take a boat and see what happened to themselves. Chaester refused, not one to consider herself a pirate and a thief. Then again, she still had her family at home. Both boys ran towards the shore, and the ships that laid in wait for them. Their first theft was little more than a dingy, a suicide mission at best. It mattered not to either of them, they just needed to go far enough to see the truth for themselves. It was a small wonder both of them were still alive.

"How goes it?" Aaeston greeted his old friend, gazing at the vast expanse of the sea.

"We're sailing dangerously close to the Onandab islands." He warned, and with good reason. No ship dared to approach them, partly for their shallow waters that can beach many an inexperienced sailor, but mostly for the fables of vicious creatures disguised as beautiful men and women, lulling their victims into a false sense of security before drowning them and feasting on their bones. Those events were never confirmed, though the many shipwrecks dotted across the islands were no fictional stories.

"We have no intention of visiting 'em." Aaeson assured his friend, still several leagues away before they needed to adjust course. "We'll need to halt soon, scour the nearby land for any sort of supplies we can. Those ropes won' last forever."

"Neither will we. We 'aven't slept in days." That much was also true, though it was sad to hear. Aaeson himself had spent many a night racing from one end of the ship to another, battling enormous waves as threatened to swallow the ship whole. His eyes stung for quite some time after that struggle, the taste of sea water forever engraved in his tongue.

"We'll grab the men and women who are willing, we'll reach the end of this journey yet. We'll find out 'he truth," He promised, just like he promised Erson many times before. Even now the first mate smiled, though that optimism was slowly fading. Aaeson was forced to admit that he felt the same, but there wasn't a life to return to back home.

They carried onward as the sun travelled across the length of the sky, carrying out the usual menial tasks. Their sails sported holes that would need to be stitched back together, and none of them had the means of doing so. It was yet another problem to be added onto the pile of existing ones. Still, his crew performed admirably given the situation, so by the the time the sun sank into the sea they were given some well-deserved rest. By then they had sailed past the relative danger of the Onandab region and en route to Oneal, dropping anchor near a ragged coast covered in evergreen pines. Even from such a distance the usual sea air was mixed pleasantly with the scent of their leaves, a welcome change. Lights were lit, illuminating the main deck and the cabins inside as the crew prepared the last of their food. Fish were plentiful, though they pained for some sort of differentiation in their diet. Aaeson reached for the wheel that maneuvered the Antschmer, applying the locks to prevent the wheel from turning before grabbing his hunting gear. Both captain and first mate planned on heading towards the shore, stripping the tree of their bark and hunting any wild game that crosses their path with what little light was left to them. The crew were given their orders - as well as assurances that they would dine decently that night - before they lowered their own boat, rowing towards the coast. Their vessel - their home - sat proudly in the water, still sailing despite their difficulties.

Aaeson wondered what his parents would had thought if they'd had seen it.

"You know th' bark rope is a poor substitute." Erson grunted, heaving the oar as firmly as he could as they tackled the waves.

"We need somethin' to keep us going lest they snap on us." came the response. "'sides, I need some time away from the ship, onto solid land for a change. I'm sick of swaying from side to side."

"A captain, complaining about being 'board a ship." He laughed. "Aaeson you never cease to amaze me."

"I'm amazed you 'aven't declared a mutiny of yer' own!"

"Maybe after we find our family, might think 'bout it then."

An errie silence, only the sound of the oars to break it.

"We'll find 'em."

"When, Aaeson? Ten leagues passed and we're none the wiser. The Ightskn shed no light on it, no wreckage to recover. They keep saying 'tis a wave that did them in but they navigated through the worst of 'em and still came home."

"You can ask them once we find 'em."

He stayed silent after that. Needless to say he was starting to believe that they would never find them, dead or alive. He looked away from the land, his eyes watery. He was a tough lad, he just needed to hang tough for a little while longer.

They landed on the rocky shore with time to spare, the forest inviting them in. Erson wrapped the rope around his crude excuse for a harpoon, hoisting it on his back until the time came to retrieve it. They travelled to the forest edge and the darkness that waited for them. Perhaps they should have waited until the morn before they began to huntand strip the bark, but time was of the essence. Jahten was responsible for turning said bark into what they required, a great big bully of a man who found the city lifestyle ill-fitting. They switched their own lights on, beginning their task. There were fresh tracks, the mud around it still fresh. A mother and their fowl, though they didn't know what sort of animal left them. Still, meat was meat at the end of the day, so they followed them carefully into the forest. The sound of trickling water from a nearby river gave both hunters a possible hunting spot, knowing that they needed to gather there from time to time. They followed the trail until it turned cold, hidden behind some vegetation. They were smart animals, which meant they must had been used to being hunted by local predators. Aaeson held his blade in his hand lest they came for both of them.

Suddenly, movement. A rustling of leaves and the sound of running. They extinguished their lanterns and stayed still, even when the cold crept underneath their clothes and through to their bones. Eventually they heard that same creature again, no longer thinking it was being followed. a shadow of a peteloan moved cautiously, seperated from its herd. Its ears piped up to every sound it heard, stripping the nearby branches of their leaves.

Erson launched his harpoon, striking it dead-center in its neck.

It tried to call for help, but instead a thick stream of blood ushered from its mouth, crumpling to the ground. Aaeson stared in disbelief - he had never seen such a fine throw. They moved towards their catch, hoisting it on both their shoulders as they walked back towards their boat, dumping the carcass for later. Satisfied with their catch they rowed back to the Antschmer, intent on having a feast with the crew under the cover of stars.

Much like before, as Aaeson layed on his hammock and closed his eyes, he awoke in that strange dream of his.

This time he was nestled underneath a bridge, his back aching from the stone bedding. Disgruntled from where he laid he stood up, wiping away the dirt as he looked for any sort of bearing. He deliberately chose to stay away from those strange people, the ones who pointed and laughed at his clothing, or those who just stared for no good reason. In this dream he chose to walk along the path, listening to the water as it slouched harmlessly off the pier. Smoke covered the sky, their chimneys filty and in need of dusting. It was too large a city for Aaeson to feel comfortable in, always aware that a pair of eyes could be watching, if not from an alley then from a passing boat. He knew he must had been a source of curiosity for the townsfolk, though it mattered not. Eventually he would wake up and sail the seas once more, he always enjoyed leaving those people behind.

When he entered the main streets, however, his sudden indifference towards them changed.

Aaeson heard cries in a courtyard, eyeing a small gathering as they flocked around a small boy, clutching his hand in pain. His mother was by his side, asking what was wrong. On closer inspection he saw the source of the outcry; his fingers were charred black, the tips black as coal. He was very clearly in agony, asking his mother if he would be alright.

He wasn't the only one.

It was indiscriminate, people from all walks of life with the same condition. Some even had lumps on their legs or arms, the size of apples or eggs. As time went on more and more people began to emerge, some from their homes while others hung in the street, all with the same or similar issues. Aaeson backed away slowly, horrified at the unnatural wails some of them made. His dream began to turn into a nightmare and he needed to leave at the earliest opportunity. One man turned his attention towards him, looking healthy but angry. He pointed towards him, absolute fury in his eyes.

"You did this!"

The captain sat from his bed, covered in sweat. The gentle swaying of the Antschmer settled his nerves - knowing that he was once again in his own world - though their faces were etched in his mind. Such a horrible fate his brain had conjured up for them.

Their catch proved to be a feast. His men and women were well - fed, reciting tales of food they once ate while travelling between continents as Aaeson looked out into the sea. He heard of the tales of the Eamersdr - people who walked between worlds - but he couldn't have been one of them. His world he dreamt of appeared only once in a scarlett moon, if even that frequently. The fables and parchments told of men and women who awoke in that same world every night. The poor miserable souls.

"Won't yew' crack a smile, will ya?" Erson nudged, holding a bottle of beer in his hands. "You look like a miserable git!"

"Just a dream I 'ad, don't worry 'bout me." Aaeson's mind wasn't even focused on the conversation, but at the horizon that stretched out towards them. Once they fetched the bark and fastened their makeshift ropes they'd need to dock at Oneal to make the necessary repairs and purchases. The breeze reeked of seaweed and salt, not a good combination. Still, it reminded him of the first few years out at sea, quickly adjusting to the trails and tribulations they faced. Back then he was a more fiery lad, his words bitter but assured. Now he was content with simply taking his family home, alive... or worse.

They set forth for shore, Jahten among them. He sat impatiently, though his arms rowed as hard as they could. His right eye was cloudy, like the light entered and never had a chance to escape. Still, he was a fine marksman and swordsman - the previous crew aboard the Antschmer learned the hard way.

"I shan't remind you of what I think of docking." He complained, his voice low and gruff. "We're wanted men, you an' I. The second we set foot they'll 'ave our heads."

"Not Oneal." Aaeson assured him, stroking the slight fuzz around his chin. " She's a fine town. Most of 'the folk need only be left alone."

"I'll stay aboard. Wouldn't want 'er stolen away from us, would we?" Whatever happened to him, the man was allergic to solid ground. Erson glared at his friend with knowing eyes. He just didn't like their companion, though Jah had an...aquired personality.

They arrived at shore, surrounded by a lot of little trinkets and details that the two missed when they arrived the night before. The blood from their kill still stained the sand, pretty little rocks that gleamed in subtle hues of pink and blue. The clouds seemed to mimic this color scheme as they arrived, a phenomenon the captain wasn't used to. Still, he put it to the back of his mind as they walked inland, their blades in their hand. The forest had plentiful trees to cut and strip, but the bark was of poor quality, not at all suitable to forge rope. That didn't stop them from hacking and cutting. Trees fell, groups of two and three began cutting the bark and the raw material needed. Aaeson watched with satisfaction, happy with the progress they made.

Something small caught his eye as his crew worked, just at the edge of the beach. The pink and blue hues intensified, the sky turned brighter by the second. He felt a sense of... peace, his problems vanished. Erson must had felt the same, because he dropped his knife and looked towards a figure. She was beautiful, overflowing blond hair which reached down to the ground, her eyes closed. She sang a lullaby, soothing and calm and reassuring. Still, Aaeson couldn't completely fix his gaze upon her, like she was slightly out of focus. In his serene mood he fought the supicion that not all was as calm as it seemed.

" - Weary travellers, your hearts know so much pain. Won't you rest? -"

Her voice was so soothing, her words heavy yet her tone as light as a cloud. She walked closer, holding out her hands, her body obscured by her hair.

" - Won't you rest? - "

She reached for Erson, stroking his hand as he watched in disbelief. She lead him away, and he followed without hesitation. Aaeson didn't feel the need to follow him. It was all going to be okay, they could rest now. More and more emerged, walking towards them while the clouds grew ever brighter, the loveliest shades of color he had ever seen.

Then he remembered his father.

Aaeson ran, dashing as fast as he could as he grabbed his friend's arm. Erson fought against him but the captain wouldn't be denied. The trees seemed to morph in color, deceptively pretty. The smell of freshly-picked flowers filled the air, warm rays of sunlight against Aaeson's skin which reminded him of summers long gone. He wanted to stop running and head back to experience this paradise, but he thought of his father and the ship he hunted. His crew were nothing more than dead men now. He didn't know how but he just knew.

"Cap'n!" Erson cried, snapped out of his trance. He pointed towards the forest while Aaeson followed his gaze; the crew emerged with their guides, but they looked nothing like the fair maidens that almost tempted them. Those creatures were horrific, great big scaly serpents who slithered on the ground, pin-pricks of light pulsing from their appendages. Their initial appearance was nothing but an illusion.

"Go!" Aaeson cried, pushing his first mate on their dingy as they rowed like the gods themselves were carrying them. They paid no heed to the men who escaped, they had plenty of prey for themselves. As they sailed off they watched as their former crew were brought into the ocean, never to be seen again.

The Antschmer stood still for a second evening, its sails flapping softly against the wind, stuck.

Until they encountered another vessel, this wasn't about to change.

All three men hung around the upper deck, occuping themselves with the ship's maintainence. Jahten lambasted the captain upon his return, claiming he was unsuitable for the position. Erson drew his weapon and ordered him to be silent. The tower of a man didn't take too kindly to that, and even with the numbers advantage Aaeson knew they would both lose. It took everything he had to seperate them from each other, confining them to opposite sides of the vessel. He couldn't fault the man's logic; a mutiny and a massacre left him without the tools to sail. They could move, most certainly, but were left hapless against similar vessels with ill will towards them. They were far from the only pirates who sailed the seas. His friend knew better than to bring it up, sharpening his harpoon as he prepared to hunt for fish that swarmed around the Antschmer. It was more to occupy his mind than to put food on the table - though they were in dire need to replenish their supplies.

"The waters are too narrow for good game." Aaeson pointed out, but there was no point in mentioning it; ever since Erson had gotten over his aversion for skinning and gutting his catches he had grown extremely proficent in hunting. It was like instructing a fish on how to swim.

"We're without a crew, scores away from 'he nearest town, with creatures that will drag us to our doom. Now is no time for small talk." He didn't know what sort of spell they were under, but Erson was a proud man and he felt powerless against their influence. His ego will take time to heal.

"Cap'n!" Jah's voice broke through their sombre mood, a telescope in his hands. "Come look!"

They ran towards him, looking out to catch what he glimpsed.

Out in the sea stood a single ship. Even in the night sky they knew it was the finest vessel they had ever seen, their sails curved elegantly in a way no human hands could achieve. The hull was covered in a reflective sheen - gold or silver, perhaps - and it cut through the water so cleanly it hardly disrupted the water. It sailed quickly - impossibly so given its sheer weight and size - but it looked like it had missed the Antschmer. That would prove to be its fatal mistake.

"Prepare whatever weapons you can!" Aaeson instructed, hoping he still had enough influence in him to issue orders. "We found a new crew and a new ship. Let's greet 'em, shall we?"

4: Chapter Three - "Death's Face is Unkind"

Chapter Three - "Death's Face is Unkind"

Lymifa - 350 A.E

I tried to sneak aboard the Lionetaba last morn'. I can't stand 'ere and watch my parents as they go off on another adventure. My heart was poundin' and my palms sweaty, hoping for them to raise the anchor and surprise em' once we set sail. Father caught me before I even made it onboard. I screamed at the top of my lungs, begging 'im to let me aboard. He told me I wasn' ready. Some days I think I'll never be ready in his eyes.

They set off an' left me alone again, promising to bring abck somethin' from the islands they'll visit. Sometimes it's nice to be on my own, to have the house to myself. Sometimes I look out into the ocean and wish I was out there with 'em.

I'll be the greatest sailor the Antschmer Aes will ever see. Just you wait - I already 'ave.

Until next time,
Aaeson

The foreign ship darted past, quicker than any ship had the right to be. It was so majestic that Aaeson felt a ping of remorse for preparing the cannons. She would had been the finest prize he would had attained, the world of coin at his disposal the moment he sold it. Unfortunately the Antschmer would never catch up to it, even if fully maintained by a standard-sized crew. He was prepared to fire first and ask questions later.

Jahten and Erson launched two salvos, lighting two cannons up and standing well back. The bang echoed throughout the nearby forest - that damned forest - before they struck its target. That reflective sheen did little to protect it from the ballistic damage, effortlessly shredding through its hull. One of them broke through its main sail, collapsing onto its deck. Without the wind to propel it the vessel stalled, vulnerable.

"Go!" Aaeson cried, preparing the nearest dingy as his first mate and would-be mutineer boarded. They didn't know how many populated the ship, or how well-armed they could be. Erson's harpoon rest on his back, ready to be used like a blade if need be. Jahten was content with his hammer - a great big lump of metal that took a strong set of arms to carry, let alone swing. No noise came from their prize; Aaeson never enjoyed killing people, but the need to find their families outweighed the needs of the crew they looted from. He pushed it to one side as he rowed. The gods could punish him when he was dead.

They boarded without any resistance, a little too calm for their liking. Erson climbed aboard first, scaling the ship and readying his weapon. He gave the all-clear when nothing jumped out to face him, reassuring and worrying the captain all at once. Had they killed everybody on board? It seemed unlikely.

The deck was beautiful, even in the poor light he noticed engravings embedded in the wood. It must had taken leagues for skilled hands to carve it. Waves rocked the ship yet it stood completely still, not affected in the slightest. If he closed his eyes he could had sworn he was on dry land. What sorcery was this? Jahten followed him, his own weapon drawn and ready to be used.

Silence.

There was damage, most certainly, but apart from the wind there was an eerie calm. Aaeson had enough of illusionary magic and thought of his father as they scoured the ship, hoping to find someone who manned the wheel.

"Below deck!"

Erson had already found a way below, catching onto something his own eyes had missed. He ran towards him as he heard resistance, plenty of space for a ghost ship. Not a single bed was occupied, nor was the odd room here and there that Aaeson spotted. The ship couldn't possibly have streered through the ocean unmanned, human or not.

Erson struggled with a figure, at first glance nothing more than an adolescent boy. He fought against his captive but was kept at arm's length. He was a full head smaller, the wee lad. Aaeson moved cautiously, his eyes open and ready for anything that might move against him. This boy was far from the only man on board. Erson brought the boy towards him, not a care in his eyes. Aaeson leaned down to get a good look at him and stared into his eyes, trying to gauge a reaction. He looked remarkably calm, an obvious worry or an indicator that a trap was about to be sprung.

"A fine vessel you got 'ere."

"This old thing? It's worth more than your soul." He answered, his voice smooth as silk. He couldn't place the accent, and he travelled all accross the continent so he was well-versed in local and regional dialects.

"And I don' suppose you're the only lad aboard, are you?" Aaeson paced the corrider, trying to find the hiding places the crew no doubt would spring from.

"Would you believe me if I told you I was the only one on this boat?"

"No." Aaeson answered bluntly. If the boy was indeed telling the truth, then they were still stranded aboard the Antschmer while ruining the only other ship that could had taken them to Oneal.

"Look, I'm on an urgent errand and you destroyed my sails, and I don't have any treasure for you to plunder. Would you be so kind as to get off my ship so I can carry on with it?" The boy had some nerve saying that, Jah's face turned red, never witnessing such disrespect in his life.

"As of righ' now, this ship is mine." Aaeson politely informed him, making sure he got a good long look into his eyes so he could see how serious the situation was. "It'll fetch a pretty coin, a treasure in itself. If you don't behave we can always throw you off th' deck."

"In that case, I hope you enjoy maneuvering this ship. You'll find we design them differently to your human counterparts."

Human?

"Why are you looking at me like that? You seriously thought I was one of you?"

The boy brushed aside his hair, and where Aaeson expected to find a set of ears was smooth and featureless. He jumped at the sight of it. Their captive was of Elven origin... but that couldn't be, they were folklore and nothing more!

"How - "

"Save your energy. Since you decimated my ship you've placed me in a perdicament." Erson loosened his grip on the boy - who could had been older than the three men combined for all they knew - and watched as he walked upstars to the deck. Left with little to no choice they followed him, and watched as he inspected the damage. He reached into his pouch, a tiny veil attached to it by a tiny string.

"I wish I didn't have to use this, but these are trying times." He whispered. The boy uncorked the bottle and was forced back by the force of its contents. He was flung backwards, only caught by Aaeson's body as they collapsed onto the other side of the deck. Jahten was about to lunge forward - his hammer ready to strike a mortal blow - but stopped once he noticed just what was going on. The ship was surrounded by a tiny sphere, all trace of color vainished inside, including them. As time passed, they noticed the collapsed sail as it began to slowly ascend into the sky, like it was falling in reverse. It attached itself to the the ship once more while the damage on the starboard side began to heal. Aaeson watched in horror and excitement as the cannonball used to injure it was ejected from the newly-healed hull, like it never struck the vessel in the first place. Suddenly the color was restored and time resumed, though the bottle in that boy's hand shattered. He fell to the ground, suddenly exhausted.

"Blast you all, I needed that veil for my journey." He whispered, struggling to make it back to his feet. All three men looked on in astonishment, lost for words.

"What magic was that?"

"That? It was nothing special, at least not in the confines of Envha. Still, I could only make out with one of them."

Aaeson drew his blade, cornering the boy. He had heard enough of this elven nonsense and he had seen enough magic for one day.

"We're sailing towards Oneal, and you're going to guide us there."

"Aye, Captain." His voice was laced with sarcasm, but Aaeson ignored it. They captured a jewel of a ship, he was willing to let a few snide comments slide.

Instead of a wheel, the Oncotincia had a series of levers and gears, completely foreign to human eyes. The boy pressed and pulled and the ship moved in sequence with it, completely smooth. Waves bounced off the hull as the sun rose from the horizon, reflected against the gold lining. it could be sold for the price of a castle and Aaeson and what's left of his crew could enjoy the rest of their lives in luxury. They were also a heavy target should they encounter anybody else in on the seas who shared the same thought. It was stupid of the boy to sail unaccompanied.

From the looks of things, he didn't seem to have much experience with humans in the first place.

He kept himself to himself, still drained from the spell he was forced to cast. Jah looked on in bewilderment, surprised that any vessel could cover such distance in such a small amount of time. He was left to his own devices while Erson and Aaeson stood together, the spray of the waves and the wind in their hair to stave the early morning heat.

"What a perdicamen' we find ourselves in." Erson's comment was an understatement. He marveled at the intriciate patterns on the wood, now even more beautiful and elaborate once the sun cast its light on it. It must had been a trick of the eyes, but he could had sworn the patterns moved.

"Trying times, indeed."

"We need to learn how to steer this thing and get rid of 'im. We don' need a crew to sail the seas, we can find the Lionetaba."

"Aye, but I'm curious as to where 'is agenda lies. Why is an Elf out in the middle of nowhere with no destination in mind?"

"None that we're aware of, my friend. Perhaps he would make an interesting ally."

"Your call, Cap'n." He shrugged and looked on as the sheer cliffs of Rongholdst came into view, obscured by the early-morning fog. Oneal laid in wait, hidden within the crevaces of the land while the lighthouse stood watch, guiding ships home with its light. Aaeson was in two minds about securing a ship of his own while leaving the boy go, but opportunities like that just never came around for mortal men such as himself. It was a sign that the gods were smiling down on them.

He walked towards the boy and watched as the boy adjusted course, the sails turning with a flick of his wrist. He looked bemused and a lot healthier than just a few moments ago.

"You're a fine sailor." Aaeson commented. He didn't recieve an answer. "You obviously grew up by the sea."

"Indeed."

"I share that sentiment. When I was but a lad I always dreamed of setting out with my family, goin' on grand adventures and finding treasure with 'em."

"Are they proud of your piracy?" He asked, suddenly laced with venom.

"If they were still around, I would suppos' not."

"Oh... I'm so sorry."

"Don' be. It's why I'm out 'ere, Erson and I. The Lionetaba was lost to the ocean, no wreckage or reason to be found. We intent on finding 'em."

His face lit up as Aaeson spoke, suddenly gaining his full attention.

"You're... searching for someone. Someone close to you?"

"Aye."

"Well then... perhaps our fates crossed this day for a reason. I'm on a quest of my own, my own family member to find."

Aaeson raised an eyebrow. "Is tha' so?"

"My sister, I love her with everything that I have. She left Envha with vengence in her heart. We must bring her back."

"Well, maybe we can assist each other. You help me, I help you." The boy clearly had his wits about him, and though he was loathe to rely on a stranger Aaeson found himself with very little choice in the matter. He looked into the human's eyes with... hope? Suspicion? Aaeson couldn't tell.

"My name's Braern, Braern Iarmenor."

"Aaeson, a pleasure."

The name caused him to frown, momentarially distracted.

"Interesting. Have you ever asked about the origins of your name?"

"I... don' follow."

"It's an elven name. Very curious."

Aaeson was just about to ask when a shudder broke through the ship. Both of them fell to the floor while Braern fought to return to his station. Two rogue ships sailed on the outskirts of Oneal, closing in on their position. They were no rogue pirates, they belonged to the town fleet. Aaeson recognized the insignia on their sails even from such a distance. Why were they firing on them, even if the ship looked strange at first glance? It mattered not.

"Prepare your weapons!" Aaeson cried, but Braern stood motionless, his hands stuck on the levers.

"Oncotincia has no weapons!"

It was a fool's errand to wade through the waters without the means to defend itself. Whatever happened in Oneal, it must had been enough for them to distrust anything that wasn't one of their own.

"Get us out of 'ere!" The captain cried, and Braern was more than willing to grant that request. Their pursuers followed but were no match for the sheer speed of the Oncotincia. They attempted to fire but their shots arced wildly, missing them by scores. the boy messed with as many cranks and levers as he could, fighting the rapidly-changing wind to maintain their maximum speed. It was a testament to his prowess as a captain.

They left Oneal behind and away from the inland altogether, sailing under the open sea until they knew for certain that they had lost those ships. Aaeson confronted him as soon as he knew that they were safe.

"You mean to tell me that we'ave no weapons? How do you expect to defend yourself out 'ere?"

"Forgive me, but from where I hail there are no need for weapons."

"Well you need them 'ere!" It was curious, Braern was clever enough to know this, but the fact that he was alone and ill-prepared for the voyage he took raised interesting questions. "How did you get such a ship? Don' tell me she's not outfitted for a full compliment o'crew, 'cos she is."

"I... I took it and left with haste. Our kind are not to leave Envha under any circumstances... I chose to disobey that for the sake of my sister."

"A fellow pirate." Aaeson noted with a smirk. Braern looked away, perhaps bitter at the title.

"You don't understand. Celebrita was one of the finest spellcasters our kind had ever seen, rivalling even the sorcerers of legends past! The story is... complicated, but she was unhappy with what was assigned to her, and she stormed away in a fit of rage. She never so much as raised her voice before, I'm worried."

"Understandable."

"You should be worried, also. I feel that she's under the influence of... something. I cannot believe that she acted like this on her own free will."

"I know not of your kind, but she sounds very much like a human."

"That's what worries me the most." Braern concluded. Aaeson chose to ignore the snide remark.

They assessed the damage - nothing of note, their cannons were flimsy things - but it was clear that she couldn't sustain much abuse before buckling under. The Oncotincia was clearly not designed for naval combat. Erson and Jah watched on as both captains - one in name and one in title - walked towards them, an unlikely alliance.

"What's th' plan now?" Erson asked. Jahten simply watched the boy, expressionless.

"We travel to Lymifa, get the supplies we need. After that... we need to find this lad's sister."

"And abandon our plans?"

"We'll talk later, over - " Aaeson never got to finish his sentence to his friend, because Jahten's hammer came crashing down on his skull, caving it in instantly. Erson crumpled to the deck, motionless. Braern yelped and ran to the other side of the ship while Aaeson watched on in disbelief. Jah stood meanincingly over him, his hammer bloodied and ready to take another swing, forcing his opponent to draw his knife.

"You R'dstaba! "Aaeson cried, and charged towards his enemy. Jah simply swiped with his right hand, swatting him to the side as he bore the hammer down. It struck against the bark as Aaeson rolled out of harm's way, stuck. He slashed at Jah's legs as he wrested it out of the hole, forcing him down on one knee. There was a rage in his eyes that he'd never seen before, striking fear into the heart of Aaeson. He flailed with his weapon as his prey rolled out of the way, trying desperately to put some distance between him and this monster of a man.

"Yer weak, you and your companion! Look at 'em!" He yelled, gripping the hammer so tightly the wooden hilt began to crack. "Once I deal with you two I'll sail for the Great Beyond. I'll conquer the new lands and live like a king!"

"You can die like one!" Aaeson cried, and dashed towards him in an effort to avenge his friend. Jah raised the hammer, ready to bring it down as he limped on his good leg. They charged towards each other, intent on clashing weapons.

Until Aaeson flanked to the right, leaping over his fallen friend - and the harpoon that still clung to his back.

He held it in his hands and threw it with as little wasted motion as possible, learning from leagues worth of witnessing Erson's attacks. The man in front of it stood little chance of blocking it as it struck his heart, cleanly embedded in his body. Jah fell to his knees as he tried to say something, but be collapsed before he could muster the strength to do it. Aaeson spent the first few moments gathering his breath, lucky to have survived such an encounter. He turned to Erson, scrambling towards him as he held him in his arms. He was already turning cold, so he closed his eyelids and fought the urge to spit on his murderer's corpse.

"Get them off..."

Braern's words were soft but they had ill intent behind them. He was curled against the 'wheel' of the ship, fixated at the sight of Jah's body.

"What do you - "

"Get them off this ship!"

He leaped at Erson's body and hefted the dead weight over his shoulders, a lot stronger than he appeared.

"We must give him a proper burial!" Aaeston cried, but it fell on deaf ears.

"Death, Death is so close it hurts! Send them overboard!" he threw Erson over the ship, panic in his eyes, his teeth bared. He tried to grab Jah but Aaeson stopped him, pushing him against the barrier.

"What madness are you talking 'bout? You jus' threw my friend for the fish to claim 'em!"

He didn't answer, instead turning his attention to something in the distance, the look of absolute horror in his eyes. Aaeson turned around to see what he witnessed, but only found the morning sun.

"Please..." he whispered. The human looked at him, knowing full well that he was genuine. They reached for each end of Jahten and hoisted him up, heaving him overboard. The second his body submerged Braern sank to his knees, shaking uncontrollably.

"You alright lad?" Aaeson was in no mood to console him, not when his life was on the line and Erson had lost his. The boy simply nodded.

"Death is a monster, a vicious creature that preys on your soul. You should do well to fear it."

"I'll fear it when it comes for me."

The Oncotincia continued sailing, oblivious to the exchange that occured on its decks, Lymifa set as its destination.

5: Chapter Four - "Disease and Hope"

Chapter Four - "Disease and Hope"

Onboard the Oncotincia - 363 A.E

Erson Gerthalt was a fine man, a capable combatant... an' a close friend.

He was the only one who looked at my insanity of a plan an' dared to come along wit' me. He saved my life more times than I can count, freeing me from th' depths of th' sea to the jaws of beasts. We shared the same goal and gave th' same promise to find our family. We sail for Oneal, and I still hold my promise to find th' truth, if not for me than for the closest person in my life.

I'll drink to you, Erson. Sleep tight and walk tall.

Aaeson.

Even with the Oncotincia's impossible speed it was still a lengthly journey to Lymifa. Aaeson spent the days and nights wandering the immaculate decks while Braern steered them in the right direction. He did so without complaint, and even when he needed to sleep he set the configurations so it continued to sail overnight. That sort of mechanic was unheard of, quite clearly a feat in elven engineering. There were benefits to collaborating with him, perhaps once all was said and done blueprints could be drawn and humans may yet sail in vessels as fine as this.

Not to mention the coin they'd recieve.

A question Braern asked still stuck inside the human's head, if his family would appreciate his piracy. It was true; wealth had crept into his thoughts for many a time, but only because he needed to find the funds to continue his sailing through any means necessary, and being polite seldom paid. Once he reuinited with his family, would he return the favor to the trading routes and townsfolk he robbed in an effort to find them in the first place? Aaeson felt that he would, but time changes a man and now he wasn't so sure.

"You look lost." He heard from behind as Braern joined him. They looked out onto the waves as they sailed past; they would approach Lymifa by the next sunrise, though he couldn't tell if it would look the same or if it would change beyond all recognition. His apatite was nestled in his pouch, the last thing he took from the Antschmer before they departed. He observed it as they moved, resembling the rocky bed of a shallow shore. It caught Braern's eye.

"I've never seen that kind of stone before. Where did you find it?"

"My father gifted it to me when I was young. One of th' many trinkets he collected along the way. Reminds me o' home. Reminds me o' him."

"Your name...that stone. May I ask you something?"

"Aye. Fire away."

"Are you aware of the Eamersdr?"

Aaeson froze, staying silent. The dreams he had about that town called London. The faces he saw, the disease they were afflicted with. They were but a figment of his imagination, they had to be!

"They are but the subject of lore and tales."

"Ah, so you don't believe in them. I can assure you that they are very real."

"An' how would you know of such a thing?"

"My sister is one of them."

He... did not expect to hear that information. Aaeson couldn't think of what to say, instead looking out towards their destination; they were nearing Lymifa, the same familiar rocks and crevices of a thousand memories. It instantly felt like home, though he was loathe to think of how his former friends and acquaintances would think of him now.

"I have these troublin' dreams, a city unlike any I've seen before."

"So you are one of them. I might have struck a well of luck with you, Aaeson."

"According to th' texts, Eamersdrs transport to this... world every time they close their eyes. I'm lucky to see it once every three sunsets."

"A minor Eamersdr, but one nonetheless. I may still need you yet."

"Your sister, did she see what I witnessed?"

"The last I spoke to her, she mentioned a dying city. Scourge and disease, people dying left and right. She intended on bringing our remedies to those poor people, to heal them. There is no magic in that land, they call it medicine. After that... trouble brewed."

"Looks like th' city to cause trouble, believe me."

"Perhaps, when you find yourself in this world, you can look for her."

"I'll be sure to keep an eye out."

The Oncotincia sailed towards the port, slowing down drastically to take into account the shallower waters. She couldn't travel quite as far inland as the Antschmer could, so Braern was forced to drop anchor just outside the pier, still close enough for passersby to marvel at it. A small paddle boat was nestled at the side, the same intricially-detailed hue of wood used to construct it. Braern was about to board when Aaeson stopped him, holding out his arm to block his path.

"Stay 'ere. The folk would detain you and presen' you to the Ightskn. You're a rare sight around 'ere."

"You're a wanted pirate. Are you sure you're the better option?"

"Aye, but just barely."

He relented, offering his boat to Aaeson. The same ingenuity bestowed on the Oncotincia did not extend to its lifeboat, but it presented no problems as he rowed away. His arms ached and he gained quite a few winged companions by the time he actually made it to shore. He always hated those birds when he was growing up, watching them sail over the land and see, completely free. He apologized silently to them, knowing that they didn't have the capacity to accept it.

Lymifa's courtyard stayed the same as it always had, memories evoked with every step he took. The last time he set foot in the place was on that fateful day. He wondered if the folk would still remember how he stole one of their ships. He wondered if they'd even recognize him anyway, so far removed he had been from his home and the way he changed.

"Aaeson!" That voice answered his question. It rang with familiarity and sure enough, Chaester ran out to meet him. Time hadn't dulled the sheer red shine from her hair, nor the fire in her eyes. What had changed was her stature, now standing even taller than him, while her voice seemed more mellow. Aaeson waited for her, not knowing what to expect.

What he recieved was a slap to the face.

"All this time and no word from ya'?" She cried, that fire in her eyes far from sated. "You and that blasted Erson, I told ya it was a fool's errand to run off like that! Where is he?" She looked around, hoping to find the boy who left alongside him. Aaeson shook his head, sorrowful.

"He won' be coming back."

It took her a while to figure out what he meant, and once it did that fire was extinguished. Chaester looked like she was about to cry, but turned away from him and fought with every fiber of her being not to.

"Did you find 'em? Your family?"

"Not yet." he replied, perhaps realizing how that must have sounded after leagues of searching. He travelled the entire continent and back, even ventured into the Great Beyond - that great expansive stretch of never-ending sea - with no luck.

"Ye're not welcome 'ere. The town has it in for 'ya. I'm supposed to report you myself if caught."

"How much are they offering?"

"It doesn' matter, because you're goin' to go back to your ship and you're goin' to sail away from 'ere. As far as you can."

"We just need supplies." Aaeson pleaded, but he knew it was no use. No merchant or trader would dare exchange with him, and if anybody spotted him he was a jailed man. With very little choice he took one last look around, watching the people who'd turn on him if they recognized him go about their business. It was such a simplier time, way back then.

"Won't you come with me?"

"I've made my life 'ere, and you made yours." She stated, and Chaester turned her back and walked away, leaving him to head back to the pier and to the Oncotincia.

When Aaeson opened his eyes, he found himself in that blasted city once more. His back ached from sleeping on the cobbled ground and the air bit at his ankles. For just the briefest of moments he looked around, hoping to find his bearings.

Then he remembered Braern's sister, Celebrita.

He walked as soon as he stood up, moving from place to place in an effort to find her. Aaeson swore when he realized he had no idea what she looked like - there would be no harm in asking Braern once he awoke - but the sound of the townsfolk broke his concentration. He had also forgotten the blight they found themselves in, and the anger one such man had towards him. He layed low, realizing that if he was caught they would hunt him down. Perhaps they blamed him for the scourge; Braern did mention that Celebrita attempted to heal them, after all.

The air seemed darker and thicker than usual, befitting of the disease around them. Aaeson placed his shirt over his face, breathing through the mouth. One cannot fight a disease they know nothing about, but Aaeson knew well enough that it could be transmitted through the air. Sewerage filled the alleys while children played in it, out of place in a world like this.

Thick smoke ushered into the air, blocking out the sun in places. How could people live in a place like this? No wonder she wanted to cure them, a part of him wanted to help himself, powerless as he was in doing so. For the longest time he believed this to be nothing more than lucid dreaming, but if he was truly an Eamersdr...

The shound of chanting broke his concentration, a gathering with pitchforks and lanterns, torchs in hand. They hadn't noticed him - which suited Aaeson just fine - but they were angry at something.

Or perhaps, someone.

He kept to the shadows, following the crowd as they grew in number, their voices louder with every passing moment. Some of them were weak and afflicted with the disease - great big boils that dotted their arms and legs - though it failed to dull their rage. They were definitely after somebody, and from the sounds of things it looked like they were close.

"Burn the heathen!"

"Kill the witch!"

The chants grew louder, repeating until it drowned everything else out. It was a depressing scene, full of nothing but the dead and the dying...

Far too soon, Aaeson's eyes opened to the familiar sight of a ship. He was so close to finding her! His head ached and his throat sore. Aaeson prayed the disease hadn't preyed on him. His rock was glistening in what seemed to be an early-morning sun, casting pale blue pins of light in his quarters. It didn't completely match the sea outside - the salt waters around Lymifa were paler in comparison to the Great Beyond - but it still reminded him of times long past.

His friendship with Chaester, Erson's death. A lot had happened in the past few days. His heart sank just thinking about it.

Braern sailed the Oncotincia, though there was no real need if the ship could apparently sail itself. His eyes were dark and heavy but focused on the task at hand, though not even elves could work forever. His stomach grumbled, clearly a sign that he needed food. Aaeson contemplated eating the last loaves of bread in their stores, sprinkling it with some sea salt for some flavor. The fish around those parts were notoriously inedible.

"Lad, you need some sleep. She can sail 'erself." The boy was about to drop.

"No, we need to sail at full speed. Our destination awaits and we must be prepared for it."

"You never told me th' new destination. I though' we were sailing for supplies." Aaeson didn't like that Braern kept information from him. He was at the top of the chain of command for as long as he could remember.

"I'll be sure to keep you informed from now on."

"See to it that you do."

He kept the ship on course as Aaeson looked outwords, watching the sail as it moved seamlessly with the direction of the wind. The wood was sectioned in places, allowing complete freedom of movement. He couldn't tell if the main sail moved because of the wind or by Braern's hand, but it still amazed him whenever he looked at it.

"About your friend..."

Braern's comment surprised the human, most noticeably in how he trailled off, leaving the sentence unfinished. His normal confidence had faded.

"Pay no heed, he's at peace now."

"No, Aaeson. I meant what happened to me. We're not used to interacting with death in the way other creatures do."

The statement alone was interesting above all else. "How so?"

"Essentially; we're immortal. If we're not stricken down we grow and watch over the land for time indefinite."

"How old are you, then?"

"In your measurement of time, but thirty leagues."

"A child, in their eyes."

"Yes, and a reckless one at that. I'm going to be honest with you; we're going to travel to Envha. I'm sure I will be punished for breaking the sacred laws, but with an Eamersdr by my side..."

The town of Envha? Aaeson heard that name from that boy's lips before, but struggled to find a single map that had it listed.

"It lies in the most northern point of Rongholdst." He explained, almost as if he read Aaeson's mind. " There's a reason why it's hidden from human eyes... but I digress, that's a lot of history and not a lot of time to explain it. I'm still curious as to how you were given that elven name..."

He was musing, talking to himself more than anything else. A sudden change of wind snapped the sail in a different direction, the sound of grinding breaching their ears. For a second Aaeson thought the sail had snapped and they were under attack, almost ten leagues of sailing instincts taking over. Braern was quick to assure the human that nothing was wrong.

"Do you always jump at the nearest sound? Your life must be full of worries and troubles."

"More troubles and worries than ye' would like."

"Chin up, you'll be the first human to set forth in our domain. You should be honored."

"That's if ye're not punished for leaving, with me imprisoned in kind."

"I have a feeling they'll understand. These are trying times, after all."

As they travelled further north the air seemed to grow thicker, filling Aaeson's lungs that little bit quicker, making everything a little... easier. The memory of those fiends still fresh in his mind, Aaeson thought about his family, the reason why he sailed in the first place. He was in no mood to have his feelings manipulated again.

"Ah, now this is more like it!" Breaern exclaimed, sensing the same thing he did. " Relax, the air around these parts is heavily concentrated. You would do well not to chop down every tree you find for the use of your ships."

"Once we find a way to make 'em appear out of thin air, we'll let ye' know."

"It's called magic, Aaeson. Maybe you'll learn a thing or two in Envha."

The boy froze, his earlier optimism vanished. The Oncotincia slowed to a crawl, Braern pressed and pulled the world of contraptions to bring them to a halt as they floated.

"It's here..." He whispered, Aaeson couldn't see a thing, but it must had been the figure only his kind could see. Death.

Even if he couldn't see it, he witnessed the destruction it caused.

Vessels and ships, from the size of a dingy to a capital warship from the Ilesho fleet, were scattered across the open water. They were spotless, not a single dent or scratch on any hull or oar. The air, already heavy, was bitter and foul. Braern coughed while Aaeson grabbed a loose piece of fabric. He wrapped it around the boy's mouth and nose while he fastened one of his own.

He recognized that stench; it was the same disease as the one in London in the other world.

"Your sister was 'ere." he commented, surveying the dingeys in particular. "It's just like in the world we dream in." He was horrified to find the men and women inside, perhaps they fled their respective ships in an effort to run from it. Those same boils covered their hands and faces while some had their fingers eaten away, charcoal black and rotten. "They were chasing 'er by the time I woke up. I tried to follow."

"What madness is this?" Braern was frozen, curled into a ball and unable to deal with the devastation. "Death is floating around each body, taking the ones who are still breathing."

He stopped talking after that, his eyes widening as he held his breath.

"Is it on this ship?"

Braern nodded.

"We ain' dead yet. It'll move along."

Time passed, no waves or birds, no wind to make any sort of noise, just eerie silence. Both gazed off into the open sky, waiting for...something to happen. The elf suddenly sighed, closing his eyes as his body unfurled.

"It's gone."

"There's no lives left to take."

"Yes."

"Most of these ships, they're human. We ever sail so close to ye?"

"Once or twice, towards what you call the Great Beyond." He summerized. That spelt bad news for anybody who dared travel there.

Including his family.

With a renewed vigor of hope - perhaps his family had been spared from entering the elven territories - Aaeson scanned the rest of the fleet, hoping to find the Lionetaba. It filled him with both a sense of relief and fear that she didn't count among the masses. The Oncotincia floated through the scene, neither occupant daring to remove the cloth around their faces. The people they saw were pale and mangled, some of them rotting for quite some time.

"This lies far too close to home." Braern muttered, finally mustering the energy to stand up again. "We'll be nearing Gefure before too long. We'll need to dock there and make way to Envha as quickly as possible, hopefully this curse hasn't extended any further."

"Were it so simple."

"My sister didn't cause this, she couldn't have."

"You said it ye'self. She's a spellcaster, a powerful witch. Is it beyond a possibility?" Aaeson knew he was right.

"I want to apologize; I'm of no use when death lurks around. None of us are... When our kind meet our end, we do not ascend or desend into any other plane. We simply... vanish. Some say that's a fate worse than death itself."

"Immortality in this life, in exchange for total erasure. A cruel choice, indeed."

"Yes, but maybe I speak too much of things like these. Perhaps I should focus on the task at hand."

"Ye're starting to sound like a human."

"I've been around them long enough. I'm sure their customs begin to wear on me."

Once they travelled further into the wreckage and bodies of ships they started to notice an exchange of fire; one could tell by looking a holes in several hulls of the larger, more prominent ships. There were advantages and disadvantages in choosing to fight the largest opponents first. While removing them early on in the fight, vessels run the risk of being out-maneuvered and surrounded by smaller ships, boarded and dispatched in quick fashion. Neither sets of ships made the right choice: run. He wondered how his family would had fared if they encountered this graveyard. The fact that they weren't present could only be seen as a good thing.

"The Great Beyond lies west of Rongholdst, yet Envha lies north."

"Yes, but your kind know naught of the gravitational forces that lie at the most northern-point of our world. Simple wind-propelled ships will get you no closer to your destination."

"I..."

"It's a lot to take in, Aaeson. Perhaps you will know more once we land ashore."

"Is it possible for one of yer' ships to break this field, to sail beyond without being pulled back in?"

"Of course. We stay within our lands, but our ships are propelled by their own energy source. I can see your mind racing, but I need to temper your expectations; no human had ever crossed into Envha. Your family could not had taken our ships to sail out there."

If it were any other person, Aaeson would had believed him. Fortunately, he wasn't looking for just any average person, but Jerald and Evie Dharil - Captains of the Lionetaba, and his family. Anything was possible.

"Once we find yer' sister, I will need one of those ships."

6: Chapter Five - Gefure's Troubles

Chapter Five - Gefure's Troubles

Onboard the Oncotincia - 363 A.E

The lad told me I should be 'onoured. We sail towards what he calls Gefure, according to 'im I'll be the first human ever to step on their land. Erson would 'ad loved this, would have bragged about it for th' rest of our days.

I never considered myself an Eamersdr. Simply a recurring dream with my pent-up woes inside it. Their town looks horrible, their air an' water contaminated. You can see it on their faces, th' look of misery. I'll never forget that small lad, an' the injuries they had. It looks like their blight 'as touched our land as well.

Braern holds hope for his sister, whether it's empty or not remains to be seen...

Death lingered long after the Oncotincia sailed through the graveyard of ships. Braern's eyes darted from place to place while his hands were stuck to the ship. Aaeson asked if there was more than one figure. He shook his head in response. It was a figure that could move at impossible speeds, its eyes hungry and waiting for the moment they breathed their last. Aaeson reminded him that they weren't brreathing their last anytime soon, even by human standards. He didn't find much comfort in those words.

The wind died down, slowing them to a crawl. It seemed to suit the Oncotincia's captain, taking the time to inspect the ship and anything to distract himself from the figure that haunted them. The human inspected his apatite and wrote his letters, keeping them safe in parchment as he documented their journey. His heart still hung heavy for Erson, like his journey was meaningless without him, looking for an answer and knowing that his friend would never find it. His death layed in Aaeson's failure as a captain. He needed to pray to the god Eadago for forgiveness once he met her beyond death's door.

Days passed as they sailed slowly; they fished and used what was left of their onboard rations before hunger crept in. The loaves began to turn moldy, a worringly-small amount of food to eat once one broke the contaminated parts away. It wasn't the worst position Aaeson found himself in, but it was most definitely uncomfortable. A pair of Abscar legs would do well for the stomach in times of peril.

"Your kind are disgusting." Braern was quick to point out. He clearly didn't understand sailor cuisine when he saw it.

He seemed especially fixated on the apatite Aaeson owned, asking on more than one occasion to hold it. Eventually the human relented, though he offered it under great difficulty. The elven boy accepted it with the utmost care, catching its gleam against an evening sky.

"I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself, but it's a fine piece! Geskight will appreciate this!"

"Geskight will not be getting their grubby 'ands on it without me sayin' so." Aaeson warned. He didn't seem to take that warning very seriously.

"Relax, Geskight and I are as close as two souls can be. I trust him with my life. He studied the minerals throughout the land before joining the knightry, but he'll be flummexed once he fixes his eyes on this." His earlier aversion towards death had vanished, they must had left the entity behind. Aaeson decided not to mention it, though he decided to keep his most prized possession hidden for the foreseeable future. He didn't care how close Braern was to anyone else, they weren't peeking at it without his permission.

Night turned into day before something other than the expanse of sea caught their attention. At first glance Aaeson mistook it for a mountain.

Then the mountain moved.

Wrapped in fog, the figure sailed through the sea, only coming into focus once the Oncotincia drew close; it was a ship, one that stood taller than the mountains that housed Lymifa! Aaeson gazed at it with utter disbelief in his eyes. His heart raced and his eyes tried to process the sheer size of it. The Oncotincia was a pebble compared to it!

"I waited a long time to see your reaction, I wasn't disappointed!" Braern laughed, watching his seafaring partner's face.

"Are all of your vessels this large?"

"This is one of our capital ships. We see them sail from Gefure from time to time. A moving fortress. Rest assured that not all of our ships pose quite a threat. "

Erson would had loved to have seen this moving mountain.

Gefure began to materialize into view, and already Aaeson's mind raced with possibilities; even the shallow waters were enough to hold that vessel, and the entrance to this port was sealed behind what looked like the entrance to a cave, one that was naturally eroded from the inside out. The Oncotincia sailed inside, and that was when the true extent of the town dawned on him.

It was larger than any city Aaeson had witnessed in all of Rongholdst, a vast stretch of dwellings that soared towards the tip of the cave. A large section of its ceiling had collapsed, only the bare minimum remained to shelter the residents. The sun beamed in the distance, casting the structures in its warm glow. Aaeson couldn't tell if they were made of earth or trees from a distance, though great oak trees mushroomed over them. It was a truly wonderous sight. He expected Braern to say something, perhaps a sly witty remark or two, but he remained silent.

"What troubles you? ye're home."

"Yes, but I'm not sure if they'll have me back in their open arms, much less you."

"I'm an Eamersdr, 'aven't you been telling me that would count for somethin'?"

"We'll see." His voice didn't reassure Aaeson, but with little choice in the matter they sailed towards the nearest pier, marveling at the sights around them in the meantime. The inner workings of the cave ceiling seemed to glow in subtle shades of blue and green, though the light disappeared if one looked directly at it. The waves had vanished, leaving the Oncotincia to slice through it with very little trouble. The sea inside Gefure's domain was so clear and blue that Aaeson could see the fish as they swam far below its surface.

"You do exactly as I tell you, and do not approach anyone without my express permission." Breaern warned, his voice as low as a whisper even when they were still quite a distance from the pier. "They would have never seen a human before, so they may be scared, especially if they learn of who you are."

"I'll keep quiet." He promised, but that did little to reassure him, either. They could already see a small gathering of curious inlookers as the ship prepared to dock, quite clearly outside of any scheduled arrival. Aaeson held onto the apatite as tightly as he could, the warning from Breaern well and truly recieved. If he stepped out of line there would be no finding his family. Bells sounded in the distance, clearly not intended as a welcoming call.

"Prepare." Aaeson didn't need any more of a warning than that. He placed his rock inside his pouch as they dropped anchor. It took a long time before it even hit the seabed, so deep was their shallow waters. Almost immediately guards approached them, covered in golden armor as their swords glistened in the sun.

"Out of your vessel. Now!"

Both of them did as was instructed, surrendering the Oncotincia. It was immediately boarded and inspected, anything not tied down was taken. One particular guard gave Aaeson the briefest of looks before he did a double-take, realizing what he was.

"Human! On the ground!"

Before Aaeson could react he felt a kick to the back of his leg, a heavy blow that send him to his knees. A pair of hands grabbed onto his shoulder to keep him down, though the human was loathe to move anyway lest it jeprodized his mission to find the Lionetaba. They spoke in a language he couldn't understand, no doubt their own tongue. It raised questions as to why Braern only spoke to him in the human's own dialect, and how much the elves knew about their culture. Those were all questions he would have to shelve for the moment. The guards stood straight, relinquishing their grip on Aaeson and allowing him to stand. A figure strode towards them, his robe flowing in the breeze. His eyes were wider than any human's and their gaze was piercing, glaring right into Aaeson's core. His weapon wasn't drawn but it burned a bright-red, like they captured the essence of fire and distilled it into a solid shape. They may have had the capacity to do just that, for all Aaeson knew.

"Braern, you were reckless to leave the safety of Envha, and even more so in returning." He spoke, his own voice velvet smooth even when the words stung. Braern simply looked at the ground, refusing to say a word.

"Are you not going to explain your arrogance, or the fact that you brought a mere human to us?"

"If I can explain - " His words were soft and did not put up much of a fight.

"You do realize this human will have to be put to the sword? You know what the texts say."

"Please! He is an Eamersdr." He pleaded, taking a step towards their captive. Suddenly every sword pointed at his throat, including the elven man he spoke with. The red metal was crystal-clear but undeniably sharp, poking the skin of his neck delicately.

"Eamersdr or not, you know the laws we have to abide by. Take the human."

Aaeson was about to speak, perhaps to explain the situation they found themselves in, when the hilt of a sword bore down on his head, knocking him out.

When he opened his eyes, Aaeson expected to find himself in his bed in Lymifa.

It was such a foolish, childish thought, but he mistook the glimpse of light from a slit in the wall as his own bedroom. As he stirred he turned around, hoping to sleep for five more minutes. Instead he rolled off of whatever hard slab of wood he rested on. Aaeson struck the cold ground, hurting his shoulder in the process. He let out a disgruntled cry, suddenly awake. Sitting upright he massaged his arm as he inspected just where he ended up. It was a large circular chamber, stinking of moss and death. The ground was damp, an unpleasant feeling as it crept up his leg. He struggled to stand, only realizing the bump in his head as it began to throb. The memories came flooding back, and be knew it he dashed towards the chains, shaking them violently.

"Release me now!"

If anybody was stationed to watch over him, his words feel deaf against them. Aaeson cried until his voice became raspy and hoarse and his hands ached from shaking the chains. Exhausted he returned to his resting place, the sharp pain in his stomach reminding him that he hadn't eaten in a while. How long had he been knocked out? The rogue hairs that began to grow on his face seemed to indicate a day or two, though the passage of time meant nought in the chamber. Aaeson reached for his pouch, hoping to clasp his fingers around the apatite... only to realize that it wasn't even there. The blasted guards must had taken it.

"Release me!"

Much like before, no-one heard him. Anger caused tears to stream down his cheeks, his journey more than fruitless. That coudn't be the end of his journey, not by a score's shot.

"Human."

The voice was closer than he thought, surprising him. Aaeson's eyes turned towards a rogue guard, still covered in his splendid armor but his helmet removed. His cheeks were chiselled and his hair overflowing, more fairer than any maiden he had seen.

"I would advise you to lower your voice and follow my instructions."

"An' why should I listen to you?" Aaeson responded, his voice rasping. Shouting expended his energy, and he realized he needed a drink of wate to sate his thirst.

"Because I aim on releasing you."

"... ye' know Braern, then."

"Indeed. I believe he mentioned my name once or twice?"

It took a moment for that statement to sink in. " Are ye' named Geskight?"

"So he did mention me."

"I don' understand how you plan on releasing me."

"You're an Eamearsdr. You're the only one who can contact Celebrita on the other side. The Council know this. They shan't touch a hair on your head."

Aaeson didn't trust him, whether he was an ally of Braern or not. Unfortunately he was in no position to negotiate, and his stomach grumbling was a very clear sign of it.

"What do I need to do?"

"Just follow me."

The chains disappeared, a trick of the eyes which startled him. Geskight watched on with humor in his eyes, though it didn't last long. He fetched a pair of simple robes and tossed him to the human, instructing him to wear them. They were made of the softest linen Aaeson had ever touched, the quality higher than anything made by human hands. Even the fabric seemed to reflect what little light was present.

"They stole a possession o' mine, somethin' dear to me."

"You mean that rock you carried? They're investigating it right now, though I'm sure we can hand it back to you... provided it's not dangerous, of course." The elf walked towards the end of a narrow corridor while Aaeson followed. The cells adjacent to him housed creatures he had never seen before, though there was such little light that their forms were barely visible. Geskight paid no heed to any of them, perhaps owed to leagues of watching over them.

The door opened, sunlight poured into the building, blinding the human, his eyes not adjusted to the gleam. They were still in Gefure - the cave ceiling was ever present on the horizon, their monsterous ship docked in the pier - though at least a day or two had passed since he was knocked unconscious. He was escorted towards a single path, laden with freckles of gold which caught the sunrise. Everything about the town displayed excess; the walls were lined with the same beautiful patterns as was displayed on the Oncotincia, unique to every dwelling. The trees bent and formed into impossible shapes, either my magic or circumstances owed to the cave. Children spared on the street, though their hand movements were quicker than his still-recovering eyes could trace. They stopped as Geskight approached, utterly in awe. Aaeson took that as a sign; his escort was pretty high in their ranks. He must had used his influence in his favor in freeing him.

Or perhaps there was something afoot. Aaeson decided to keep his words in his mouth for the moment.

Moving further into Gefure, it turned out the cave was just one aspect of it; the rest of the city stretched as far as the eye could see, well into the mountainscape in the far-off distance. Chatter and bartering could be heard, an almost deafening - though pleasant - noise. They no longer paid heed to the presence of a human, but the amount of time it would take to inform everyone of his presence made Aaeson nervous. It could had been days since he was apprehended, and the guards that assaulted him were nowhere to be seen. Where was the justice?

"We shall be meeting with the council immediately, and it is very important that you listen to what I say." Geskight said, smiling for the public though his words were grim. "The only reason you and Braern are alive right now is the fact that you're an Eamersdr. We do not take lightly a breach of our sacred laws, nor do we like the act of taking a life. They want to speak to you directly. You may encounter Braern. He is in extreme distress. Your words will decide the fine line between life and death."

"Braern mentioned yer kind and immortality."

"Yes. Which makes the decision all the more serious. Braern and I are... close. I would be lying if I told you this was strictly on orders from the Council. Please bring Braern back to me." He said it with the sweetest tone in his voice, pleading. It was impossible to resist, though the human wouldn't have dreamed of refusing the request anyway.

"Aye, ye' have my word."

"I hope I do."

They approached what appeared to be a cathedral; a towering wall with intricate windows, colored and stained in a way he had never seen before. They depicted battles of ages past, warriors and maidens, particularly one fair lady. She was emblazoned in the same armor that adorned Geskight, her blade colored yellow. A strange, shimmering power seemed to emanate from it, like it had the power of a storm in its metal. His escort smirked as Aaeson gazed on, drinking in the history.

Once inside, the room they found themselves in seemed to stretch forever, rows of seats that cascaded upwards almost to ceiling itself, though none were occupied. A group of figures gathered on the ground floor, covered in robes as they discussed issues Aaeson's ears couldn't catch. He was led towards them, and all earlier traces of Geskight's optimism disappeared. He bowed dutifully as they approached. Each one of them were extremely old, not a single line on their face though they were all hunched over, their eyes slightly milky. Their voices were gritty yet full of authority, and one of them approached.

"Rise, my knight. You are dismissed."

Geskight bowed, gave one last momentary glance towards Aaeson and turned to leave, leaving the human behind with the council. They sat on their seats, every single pair of eyes trained on him. The walls and seats above them shifted, moving subtly left and right with each storey. That alone was enough to unsettle him, though Aaeson forced himself to look away from the obvious architectural splendor.

"What do you think of our fine town?" One of them spoke, that gravelly voice low and raspy, like it didn't belong to the elf who spoke.

"It dwarfs even our finest city." He answered truthfully.

"You have to understand, human. Very few of your kind have managed to set foot on our lands. Not in millenia past have we seen a man like yourself. Our provience remains sealed away for a reason."

"I 'ave a feeling we're th' reason."

"Humans are bloodthirsty animals, and even though there are notable exceptions amongst you, we've had no choice but to protect ourselves."

"I've seen what we do." Aaeson agreed.

"Do you now? How insightful of you."

"Aye, I can't claim to be a good 'un, either. I encountered one of yer' own in the middle of th' seas and claimed the ship for my own."

"Interesting, Braern never mentioned that to us when he was... interrogated. " Aaeson swore mentally, handing them a piece of information they could had done without.

"Where is he?"

"Braern is being punished in keeping with our laws. Not a single soul is to leave the provience, and his failure to abide by it led to your arrival. Only one shred of information keeps you both alive today; you're an Eamersdr."

"Aye."

"We may need your abilities for the time being."

"I want that boy free."

They exchanged looks. Aaeson realized that he may have doomed the both of them with his demand. Still, if they truly needed him then they would listen to him.

He hoped.

The elf who spoke to him stood upright - as upright as his back would allow him - and limped lightly towards the human. The look in his eyes remained cheerful, but Aaeson was anything but reassured. He supported himself using a cane, elognated and beautifully patterned. He stopped just short of Aaeson, so close that he could feel the elf's breath on his face.

"My name is St' Travla, Head Council of Gefure, and a direct descendent of Eadago herself. Do not make any demands again." The statement sent shivers down his spine, the voice of absolute power, a being whose proud of his heritage. "We need you to find Celebrita and to return her to this provience, so she can be punished with her brother. That is the only use we have for you, and you will do as you're commanded."

The words were sharp and pierced like daggers. The words Geskight spoke took on a heavier meaning. He no doubt knew of the severity of Braern's act, but what could he do to reverse his fate? St'Travla waited for his response, for he knew there would be a response.

"You'll 'ave to kill me, then."

He didn't even hesitate. St'Travla raised his cane with the intent on dealing a blow.

"My Council!"

Geskight dashed towards them, down on one knee as soon as he reached Aaeson. No doubt he had witnessed what was about to happen.

"Out with it, Knight."

"Gefure, my Council. It's folk are turning ill. The trees are dying and a sickness grips the lower piers!"

"Celebrita!" Aaeson added. She must had returned.

"Gather your troops and assess the situation. Keep your distance lest this sickness contaminates your ranks."

"It will be done."

"Come, human." St'Travla spoke, his earlier attempt to strike him down forgotten. "It's no coincidence this arrived on our shores the moment you arrived. Let us see what Braern has to say about it."

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