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Aziel
Ander. Yuna. I hope you're doing well. . .
My thoughts repeated over and over as I stared out into the seas. All I saw then was empty afternoon fog.
I leaned my arms against the railings of the white, massive, moving wooden ship. Flicking strands of auburn hair away from my eyes as the wind blew. Hearing only the distant conversations of pirates and troops scattered behind. As the rest of the Chronicle Order navy sailed with a position surrounding us, in dozens more vessels.
The feeling was quite strange. But somehow familiar for this current quest so far. You could say, towards a 'renowned' veteran heroine like myself, that I should be so accustomed to the feeling of adventure.
But I haven't picked up a single quest since meeting Calev. Starting a family. And now the grandest journey felt like something a child version of myself would be excited about.
Which was probably accurate.
I shook my head and stood straighter.
Stop overthinking, Az. I instead repeated to my brain. You're doing the one right thing to protect them. . . that's all that matters.
I turned around to distract from the negative thinking, walking to the stairwell's door, leading downwards. So I could go back to the rooms below where everyone else was.
The hallways and flooring were crafted cleanly, with surprisingly fine wood. Organized lanterns, as always, were attached to the walls. A spotless bluish carpet laid before my feet, covering until the end of the hall I found myself in. Gold-numbered red doors were placed within the walls.
While dodging past Chronicle Order soldiers, I treaded straight ahead towards the one room the questers were invited into.
Circular windows were framed in the double-doors. I pushed against them, entering inside and returning from my little break.
I was greeted once more by the massive room of tables, decorated with white cloth, all lit with quaint chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, with a front counter at the end where a bulky man stood. Cleaning bottles and plates with a cloth and a gash across his left eye, turning it grey and blind. He wore the same frilled linen vest as Captain Aurel's crew.
Before possibly getting a drink or two, I glanced around the relatively empty diner. I suppose anyone else but us would be too busy for eating and lounging. In a cozy setting like this, especially, that can remind them of home. Definitely reminded me of our inn.
Close to the corner, Black Knight sat down, slightly leaning his head against the wall and closing his eyes. Thorne and Jade happened to be talking with another member of the ship, that we saw. Well, the excitable wizard-in-training was at least. Appearing to compare her scepter with the early adult's staff.
Vexx sat on the barstool in front of the counter, with about ten others of the captain's fancily-dressed unit, sitting around the bulky man cleaning dishes. The Flivian kept his helmet on..
And I don't mean to judge. But it was strange how this quester chose to wear one all the time, despite not being a Drownei of common ridicule. I've met my fair share of betraying questers in the past. The kid wasn't hiding anything, was he?
Eventually, I could hear him talk I continued approaching.
"So you're telling me, Ryff. . . you don't have any sort of alcohol. In a pirate ship?"
"Hah!" The large pirate of muscle let out a laugh, full of silver teeth. Holding his bandana-covered head of thick fins in a hysteric. "Tell ya' what, back when I was plunderin' all those years ago, you'd have a lifetime supply. But now. . ."
Then Ryff, with streaks of grey hair within the strands of dirty brown, narrowed his eye to the distance. As if rethinking his entire past somehow.
" . . gah, forget it. It's just for medical stuff now. Don't even know how effective it is!"
"It's a versatile ingredient for medicine, at least." I stood beside the crew and Vexx as they turned to look at me, joining their conversation. "And it can also cure wounds. Not if you drink it though, unfortunately. . ."
"It would cure me mentally." Vexx commented, as Captain Aurel's team laughed or snorted in response.
Except for Ryff, who raised an eyebrow, and stopped drying a plate with his cloth for a second.
"Had experience or what? Who are ya' anyway if I'm to ask?"
One of his crewmates exchanged glances with Vexx, holding a broom in one hand. Clearing her quiet throat and nudging Ryff with an elbow. A headscarf tied covering her ponytail, and noticeably as young as the Flivian quester beside. Fins pointing out like ears on each head side. One of her feet was replaced with a metallic peg leg.
"A like-minded once homeless person knows, apparently, while I barely did?" Vexx joked with the girl with his head fully turned to the Marine. "You're very surprising, Lare."
She turned her head away shyly while he continued.
"Though it's pretty strange, to have only one person here know of 'the great Aziel Korr'." The young Flivian leaned an arm against the counter, sight directed towards me. "Aren't you, like, famous or something?"
"Oh, I don't expect to be nowadays."
I admitted in a straightforward statement to him. Waving a hand above my chest, downwards.
"Well, ma'am Korr," Another member, with a pair of glasses and the antenna of an angler fish, reassured with his natural light switched off."I can assure that everyone here recognizes you and your old questing days, except for our own veteran."
He pointed a thumb backwards at Ryff.
"Aye, I was too busy with pirating to notice, Meon. Glorious, uncharted, pirating." The man behind the counter defended. "Those were the days. . ."
A sigh distracted our conversation.
We all averted gazes to stare at the guy resting his arms on the table. Seemingly tired as a user of magic, especially as I noticed his shining blue staff, sheathed to the scabbard strapped on his back. Larger spellcasting weapons tend to physically exhaust more.
The crewmate of similiar dress code held a white wizard's hat of his own, running a hand through his messed up wavy hair, with a grey tail of a shark sagged downwards.
Behind the man was Jade energetically talking with him. Or at least trying to, as the older seemed to wish ignoring her. Even though I saw the person trying his best to respond before. Thorne tried to get a word in, an attempt to give his sister the cue of disinterest, crossing his arms nonchalantly.
". . . see, I've always wanted to learn more about sea magic!" The wizard-in-training girl continued without taking the hint, not leaving space between words. "Is it possible to cast an underwater breathing spell on another animal? How large a wave can you summon? Ooh, have you ever wondered what happens when you mix the water with fire? My one trainer doesn't even have the answers to any of this-"
"Maybe I can teach you sometime, Jade." I interjected gently.
Then I gestured my head to point towards her conversation partner.
"Wizards can get very tired, you know."
Jade's eyes widened as she stopped to look up at who she was talking to, noticing his drained expression, while the man gave a little sympathetic smile and nod. Then he faced Ryff to ask for a drink.
"Would ya' like a glass of sugar to wake up, Erl?" He teased.
The pointy-eared quester girl glanced at all our expressions, quitting her high energy. Realizing the fact she might've gotten too carried away.
"Sorry. That. . . would be good, too, Miss Korr." She tried a nervous smile.
"'Ey," Erl shifted his head slightly, only the corner of his eye at Jade. "I appreciate the curiousness, tho'."
"Perhaps Vexx would know, under his helmet." Thorne stated beside the other sibling factually. But the supposed Flivian turned their head to stare at the Dwellven, who attempted to join the conversation. They exchanged looks like something was seen. But not meant to be said.
". . .apologies." The prince concluded.
I had no time to think about the implications, before Captain Aurel and Headmaster Chronisius entered the dining room, the double-doors noisily swaying open. Coming from above, where members of the Chronicle Order were doing their tasks.
Most of us turned to focus on the leaders. As always, the Headmaster had his troops behind him. A couple of them both having wings of a Flivian. Double the size of Vexx's.
The captain of the Goldwave Pirates approached her crew with a strut. Her deep purple skin of scales making her admittedly more intimidating, than the average crewmates.
"Well, surely it's not a time for drinking and parties now, is it mates?" She said with the straightest face standing before us. "You know we're much more than those. . . untamed platoons. We remain the best there is!"
Her crew stayed silent, some gaped with wide eyes at Headmaster Chronisius, and they all bowed their heads a little to address him. But only glancing, to not cut their gaze with the figurehead speaking to them.
And she commanded again before anyone could reply.
"Lare." Captain Aurel said to the girl next to Vexx, wearing her headscarf and with a mop and bucket right by her feet. "The halls. Savvy?"
The member glanced at the Flivian right by, and looked at the floorboards, keeping her gaze away.
"I. . .I got distracted."
She stood straight up, starting to walk forwards. Revealing a silver peg leg replacing one of her feet. But then I swear to Niytri I heard her whisper to Vexx.
"Talk again later."
"I. . ." Vexx replied.
Just like that, Lare quickly headed out the exit with the cleaning supplies.
"Erl, guard our beasts and bounties below." Captain Aurel continued listing. "Meon, command steering at the bridge. . ."
The tricorn-hatted leader ordered the names of the rest of the crew, of about a dozen, all with different appearances and jobs. Mostly Marines though, I've noticed.
I'd also seen the bluish staff into her black belt. Attached like a cutlass, it had a sharp blade on one side, and the head of a scepter on the other.
"No worries, Korr." The headmaster's voice said near me while things were happening. I faced him, and he was already leaving the room with his soldiers. "You questers have done a lot for Niytri and fate, to warrant a break. So sit back. This ship is in excellent hands."
". . . maybe if your organization servants hadn't stolen our jobs." Ryff muttered while Headmaster Chronisius left."They're doin' everything for us."
Everyone who was commanded followed orders and went their seperate ways. Until it was only the questers, Ryff, and Captain Aurel remaining. A quietness drowned the area, as the crewmate behind the counter continued organizing bottles and dishes.
"I advise you to be careful around the Headmaster, Ryff."
He crossed his burly arms. "So what? Ya' suppose we sit back like a herd of seahorses, and completely give up everything we have for that damn order?"
"Listen, old-timer, you've been here from the start. You know how laborious we've worked to exist as the greatest pirates of the sea." The captain with tentacle dreads shifted, to turn the opposite direction as well. Stopping to say one more question. "Isn't this what you've desired?"
And so she followed the headmaster outside, swiping invisible dust off her vest, exiting without another word.
More verbal silence proceeded, besides the soft clashing of utensils, glass, and plates.
"Well, now I'm bored."
Vexx commented with his head rested on his hand, elbow on counter, until spreading his feathered wings.
"See ya, mateys, I'm going outside."
"Hey, I want to explore too!" Jade said, as Thorne shrugged and followed the both of them beyond the doors.
Their voices muffled then trailed off. I watched them leave, slightly smiling, because of how enthusiastic the girl always was. Kind of similiar to how I was.
But in the corner of my eye, Black Knight had a palm over his forehead, spiny helmet placed on the table in front of him. Arm leaned over beside it. I couldn't help but feel bad somehow.
"I'll have two drinks of your finest, please." I told Ryff, taking a seat in front of him.
He perked up from his cleaning, and watched me unknowingly glance at the knight, giving me a tiny but knowing silver-tooth smile.
"Two cranberries it be."
The man said simply, as he got to work getting glass mugs from the cabinets.
I soaked in the calmness this time. To be fair, the best thing to come out of a quest nowadays, is how relieving it feels to take a break from it all.
Of course, I only understood that as I got older. Child me loved to keep killing stuff.
"So, must be nice for ya' to continue the dream, Aziel Korr."
Oh, so he is a talker. Not that I minded.
"My dream?" I paused. Tracing my finger around each ring I wore. Then thinking of who was waiting for me when everything's over. "I mean. . . as a child questing was glorious, yes."
I sighed to shake off the past, focusing on the present moment. Continuing to protect them in the only right way.
"Though sometimes you don't need all the glory to be happy."
Ryff stopped with the cloth in his hand for a second, a glint in his olden eye.
Metallic boots thumped quick onto the floor. We directed our sights to Black Knight, who held his head tighter, walking to open the doorway and leaving us.
I slid myself off the stool. Then halted myself for a few seconds. Maybe he just wanted fresh air.
However, he seemed oddly hurting? Or I'm just thinking too much about it.
"Hold that thought. And have a good one." I told the bartender pirate.
Which, from his hesitant expression returning another smile, it seemed like he probably did both.
Then I tossed the amount of gold coins required, to the counter. Grabbing the two small reddish drinks and following after Black Knight. He was already long gone.
I ran through the carpeted halls once more. As much as you could while holding two glasses of liquid.
I made it out to the bottom deck, past the soldiers carrying more shipments and performing duties. Passing by crowds of the Chronicle Order as always.
After scanning the area, only seeing Vexx fly by at one point, I saw Black Knight leaning still over a railing, using it for support.
Confused, I slowly walked to him.
He was gazing off into the empty blue seas. His helmet left at the dining room. And as I stood beside him, I could see nothing but uncertainty in his dark eyes. The guarding rails only reached both our waists.
"Hey. . . Konnor." I joked to possibly cheer Black Knight up. Handing him a drink, but he didn't take it. So I held it back.
"You okay?" I asked instead.
A large part of me wanted to keep asking. But I forced myself, to allow the quiet between us to linger. I looked at him, but began to turn away and stare into the ocean myself.
Then before I could take a step back, his hand reached out to grab one of the mugs, as he glanced at me and took it.
Even if his manners were strange, I decided to stay as we both exchanged a look.
"Hope you like cranberries." I stated with a shrug. "Thank you, by the way."
He blinked, then took a sip from the glass, which seemed to be a sign he returned to normal. "I should be thanking you, right? You gave me this."
I gave tiny single laugh. "Not for that."
Then I gazed past him, only giving a glance or two.
"For. . . you know, helping me underground at the Dwellvens and all. Never got to say it."
"Oh." He stared at me blankly. "You are welcome."
That somehow made me chuckle a bit. "Maybe I should get amnesia."
His eyes widened as he glanced away. Mine enlarged too, for different reasons.
"Wait- sorry, I mean- because people with amnesia are funny. Or I mean, not just people with amnesia, but in general, and you. . ." I trailed off, feeling my face flush and ears go red.
Suddenly, something came out of his throat. A little noise.
But not just any noise, it was rugged, even a little shaky, as his head bobbed with the sound.
Was Black Knight. . . laughing?
"No, I understand. I don't suppose you need amnesia." He replied afterwards, while he took one big swig of the drink, completely finishing it.
"It's just. . . I feel as though I recognize everything, but I do not at the same time. It keeps me awake at night. I don't even know if there are people I should know."
"Must be rough." I said while taking my first sip from the mug, then remembered to spin it to a positive note. "Hey, at least you'll remember eventually, as I've learned. And maybe you don't need to stress about returning to your people for now."
The Drownei narrowed his eyes to the waters again. Then he gave me another sharp stare.
"I know we're doing the right thing, Aziel. That's all that matters to me." He reassured.
Me, too.
Helping out in a destructive war was definitely better, than staying behind with my family. Why wouldn't it be? I was doing this for them.
"Just feel free to ask me anything about the world." I said in return.
We both shared a quick smile. But after he looked away to stare below, I shifted the hand on my glass forwards for a toast. Until realizing he probably wouldn't get it.
So we both decided to lock our sights towards the flowing seas.
Then he suddenly clutched his head again, groaning with a gasp, until his eyes closed and he plummeted into the deep ocean.
I screamed for aid as wings of a Flivian shot over me, hurtling towards Black Knight's body.