The last day on the sea

Dear Diary,
Tales there be plenty in these cursed places. But in the end, everyone will forget them, everyone but the ones that lived in these tales. Because, for them, these tales are memories of everything they went through. But I do sometimes wonder about the end of our tale. I can never tell if it’s a sad or happy ending.
Let me start from the beginning. Not long after I finished this the last writing, we arrived in Roib. The city was empty. Only one man was wandering the streets of the outer city. One single man that, one way or another, knew who Talion is. His old man ‘s name was Roseld. We properly introduced ourselves, and then, he invited us to his house. Surprisingly, he offered to help us get into the inner city. He had quite a plan that included us to either pretend that we are here to talk about an old debt that Vaneolin had or to make some high people from the council to disappear, so that Roseld could take the power, and get us what we want. None of the options were good. We went away for a bit so we can discuss, but the whole party seemed to be still very upset from the fight before, and we couldn’t really reach any conclusion. I didn’t realize it then, but now, I know I was very foolish. To be fair, I was so much more interested in the fact that we were fighting than to actually find an option, so I went with the easiest option. We agree with Roseld’s plan to get us in, and that’s it. Of course, you didn’t need to guess, it was a wrong choice.
 
When we got in, we were very nicely escorted to meet one of the High men. We tried to talk with him, but I got a feeling we were not going anywhere. And somehow, he recognized Talion Almas. And here we go again: “Talion Almas, you are imprisoned for…” I don’t even know what it was this time. We had no choice but to put the guy to sleep. But when we did that, some kind of weird gas made half of us fall asleep. The rest of us tried to do open the door so we get out. I don’t remember much after that. But when we woke up, we were in a very dark room, chained upside down. No way for us to escape. Well thank the Almighty that Bart made his way around. He told us how we were almost burned by fire, and how the High man didn’t make it. He did all sorts of tricks to get to us and make sure that Roseld and Tersiolis don’t get away with this. So basically, he was still morphed into the high magic man when he woke up on the hospital. People were asking him things in Roib language, which he doesn’t know. But Bart was smarter than that, he just said two words: Roseld, Tersiolis, and then pretended to be badly hurt and tired.
It seems that Bart really saved us all. He managed to get us out of the prison, and we were ready to run. But of course Tersiolis had to stay in our way. I didn’t talk with him before, but to be honest, I think it would be better if he didn’t talk at all. We couldn’t escape, so we were locked up there for a few more days, attending some trial. Unfortunately, no gates can protect a city from the chaos within. It seems that it was rather a fight of power in Roib at the moment. Someone (*ahem Roseld ahem*) tried to assassinate the high man that was with us in the room and blame it on us. To make sure we get out alive, we had to take Tersiolis side, who was caught in all of this. It seems Tersiolis wanted to betray his very own so called “father” so he can get his skin saved . Roseld did tell us that he raised Tersiolis as his own child, it must have been painful even for such a snake old man, to see the person he cared turn against him. I did feel bad for him.
 
In the end, we returned to the boat with absolutely nothing. And above all the wasted time, and danger we put everyone in, we lost Vadrek in the fire. I know I said that he was brainless meat before, but since then, I have changed my opinion. He was a very strong one and so daring that I became to take a liking into him. We couldn’t even give him a proper burial. And what was worse, is that, he died for nothing. Dillen and Xebec were right to say it when we returned to the ship. It was our fault, and for that Vadrek and Brunek had to suffer. And to add up to that, Talion looked through his vision and was detected by twenty one dragons that were now coming to Roib.
 
During our time there, Kelly gave roibans a weapon to fight the dragons and it worked very well to one shot the first dragon, but the rest of them destroyed the weapon in a few seconds. Everything in the dragon’s way was destroyed, including Iomen and I assume Trekko as well. All we did, we did for nothing. We couldn’t protect one person, one single person. As we were sailing away, Roib got lost in the distance. We couldn’t see what was happening to it. I will hope they had survived, but I do expect they didn’t. We didn’t save the people we protected from the dragon, and because of us, one of the smartest lands were to be destroyed.
 
Later that day, we gathered in the Captain’s room to talk everything that happened. Dillen, Xebec and Kelly joined as well. It started with that fight when we attacked the dragon, then we talked again about Roib, then we went back to the dragon fight. Nixie was upset that we didn’t try to understand her perspective, and Bart and me were upset that Nixie didn’t seem to have the vision about protecting the life as we did. Xebec did say something that we either learn to be loyal to the captain or we choose a different and Eve seemed determined to agree with everything Nixie was saying but it was expected. The whole conversation seemed very useless to me. None of the sides would give in, and in the end, nothing we would have done now, would bring back the dead. “I don’t want to do this anymore” I thought. We would never be able to save anyone, not as we were now. I just wanted to leave, I don’t know where to go, but not there. I really really wanted to leave, but the dammed door wouldn’t open so I went back to the conversation after some persuasion from Xebec and Nixie. What did they exactly want from me? I said what I had to say. The only reason I didn’t leave the ship in that instant was that, despite everything, I still cared for people there and because THE DOOR just didn’t want to open.
 
The fight was getting even more heated. That is until, we realized WHY the door wouldn’t open and we found ourselves attacked by some black spikes .Well, not even then we were able to pull ourselves together. Each one of us started to do their own thing. Nixie and me tried to get everyone together, but it was waay too slow. So since everyone did whatever they wanted, I decided to do that as well. I went straight on to fight the demon. Did I have a chance by myself? Definitely not. But maybe, the others would join the fight if one of us went first. I have not many memories after that. I know that everything was scary and that I was very alone there. It was like I was seeing hell in person. At some point though, I felt a very faint warm feeling. I knew who it was coming from, so I reached out to it, so we can fight together. For some reasons, it reminded me a bit of Sea, so I called out for her to fight with us as well. I still wasn’t able to move but I knew I was fighting alongside the others. The feeling was getting so much stronger. I could feel it was coming from everyone. We were finally able to reach to each other. After the fight, everyone told me what happened. How Bart didn’t want to join to fight with the others but in the end they joined forces, how Kelly put Sea’s mask on my face and how everyone was giving everything they could for this. Sea was there with us.
During the fight, at some point, I felt that there was something wrong with Xebec. I tried to reach him, but I failed. When I got my consciousness back, it was already too late. He was laying breathless on the floor, with his heart pierced. I was in shock for a second and couldn’t move. Nixie was trying to find his life force or something, but I wasn’t paying attention. My mind just was all over the place. I couldn’t even look at Xebec, I even tried to ignore he was dead for a few moments. I just didn’t want to think it is true. I looked away. My legs, my arms and every part of my body just hurt. I couldn’t pull myself together anymore.
Then, Sea entered the room, looking so happy. Suddenly I became even more confused. I didn’t even know how to feel, sad or happy or none or both. After all that happened, everyone felt happy to see Sea, it was written all over their faces. I was grateful to see her there, walking around us, and giving us a bit of power. It did help me feel a little less miserable. It was my fault Xebec died, and once as before, there was nothing I did to save him. I barely heard Sea saying that “Do not ever stop making noise and do what you do. I will be always with you”. I do not know how, but she always knows exactly what to say. How I missed her! I felt like crying, but I just couldn’t. It all felt so sad and sweet at the same time. Just like the feeling when you run out of cookies. All I wanted to do was hug Sea tight and never let her go again. Even after everything that happened, she loves us. Even when we failed to protect so many, she still trusts us. That was worth something, for all of us. Before she left, she also gave us a little gift. She went closer to Xebec and left there a cookie, and somewhere near the door, she dropped a note with some names. That meant she considers all of us, including Xebec, friends, right? It was a very calming thought to have in that moment. It also seemed that the names on the small note were the names Nixie was looking for. In the end, all this fight was worth something. It got our friendship back and some new information that could help us.
Sea was also right. She was there with us, and she wasn’t the only one. Everyone that has died is watching us, aren’t they? Gerki, Maltor, Vadrek… and now Xebec. They are there somewhere, watching us fight a fight they died for. They all believed it us, till the very end. With this thought, I managed to pull my last bit of strength and go face the facts properly. Xebec was dead, and there was nothing I could do to bring him back, no matter how much I wanted to. I took the shell necklace he once gave me and put it around his neck. It was our memory, and he needs to protect it until we meet again because in this cursed world, I might break it.
To be honest, I was a bit surprised at Bart. I never knew he was feeling like the weak link.Out of everyone, I always thought he was the one who had the most trust in what we do together. But I do understand his point. And I think what he did it’s right. Sometimes a little trust from another person is needed so you can give your own trust. It was a problem all along. We never really shown that we trust each other, did we? I always said it but never shown it. And I think Nixie did the same thing. And I hope now, after this whole mess, he can really say he trusts us a little bit more.
While we were in there, the rest of the crew came. They asked, “what are we celebrating?”. In an instance, the smiles on the party’s face were gone, and they seemed to freeze for a second. One way or another, we had to tell the crew that Xebec was dead. Since everyone hesitated, I went ahead and told them. For a moment, there was a total silence over the whole boat. I think it was harder for them to hear the news, than it was for me. Even if they recognize it or not, they admired Xebec, and they liked him. Even Dillen seemed very upset. I think in a way, him and Xebec just had a very complicated friendship, even though they didn’t like each other. The fastodans were the first ones to come pay their respects. The others followed as well. Marc started crying at some point, and then, you could hear sobs from all around. Someone told me that “you know it is alright to cry” but I didn’t want to. If Xebec saw us like this, he would have probably screamed at us to “Get back to work before we all become dragon’s feast”. I didn’t have the strength or authority to do so, but I did try to encourage them in a way he would have. After all, if there is one thing, I know he would have wanted, it was to protect this “dammed ship and the idiots on it”. It seemed that I was more motivating myself than the others. But I think that, they understood what I wanted to tell them. We are far from beating the demon that follows us, or to end this New Order that is destroying the world so we have to keep going.
I had a bit of time to say goodbye alone. I finally couldn’t control myself anymore and started tearing up. I felt a bit more at peace. I never got to tell him that I loved him, but somehow, I think he knew that, and he knows it still. And I was never an easy one to love. Yet, I know that he loved me so,so much. He chose to die protecting me and the others. My worst fears did come true. It was me that brought him the end. However, in a very weird way, i feel like he was able to choose his path and he wanted to follow it to the end. I do not think I have seen that determination in him before, not when we met. If, our love gave him this strength, this freedom, if I was able to give him something he could look forward, then I am happy. It means that despite everything, for at least a bit of time, he was happy and he wanted to fight for something. Of course, it hurts. But this pain, no matter how much I try, will never go away. It will always be there because he was my special hatless captain. But I will not let it become my weakness anymore. A memory should be honored, not cried after. As for the stupid premonition. Say whatever, dear diary, but I do not think it had anything to do with Xebec’s death. That premonition was long gone, the moment Xebec realized he cares for someone.
We prepared a boat and put Xebec’s body in it, letting it go at sea. Of course, we didn’t want to see him again as an undead, so we had to burn the small boat. I watched the boat sail away, slowly taking with it some of my dream. I had the honor to shoot the last arrow. Of course, I missed the first time. I am sure Xebec would have been amused at it. I smiled a bit a well. It is alright though, or more like it will be alright. I have lost an important part of my family, but the rest of my family, is still behind me crying like babies. And while the others are here, I still have a reason to fight, I still have a family to protect. Not only for me, but for Xebec, Sea and the others as well. They all wanted the best for all of us.
Later, we all gathered to one room and made amends with each other. It was such a warm feeling to see everyone being there for one another. We might not always be together, so I decided to enjoy the moment. Kelly came to me and said that Sea would have wanted me to have her mask. But I did not think so. Maybe she still has more to understand, and all of this is confusing for her, but Kelly is a good person. She saved us in Roib, and then had the bright idea with the mask. She felt it in her heart what it was right to do. I hope she knows she belongs with us, no matter what. I also talked a bit with Drenizek. He seems more decided that ever to become stronger. It is good to hear that he is getting back on his feet slowly.
The following days I tried to go back to my normal routine. It was nice training with the fastodans from time to time. And Bart helped me a lot. We talked about how, even in the Almighty religion, they are people fighting for Him. It helped me make up my mind. I will fight the fastodan way, but not for their gods but to protect the three virtutes of the Almighty. This is the path I want to follow from now on.
 
After some time, we were finally close to the Elf land. Thanks to Talion, we managed to avoid being caught in a fight with some kind of pirates, and we were going to Nesim. The ship was very well known to Talion. (he really knows too many people). There was a crew of pirates that used to be on the same side with Cato, the cat guy we always hear about. It seems they are very very powerful, or so Talion says.
But, as if everything that happened was not enough, when we got close to Nesim, five ships of fresh undead elves, bearing the three-edged lance flag were coming towards us. We managed to run in time, but while the dead elf boats were coming after us from the back, the pirate ships were waiting for us in the front. So we had no choice, but to leave our Saphire Sword behind and start running through the woods. In the end, the captain and the ship went down together. As for us, seems like we need to hope that at least some elves are alright. When we got to the land, a few scouts of undead people already saw us, and then, we heard some kind of flute getting closer to us. But we were not going to find out where the noise is coming from, so we just kept going.
The elves found out that, not very far away from here, the Metherol city is under siege by thousands of unded people. We could either try to help them, or keep our way to Legondol, hoping there is something there that could help us. Seems a familiar choice. This time our attitudes were different I believe. And while I still stood by my opinion that we should fight, I would have been alright if Nixie chose otherwise. I was mistaken. I should have listened more. I should have taken my own advice and try to listen to Nixie more. But after all that happened, I finally understood what Nixie tried to explain. We shouldn’t throw our lives away to fight something we have now chances to win, because we won’t be able to help if we are dead. And I guess everyone learned something new. To my surprise, Nixie actually agreed to fight this time. The elves, although visibly upset and done and demotivated, decided to also come to fight with us. I think she actually tried to accept our moral, despite disagreeing with them. As for the crew, they are still afraid that they are not strong enough, but they made it so far, so at least they have to try. We tried to tell them that, and then Drenizek said something like: “Well let’s go fight some undead people, if we are to die there, so be it.”. What was that just a second ago? Was it some kind of voice that tried to motivate the others like he used to do? That was not something you hear every day anymore, but I was glad he said it.
On the way there, we had another unexpected meeting with Gildes, an interdimensional that is half brother with Lullaby’s husband, Bajid. He was sending a message from Lullaby that they are willing to come and help us fight. Well, the message was more for Damaschini and Talion, but I believe that a hand of help would be good for us. But first, we have to survive the fight in Metherol. There will be no easy fight from now on but now and it will probably get even worse every day. We might be to late, but while we breath, we have to try doing something.

As for myself, I will be alright dear diary so do not worry. I will not deny i am still extremely sad, but i am also happy. I will take it easy. One day at a time. We had our last day on the sea, but now it is time for the first day on land. I cannot take a break now and to be honest I do not think i want to. Not doing anything while the world is dying is not going to make me happier, if fact it would be otherwise, I would feel even sadder. But fighting, that might help a bit.
 
May the Almighty love and protect us. And may we never disappoint Sea and the others who believed in us.
 
P.S: Thank you, Vadrek, for being you. We shall never meet such a fun but daring and stupidly brave person like you. You will be missed. And thank you, Roib people for believing in what you build and the power of your world.
 
P.S 2: Dear Xebec,
Thank you for everything you have done for me! Please do watch over us like you always do and, I am sure you will have a good laugh, or at least you’ll be surprised, nonetheless. I will see you again at the horizon line, Captain.