An account of the life of a survivor of the Point City disaster of the sixth month of 3820 AD.

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Point port is a peaceful place.

Typically.

That day was like any others. I was with my sisters playing under the fishing pier. I think Che had just found a colorful shell. I remember remarking that the water level was lower than normal for that time of day, but we thought little of it. Instead, we took advantage and ventured deeper.

I'd like to pretend I wasn't aware that it was a sign. But I'd be lying, everyone in a coastal town knows the signs.

The alarms began blaring far too late. My sisters and I were already deep into the unexplored beach. It was only when the pier began splintering did we realize what was happening.  

I was knocked into a post before I even realized the water reached me. I remember little of after that. Only waking up to a bright white light.

That day changed my life.

My sisters were gone. Parents gone.

I had no one left. My city was half in ruins, even the noble district on the hill barely survived the wave.

But some people helped. Not locals, honestly I didn't know who they were. Many of them wore strange thick black cloaks. I wondered if perhaps they weren't human. I saw an elf amongst one of the non-hooded ones, so perhaps other Elves?

I still don't exactly know to this day.

What I did learn though was that they were from something called EC. At the time I had no clue what those letters meant, now I wear them with pride daily.

A week after the disaster a few of the orphans and I were approached by some soldier looking people. They offered us money to help them rebuild the town. They weren't locals either though, so why would they help us rebuild? And better yet why would they pay us for it? Shouldn't it be the reverse?

We, of course, agreed. Along with many others in town. Suddenly the town was laden with gold. Houses were built a tier better than before, once shacks built from driftwood now we received shipments of squared lumber to build with.

Those younger than me dug for shells on the beach or collected seaweed from the shallows. Both of which the town women cooked into surprisingly delicious soups.

Within six months the town was rebuilt better than ever before. We even had new exports. A visiting noble, enjoying the taste of our survival food made with seaweed began requesting it in shiploads.

Industries formed around harvesting the greasy vines. A farming family even discovered a way to grow it.

I was paid well for all the construction work, it wasn't easy work, but in the half year I grew strong. Not unusually strong by any means, nothing like those ECC guys who helped in the first month. But strong enough to make the work doable.

I was living with the other orphans for that entire time. My pay was beginning to grow more than I ever imagined. I decided to leave. I needed to leave.

I think I wanted to hide from the memories I had in that place. Sure it was different now, but the pier was rebuilt beam for beam. That constant reminder hurt.

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I bought a ship, a shipment of seaweed and clams then hired a crew. It was dumb really. I know that now. But I was idealistic, I wanted to live a life of adventure like that man I met so long ago.

We ran into trouble after trouble on our first journey. Torn sails, rotten goods, the whole gambit. After a month I wanted to die. My crew deserted, my ship sat empty, I barely even had the money for dock fee.

That's when an angel approached me. She complimented my ship. It almost brought tears to my eyes. Then she asked something strange. She wanted to know if she could buy it. She said she was in charge of a shipping company, and that they needed more ships.

I didn't hesitate to agree, then thinking better of my situation I also asked a favor. I wanted an interview at her company.

She agreed and within the week I was training to join the Excalibur Trading Company. I didn't notice the association until a few days into my time in Marrow. Then I began listening closer to the rumors.

A boy came into town.

He grew rich instantly by destroying one of the most fierce-some creatures of the sea.

He moved an immovable ship.

Rescued a princess.

Won a tournament, started a restaurant, opened trade routes, met the pope…

And he saved my life. He saved my whole village. He requested aid from his companies and brought our crippled village back to modernity, maybe even beyond it.

And he's the hero. Well, that was self-evident from the start but it's… He's officially the hero.

Looking back at it, it's like I was a boy who had just met a fair maiden I couldn't get out of my head. It was silly but I idolized him. I trained hard and was on the seas within the month.

I liked marrow but I enjoyed the waves more.

But these ships were not like the ones I'm familiar with. I thought I would be a shoe in for captain training with my experience sailing but that wasn't the case. These boats didn't sail. They flew. The soared feet above the water and ran at unfathomable speeds.

It was great fun.

Now, as an old man, I'm amazed I could ever handle that type of thing. I much prefer my position behind a desk tallying numbers. But children aren't good at that type of thing I guess.

Even now I still look back on the disaster of Point city. It was a pivotal moment in my life. It feels like it was a pivotal moment in the world even.

I miss my sisters. I would love it if they could live by my side. I might wish I could go back, but I can't. So I will just continue to live. I will just continue to live for them, I will experience as much of life as possible for them.

A few days ago a boy came to me with a pained expression he only said two words but they cut me deeply.

He said, "I'm sorry."

I thought about his words for awhile before I addressed the youngster. What could he have done to me? My life was one that I would not change even if I could, not a single detail.

"There's nothing in the world anyone needs to apologize to me for. I'm a happy old man. What more could I ask for in life?"

The boy was taken aback by my response but he smiled after a moment before patting my head roughly as if I were the youngster.

This boy reminded me of him somewhat. Perhaps it's his child? Grandchild?