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Arc VI : Where it all Began
Chapter LXVIII : Leviathan
Earlmorn of Somnus, Twenty-Second Day of Autumnmoon
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On the second morn of Bram’s voyage, he woke to find Yuri on deck, staring out to sea. The ocean was calm, but a chill hung in the air. Zhao had provided him with a Koban merchant vessel, which was quite fast without its cargo. Most ships took a month to sail from Loulan to Kish, but Bram hoped to do it in twenty days.
He approached and placed a hand on Yuri’s shoulder. He wondered what they saw as they gazed, vacantly, upon the endless waters. He stared as well, feeling its relentless currents, its rhythmic oscillations. Hypnotizing, like the unceasing gyrations of an unseen muse. The ship, synchronized to its motion. A miniscule pile of sticks, with no choice but to obey the whim of the sea. Bram had his own inescapable destiny. He was beholden to a future he could not change. A path from which he could not deviate. He could only go where the Fates allowed.
His skills and strength as a Knight had failed him. He was no longer cloaked in impervious Gnostic armor, nor equipped with his indomitable, sanguinary blade. He was naked and exposed, his armor unusable, and his sword in pieces in some refuse bin. Despite all his training and experience, he was powerless. He had no chance against Samuel. He never did. Much less, against Virgil or the Ahrimen. He was defenseless.
Zhao had gifted him another sword, perhaps in an attempt to lift his spirits. It had once belonged to a powerful Gnostic, defeated by Wong Fei Nan, Quon’s father. Having no use for it, Wong Fei offered it to his liege as a symbol of Koba’s strength, who then passed it on to Bram, ostensibly for embodying the same virtue. Bram was reluctant to accept, unconvinced that he deserved the praise, yet unwilling to turn it down and risk insulting a friend.
There was another problem, too. Gnostic blades were dangerous, since only their owners were immune to their toxins. Bram kept it in a box in his cabin, but never intended to open it. Besides, he wanted to be rid of the Gnostic standards for good. He wanted his shattered sword and forsaken armor to mark his end to the Knighthood. He would never again allow himself to be used as a weapon. For a king, or anyone.
Now, armored with civilian clothes, he was just a man. A plain, insignificant man, whose burden was so formidable, it was destined to fail. Even if he made it to Kish on time, and his message was well received by the Circle of Sorcerers, he doubted they could stand against Angkor’s might. If Zhao was correct, escaping with the sunstone was equally fruitless, since it both invited the Ahriman’s corruption as well as acted as a beacon for the enemy.
He wished he had Rosa by his side to lend him her strength. Despite her bravery and intellect, she succumbed too easily to Samuel’s magic. Though, perhaps saved from an immediate death, she instead became a prisoner of war and taken far beyond his reach. He loved her with all his heart, but the daunting task of rescuing her seemed entirely out of reach. Even if he knew where to find her and how to get there, the mission would be suicide in his condition. Yet, giving up felt cowardly and irresponsible. That is, if it weren’t for Yuri. They depended on him, and he could no longer risk his life recklessly. Now that Samuel knew about their existence, he had to make sure they remained hidden.
He caught Yuri nodding off, so he retrieved a lambskin blanket from the cabin and placed it in front the ship’s central mast. He brought Yuri there, propped his back against the mast, and allowed the child to nestle close. While they napped, he ran his fingers through their delicate, white hair. The woman he loved was gone, but Yuri was still with him. Their presence, a talisman of protection against Despair’s dark temptation. He had to protect them, no matter what.
He decided his mission to Kish would be his last. As soon as he delivered his warning, he would find a small, remote village and disappear from the world. Whatever fate befell Gaia, he would accept it. In the meantime, he would make sure Yuri lived the peaceful life of a child. The life they deserved.
Yuri stirred, spurring Bram to gently pull the lambskin blanket over their shoulders. The prior night, they suffered a terrible nightmare. Their screams startled him awake. But when he asked about it, they couldn’t provide a coherent explanation. They rambled about a tower, an axis, and something about the weakening of the world. It felt foreboding, considering Yuri’s extraordinary talents and intuition. Nevertheless, without more to go on, it was just another cryptic messages without context. Bram hoped he would have time during the long voyage to improve Yuri’s language skills. But for now, he wanted them to rest.
Kish was still weeks away, and Bram felt anxious. He supposed it was natural, given his weeks of fast-paced, death-defying adventures, which practically ground to a halt, now that he was at sea. Ships only moved so fast, and the inactivity seemed like it would drive him mad. Nevertheless, he needed to relax. So, he let his mind drift and allowed the sounds of the ocean to lull him to sleep. He dangled on the edge of consciousness, while the ship carried him to his fateful destination. He couldn’t say how long he dozed, but when he woke, it was to the impatient prodding of the ship’s captain.
Emperor Zhao’s hand-picked sailor was a sun-tanned south-Kobanese man, with weather-worn features and a week-long stubble. “I apologize for waking you, Milord.”
He spoke loud enough to be heard over a whirling zephyr that blew across the ship’s deck. “Sir, you need to return to your cabin. The weather’s worsened, and we need room t’ prepare the ship.”
Bram coaxed the sleeping child. “Come, Yuri. We need to leave.”
They woke groggily. “W-w-what is it?”
“Nothing to worry about. Just bad weather.”
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Although, looking around, he wasn’t so sure. Waves crashed and winds blew, but the sky looked clear. It was a promisingly peaceful morn. Nevertheless, he led Yuri safely below deck.
He closed the cabin door behind him, which dampened the wind and waves.
Yuri rubbed their eyes and yawned. “H-h-he’s c-c-coming.”
A chill crawled up Bram’s spine. Yuri didn’t usually speak unless spoken to, and their message felt ominous. “What did you say?”
All he received was a blank stare.
He spoke firmly. “Yuri, tell me. Who’s coming?”
They looked back innocently, which stirred Bram’s insides.
He sighed and knelt beside them, taking their hand. “Don’t worry. We’re safe down here.”
Yuri looked frustrated, like they wanted to explain, but couldn’t find the words.
“D-d-don’t be af … af-f-fraid.”
Bram wanted to ask what they meant, but the door burst open, and in came a gale force wind. Bram heard the shouts of the captain from up above.
“Sir Morrison, come at once! We have a problem, and it needs your attention.”
Bram tensed. He wondered what a bunch of trained sailors needed from him.
“Stay here, Yuri. Don’t leave the cabin, no matter what. Promise.”
The child nodded vigorously. Feeling satisfied, he went to answer the captain’s call.
Strong winds belted his face the moment he reached the deck. “What in the Burning Pits is going on?”
He looked around. It was a perfectly clear morn, without a cloud in the sky. “Where’s the storm? It should be smooth sailing.”
The captain responded confidently. “Ah’m not worried ‘bout the winds and waves, Milord. Ships this size are meant t’ withstand far worse. Rather, we’ve spotted a maelstrom, ‘bout ten cables portside. We tried changin’ course, but we’re caught in its current.”
Bram never heard of such a thing. “This far out at sea?” He wondered if it was related to whatever Yuri was sensing. “Is it magical?”
“’Tis a curse, I tells ya!” A nearby sailor wailed a warning as he rushed between tasks. “These waters belong t’ the great leviathan, Typhon! Our presence here has angered him!”
The captain sneered, waving away the man’s comments. “Pay him no heed. The crew gets superstitious every time we pass through this stretch.”
Bram got straight to the point. “You called me up here for a reason, Captain. What do you think I can do?”
The captain licked his lips, as if searching for a tactful response. “Maybe … if we had some o’ the child’s magic ….”
Bram’s face hardened. The captain took a step back, waving his hands defensively.
“I wouldn’t ask, Milord, if there was another way. We know ‘bout the child’s aeons, and it might be th’ only way to get us back on course. Please, Sir. If we can’t escape the current, the maelstrom’ll tear us apart!”
He pointed to the crew. “See for yourself! Every last one o’ my men tends the sails, but we’re movin’ opposite the wind!”
Bram couldn’t deny the ship seemed to be caught in an extremely strong current. Despite the heavy winds, it resisted every attempt to change course. Even so, he was wary to call on Yuri needlessly. They didn’t deserve to be seen as a convenience every time things became difficult. Nevertheless, it seemed increasingly clear the ship’s crew couldn’t solve the situation on their own. Whatever happened in the waters below, they were headed toward the maelstrom. And if they hit it, there was a very real risk of damaging the ship. A risk Bram wasn’t willing to take.
“Alright. I’ll talk to Yuri. But, please, for their sake, keep their gifts under a low profile.”
The captain bowed. “Thank you, Milord. I swear t’ ya.”
Bram wondered if he had made the right choice, but it was too late to back down. He returned to the cabin to find Yuri there waiting for him. Bram explained the situation, and a twinkle entered their eyes. The child almost jumped with enthusiasm.
Bram took their hand and kept a watchful eye. He didn’t want them losing their footing to the wind. The sailors halted their work and watched in eager anticipation, no doubt expecting to witness a miracle. Word of Yuri’s aeons had apparently spread quite far. Bram asked the sailors to provide more space, remembering that Yuri tended to use large gestures and dance-like moves when summoning.
The child faced starboard, waving their arms in an arc. A familiar golden glow formed around their body, but vanished almost as soon as it began. They turned to Bram with a saddened face, and he approached.
He figured they might need some encouragement. “Take your time, Yuri. I know you can do it.”
They shook their head. “Th-th-th-they won’t come. W-w-w-we need to g-g-go this way.” They pointed in the direction of the current.
Bram remembered Yuri’s ominous prediction. “Why? Because of who’s coming?”
They nodded meekly. Bram hoped for a clearer answer, but there wasn’t much time. The maelstrom was now visible, port side. The child looked at him, pleadingly.
“Keep trying,” he told them. “We need to move away. I know you can do it.”
Yuri lowered their head and returned to the middle of the deck.
Bram backed away and gave them space. Their golden glow returned, and they took a step toward starboard. Bram saw a sparkle in the air, as if a portal would soon open. But it only twinkled and disappeared. Yuri looked strained. They summoned their glow one more time, and the ship jerked. A jolt of momentum sent many of the sailors tumbling to one side. They grabbed onto the railings and masts to steady themselves.
Undeterred, Yuri continued their spell. The portal appeared one more time, but it quickly fizzled. And this time, the wood of the ship groaned, and a monstrous shriek penetrated the air. It sounded like a thousand whales, screeching in unison.
The sailors looked around, panic stretched across their faces.
“Look!” One of them pointed with a trembling finger. “Spawn!”
Bram turned to see a gargantuan tentacle rise from the water, many times larger than the ship.
Another shouted. “Not spawn. It’s Typhon, come to punish us for entering its waters!”
A few of the sailors fired the ship’s cannons. The projectiles exploded on contact, but the tentacle appeared unharmed.
Bram ran to Yuri and grabbed them by the waist. Screams erupted as more hideous appendages rose from the water. Bram ran to the stairs, hoping to hide below deck, but he never reached them. One of the tentacles slammed against the ship, splitting the deck in two.
Bram’s body flew through the air and splashed into icy, cold water. He tumbled, without any sense of up or down. He flailed, trying to reach the surface. He found air and tried to get his bearings. Pieces of ship floated all around, but Yuri was nowhere in sight.
“Yuri!” he screamed, just as a frigid wave dragged him underwater.
He fought his way back to the surface. This time, he scrambled onto a nearby plank and propped himself up.
He bellowed as loud as he could. “Yuri!”
He found a piece of broken railing to use as a paddle. The remains of the ship floated just a few spans away. The last of the sailors worked frantically to salvage what was left. Bram hoped Yuri was still aboard. He was prepared to scale the ship’s remains to search for them.
He drove his make-shift paddle into the water, but stopped short of rowing. Another large tentacle towered high above him. It wavered just a moment before smashing down on the ship’s remains. The last of the sailors dove overboard to escape the explosion of wood and splinters.
A large chunk hurtled toward his head. He leaned to the side to avoid it, but it swiped him—hard! His vision blurred, and he brought his hand to his head to check the wound. His fingers were covered with blood. He felt lightheaded, as if floating. He found himself drifting on playful trade winds on a journey above the seas. Swimming through fields of stars, which twinkled brilliantly in the night sky. He fell back against the plank, woes forgotten. Drifting aimlessly, peacefully, where Fate deigned to take him.