Arthur sat in his chair and held a thousand yard stare as he read the title of the next section. A Tale of Ruin… my granddaughter. His hands trembled as he stared blankly at the page. Ruin, a granddaughter he had never met and hoped to one day meet. However, as time passed he feared he would never meet his darling granddaughter, one he would hope to continue his legacy.
He sucked in a deep breath and utilized a cloth to blow his nose and clear his eyes. As he finished cleaning the tears away he exhaled the breath he held moments ago. “Alright, Isabella, what do you have to say about my granddaughter?”
He peered his eyes down at the paper and began to read the paper with haste. This was a section he dreaded to read but yet he wanted to know more about the granddaughter he only read about in past letters.
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Father, I hope one day you can meet my daughter, Ruin Knight. This was one of the last days I had with her as I felt the pirate life was too dangerous for my daughter. This was the day I sent her to live with her father, Aurelius. As his home was more suitable for a kid.
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“Aurelius…” Arthur murmured as he read the name over and over again. This was the first time he was hearing who his granddaughters father was. “Makes sense…” He mumbled as he thought back to the passage he had just read on the innate feeling of trust she had felt from her and Aurelius’s first meeting. “My granddaughter has draconic blood in her system…” He wasn’t disappointed with that fact, he was however thinking of the power she must be wielding. “Now, I know who to contact to get in touch with Ruin.” He mumbled, “Aurelius…”
He blinked once more after repeating the name and continued reading the passage.
…..
Aurelius is more than willing to meet with you father. To give you a chance to meet your grandchildren. Yes, grandchildren. Ruin, my daughter was the first. She has a brother by the name of Amerus. My two lovely kids. Kids I hope that one day you shall meet.
For now, I shall give you a story of Ruin. A beautiful girl with a pure heart and a fist of steel.
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It was a warm summer day and Ruin was running around the top side as her father watched her and Isabella watched them. She was playing with Boris as he was teaching her how to properly wield a bow.
“Like this?” Ruin asked with her high pitched ethereal voice. She was wielding the bow with one hand that was in the improper position. Ruin glanced up at me and winked. I knew she was just messing with him, however Boris took her literally.
Boris shook his head and rubbed his beard, “No. Like this.” He grabbed his bow from her and held it proper with both hands.
“I see.” Ruin said as she crossed her hands and adjusted her stance to mimic one of my own.
“Do you?” Boris spoke as he arched his eyebrow. He lowered his bow and handed it back to her. “Again.”
Ruin mimicked his posture and held the bow correctly. “Told ya I got it.” She smirked.
Which caused her father to chuckle, “Boris, we have been at this for five days now. She got it on the first try.” Aurelius told him.
“Wait… What?” Boris explained as he glanced between the two in dismay.
Aurelius shrugged, “Ruin is a jokester. Just last week as I was teaching her a spell. A simple spell at that, she pulled the exact same thing on me.”
Boris exhaled in disappointment, “Now you…” He said as he pointed his finger at Ruin.
At that point I walked down from the top deck and stood beside Aurelius. “Now Boris, she is just a child.” I reminded him.
He sighed, “I know but she needs to learn this if she is going to be at sea.”
I smiled softly at him, “She won’t be at sea much longer.”
Boris looked at me like I had stabbed him in the gut, “What do you mean?”
I felt the smile grow across my face. As I admired the fact that my crew thought of my daughter as one of them. That she had a family that loved her this much. “She leaves to live with her father tomorrow.”
Boris blinked at me and held a firm stair. “She’s leaving us?”
I wrapped my arm around Aurelius’s waist and leaned into him. I dreaded this day but I knew it was what was in Ruin’s best interest. Aurelius spoke up, reading my mind. “Boris, it is what is best. With me, she can have more of a normal life. Less danger and she can get educated.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“But I’m teaching her.” Boris said pointing at his chest.
“Yes, on how to properly wield a bow. Ruin has draconic blood in her system. She needs proper training. More than what can be done on a ship.” Aurelius pointed out.
“But…” Boris tried to protest.
“The decision was both of ours. I want to protect my daughter and we will be heading into more dangerous waters soon.” Isabella finally spoke up.
Boris sighed as he realized that he wasn’t going to win an argument against an Ex Queen and a gold dragon. “Fine. But let us celebrate her last night at least.”
“Of course. Aurelius, did you bring the cake?”
Aurelius nodded and pulled out his bag of holding. Within the bag of holding held a marvelous cake. A cake that was magically enhanced to last days. “You know I did love.” Aurelius spoke as he walked the cake over to a table that was sat on the top deck.
“Cake!” Ruin shouted as she ran towards the cake that her father had sat down. “Dark chocolate?” Ruin questioned with big round brown eyes.
“Of course, sweety.” Aurelius spoke as he patted her deep jet black hair. She ran to him and gave him a big hug. “I love you.”
“I love you too daddy.”
She glanced over to me and held the same adorable stair and ran to me giving me the same big hug. “I love you too mommy.”
I glanced down at her and held back the tears that were about to fall. “And I love you my darling Ruin. I will miss you, you know that right?”
She looked up at me with water swelling in her eyes, “I don’t wanna go…” she cried as she buried her face against my body.
Aurelius knelt next to her, “Sweety, we talked about this. You are not leaving forever. We will visit mommy and her crew but for your safety and growth, you need to come with me.”
Ruin sniffled, “But I don’t wanna leave mommy…” Ruin cried.
Isabella brushed her daughter's hair as the tightness of Ruin’s grip strengthened. She may be part elven, but her draconic blood gave her the strength of a dragon. “It’s alright dear.” I spoke as soothingly as possible. “We will see each other next week.”
“That ain’t soon enough!” Ruin cried.
“You can also see mommy anytime you want.” Aurelius spoke as he took out a mirror and tapped her shoulder.
Ruin peeked her at him and glanced at the mirror. “Scry?” She questioned him.
He nodded in response, “Just let me know when you want to see your mother, and we will scry on her.”
Ruin loosened her grip against Isabella’s body, “And can I talk to her whenever I want?”
Isabella felt her eyes raise to meet mine. “Of course baby.” Isabella responded to her. “And I will watch you through the same means.”
Ruin finally removed her hands from Isabella’s waist and stepped back to be side by side with her father. Isabella looked at both of them. Her daughter may have her jet black hair, but she has his dark brown eyes and the majority of his facial features. Down to the dimples in her cheeks. The splotches of golden scales across her skin glistened as the light danced across them, showcasing her bloodline.
Isabella couldn’t help but smile as she looked upon her daughter and her lover. “I love you both.” Isabella said as she walked over to them and hugged them both tightly.
Both of them spoke this together, “I know.” Which caused Isabella to chuckle.
“Shall we have cake now?” Boris chimed in as he waited for the family moment to calm.
The question Boris asked caused all of them to chuckle, “Of course.” Aurelius spoke as he walked over to the cake and pulled out a small blade out of his hilt and began to cut the cake.
After we had cake, Boris taught Ruin one more trick with the bow. After that was done it was time for Aurelius to take Ruin. “Before you go…” Boris spoke. He walked over to Ruin and pulled and handed her the bow she had been training with, “To keep up with your training.” Boris spoke.
“Really?” Ruin questioned as her eyes got real big. This would be her first weapon. One she would hold dear. Ruin glanced up at her father and I for approval before taking the weapon. With two nods she took it and gave Boris a big hug. “Thanks uncle Boris.” She spoke.
“It’s only fitting…” Boris spoke as he hugged her back. Boris stepped back quickly. “I… I got to go down to the mess hall.” Boris spoke as he hurried off. Leaving Isabella with her loving family.
“Alrighty… I guess it’s time.” Isabella spoke as she looked at the both of them. “Send me a message everyday, okay?”
“I will, mommy.” Ruin spoke as she gave her a final hug.
Isabella gave her a tight squeeze and a kiss on the cheek. “I love you dear.”
“I love you mommy.”
Isabella looked over at Aurelius and walked over to him, giving him the same tightness of a hug. “Make sure she is safe.”
“I will.” Aurelius spoke and gave Isabella a passionate kiss on the lips.
After the kiss parted, Aurelius gave Ruin one more minute with her mother before utilizing a teleportation spell and disappearing.
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I may have been heartbroken that day as sending a child away is never easy. However, I knew deep down that was the right decision. As I feared the longer she stayed on the ship, the more danger she will be in.
Please do feel free to contact Aurelius. To arrange a meeting with him, Ruin, and Amerus. I ask that you contact Aurelius first as he is the guardian of my children.
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Arthur sat up in his chair and scratched his chin. “I have two grandchildren…” He mumbled as he took a deep breath. “I must seek that I meet them.”
Arthur felt a bit of a sting of hope. A possibility to reconnect with his daughter through her children. “But first, I need to finish these letters.” Arthur spoke as he glanced back down at the pages in front of him. There were several pages. Several tales from his daughter. However, he knew he would only get to read a few more before he had to meet with an unknown visitor.