The Hulion soldiers ship no longer saw the coastline of the freelands. Yet that was the least of their worries. Sera, who was down in the head ship's infirmary, jumped from his sleep. Alerting the guards around him.
“Lord Sera! You’re awake.” The guard yelped as his captain breathed heavily sitting upward in the bed. He looked around frantically, realizing he was not on the battlefield but on the ship.
“What the hell!? Why am I on the ship? Did we win?” Sera asked loudly. The guards hesitated to answer. But they did anyway, this immediately angered the captain. He jumped out of the bed and ran out onto the deck of the ship. He looked over the side of the ship and no longer saw the Freelands or Cloudwick. He clenched his fist. His rage became personified by the same fist being engulfed in flames as he let out a blood curdling scream.
Most of the soldiers on board were unable to react as they were recovering from their wounds. They all sat or laid on the deck either wrapped in bandages or motionless. A single soldier was tending to everyone. Bringing them alcohol to ease their pain. Sera took notice of the man, he furious marched over to him and grabbed him by his neck. Making the soldier drop all of the booze on the deck.
“You better have a good explanation for why you turned tail and ran.” Sera threatened.
“Sir.” The soldier began though Sera’s grasp made it hard for him to speak at first. “We had no choice. It was that tall man with the scythe. He was going to kill us.” Sera dropped the man.
“I don’t care! You keep fighting! No matter what! Or did all you worthless men forget that!” Sera yelled. The soldier wanted to be scared, but instead grew just as angry as the captain. He stood to his feet and gather his rage to yell at the man.
“THIS ALL COMING FROM THE MAN WHO FELL BEFORE ANY OTHER!” The soldier thundered as he pushed the captain back. Sera was much taller and broader than this man but he cared nothing of it. “THEY BLEW UP A FUCKING MOUTAIN! THAT MAN KILLED A BEAST NOBODY COULD HARM IN A SINGLE ATTACK! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU OF ALL PEOPLE EXPECT US TO DO?”
The man was unable to continue as Sera struck him in the face. He was sent tumbling to the other side of the ship. A broken nose with blood running down, a few missing teeth, and a burn mark nearly covering his whole face. He wiped the blood from his nose and looked back to the captain in rage. With one arm he lifted himself up onto the balustrade.
“Aziro and Uziro are dead. That man…...that…….he killed them. You have such confidence in strength why don’t you crawl back to the Freelands and kill him for us.” The soldier said with no fear or remorse. Sera had enough of the man's words. He hurled a giant fireball at him quickly. The man was ready to embrace the fireball the same as he was the punch. However it didn’t reach him. He was saved by his princess. Teresa came on board and dissipated the fireball midair.
“Princess Teresa.” Sera noticed. The girl had only her staff in hand. Her body was slowly bending over as she stood. She turned to the rebelling soldier.
“How long until we get home?” The princess asked.
“It should be about 2 days. We have enough provisions to last about a week.” The man answered. The princess didn’t respond. Instead she continued forward.
“Princess!” Sera called to her. Teresa looked over just as angry as he was earlier. “Your father isn’t going to allow this.” The girl kept her expression, but felt herself getting angrier just thinking of her father.
“He’s going to have to.”
The Serx soldiers stood over the body of their fallen captain, Virion. His body laid on the deck of the airship. Kal sat down beside him. He placed Virion’s axe over his body. The knight then reached for his own helmet, and removed it. The others gasped. Kal was one to never show his face. Some even believed he came to join the knights with it on, and they took him in not only due to his strength but for his conviction. However Kal’s reason was a bit more personal than others could believe.
He placed the helmet alongside the axe. His face revealed. The others were disgusted by his appearance. Numerous large and small pulsing red bumps all over his head. There existed only small black strands of his hair, his eyes both were not only different colors, but the larger one was completely pitch black.
The men all stepped back from him.
“I hope you can take it all in men. Because the only man that could is lying right in front of me.” Kal lamented as he started to drink from the bottle he brought. He emptied half of its contents and then let the rest pour out over the man's dead body.
However they all were interrupted as another of the airships exploded out of the sky. The men all rushed to the edge and watched it fall down into the ocean. Then another in the distance exploded and fell down as well. Then another, and the last. They were the last in the sky.
“What the hell is happening? Who is doing this? SHOW YOURSELF!” A soldier yelled out.
“Covering every base, eh?” Kal said to the figure that appeared before him. The others turned to see who he was speaking too. A man appeared on the ship. Most of the soldiers knew who the figure was. Yet were unfamiliar with his name. As very few had heard it before. All they knew him as was “The Crow”.
“Virion went and got himself killed. Who did it?” The Crow asked Kal.
“It was Grimm. That’s right. Didn’t expect to find him there. And before you ask. We don’t have the charm or the tome. We lost.” Kal explained not letting the Crow speak. Yet the Crow was intrigued by the mention of Grimm.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Grimm, eh?” Now that is quite the story. We lost one captain. And I think we just might have found a couple of suitable replacements.” The Crow broadcasted in his eerie voice.
“I have no plans to be captain.” Kall spoke up.
“Oh I wasn't talking about you. Virion failed in his mission. With Harrison still missing we could use some extra manpower.” The Crow said.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Kal asked confused.
“I have a feeling things may work out for us. Question? If you don’t have the charm then who does?” The Crow asked.
“Don’t know. This giant woman with four arms appeared and-” Kal began, yet was quickly cut off.
“Giant woman! Oh…...I see now. I know who has it. Which means we’ll have it soon enough. Here are your orders. Go straight to Pensora and find Captain Veronika. She’ll take things from here.” The Crow said. He extended his arms and summoned large black bird like wings, then flew away in a dash.
The field, despite it’s damage, was used for the celebration of the allies. Fayspell provided the food. Cloudwick the entertainment. And Sarabell brought the food. A lot of food. Some of which many had never tasted. Dishes that made them feel as if they were in heaven. Even though they had already feasted on some before. The battle made them even more so hungry. Ezra, Grimm, Granius, Nicholai, and Irene were plowing through meals one after the other. The Sarabel chefs and grillers felt no pressure. Their skills were impeccable, and with so many they were able to keep up with the large men and woman.
“Hey can i get another round over here!?” Ezra yelled out.
“Say please!” Grimm scolded. “I’ll take another round as well please!”
“Irene this drink is otherworldly!” Granius cheered as he drank one of Irene’s special mixtures while his two wives held close to him. All to keep the large man from falling over.
“Why thank you. Hey. Go roundup everyone. I have an announcement to make once I'm done eating.” Irene ordered her assistant while she held onto a large piece of meat.
“Woah. Never had this before.” Nicholai cautiously said before biting into the blue vegetable. Once he did. His eyes lit up in ecstasy. He then started tearing through every single one on the table.
Katreena was sitting back. Eating as much as the others but not as frantically. And Anabelle was next to Ezra and Nicholai feeding on some food the two prepared for her. While both arguing which was better for her, meat or vegetables.
“She’s a growing horse and she needs her meat.” Ezra yelled.
“She’s 6000 years old. If she wants to keep her beautiful red skin and fur then she needs to eat something healthy. I could say the same about you!” Nicholai came back with.
“I'm fine with just my meat. Speaking of meat. You need some. Not just in your belly but on your bones too.” Ezra yelled back. Causing Grimm to intervene.
“He’s got a point Nicholai. You could use some extra pounds.”
“I agree as well. If you intend to be venturing out in the world they can’t have someone like you slowing them down since you can barely run. Seriously I had more muscle mass than you when I was five years old.” Irene commented.
“That’s because your as big as a fucking ox!” Nicholai screamed to the woman.
“WHAT DID YOU SAY!?” Irene cried out as she pounced on the smaller young man.
The party continued to be lively for the next few hours. Soon a large bonfire was made and everyone was enjoying freshly made s’mores. However. Two sects were gathered before two different adults. The people of Fayspell all gathered before Irene. Yet she was laying on the floor, on top of Nicholai.
“Get off me dammit!” He cried out in anger. Irene pushed his face down into the dirt with her chest.
“Lady Irene. You wanted to see all of us?” One mage asked.
“I did. To put things simply. At this moment. I am resigning as headmaster of Fayspell.” Irene stated for all to hear. The village all let out a shocked gasp together.
“What why?”
“Lady Irene.”
“What will we do?”
Irene continued to listen to her people's pleas. However she knew a few of them slipped through and hid their surprise. Some were more than excited by her resignation. She put it aside for now.
“Wait. If you’re leaving. Who will lead us?”
“Oh I’ve already decided. Redin.” Irene confirmed. Redin froze from the announcement.
“What? Me?” Redin called out.
“Yup. Do your best. Make sure to get your own assistant.” Irene said, lifting herself off Nicholai and standing up. She grabbed her belongings and magic staff. “I guess this is goodbye everyone.Thanks for everything.” The people looked confused as she started to walk away.
“Irene!” Nicholai yelled, getting back to his feet.
“Nicholai.” Nicholai wanted to be angry with her, but couldn’t. His feeling for this woman who had been there so long and done so much for him. All the punishments for trying to leave. All the lessons, and all the nights she was there even after his mothers death and father’s disappearance. He couldn’t help himself from crying.
“Where….will you go?” He asked. Irene smiled back at him. The brightest smile he had ever seen from her.
“I’m going home. We’ll see each other again some day. I know it.” Irene said, as she then continued to walk. Not before locking eyes with Ezra who witnessed the whole ordeal.
“Don’t say anything. I’ll keep him alive and well.” Ezra eased for Irene. She didn’t respond, and only gave him the same smile she gave to Nicholai. Then the woman left, disappearing into the night.
Grimm sat with all of the boys. The fine young men he raised over his course of time in the Freelands.
“Pops. Don’t tell me you plan on leaving as well.”
“I do. Long ago I thought I lost my place in the world. Come to find out I never had a place, not yet. And neither do any of you.” Grimm began.
“What….what do you mean?”
“I mean that it’s time to put everything I’ve taught you, and everything I’ve learned to the ultimate test. Finding out if it was all worth it. My past has come crawling back to me. It’s time I acknowledge it.” Grimm said. He looked down to the boys, and saw them crying. Each and every one.
“Pops…..” They all tried to hide their tears but couldn’t. So did Grimm when tears began to form in his eyes. “We don’t know what to do! You cared for each and every one of us. Taught us everything we know. And now you do this. Don’t give us some ‘it’s time for the birds to leave the nest bullshit’! Why!”
“What have I always taught you?” Grimm asked them. They all looked up to the man. And saw their answer. Grimm himself. More than their teacher. Their hero. And now, their inspiration. The one who started and ended the battle with his unbelievable strength. The one who taught them about said strength and the potential to harness it. The one who saved them from all sorts of creatures he then taught them to kill themselves. The man they could become. Their tears stopped, and they each stood in formation.
“Never stop. For when you do, someone else will go by!” The boys all cried out.
The party ended as the bonfire faded away. Then rose the great morning sun. Cloudwick had some rebuilding to do. Fayspell was beginning to adjust to it’s new headmaster. Dustgarde continued as naturally, but felt that some changes were about to happen.
“So he took the charm?” Benneb asked Ezra.
“Yep. But at least you got the Genesis Tome. Nicholai gave you the cover last night didn’t he?” Ezra asked back.
“He did. And now we can start building.” Benneb happily concluded. “It’ll take five years. You should come back and see it.”
“I hope to one day. But it may take more than 5 years with the amount of builders you have.” Ezra reckoned to the mayor.
“Oh. We won't be building it. Genesis build itself!” Benneb proclaimed.
“What?”
“Uh huh! Once we set the tome down and open it. It’ll do it’s work.” Benneb excitingly cheered. “Finally. Culion’s purpose will be fulfilled.”
Ezra shook his head and chuckled. “Well. I already had enough adventure in this part of the world. Have fun with that.” Ezra grabbed his bag and proceeded out of the door, where Grimm, Anabelle, Nicholai, and Katreena were all waiting for him. The whole village and others had come to see the party off. Ezra came to the group.
“You guys ready?” Ezra pondered tot he group. He received nods all around. “Then if that’s all. Let’s go! We’re off!”