The seas have always been a wonder to Gabrio. When he was young he imagined what it would be like to see the seas. He recalled listening to an old sailor who had terrorized the seas of AON. A degenerate who grew old long enough to tell a young man who was in one of the most dangerous forts in all of AON’s history.

The old man did not regret it. He did not think of himself as wrong. He thought of his heinous adventures as nothing more than his own share of fun. A despicable man who thought of nothing when he got imprisoned. Why would he when he grew old? He was caught before he became the apprentice of his master.

The old man would have continued sailing if it wasn’t for the anchor hitting his knee. He was a seafarer with an almost fanatical love for the seas. And yet out of all things, he regretted not being able to gaze his eyes on the beauty of the seas.

The Wardens of the Fort didn’t allow him that. He was lifeless at the thought of it. He wasn’t the type of old man that wanted to be put down without seeing his beloved sea. Gabrio recalled that old man escaping the prison.

Forty riders chased after the old man. He evaded all forty of them until they found him sitting on a cliff near a beach. He did not resist. He did not even move as they took him away. The rider who took that old man said to Gabrio when he told him the story that the old man died before they could take him back to the Fort.

Gabrio thought back how surprisingly easy it was to escape Fort Rava for those who are good at what they do. But many choose not to escape the fort. Many of them would rather stay than rot in the world that had moved on. Gabrio thought of asking them. Maybe in their souls they know that the world is coming to an end.

An era was coming to an end. Gabrio had thought of that and perhaps the end of the world was one way of welcoming a new era. It was hard to think that the fate of an entire species would be on a young man who was dulling his emotions to function.

So as they travel the endless seas without sight of land once more. Gabrio had once again found himself in deep thought when he was not checking on the condition of his parents.

If the Blinder of the Light fails. What would that mean for those who travel with him? In a way there was acceptance in his heart. If the blinder of light fails, then that was it.

The whole fleet fails and humanity itself would cease to exist. Or will there be survival? It was unclear. Gabrio didn’t know if he was meant to believe that it would be the end.

Humans are tough as nails. They can endure years of humiliation and even bring down giants in times of strife. But perhaps the weight of travel was finally getting to him. He didn’t expect he’d be tired. No, it was because there was nothing to do after so long that it felt like the only place he could go to was his mind.

The most painful moments are the moments he was trapped in his own mind. His worries seem to magnify. He was glad that there was no trouble. Though there are arguments, brawls, and even some awful games that they have been playing on Arshelled Island to relieve the boredom.

It wasn’t something problematic to begin with. Their resources are finite and there are many problems that Gabrio simply has no control over. It was because he had no control over them that he could only watch.

A doctor heals. Before they heal them. He hears them. Diagnoses them, emphasizes them, and then heals them. Gabrio had been fine being in the back of the problem. He preferred being the one who mends instead of the one who rends.

They have many soldiers already. If anything they needed more Doctors. They needed more people who could keep them alive long enough until they reached the islands.

But it was not easy to keep everyone alive when they themselves are willing to die. Everyone who joined the fleet did not think of returning back home. They brought their families with them because they knew that the journey might end.

It wasn’t easy. There are soldiers in the fleet that wanted to be in this fleet to die. Some who have been abandoned by their loved ones because of wanting to join and the rest who have persuaded their families.

The Fleet was made of normal people with different thoughts about the journey. Some drown themselves in liquor to numb themselves. Some are disciplined enough to separate themselves from that and some are like men with steeled hearts.

And there are others who plan for their next steps. To make sure that the fleet would last long enough. If anything it might have been rather simply for the blinder of light to reach his destination.

The Fleet itself was his boat and shelter. Everyone who could not fight the monsters from the in-between or command the words of powers. But unfortunately it wasn’t so simple. No one was willing to die for nothing. Because without the people of the fleet working together. There was no way for the Blinder of Light to reach the shores where his destiny would happen.

The people may seem insignificant. Useless. But because of these people that they can reach this far. It’s because of the people of the fleet that they are here. Without the people operating the cannons and the sailors adjusting the sails. Without the winds of the elven-kin and their protection. There was no way that they would reach so far.

If anything Gabrio refuses to believe that they alone could be saviors and that the people are nothing more than the vessel they rely on.

***

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Soldiers are not easily replaced. Those who have lost their partners in battle have inherited their guns. There are those who have turned towards selling their bodies for rations. It was quite a problem to the point that they had to ask someone from one of the fleet to supervise the problem.

Since he was the only one who somewhat had a reputation for being rather kind to the common people. The Captain had introduced him to the Madam who supervises the girls and their needs.

Gabrio examined the woman before him. Next to the girl was Madam Lorelia who was watching the girl. The woman in question was one of the girls who lost their partners recently. Gabrio had asked a few questions to emphasize with the woman. Madam Lorelia who watched the woman was frowning. Clearly angered by the treatment of the women of the fleet. Although they have sold their bodies, it didn’t mean that they had the right to harm them.

“Bruises on her face, neck, collarbone, and her armpit are swelling. I hope that you don’t lie to me. You’ve suffered here. Don’t be quiet.”

The woman eyed Gabrio. Madam Lorelia shook her head.

“We are helpless when it comes to this,” the madam said. “We are ‘whores’ and even the church of light demands that we do not contaminate their churches.”

Madam Lorelia tightened the shawl around her shoulders that was sewn with the image of a flower with its petals plucked. Those who sell their bodies are ‘bestowed’ this shawl to differentiate themselves from those who are ‘chaste’ and ‘pure’. It was quite distasteful yet it was something that the church of light demands. Not out of spite. Not out of chagrin. But simply out of a conflict of beliefs and setting boundaries.

“There are other wounds in her body.”

Gabrio said while pointing at her. Madam Lorelia stared at the woman before nodding.

“Show yourself. You can trust the Doctor. He has seen worse, no?”

“I have studied corpses of both sexes. It doesn’t bother me.”

The woman unrobed herself. Gabrio examined her from top to bottom and discovered the bruises and scratch marks around her waist. Her buttocks were purple and there was a long gash around the center of her back.

“Who did this to you!?”

Madam Lorelia said. The woman squeezed her eyes while keeping her other parts covered.

“Sit down and let me tend to your wounds.”

Gabrio gestured her back to the stool. The woman cried silently with her shoulders shaking gently. Gabrio took hold of kit and began tending to her wounds as she quietly sobbed.

“Answer me girl. I wouldn’t be able to help you if you don’t.”

Gabrio was silent. He cleaned her wounds and then applied his concoction on the gash that the woman suffered. Madam Lorelia held the woman’s hand and tried to persuade the woman to tell her about who hurt her. It took a lot of convincing before the woman spoke softly.

Hearing the name of the man who hurt her. Madam Lorelia cursed loudly and clenched both of her firsts.

“You were afraid of this fool!? I’ll teach that fool a lesson! I will!”

“H-he doesn’t need to be punished. He’ll hurt me…”

“I dare him! I really dare him! Can you believe this girl, Doctor? She is hurt and yet she dares to make excuses for him!”

The woman lowered her head. Gabrio didn’t answer. He continued on tending to her wounds before offering the candied liquor he concocted.

“This will help soothe some pains. I advise you to stay away from any intercourse at the moment.”

“But…”

“No buts! I will have you relax. If you worry about your ration, then worry no more. Don’t think that they can bully you! Cloth yourself, so we may go.”

The woman stared at the madam before nodding quietly. She said her thanks to Gabrio before leaving without a word. Madam Lorelia stared at the door and exhaled loudly.

“These girls are foolish. But I can understand the pain of having no one. From the very start these girls came to this voyage for love, Doctor. And when they lose their love, they look for others to suppress the pain.”

“I see.”

“Brawls and sometimes hair pulling. There are problems with other men desiring women… Some even have the guts to bed two women at once. It becomes a problem when married men go to these places.”

“Must be quite a problem.”

“It is. There are those who are decent, but you cannot truly expect some of these men to treat women of our vocation with too much respect. You are not so bothered.”

“I have… experiences. Do you know of Kataria?”

“I know her. The greatest seducer… I believe she was thrown into Fort Rava after her face was burnt, wait, you stayed in Rava. Oh my.”

“She was my teacher in some arts. Despite how she loathes herself for her ‘vocation’ she was quite educated. Far more educated than she should be. The last time I saw her she had married one of the prison guards who had fallen in love with her.”

“Wasn’t her face… nasty?”

“Half is burnt. But she had the body and the love to make up for it. It is hard to believe, I know, but she married for love.”

“Oh my, now that is surprising. You must have learned a lot, Doctor. From women like her.”

“Both the live and unmoving ones. I have been taught what to expect when examining both sexes. It is… hard to be excited when you have been used to such things.”

Madam Lorelai nodded in understanding.

“In any case, I thank you for checking on the girls, Doctor. It is good that someone would take time. Especially you who is quite adored by his fleet-kin. Shall we take a closer look at the others?”

Madam Lorelia led the way. Although there was no great battle happening. The lives of the people of the fleet continued. Even in the middle of an unknowing sea.

The lives of these people continue and change.

The blinder existing did not change much of their normal lives.