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JULES
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“Ah? My, you gave me quite the fright, Jules.” She calmly moved items between bags without looking up at him. She didn’t acknowledge Cyrus or the fox as they crept in after him.
“Certainly seems that way.” Jules spotted the chest she'd carried in. Its lid was opened, and it was empty. Iron chains and a lock laid scattered next to it. The front face of the chest was marked with a Faction’s large crest. That emblem. “That’s an awfully large chest you’ve got there.”
Isolda paused and looked up at him. “That’s no comment to make to a lady, Jules.”
“Are you? A lady, I mean.”
Her face darkened, and she looked at Jules for the first time. Chills swept through him. Something’s off. “And what could you mean by that, Jules?”
“Oh, nothing. It’s just…I didn’t think ladies took things that don’t belong to them.” He motioned to the Faction crest. Her eyes softened. Still confused, Jules decided to take one step forward.
“Are you accusing me of stealing, Jules?”
“Of course not. I’m sure you’re just borrowing it.” He took another step.
“Well, you’re wrong there, Jules. I am stealing it.”
“I’m sure the Navs won’t take too lightly to that.” He placed his hand on a bag, the one that only the two of them could see.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The Coralhaven bell tower sounded its alarms.
“Shit Jules,” Cyrus said. “We’ve gotta go. Now.”
Jules slowly uncovered the bag’s flap. His eyes glazed over at its contents.
“Put that down and step away, Jules.” Bewildered, his eyes shot to Isolda.
“Jules,” Cyrus shouted.
“Why do you have this much?”
“You don’t know who those belong to, Jules.” She stepped closer. “Put it down. Now.” Another step.
“Why weren’t you frozen?”
“You hear those bells ringing, don’t you? It means everyone is unfrozen now. Besides, why do you think you were unfrozen, Jules?”
“Jules,” Cyrus said, “she’s threatening us. We saw you walking from the marina. Other people were still frozen in town. Don’t know how you’d have had the time to make it all the way down there, anyway. Let’s leave. Now.”
“Hello, Cyrus.” Isolda acknowledged him for the first time. “How was your visit to the Shrine today? Do anything you…regret?”
“I need more answers,” Jules said. “Or I’m taking these.”
Cyrus looked out the window to scout any more enemies.
“That would be a costly mistake, Jules. To both of us.”
“Guess I’m taking them, then.” Jules slung the pack over his shoulder.
“Have you not made enough enemies today, Jules?”
“Stop saying my name like that.”
“Why? That is your name—Jules, isn’t it?”
Isolda’s gaze was colder than any ice magic. Jules' hands trembled slightly, and he felt like he could vomit. Something heavy, pressing down on me. “Isolda, you don’t want to mess with us today.”
She grabbed his arm.
“Aquilantis,” Cyrus said. “He’s in Aquilantis, right? Jules, drop whatever that is, and let’s get out of here.”
Isolda studied Cyrus and then the fox. “That is a single-admission ticket.”
“You can play games with the Navs,” Jules jammed his thumb into his chest, "but not us."
“Well, he only plays with…"
> « Arcanics »
She used the ancient Sylvan Rune for the word, but didn’t invoke a Script. Though Jules had never heard the word before, he recognized it.
Jules tried to remember the Rune, but it fled his memory. Boots shuffled and padded armor clapped against itself nearby. Jules whipped his head around. Damn, out of time.
“Your father,” Isolda said, again only addressing Jules, “has a ship for you at the marina. I’d take you personally, but you’ve just cost me precious time—not to mention trust—and I have other duties required of me at the moment.” She glanced over at the Navigators' chest.
“So what,” Cy pressed, “Liam trusts you now?”
“Did my father do this? Freeze everyone?”
Isolda smirked. “It appears our time has run out.”
She leapt back from Jules and the chest. Without speaking or invoking any Scripts, she formed a water whip in one hand and blasted desks around with the other. Jules and Cyrus took defensive stances, but she didn’t attack them. The sound of troops approached the door. Damn, is she framing us?
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
A group of Soldiers burst through the doors. Jules, Cyrus, and the fox jumped away from them. Sandwiched between them, our own technique used against us. The fox growled at the men and hunkered down.
“There it is!” A Soldier pointed at the Navigators' chest. “These must be the thieves here.”
“What? We didn’t steal anything!” Cyrus shouted back.
“It’s you—Jules?” 'Straps. You don't look so friendly this time. “Everyone. Get back. They’re saying up top that he’s the Sin.”
The other men hesitated, then focused their weapons on Jules. Isolda, if you’re gonna help, now’s the time.
"Oh Salvos—a Sin!?" Isolda shrieked. Should have expected that.
“Ma’am, step away from that monster.” Isolda feigned terror and obeyed. “Men, strike!”
They lunged forward, and Isolda dropped for cover behind a desk, but Jules saw what she was up to. Hidden from view, her eyes lit up. Jules heard a whisper from all around him in the Sylvan language, a shorter Script that he couldn't translate. The soldiers froze in place again. One of their swords stopped inches away from Cyrus’ heart. Daggers of ice halted midair on a collision course with Jules. The fox arched its back and growled, or more so squealed. Jules surveyed the bizarre scene. Guess I was wrong about you. A devilish plan came to mind.
Jules punched Cyrus in the face as hard as he could. Cyrus’ head turned with the blow, but the rest of his body remained motionless. He punched him again in the stomach. Sorry, mate! He grabbed Cyrus by the jaw and practically spat in his face when he spoke.
“Worthless piece of trash—I told you to keep watch. I told you what’d happen if you failed. I ought to kill every child in that orphanage, you miserable little street urchin." Jules released his friend's face, but not without an aggressive shove. "I guess I can’t control you as well as I thought.” Jules slammed the chest shut, wrapped the surrounding chains, and locked it. He thrust a finger into Bootstrapper's chest. “And you. I should stop your heart while I’m at it. Denying my application. But I’ll leave you alive to cower in fear for the rest of your life, never knowing when I’ll surface again. Next time, I might freeze and unfreeze your lungs, over and over again, so you suffocate forever.” Jules turned his attention to a Soldier wearing a Navigators' uniform. “And if you ever want back that which I have stolen from you…” Jules wondered if he was overdoing it here. “Then you better not follow me.” The fox growled viciously and snapped at the man’s ankles. Jules looked down. “My god, man. Did you just wet yourself?”
Do not laugh, Jules. Do not laugh. He scanned the room again and looked each man in their eyes. He hoisted a frozen Cyrus onto a shoulder. “Any man braver than him,” Jules gestured to the pants-soiler, “you better think twice about following me. I’m taking this fool hostage, and if I so much as see a flag following me—I’ll kill him, and all the orphans in this town go down with him.”
Jules bumped into each Soldier on his way out the schoolhouse door.
> [Pang! Persuasion increased to Level 5.]
>
>
>
> [Hot for Teacher — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Find out what Isolda knows about you.]
>
> [Hot for Teacher — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Find out who Isolda wants you to meet.]
>
> [Hot for Teacher — Quest Objective ADDED: Find the publisher in Aquilantis.]
>
>
>
> [The Haunting of Coralhaven — Quest Objective FAILED: Return Alistair's remains.]
>
> [The Haunting of Coralhaven — Quest Objective FAILED: Collect your bounty.]
>
> [The Haunting of Coralhaven — QUEST FAILED]
>
>
>
> [Join the Scholars Guild — QUEST FAILED — Let's face it—they'll never let you in now.]
Blasted System. But we should be safe now. Jules laid Cyrus down against a wall near the marina. He greedily eyed the invisible bag. His heart raced. Should I? Or should I leave it all? Just one, maybe two…
Jules sighed and looked at Cyrus. “What would you do?” Cyrus grunted back. “OK, I hear you loud and clear. One for you, one for me.”
“Ruff!”
“Oh, right—sure. Three it is.” Jules removed three Ryoku Crystals, of such dark shades of purple that they were nearly black, from the bag and inserted them into his own pack. He filed the stolen chest into the bag's Container Inventory, and then he dropped the bag in the middle of the street. “Alright, Cy, Fox. I’m leaving that behind for her. It's got dozens of Ryoku Crystals left, plus that chest she stole. Seems like me and her are the only ones who can see it, so hopefully this plays out." He searched for any witnesses.
Cyrus grunted again.
“Sorry, Cy. She scratched our backs, in her own way, I think. I had to return the favor. Plus, she’s right. We don’t need any more enemies today.”
Jules carried Cyrus down to the marina where, according to Isolda, his father waited for them. Cyrus swung awkwardly over his shoulder. He was still frozen and stiff as a board. His body was still mostly straight from when he’d been standing, and Jules hoped that he would eventually start to sag down into an upside-down U-shape.
Figure this would kill my back, but I feel amazing right now. Almost invulnerable. Cy still feels heavy, but it’s different somehow.
The little white fox chugged along happily next to Jules. She smiled up at him as they walked. They passed another military group by the first ship docked at the marina. Only their eyes followed Jules and company as they strolled past. Once they’d passed a dozen or so mighty Navigator ships, Jules saw Liam at the very end of the marina. He tied up the mast of a small sailboat. Excellent choice, Dad.
Jules waved him down. Liam scanned for any witnesses. He must have decided the coast was clear, because Liam rushed out of the boat, toppling it side-to-side. He almost tripped on his way to the boardwalk but ran over to his son and gave them both, Jules and Cyrus, an awkward hug.
“Jules,” he said in a scratchy, hushed voice. “Oh, thank Salvos you’re alright.”
Jules returned the embrace, aware that this was farewell. For now. He pulled away. “Dad. What are you doing here? Are you working with her?”
“Hurry now, Jules.” Liam grabbed his son’s free shoulder and led him to the sailboat. Avoiding the question. “Get on the boat. We’re all running out of time. I have a change of clothes for you both, and provisions loaded."
“Dad,” Jules said firmly. “Do you know what’s going on here? At the Shrine and in town? With Isolda?”
“Yes, you’re leaving town. Aquilantis, was it?” Jules shrugged Liam’s hand off his shoulder. His eyes are glazed over. And he’s acting strange. “How did you know we’d be here?” The fox hopped onto a crate on the sailboat and mewed at Liam. An odd sensation flowed by, like a magnetic pulse, or a low frequency sound that Jules' ears couldn't quite detect.
“Rukia…” Liam said. “Jules, you found her.”
“Found who?” His eyes, they seem awake again. Liam looked back at his son. A single tear streamed down.
“Jules. Oh, my Jules. What's happened to you today?”
“Dad, you look like you’ve just woken up from a deep dream.”
“I did. I have…been asleep. And I feel it coming back, listen, Jules. This is Rukia. She’s supposed to be your guide. That’s what the samurai said, anyway.”
“The samurai?” So this fox really is my Familiar.
Liam squatted down and rubbed Rukia's ears. “I wish I could stay and talk with you, to properly thank you for before. I want you to take good care of my boy, but I know you will. Oh wait—the collar!”
Cyrus mumbled loudly and writhed. He still planked across Jules’ shoulder. Jules laid him flat on the sailboat deck. Cyrus grunted back in appreciation.
“Dad. How is it that you’re able to move?”
“What?” Liam asked.
“Everyone’s frozen, just like Cy here. I figured you were the one who, you know…”
“Oh.” Liam scanned their surrounding. You already did that… “I figured everyone was out chasing you. She said you were safe and that I needed to plan your escape route.” Liam handed Jules a nautical map.
“Are you working with Isolda now?”
Liam's eyes glazed over again. “I followed her back from the Shrine. It’s a story for another time. But I trust her plan.” But not her?
“Did she do this, to Cy and everyone? And whatever’s happening right now to…you?”
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BONUS CONTENT BELOW
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