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JULES
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Jules decided on a slower route through the forest to mull over everything he’d just learned from his father, not to mention experienced with Evelyn. The sky darkened, though it was only noon. Clouds pushed in from the southeast.
It had to have been Patience. Who else could it have been? And the way Dad described him. That sounds exactly like the person I dreamt of two years ago. Did I dream? Or did we switch places for a moment?
> [Virtue Signaling — Quest Objective ADDED: Follow up on your hunch about Patience.]
He looked at his hand and thought about how tiny Azura's were.
On top of all that, a big brother? Me? I never imagined it since Cy’s older. Not that I’ll really get to experience it. He put his hand back down. I hope she doesn’t grow up to hate me. I’d hate me, though. Probably. And of course Evelyn will be in her ear.
The Seal on his chest burned lightly.
All that torture they endured for me. All the torture I endured for me, and them, and everyone I care about, and even everyone I don’t know, just to stop the Apocalypse that I’m supposed to cause.
Bullshit. It’s all bullshit.
One thing is clear, though. I’d better find a way to do it alone, just like this Shrine, so no one else is affected by this curse of mine.
But enough. Don’t think about it anymore. I still have a mission to complete.
Jules took a deep breath and entered his meditative state. It’d be best not to enter the Shrine with high emotions, so he attempted to calm his nerves to maintain control. He searched for his core wavelength, a distinct humming pattern, and tuned into that.
The clouds will provide good cover to sneak in. Looks like it'll rain soon, so that’ll muffle my sounds, too.
He followed his hunting trail from two years ago. He remembered it like it was yesterday. He wound through their wolf-stalking trail, to the side trail that Jules and Cy stalked the Warg down later that same night. Finally, he arrived at the ravine that hadn’t existed before the Shrine. It was now overgrown with beautiful plants and flowers, and even some smaller trees had grown enough to bloom fruit.
Odd sight, for somewhere soaked in so much blood.
As he approached the sharp bend that led directly to the Shrine, he heard his first signs of life—and people, at that. Jules snuck through the underbrush to scope them out. There were just a handful of Coralhaven Guards scattered about a camp, mixed in with one representative of the Hydromages, the Royal Navy, and the Navigators each.
Political representation, I guess. They all seem lax, like they’ve grown complacent over the years. Jules wished he could have relaxed as well, but that life wasn’t for him. He eavesdropped on them and learned some more about the monuments Evelyn mentioned, the ones that honored the dead. They have a memorial site out here?
> [New Quest Available: Desecrate Through Reverence]
>
> [New Reward Available for Desecrate Through Reverence: Either peace and serenity, or darkness and despair.]
>
> [Desecrate Through Reverence — Quest Objective ADDED: Visit the Sack of Coralhaven Memorial site and pay your respects.]
The Shrine can wait. I feel like I should visit this place first. Jules rambled through the woods for a while until he saw it. The memorial was a large, black, monolithic slab. Dread filled him. He thought he’d be sick, but he owed it to the fallen to at least read their names once.
The names of the dead were etched in a beautiful white font. Definitely the work of a Master Sculptor. Jules looked over the five columns that listed off the 127 names. The hair on his arms raised. These were just from his work. Surely there were more losses from Davy Jones, down in the city.
That’s a lot of people. A lot of broken families, dreams, hopes…
Jules read every single one of the 127 names aloud. And then he vomited. His barf splashed all over the base of the memorial, which filled him with even greater guilt, so much so that he vomited again. He fell to his knees before the black site and looked up at it tower over him. He wished it would fall and flatten him to the ground. An eerie feeling crossed his mind.
This is just the base. The base of the mountain of corpses that I will pile up. But if I want to keep everyone else from dying…
Jules stood and let the rain splash on his face, wiping away both his sins and stomach acid. He hoped it would pour tonight, a torrential downpour, and wipe away every trace of him ever desecrating this holy site.
> [Desecrate Through Reverence — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Visit the Sack of Coralhaven Memorial site and pay your respects.]
>
> The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
>
> [Desecrate Through Reverence — REWARD GRANTED: Peace and serenity granted.]
>
> [Desecrate Through Reverence — REWARD GRANTED: Darkness and despair granted.]
>
> [ERROR: Desecrate Through Reverence unable to be COMPLETED. Quest is still available.]
Without looking back, he walked away, toward the Shrine. Once he approached the massive ravine bend again, a pack of wolves crept out from the bushes.
“Ah, finally got the courage to show your faces. You’ve been stalking me for some time.” Even with his broken katana, Jules disposed of them all quickly and efficiently—for their sakes, more than his. He sighed. “I’ve come such a long way in such a short time.”
The Warg appeared when the last wolf’s final squeal faded away. It looked older now, wiser. Much more than two years’ worth of time, just like Liam. Its mane was thicker, its body fuller with muscles, and its antlers had multiplied in points. Piercing crimson orbs replaced its former soft gaze of hazel eyes.
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CYRUS
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Cy woke up and yawned. He’d expected to have had terrible dreams about yesterday’s events in town, but he slept solidly, with no nightmares. The sun was fairly high by now; they’d stayed up late last night waiting. Maybe he’s back. He got up slowly and joined the others on the deck. Rukia, Envy, and Whiskers ate breakfast.
“Jules still gone?” he asked them.
“Not a single sign of him,” Envy said. She cooled her spoon, then sipped it.
“He’s OK. He’s struggling a lot, but he’s OK,” Rukia said. She mimicked Envy, but botched it and spilled the hot liquid all over herself. “Damn opposable thumbs…”
“Man,” Cy said. “The weather sure cleared up fast. Last night’s what I’d call a torrential downpour.” Cy bolted up up. The rest followed suit a half-second later. Perimeter trip.
“That’s not Jules,” Rukia said. “But—No, wait!”
> « « Ryoku Shield » » [₹9,000 // ₹10,000]
Cy grabbed his new sword and slid down the chains with Ryoku-reinforced feet, still barefoot in his pajamas. He sprinted to confront the intruder; he saw a figure, a man—Cy drew his sword and—
"Cyrus?"
“Liam!?”
“I brought breakfast!” Liam raised a cluster of dead rabbits.
“I’m sorry, Liam, I…” Cy sheathed his sword, and they embraced in a hug.
“I know, Cy. I know. Jules told me you had your own mission.” Liam pulled back from the embrace. “I hope it went well.”
“How’d you even find us out here?”
“Seriously? I’m the best Gamesman you know. Now, where’s Rukia? And this Scout of yours?”
“Oh…" Cy understood what Liam’s raised eyebrow meant. "Right this way, good Sir.” Cy bowed deeply and waved his arms toward the imagined red carpet that led straight to Envy. When they got to the deck, Rukia charged at them. She dashed past Cy and stole all of Liam’s rabbits in one swiping bite. She mumbled some incoherent greeting to Liam.
“Liam, this is Katarina,” Cy said. “Kat, this is Liam, Jules’ father.”
“Hello, Mr. Tideshaper.” Envy bowed deeply. “It is nice to meet you.” Whiskers purred a greeting.
“Oh, and this is Whiskers,” Cy pointed out.
“Why, hello, Katarina. I hear you’ve been good to my son.” Keep holding back that stupid face and you’ll have a heart attack. “And Cy, I thought you hated cats.”
“He certainly does, Mr. Tideshaper.”
Liam jumped back defensively. “A talking cat!?” Whiskers slowly slid away, out of sight and out of frame, embarrassed.
“Jules didn’t tell you?” Cy asked.
“Uh, no. No, he did not. In fact, he outright lied about you."
“Good,” Envy said. Surprised how well she’s taking this.
“Good…?” Liam asked.
“Yes, good. I’m glad he doesn’t see me as just a Sin.” Don’t gimme that look. She sipped her tea. “And my identity was just blown in Siren’s Cove for the first time, and I’m still working through that. I suppose it’s not bad for you to know. But I won’t tell you which one I am.”
“She’s Envy.” She smacked Cy on the head with the frying pan full of sizzling eggs and sausage.
“Ahhh! Did you have to hit me with the food side!? Heal! Heal, Heal! Dammit—"
> « Heal » [₹8,500 // ₹10,000]
“Well, your secret’s safe with me,” Liam said. “I won’t even tell my wife.”
OK. Great. Fine. No one bother to help me. Alright. OK.
“Thank Salvos for that.” Envy froze. Her cheeks flushed and eyes widened at what just escaped her lips. Karma's a bitch. Then she spat out her tea, which she’d held up to her mouth too long in her hesitation. I rest my case. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to insinuate anything…”
Liam snorted a single laugh. “It’s OK, really. After the reunion my family just had, even I agree with the sentiment. If only just a little. So, no sign of Jules here. He still gone?"
“Yep,” Cy said. “He didn’t come back last night.” Rukia shouted something incoherently in response. “That’s fox for, We think he’s still in the Shrine.”
“Long as he’s still alive… Am I right?” Liam winked at Envy. Salvos save us all.
“Man, the weather sure cleared up quick?”
“You already said that, moron,” Envy said.
“I think I like you already,” Liam said.
Rukia bolted up. She sniffed the air. Sniffed again. She spat rabbit from her mouth and hawked out chunks of fur and blood and guts as she spoke. “That smell. He’s here. And he's with more…recognizable scents.”
“Who!?” they all asked.
Rukia looked at Liam. “Zeke.”
Liam’s face dropped, along with the others’. “You remember Zeke?” Liam asked Rukia.
“You know Zeke?” Cy asked Liam.
Kaizen emerged from the beads around Rukia's neck. "The hell is Zeke?" he asked everyone.
“He tried to kill us when Jules was born—Wait, you know him, too—Wait, Kaizen!?"
"Good Morning to you, Father of Wrath." Kaizen beamed at Liam. "You did a fine job of raising our boy, like the way—"
“That bastard Zeke tried to kill us when we got to Aquilantis," Cy said. "You were freaking there, Kaizen! But then The Painter saved us."
“The who?” Liam asked. Jules must have left a lot out.
“It doesn’t matter,” Envy said. “Get ready for a fight.”
“How’d they find us so fast?” Cy asked.
“Must have been Ratfucker Maggie,” Envy said.
“Who’s Maggie, and why does she—Nope, nevermind," Liam said. "Zeke. He’s a leader by now in the Iron Maidens, isn’t he?”
"More like middle management," Envy said.
“How do you know all this?” Cy asked.
“Zeke joined the cult when they were just a startup, before you all—well, Kat and Jules, anyway—were born. Some kid visited me last week. Worked for the Maidens. Jules sat in the same spot. That brat left in a hurry, but—”
“He set up a trap at your house and you didn’t even know? And you call yourself a Gamesman!?”
“Shit! I checked everywhere. But I told this to Jules yesterday—I think that kid is a Virtue.”
Envy dropped what she was doing. “What the fuuuck?” She pointed out to sea. A ship had rounded the corner surrounding their ship. Whiskers moved in slowly on some of the scraps of rabbit that had fled Rukia's mouth.
“Get ready to fight, kids,” Liam said.
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