The Sea Orb

CHAPTER 3

The market place of Northlyn was bustling with the crowd. The streets were lightened up and decorated. People were laughing and goofing around even at this hour of the night, courtesy of the victory news spreading around the town.

Every citizen was celebrating the victory of Amaris over Asterin. The musicians were singing praises of the king and the army. But amidst this, none of them noticed a girl covered in blood limping all the way.

The girl who was responsible for this victory and happiness. And the girl who had lost her everything in this.

Marin walked along the streets and alley's trying to find a sense of comfort in this loneliness that she was experiencing, despite the crowd around her. She moved around limping until her body gave way.

She sighed knowing that her body is on the verge of giving up. She looked around and found an inn across the street. She dragged her leg and burst into the inn startling the innkeeper.

She dragged her self to the counter slammed some gold coins on the table "Where's the room?" she asked.

The innkeeper was horrified looking at her appearance. Her hair was matted with blood, her eyes were closed as she panted badly while every inch of her body covered with bruises. He stammered "first-floor third room to the left "

She nodded at him and turned to go when he called her "Excuse me... mam that- would you need this salve for your uh-" He stuttered pointing at her face. She just nodded and took it from him then walked into the room.

The innkeeper let a sigh of relief as soon as she left.

She entered the room and looked around. It was a fairly clean room with all the necessities. She dragged her body and collapsed on the bed, breathing heavily. She quickly removed her outer coat and gasped deeply. It suffocated her. She sat on the bed and looked at the mirror at her right to find someone unfamiliar looking back at her. She reached her hand towards it but halted midway.

Who was this...? When did her face get so unfamiliar...? When did she become so unfamiliar to herself...? What happened to her....?

Right life happened... she thought inwardly.

A knock on the door disturbed her train of thoughts. She opened the door to find the innkeeper. "Some clothes you might want." He spoke. She nodded taking the clothes and closed the door without another word.

After keeping the clothes on the bed she walked into the bathroom attached to her room. Sliding off her clothes, she turned on the nob. Water started to fill the tub. She entered into the bathtub and sank in. Letting everything that happened today sink into her mind.

Sigh... Water always managed to calm her. She felt a sense of belonging to it. As if it would wash away all her worries and troubles and it did. Even if it was just for an hour or so.

After two long hours, she got out of the bathtub and moved into the room wearing her bathrobe. She stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself.

Her left forehead was covered in a purplish bruise. She had a black eye and a split lip. There were few bruises on her stomach due to the kicking but nothing internal. The only major issue was her leg. Her left leg was mildly sprained and it will take some days for it to recover.

She wore her clothes and slumped into the bed tired.

Next day.

Marin woke up due to the blaring noises in the inn. Her whole body was aching and these noises weren't helping much. She got up and went downstairs to have breakfast. She settled around the corner after ordering her food.

Fifteen minutes later, the food arrived and she started devouring it.

Mhmm, after so long she was eating food that managed to curb her hunger.

"Do you know about the peace treaty the king has signed with the remaining kingdoms?" The man spoke conversing with his friend as they sat across Marin.

"So the rumors were true." His friend exclaimed putting up a serious face.

"Yes but not all of them. You remember the one about pirates." The man spoke as if whispering but it was audible enough for Marin.

"So not all of the pirated were killed at that time." The friend spoke shocked.

"Apparently some are in hiding... Living amongst us. Cowards!" The man spoke in disgust making Marin clench her fist. She stood up with a slam startling the two people and left that place after paying.

~•~

It took her four hours to reach Oakhelm on the carriage. She looked at the familiar-looking merchant shop which was yet to officially begin its business. Calum's dream she thought,  looking at it as her hands trembled. She took a deep breath and entered in. The shop looked exactly the same as the day she saw it for the first time.

"Come on in pearl... See, it's just perfect right. Now I can finally be a merchant." A 21-year-old Callum spoke excitedly his eyes twinkling with joy for the first time in so long.

Marin looked at him with a small smile and nodded her head.

She snapped her head to clear her thoughts. No. She has to get back into her senses. She has to be strong. Or at least pretend to be. She can't- can't fall weak.

She moved to the cabinetry and opened the first drawer to find a deep blue insignia. A vicious snake coiled around an anchor. The one she gave him. The last bit of her previous identity.

"Are they going to shift you into a different cell, Cal...?" A 14-year-old Marin asked hugging him.

"Hmm...yes Pearl," he spoke patting her head.

"I am scared Cal," she spoke meekly fisting his shirt in her hand.

"I am scared too... Pearl," Callum thought to himself tightening the hug.

She held it in her hand tightly. She looked in the drawer to see some documents. She frowned and looked into them only to gasp. Her knees gave way. She collapsed on the floor as a sob finally left her mouth but her eyes were still on the paper.

"After these three years, where do you want to go Marin?" Callum asked as they sat together.

"You know me... Cal... Of course, I want to go back to the sea." Marin spoke with a smile on her face remembering the sea.

"I know pearl... But if we were to stay here then where do you want to live?" Callum asked again while Marin titled her head.

"Hmm, probably I will buy a house close to the sea," Marin spoke casually before diverting the topic again.

He remembered. Marin thought as she sobbed. He had actually brought her a house near the sea. All this time, he worked hard and saved every bit of penny for this. For her.

She sobbed as his loss suddenly hit her hard. All this time she wanted to avoid it. Avoid remembering him. she tried to pretend till this morning that everything was normal. But damn! It was hard.

She knew he was gone. Forever. But she didn't want to admit it. She wanted to hold on to him even if it meant some more time. She stayed strong and reminded herself to not breakdown but still, it happened.

How can a person like him exist? Someone who loved her so unconditionally. Someone who found the best possible outcome to even her worst situations. She knew she didn't deserve him but still his care, his affection made her confide in him. He was that one person she could call her own and now even he too left her.

She didn't know what to feel except loss. The hollow he left felt really dreadful for her.

Yes, she wanted to go back to the sea. She was selfish enough to do anything to return. But not at this cost. Not without Callum.

A life without him in it...?

Will she be able to survive....?

She closed her eyes which were red with tears as memories of them together played in her mind.

By the time she came out of the house, it was the night her eyes were puffy and throat hoarse due to intense crying. She wandered around like a lost child until she found a bar. She sat in a corner and gulped a glass of rum. Her throat stung and she coughed a few times. She looked at the insignia in her hands.

Did she really deserve this...?

Her thoughts were broken by a hand slamming her table. "Hey! Why do you have THIS?" The stout man yelled at her but immediately looked shocked as he glanced at the familiar green eyes looking at him.

"You....who are you...?" He spoke after a long silence.