Beyond Eternity

DAY 15, P.M

More than an hour had passed since the pair began walking. Lucas was holding Claudia’s hand throughout the way with a look of what she assumed to be determination, it looked as though his will was strong, although she didn’t what this will was. Even though she was the one leading him on, it looked the like the other way around was true.

“We’re getting close.” Claudia said.

“That’s good to know.” He replied.

Eventually, the watchtower was within sight, they reached and entered it. Lucas put down the things he was holding, including his catch from earlier.

“Until we can ascertain the situation, we should lay low in here for a while.” He said.

“Yeah.” She replied. “I’ll call some birds.” And went outside.

She clapped thrice, waited for a moment, and when enough birds were around her, she spoke.

“Search for others like me around the island.” And they flew in all directions, leaving her alone with Lucas once more.

“Say, Claudia.” Lucas said. “I know you’re an incredibly good tamer and all.”

“Yes? What of it?” She replied.

“But those birds really understand the words you say huh? How do you know they’ll do as you ask?”

“Maybe because they never failed me before?”

“You mean they always do as you say no matter what?”

“Most of the time they do, probably because they don’t have a reason to decline, but when an animal is injured, I don’t dare make it do tedious tasks.”

“I see, well, so much for that.” Lucas continued. “If there really are more people out there, do you mind having both lunch and dinner as a single meal?”

“I don’t mind.” She said in response. “But why?”

“If we roast the fish after the sun has set, we might attract unwanted attention.”

“Now, now, it should be okay, this watchtower cannot be spotted from the castle after all.”

“My assumption of them being in the castle might not be correct. I don’t think it’s worth the risk.”

“Well, alright then, if you say so.”

A small fire has been lit and the fish have been roasted, the pair ate more than a single meals worth of fish, it was while they were eating that some of the birds returned.

“Looks like they have a message.” Lucas said.

Claudia began listening to the sound of the birds, a few went forward at a time, soon enough, she turned back to Lucas.

“The birds spotted a total of thirteen people.” She said. “about half of them around the castle and the rest wandering around. They’re likely armed.”

“Likely?”

“The birds have a hard time differentiating what is and what isn’t a weapon.”

“Oh.”

The flock flew off into the distance.

“That’s not good at all.” He continued. “We’ll stick to the plan until we find out more about them. In the meantime, we’ll also keep having the birds spy on them.”

“Okay.”

Back at the castle, the new people around were all agitated by the lack of valuables within the kingdom.

“We’ve come all the way here, capsized our ship, lost some men, and for what? To gain nothing but some clothes and be stranded? Mythical island they said, there’s nothing here!” The owner of the brutish voice slammed his hand on a table.

“Save your breath Gorm, it’s not helping.” Replied another.

“Would you guys look at this?” Said someone else by the fireplace and gestured for the rest to come over.

“It’s just a fireplace, what’s the big idea?”

“Can you not see?”

“What is there to see?!”

“Oh, I can’t expect you muscle heads to understand any of these. The fireplace has been lit recently, can someone please tell me what that might mean?”

“Someone else was here recently.” Said a light voice from the corner of the room.

“Thank you! Clearly Lucia here has better wits than you slobs.”

“But Rue, we didn’t spot anyone on the way here.” Gorm replied.

“I would guess they realized we were coming, or maybe left before we even arrived, my guess is that they’re still here in this island, it doesn’t look like some time has passed since this fire was lit.”

“Then let’s head out to search tomorrow.” Said the voice which spoke second.

“Lier.” Said Rue. “Once the captain and the rest return, have them hear of this.”

“Of course.” She replied.

“And you two.” He said, pointing at the direction where two additional pirates were. “Stop dressing up on all those clothes, we don’t want your stench to rub off on it.” At this, they immediately stopped.

Meanwhile, night had already fallen. our pair remained at the watchtower and only kept talking to pass the time, they were sitting by the wall facing the fireplace with the conveniently shaped stonework where Claudia places a cooking pot.

“So you tell me your father threw you into the water so you could learn to swim? You must’ve had it rough.” Claudia said, laughing.

“And that’s not even the worst part, while I’m out there fighting just to stay afloat, he’d keep pretending there were sharks chasing me! Would you believe that?” He replied.

“You suddenly make me feel better about my own family.” Claudia joked.

“Ah, but at the end of the day, he’d always bring me back and praise me for my bravery. He would always make up for it with cake. I admired him too, I saw him as the ideal man I wanted to become.”

“Ah, but I didn’t realize you can be so assertive and manly yourself Lucas.” Claudia teased.

“I… Am? How so?”

“Ever since you saw the shipwreck back there, you we’re suddenly taking the leading role, normally, it would be me pulling you around.”

“Is that how I normally am?” He groaned.

“Yep! But I was so surprised to see you in a different light today. You suddenly seemed reliable.”

“Why thank you, I just felt like I had to keep us safe.” He tried to keep a straight face but couldn’t avoid looking away.

Claudia noticed his reaction and decided to poke him around a bit more.

“Did you feel like you wanted to protect me?”

“Don’t… Phrase it like that.” His face went red.

“But it’s true isn’t it?” She said and rubbed his hair. “I think you’re cute like that.”

The boy couldn’t reply any further.

“Success!” She thought.

“Do you just have so much fun tormenting people like that?” Lucas said, still with shyness present in his voice.

“Now, now, ‘torment’ is such a bad word for it don’t you think? It’s more along the lines of ‘I want to watch how you react to my words because I find it interesting and fun.’ If you ask me.”

“But don’t fret.” She continued. “Every word I ever told you whenever I’m doing this, I mean it all.” And hugged him.

“I really can’t fight back once you’ve found your opening can I?” Lucas said, trying to sound defeated but hiding a smile.

“Nope!” She replied.

“But you know.” She continued, now sounding a bit more serious. “I also you to leave my side, so seeing you act like that made me happy to say the least.”

“I guess being alone for so long does that to a person huh?”

“Yeah, I think you’re right.”

“Don’t worry so much Claudia, although it’s if I want to leave this island, I wouldn’t want to leave you behind.”

“I think the same of you too Lucas.” They both smiled.

A moment of silence followed, to be broken once more by Claudia.

“How does stargazing sound to you? The weather seems good tonight.”

“Yeah, that sounds nice.” Lucas replied and stood up.

The fire was already dying down when the pair headed towards the watchtower’s roof, they put down a blanket at floor of stone and lay their heads, looking up to the clear night sky.

“I honestly didn’t think we’d be back here so soon.” Lucas said as he looked at Claudia.

“Me neither, considering what happened to you here.” She replied and stuck her tongue out.

…

“They’re pretty as always aren’t they?” Lucas said, holding his hand up towards the sky.

“They’re prettier now.” Claudia replied.

“Perhaps you’re right.” He said and gave her a smile.

.

“I think I am.” She said as she smiled back.

“Do you know of the constellations?” Lucas asked.

“Conste --what now?” She replied with a puzzled look.

“Oh? You’ve never heard of them? That’s surprising considering how much time you’ve been looking at the night sky. Back home, that’s what we called the shapes the stars formed.”

“Ah! You must be talking about the starlines!” Claudia excitedly replied.

“Starlines?”

Claudia began pointing around the sky. “Yeah, there we have the Three Sisters, the Falcon, the kite—”

“Wait, slow down, I’ve never heard of those.” Lucas said.

“Then, maybe they’re different for your people?” Claudia asked.

“They probably are.” He replied. “For us, your starlines are called constellations.” And held Claudia’s arm to point around.

“That there is what we call the Orion’s belt. It’s supposed to form the shape of a man.”

“Ah, that’s also where the three sisters are!” Claudia exclaimed. “Ah, so the belt is the three sisters, I see.”

“Now those there are what we call the big dipper.” He continued. “Doesn’t it look like one?” and drew imaginary lines to connect the stars.

“That’s what we call ‘the kite’ actually, it looks more like one to me.” She replied.

“No, I think it’s more of a dipper.”

“It’s a kite!”

“Dipper.”

“Kite!”

“Dipper.”

“Kite I say!”

“Ah, this isn’t getting us anywhere.” Lucas said, scratching his head. “But what I would like for you to note that at the end of the dipper or kite as you call it, the last star is called— “

“The north star.” Claudia said, finishing his sentence.

“You are… Correct.”

“I am?”

“Yeah, I didn’t think we’d actually get to agree on something.”

“The north star is often used by seafarers to navigate the sea, as it is said to point towards the true north at all times.” Claudia explained.

“That’s also how it goes as far as I know.” Replied Lucas. “I was worried our cultures were so different, it’s good to know there are things that remain the same.”

“Yep.”

The pair engaged in longer conversations up until they were drowsy. When they realized how late they were staying up, Claudia took more blankets to cover themselves and returned.

“How do you like the idea of sleeping up here?” She said and covered the both of them.

“It’s nice, and it wouldn’t be the first time anyway.”

Claudia only smiled.

Soon enough, beneath the starlit sky, both of their eyes had closed and they returned to their respective world of dreams, with a look of peacefulness written all over their faces.