Beyond Eternity

DAY 13, P.M

“We’re not done yet, there are still things I want to ask you.” Claudia said.

“Well, do go on.” He replied.

“You mentioned something earlier about this island vanishing and reappearing did you not? What did you mean by that?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.” Lucas answered. Claudia gave him a look of confusion.

“It appears you are unaware, but this island is mythical, at least, according to my people.” He continued. “It’s far enough from the mainland that it can’t be seen, but there have been several tales of fishermen who mentioned seeing it when they went far enough.”

“There have also been times when those very same people reported the island vanishing, like it was never there. They’d say things like ‘I was sure it was here, something like that can’t just up and gone.’ And thus, its actual existence is highly debated. That’s also a big part of why the people I was with journeyed towards here to begin with, they want to confirm the island’s mystery with their very own eyes.”

“Well, now you have solid proof.” Claudia replied, jokingly.

“Although I might not be able to bring back any.” He continued, playing along.

“I see, so my immortality and taming skills aren’t the only supernatural things around.” She continued.

“By the way.” Asked Lucas.

“Yes?” She replied.

“Have you ever seen any other boats pass nearby throughout the time you were here?”

“I have, in fact, at first, I considered them signs of hope and did what I can to grab their attention. But they’d always…”

“Always what?”

“Vanish… They’d just fade into nothingness, even when I knew they weren’t far enough for it to happen, I think I now understand why.”

“Which would mean, the phenomenon by which this island appears and disappears can be witnessed from both ends, I would assume when those boats ‘fade away’ as you say, from their view, it’s this island which vanishes.” Lucas said. “None of those boats ever got close to the island?”

“No, in fact, the wreckage by which you arrived was the very first one to reach this place since the tragedy ended.” She replied.

“Well, that’s worrying.” He said. “This honestly makes me doubtful of help arriving.”

The two remained silent.

They had their meals and cleaned up afterwards. It was only then that the silence has been broken.

“I know you must feel very lonely Lucas.” Claudia said, trying to comfort him. “It might be true that you cannot go back, but whatever happens, I’ll just be here okay?”

“That’s not…”

“Not what?”

“It’s true, the thought that I might never go back gives me fear and despair, but that’s not just it. What truly saddens me is the situation you, Claudia, are in.”

“Now, now, haven’t we finished talking about all that?”

“I was really hoping to be able to bring you back with me, is what I’m saying.”

“I…See.”

“But that might never happen, considering what we learned so far… I’m sorry.”

“You know.” Claudia said, stopping the somber atmosphere of the room. “It’s already enough that you’re here, really.”

“You are kind you know that?” She continued. “You’re trapped in here yourself, but you’re sad because you can’t take me away from this place, you care more about another.”

“Only because that another is you.” He replied. “I wouldn’t be considered such a kind person by normal standards.”

“Only because it’s me, you say? Am I to take that as a confession?” She asked mischievously.

“That’s not what I—”

“That’s not it?” She continued, feigning sadness.

“No wait, that’s not what I meant to imply!” The worried Lucas said.

“I know, I know, I’m only kidding.” Claudia responded, grinning.”

“You say you’re not kind by normal standards.” She continued. “and you act the way you do only because it’s me. At least, that’s what you say, but you know what I think?”

“What?”

“You sell yourself short.”

“Granted, I don’t know how you would act in the presence of other people, but I’m certain that if one you knew were experiencing circumstances similar to my own, if they were in trouble, you’d try to at least ease their pain.”

“I guess what I’m trying to say is that it doesn’t have to be me, I know.” She continued. “You took pity on the plight of myself, the girl named Claudia, but if I weren’t me but another person, someone else with a different background and persona, I know you’d likely give them the same care. You seem to be like that, at least, to me.”

“It’s you who is selling yourself short.” Lucas suddenly said as his face went dark.

“It doesn’t have to be you? No. Granted, perhaps I would still care for a fellow person trapped in an island. True.” He continued.

“That’s what I was trying to say—”

“But I definitely wouldn’t treat them the exact same way based on how they treat me. If they would avoid me, so would I. If they couldn’t care about my existence, I’d stay out of their way.”

“But if they went out of their way to find me, care for me, heal me, feed me, keep me company, show me all the pretty things they knew of and try oh so hard to make me happy. If they were the kind who genuinely appreciated my presence and wanted me around, then perhaps I would same way with them as I do to you.”

“I suppose what I’m trying to say is that it had to be you.”

“I treat you the way I do because you treat me the way you do, because you’re you.”

Claudia was astounded and for a moment, went red.

“Aren’t you doing the same?” He continued.

“I suppose you’re right.” She said and smiled. “You know, sometimes, you speak so well it seems as though you’re an entirely different person. You really have a way with words.” She continued.

“I guess that’s what happens when you spend most of your waking time around books and writers. I had to be smart as an heir to the docks after all.” He replied and smiled back.

…

“Well, this has been an incredibly long day.” Claudia chuckled. “Perhaps it would be best for us to go to bed now, it’s getting really late.”

“Goodnight.” She said as she walked towards the stairs that lead to the royal bedroom.

“Goodnight Claudia.” replied Lucas as he too headed for his room.

For that night, the pair slept feeling satisfied, their minds at ease and full of hope for the next days to come despite knowing of their current circumstances. They might have been sleeping behind stone walls and being unable to clearly see outside, they were happier that night than any night before, and although they weren’t within the other’s presence, they did not feel alone.

…

Somewhere beyond the sea, other events are taking place.

“There's this mystery island somewhere that used to be a kingdom, if we made that place our own and took the valuables for ourselves, we might just be able to live freely!” Said a raspy voice.

Someplace else, a deep voiced man said. “Lucas never returned from his trip, and those I sent never found him... So I send you. I understand this falls along the nature of your work. Get to the island that nobody else dare head to, go and search for him there, a large sum will be waiting for you if you are to succeed.”