Beyond Eternity

DAY 11, DAWN

Lucas woke up that morning feeling refreshed, he stood up and left the room. He greeted Claudia who had woken up earlier.

“Good morning!”

“You as well.”

They had breakfast but this time, ate normally unlike the night before, there was only small talk to be made whilst eating, and they were done before they knew it. They had just finished cleaning and putting aside the utensils and dishes when Claudia finally spoke.

“So um, Lucas?”

“Yes?” he answered.

“Have you bathed since you arrived here?” Claudia continued.

“Um, no, haven't, I didn't find a body of water aside from the endless ocean beyond to bathe on, and I'd rather bathe on fresh water too.” said Lucas.

“Well, in that case,” Claudia remarked “I'll show you to the lake around here, but first, get a change of clothes.”

Lucas agreed and began searching around, he found some clothes meant for the servants that are clean and properly folded on a wardrobe.

He took one meant for a manservant. “Not bad, although I'd look like a peasant.” He said.

Leaving the servants room with the clothes, he returned to the main hall and was immediately spotted by Claudia.

“So that's what you chose, now the false king would embrace his true self after cleansing himself from his filth.”

“Good one,” said Lucas, “I like the double meaning. But anyway, it’s almost like the servants just disappeared suddenly, leaving their clothes just like that.”

“Well, actually, I am the one who sewed what you chose, I made lots of clothes, of all shapes and sizes. Sometimes, I'd find some actual unused clothes left behind, tidy them, and put them along with the ones I made on every wardrobe I find. That makes it look like everyone just up and gone right?”

“It sure does,” answered Lucas “But what really happened?”

“You're going to have to read the journal before I'll explain everything. For now, follow me, we're headed for the lake.”

“Okay, okay.” Lucas responded.

The pair set off.

On the way, Claudia said. “Oh yeah, remember the path, for when you're done, just return to the castle, I'll bathe after you. I haven't in a few days too.”

“Sure.” He replied.

“And don't you think of coming back to have a peek at me, you got that?” asserted Claudia.

“Of course, of course.” Lucas answered.

After a few moments of just walking, the lake was within sight.

“Here we are, I'll be heading back now. You can set aside your clothes on that rock over there. If only you had taming skills like me, you could get the birds do it for you, but unfortunately, you don’t so you do it manually.”

“I don’t see the problem in that, I'll see you then.” Lucas said.

“Alright, see you later.” She replied as she began walking back.

As Claudia had reached a short distance away, she turned back to him and shouted.

“Don’t stray off okay? Be sure to come back to the castle as soon as you’re done!”

“I know!” He replied.

“Promise me you’ll be back immediately!”

“Do I have to?!”

“Yes!”

“Okay, then, you have my word!”

Claudia eventually left the scene and headed back towards the castle.

“What was that about?” Lucas thought to himself.

After taking off and putting aside his clothing, he stood in a part of the lake deep enough that only his head can be seen above water. He noticed the fish on the lake whenever he dipped his head underneath.

“At least these guys don't seem like they could bite off chunks of my flesh.” he said to himself. Just as he said that, some of the fish began nibbling of his skin.

“What the?!” screamed the frightened Lucas.

The amount of fear he that moment was equivalent to meeting the wolf pack the day before. In a feat of panic, he began swimming back to shore, however, halfway through, he noticed that the “bites” didn't hurt at all, and at most felt like his skin was being pinched a little. Slowly, he calmed himself down.

“Oh, I guess you're just helping in cleaning me then huh? And here I thought you were gonna eat me bit by bit, Claudia never warned me about this.” Returning to where he was previously, Lucas just allowed the fish to do as they pleased.

“So this is the kind of bath she has, it’s quite relaxing.” He said to himself. He dipped his head a few times and stayed for a short while as to let the fish on his face.

“This is also quite fun, really.” He said to himself once more.

He stayed at his spot for quite a while, he looked up and saw the vast sky above him, puffy clouds can be seen over yonder but the area directly above him was a clear deep blue, with the sun shining brightly. The boy got to thinking in that moment, for once, he wasn't speaking out loud.

“It’s been quite a few days since I arrived here, and for an 'isolated' island, it sure was eventful, it wasn't the boring, lonely and meaningless existence that I thought it would be the moment I arrived... Mostly because of her, because she's here.”

 “Yes, life would've been exactly how I thought it would be we’re it not for her... But what about her? How long was she alone? How long did she live the life of isolation that I so greatly feared? How long was she sad, alone and without purpose? How did she stay sane even? Now that I think about it, she's had it worse in every way, and yet, I rely on her so much when I should be the one making her happy.

“Me, making her happy…? Huh, that almost makes it sound like I like her.”

From this point on, the topic within Lucas's brain began bending towards love, he continued thinking to himself, saying all sorts of things in his mind.

“Well, she's definitely pretty for one, unlike me who looks like the product of a botched painting. She has these purple eyes which I've never seen before, no one ever mentioned they exist naturally! Or do they? I'll just have to ask her later.”

“She's the caring type, I can't tell if that's her true nature or only because I'm the only other person around, doesn't matter either way though. Her actions towards me before revealing herself shows that she's clever and wise, perhaps a bit doubtful but who am I to blame her?”

“What else...What else... It’s almost like my head forces me to search for positive traits about her, sheesh. Oh yeah! She pretends to be mischievous and in control but once that's broken and her true intentions are revealed, she gets all shy and flustered, kind of like a porcupine if I think about it, spiky and seemingly threatening but actually soft and harmless. Huh.”

“The last thing I can think of her that she's highly mysterious, ah, but that's going to end after she's done explaining everything, so it’s all good.”

Still looking into the sky, Lucas's head began talking about the island itself. “I guess I got used to this island despite having yet to see every part of it,” he thought.

“I'm bathing in this lake for the first time but it’s almost like I've always been doing this. This almost feels like home... And I guess it really is now, I can't escape anyway, if that was possible, I bet she would've done it long ago. I might as well accept my life here, at least I'm not completely alone, not like I originally assumed.”

“I guess it’s nearly midday.” said Lucas. “I think I should wrap this up and return to the castle.”

looking at the nearby birds perched around the trees, he shouted “Hear me, feathered ones! Bring your king his clothes!”

Among the birds, some were frightened and flew away, but most didn't budge.

“I guess commanding the birds isn't that easy now is it?” he said, looking disappointed.

He swam back until he reached the shallower waters where he waded, and if you have to ask, yes, he was n***d. Upon reaching the rock, he took the servants clothes and wore them, setting aside his original clothes.

“I guess washing this can wait.” he said and walked back the direction he came from, with his previous clothing folded and hanging from his arm.