Beyond Eternity

DAY 13, A.M

“Awaken, fiend. Rise and finish what you were meant to do!”

Lucas, still in bed and drowsy, turned to the direction of the voice he heard.

“What’s this Claudia? It’s still early… Let me sleep.” He said as he partially opened his eyes.

However, his half closed eyes went fully open and he jolted himself awake at what he saw.

“What the?! What are you doing?! What are those?!” He screamed as he pointed towards the circle of crows and candles right in front of him.

“And what are YOU?!” He pointed at the figure sitting down, looking as though it was making a chant.

“Yes! It worked! My necrotic arts brought this deceased body, now obey my commands corpse!” It spoke.

“C-Claudia?” Lucas said. “That is you right?”

The hooded figure looked up to reveal a pale dark complexion and what seemed to Lucas like blood flowing out of its eyes.

He screamed loudly in fear.

The figure began laughing, which terrified him even more.

However, soon enough, the dark, sinister laughter he heard turned into a real laugh whose voice was one he recognized.

“You’ve been had!” Claudia said in between laughs. “You should’ve seen how you looked it, it was precious!”

The mentally scarred boy slowly but sure began to calm down. Claudia rubbed off the dye from her face, letting him know it’s her.

“WHY?!” He shouted.

“Hmm… Payback?” She replied teasingly.

She signaled for the birds to fly off and they did, she then gathered and took away the candles, blowing out the flames. Lastly, she took off her cloak.

“I just wanted to let you feel the terror you brought upon me yesterday is all.” She continued. “You’ll forgive me won’t you? After all, I did.” She said as she showed him puppy eyes.

Lucas, greatly irritated. Didn’t answer.

“Please?” She said and hugged him from behind.

“Fine, you win this time.” He said. She merely laughed.

After all these shenanigans, they went with the daily routine of having breakfast, still making use of the elk meat from the day before, which was stored properly and thus did not spoil. There was little conversation throughout the meal, as Lucas was still irritated and Claudia, basking at her triumph. But once all that was done and all the dishes have been cleaned, they returned to the main hall.

“Actually, how about we talk this one out in the balcony?” Lucas asked.

“Good idea, I’ll bring us some seats.”

“I’ll bring that small table then.” He replied and pointed at one which sat not too far off from where they were.

They did just what they said they’d do, now at the balcony which overlooked a great view of the land beyond.

“Now then, would you mind starting?” asked Claudia.

“Of course.” replied Lucas. “Now then, like I said, I was born of the Waltham family, not the most prestigious one, but you could say that our status is above average in the mainland, we own the kingdom’s largest docks after all.”

“The mainland…?” said Claudia, confused.

“The land beyond Victusene is very large, with several other kingdoms and empires, that is why it is called the mainland.” answered Lucas. “The kingdom I’m from is called Ardenteile, although most folks just call it Ardent. People back there named this place the 'the gateway to the abyss' and ‘ghost island’ due to the story that everyone disappeared or fled from it one day. To make matters worse, this island appears to vanish and reappear from time to time.”

“I see, Ardent huh? I've always known and heard that there are big lands beyond this sea but never saw let alone visited any of them in my life, I also didn’t know there was a term for it though.” said Claudia “I guess that for me, this is the 'mainland' because it’s the only one I've ever been on. Just how are the kingdoms back at your place Lucas?”

“Well, they are similar to how you've described Victusene in the past, if only a bit more advanced in knowledge and technology. I've heard from my grandfather that the citizens of this island once fled from it after a 'great disaster' had struck, your story told me everything I needed to know.” said Lucas.

“So you see, I lived a normal life as a child without lacking in love or anything... Unlike your first prince. My childhood was a happy one, basically, and my life continued just like that until I got here.” he continued.

“What brought you here Lucas?” inquired Claudia.

“As a child,” Lucas replied, “My grandfather kept telling me of the stories of his father, how he was once a citizen of this island and experienced firsthand what had transpired, I was never really told of what happened, gramps only kept telling me that 'it was a horrible, degrading and hopeless situation.' It was only from your story and the journals that I learned what specifically happened.”

“So just recently, myself along with a group of other people claiming to be explorers, treasure hunters and the like, decided to visit the island by boat, the groups purpose was to loot anything that was worth taking and sell them off.” he continued.

“That's horrible, and you're one of them?” Claudia said.

“Not quite, no, there were others like me who joined in for other reasons, mine was that I wanted to see the island for myself and that the trip would make for a good experience, especially for me who was the supposed heir to the docks of our kingdom.”

“I see,” said Claudia, looking relieved.

“What, did you just doubt me for a moment?” asked Lucas. “As a matter of fact, I did.” Claudia replied, “But since that's been cleared out, please continue.”

“Uh... Sure.” said Lucas, “So during the trip, the boat got caught up in a storm that caused it to capsize, everyone was thrown overboard, I wanted to save at least one other person but was too weak to do so since I got hit by debris from the boat as I fell, leaving me with only enough strength to escape by myself from the wreckage. However, it still wasn't enough, my exhaustion caused me to faint in the middle of the sea, and when I woke up, here I was.”

“Well you've been through a lot.” said Claudia.

“Definitely not us much as you have.” replied Lucas.

He continued and said. “After I surveyed the island alone, I kept hoping that others would happen to wash ashore here as well, and that we'd meet each other again, but as you can see...”

“Nobody else made it here.” said Claudia. “

“At first I assumed you were someone who washed ashore here too before me Claudia, that you had nothing to do with the island to begin with, after all, you look like you're my age, but with this all story about immortality and whatnot, I saw that your despair and plight was far greater than mine.” said Lucas.

“Well, that's about all I can say to you I guess.” he continued.

“Then, I have some question.” said Claudia.

“Ask away.”

“So, your great-grandfather, you mentioned that he was from this island right? What was his name?”

“Well, if I'm not mistaken, it was Alder Nightguard, cool name right?”

At the sound of that name, Claudia's expression darkened and she fell silent.

“Wait, did you know him?” asked Lucas.

“Yes, I did.” Claudia responded after a short pause, “But we didn't have that special type of connection or anything, that'd be too good to be true now would it? The Nightguard were a family of nobles, and Alder, your great-grandfather, was the heir to all their riches, however, the island's destruction happened when he was but a young boy, barely into his teen years. I remembered having to catch and scold him when he ran around the castle halls.”

“I knew that I stayed here for a long time, enough that I could no longer track it, but I didn't think I already stayed ‘that’ long... He's now long dead, having created a family and lived his life before that, and so did his children...” Claudia continued. “I wonder if my brother ever found a family of his own?”

“Claudia?” asked Lucas after seeing her saddened tone of voice.

“Hey, tell me, just how old am I right now?” Claudia asked in response.

“Well, I would assume at least a century would’ve passed.” said Lucas.

“That long huh? How disheartening...” Claudia said, even sadder. “I knew I’ve stayed here for far too long, but it never occurred to me that I may have been alive for more than one lifetime. I guess I now understand why you asked about my sanity yesterday.”

After a short while of just standing there, the pair left the balcony and prepared for dinner. For a while, they stayed silent, until Claudia decided to break it.

“Have I thanked you enough for just being here Lucas?” she said in a melodramatic tone.

“More than enough, more than enough... You too took away my despair.” he said in response.

“Then, if it were still possible, would you take me back to the mainland with you?” she asked.

“Of course I would Claudia.” he replied reassuringly, gently patting her on the shoulder.

“I'm glad,” she continued, “that very thought gives me comfort, even if it were impossible.”

“...What if I said it weren't?” said Lucas.

“What do you mean?” Claudia asked skeptically.

“Well, sure, chances are incredibly low, which is why I never really considered it before, but I am the heir to a large, well known docks after all.” Lucas said.

“Which means that people must be searching for you by now?” asked Claudia.

“Exactly, they even know that this island was the supposed destination, so they know I could be here, trapped... The only problem is, only we who departed to this place had an accurate map of where it is, most people no longer even know that this place exists, let alone have ships pass by, so yeah, chances are low...

Claudia just listened, giggling, “I find it cute how you really try to comfort me Lucas, I also appreciate that, even if what you say won't come to pass, thanks.”

“Uh... Sure.” Was all Lucas could reply with.