Beyond Eternity

DAY 16, SUNSET

There was only darkness at first, then a faint glow of orange light appeared and grew larger. other colors eventually began returning.

Claudia awoke with a slight feeling of pain in her head, finding that her hands have been tied up on a pillar. Looking around her, she recognized the place to be one of the rooms within the castle, to her left, she saw Lucas, still passed out, in the same circumstances.

“Can’t get out, huh?” She thought to herself as she tried moving her hands.

The door suddenly opened, and from it entered Lucia, with small plate of food on her hands.

“A child?” Claudia thought.

“Here, eat up.” Lucia said.

“How do you expect me to eat that in this position?” She replied irritatingly.

Without a word, Lucia placed the food on the floor and left.

“Great, just great.” Claudia thought.

She began thinking of potential ways of escape, in a few moments while she was doing this, Lucas groggily opened his eyes.

“Are you okay Lucas?” She asked worriedly.

“I’m…Fine, my head just hurts.” He replied. “Is this the castle?”

“Yes, sorry I couldn’t prevent us from being captured.”

“Don’t be.”

“I’m starting to think that maybe we should’ve stayed a bit longer.”

“No point worrying about it now.” Lucas replied, trying to comfort her.

The pair’s conversation was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the door opening once more.

“Ah, just like Lucia said, you’re awake!” Said a loud voice.

Within the room was now an aged man, with his hairs going gray and a more “proper” attire for a pirate.

“And who are you?” Lucas asked.

“I, child, am the captain of the Scarlet blades! The name is Aquila, remember it well.” It replied proudly.

“The Scarlet Blades.” Lucas said in a low tone and looked down.

“Do you know them Lucas?” Claudia asked, even more worried.

Lucas let a few seconds pass until eventually giving his reply.

“Nope, not a clue.”

“Wait, what?”

“Like I said, I’ve never heard of these guys.”

“Listen here, mutt!” The captain said in an offended tone. “we’re a notorious bunch who strikes fear across the northern seas, we—”

“Yes, yes, we’ve all heard that story before. You pillage and plunder do you not? You should’ve gone with a more sinister approach honestly. You’re making a joke out of yourself.” Lucas replied in a provocative manner.

“What? Why you little…”

“The bigshots that I know of include the Black Dust, the Crimson Bones and the Grey Terror.”

“Wait, do all their names really have to start with a color?” Claudia asked.

“Believe me, I asked that question myself many, many times.” Lucas replied. “It looks like this bunch here tried to follow in this trend, even making their boats look like theirs.”

The pirate was strongly holding back his anger and was about to explode were it not for another person entering the room.

“It’s true though, it wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were infamous.” Said a calm voice. “Are you perhaps from Ardenteile or somewhere nearby?” It asked.

“Yes, what of it?” Lucas replied.

“Well, that explains why you haven’t heard of us, unlike the other groups you mentioned, we weren’t dumb enough to attack the heavily guarded ports there. We were smart.”

“Or you were too weak.”

“hardly, we only chose our targets to be the vulnerable ones.”

“Whatever you say. Also you still haven’t told me your name.”

“Neither did you.”

“It is customary for the one who initiates the conversation to first introduce themselves.”

“Well, you got me there.” The voice said and snickered. “I am Rue, Rue Alpistein.”

“I’m Lucas, Lucas… Veillinor.” He replied.

Claudia noticed the lie he made but decided not to react.

“And the girl?” Rue asked.

“Claudia Carmine.” She replied.

“Peculiar purple eyes. Well, pleased to meet your acquaintance.” Rue said and bowed gentlemanly.

“The pleasure is ours.” Claudia replied and rolled her eyes, with a sarcasm louder than the words itself.

“We’re going to have to ask you some questions tomorrow so be prepared.” The captain said.

The pirates left the scene, leaving the pair alone.

“So why’d you lie about your name Lucas?” Asked Claudia in a low tone.

“My family is well known, if they found out about my identity, they’d likely ransom me back, that might sound like a good thing considering I would go home, but…”

“But what?”

“I just thought that if that happened, you would be left behind, I fear maybe they’ll sell you out or something, you’re unique after all.”

“Ah! So it’s me again?” Claudia replied teasingly. “I really appreciate you looking after me… I really do, but in a way, this is an opportunity for you is it not?” She gave him a smile which tried to hide her bittersweet feelings.

“Please don’t speak as though your life is so trivial—”

The door slammed open once more. From it entered a man larger than the previous ones.

“Oh, what now?” Lucas said.

“Um.” The man said. “I am Gorm, and uh… Nice to meet you.”

“Is that… Really how you’d address your captives?” Claudia said in a whispering tone, the brute heard it however.

“Oh! Um, I’m sorry! I’m always told I’m not good at talking, but I hope we can get along. I haven’t had the chance to meet new people in so long.”

“What in the world?” Lucas thought.

Claudia understood the weakness the brute had. “So this one’s an idiot.” She thought to herself.

“Yeah, me too actually.” She replied, trying to sound pitiful. “It’s been so long since I got to talk to fellow human beings. You must’ve had it rough too.”

Lucas, noticing Claudia’s act, decided to keep silent.

“Well, yeah, the rest of the crew keeps calling me stupid and that I’m only good at lifting my own weight.” Gorm said.

“Wait, was that supposed to be an insult to him?” Lucas thought to himself, puzzled.

“But the captain tells me I can lift more than that, and so I stay with them.” Gorm continued.

“I know how you feel. People kept saying bad things about me and left me alone here to die.” Claudia replied, releasing fake tears.

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean to make you cry!” Said the brute, suddenly feeling guilty.

“Look!” He continued, trying to avert Claudia’s attention. “You still haven’t eaten your food.”

“But the kid from earlier just left it there, I can’t eat it like this!” She said in between false sobs.

“Oh dear, the Lucia can be so careless sometimes, alright then, wait here!” He said as he ran back outside.

Lucas, who just watched up until the end, finally decided to talk. “Was that part of your plan?”

“No.” Claudia replied. “I was actually hoping he’d unbind me, why’d you think he left?”

“Beats me.” Lucas said.

Suddenly, the loud footsteps of Gorm returning could be heard once more, he returned to the room with a fork and knife at his hands and put it down by the food.

“I didn’t think someone could be this idiotic.” Lucas thought to himself.

“That’s not what I…” Claudia said, before suddenly stopping herself. “I’m sorry, I meant to say thank you Gorm, you’re actually a kind soul, it’s unfortunate that the others couldn’t see you for it.” She smiled.

Gorm began talking in a more emotional manner. “I almost never hear anyone tell me good things like that.” After trying to hold back his tears for a moment. He covered his face and ran outside the room once more.

“Poor guy, must not have been loved that much.” Lucas said.

“Fortunately for us, he’s around, now we can escape.” Claudia replied and brought the knife closer using her foot. “The original plan backfired but somehow, it still worked out I guess.”

Claudia cut herself free and did the same to Lucas. He took the ropes and hid them under his coat.

“Now that’s the Claudia I know.” He said, holding his wrists.

“You can praise me more later, for now, how do you feel about getting past thirteen people?”

“There’s no rule stating we should do so without being spotted right?” Lucas asked with a smile.

“Indeed.” She replied.

…

Although I would really rather not tangle with them.” She continued.

“Yeah, yeah, I didn’t suggest we should, so same here…” He replied. “Okay, let’s go.”

She nodded in agreement.