Once more to the sea

The rest of the week passes almost too quickly, and you feel a strange trepidation as your departure grows close. You’ve faced danger several times before, but something feels different this time. You try to shrug it off, although you can see a difference in the girls as well. Melora in particular seems to feel it, but even the normally irrepressible Cassie is slightly subdued as the week goes on.

Nevertheless, you make your plans and train, wanting to be as prepared as possible. Information on your opponent is quite scarce, however. It seems like these dreadnoughts are rarely used, and even more rarely opposed. From what you can tell, they’re simply elite ships, crewed by the best warriors the Order has, and led by dangerous mages. Loyal to the point of fanaticism, they almost never leave survivors.

You spend plenty of time with Victor, planning what happens next. If you are victorious, word will spread quickly, and you hope to take advantage of that to start carving out some serious territory with which to fight the Order. These makeshift towns are fine for now, but to make real progress you know you need more.

Finally, the day comes, and everyone who has chosen to join this fight makes their way down to the docks to board the Horizon. The biggest surprise is that Captain Ben is the last to arrive, looking rather more disheveled than usual. You understand immediately as you see Bella waving to him, looking quite tired. Ben looks tired as well, likely from having said goodbye very thoroughly. He walks past with a wink as he boards the ship, leaving you to follow, laughing.

Victor is waiting at the bottom of the ramp, and simply gives you a handshake and a nod. Turning to Melora, he gives her a big hug, and you hear him murmur “Be careful out there.”, to which she simply nods. Then he turns to Ferra, looking at the golem girl for a long moment, before speaking again.

“Take care of them out there.”

Ferra nods immediately. “That is my purpose. I will.”

Seemingly satisfied, he pats Ferra on the shoulder and walks away, heading back up the dock. You watch him go as the girls board the ship, wondering at the finality of his goodbyes. You decide it’s far too late to worry about that now, and make your way on board as well. The girls are all waiting, with Cassie bouncing excitedly and chattering about a big adventure. You smile at all of them, then look over to where Captain Ben is waiting for your go ahead to set sail. You give him a wave, and he starts calling out orders.

The Horizon pulls away from the docks smoothly, and heads out to sea as the sun rises. You watch over the rail as the ship glides across the water, and there’s only one question in your mind.