Departure

The day of your departure arrives, with a surprising lack of fanfare. Normally, you’d expect a big celebration of some kind, but your father decided to limit this to just family. Of course, with this family, that’s still quite a few people. Everyone gathers at the docks to see you off, and you say your goodbyes. Some are sad, some are joking, but everyone wishes you well on your adventure.

A few stand out, however. Sadie looks between you and Ferra with a lot of winking and eyebrow wiggling. The golem girl, who hasn’t let your hand go the whole time, simply looks confused, and you roll your eyes. Sadie giggles. “It’s ok, Nicholas, I get a lot of that! Have fun and come back safe!”

Yura is almost the opposite. A simple hug for each of you, and then she fixes you with those timeless purple eyes. “You are going to face great danger. But you will gain more than you lose. If you protect those you love, present and future, you will return greater than you leave.”

She leaves you pondering those words. Prophecy always seems simple, but there’s often hidden implications within. Ferra simply squeezes your hand and gives you her small smile. You smile back. Things will be what they will be.

Finally, your parents. Dad simply hugs you and tells you to take care, but you can hear the emotion he’s hiding in the slight quiver in his voice. Your mother, meanwhile, bursts into tears as she hugs you. “You’d better be careful out there! I mean it!”

She turns to Ferra, and hugs her too. “Take care of him, please…”

Surprisingly, Ferra returns the hug, even gently rubbing her back. “I will. I care for him, and I will protect him.”

They separate, and Anna wipes her tears. Ferra takes your hand again, and the two of you walk towards the waiting Horizon. Captain Ben waits at the top of the ramp, grinning at some private joke. “Yarr, ye be ready to set sail, then?”

So much for a private joke. You chuckle. “Why are you talking like that?”

Ben laughs. “We be sailin’ the high seas! Pirate talk be mandatory!”

You shake your head. “No. Just…no.”

As you walk away, Captain Ben laughs louder. You hear him shout to the crew. “We be shovin’ off, lads! Heave to!”

You hear laughter among the crew, but they set to work, and soon the sails unfurl, and you’re on your way. You turn to Ben with a grin. “You know there’s going to be a mutiny if you keep that up, right?”

He chuckles. “Oh, I know.”

He gives you a wink. “Someone be walking the plank with that talk, me boy!”

You roll your eyes.