Fantasy Realms of Nymserine: Main Thread [[CLOSED]]

[Purize]

I nodded, but tried to look indifferent. "Sure. I'm admittedly curious to the ways of a pirate." I gave him a playful wink and starting to skip off to the docks.

 

[BugDozer73]

I felt my heart flutter at her wink, and I watched as she gracefully twirled around, sending her silver locks spinning with her, and she skipped off towards the ship. I pushed the idea of speaking with Greuwn into the recesses of my mind and followed the girl with the silver hair and my heart running close behind.

 

[Purize]

With the sun beginning to hang low in the sky, the cool winds from the ocean began to blow in. The chill reminded me of my cloak, and I figured it was best to put it on once more if I was going to be in the company of pirates. Nothing against the sea folk, but better safe than sorry... even if their captain, Greuwn, already knew of my identity. I fastened my cloak snugly around me.


Once we'd reached the beach and I could see Roland's ship, I turned to him. "So you've been sailing your whole life then?" I asked curiously.

 

[BugDozer73]

I chuckled as her inquiry brought back my life to play through my head once again. "From the time I was bor... Adopted." I felt my mood sour as the life came to a conclusion on the night Greuwn told me he found me. The night I felt alienated from everything I had ever known.


I wasn't smiling anymore. I tried to move by it quickly though. "Crooney, let down the plank" I called over the side. The sun was setting once again, and while I could show off by climbing the sides, or jetting myself around in a wave of water, I was currently sulking silently. 


Without a call back a wooden beam extended from the ship down onto the dock.

 

[Purize]

I watched as his demeanor changed, his face darkened with his tone and he shut down quickly. Apparently, it was a touchy subject. I bit my lip and followed after him silently as we boarded the ship.

 

[BugDozer73]

Once on deck, I said my hellos to some sailors on duty, and took Veritys hand and led her down beneath the deck, where the feast was already in progress.


A long wooden table sat the crew around, all messily chowing down on the food being ladled out of a large cast iron kettle being carted around by a fat jolly looking fellow. At the far end of the table was Greuwn, who stared at me while he ate, and to his right was crooney, chugging a tankard of ale.


There were other drunk pirates who stood or sat around the table that hollered or sang a drunken song.


Good, nothing out of the ordinary. 


I had no intentions of talking to Greuwn this evening. Instead, I gently pulled verity over to the cook and introduced her. 


"Brooks, this is Verity, my friend. Shes going to be joining us for dinner." Brooks looked at her with a twinkle in his eye. 


"I hope your hungry Ms. Verity, 'cause tonight were having beef stew over pipen hot mashed potatos!" He laughed a victorious laugh and handed us each plates loaded with food.

 

[Purize]

I almost laughed aloud at how accurate my prediction had been. It was a jovial and rowdy as i'd expected. My stomach growled as I realized I hadn't eaten all day and the smell of food was making me salivate. "This is amazing!" I said with a chuckle, but I wasn't only referring to the food. The energy of the room was unlike anything i'd ever seen in a tavern. 


I nodded my acquaintance at the Chef  and smiled. "Thank you, good sir." With that, I seated myself and let my eyes wander around the room in awe.

 

[BugDozer73]

I sat next to Verity and ate in silence for a few moments, stuffing my face quickly making me realize just how hungry I had been.


After stopping to breath, I looked around the familiar scene minus the quiet between me and Greuwn. I looked over at verity who was no doubt enjoying herself, her eyes taking in the scene around her.


"What do you think?" I said to her, leaning in so she could hear me over the noise of the room.

 

[Purize]

I ate some of my food and felt my eyes roll in delight at the savory taste. Who knew food could be made so well on a ship? 


I smiled at Roland when he broke me away from my thoughts. "It's amazing. I can't believe you live this way everyday." I was impressed and appreciated the life they all had managed to make for themselves on the sea... but at the same time, I didn't wish I had what they had. Solid land and the green of nature was my home. I was an elf, a native to tall mountains and lush forests, the ocean was simply not my place.

 

[BugDozer73]

Her words hit me in a way that I bet she didn't expect. This had been my life, EVERYDAY. And I loved it here, but the whole idea of being stuck to freedom was so ironic it made me depressed. I felt something, a feeling, a decision in my heart, turn to stone and become immovable.


"Im leaving the ship." I said loudly, eyes closed with an expression of angered determination. The entire room fell instantly silent, all eyes focusing on me.


The statement wasn't delievered to anyone in particular, but Greuwn looked at me like we were alone again on the balcony. 


Crooney looked between us for a moment with a look of panic in his eyes. "Roland, don't be foolish.."


I cut him off. "Ive made up my mind Crooney. Ive learned all I could from the sea, I need to explore the world. Im going to go with Verity and join the Circle." 


In but a second all of my goals were clear, but they were not so clear in hindsight. Perhaps it was the heat of the moment, the burning desire to flee from truth, that inspired such passion in my voice. 


Crooney looked angry now. "Now you listen here..." Again, he was cut off, but this time, it was Greuwn who, in silence, rose from his seat.

 

[Purize]

My jaw dropped a little at his reaction. For a moment, I felt like I was to blame for his sudden declaration, and I suppose I technically still was, but from looking at the silent exchange from Greuwn to Roland, I could tell there was tension that had stirred up his feelings much before my influence. Still though, I was surprised at his proclamation.


He wants to come with me. He wants to join the circle, just like me.

I felt the heat of discomfort rise in my cheeks and wished I could shrink in my chair to escape the sudden tension in the room. When Greuwn stood up to speak, I froze, transfixed. I hoped he didn't think that I'd persuaded Roland to leave with me intentionally... 

 

[BugDozer73]

Greuwn was a big man. He was big not only because of his impending physical prowess of 6'9 and 325 lbs, but because of his will power, his commanding aura that he exuded in any room. Even after my shocking declaration, just by standing up, Greuwn now commanded the attention of every pair of eyes in the room, and he played the sailors short breaths like a conductor. He looked at me, then over at Verity, with a subtle fondness. \


"Very well Roland. You may leave in the morning. Your in good company." with his last comment he winked at Verity.


Crooney looked appalled. "Greuwn, you cant just let him go! His home is here! He has a duty to his crew. He's just a lad!"


Greuwn chuckled lightly. "He's hardly a boy. He is his own man, and as his own man he has the right to make his own decisions. Like the sea, he is nothing without freedom, and who are we to try and take that from him."


Crooney was desperate, looking around at the other sailors for help, but nothing came. Defeated, he stormed out of the mess hall. Greuwn sighed and followed after bidding the crew a fond evening and thanking Brooks once again for the meal.


I let out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding. I was free... What a strange tingling relief. 

 

[Purize]

Cautiously, I looked up at Roland. He had a mix of emotions playing over his face, but he mostly just looked... alleviated. My eyebrows knit together in silent concern as I watched him and replayed Greuwn's words in my head. "You may leave in the morning. Your in good company." 


After Crooney and Greuwn left the room, I poked Roland tentatively in the side to get his attention. "Hey... are you sure about this...?" 

I realized that I probably wasn't the only factor in his decision, and that he was old enough to make his own life choices... but I would not be held responsible for him making rash choices based on a stranger he just met... Besides, Crooney was right, this was his home. I don't know why he suddenly decided to leave it, but it wasn't something to be taken lightly...


I of all people knew the pain of running away from their home.

 

[BugDozer73]

"100%" I replied without missing a beat. "I need to see the rest of the world. The Circle sounds like a good place to start. Besides, you need someone around to keep you company anyways. No one should be alone indefinitely." I believed in what I said, but I didn't feel the need to share about my little family mishap just yet. "You don't mind me coming along, do you?"

 

[Purize]

I stared hard at him for a moment, searching his eyes for even the slightest bit of doubt. The bit about being alone indefinitely made me actually flinch and I had to look away. 


"You can hold your own, and we seem work well together so no, I don't mind." I shrugged, still not meeting his gaze. "But I should warn you, it's no piece of cake living out in the real world... and living with me will be even harder." Now, I turn to look at him again, a fierce look of danger and determination burning in my eyes, staring into his.


"You have to be ready for anything at any moment. It's not going to be easy and sometimes we won't always succeed in what we do, but life is about overcoming hardships and learning from mistakes to get stronger. We will train day in and day out, we will explore the ends of the earth and fight the most terrible monsters... and above all else, we will survive." I flashed a challenging smile and stood up from my chair to level myself with him. "So tell me now, Roland the Pirate, and think carefully."

"Are you sure about this?"

 

[BugDozer73]

I listened to her talk, so serious, and maybe even excited, and I felt the overwhelming urge to tease her and poke her nose. I held myself back, though, because something told me she wouldn't like it if I didn't match her heart. Instead, I grabbed two mugs filled with drink and shoved one into her hand, and lifted my own into the air. "Ive never been so sure about anything in my life. To adventure!" And I tilted my head back and drank the cup dry.

 

[Purize]

I grinned and shrugged, feeling a sense of destiny pricking at the back of my mind. "To adventure." I knocked back my drink with ease and wiped my mouth after i'd finished. I also finished my meal, which was delicious and gave Mr. Brooks a very appreciative nod of thanks.


I turned to Roland when he'd finished and motioned to the doorway. "If your done, can we talk for a bit?"

 

[BugDozer73]

I watched her down her drink like a champ. I smiled at her, impressed. After her inquiry, I looked down at my plate, but didn't feel any deep desire to stuff myself. I nodded and stood to follow Verity.

 

[Purize]

We walk out on the deck and off of the ship until we reached the beach. The wind was much more gentle now, and not as cold, so I took off my cloak, letting my hair flow freely under the moonlight. I marveled at the moon sparkling over the ocean in silver streaks and how the stars glittered over the sky. It was certainly a clear and beautiful night.


"If you're going to travel with me, then we should probably talk about how we should do things as for as jobs, pay and training goes." I said to him after a while.


I contemplated how much I should tell him. If I should tell him that I was a fugitive, wanted for murdering a member of the royal Elven family... and that I was too a part of that royal family. I sighed, stress taking a toll on my emotions, I pushed my hair behind my ears as a nervous gesture.

 

[BugDozer73]

We walked under the moon, leaving small imprints in the sand as we walked. I thought about her question. "I was fine taking jobs with her and splitting the money 50/50. To be honest, I would be fine letting her keep all of the funds. Being the son of the goddess of hidden treasure had its perks. I thought back to all the times I had "Stumbled" upon VAST troves of treasure. 


As I thought about these things, I looked over at Verity to admire her beauty under the light of the moon. She lifted her hand to pull her hair back, revealing her ears.


"Your and E-elf?!" I stammered, standing back stunned. In hindsight, my outburst was most likely very rude, but at the time I had trouble keeping my disbelief in check. I had nothing against elves, in fact I found their race to be un explainably attractive, not that I went around telling people that. But she had no accent as far as I could tell and didn't act in a manor like her people. I felt my heart rate flutter and my cheeks flush. 

 

[Purize]

I froze in horror an slowly turn to Roland, realizing my error. He looked completely shocked, if I wasn't so petrified, I might have actually laughed at him. I took some deep breaths to calm myself. It was a matter of time before he found out anyway... what did I expect would happen?


Once I'd collected myself, I pursed my lips and nodded slowly, pulling my hair back to where my ears were visible, it was no point in hiding them now... Though I didn't quite want to divulge the story so quickly. I still didn't know Roland, as nice as he appeared, I still had to be cautious.


"Yes. I am an Elf from Shylanora." I smiled a sad, sheepish smile. "I'd appreciate it if you'd keep that information to yourself, however. I would like to keep that particular fact a secret." I cast my eyes down to the sand, so tired of having to hide and be scared of who I was.

 

[BugDozer73]

I thought about what she had said. I had always liked elves, so there was no reason for her to hide it from me, but then again it wasn't really my business.


I tossed it back in forth in my head for a second before coming to a decision. 


"Verity, if this is going to work, the two of us, Were going to have to be honest with one another." I sighed, realizing what I was going to have to do. I walked away from her several paces and sat back onto the sand, and patted the ground next to me to entice her to sit.

 

[Purize]

I inhaled a breath and sat down next to him. not ready to have this conversation.

 

[BugDozer73]

I looked out over the waves and leaned back, getting comfortable. "We need to be upfront, right now, about everything. I know we just met a few days ago, but this alliance is going to be seeped heavily in trust." I turned myself so that I was facing Verity, and  tried to steady my heart.


"So Ill go first. Most of my life Ive been upfront about. And up until recently, thats all there was to it. But I found out the other day that I am the son of Thasia, Goddess of the Sea, the night, storms, hidden treasures.. Thats my mom."

 

[Purize]

My jaw dropped and I stared at him, trying to gauge his emotions. He certainly wasn't joking. "So... you're a demi-god...?" I asked slowly. I thought about it, and it sort of made sense. He could use water magic and was raised on the ocean. He, however, didn't look very thrilled at his newfound heritage. I felt my heart contract as I sympathized with him. "I'm sorry." I said, and I meant it. "That must have not been easy to hear."

I was silent a moment before I asked. "Is that why you want to leave?"