Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Monsters and Men
The ship's core thrummed with power as everyone on deck assumed their positions, ready for departure. "Activate the oxygen shields!" Darby commanded, directing his order at a stout ogre who presided over a vast console bristling with buttons and controls. The ogre manipulated a few knobs and switches before announcing, "Shields are up and operational." A radiant blue sphere of energy enveloped the vessel.
As the Crimson Lady lifted from the docks and ascended into the resplendent afternoon sky, I rushed to the railing to catch a final glimpse of Ravenside—the squalid place I had once called home. A farewell to nothingness. My heart raced with anticipation as I prepared to explore the unknown worlds awaiting me.
Our ship pierced the heavens, entering the star-strewn cosmos, Ravenside diminishing to a mere pinprick of light in the distance. "How long until we reach Orecon B?" Darby inquired, his hands deftly managing the central controls.
"Perhaps a day or two, depending on the space currents," Zig replied, his eyes scanning a vast holographic display that projected myriad numbers, statistics, and a celestial map. "There don't appear to be any storms that might cause a rift in the cosmos."
As we embarked on this journey, I could feel the vastness of the universe stretching before me, my heart swelling with the weight of adventure and the promise of discovery.
Hours elapsed as I meandered about the ship's deck, marveling at the myriad wonders contained within the Crimson Lady's hull. "Hey, lad, let me show you to your quarters. Follow me," the stout ogre beckoned, gesturing down a lengthy corridor.
As we traversed the lower decks, I was captivated by the exquisite artistry woven into the very fabric of the vessel, from the intricate carvings that adorned the walls to the ethereal lights that illuminated the ceiling. At the end of the passageway, the ogre halted. "Here's your room. Name's Drill," he said, a perplexed expression etched upon his features.
"Thank you, Drill. I'm Leon," I replied, gratitude in my voice. With that, the ogre ambled away, presumably to attend to his duties on the upper decks.
I stepped into my new chamber, and an immediate sense of belonging washed over me—a sensation I had scarcely known in my tormented existence. The room was modest yet welcoming, furnished with a small bed and a wooden table. A tiny window offered a breathtaking view of the cosmos, galaxies unfurling before me like a celestial tapestry. It was a rare moment of genuine happiness in my dark and twisted life.
I allowed myself to bask in the comforting embrace of the snug chamber until the shrill call of an alarm heralded supper time. Ascending to the upper decks, I discovered a grand table lavishly adorned with a sumptuous feast fit for the gods themselves. Goblets brimmed with frothy ale, and a veritable cornucopia of delicacies – from succulent chicken to tender ribs – lay scattered across the table.
Darby, the formidable captain of the Crimson Lady, held court at the head of the table, gesturing for everyone to partake in the bounty before us. Assembled around the table was a diverse assortment of characters, each more fascinating than the last.
There was Opol, a statuesque elf with midnight blue skin that seemed to shimmer like the night sky. The slender goblin Rad, his verdant, forest-green skin in stark contrast to the deadly grenades that adorned his waist. Petre, a stout dwarf with a mane of braided beard that cascaded down his chest like a waterfall, exuded an air of wisdom and experience. Finally, Rudo, a proud member of the Wolven, a lupine race renowned for their prodigious strength and keen senses, surveyed the feast with a primal hunger in his eyes.
The motley crew, each occupying their own corner of the table, eagerly reached for the delectable offerings, the camaraderie and conviviality of the moment a testament to the bonds forged in the crucible of adventure.
"Here, here, a toast to the Crimson Lady! May our fortunes swell, and our adversaries be scattered to stardust in the vast cosmic abyss," Darby proclaimed, hoisting a chalice with a flourish. Zig and the rest of the motley crew followed suit, raising their cups in unison. "C'mon, lad," Rudo bellowed as he clapped me on the back, urging me to join in. I raised my cup, hesitantly taking my first swig of beer, the unfamiliar bitterness assaulting my tongue. As I gagged, the crew erupted into laughter. "You're one of us now, kid," the dwarf declared, draining the remainder of his cup in a single gulp.
"One of us?" The notion reverberated through my mind. To be embraced so swiftly by this band of outcasts felt strangely comforting. I had never known companionship, save for Marley back in Ravenside. The novel sensation almost coaxed a genuine smile from me, one not born of malevolence. But the fleeting moment of joy dissolved as quickly as it had arrived.
Supper concluded, Darby announced his retirement to his quarters, demanding he not be disturbed for precisely twelve hours. Curiously specific and peculiar, I mused, recalling our time in Ravenside when the enigmatic pirate would retire to his room at the inn each evening, only to reappear the following morning without fail. Darby rose, bowed to his inebriated comrades, and stumbled through the locked doors leading to the upper decks. As far as I could tell, his chamber was the sole one on this level, befitting a captain. I dismissed the oddity; perhaps Darby merely adhered to a disciplined routine, a trait that could serve a pirate captain well.
As the remnants of supper dispersed, I found myself back on the upper decks, awestruck by the boundless expanse of the cosmos. Myriad stars and celestial bodies stretched out before me, filling me with an inexplicable sense of unity with the universe. In that moment, I could have perished, and it would have felt right.
Rudo and Opol stood nearby, sharing the same aromatic herb joint that Darby had indulged in earlier. "Come here, kid," Rudo beckoned, igniting the joint. "Quite a fine evening," Opol murmured, his gaze lifting toward the heavens. Adorned in beads, his arms bore enigmatic, tribal-like tattoos that seemed to glow a ghostly gray beneath the starlight. "What brings you on this journey?" Opol inquired, his voice carrying an air of mysticism as he lit his own joint and drew in a lungful of smoke.
"I'm not quite sure. I only met Darby a few days ago, and now I'm here," I replied. Rudo chuckled, "And you trusted that mad pirate so quickly?" His grin broadened as he coughed from the smoke. "Well, he didn't seem like a bad person, at least compared to myself. I felt like I had nothing to lose," I admitted.
"What makes you think you're a bad person and not Darby?" Opol probed. "I don't know how to answer that. I've seen Darby kill a man in the street, but there was reason behind it," I hesitated, reluctant to reveal more. "Go on," Rudo urged with eager anticipation. "I've killed the innocent, and I fear that I may end up killing more," I confessed, the weight of my past threatening to spill over in the form of tears.
"And so you think you are a bad person?" Opol replied, drawing in another breath of smoke and exhaling intricate patterns. "What do you know of Darby?" he inquired, gesturing for Rudo to hold his tongue. "Not much. I know he's a bit unhinged, but that's about it," I answered.
Opol chuckled, his voice tinged with mystery, "Darby the Saint was not always his moniker, some say he traded half of his soul." I looked at him, intrigued. "Traded half his soul for what? And what was he known as?" I pressed. "Half his soul for his freedom. He was once called the Harvester of Souls," Opol whispered, the air thickening with tension and the weight of secrets untold.
"He was once bound in servitude to the God of Destruction, Orphease, eons past," Opol continued, his voice a haunting melody. "Darby was his right hand, his personal executioner and harvester of souls. He bore the title of the Doomed One. But after enduring years of torment, he could no longer bear that burden. A cataclysmic battle ensued as Darby sought to relinquish his duties, forcing him to strike a pact with his own god. Orphease demanded that Darby slay the Goddess of Light in exchange for his freedom."
Opol paused, and I stood there, transfixed, as if I could see the entire tale unfold within the tendrils of smoke exhaled by the enigmatic elf. Rudo remained silent, his head bowed as he continued to smoke.
"So, did he kill the Goddess?" I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.
"You see, kid, the Goddess of Light at that time was Ethlys. It is said that Darby and Ethlys were secretly lovers, and so he could not bring himself to end her life. This enraged Orphease," Opol stopped, his gaze drifting toward the stars. "In his fury, Orphease captured Ethlys and slaughtered her before Darby's horrified eyes. Then, he tore Darby's soul from his body, devouring half of it before cruelly returning it to its rightful vessel. Thus, Darby was freed from his duties and exiled from the Realms of Destruction, but condemned to live a life of immortality, forever cursed by Orphease."
Opol's words hung heavy in the air, chilling the very essence of our surroundings as we contemplated the unimaginable burden borne by our enigmatic captain.
"So, you see, lad, the distinction between good and evil is not so clear-cut," Opol said, his voice laden with the weight of ancient wisdom. "One may be a virtuous soul forced to commit heinous acts. But ultimately, you must find your own path in this tangled web of existence. These are merely the tales of old, the whispered legends I've heard since childhood on my distant home world."
Opol's words were enigmatic, like riddles woven in smoke, as he extinguished the remnants of his joint. "We've all committed our share of terrible deeds," Rudo admitted, his gaze drawn to the celestial tapestry above. "And we'll likely do many more. But what I know is that he's our captain, and I'd spill blood for him, as I trust he would do the same for me." Rudo punctuated his declaration with a mournful howl that echoed through the boundless cosmos.
I retreated to my room, my mind reeling from the revelations about Darby. Immortality? I pondered the implications. Just how ancient was Darby? And surely, he harbored a deep-seated hatred for Orphease. In his position, I couldn't blame him.
Could I be an unwitting pawn in Darby's quest for vengeance against Orphease? I mulled over the possibility. Regardless, I was already entwined in this enigmatic crew's fate, and there was no time to dwell on such uncertainties. I closed my eyes, allowing the serenity of the surrounding void to envelop me.
Suddenly, the shrill cry of the alarm shattered the silence: "INTRUDER ALERT!" As the cacophony jolted me from slumber, another urgent announcement followed: "INVADERS ON THE UPPER DECK!" I sprang from my bed, seized my sword, and charged towards the chaos above.
Upon reaching the upper deck, I was confronted by a sight both horrifying and awe-inspiring. A colossal kraken floated alongside the ship, its tentacles draped over the railing like twisted ropes. Squid-like humanoid creatures – Squiblins, as they were known – scurried down the kraken's tendrils, swarming the vessel with an otherworldly menace. I readied my blade, my pulse quickening as I prepared for the onslaught. Little did I know, the battle ahead would not only test my mettle but also unveil the darkest secrets of the Crimson Lady...
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