55th day of the 10230th year since the passing of Kriene
Callie was no stranger to the idea of killing and murder, especially given the courtesies extended to her by her companion.
But seeing it before her in all its gruesome reality rather than a mere theoretical concept – that had been more unnerving than anything.
She had never seen a dead sentient being before, let alone a human.
There was not even the consolation of a long life or a natural death.
No.
The government official had looked to be in his forties.
Had he experienced the Becoming?
Had he led a happy life?
Did he have people who had cared for him, loved him and those who would miss him?
Such thoughts and questions had kept her awake for nearly a quarter of an hour before she finally desensitized enough to fall asleep.
But those thoughts only returned as she awoke, rising with Wairo.
Sylviane and Gwenyth seemed to be sleeping in, and overall it looked like it would be a slow morning for the drift.
Slowness, relaxation – that was what they’d come to the laketown for.
Now it seemed the rest may be required just to keep them at bare minimum, rather than rejuvenate them.
Leaving her driftfellows to what she hoped was peaceful, dreamless sleep, Callie headed downstairs to get herself some food, finding Zander asleep on one of the couches, spotting Linny in the kitchen as she entered.
He was sitting on the counter and eating what looked to be a sort of milk and chocolate cake.
“I didn’t know they had so much stuff for baking.” she mused as she went to see what food supplies they had.
“They didn’t.
I went and brought some stuff.
What we’d purchased before was not quite to my taste in terms of what I wanted to have this morning.” Callie nodded a little.
“I myself do feel quite partial to a dessert filled breakfast.” to which Linny beamed.
“There’s more than enough in the fridge.
I made a four kilogram cake.”
“Aren’t you concerned about your weight?” she questioned as she cut out a piece of cake and put it on a plate, sitting opposite him.
Linny shook his head.
“It’s not that hard to keep in shape.
I just eat whenever I feel hungry, and I try to eat with the motive of not feeling hungry, and not feeling full.”
“Makes sense.
I was a little concerned when I came aboard the Oaty.
There was no space for physical training save for the deck itself.
But it seems that we’re spending almost as much time on land as we do on water.
And land gives ample opportunities for exercise.
Though life at sea is not just sitting about.”
“I very well know that by now.” Linny said with a grin, which Callie returned.
Linny had been put to an equal amount of work as the others since he had joined them and was a decent sailor for someone quite new to it all.
“So, what are your plans for today?” she asked.
“I’d thought about going hiking, but after last night… I’m not so sure.” Linny muttered the latter part in a small voice.
“Well, it’s completely understandable.
But I don’t think they’re likely to strike while Wairo is out watching over us.
If you really want to go, you could take someone for company and safety.
And not go to too remote an area.”
“It’s not about the safety aspect, just can’t work myself up to the task.” Linny muttered and then his head jerked a little.
“Oh I forgot to tell you!
The bodies were those of government officials.”
“Bodies?” Callie’s pitch was higher and voice louder, unintentionally so – surprising even herself and she fell silent.
“Yeah.
Finley went out in the middle of the night to check on the investigation.
They found another official, this time in the woods.
Their work is still in an early stage and they don’t know much.”
“But why did Finley go all by himself, that too at night?!” she said.
“Why didn’t you stop him?” this time she kept her volume in check, despite the rising of emotions within her.
“Because I was asleep.” he said defensively.
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I think I may just pay a visit to the scenes of crime myself.”
“Is that a good idea?
You’re not a local.”
“But I am of the victim’s species, and a farer.
Given how many of us reside here at any given point of time, it gives me the de-facto status of a local.”
“Well, you should not be in much danger.
But don’t go snooping about, especially alone.”
“I don’t plan to.” she said and then finished her cake quickly, Linny by contrast playing with his piece and eating small bites.
“Thanks for the meal.” she said to him with a smile and washed her plate before heading back upstairs, changing into a turquoise top and black shorts.
Sylviane was stirring and mumbling a little, still in her dreams as Callie got ready, pocketing her knife and taking a look at herself in the mirror before sliding the railing down the stairs – she was getting good at it!
– and leaving the villa after giving one last glance to Zander.
The sky’s sapphire still had some rubies within, a beautiful amalgamation of hues.
Clouds were out and about, muting Wairo’s intensity.
The usual amount of people – even farers – were still out and about, though there was something subdued in their geniality.
It saddened Callie, even though she herself was similarly affected.
Once the cake had been sufficiently digested and she didn’t feel so full anymore, she broke out into a jog for the remainder of the distance to Pier Thirty-Seven.
As she entered the forests, the cluster of trees that would normally feel so comfortingly now made her feel claustrophobic, as if a killer could be sheltering themselves behind or on any of them.
She looked around and up as she jogged, finding herself unable to deal with it and she broke out into a sprint, almost flying over the forest trail until it all became a blur of violet, green and brown.
The wind whipping on her face and her legs told her that it was one of her fastest speeds yet.
The exhilaration and fear mixed into a queer feeling.
She almost wanted to laugh aloud at her grace, speed, agility and the fact that she was leaving her fear behind with each step.
By the time she emerged from the forest onto the grassy trails running parallel to the beach, she did not want to stop running.
She did not even slow to see the Piers, knowing that Thirty-Seven would be abundantly visible when it would come into view.
And so it did, with it a small group of people did as well.
Callie slowed into a walk as she approached the group, which seemed to be engaged in discussion amongst themselves.
The area where the corpse was found was now cordoned off.
The people were gossips but at least they respected procedure enough to not intrude in the area which was blocked off – which allowed Callie to get a good view.
It turned out that there wasn’t much to look at anyway.
The local police seemed to have taken anything of note and the water had washed away the rest.
With no other available source of information, Callie now went to the group of people, spotting one of the Rum Baxters – a builder called Laxos Ameshi – and going to him.
Laxos recognised her and invited her into the conversation he was having with a couple of farers and Featherings as she approached.
Featherings were often confused for Sylphs or other air spirits due to their light and nimble nature.
They appeared to be weightless, and were lean and graceful.
But they could not attain transparency.
They had beautiful shimmering skin, slim and long limbs.
She greeted them all, and the Featherings in their language – Amdosian – as well – perhaps out of vanity, perhaps to connect with them a little more deeply.
The Featherings – two of them named Laishiri and Netryke – seemed to be pretty happy at being greeted in Amdosian and they exchanged pleasantries before reverting back to Lamentian.
“We were just saying to Laxos here, it is a pity to have such a beautiful day marred by such a loss.” Laishiri said kindly.
“It must be so jarring for you, young one.” She said and touched her arm gently, squeezing it.
Callie managed to give a small smile and shake her head a little – enough to mean she was not too traumatized, but appreciated the comfort.
“It is we who should be sorry.” said one of the farers.
“It is human business that is sullying the peace of your town.”
“Nonsense.
You know very well, Jerani.
It is our town.”
“Do we have any idea who did it?
Or who exactly those people were?” said Callie.
“They were government officials by the names of Centil Vasolan and Marini Corroway.”
“I met a Corroway!” she blurted as soon as she heard that name but deflated.
“But he was a guy.” she said but then her voice perked up again.
“Maybe they’re related…” she said in a half-hopeful tone.
“But we’ve not seen any other government officials yet to be able to gain more knowledge about this.” said Laxos.
“Maybe it was just these two on the island.”
“Hopefully, considering it is their kind that is being targeted.” said Netryke.
Callie then realised that she hadn’t gotten the answer to her other question.
“Do we have any inkling of who might have done it?”
“Certainly not any of the usual inhabitants of the island.
They found some especially peculiar footsteps around the corpses and all over.
The investigators warned that there were multiple participants to this crime, but they don’t know who.”
Callie had no idea of who these weird footed people might be.
“Anything else?” she pressed but was met only with shrugs and shaking heads.
Callie then started to disengage from the conversation, which Laxos seemed to sense because he appeared to have one last question to ask her.
“How long will your drift be in Kinamel?”
“The plan was to stay a full week, so at least till the fifty-eighth, but with all this-” she raised and spread her arms and then let them drop ungracefully.
“I don’t know.” she said and shrugged a little.
“I think I’ll go back to my drift now.
Let them know of the situation.”
“Take care.” said Netryke with a little smile and patted her back.
Laxos nodded. The source of this chapter is g.com.
“Let us know if you need anything.
You know where we put up, right?”
Callie nodded.
“Thanks, everyone.
You all take care too.” she said as her gaze swept the small group, meeting everyone’s eyes briefly and attempting a polite smile while backing away before she turned and started her walk back home.
She saved her energy for running through the forest, knowing that they would only feel more eerie and sinister now that she knew there was more than one killer.
Her heart was racing by the time she reached the beginning of the forest trail.
She took a couple of deep breaths, tried to think of more pleasant things as she started to fly.
It was only after a few seconds that she realised that her happy place was now the Serendipity, not so much her old friends – of which she majorly thought of Crowe.
In a sense he would always be her best friend, but there was that feeling of leaving him behind, though he and natural circumstances had done much of the leaving as well.
That guilt slowed her a little.
But then what she had seen in the past couple days came to mind.
To see multiple drifts being able to gather in places like Kinamel gave rise to her spirits.
Maybe she and Crowe, maybe even her other old friends – could be close again.
Her pace returned and soon she was out of the forest, breathing only a little heavy, smiling and exhaling with a laugh, glad to be rid of the forest for a good while.
By the time Callie returned to the villa, everyone was up and about, and in a state of relative activity, though none of them seemed particularly keen on doing an outdoor activity.
Lounging about and eating seemed to be the order for the day.
Linny’s cake was nearly finished and there was a second one being baked by Sylviane and Venedir.
Callie – a bit tired from all the physical activity – went to the couch and flopped down beside Gwenyth, who crinkled her nose and shifted away.
“Ew, you’re all sweaty, Lee.”
“Am not!”
“Are so!”
Callie grinned a little.
“So, Callie.
What’s the latest news?” said Linny, who was sitting opposite them.
“It’s not much, but it seems that there are multiple killers and they seem to have these weird footprints.” She said and shrugged.
“Also they have the names of the officials now.
One of them’s a Corroway.” Linny look confused, even more so when the others had visible and audible reactions to it.
“It was a certain Mr.
Corroway who gave us our assignment.” Zander told Linny.
“You sure it wasn’t him?” asked Gwenyth.
“It was a her, so I’m pretty certain.”
“Huh.
At least he lives to see another day.”
Callie nodded a little.
“So.” she addressed the room at large.
“Have you guys thought about whether we’re completing our week here before going to Rhefalt?”
“I think we should.” said Venedir as he entered the room with Sylviane.
“Yeah.” said Sylviane.
“It will be a while before we touch land again so might as well stay the full week.”
“Will it be fun staying here, considering the circumstances?” said Zander.
“We’ll make the best of it.” said Gwenyth.
“Starting with asking you” she turned to Callie.
“to bathe before you make us all faint with your stench!”
“Oh I’ll make you faint all right!” Callie said and tackled Gwenyth on the sofa.
“No-” “Help!” Gwenyth said as Callie tickled her until Gwenyth finally managed to push her away, so much so the Callie slipped off the sofa with a shriek and plopped down on the carpeted floor a couple feet below, where she lay in a rumpled mess for a second to catch the breath that had been knocked out of her before sticking her head up at Gwenyth and sticking her tongue out at her.
“Rude.”
“It’s not my fault.” she raised her hands.
“You’re the one who got physical with the drift’s fighter.”
“Pfft.” Callie made a face at her and stalked off to their room.
She ran herself a nice little bath and got out of her clothes.
The bath turned out to be what she needed.
It did not feel so tense and heavy then.
The more unpleasant thoughts surrendered to the warmth and comfort of the bath and as her eyes closed, she could see her mind clearing into nothingness.
When her eyes reopened, she felt strangely drowsy.
It did not take much deduction to realise she’d been asleep for quite a while.
Getting out of the bath was done gingerly and by the time she was done in the bathroom and returned downstairs, the second cake was ready to eat.
Callie sat half-beside, half-on Gwenyth – who accepted the intrusion with only a groan this time.
“Do we have anything salty?” she called to Finley, who was in the kitchen then.
“My palette still needs cleansing, I feel.”
“I could make you a sandwich.” he replied.
“Yes, please!”
Finley had only just brought her the sandwich when the bell rung and everyone snapped to attention.
Even Callie slipped off of Gwenyth completely.
“Are we… expecting someone?” said Linny nervously as he stood up.
“Nope.” said Zander, standing up bravely and taking two steps opposite the direction of the door.
Venedir sighed a little.
“I’ll have a look.” he said and headed to the front door.
Callie could hear him open it.
The unlatching and creaking open was slow and cautious until the door was opened the rest of the way in one motion, Venedir’s sigh punctuating the sound.
“It’s for you.” he said, looking at Callie, who sported a surprised look herself.
“Um…” she started to scramble to her feet before she realised he was already inside – and before her.
She sighed in a manner quite like Venedir – the man had the power to elicit such similar reactions from different people, after all – and slumped back down on to the couch before finally deigning to look up at the smiling face of Alaric which was blocked from view as Linny hugged him.
“Careful with the hat now, Lin.” Alaric said in what Callie was sure was his attempt at an aloof voice as he returned the hug.
“Sarcasm suits you better when you’re trying to be detached.” Callie teased him.
If Alaric did not have an annoying amount of self control over even what were supposed to be involuntary actions and reactions, she was certain that would have made him blush.
“Yes, yes.” he said dismissively and waved his hand at her before patting Linny’s back, as if to herald the end of the hug.
“I’m glad to see you a free person, Lin.” That was a rare pearl of sincerity.
“All thanks to you.” he replied and pulled away from the hug.
“As much as I’d like to take all of your gratitude, I believe some credit is also due to these…” he waved his hands at the six of them.
“doofuses, even though they just did what they were paid to do and nearly screwed that up as well.”
“We had things perfectly under control.” said Venedir defensively.
“Oh, yeah?
Remind me again, who was the one knocked out mid-fight and had to be carried to safety, by the one he was supposed to be rescuing, no less?” Venedir flushed a little.
“I never said I had things perfectly under control.” he muttered.
Alaric scoffed.
“I have my doubts you’d have been able to successfully escape the prison undetected without Linny’s help.
Which means that I don’t believe you’re prepared enough for what’s coming next.”
“What do you mean, what’s coming next?” said Gwenyth.
“Since you do not have my incredible clairvoyance, you will just have to wait and see.
I have not come here to act as your astrologer.
In fact, I would have preferred to not see your insipid faces till the Dragon Isles – wait, déjà vu, I have said this to you before… oh how poorly my fate treats me.
Anyway!
Point is that given the trajectory of events that have occurred and will occur, you may need my help in your journey hence till the Buried Man.
But the thing is, I only owe you the one favour, so either you take my help now and then brave the Dragon Isles yourself – or take the long route around, of course.
Or, we stick to the original deal.”
“We aren’t even planning to go to the Buried Man.” protested Sylviane.
“You aren’t yet.
It’s like no one even listens to me.” he huffed.
“It’s you who is intentionally dense and withholding.”
“It is my style.” he grouched, dragging the last word out and then turning to Linny.
“Do you see what I have to put up with, Lin?”
Linny raised his hands a little.
“I like them perfectly.”
“Oh, shush.” Alaric groaned and sighed.
“Anyway.
I’ll need your decision by the end of the day.
That is when I leave town.” He said and as Callie started, he interrupted her.
“And… do not be hasty.
This won’t be as easy as dealing with Yvindrael.”
“Yvindrael… you mean-?” said Gwenyth.
“Yup.
It was such a splendid surprise to me as well.” said Alaric with a smile and then sat on one of the empty one-seater couches.
“Ooh, these are built perfectly for someone of my height.
Human infrastructure really is so annoying.” He said as he laid back into the cushions.
The drift seemed a little stunned into silence upon this revelation.
“But how…?” said Callie.
“You know how, Lee.
Do not be so dense.
You are not someone who is vapid.” chided Alaric.
“None of you are.” he said in a marginally softer voice.
Callie then thought on the matter and it turned out she did know how.
Or at least, an educated, logical guess could be made.
Though the entrance to the sewer was far from Yvindrael, she had not made a mental note of where they were going when inside it.
The network of tunnels and paths were too long and complex. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
They very well could have ended up close to her, and given how large she was and that she had sentient body parts, it was no stretch for at least some of them to be mobile and reach such depths and distances.
“Which is why” Alaric continued.
“you need to focus and prepare yourself for what is to come.
Because you will be facing one of these two hurdles by your lonesome.
You have it within you.
You just have to…” Alaric grinned a little and shook his head.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this.” “You just have to Become that person.”
Callie scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“What?” asked Alaric.
“You and your condescension.
I have a hard time digesting it.
What do you have against the Becoming?”
“I have nothing against it.
It’s just constant overuse by your species has caused semantic bleaching for the concept.
So I hope you can find it in yourself to excuse my distaste.”
Callie did not respond to that and after a few seconds of silence, Finley blurted quietly.
“Alaric…”
“Yes?”
“Did you really not know Yvindrael was guarding the prison when you assigned us the task or was that a lie?”
Alaric’s jaw clenched a little and he gave Finley a look before he got better of his initially-felt emotions.
“If you did not sound so earnest, I’d have a thing or two to say to you about accusing me of lying, even if it was more of a question.
To answer it, I did not know.
And I have no need of lying, at least not to insignificant beings as you and for insignificant matters such as this.”
“It is not insignificant, Alaric.” It was Linny who spoke.
“They had to hurt their friend to rescue me.” Alaric’s countenance reflected a little surprise for a moment before the look vanished.
“You know I did not mean it in that way.” He said quietly.
They all sat in silence for a bit then.
It was all kind of gloomy and even mildly amusing, especially Alaric slumping in the couch with his hat, which had eventually dipped further down his face but he remained unmoving, almost seeming asleep.
Gwenyth was utterly focussed on eating her cake, seemingly unmindful of anything but.
Linny was staring at Alaric between intermittent sips from a cup of water – of which he had taken at least two dozen.
Finley had reclined into the couch and closed his eyes to rest them, presumably – but could not help fluttering them open a little bit every few seconds.
All the quirks of the scene before her made a smile tug on her lips insistently, and Callie couldn’t help but oblige it as the quiet stretched with every passing moment.
“Have some cake.” Venedir muttered, finally breaking the silence and slid the huge plate towards Alaric.
Finley’s eyes stopped fluttering and opened fully, though he remained in that half-laying position.
Alaric smiled a little and looked at Linny – his was the closest empty plate.
“May I?”
“Of course!
I can even get you a new plate, Rick.”
“No need.
No need.” He said with a hint of geniality and served himself a piece on Linny’s plate.
“What’s a shared plate between good friends?” he said with a smile.
“You’ve never shared a plate with me.” observed Callie dryly.
“That’s because you’re not my friend.” sassed her companion.
“Wow.” Callie said in a long, drawn-out manner.
“Just when you think you’ve heard it all.” she said and threw a pillow at Alaric’s head, which he ducked under – but not low enough.
Her shot took her hat with him, making it topple forward with the pillow.
Alaric prioritised the cake, shielding it and letting the other items succumb to the natural course of things and end up on the floor.
“You’re an impudent girl, you know.” he said, wagging his finger at her before bending down to pick his hat up and setting it on the table before throwing the pillow back to her.
“Now, let me eat in peace.” Callie obliged, though she now felt a little guilty about it.
She’d have felt guiltier if she’d gotten the cake spilt and wasted.
Poor Alaric was only two-thirds of the way through with his cake when Zander said “Ricky-boy.
You seem to have a good enough head of hair.
Why do you keep it covered with a hat?”
Alaric rolled his eyes.
“Surely even you are aware that direct exposure to Wairo causes harm to my kind.”
“Yes.” said Zander impatiently.
“But I’ve seen you wear it indoors and at night as well.”
“Well, aren’t you a meddlesome lot?” Alaric said sardonically.
“You have let your drift become too free with me.” He said to Callie, his eyes narrowing at her.
“At least they don’t ask me questions about you.
Who knows how creative I could get while answering on your behalf?” Callie answered with a smile and crossed one leg over another.
“Hmph.” Alaric grumbled and turned back to Finley.
“To answer your question, young man – I wear it because of the great panache I hold myself to.
Additionally, it saves me the trouble of removing it everytime I go indoors, and protects me from projectiles chucked at me by your vulgarian friend over there.”
“I know you mean well, Ricky-boy.” she said with a sweet smile and when his cake finished and the plate was set down, she tossed the same pillow at him again, which he promptly caught and kept behind his neck.
“No more pillows for you, young lady.” He said and Callie pouted.
Once the second cake was done and dusted as well, conversation struck up and eventually flew into the direction of making the choice offered to them by Alaric.
“You are certain of this… situation we’ll be in.
You are sure it will be realised?” asked Sylviane, raising an eyebrow at Alaric.
“As certain as I can be without it already having happened yet.
I know the parties involved and most importantly, I know you all very well.
Your choice in this regard was chosen for you by your past selves’ decisions.”
“Great.” Sylviane muttered and then spoke a bit more audibly.
“Then if the danger ahead is so certain, I vote that we should take his help now.
Sailing through the Dragon Isles will be an avoidable danger.
This isn’t.” she said and crossed her arms over her chest.
“I humbly disagree.
Going through the Dragon Isles saves us time and potentially more detours as well – which as we can see with the present example, aren’t always that great,” said Venedir.
“The monsters that live in the isles are by the most dangerous beings – excepting present company, of course – in the sector.
Surely we aren’t going to need his help more than during that leg of the journey.
What could possibly be so dangerous on Quinlac or on the stretch of sea till the Buried Man?”
“Murderers, for one.” said Finley.
“They could be after us as well.
There may not be a full drift remaining by the time we reach Rhefalt.
I’m siding with Sylvie on this.”
The drift collectively simmered in the bleakness of his words.
“But they were relatively defenseless.” protested Gwenyth.
“We are not!
I’m sure we can take them.”
Zander shrugged.
“I don’t know… I’m not sure… this has me a bit rattled.
My vote is with Sylvie as well, but.” He said, then turned to Callie.
“I want to know your opinion, Lee.
You know Alaric best and will know how to navigate this choice.”
Callie sighed a little and thought back to their conversation.
He was not prone to lying but he was intentionally vague about things.
“He said that we may need his help till the Buried Man.
So there is a chance.
And now that we know what is coming, we can prepare a bit even though we have trained a fair bit after Fluviale so we should be relatively sharp.
“But, I do not want to be the deciding vote here, nor want my vote to have an extra weightage… Linny.” she said and turned to the demon who was idly staring up at the fan when she took his name, jerking his head down, before his eyes settled on her.
“Me?” he asked bewildered.
“If you are planning to stay with us – which I have not received any indication with respect to so as to believe otherwise -, you should have a vote as well.
But of course, – presuming I can speak for the drift in this matter – there is no compulsion, no expectation from our end.
But we do like having you around.”
“I was going to ask you this myself, friend.” Alaric said and straightened out of his slouch before leaning towards Linny.
“We can spend some time together or even travel if you like, catch up like we were supposed to in Fluviale.
Or you can even continue alone, if you wish.”
Linny was quiet for a few seconds.
“I don’t think I want to travel alone so soon.
I have had a taste for travelling with friends, and I think I quite like it.
But I want to continue with the Serendipity for a while, Alaric, if that’s okay.
I know we are way overdue on getting some bonding time in but I feel like fate wants me here for now.
And I think that as capable as they are – they could use my help with whatever is coming their way.
And hopefully that will mean that we won’t need your assistance.
My vote’s with Venedir.” Callie could feel this warm pleasantness within her, listening to Linny, and by the looks on her driftfellows’ faces, she ventured that they were similarly affected.
“Well, I’m assuming that settles it?” Alaric asked
There was a flurry of nods, following which Alaric smiled a little.
“Lovely.
For what it’s worth – I think these are good decisions.” He turned to Linny then.
“I’ll meet you some time later in your journey, then.
There are a lot of interesting things happening right now which will serve as good pastimes.”
Alaric smiled a little then.
“But for today – or what remains of it – I’m going to help you all train.
Help burn some of those calories off.” This declaration was met with unanimous disapproval and protests, which would all turn out to be in vain.