The days were strangely tense. Sometimes they would stretch on forever and others would disappear at a blink. During this, the Vanguards had carefully tended to and treated those with wounds and solemnly carried those who have returned to the light back to their airships, making sure that they have been properly checked, blessed, and wrapped in cloth to ensure that during travel, they would not disrespect the dead. There were piles of them, soon carefully processed and laid safely across the decks of the ships.
Our village had also suffered a few dead of our own, but they couldn't find some of the bodies no matter how hard they could have searched. These were friends and family who were not able to get to the mines in time. Some either caught off guard by the sudden Eclipse and were unfortunate enough to be slain just as they started to evacuate. Some were simply hunted down deep within the village, and others were already by the mines before they suffered the fate of the lost. The rituals were practiced on them as well, but as I stared off into the distance, eyes locked on to the array of graves that bear the name of those who lie in it, I could see the immeasurable sorrow and dread that is looming over the people. Mothers, clutching themselves as they cried over their child's grave. Fathers, having to bear the guilt of surviving this circumstance as they turn away, unable to bear the weight. Sons and Daughters, crying their eyes out as they are no longer able to feel or hug their parents. I could only stand, sinking into my own thoughts. I could have been one of them. The people that lay against the ground. Would it be better if I was? I was not able to save myself, how could I even possibly save them? It was dark. I wasafraid.
The second day, I went to visit the Master and the rest of the Evacuees. They immediately rushed towards me, asking questions and speaking words that I could not even hear. Not that I could as their voices were subconsciously drowned out, faded into nothing but mumbles and gibberish. My eyes immediately looked over at Master Kithran, who said nothing and stepped aside, pointing towards somewhere deeper into the crowd. I moved my feet, slowly but surely and as I kept moving, a lonely voice comes out from the muffled orchestra.
"Torin! Thank the Goddess! You...You're okay! Where's Oscar?" Micah spoke as he looked around, before landing his eyes on me.
I told him. I told him everything. I told him how Oscar was dead and there was nothing I could do. Micah understandably went into a fit of rage, yelling angry remarks such as "Why couldn't you save him? Why couldn't you have ran with him?" His fists landed against my body and against my wounds. I had come to realize that Micah's words and punches had left a lingering pain not even my scars could compete with. I had no choice but to let him hit me as hard as he could, only stopping the man as soon as his knuckles started to bleed. It was here that he'd let out a cry. As the tears fell, so did he. He could only call out to the name of his lover in despair before his family took him away.
The third day, I could not rejoin the villagers. Master Kithran had told me that some of them had blamed me for the death of their family members and I could not blame them. The master said it was the villagers finding something to blame other than the Eclipse. Told me to pay them no mind and that they'll stop when their grief halts. I suppose that was the case but I couldn't help but shoulder that burden with thoughts of the same. What if I could have done something? Could I have saved the others in the process? I ran around the town, but in my search for my own father, I lost sight of helping anyone else along the way.
The fourth day, the Royal Guard had called me once more. They had told me that I were to join the Vanguards in flying back to the city of Coppergate located close to the Capital of Ironkeep and deep within House Adamant. When asked why, they explained that Coppergate was where the Academy of Solus was. They had planned to enroll me into studies. They did not explain any further. When I told them I only had small experience in reading and writing, they told me that Maryanne would be my tutor. When I told them I never left the village and had no experience in the city, they told me Esshiek, the Lizardman known as Iron Guillotine would be my guide. It seemed like they planned everything out for me and I had no say nor choice at the matter, and judging from how closed every corner was, I could have only assumed this was the work of Prince Lawrence. He was known to be a master at strategy and manipulation. It was even said that his own father had to bend a knee to his wits and had his hand forced to place him into leading the Winged Vanguard. Although no one really knows how. From passing by other soldiers, they did mention that the prince was adept not only with the pen and voice, but the blade too. I guess we'll only see through our own eyes. Speaking of Prince Lawrence, he seemed to have disappeared at the end of the day, flown out in his own Airship to return back to Coppergate.
The fifth, the Vanguards had started to pack up and load up on their airships. I had returned to Master Kithran and explained my situation. He could only nod and accept the current circumstance. Although judging from his expression, he had a lot more things he wanted to say but kept them quiet. However, as the time went quiet, the Master had wrapped me in a hug and whispered. "Good luck out there lad." Before punching me in the forehead. "Lest you be robbed and pushed over by them Adamants." He laughs, clearly trying to lighten the mood before I could officially say goodbye. Micah and the rest of the Villagers still refused to see me, but I told the Master to wish them goodbye in my stead. I had also told him of my father's situation. He promised to inform me with whatever he could find.
The sixth, orders from the higher ups seemed to have come in and had told some of the Vanguard to stay and help with the reconstruction of the village. Rumors from the others seemed to have also suggested that this was a way to keep an eye out for the sudden wave of Vael Arcanists that seem to have found the current situation interesting and have chosen the village as grounds for study and research, but everyone suggests that they wished to harvest the Frozen Primal and use it for themselves. All speculation and theories, but no concrete evidence as to why the Arcanists wanted to settle down there. Although I might have a theory as to why, but I was unsure if Master Kithran even managed to get his letter out before the Eclipse.
During the evening of this time, I walked back into the shattered remains of my village. A majority of the buildings were still standing and untouched but it was strange seeing them as quiet as the night that surrounded us. The Vanguard had just opened the way back into the village after they had searched the streets and discovered no remaining Cloaked hiding within the dark corners of town. The people were still weary so they chose to live close to the mines for at least a few more days. However, I chose not to join them, not just because of my pseudo exile, but I wished to come home as soon as I could. I stood by the door and simply stared. My heart was pumping faster and louder. As if my body hoped that if I opened this door, everything would still be the same as it was a week before this had happened. That I could simply smile and tell my father of stories that had happened in the mines, and he would tell me of his adventures out hunting. I let out a deep breath, and as my hands clutched against the door, I could hear rattling inside. My spine wraps in a cold chill as I instinctively burst through the door, hoping that noise was my father sneaking back in, but as I stared at the empty table, I could only see a rat seeking scraps of food before it was startled and ran away.
I let out a deep breath of disappointment before I stood by the door frame, taking in the silence of the abode. My home which was once full of life was now deathly silent. There was no use reminiscing about what was. I could only move forward. I steeled my resolve and marched upstairs, opening the door to my room and immediately reaching for my things. Although I only packed extra clothing, as they were the only thing I could possibly bring to the city. However as I continued to throw tunic after tunic into a bag, my eyes darted over the painting of my family.
"I'm sorry Mom, but I have to go now. If dad ever comes back, please scold him for me" I whispered, leaving a soft chuckle, and resting a hand over the visage of my mother before I took my things and left for the Vanguard fleet.
The seventh and last day came, and I took my first step on the gangway that lead upwards into one of the Vanguard ships, more specifically the Flagship that is the Golden Star. It was captained by both Maryanne and Esshiek themselves and I was specifically told to board this ship as a precaution so Maryanne and Esshiek can keep their eye on me. I don't blame them honestly, considering to them, I was still a ticking Primal Enesial bomb. I kept quiet as I boarded the ship but I was definitely left in shock and awe as I looked around the ship.
The ship itself wasn't widely massive but it was a long one. It sported two fins to the side that seemed to have held a crystalline orb in stasis. On the front of the ship seemed to be some sort of a contraption that some of the deck hands, more specifically Vael Machinists, were checking and doing some maintenance on it. On the opposite side, climbing a set of stairs was the towering control deck that looked over the whole ship, and behind it seemed to be closed sails that crowned the whole backside of the ship. I started to wonder what they were supposed to be for until a loud whistle blasted along the ship.
"SET SAIL! START THE REFINER AND OPEN THE AERO SAILS!" A woman yells from a balcony under the control deck as the sails opened and the machine at the front of the ship began to roar.
The sails flew open, yet instead of curving against the flow of the wind, they pushed against it. It was as if their material was not cloth nor canvas. Instead, they seemed to be made of this glass like substance that absorbed the wind as suggested by the grooves along their geometric patterns soon filling up with grey like glowing energy that is swallowed through the masts the sails were tied to. This flow of energy seemed to disappear under the ship and back out towards those crystal balls to the side of the ship, of which they began to glow and whistle with loud howling winds, shooting out a very strong gust of wind downward. The excess energy was sent further forward into the ship and into the machine I would only assume would be the Refiner as it starts to discharge a cloud underneath the ship.
Only when these three parts were working in unison would the ship start to float upwards. Lifted off the ground like it weighed nothing. Soon, as we reached a desired height, the ship started to move forward. Off to Coppergate. Off to my new life.