Chapter 88: A Heartfelt Reunion! (Part 2!)


    As we walk forward on the paths of life, we rarely find them leading to the same place.


    And what is Vega’s path leading to, you might ask?


    Well, leading to someone’s grave.


    A hundred miles away from Uvi Jantok lies a small seaside township. One not too different from Cold Cavern, with a rugged and poor appearance. Except it was far breezier and more comfy, with warm sands and the glowing sun overhead.


    With the crystal clear waters and red leaf trees, you could come up with a thousand pleasant names for this town. However, the name Star Shine was one that anyone could hardly disagree with.


    Often, early in the morning, the sands twinkled and sparkled like stars, so it was accurate! A tropical paradise, a place people would love, but don’t need to visit.


    But now, after five months of work… This would be the meeting place of the party. Here, they were remarking on what they had accomplished and what they had yet to do.


    And here, they’d enjoy the last moments of peace before facing the future.


    “Are we there yet?”


    “No… no we’re not Skaldi.” Bolato called out from the front of the ship. A much more modest and smaller civilian boat, the party sailing from Core Civitus had a tin knit experience.


    “Skaldi, haven’t you asked that ten times already?” Valiato, who was busy staring at a school of fish beside them, turned to Skaldi.


    “Heh, that’s kind of the joke.” Relaxed and reclined on a thin fold out chair, Skaldi didn’t bother to move his head to face the kid. He had an NON ALCOHOLIC beverage in his hand, a sugary blue liquid with a cheap ruby placed in for the sake of looking cool.


    “~Want me to fill it up?~” Holding a large pitcher of the drink, it was actually Amir offering to pour some more out. Not only this, but the Tripolian was actually wearing a big braided sun hat. Of course he didn’t take of his turban, but this was a nice look for him.


    And surprisingly, his make up had changed. In all the years the Tripolian had been with the team, he had never changed his green makeup. But now, both he and Valiato were wearing a more turquoise emerald. Perhaps to the untrained eye, the makeup might look the same, but Skaldi could instantly tell.


    A lot had changed for them. More than Skaldi could take note.Skaldi felt more muscular, and perhaps a little wider. He still had his feminine style and features, but with a little more statuesque shape.


    Bolato (much to Skaldi’s liking) had become a wide and buff shape. He still had a big belly (also to Skaldi’s liking) but the main changes were to his gear, having been granted the honor of wearing centurion armor. This made him shine and gleam in the sun, and also pretty hot.


    Not in the homosexual way, I mean like to touch him? I’m already digging myself a hole, moving on!


    Valiato had actually grown a lot taller since they were last here, and Skaldi could feel that she was going to tower over him pretty soon. He thought of getting an artist, to capture how they all looked before she got too big.


    She might become as tall as Amir, who had the least amount of changes compared to them all. He had the same tactics, same stature and hidden face. But perhaps it was less with his body and equipment, and more posture. A tad bit more calm, less of a teacher. Skaldi imagined that Amir was planning to finish off lessons with Valiato.


    Perhaps Amir was getting ready to die.


    His eyes didn’t blink the same, his movements a bit more careful. As he held out his cup, Amir poured the pitcher with both his hands even though he was strong enough to do it with one. He wasn’t getting slow or worried, but more thoughtful. Reflective.


    The elf wondered what he should say. Was this learned, elder, and long lived Tripolian scared? Scared that he should die? That he would?


    Sitting up in his seat, Skaldi smiled and nodded to the Tripolian, who nodded back. Although he knew he needed to improve himself, he couldn’t forget about the ones that are here too. Lest he forget what made him change.


    “Hey Valiato? What’s the first thing you want to ask Florato when we get there?” Skaldi said to the open sky, with Valiato running up to his long chair. She was giddy with a thousand questions, however she chose just one.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    “I want to ask her how to play the ocarina.” Valiato jumped up and down for a moment, and Skaldi’s eyes opened wide and he turned fast to her.


    “Ocarina? I thought you might want to ask her how to dance or maybe the guitar? Why the ocarina?” Setting down his drink, Skaldi got up and sat in front of her. His face was that of disbelief and he had shaken his head a couple times after hearing it.


    “Well why not?” Valiato spoke with pride and shrugged. She almost seemed like she was joking with him, but her eyes let on that she wasn’t.


    “Doesn’t seem like your style. Seems more… too calm than you?” Skaldi wove his hand around before tapping Valiato’s nose.


    “That’s racist Skaldi. Just because she has a Tripolian dad doesn’t me-”


    “Shut up Bolato! I didn’t even mean it like that!” As Skaldi finished speaking, he could only hear his hearty laughs.


    “What does racist mean Skaldi?” She squinted one eye at the elf, unsure of the word that everyone says in this place but not getting an actual answer.


    “I got no fucking clue kid. B-but that’s not the point. Why the ocarina?”


    “...I think I like… kind of sounds like you?” The kid’s head tilted, in that way  sincerity that you can’t fake or manufacture. As Valiato said it, Skaldi’s heart warmed and cooled.


    “Oh Valiato.” Skaldi nearly fell out of his seat, so touched by her reasoning.


    “~Did you say something absolutely adorable kid?~” Amir also yelled out.


    “~I think so.~” Valiato confirmed.


    “~You should do that more often.~” Amir yelled again.


    “You… you really think that?” The elf leaned towards her, holding his chest.


    “Yeah… cause you sound cool. I think.” Valiato shrugged, embarrassed by how serious Skaldi was taking this.


    “That just might be the best thing I’ve ever heard.” Skaldi fell back onto his chair and looked up in the amazing sky above.


    “Well, its true. You’re pretty cool.” Having enough of the redhead’s sentiment, Valiato walked away and back to looking at the fish. As she did, Skaldi looked at her glad that he sounded cool and reminded her of an ocarina. He grabbed his drink and begin to rest again.


    Gently savoring the drink, Skaldi felt the cool wind begin to die down. He breathed in and enjoyed it as long as it lasted. And as soon as it ended Skaldi finished his drink and rose up, then came to Bolato’s side.


    Not in the homosexual way, god fucking damn it! Why do I keep on doing this?


    The redhead leaned on the soldier’s shoulder, which made them both chuckle slightly. Bolato’s gaze didn’t change, with his eyes only widening.


    “Hey… I think we’re almost there.” The soldier let go of the ship’s wheel and stood back, admiring the village in the distance.


    “…it’s been nearly half a year since we left…” Brushing the back of his head, Skaldi could hardly believe it. So much had changed, yet so little. So much time had passed, yet not much at all.


    “Hey, we did good work back there. You did good work.” Bolato gave Skaldi’s head a light push, making them both laugh.


    Looking at the village before them, Skaldi imagined the course of time as a river and their few months as but a single drop in it.


    He also imagined what Florato or Sorbet might say about that. Maybe Florato would say he’s getting pretty poetic or Sorbet would wonder the fuck’s a river.


    Eventually he got to Vega, and he wondered the longest about her. Not that he was worried about her and what might have happened, but scared himself.


    That his efforts would not match hers.


    Sure, it might be foolish to compare yourself to a scarecrow. But this scarecrow was remarkably human. Or sentient to be more inclusive of a term. Fuck sake, I forget there are more sentient people and shit.


    Yet Vega was not of ordinary sentience. Not even as an insult, Vega’s abilities and perceptiveness on things was totally unique to her that it would be hard to mistake that. And last time he was here, Vega had managed to do magical feats that had never seen before or since.


    He took a long look, at Valiato and Amir, enjoying the


    “Are you thinking about something?” Wrapping his arm around his neck, Bolato whispered into Skaldi’s ear.


    “Yep.”


    “Is it about yourself and how you don’t feel enough and that you’re short and girly and blah blah-“ Making a mocking mouth with one of his hands, Bolato rolled his eyes and smiled. Although Skaldi laughed and understood the gesture, he felt a little hurt from it.


    “Okay okay! Oh my gods! Bolato, it’s easy for you to say that. It’s hard for me to deal with it.” Skaldi faked a punch to his cheek (which one, I’ll let you decide) and crossed his arms.


    “Hey, I’ve been right next to you this entire time. I’m your number one… so what are you thinking?” Briefly, Bolato didn’t look eye to eye with Skaldi, but held his shoulders tight and firm. And as he leaned forward to Skaldi, Bolato made a firm smile.


    “…I don’t know… bit uneasy… it’s not that I feel like I’m not trying hard or I haven’t changed. Alright? But, left behind? Do you get what I mean?” Looking down and darting his eyes back and away from Bolato''s gaze, Skaldi spoke softly.


    “...yeah. I get that.” Letting go of Skaldi and walking to the side of the ship. Bolato’s gaze changed from the strong and brave face to a more thoughtful and unsure one. While initially Skaldi felt scared that this always composed hero had a moment of weakness, he started to feel better.


    That his minor worry was justified, that it was a valid thing to feel. While it was solving his problem, he felt better that he could share it with him.


    “Come on Skaldi! You bested the meanest warriors out there. You got a smart brain and some guts not too many guys out there got!”


    “Yeah…thanks sweetie.”


    “No worries hubby.”


    Taking out a small object from his back of handing, Skaldi held it up and stretched out his arm.


    In his palm was a rusty axe head, about the size of his forearm and with Galtian runes made of sapphire.


    Skaldi’s stunned Soul Gem.


    If there was something to help close the gap, to close the distance between what Vega could do and what he could do, this was it.


    A Soul powered with purpose.