Faywell Empire

Lost Boy's Layer

AN: I originally wrote this chapter back in January (2023) and it's now September. I read back and realised how many errors there were so I've now fixed the errors and changed it all up a bit. I have much more planned for Faywell aempire but haven't had time to write. I've recently got back into writing again so I hope to upload more chapters soon. I hope you enjoy reading ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝⋆˙⟡♡
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Waves were gushing like waterfalls, smashing against the rocks. The sea seemed to be anything but calm. The clouds were dark and heavy, the only light being a soft amber glow from a ship in the distance. Quietly, sitting on a rock is Emory tuning his bow. He notices the ship rolling towards the island and in a hurry runs back to the island tower informing Obi of what's happening. By Obi's instructions, Emory walks to the edge of the island to fire a warning shot at the incoming ship. Still, the ship only gets closer. It's only when the ship is about 15 metres away that Emory realises how big it actually is.

The remainder of the crew on the island now stand together, forming a small circle. They all stand staring wide-eyed at the incoming ship. It comes to a sudden stop. No shouts, no gunshots, no arrows being fired, nothing. Evelyn, a half-elf wizard decides to step forward in order to cast detect magic. Nothing out of the ordinary is to be seen. Swiftly, the door on the ship swings open. Out steps a tall man with dark brown eyes, he has snow-white hair with streaks of silver. He wears a black jacket with a high collar, a deep brown waistcoat, dark leather knee high boots, and grey baggy trousers. Instead of a left hand he has a hook, he wears a round, dome-like hat with a light grey feather sticking out the top. He carries two sabre swords on a strap over his shoulder.

Obi shouts out to the odd man "What brings you to our Island, why are you here?"
The man replies, strangely not with an answer but instead with another question. "Say, what did you name this place?" He looks up at the tower in a great amount of awe. "I came here to find you. All of you." He is now looking at the other five who are still stood closely together, whispering to each other.
Greg is the first to speak. "Us? What you want with us?"
"Well, I frequently sail past and can't help but notice how you never seem to be doing much, so I came to offer you all a place on my ship."
Greg is about to accept the sailor's offer before Grace steps in. "Give us some time to talk about it if you may. Tell me, who are you?"
He stands up taller and proudly introduces himself. "I'm Finn. Captain Finn of the Mourningstar. And you are...?"
"Grace. This is Obi, Crazy Greg, Emory, Evelyn, and Sage."

After only a minute or so of discussion, the crew decide to accept Finn's offer and join him. Everyone follows Finn onto the ship. However, left behind is Sage. Sage seems sceptical but eventually decides to go ahead and follow the others. She bad no choice, either she follow the others or be left alone once again.
Finn glances at Sage, he can see the fear in her eyes.  "You know, no one answered my question earlier, what do you call this place?"
Sage was becoming increasingly anxious. "Lost boy's Layer. No one here really had anywhere to go so we all came to this island. Back in Atlantis we were all seen as outcasts but here I guess we can be whoever."
Finn was intrigued. The ship was now leisurely sailing away from Lost Boy' Layer.  "You're not the only one who feels like an outcast."
Grace smiles a little upon knowing Finn feels the same. "How come?"

Finn stares into the distance to pause and think.
Growing up Finn was the oldest of nine siblings. Due to being the oldest he was expected to do things on his own without the help of anyone else. He was never truly taught how to look after him self or others, it was one of the many things he was left to teach himself. Finn's needs were neglected and ignored throughout his whole childhood. When he was 16, he decided to confront his parents about the neglect he had faced for all those years. This all resulted in him being told to leave and never come back. That's precisely what he did. He built a ship and called it "Mourningstar" and for just over two years, he's been sailing the great Lanat sea. For a long while he enjoyed the peace that came with sailing alone. That all changed when one day he came across Lost Boy's Layer, he felt a sense of loneliness upon observing how happy the crew of the island always looked. Ever since then, he made it his own little mission to have the people of Lost Boy's Layer as his crew mates.
Finn turns back to sage. "Life at home wasn't the best as I had many siblings. No one was really there for me so I used the sea as my escape."

Evelyn overhears the conversation and joins in. "I didn't have a good childhood either. I was always known as the 'gifted kid'. My friends and family knew this. They'd always ask me to use my magic to their advantage, constantly leaving me drained. The only thing they ever saw in me was my gifts and talents, not who I really was. I couldn't take it any more and decided to run away. That's when I met Grace."
Grace reassuringly pats Evelyn's shoulder. "Me and Evelyn both ran away for similar reasons. My family saw the power I was capable of and tried making me use it for evil. After I couldn't even kill a rabbit I decided crime and murder was not the life I wanted to choose. That's when I decided to leave."

The others are now closely gathered around. Emory is the next to speak. "I was always pressured into fighting in battle and war. I may like fighting but I have a soft heart when it comes to fight until the death. Despite my looks, I'm a rather sensitive person. I didn't want to stay around death and constantly watch people get hurt for no real reason. I then decided to gather my weapons and leave. I knew of Lost Boy's island as I'd often sail past it when on my way to the next tournament. I knew I'd be welcomed to Lost Boy' Layer."
Finn's eyes start to well up from hearing all the stories. "What about you Greg?"
Grace explains how when Greg was a child he got physically and emotionally abused causing his brain not to develop properly resulting in him having memory loss.

Greg subtly gave Grace a side eye. "When I was a baby, a couple of drunk druids cast a spell on me which made me immortal. I hope to one day undo this spell although as soon as I do, I know my death will be near. With no more family or friends left I felt really lonely so I came here where I met Obi and then everyone else."
Finn asks who had been in Lost Boy's Layer for the longest in which Obi replies. "I've been here the longest. I never truly fitted in anywhere on the main island of Atlantis. Everyone saw me ans assumed I was a girl. Although, I'm a man. Here everyone knows I'm a man, I feel safer here."

Finn looks at all the others with a great amount of understanding. "I see why you all went to that island now. I can promise you, if you sail with me you'll never have to go back to your old life again. We can all sail the great Lanat sea together. What do you say, will you join me in travelling?"
Everyone apart from Grace all cheers. Grace nods her head, somewhat affirming her desicion to join Finn.
"Everyone go and get some sleep, the rooms are already set up for you just down those steps in the cabin, I'll keep watch through the night."
Finn casts Alarm around the cabin so he knows when someone (or something) enters or leaves the cabin. He looks off into the distance before he grabs the wheel and takes control of the ship, leading them deeper into the ocean. The wind blew through his silky hair, the waves were steady and peaceful.

The sea was dead but Finn had never felt more alive.