The price of madness vol.01 : Dream and Condemnation

Mask of Hope

The boy hadn't said a word since they left Milo Island. The idea of traveling alone with 113 didn't seem to particularly affect Brena, but parting ways with Keryll right after the loss of Ni'i... She wasn't sure it was a good idea. "I'll stay on board the Lionar. Something is going on and I need to clear it up as soon as possible. You continue the mission." Keryll had told them before they left. He and Brena therefore took the last frigate, after the Void ship disappeared, to reach their destination while the crew of the Lionar tried to keep the galleon afloat. Luckily for them, only the deck had been damaged this time and the hull was still holding up. The crew, on the other hand... More than half had disappeared.

The boy was always present for his training and did not lack energy nevertheless. They had just passed the "Dragon's Jaw", the entrance to the biggest river of Oshensta and their sea voyage would not be very long. They were to follow the river to the border with Burhia where they would disembark. Then they would follow this border to the northeast to reach the town of Silf.

On the one hand, the fewer they were, the more they would go unnoticed. Oshensta's empire was less harsh than its Fardian ally on foreigners, but war was still raging there against the War Sisters of Dayand, further east.

In the midst of it all, Brena didn't even quite know how to strike up a conversation with her teammate. He spent most of his time gazing at the stars, his face in the wind, expressionless.

"Want to talk a bit?" She approached, sitting next to him, against the railing of the bridge.

He didn't answer right away.

"I failed to save Princess Ulfara. I didn't save Commander Nar'Nil either. I killed Ni'i. I almost killed Keryll. If you hadn't protected me in the palace of Ambrios and on the island of Milo, I wouldn't be alive today. I think all is said."

"You didn't kill Ni'i. She knows it, I know it. Then it takes more to kill Keryll, believe me." She tried to comfort him. "And then you did your best for the Princess... You have a beautiful scar to remind you of it. As for Milia, she didn't need saving. She was a great fighter and it was fate that she ended her journey this way, that's all. I've seen her with my own eyes on the battlefield against the Void before and believe me, she didn't need saving at all..."

"Don't you hate me anymore?"

"No. I no longer have the right. You have suffered far too much for me to add more. I learned from you that I could move on."

He turned his gaze to her.

"And my face? I don't intend to hide it anymore..."

She smiles at him.

"If it can reassure you, I always found your mother's face beautiful... Although I prefer mine!"

He managed to laugh softly. She stood up and handed him his sword.

"Come, Sylph. We will soon reach our destination and you still need practice."

He grabbed the blade and pulled it from its sheath to look at the inscription engraved on it.

"Sylpheïd Nar'Oren. So be it." He added, sheathing it, a sad smile on his lips. "I'm counting on you."

After that, he seemed to regain a bit of the will to live, but Brena felt that was just his usual facade.

The river was a long corridor of quiet water winding deep into the lands of the continent of Asterite. They passed many other merchant ships in the opposite direction with whom they traded from time to time but apart from that the trip was rather quiet. Brena was never happier than when she stepped ashore for the last time. Knowing that they wouldn't have to board a ship again for a long time, she felt liberated. Unable to approach the towns aboard a frigate of the Sisters, they left them in a large plain by the river where a boat could dock. Luckily even the Oshensta Empire didn't dare to approach the Khairhanian Nocturnal lands, this one being populated by beings having pacted or born from the Void. These beings with the longevity of the world sent chills down everyone's spine, calling themselves the Immortal Realm and bathing in an ambiguous in-between. Void or Mortal ? Only the War Sisters allowed themselves to stand up to them because of their oath. That of fighting the Void in all its forms. Despite this, several attempts of reconciliation with Khairhania were launched but none ended favorably...