"War! Finally!" exclaimed Ty the Warlord. His hairy face broke into a grin as he shuffled the deck of cards at the worn-out pub. Despite its rundown appearance, this was the place that the former Navyman Ty always frequented.
"Could you please keep it down for a moment?" Baron Edmund urged, his fingers gripping his cards tightly. The baron, with his distinguished air, was a regular in these games.
"But is it true? Are we really on the brink of war?" Ty persisted, his weathered face framed by an eyepatch, curiosity evident in his voice."Yes, I'm afraid so..." Baron Edmund nodded, his expression grave. He leaned in and shared some of the inside information he had gathered through his connections with the royal family.
"Very well!" Ty exclaimed, his excitement causing the table to shake as he slammed his hand down. In his eagerness, he accidentally jostled a pale, raggedly dressed young girl seated nearby. With an annoyed glance, he scolded her, unintentionally causing her to rise and leave the table without a word.
The pub's owner, an equally grizzled figure, shouted at her to depart, revealing his obvious disdain.
Turning his attention back to the game, Ty confidently placed his cards on the table, hoping for a triumphant fifth victory. "This will be my fifth win, mark my words!"
However, luck seemed to have abandoned him as the baron revealed his hand, exposing Ty's loss. "Huh?! Impossible!" Ty's protest echoed through the pub, his disbelief palpable.
By the entrance, the young girl lingered, her pale features catching the light as she stared intently at Ty. "War..." she murmured softly under her breath, her voice carrying an eerie undertone.
---
Reclined in his personal boat, Ty gazed up at the vast expanse of the empty sky. The gentle rocking of the boat stirred memories of a time long past. The memories surged vividly - a time when he and his comrades had been trapped, hopelessly outnumbered. The enemy's colossal ship loomed before them, an ominous titan cutting through the waves, casting a chilling shadow.
The sight of the enormous enemy vessel was enough to strike fear into even the bravest hearts. Ty, the boisterous and steadfast leader of his men, strode forward. "Scared, lads?" His voice carried across the tense air, a mix of challenge and camaraderie. There was no need for his men to answer; the fear was etched on their faces. They had all dreamt of returning to their families, their wives, children, and mothers. But in that moment, with the enemy's ship closing in, their futures seemed grim and uncertain.
In a resolute voice that echoed with the authority of command, Ty delivered a speech that would stoke the flames of courage within his comrades. "Listen up, my brothers! We find ourselves at death's door, facing a foe that outnumbers us and outmatches us in size. We stand on the precipice of oblivion. But I say to you, let us not cower! Let us not be remembered as those who quaked in fear. No, my friends, let us seize this moment, for in this moment, we are truly alive. We may be destined to fall, but let our fall be one that resounds through the annals of history!"
His words were like a spark igniting the hearts of his men. They exchanged glances, their resolve solidifying. Ty's speech had kindled a fire within them, a fire that blazed with determination and valor.
---
Ty stirred and awoke on the shore. The crash of waves against the sand served as a stark reminder of the tumultuous sea battle. He sat up, blinking against the harsh light. He's accompanied by the lifeless bodies of both his men and enemy soldiers alike. He would soon realize that he's alone, the sole survivor of that fateful battle
---.
"Been more than a decade, huh?" Ty mused from the helm of his personal boat, a vessel that he alone had weathered countless waters with. He spoke to no one but himself, his voice carrying the rough edge of experience.
