A Crumbling Society

Part 2-17

Several of those kids had things to say about me as well, they knew things I didn't even tell them. I know information travels fast and everyone is going to gossip about me but for them to be accusatory, it actually hurt. Where would they have even heard any of it from since I spent four days at Ankastle and the only one I think knew I was coming was Miss Halavitt. It seems there wasn't anything that could have been done to stop what happened. And If I am the one having premonitions then, it makes sense why I'm the one that's still here. I haven't even had a single dream since I got here either, that's been suspicious only I wrote it off because I thought it was extreme exhaustion. Maybe I can see if there's a way to check in on Earthworld, but I'd need magic to do so. The frustration building inside me is overwhelming, my breathing eased itself in shorter intervals. Another panic attack and I'm completely alone for this one. Looking around didn't help, there's nothing to calm me down and not a single thing pleasing about the landscape. One split second of thinking diving into the water would help but I didn't feel it would go well. Kind of remembered how I felt in the water when I arrived at Ankastle, only I didn't want to get stuck again. Minutes passed and my breathing returned like nothing was wrong, thinking of actual nothing helped but I'm still stuck with all these questions and theories. A questionable overwhelming guilt that I shouldn't have, but I'm here, nonetheless. The biggest thing is that I'm here at all and I still don't know what it means. Tears started and I dipped my head into my knees, cupping my ears to drown out the world. I started hollering, it sounded half as loud because my ears are covered but it felt right. It felt like the boat amplified the sound as well because there was a small vibration to the screams. Taking turns to get it out and then uncovering my ears, I looked around just because, already knowing nobody would have heard me anyway. Still only me in sight and I kept taking turns rowing and relaxing as I moved across the water.

Even though I'm physically fit, an hour of rowing started to kill my body since my muscles were beginning to burn. I took a break, looking around there still wasn't a whole lot to see. Mountains blocked anything in view other than the sky and the water, a nice breeze kept blowing itself into me. A bit overcast but not too many clouds to keep the light from the sun to stop illuminating the area. In retrospect, this was honestly peaceful just being by myself. There are no people or creatures, no interruptions and certain impending doom felt pretty far away, it was nice. I laid myself down to see if I could doze off since sleep was hard to come by now and after a while, nothing. The boat did well enough with the breeze that it sped on over the water by itself. This could be an ideal life, to live alone and have nothing and nobody bother me if the world gets saved. I'd consider leaving everything behind for good, I have enough money, even though I wouldn't need it. Retiring in Earthworld sounds promising but I'm not sure where I'd go, Valsyri would be nice too, but same problem. If there was a way to make my own pocket dimension, then I'd definitely go with that. Leaving sounds right, it makes the most sense, to me at least. I also don't know what there is to go back to, no Legion, no heroes mostly. I left this place behind so long ago that it would be kind of awkward to just come right back out of the blue. Then again, I didn't exactly have the Legion anyway, and left the hero life altogether too. Strange how I was fine without any of it but now I need it, yet all these things keep happening and getting in the way. Maybe when all this is over, I'll just officially leave everything behind, retire from heroics as well. Enticing, but there has to be a world to so, so maybe I'll stick to whatever this is supposed to be for now.

Another hour went by, and I decided to jump in the water for a minute to cool off. Even though the sun was partial it was still burning hot outside, and the mountains made this lake feel like a kiln. Even wearing a cloak in the middle of all this didn't help either. The water was nice, in fact, it was cool, and I didn't want to get out, but I had to. If I stayed, then the boat would carry itself away with the current and I can't afford to lose even a measly little boat. Hoisting myself back up in the compartment took some effort since there wasn't anything to press off of. I must've pulled the side down harder than I thought because some water got into the bottom but not too much. It actually cooled off the entire thing which made sitting here way more tolerable. There wasn't much I could think of thinking about anymore since I'd been on the water for so long. Valtera had to be close at this point, hopefully, and then I could figure that out. I didn't exactly know if there was a port or not if they needed one or not as well. It might make sense, a lot of vampires traveled Earthworld's waters before they came to Valsyri. Massive ships with impeccable carvings and detail that would put other architects and artists to shame sailed the seas. Once Valsyri passed vampire laws they made sure to bring them in and their vessels, that's why we don't really see ships anymore, that and the pirate style died out too, mostly. There's a theory that huge figures in human society never truly died and that they just went to the magic realm instead because they were vampires. I've never met any but did studies on them so that we were informed. Ankastle did experience a vampire war at one point, I wonder if any figure heads led the attack. The air changed, going from hot to warm and then cool in an instant. I looked over my shoulder to see full on black clouds beginning to peak over the mountains. There were a few things flying in the air and lightning teased the sky in intervals. That must be Valtera.