Mirdovia: The White Raven

Chapter 5: The Mystery of One's Grief

Aasrena returns to Ada with the basketful of medicine, but Aasrena only stays long enough to see Moira's condition get better. After that Aasrena went to the docks in the middle of the night. She found Captain Jackson and convinced him to let her board his ship as a passenger.

The next day Jackson would set sail with Aasrena and his crew aboard and that was that. Aasrena waited six years for the moment to avenge her mother. This journey at sea would bring her one step closer.

With the sun high in the sky, no clouds in sight, Aasrena gazes out over the waters. Watching the ripples come and go as the boat sways with the waves. Despite liking the sea and aboard a friendly ship she felt the sense of guilt drenched over her entire body. Thicker and heavier than any known liquid ever could achieve. The one simple thought she couldn't shake. She left Moira behind without a goodbye.

Aasrena steps away from the window and takes a seat in one of the many chairs lying around Jackson's Quarters. As she sits down the door opens up and in steps Jackson himself. Not bothering to hide to arrival with loud footsteps and closing the door behind him.

He pulls of his hat and hangs it on the hook by the door. He looks over and sees Aasrena sitting with her hands holding up her head. Her little raven found a high shelf to sleep on. "Grief is a bothersome foe, my friend." Says Jackson as he finds a seat next to Aasrena. "I see it within your mind like a violent storm. How it ceases to relent."

Aasrena sits up and rests her hands in her lap. She stays quiet a moment as she tries to find the words to respond with. "Was it the right choice?" She says quietly. Her eyes fixated on the ground. "She was angry that I was leaving. She ends up poisoned. I get her supplies and leave before she awakens." Aasrena sighs and runs her hands through the entirety of her black hair and returns them back to her lap. Clearly frustrated with herself she returns to silence.

No other words were needed for Jackson to hear. "I'll give you advice from a fishing pirate." Jackson gets up and wanders over to a far cabinet. He opens it up and reveals two thin blades crossed in a 'X' formation on the back wall. Under the swords are various dark glass bottles of many shapes and sizes resting on a long shelf. Each of them with a different cork to keep the contents in. Aasrena's focus shifts to the swords on the wall.

Jackson grabs a bottle off the shelf and walks it over to his desk. "Grief is everyone's problem at some point or another. I've been a pirate for nineteen years. Captain of The Sea Reliquary for fifteen of those years. I've dealt with my fair share of grief and regrets in that span."

Aasrena turns her gaze off the swords and towards Jackson. He sets the bottle down on the desk and uncorks it. "On every terrible night where I felt consumed by grief i'd come in here and take only one drink." He pours out the dark liquid into a glass and slides it across the table. "The one drink is enough to burn your senses. Cleanse your thoughts of burdens. The one drink reminds you there is more than grief. There is pain, but it subsides."

Jackson then puts the cork back on the bottle. Places the beverage back into the cabinet and closes it up. "Aasrena, grief is vital to our minds as much as the next emotion, but we can't let it rule our choices forever. Take the drink."

Aasrena stands up from her seat and walks over to the desk. She slowly picks up the small glass of the dark liquid and looks it over a moment before downing the whole glass in one throat burning chug. She places the glass back down while her eyes water up from the burn and she looks Jackson in the eyes with a dead stare. "Train me to use those swords."

Back on solid ground within the town lines of Torakor; Moira slowly awakens for the first time in nearly four days. She groans upon sitting up. Feeling a slight needle like pain in her stomach. When she opens her eye she finds she's in an unfamiliar area. "That bad, huh?" She tells herself.

"That bad indeed." Ada calls out as she enters the room with a cup of water. "Poisoned in fact. You would have died if not for Aasrena grabbing your medical supplies."

Moira's eyes light up upon hearing the name of her friend. "Azzy? Is she still here?" As quickly as her emotions ran high is as quickly as they fell. Ada shook her head and pointed to a letter rolled up on Moira's nightstand. "Oh.." Moira mutters to herself.

Across the continent to the sand kingdom stands a single building with a spring flowing around it. A man in a faded set of red and brown robes stumbles into the building clutching his sides. His hands turned crimson and stained from his own blood. A hood pulled over his face to hide his expressions, but he collapses in the doorway.

Someone already inside drags the collapsed traveller into the building.