1:00 AM - Doomspace
We've grown closer. All of us, our party of strange people bound by the desire to save Thoril and do the right thing. I like them. I wouldn't mind dying next to them. I won't say so, though, but I hope the way I fight shows that I don't wish to lose any of them.
Right now, we're trying to bring together armies for Doomspace to fight against Xaryxis. Insane, right? I agree. I however see no better idea, for how to fight the Xaryxian army without an army of our own?
Tomorrow, we'll go down in the ring and figth champions for the right to recruit an army of Doomspace factions. Four of us will go: Victor, Sayaka, Grimzod and I. Xedalli and Linian are staying back, and Elaine won't leave Linian again. I am relieved it is the four of us who volunteered. I trust Sayaka and Victor with my life. As for Grimzod- how could I possibly die away from him?
I sold Hastain's necklace. It felt like chapter of my life closing, as if I've finally climbed high enough that there is a chance that we may do something worthwhile. I wish with all my heart to win against Xeleth and save Thoril, but truly, I have no idea what we will face in the arena. I am terrified.
I feel like, in a way, my whole life has culminated to this moment. I could've -should've died in the dragonfly crash, years ago. I got a second chance at life. A chance at trying harder, fighting harder. A chance to do something with myself.
I don't regret anything.
Hyacinthus Valerian
9PM - Astral Sea
I'm not alone anymore, in a way. Princess Xedalli and Linian have been with us for a bit now, and so has Grimzod. I get along well with Linian, but he's more interested in spending time with Xedalli and Elaine. I don't blame him. I'm too scared of Xedalli to talk to her. She knows I'm a traitor, I can see it in her eyes, despite us being on the same side now. I'm terrified of what she could do. The others don't trust her, though Victor seems to have an interest in her. I am happy that they do not believe her every word.
Grimzod laughs loudly and smiles with his eyes. We've talked more. I even told him a bit about Phoebus. About the way my body has broken in more ways than one. My armor supports me daily, but it is still a strain to live this way. An old part of me wishes I could see him with both of my eyes.
He's told me about himself too. He's lost much, just as I. His mask hides as much as my armor does: old wounds bound by bad luck and forces we could not control. He's lost his father not very long ago, which I know still hurts him.
I like him still, and I know that he knows. We don't speak of it. There is no time, when we could die moments later. I don't mind it as much. I treasure the little moments we do get to spend together in peace.
Please, let us survive this.
Hyacinthus Valerian
Midnight - Astral Sea
I can't stop thinking about what Hastain said. He's dead now, but his words rang true.
I am a traitor and a failure. I fight and survive, but truly, is betraying my kind worth it? They'll hunt me down, hurt me, cut me up until I lose more than an arm and my leg's mobility. Phoebus was only the beginning. Am I wrong seeking kindness and fairness? Other people, other Xaryxians, think otherwise. They wish to kill Thoril for us to survive. For my people. Fuck, are they even my people? I've left them so long ago, but it still hurts.
I can't say I am alone, but I cannot say that I don't feel lonely. The others don't come from Xaryxis. They don't know our enemies like I do. I fear we won't survive. A few of us, against an entire empire? It's ludicrous.
We might have killed Hastain, but worse will come. We'll be outnumbered the second that they realise that we may be a threath.
Elaine hasn't left her cabin. I don't dare go below deck. The stars comfort me, here. Sayaka's smoking. Victor's moving around. I'm not sure what they're thinking.
My armor weighs heavy on me. I wish I could remove it, but I'm too scared something else will come for us in the night while we are stranded. We'll need to keep watch.
May tomorrow bring hope.
Hyacinthus Valerian
Epilogue - Sorrow
Sorrow doesn't understand space pirates. Pirates should kill and plunder, not rescue surivors on a torn apart escape ship. Certainly, they should not offer him a place on board their ship as one of their one. The Captain, a vampire wearing a mask of silver, proudly listed off the rules of the ship to Sorrow, stunned and barely understanding that he would survive and not die off of hunger deep in the astral sea. The crew, a very small group of barely a dozen, laughed between themselves at the first rule, one of them explaining in a loud whisper that the no eating each other rule was a vestige of when the crew was fully made of vampirates.
Captain Grimzod Sartell's crew is strange, Sorrow thought to himself again and again. None seemed to be siblings, and few shared a similar race. They did not seem murderous, and offered Sorrow a hamac and fresh food instead of a sword through the heart. Grimzod likes to chant the accomplishments of his crew, but the way he says it makes Sorrow believe that they are tall tales. The crew whispers that their captain and the navigator once stopped the Xaryxian empire. Sorrow has trouble believing that they could, considering how kind they've been to him.
Sorrow's come to understand Grimzod, in a way. The man's kind and courageous, despite his wild displays of confidence. He jumps into danger and boards ships like nothing can touch him-and nothing has, with his magic and his navigator. The navigator, an astral elf named Hyacinthus, he understands less. He does not talk much, though he does hang out with the crew late at night, a peaceful smile on his face. He's reserved, but not unkind. While Grimzod delights in telling tales of his lost hand and previous adventures, Synth simply shakes his head when Sorrow asks him what happened to his arm, which is made of dark armor. The navigator and the captain are dating, the crew explains, which Sorrow is puzzled by for a moment, until he catches the small kisses Synth manages to sneak on Grimzod's cheek when he thinks no one's watching. They share the captain's quarters, but Sorrow's never been yet.
So far, his new life has been peaceful. They havent found a rich ship to board, or unlucky travellers such as sorrow. Synth's been giving instructions to the spelljammer to get to Braal, but it's still far away. The astral elf is scarily good at his job. In fact, Sorrow is kind of scared of Synth. He's noticed the way his armor shifts on his body to accommodate his movements. What is he doing here, with the space pirates? What is his armor for?
Then, they do find a ship to steal from. Sorrow's terrified. He's never fought anything or anyone, but as a fresh pirate, he's gotta go with them. Grimzod leads the way, jumping on the ship with grace. He goes last, but their enemies quickly catch on that he's the weakest link. Two fall onto him, and Sorrows drops his shortsword. It is then that Synth drops down from their ship, his armor growing on him like plants, a golden crystal longsword in hand, a heavy shield in the other. A calm fury brews on his face as he effortlessly kills Sorrow's attackers. Everything clicks in Sorrow's mind. He has no reason to be scared of Synth. He's on their side. During the rest of the fight, Synth guards his side, making sure Sorrow doesnt get ambushed.
Once the enemies are mostly tied up and that the cargo is secured, Grimzod throws his arms around Synth. The crew cheers. there's enough food, goods and money here to last them months of peacful travel. A new warm feeling blooms in Sorrow's chest. Here's he could belong. He could fit right here, with this strange family of outcasts lead by the strangest men of all. Yeah, Sorrow's definitely going to be sticking around. Perhaps space pirates aren't as strange as he'd first thought.
