Storm of Fate

The twin moons shine brightly in the cloudless sky as Alexia looks over her fully repaired armor. The blacksmith, Renno, looks at the armor in all its restored glory.

“That’s quite big.” The man says with a whistle.

“It does have a lot of moving parts.” Alexia says as she begins to climb into the suit “Plus I have to get in as well.”

“I know you showed me the power source but I didn’t realize that you sat in the torso!” Renno exclaims in surprise as the armor closes around the young woman.

“Correct.” The inventor replies “I set it up this way so that my height in the armor is not too different than my height out of the armor.”

Alexia gives a few experimental clenches of the armor’s gauntlets. Then she gives a few experimental steps.

“Everything appears to be in order. At least to function well enough.” The inventor says before she begins to exit the armor.

“That’s it?” The blacksmith asks. He raises his arm as he continues “You didn’t even really do anything!”

“It was enough.” Alexia answers as she turns off the power source.

“Well-” Renno says sorrowfully with a titled head. He lifts his head and says in a more happy tone “If you’re ever around Telina again just let me know!” The man puts out a hand to Alexia as he adds “I’d like to see this impressive armor in action.”

Alexia looks at the man’s hand for a moment before putting her hand in his.

“If you are ever in Fenro I will show you my workshop.” She replies as they shake hands.

-- -- --

The sunrise bathes the dock in warm hues. The fully repaired galley is floating languidly in the sea behind Alexia, Roden, and the captain of the vessel.

“So the sickly lookin’ fellow isn’t comin’ back with you?” The captain asks the pair.

“No, he decided to stay behind.” Roden answers while Alexia walks on board the boat.

“And no other cargo to bring back either?” The older sailor inquires with a raised brow. Roden simply shakes his head in reply. “Well alright then!” He announces in a cheery tone “We’ll be off soon!”

Roden quickly steps on board at the exclamation and is stopped by Lyrina before he can get below deck.

“There is a storm out at sea.” Lyrina says as she grabs Roden’s arm. The doctor tightens her grip as she continues “We will be taking a different route to try to avoid it.”

“Alright.” Roden replies in confusion. The young man looks down at his arm as he inquires “Why are you telling me this?”

“Just, be careful.” The woman mutters before she lets go and walks over to the side of the boat.

-- -- --

Alexia is laying on a cot in the small room while Roden is sitting on the cot opposite her.

“Roooooooden.” The inventor groans “Can you cast that spell agaaaaaaaaain?”

“Huh?” Roden replies blinking a few times in confusion. “Oh yes! Just hold on.” He says with realization. The young mage steps over to her cot and moves once more as if he is casting a spell. He quickly rests a finger onto the back of Alexia’s neck before he says “There we go. You should be feeling better soon.”

Alexia gives Roden a side eye, a subtle hint to let him know she has suspicions of his “spell”.

“Thank you.” Is all the woman says however.

“I will be up on the deck.” Roden announces to his seasick friend. Alexia simply closes her eyes as the mage steps out.

Roden walks past a few sailors before reaching the stairs up to the deck above. The young mage is surprised to find the sky above to be gray and full of clouds instead of blue and sunny like it was before he went below deck.

Were they not avoiding the storm? Roden thinks as he walks over to a railing to get a better view of the horizon. He spots Lyrina and the captain looking out at the horizon already as he walks towards them.

“I don’t know sir.” Lyrina says to her captain, her voice full of concern. “It is as if the storm is following us.”

“Following us?” The captain replies with concern of his own “There’s only two things that can cause that to happen.”

“Yes,” The woman looks at the deck’s floor as she speaks “And neither is good.”

Before Roden can ask either of the sailors about what is happening a gargantuan tentacle slams into the deck, crushing it under the weight of its mass. In response the crew begins to yell and rush about. Rain begins to pour from the sky.

“What is happening!?” Alexia yells barely audible over the hectic din as she rushes up to the deck.

“Everyone hit that tentacle!” The captain shouts over the deck as the tentacle tightens around the vessel.

KRA-KOW!

Lightning surges through the sky as the rain falls more intensely while Alexia spots the lithobolos on the deck and runs over to it. She loads the siege weapon as quickly as a single person can. At the moment she finally loads the weapon, the creature that the tentacle is attached to raises its colossal head above the tumultuous waves.

“A kraken!?” Alexia shouts as her eyes go wide in terror. The inventor steels herself and takes aim at the beast before launching the large rock.

KRA-KOW!

Lighting strikes the water nearby as the rock smacks right next to one of the kraken’s eyes doing barely even superficial damage but definitely getting the creature’s attention for a moment. Another tentacle rises from the waters and slams down on top of the lithobolos crushing the weapon beneath its weight. Alexia, however, barely dodges the large appendage.

“What to do?” Alexia frantically asks aloud as she adjusts the straps around her shoulders.

Unfortunately for all onboard the kraken raises even more of its tentacles and wraps them around the much smaller ship.

CR-CREAK!

The galley begins to rapidly break apart from the force of the immense sea creature. A piece of mast crumples and slams right onto Alexia’s head, knocking her unconscious.

“ALEXIA!” Roden screams at the top of his lungs with an arm stretched out to his friend unable to truly do anything to reach her but still running towards her. “ALEXIA!” He continues to scream as a gap breaks all the space between the two friends.

KRA-KOW!

Lightning strikes multiple parts of the sea as the ship underneath Alexia gives way causing the unconscious woman to fall into the cold watery depths.

“ALEXIA!”