Awakening (1)

“Oh, thank Albion, you made it!” A piercing shriek unlike a banshee’s shattered my eardrums as Ais rushed over to me, her body colliding into my aching body with a loud smack.

“Argh… it….hurts!” I could only groan out in pain, my hands pawing at her back in a desperate attempt to free myself, but to no avail. Her grasp had always been titanic, ever since we were young. A brief smile had graced my face when a nostalgic memory briefly passed through my mind, but I quickly frowned it away. Her ego would grow even larger if she saw it.

“Why did you go ladderless! I thought you didn’t want to risk it!” Dark ruby globes stared into my soul as she released me, once again allowing me to breathe freely. Her long silver hair ran wildly down her back, her black uniform smelling that of a faint flower. That was a good question. I don’t even know why myself. Was it because I got peer pressured into it? Or was there something deeper that resided in me that still barely held on? Why did I do it?

“I…wanted… to… try…” I forced my words out in between heavy breaths, half believing myself as I tried to relax. I clutched my chest as shocking pain traveled throughout my body, the lasting effects of the climb and hug catching up to me.

“Wait, they haven’t healed you yet?!” I watched from the corner of my vision as the panicked visage of my sister reached into a leather pouch saddled on the side of her black coat dress. Within a few more moments, she produced a small glass flask, halfway filled with a crimson red liquid. She swiftly uncorked it, and softly grabbed my jaw with her open gloved hand.

“Hold still!” I had involuntarily shuddered from what was rapidly coming. It was quick as she began to pour the flask’s content into my mouth. The intense bitterness of the liquid began to flood my senses, burning the inside of my throat. I could barely hold on. Damn healing potions. At least make it taste edible! I forced myself to swallow the dreadful liquid as Ais placed the empty vial back into her pouch.

“So…disgusting…” I tried to spat out curses, but I could feel the effect of the potion beginning to quickly take hold over my body. The quiet aching and pain slowly dissipated as a peaceful numbness enveloped me. Within seconds, I felt healed and healthy once again.

“Might be gross but it helps ya. Don’t expect another from me if you get hurt again though.” Ais smiled lightly as she checked for any lasting scars.

“I’ll try not to. Will be pretty hard to be honest.” Especially since we were going to the quite possibly most dangerous place in our country, but I didn’t say that out loud. Once she finished looking, she backed off, straightening herself with a familiar glint in her deep red eyes. I could easily recognize it. It was a look mixed with melancholy and worry.

“What? Worried about me?” I tried to lighten the mood that had suddenly turned into a somber note. Didn’t seem to work though, as her face was still plastered with that strange look.

“Of course I am.” She paused, her voice slightly wavering as she lowered her tone.

“You haven’t prepared for this for a long time, Alex. And I really don’t want to lose you too. ” Even when her soft voice was laced with concern, it still stung a little to hear those words. Even if it was true, and I shouldn’t be risking my life for this. I had stopped trying years ago. I was behind basically every candidate going to Albius.

Especially to those who have been training in advanced swordwork or heaven forbid, magic. So why am I continuing on this path? I was struggling to find an answer within my soul, some excuse I could give to my own twin sister. I could feel my hand involuntary balling into a tight grip, hidden under the cover of my bed. Seeing me struggle in silence, Ais just coughed loudly as she got backed off my bedside.

“Whatever. You should be good enough for a cliffside Destiny.” She slowly walked over towards the open door, her back turned towards me. I tried to say something, but I hesitated. There wasn’t much I could say that could properly convey what I was feeling. I could only watch her leave out from the open door, slamming it as she left.

“Damn it.” I sighed out as I laid back onto the bed, staring at the wooden ceiling.

-

After Ais left, I continued to rest in my room. Healing with a potion wasn’t some kind of miracle, there were side effects for using it. Thankfully not painful, just mildly inconvenient things like nausea, faint dizziness, and exhaustion. The trip to Albius should take a bit, and since I was now in the Crimson group, I guess I had the privilege to stay shut in my room the entire way.

Not like I was going to, though. I wanted to see what the famed Warship of Albion was truly like. Ais probably looked through each nook and cranny already though. I lightly chuckled to myself at that image. Our relationship had once been unbreakable, unshakable. But it had shattered easily when the news about our mother came.

Now we could barely talk to each other for long. Even if we still cared for each other, our paths had diverged. I slacked off from my studies and training, while she became and grew to be the next shining star of the empire, aside from the golden prince.

Albius is the first time in years that our paths reconvened. But do I really have the strength to join her again? I shook my head at the thought. Most definitely not.

“Still have to try though.” It was a long lost whisper that resounded in my head. It was nostalgic, like a breath of forgotten memories resurfacing briefly from the deep dark recesses of my mind. It was comforting, but painful. I ignored the surging emotions that boiled within my heart, and forced my eyes shut.

I couldn’t face my feelings right now.

-

The moment I regained consciousness, I could see small rays of faint light entering through the cracks of the wooden ship cabin. Looks like it's early morning. I had no idea or clue how long I had been resting. But judging from my neatly folded uniform that rested on the desk beside the bed, it had to be a day or even two.

“Damn it!” I cursed silently to myself as I pulled myself off the bed, grabbing the clothes in one swift motion. Thankfully the ship appeared to still be moving, judging by the rhythmic rocking of the cabin, but I wasn’t too sure. I needed to get ready and check though. I proceeded to quickly change into my uniform, the years of practice coming in handy and I managed to change in a few quick moments. I didn’t bother to fix any creasings as I walked over to the cabin door. I opened it this time without any hesitation, basking myself in the sun’s light once again.

When my eyes adjusted themselves from the sudden change of brightness, I could only gasp from the sight. An expanse of dark blue, brightened from the golden sphere that flew far above in the sky. A sight I hadn’t seen, but also familiar to the sight from my home. It felt different, and was different this time. I shook my head though. It wasn’t the time to reminisce, I had to check out what’s currently happening.

This time, I was really trying huh? I don’t know what spark relit inside of me, but it felt almost liberating as I took a step out of the door and onto the ship’s small and compact hallway.

“Woah.” I gasped out as I took in the view around me, my vision widening as I escaped from the dark clutches of my cabin. It looked like I was in one of the top quarters of the ship, as I was very high up and close to the stern.

Far below me, on the front of the giant deck were the uniformed forms of my fellow ascendents, congregated by fully armored knights and mages of the empire. I couldn’t see clearly what was happening at the bow however. But it appeared to be a smaller group of ascendants, with some knights guarding them.

That must be where the Crimson group is at huh? A thought I hadn’t really considered in a long time suddenly entered my mind. It was now really happening. The time for my destiny was rapidly approaching. I just had to try.

As I made my way down the metal stairs of the Warship of Albion, I could finally see it. In the far, far distance, the shadow of a giant tower reached out towards the sky.

“It’s really real.” I couldn’t believe my eyes. The fabled tower of Albius really existed. My hands shook, from excitement or fear, I could not tell.