The corners of my lip wavered as they inched for a small smile.
It wasn't the best time to admire the vast ocean outside the ship.
I've had my share of experiencing Autumn's howling gale. It cut through the fabric of my clothes, with every muscle of my body ripped by the numbing cold sensation. For the number of times I've experienced it, never did I once adored its chilly air, desperate for the call of Winter. Rather, I remained inside my cabin, humming while wiping my giant bow.
The arrival of Autumn meant the cue to leave my hometown, Eryuell Island, for Bermesiah and Ellia. It became a part of my routine –no, my way of living- to drop by the Kingdom of Serdin to visit the grave of the Grand Chase. Ellia's a refreshing detour to leave the emotions that resurfaced when I paid my respects for my fallen comrades before I go back to my hometown.
I put the cloth aside; the bow remained on my lap. On the bedside table was a small vase with a Stargazer, its neck hunching over for its need of water. It was part of the bouquet of mixed flowers I offered to the grave, but this one fell from the bouquet and I never had the chance to include it in the bunch.
I placed the bow on the bed and went to the bathroom with the flower vase in hand. Assuming we're nearing our destination, the Stargazer would still appreciate the small amount of water I bathed it in the vase. A soothing wave rippled in my chest as I gazed into the flower, perhaps its way of saying thank you.
"There you go dear," I stroked a lone petal and left the bathroom, placing the vase on the bedside table. It reminded me, never have I seen the large grave of the Grand Chase without flowers. Despite the years and centuries that passed, the thought that people continued to pay their respects for the departed heroes made me happy. There were some that survived the fall of the Chase, but I doubt they remember to visit the grave site.
The corners of my lip wavered as they inched for a small smile. Perhaps I'm the only one left in the team… If the last of us are still considered as one.
"Attention passengers. As of 2:17 in the afternoon, we've arrived at the Southern Docks of Ellia. Please proceed to the main deck, thank you."
"Poor you," I murmured to the flower, pulling it out of the vase and pinning it to my hair. With my bow on hand, I wore my bag and sauntered off the room. The wide corridor was enough to accommodate all the passengers without having to resemble squished sardines. I kept walking towards the dock, the mixed voices of the youth and the elderly drowned the ship's music.
However, when I reached the main deck, people gathered into swarms where the accidental shoulder bumps became frequent to the point that most never bothered to say 'Excuse me'. The boat docks were not that low from the main deck; I can leap out of here without having to endure the exchange of bumps, and 'Excuses me' and 'Pardon' phrases. However, considering my Arch Ranger uniform if I leap would not only receive colourful words with adorning insults, but will also give time for the men to adjust their eyes underneath my dress.
"Good Gaia, look at these people," I bit my lip in the woman's vain call of the Goddess of Life's name. "Keep my husband alive, please." Unable to control the synchronized emotions in my chest, I turned to gaze at the woman. Her black eyes shone and reflected the bottled tears.
"I'm so sorry to hear that," I grasped her hand. Despite the urge to meet her injured husband, she remained patient, unlike most of the humans here with their 'accidental' shoulder bumps. "What ails your husband?"
"Oh, pardon my tears dear," I watched as she bit her lower lip and took a white handkerchief from her purse, dabbing the cloth to the corner of her eyes. Being comfortable with someone who sympathized with her, she said, "My husband was almost killed by a troll, that's why."
"I see," I murmured, taking one step at a time at the boarding stairs, listening to the people in front of me muttering curses at the first person in line being slow and such. The silence between us neither made me feel awkward nor comfortable; however, my thoughts wandered into a spiral of direction, unable to form a coherent statement to keep the conversation healthy and alive. In this loud of a crowd, where a person's murmur and inaudible breathing produced a noise pollution, no wonder I can't keep up with my peace of mind.
The lady, however, went on. "He was a hunter. A usual Southern Hunter will take 2 - 3 hours in the neck of the woods. Rangers are stationed in the forest to keep the monsters from entering the woods, however being high in numbers never did help.
"At five in the dusk, my relatives panicked since he should be home four hours ago. They pleaded for a search, and by luck the rangers heard the roar of the troll in rampage. Not near from the sight was my husband, hidden underneath the bushes with broken legs and ribs."
A troll in the woods of Ellia...? "I pray for his speedy recovery." I didn't expect my tone of voice to be that hollow. I was unaware of my ears perked for who knows how long. Although the empty air neither felt cold nor warm, my hand tightened at the scarf that snuggled on my neck.
"Thank you dear, you are most kind," she dabbed her handkerchief at the corner of her eyes once more. Her voice trailed away, a faint echo of her thanks... A pang of dejavu struck me.
If that wasn't enough to keep my guard low, my legs stiffened. Eventually, I became aware that I dragged my feet on ground, but didn't make an effort to walk the usual way. I found myself struggling to get the words out of my throat, helpless as I watched her walk down the steps beside me, until I realized we're at the port docks already, the tangy scent of the sea lingered in the air.
The chill wind returned the circulation in my legs. "There was one time... a gorgos ravaged the woods nearby-
"What?" I heard the anxiety in my voice, powered by the mad thumping of my heart.
"I'm sorry for alarming you," small tears rolled on her cheeks. "You never know when those beasts will attack, but the previous year's bountiful rampages were enough to set fear in the lives of everyone in the South. There's always the forest rangers, but..." Her voice trailed away, however curiosity set me eager to know what's 'but'.
"In the dead of the night at random times, every ranger hears the distinct ramble of chains. It's said that when they hear it, a new threat enters the woods."
It could be an oldman's tale used to tell children during bedtime, but who knows. Although I regard myself superstitious, I'm not one to believe in human superstitions, folklore and such. I bit my lip hard to keep myself from chuckling.
"Won't the rangers investigate the heart?" I asked.
"They're only tasked to guard the border." Perhaps I'd feel better if she told me that the heart is the lair of the chain man and their crazy stories. "Would you like to stay at our place for a snack?"
I blinked, and found myself in front of a stone house with the woman in the front door, a warm smile on her face made me question myself whether all those were a product of my imagination. "Perhaps by the time I go back to my hometown, I'll drop by." I returned the smile and took a step back, rather than endure the talk about the chain man. It's blind struck a prominent nerve that made me question about its existence.
"Thank you for the lovely talk," I managed to say the words without breaking my smile. "Please, send my regards to your husband. I pray for his speedy recovery." It was all I needed to say without waiting for her reply to turn back and leave, heading for wherever my feet leads me to.
Perhaps an adventure in the forest would take my mind off the resurfacing memories.
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