Departure
A constant dripping sound echoed in the small room that the blue and white robed man stood in. the only light coming from a small nearly burnt out candle in his hand. The dim glow cast constantly changing shadows over the statue of the clown like figure before the man.
"My old friend, I hope you found the freedom in nothingness that the upper gods never saw fit to grant you during your existence here. I only pray that I have the strength to continue your legacy Ipuli."
The candle's light waved and snuffed out falling to ground, the man no longer in the now pitch black room.
A heavy knocking sound came from Mikyel's door early in the morning.
"Just a minute, I'm almost ready!" she yelled, pulling her blond hair back in two balls.
The woman wrapped herself in her usual red robes, fetched her glasses from a nearby wooden stool, and headed for the door.
"Morning Mikyel."
"Good morning Mepstet."
"You ready?"
"Just a second."
Mikyel turned and hurried into the kitchen. Mepstet waited in the doorway, watching her and smiling. She came back out with a large whicker basket draped in a red and yellow table cloth.
"What's that?"
"A picnic. I thought we could all enjoy a breakfast while we were there. Everyone's so busy, this is one of the only times we all agreed to set aside some time, so we should enjoy it."
"Good point. Come on, the others are probably waiting by now. And, let me carry that, it looks pretty heavy."
The young job office attendant and guard captain walked to the west part of Flaris first, only stopping momentarily to greet the shop keepers as they prepared their stalls to open. They began north then, passing by the shining Lodelight and toward the edge of the city.
"You trade in your bow for a basket Mepstet? Got to say, it's an interesting look on you."
"Good morning to you too Sefton."
The man just smiled pushing his glasses further onto his nose.
"Where are Weneibo and Dawelien?" Mikyel asked.
"Right up there." Sefton said, pointing with his thumb over his shoulder and upward to the two figures in the sky. "They figured to get some training in before we had to go."
"At it like always eh?" Mepstet asked looking up at them. "But what about you Sefton? You aren't training with them anymore?"
"I'm afraid that at this point, while it may not be counter productive per-se, it wouldn't do me any good. Last time we fought, I beat them both with little difficulty. If I'm going to become stronger, I need to train differently."
The two dancing aerial figures suddenly stopped and began a slow spiraling descent toward the other three companions.
"Morning Mikyel!" Weneibo yelled.
"Morning Mepstet!" Yelled the other.
"Good morning you two!" Mikyel shouted back, waving.
The two men came to a stop a foot from the ground.
"Oh, we're having a picnic?" Weneibo asked.
"Great! I'm starving." Dawelien interrupted excitedly. "Come on, let's get going already."
Sefton and Mepstet both nodded, tapping the fronts of their belts to summon their own flying boards. Mikyel stepped on the back of Mepstet's board and wrapped her arms around him tightly, burying her face into his back and closing her eyes. Sefton looked over at the two and smiled.
"What?" Mepstet asked.
"Oh, nothing." The man said as he lifted off into the air.
The five friends flew north for some time before coming to their destination. Dawelien and Weneibo dismounted from their boards first, followed by Sefton. Mikyel and Mepstet were only a little further behind. Dawelien held his hand out for Mikyel, though they were mere inches from landing and she took it stepping off the board as though it were much farther.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to those things." She said, brushing her dress and straightening herself out.
"You'll be fine, it'll just take some time before it won't be so nerve wracking." Mepstet commented, stepping off the board, tapping it twice, and putting it back on his belt once it had collapsed.
The group stood in silence a moment on the miniscule island in the sky. All eyes were on a small chunk of dark iron, partially driven into the ground. On its face was carved the name Chen. Mepstet looked to Mikyel, while her face was filled with a mournful sadness that he had become accustomed to whenever they visited this spot.
"Well, Sefton, Dawelien, Weneibo, take a corner please." Mikyel said, picking the table cloth off the basket in Mepstet's arms.
When the cloth was set, they each took a seat, placing the basket in the middle, and leaving an opening for their lost friend. Mikyel opened the basket top and began placing its contents upon the table cloth. Breads, cheeses, meats, and several different types of fruit filled Dawelien and Weneibo's hungry eyes. The two salivated and suffered in silence as they waited for their chance to begin.
"Would you cut the bread please Mepstet?" Mikyel asked, holding out a knife.
"Sure."
The food was evenly distributed by Mepstet to his companions and then himself, and they all began to eat. They all ate quietly at first, as was their custom until either Dawelien or Weneibo broke the silence with the events since last the group had been together. The remainder of the meal was filled with laughter and smiles. They each finished their portions of food and sat still continuing on their conversations.
Sefton suddenly stood and looked to the east.
"Hard to believe it's been three months already isn't it?" He said.
"Is it? I don't think that much has changed." Dawelien replied.
"Maybe not for Flaris. Even with the loss of both Cerand and Atrys, it seems as though their spirits have carried on, continuing the lifestyle and comfort that they helped build in the first place. Flaris is unharmed really. However, it's been three months since that light from Saint Morning changed that entire city. Who would've guessed that the loss of Ashel would actually help lead to the city's downfall, rather than helping it to flourish?"
"Even a tyrant of a leader, knows how to keep order. He ruled over that city with an iron fist more because it was necessary than anything. Saint Morning has always been one of the largest bases for pirate guilds and the sort. He may have been harsh, but I think, he still loved his city." Mepstet said.
"I wonder if you'd still believe that had he not been killed when he was."
"What do you mean?"
"After the Clockwork threat was gone, he made arrangements to take Flaris."
"Where did you here that?"
"It doesn't matter." Sefton answered with a shrug. "It just makes me wonder. Who do you think had both the power and the foresight to stop him? It's my understanding that his order was most sudden. Who could've gotten close enough to him, and have known about his plans? Not to mention the amount of power you'd have to possess to defeat Ashel, let alone cause as much destruction to the city like that."
"What are you getting at?"
"You never found anything of Chen right Mepstet? Something like that, the explosion, from what you say about the battle between those two, he could have done it easily."
"That can't be true! Chen would never murder anyone!" Mikyel screamed.
Sefton looked a moment at the girl before returning his gaze to Saint Morning.
"No. You're probably right. That would be something a Clockwork does. Even then, it wouldn't target Ashel if it had survived and taken over Chen again. What would it gain by that? I'm sorry Mikyel. I don't like mysteries, and everything that happened three months left no real answers."
"Listen Sefton, I may not have found remains, but there was barely any remains of the island itself. There's no way either of them survived. Chen saved us all the same way Lady Cerand and sir Yob did, with a sacrifice." Mepstet said.
"I know. That Chen was quite a guy. I've never fought anybody quite like him. His abilities were amazing."
"Wasn't that just the Clockworks though?" Weneibo asked.
"I wish I could use that excuse. Having witnessed the power of the Clockwork Chen though, able to stand against the masked man better than both Modos and Ayako, I know that if I were fighting the Clockworks version, it would not have been such a difficult victory for him. No, our fights were all against Chen himself." Sefton looked over at the small iron headstone. "Yet, all that brings is more questions."
"Sefton, you're acting very strange today." Mikyel said, a look of worry shadowing her face.
"I'm sorry again my friends, but I must cut this month's reunion slightly short."
"Wait a minute Sefton."
"I wish I could. I can't explain myself right now, but I feel something coming, something…wrong. I have to go to Saint Morning." The man said tapping the board on his belt, summoning it before him.
"What's in Saint Morning?" Mepstet asked.
"Het Fasytan Nithiw."
"The Scavengers leader? What makes you think she's still there? The Scavengers were always hated amongst the pirate guilds."
"That may be, but the Scavengers also always had one of the greatest information nets on all of Roika. If some light may be shed on the events three months ago, I bet she'll be the best place to start."
"Sefton…"
"You should go now then." Mikyel interrupted.
"Mikyel?" Mepstet asked astounded.
"You have a month before you have to come back though. You remember that you promised?"
"Regardless of what I find, I will come back next month. I am a man of my word." Sefton smiled then flew off toward Saint Morning.
Weneibo and Dawelien jumped to their feet and brought forth their own boards as well.
"What are you two up to?" Mepstet asked.
"The three of us have been friends for too long to let that guy go off to a place like Saint Morning alone." Dawelien answered.
"Knowing that cocky bastard, he'd end up getting in too many fights to gather the answers he so wants." Weneibo echoed.
"You two be careful then." Mikyel smiled.
"We will Mikyel, and thanks for the breakfast!" The two men shouted as they followed the trail of their friend to the east.
Mikyel and Mepstet rode back to Flaris in silence. Mepstet dropped Mikyel off at her home and began to head for Bobor, when a hand on his sleeve brought him to a halt.
"I know how you must feel."
"What?"
"You wanted to go too."
"I…"
"But you can't. You have duties here. You play an important role in maintaining Flaris. I know how you feel, because I want to go too."
"Mikyel?"
"If I do though, I know I'd just be a burden. I don't even know how to fly. All either of us can do, is wait for them to come back, and hope that they find the answers. You know what though? Sefton isn't the only one who's been having strange feelings. I felt something that same day Saint Morning changed as well. Something…"
"Not right…" Mepstet finished, staring into the woman's eyes.