Chapter 2: The Last Resident
Smoking and ready to fall apart, Vyse's makeshift ship finally found its way to the small docks of Esperanza. Upon stepping off of the poor vessel with his blanket of supplies, it had taken its last breath as it sank into the deep sky. Vyse wasn't too upset though, for it had served him well in his endeavor to escape the dreaded Dark Rift.
"I need to get some clothes or something because these rags won't allow me to stick around..." Vyse groaned as he shifted the blanket into more of a sack, placing it on his shoulder has he made his way into the town. In the dream he had it was a run down place with a bunch of old soldier sailors just laying about. It was a rather depressing place but at least it had signs of life. However, as Vyse walked the trail into the rusted building square, there was some differences from his dream and now. The major difference was that there were no signs of life, just whistling, whirling machines that were on their last breath of life.
"Well...this certainly isn't what I expected..." Vyse sighed, stepping further into the ghostly town. Regardless of the negative atmosphere introduced to him due to the lack of life that resided within it, Vyse was able to stay positive as he began to search the merchant shacks that were spread throughout it.
"I wonder how I was able to picture this place...maybe I remember seeing it as a kid when I was taken...either way, I have to stay positive," Vyse shook his head, casting aside his unnecessary thoughts as he tried to open the first merchant's door. It was if it was being blocked by concrete blocks on the opposite side of the door as he tried to push it open. He stood back for a moment, placing his hand over his mouth as he thought to himself about what to do. Curious to the shape of the rest of the building, Vyse circled around it until he found a corroded portion of the rusty complex.
"Sorry for this, I do hate stealing from anything other than Valuans, but this is an emergency," Vyse said as he gave it a strong kick. Taking only a few kicks, the wall bursted inCarefully he stayed back, kicking down parts of wall off it with his ratty boots that he had salvaged from the sunken wreckage within the Rift. After it seemed wide enough, Vyse stooped his way inside.
Everything inside was withering away; all of the once polished, sharpened and crafted blades that had the heart and soul put into them had become nothing more than rusty shambles. Shields, swords, guns, they were all nothing more but relics of a more lively time. Regardless of the dismal display, Vyse began searching the place, leaving nothing unturned. If there was one thing Vyse was, it was tenacious. Searching behind the counter, he came across in interesting, long box that was hidden from plain view. Removing it from beneath the counter, he plopped it onto of it with a loud ploof sending dust flying in all directions.
After a little coughing and wafting away the dust, Vyse carefully undid the three latches that held it shut. Upon opening it, the shining sight of a golden scabard reflected the harsh light from the broken in wall, blinding him temporarily. Shifting his position, he raised up the scabbared carefully and slid the blade out to take a gander. He immediately noticed that it was a hand shaved and crafted moonstone saber, one that a captain of a ship would holster. Completely unsheathing it, he was able to see all of the finer details; Metal clasps held the blade up a third through its length with the rest being shaved and shaped into a fine, sharp curve. It was clearly made for a valuan officer given that the blade was cats eye gold just like their moon. The handle alone had a gold hand guard that ended in a regal looking lion's head on the bottom of the handle, which was crafted with a lot of blood, sweat and tears. His eyes lit up with awe and his heart raced as he removed it from its casket completely; it was if he had just found some serious buried treasure.
"Beautiful...I can't believe that anyone would leave a blade like this here," Vyse said in amazement. Completely removing it from its home, he began swinging and thrusting it, getting a feel for its weight and shape with every movement. He recalled Enrique from his dreams wielding a sword similar to this, except it wasn't nearly as emaculant and beautiful as the one that he now held nor did it have such a fine curve.
"If nothing else I'm at least able to defend myself now," Vyse said with a smile as he returned the blade to its scabbard. He placed it back into the box as he searched around further. In the corner he found a small wrack of clothes that were all hung pitifuly upon it. They were as dusty as the ground in which he had been walking and much of it was in tathers from where insects or time had worn and torn the fabric. Fortunately he was able to find one uniform that wasn't completely in shambles. It was a basic sailor's attire with the colors of the Valuan armada splashed all over it.
"With this I may be able to sneak aboard a Valuan ship so that I can get back to civilization...assuming one flies by..." Vyse said with a grin once again. Without delay he removed his boots, shedding his poor excuse of clothes to the ground before dawning the dusty, but intact uniform that hung before him. Looking in the mirror he finally looked like a real sailor. It too reminded him of Enrique, except far less flashy. He slid his poorly worn boots back onto his feet then grabbed the beautiful blade from the shelf, carefully equipping it to his side. He then shuffled over to his blankets removing as much gold as he could into the uniform pockets so that keeping the sheet wouldn't be such an awkward carry. After pocketing enough to get by, he rolled up the rest within the sheet like a sleeping back.
"I guess I'll just leave this here for now," Vyse said to himself. With a hefty breath he pulled his wits together, this time unlocking the rusted door to the shop, opening it, he returned to the ghastly excuse of a town, now searching for anything else that could become of use to him. Just like the main shop, he tried kicking his way into the ship parts store, only to find it locked tight like a treasure chest. Knowing that it probably wouldn't help him at all to go in, he returned his attention to the town, now curious if the bar where he had met the sailor Don was existant.
Walking up the small path that was at the edge of the shops he saw a building similar to the bar from his dream, but instead it had collapsed with nothing but shrapnal and debris around. It looked as if it had been destroyed by cannons from a ship, which wouldn't have surprised him. He turned back to head the other way when suddenly the scurrying sound of feet could be heard gracing the dirt grounds. Vyse's hand immediately snapped onto the handle of the saber, keeping it sheathed as he turned his vision around, only to find nothing in sight.
"Hello?!" Vyse called out, staying on guard as he shifted around. He knew that a sound like that couldn't be produced by a breeze nor normal fiends one would find flying through the skies. He charged up the mound where the battered and beaten bar once stood, whipping his sights around unil he caught sight of a figure darting behind the shambles of the structure.
"Don't be scared, I am not a threat to you," Vyse called out, removing his hand from the sabers handle. Taking a deep breath, Vyse jogged over to where the figured had vanished too, taking a peek around to find nothing but footprints. Suddenly, feet began stomping his way, as if to attack. He quickly turned to see a crusty, downtrodden gentleman coming at him with a knife. Vyse quickly shifted to the side, tripping the man into the dirt before crashing his knee into the man's back to pin him down. The man began flailing about, trying everything in his power to escape Vyse's weight but failed miserably.
"Stop this now, I'm not here to hurt you," Vyse said, his words calming the frantic man. The man nodded and tossed aside the knife to signal for a surrender to his might. Vyse said heavily as he removed his leg from the gents back, now offering out his hand to the stranger. The man's face looked like it had seen a million skies, weathered from wind exposure and broken eyes that had seen way too many cannons from the victims end. His uniform was that of a Valuan sailor, he appeared to be niether a black nor a blue rogue, but one of his own will. The man took Vyse's hand, raising to his dusty boots before meeting Vyse's eyes.
"Sorry...the last ones that came to savange tried to kill me..." The man coughed, knocking his fist against his chest to get out the gunk in his chest. Taking a large breath the man stood up straight, releasing it after regaining his composure.
"It's alright. I can understand how you'd be so cautious. Judging from your uniform I'm guessing you used to be a Valuan soldier?" Vyse asked, the man taken by surprise, running his fingers along his sun dried mustache.
"Indeed I was, another lifetime ago. You seem to look like a Valuan soldier as well, tell me, are you a new recruit of sorts?" the man said, his speech a bit slurred. It didn't take Vyse long to realize that the man was reaking of liquor and bad food, but he decided not to speak of it.
"My name is Vyse, I traveled here from within the Dark Rift. My boat couldn't..." Before Vyse could finish his sentence the man got up in Vyse's face. He looked over him carefully, as if he were some sort of illusion. Vyse stiffened up the closer the man got, the stink of the man's breath beginning to make his stomach churn. Finally the man steeped back, staring right in Vyse's eyes.
"You...wouldn't happen to be from Pirate Isle...would you?" the man said fearfully. Vyse simply gave him a confirming nod, watching as the drunkard began to cower in his boots.
"It can't be, you can't be that kid...that's impossible! How could you escape from the Rift?!" The man stuttered, falling onto his rear due to his shakey legs. Vyse just stared at him as he coward, trembling as if he were now staring death in the face.
"I've been trapped there ever since I was 7. It wasn't until today that I realized what had become of my life. So I scrounged up every piece of materials I could find and somehow made my way out of the Rift. My ship, well if you could call it that, fell to pieces at the dock and now I'm kind of stuck here," Vyse sighed, the man now sliding back along the ground until his back was against the rubble of the once homely bar.
"Please forgive me lad! Please forgive me! I was just following orders! They had my family hostage and I just had to do as they said!" the man began to rant, too frightened to move from his small little spot on the ground. Vyse's eyes turned to that of pity as the man shook and coward before him. It was clear to Vyse that the armada had broken this man into doing their bidding.
"I can tell you're lying through your teeth for your exuses, but I can tell that Valua had been less than kind to you. I don't hold it against you, so please, stop cowering," Vyse said kindly, holding out his hand. The man stared as if he had been granted God's forgiveness as he took Vyse's hand once more, pulling himself out of the dirt.
"Thank you...thank you!" the man said as tears filled his eyes, his hands shaking Vyse's vigorously. Vyse sighed and yanked his hand away from the groveling man's wiping it off on his new clothes as the sailor pulled it together.
"My name is Don and I am at your service, Vyse," Don said with an awkward, untable bow. Vyse's eyes widened as he compared the Don from his dreams with the one that stood before him. It was clear to him now as to why he would remember this place, and why he would remember Don in his former glory. Vyse shook his head to regain his nerves, putting on a smile at the remotely familiar face.
"Thanks Don, now...do you happen to know a way to get off this ghost town? Vyse asked, almost completely convinced that there would be no immediate hope, however, Don smirked and pounded upon his chest victoriously in reply.
"Aye, indeed I do. She...admittadly needs a bit of work, but I know that the engine still runs perfectly! Yes I have a ship," Don's words swayed around like and ocean, waving for Vyse to follow him. Curiously, Vyse followed Don as he led him all around Esperanza. It was like following a kid that forgot where he hid his candy. Finally, after a few hours of running in circles, Don finally found his ship that was tied to the opposite side of Esperanza away from the port area. As anticipated, it was a bit of a mess; its steel cabin looked as if he had torn parts off the rusty buildings and structures while the the main body had more than a fair share of patched up spots from where something either blew or holes were made. Vyse sighed and scratched the back of his head, knowing that there would be no other solution.
"If have this, then why stay in Esperanza? Surely you could've left some time ago," Vyse asked. Hopping aboard the medium sized vessel, Don waved him on board as if ignoring his question. Regardless of how confusing the Don before him was, he decided it would be best not to pry to much.
"The guilt...the guilt of the horrible things I'd done under that cursed Valuan flag...I didn't feel that I deserved to be with the rest of society after the attrocities that I had committed, but alas, seeing you come back from the Rift gives me a new hope. Thank you Vyse, thank you," Don said, still slurring and stumbling about the vessel as Vyse hopped aboard. It was all so crazy, the life that he had rediscovered. He couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't, but he did know was that he was aboard a ship once again, and he was ready to sea the world for a second time.
"Don...will you stick by me for awhile until I can get my own ship? I'm still not too sure how this world is or how it truly works. I need you to be the beacon that guides me back to the life I have lost. Can you do that for me?" Vyse said with his signature smirk, immediately being returned by another pound upon Don's chest. And so the two men, one of regret and one of bravery, decided to embark on their own journey. As to where they were to end up was beyond their knowing, but all Vyse knew now was that his hope had been restored with the familiarity of the unfamiliar man at his side.
To Be Continued...