AN – Now another chapter!
Sinbad: Magma does not own Terraria. Any references to movies, games, products, TV shows, etc. are also not owned by Magma. Any dialog/events/characters that are not canon belong to Magma. No copy write is intended.
All information on Terraria is from the Terraria Wiki.
The Arrival
Sarid wiped the sweat from her brow as she worked, laying stone bricks to form walls, building the pool house. She had decided to put it at the end of the western street. It would be two-story, with a pool outside and one inside, as well as a sauna – she had heard about them in books she had read and wanted to try one herself.
"Hay Sarid!"
She stopped and looked over at the ground, seeing Esmeralda standing there.
"Oh. Hello, Esmeralda."
"I have a question about this place!"
"Hold on!" Sarid said, then swinging her leg over the wall and jumped down to the ground below. "What do you want to ask?"
"What kind of water will this place have?"
"…I beg your pardon?"
"You see, I went swimming in this one place on time, and the water there just ruined my hair! It was stiffer than a board! Took me a week of washing and conditioning to get it back to normal."
"I've never heard of water like that." Sarid told her.
"Well, they apparently but some kind of chemical in the water to keep anything from growing it or something."
"I've no knowledge of any such chemical." She told her. "As such, I can tell you I've no plans to use it. The water I use will be natural water."
"Good, good…That's very good for your skin, and cleaning your hair. Makes it very soft."
"So I've heard." Sarid said. "Anything else?"
"No, I…well, yes. Do you know when Sinbad's coming next? I need more shampoo."
"Already?"
"Do you know how much it takes to keep my hair clean?"
"…No." Sarid answers. "He…should have made his stop by now. He comes once a week, though last time he was delayed by the weather…but twice in a row is…unusual."
"…You…don't think something happened, right?"
"…I'll go to the bay and see if I can see his ship on the horizon. I'm sure whatever it is that's keeping him is reasonable."
"I hope so…"
Sarid nodded, then walked past her to her pack, opening it and pulling out her binoculars. She stuck them in her belt then started off down the back walkway that went behind the houses, to the road to the ocean and turned down it, headed toward the bay. She ran along the sand as she went around the southern crest, rapidly approaching the tip, where the crumbling ruin of a lighthouse sat. Jumping up onto a pile of rubble, she then leapt up onto the very top of the crumbling stone, looking out on the horizon, winded blowing in her hair and cloak. Putting her binoculars to her eyes, she looked at the point where the Paranjay usually appeared, saw nothing, and did a sweep of the horizon.
Putting away her binoculars, she frowned. She then reached into her pack, pulling out another Flare Gun, and loaded it with a blue flare. It was aimed at the sky and fired, shrieking as it flew up, leaving a trail of bright blue.
She watched where the ship would appear, and saw no response.
Frowning and furrowing her brows down, she wondered.
Flint was woken from his sleep by his door slamming open.
The sound caused his hand to fly under his pillow and pull out his revolver, slipping out from under his covers and under the bed curtains and to the window, getting behind the drawn curtains.
There was heavy footsteps from several people, followed by the sound of the bedroom doors being thrown open.
"Commander!" He heard Lance say. Sighing, he pushed the curtain aside and stepped out, surprising Lance, though Flint was equally surprised at what he saw.
There were four more men in the room, gathered around a sailor with a red bandana, being a huge, muscled man that was a head and shoulders taller than the men around him. General Howe stood in the door, looking like he had been up all night due to the bags under his eyes.
"…C-commander, why…?" Lance asked.
"Well, you barging in gave me reason to believe I needed to shoot someone." Flint told him, surprising him. "Now, who is this poor fellow you've got with you."
"He…Right, he's the first mate on the Paranjay."
"And why do you have here?" Flint asked, going over to his bed, setting his revolver on the nightstand.
"He has critical information on the whereabouts of Forte." Lance answered, Flint pulling on his robe.
"Well, I take it you were up all night trying to get it out of him, General."
"Aye, that's right." The general sighed. "Now then…tell him what you told us."
"Aye sir." The sailor said.
"First, what's your name?" Flint asked him.
"My name's Payo, sir."
"Payo. Good name."
"Thank ye sir."
"Well, what do you know?"
"E'ery time we stop 'ere, a hooded fella comes up to me an' asks me to take a parcel up to a messenger." He told him.
"And I take it the messenger was the one delivering Sarid's letters to me?"
"I don't know about that, though the General said so."
"Hm." Flint hummed.
"However, eye witness reports say that no one ever saw such a person speaking with him or giving him anything." Lance added on.
"I see." Flint said plainly.
"Your opinion, Flint." General Howe told him.
"…" Flint looked at Payo, knowing that he could've easily knocked all the men around him aside and gone on his way.
"…How long did they question you?"
"All night, sir."
"Quite rude of them, eh?"
"A little bit. We planned to shove off this mornin'."
"Ah, where you headed?"
"We make trip's 'cross the Fortune Sea, over to Realo and Muchan."
"Yes, they trade spices, if I'm correct."
"Aye sir. Spices, silk, scented stuff like soap and perfume, sometimes furs up from Zeno, occasionally we even get to bring porcelain and jade goods back from Amagni. One time we even got some fine paper from Nedews."
"Sound like a profitable run!"
"Aye sir." Payo told him.
"How many jumpers do you get?" Flint asked.
"Jumpers?" Lanced echoed.
"Men who jump from ship to ship rather than sticking with one." Flint explained.
"None, really." Payo told him.
"Really?" Flint asked, surprised.
"Aye, none." He repeated. "Cap'n don't like them too much. Most of the original crew is still with us, 'side from a couple'a fellas."
"They haven't gone off on their own?"
"No sir. The crew likes the cap'n. Looks out for us, he does. He tells us to save our wages 'stead of runnin' off and spending it all, holds us up to high standards, and always gets us through the worst storms. He's a good man. No sane fella d'leave a cap'n like that."
"Your captain…I believe I met him, Sinbad?"
"Aye sir."
"Yes, I got to speak with him some. He had a good air around him."
"Aye."
"Flint what's the point to this?" Howe asked.
"Can't I ask him a few questions?" Flint asked.
"Now see here, Flint-"
There was a sudden loud noise, Howe falling silent.
"…That came from the lobby." Flint said, picking up his revolver again and rushing through the bed room doors, then out of his hotel room into the hallway where sleepy guests stuck their heads from their rooms, Doc out in the hallway.
Flint rushed down it to the stairs and went down them, followed by some guests, Howe, Lance, Doc, Payo and the men escorting him, all of them pouring out into the lobby.
They were surprised, seeing some military men had formed a line in front of the doors, Sinbad and his men between the doors and them.
"Me told ye, we ain't leavin' wi'hout me firstmate!" Sinbad told the line of men.
"This place isn't for you captain." One of them said. "Go back to the docks."
"Not wi'hout Payo!" He told him again.
"Cap'n!" Payo called, Sinbad looking up at him.
"Payo! They 'urt ye?"
"No, cap'n!"
"Good!"
"What are you doing here?!" Howe asked, moving toward the line. "I told you we'd release him when we were done with him!"
"An' we needed 'im an hour ago!" Sinbad told him, more people moving toward the line. "We needed t' leave at dawn, an' I ain't sailin' wi'hout me firstmate!"
"Hire a substitute!"
"Ye can't jus' replace Payo! That's impossible!"
"Captain Sinbad." Flint said, Sinbad looking at him.
"Oh, Harpoon." He said. "Can ye talk t' this feller?"
"Well…" Flint looked at the general. "If they need him, they need him."
"We're not done with him, Flint." Howe told him.
"But what else does he have to say?"
"The truth."
"I did tell the truth, sir." Payo said, they looking at him. "I'm given the parcel and I take it up to the messenger."
"OY! Why'd ye accuse Payo all'a sudden?!" One of the sailors with Sinbad yelled.
"Because the messenger who told us about him got back not too long ago!" Howe yelled back. "He told us about this man!"
"I say he's lyin', that messenger!" A sailor yelled.
"Yea! Let Payo go!" Another yelled. This started an uproar throughout them, yelling for them to release Payo and moving toward the line of men.
"We will release him when we're done!" Howe yelled, though his voice was lost to the sailors. Flint looked at Sinbad, who was staring at him. They watched each other a moment, Sinbad then snapping his fingers. His men fell silent, and he took off his hat, looking back at Howe.
"Sir, we're all civilized men. Me'd liek it if we set'led this like ones." Sinbad told him.
"There's nothing to settle." Howe told him.
"Sir, please. We need Payo so we ken git movin'."
"Then you'll have to wait."
"But sir! We 'ave supplies we need t' move!" Sinbad told him, Howe looking at him.
Flint felt a sudden, overwhelming dread at what Sinbad had just revealed.
"…But you move spices and silk from overseas." Howe said. Sinbad got a faint look over shock and confusion, unaware of how Howe had learned of their trading. "Where are you moving supplies?"
"…Well, overseas sir." Sinbad told him. "It's on our route."
"…I want to see these supplies."
Later…
Flint watched as a crate was forced open by a few privates, the top lifted away and Howe looked into it, seeing there was colorful bolts of cloth.
"What does Realo need with these?" He asked Sinbad, who said nothing. "Open another, this one."
The privates forced it open, this one being a much smaller crate. When they opened it, Lance looked inside, furrowing his brows down.
"Summer seeds sir." He told Howe, who squinted at Sinbad.
"Just who wants seed over there?" He asked. "Or do you need to stop somewhere else? Somewhere someone needs to grow food?"
Sinbad remained quiet, his men shuffling and gripping their knives.
"You know where Forte is, and you're going to take us to him." Howe told Sinbad. "And if you don't, you be hanged for hiding a traitor!"
One of the sailors suddenly moved, Payo putting a hand over his chest to stop him.
"Gener-"
"Shut up, Flint!" Howe barked.
"…" Sinbad blinked, then looked over at his men. "…Get ready to sail."
The sailors stood still a moment, then begrudgingly moved to do as he said, Howe and his men following them out of the cargo hold, so that only Flint and Sinbad remained.
"…I'm sorry, Harpoon." Sinbad told Flint as he sighed.
"…No need to apologize. I'm the one who couldn't do anything."
Sarid was back to working on the Pool House, laying bricks and leaving gaps for windows. The sun passed over head, and she finished the first floor before dusk. She was looking around, imagining where to place things, toying with the idea of putting in a juice bar.
"Sarid?"
She looked, seeing Asher, and then quickly looked away.
What do I do?
"This…uh, building is…good."
"…I beg your pardon?" Sarid asked, looking back at him.
"…It uh…It's good. It's…looking…good…I mean, uh, it looks like it's coming along good."
"…I see…" Sarid said, then looking away again. "…What do you wish to speak to me about?"
"…O-oh, uh…I…uh…" Asher wrung his hands, wishing he had his jacket. "I…I just-just wan…ted toooo…ask what this building is?"
"A pool house. For cooling off." Sarid told him. "If I can heat it, it could also be used in the winter. I also plan to have a sauna here."
"Oh…n-neat!"
"Thank you." Sarid said.
"…" Asher stared at her, wringing his shirt and wondering how soft her lips were.
"…I'm going to go check for Sinbad's ship." Sarid told him, turning and headed toward the door, having to walk past him.
"H-he still hasn't come?" Asher asked, getting a concerned look.
"I'm afraid not." Sarid told him. She reached the door and went out it, hearing Asher's rapid footsteps behind her.
"M-maybe they got delayed by weather?" He asked.
"Perhaps." Sarid said.
"W-what about pirates?" Asher asked, following behind Sarid through the settlement.
"Who knows." Sarid told him.
"Corrupt officials?"
"Maybe."
"Sirens?"
"Not likely."
"Mythical storms?"
"I doubt it."
"…Sandbars?"
"Hm."
"…" Asher stopped, Sarid continuing on the road toward the bay, her cloak hiding most of her.
"…What about sea serpents?!" Asher yelled, running to catch up with her.
A few minutes later…
Sarid was again at the top of the crumbling lighthouse, looking out onto the horizon. It was dark, as the setting sun was behind them, stars already beginning to appear and the cool clouds lazily drifting through the sky.
There were no ship lights on the horizon.
Raising her arm, Sarid fired off a flare, which screamed upward as it left a trail of blue, the light casting dark shadows on Sarid's momentarily.
She watched, but no reply came.
After a few minutes, she dropped her eyes, then leapt down to the ground, not taking any damage.
"N-nothing…" Asher said, wringing his hands.
"I don't like this." Sarid told him, looking at the ground. "Being late twice in a row is unusual when he's be on time or early."
"…What…do we do?" Asher asked her.
"…I'm going to build a boat." Sarid told him, starting back down the path, Asher following her.
It was after moonrise when they arrived back at the dock, the two of them walking in silence. Asher looked over at Sarid in the waning moonlight, how it whitewashed her, her hair and skin looking like they were a lustrous silver. He gulped and looked down at the sand at his feet, heat coming to his face.
They came to the road and started down it, the trees blocking most of the light aside from small patches of it that streamed through to the ground. It looked like something from a fairytale.
Asher looked back at Sarid again, then back in front of him.
"S-so you're…going to build a boat?" He asked.
"Yes. I'll sail around Terraria and see if I can spot him anywhere." Sarid told him.
"How big will the ship be?"
"Not too terribly big." Sarid said, then pushing back her cloak, so that she could hold out a hand. "I only plan for it to have one or two cabins and the rest of it will be storage for provisions. It'll only have one or two masts, though I do need to figure out the defensive measures for it."
"I see…" Asher said. He watched her hand as it fell back to her side, her cloak starting to slid over her shoulder to cover her arm when his arm jerked, taking her hand.
Sarid stopped walking, Asher also stopping.
"..." Sarid stared forward, feeling warmth in her hand, chest and face. "…Asher."
"…S-sorry." He choked, pulling his hand back and gripping his jacket with it, taking a step back and away. Sarid starting walking again, albeit faster, while Asher watched her walk for a moment, before hanging his head and walking.
Sarid went into her castle and to the Living Wing, and to her room, falling down onto her bedroll and lying awake for a minute, thinking of Asher's hand holding hers before she fell asleep.
Flint looked out over the horizon, watching the sunset with its brilliant bolds and pale pastels, the last rays of light a burning orange that turned to a soft blue as it stretched up, faint stars already beginning to appear.
Lance and many of the other men that had been brought along by Howe's order were on the berth deck in their beds, horribly seasick. The crash of the waves and the sea breeze, along with the wooden planks that divided the decks, drowned out their moans, though Flint felt pity for the sailors who had to sleep with them, as they would be kept up by them.
"Beautiful sight, eh?" Doc asks, leaning against the railing along with Flint.
"Yep." He told him. "I could stare at sights like these for days."
"It must take you back to your Harpoon Harry years."
"You're never going to let that go, are you?"
"You know me too well."
Flint smiled and chuckled some, then looking up at Doc.
"Well, then I'll have to get something on you." He told him.
"Good luck with that." Doc replied. "I've lived a dull and boring life compared to you, and anything you have on me is from when we were kids."
"True." Flint shrugged. He saw Sinbad up at the wheel, his eyes dim, a Sailor coming to relieve him. The wheel was entrusted to him, Sinbad going down from the poop deck to the Quarter deck, then down onto the waist where they were, going through one of the doors.
"Excuse me." Flint told Doc, who hummed in response. He went under the quarter deck after Sinbad, following his silhouette down the dark hall. The sound of a door reached his ears, open, pause, close, and Sinbad was gone. Reaching the same door, a burning light was already seeping out from under it, though faintly.
He knocked, heard Sinbad's footsteps approach, and the door opened enough for Sinbad to stick his head out.
"Harpoon." He said, slightly surprised.
"Sinbad." Flint said. "May I come in?"
"…Aye. Come on." Sinbad stepped back, pulling the door open a bit more so that Flint could step in.
The cabin before him was cluttered but also strangely neat, with a bed set into the wall on the far wall, the windows above it clean and clear, providing a view of the ship's wake. There were bookshelves at the head and foot of the bed, with rope strung across the books to hold them in place, while there were drawers beneath the bed for storage. Next to the head of the bed was a pipe that ran up to the wheel, should he be needed.
There was a table with chairs in the middle of the room, the table clean with a map rolled out across it, four smooth, flat rocks that were a dark blue-grey and black were on the corners to keep the map from rolling back up, and above the table hung the head of a street lamp, the candle inside of it burning. To the left was a desk with a padded chair, a book on the top along with an inkwell and quill. In the right corner there was a large globe with maps hung on the wall around it, and on the wall with the door were shelves displaying various items, rocks, a crystal or two, several labeled jars with different types of soil or sand, old books and other trinkets, while on the rest of walls, if there was not a window, it was taken up by shelves stacked with books.
"I see you're a reader." Flint told Sinbad.
"Aye." Sinbad told him. "'fore me learned ta read, me vowed that if me e'er learned, me'd read all the books me could."
"Ah, yes." Flint said. "I made such a vow."
"…When'd ye learn?"
"It took years." Flint told him, Sinbad motioning for him to sit. He did, Sinbad getting down two glasses from a cupboard. Next to it hung a net basket with several bottles in it filled with liquid.
"Go on." Sinbad told him, sitting with him and setting the glasses down.
"…" Flint blinked, raising his brows for a moment, shrugging a bit. "I knew very little, went a long time with no books, then when I was enrolled at the academy, Doc taught me how. So I was eight."
"Hm." Sinbad hummed, pouring water into the glasses. "Me were twelve. Jus'a cabin boy back then, but me wan'ed to be a captain one day. Captain helped me out, bless 'is soul. Took me months to be able to read a whole book on me own, but when me did…"
He looked up from his glass out one of the windows, and sighed.
"…Me felt like a king." He said. "Th' king o' the high seas, He sails wi'h great ease, Off into the horizon he goes, Livin' th' life he gladly chose."
"The Tales Waves Tell." Flint said, recalling the verse.
"Aye. First book I read." Sinbad told him, then drinking some. "Yer fren, he Doc?"
"Aye."
"Seems liek a good man."
"He is." Flint told him, then looking down at the table top. "Friends since we were children. Honestly, I didn't know if I'd ever see him again after…"
"…Af'er wot?"
"…" Flint swallowed, then drank some of his water.
"Hm." Sinbad hummed. "He a good teacher?"
"Aye, aye…What little I knew was almost all gone by the time I met him. I kept it only by reading whatever I could get my hands on."
"…How'd ye learn to read 'fore then?"
"…My…father would sit me in his lap when he read at night."
"…" Sinbad stared at him, looked at the bottle, then back at him. "…Wot happened?"
"…" Flint was silent. "…Toll Epidemic."
Sinbad poured him more water, Flint whispering a thank you.
"…So, you were a cabin boy?"
"Aye." Sinbad said. "'Board the ship Gale Wind. Fine cap'n, bless 'is soul…"
"Ah yes. I remember that ship." Flint told him, then chuckling. "I got into a fight with one of the crewmen one time. We both wanted the same knife at a merchant's stall."
"And?"
"It served me well."
Sinbad laughed, Flint smiling.
"Aye! Aye, we went all along the southern shores. When the wind blew right, you could just smell the oranges from the shore."
"Yes…" Flint said, recalling such a route. "…You were a cabin boy at age twelve?"
"Aye."
"…What happened?"
"…" Sinbad's eyes dimmed. "…Sickness got me mum. Pop…he was a sailor. Went sailin' one day and…didn't come back."
Flint's brows furrowed up some, and he poured Sinbad some water.
They sat in silence for a time.
"…So, ye've read The Tales that Waves Tell?"
"Aye, back when I was running around the world."
"I'd like to hear sum o' yar tales."
"I have thought of writing a book."
"I'll buy th' first one."
Flint smiled, then drank some more water.
"I remember," He started, "the Two Seas. That one's always been my favorite."
"Aye." Sinbad said, nodding a smiling. "Af'er I read that th' first time, all I did was stare at the wood 'bove me with wonder."
"Yes…The two seas, seen a night, With or without the moonlight. A sea of water, a sea of stars, The View worthy of memoirs."
Sinbad smiled some, the looked back down into his glass, his smile fading.
"…Me real sorry 'bout all this." Sinbad told him. "Them findin' out n'all."
"It's my fault really." Flint told him. "Howe found out about your regular run because I asked Payo about it."
"Hm." Sinbad hummed "…Me don't hold it 'gainst ye."
"Thank you."
"…But that young feller in charge is gonna walk th' plank if he acts like he did back on shore."
"Ah, yes, Lance." Flint sighed. "He's always been the problem child."
"Seems like." Sinbad told him, drinking from his glass. "Say, wot was laddie like?"
"Laddie?"
"Sorry, Sarid."
"…Sarid…well." Flint looked down at the ground, sighing. "…We had a few issues with him, but…he was well behaved other than that. He did very well in learning the fighting styles and good in his academic pursuits – he mostly had A's and B's – and other than that, he kept to himself."
"Hm." Sinbad hummed. "Well, he's a nice feller."
"Yes." Flint said softly.
Sarid rose when the sun did, going to the drawing table she had constructed and began working on blueprints for the ship. It was not very big, as she had told Asher, though it would be able to hold plenty of provisions. When the plans were finished, she rolled the paper up and tucked it under her arm, leaving her bed room.
Walking swiftly, she went down into the Work Wing, and into the storage area, getting all the wood that she had available, then left her castle and went toward the bay.
She worked through the early morning, getting the keel set up and the hull started, when she heard something. Looking up, she saw Autumn and Xanos standing before her with their tool boxes.
"Need any help?" Autumn asks.
"…" Sarid stared at them a moment, then nodded.
"Alright, what do you need us to do?" Xanos asked.
An hour later, Xanos and Autumn were working on the rudder, while Sarid was still working on the hull. Leo had suddenly appeared at some point and was painting them, and some other villagers were working with her. Durim held the plank she was attaching in place, Reginald was preparing the next plank by smoothing it, Danel and Asher moved the wood as needed, while back at the village Hannah and Pip were working on the sails.
The hull was almost done, and the supports for it were in place, when all of them heard a wagon. Coming down the road was Esmeralda, driving a cart, Faye next to her. It was pulled out onto the beach and she pulled the reins to turn the horse, the cart coming around and stopping.
"We brought you guys food and water!" Esmeralda called, she and Faye climbing down from the driver's seat.
"Thanks!" Durim yelled. "My throat feels like sand!"
They came forward, Esmeralda handing out water skins which they took and drank from, Faye giving out food tins. Sarid was handed one and she opened it, finding fruit and vegetables with a meat and mushroom dish that made her mouth water.
"I see progress is going well." Faye told Sarid.
"Hm, yes." Sarid told her between chews. "That outfit you have is new."
"Oh, yes." Faye said, looking down at herself. She wore a knee-length dress made of large leaves sewn together, with a vest of soft bark and a cape made of light green moss, held around her neck by a pink flower, just like the one in her hair. "Pip gave it to me."
"Trying to apologize for losing your water staff?" Esmeralda asked.
"Yes, he is." Faye half hissed. "…Though…I do like this…"
She looked down at her dress again, then allowed her cape to fall over her shoulders, covering her front and then made it grow, the edge reaching down to her feet.
Sarid exhaled sharply from her nose, slightly amused.
"LOOK!" Danel suddenly yelled. "ON THE HORIZON!"
They all looked, seeing a spot on it.
"Is that them?!" Esmeralda asked.
"I bet it's the ship!" Durim yelled.
"Finally!" Reginald remarked.
Sarid put her food tin down and went up the nearest tree, climbing up into its branches, and stopped at the highest point she could safely climb to. She pulled out her binoculars and looked out at the sea, finding the spot. Adjusting the sharpness to get a better image, she saw the ship's yellow flag, and another yellow flag with a black dot, then the uppermost flag with a flying jay on it. Looking down at the hull, she saw the name Paranjay.
"IT'S THE PARANJAY!" She yelled, the people down on the beach celebrating. She watched it, and a faint feeling of relief swept over her, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
A red light appeared, shooting up into the sky from it, leaving behind a black trail.
Sarid's eyes went wide.
She heard the celebrating turn to confusion, and she jumped from the branch she had been perched against, falling down to the grassy ground and running out onto the sand.
"Everyone! Back to the village!" She told them, then running to gather to the wood. She was helped, they getting all of the wood and tools onto the cart, though they had to leave behind the keel and hull. They went alongside the cart, coming back to village quickly, Hannah and Pip appeared on his porch, Mortimer with them.
"Sarid! Sarid!" Pip yelled. "What in the world's going on?!"
"Sinbad is approaching, but he fired a warning flare!" Sarid yelled to him. "I'm going to go see what's going on!"
She ran into the castle, hastily putting on her armor, then changing into her "royal" clothes, put on her crown and ran out of the castle, and down the road to the bay, stopping about a fourth of the way down. Her weapons were hidden by her cloak, and she steadied her breath, staring forward.
It was not too long until she could just make out the ship docking, and saw a splotch of blue, realizing it to be Julo's military uniforms.
She swallowed, a pit forming in her stomach.
She recalled the fact that Commander Flint hadn't responded to her letter, that, in fact, mail had not come for some time now. Dark thoughts creeped into her mind and her chest was suddenly cold, fear creeping over her skin as she wondered about the commander.
Soon, however, she regained her steely front, as Julo's army was marching down the road in neat lines, arms at the ready.
She heard their perfectly timed, unison steps, not even the soft grass able to muffle it.
Leading in front of them was a white officer horse, an elderly man that she faintly recognized sitting atop it – a general going by his clothing – and younger man who she definitely recognized marching beside him, a Sergeant, surprisingly.
They came to halt a few yards before her, the general scowling at her.
"Forte!" He barked. "We're here to take you back."
"I will not go." She told him.
"You have committed a serious offence by deserting, and-"
"It is not deserting if I was not enlisted."
"…FORTE!" The general yelled again. "You're coming with us, whether you like it or not!"
"Leave now, and I will spare your invasion force."
A roaring laughter came from them, Sarid remaining silent until they finished.
"Ha! Being here has driven you mad!" The sergeant laughed.
"Has it, Lance?" She asked, then suddenly drawing her Space Gun and firing at the horse's feet. The bolt burned the grass and scared the horse, it rearing up and letting out a piercing whinny, stepping back. The men were surprised, while the general leaned forward in his saddle, startled at the suddenness of the horse, while Lace stared in shock at the weapon in Sarid's hand. Behind her, villagers had gathered, watching anxiously.
"Or has it made me stronger?" She finished, tucking her hand back into her cloak.
Lance was visible angered.
"Give it up!" He hissed. "You're a fool running after a fool's dream! King?! BAH! You don't deserve that crown, or the clothes that you're wearing, so just give it all up and come quietly."
"Would you prefer I act like your king?" Sarid asked. "Sitting on a throne and doing nothing all day, only looking forward to the next meal, having servants doting on me and my mouth so full of wine I can't give an order; that I be a figure head? No Lance, I am a ruler and I intend to stay one. I defend this place and have rebuilt it from the ruins that it was once was. I am active in caring for my kingdom and shall continue to do so until my dying day, and if you attempt to stop me, I will cut you down where you stand, so go back from whence you came!"
"Forte, you will come with us and that's final!" The general ordered, Lance too angry to speak.
"Come now, sir. You can't order him about like that."
Sarid felt a wave of relief and anxiety rushed over her, the men looking back and parting as another white officer horse came forward, its hoofs quiet on the grass.
"Sarid's very stubborn, but he will listen to reason."
The rider was an aged man, though he still cut a trim figure and was well aged, a mustache over his upper lip and his hair a dark grey, with tan skin and soft, intelligent blue-grey eyes.
Sarid swallowed, suddenly conscious of her appearance, the castle, the village, the mine, of the dock and the lodgings she had built the sailors, of everything that she had done and built on Terraria.
The rider dismounted, then turned and walked up to her, stopping a few feet away.
"…Commander Flint." Sarid said, kicking herself for her voice faltering.
"Sarid." Flint smiled warmly. "It's good to see you again."
"…" Sarid swallowed, drawing a blank on what to say. "…You…too…"
Flint merely smiled more.
"You never have been good with social interaction." He said, Sarid looking down at her feet, kicking herself more. "Oh, come now."
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she looked up at him.
"But you have tried, and that's the important part." He said.
"…Sir." Sarid said, swallowing again. Flint kept smiling, then stepped back, stood at attention, and saluted.
"Good day, sire. I am Commander Harold Flint of Julo, head of military education and fifth member of the Army Circle." He said. "I have come with men to request that you return with us to Julo to have a hearing on your leaving the country."
"…I…I had to come here." Sarid told him.
"I would like to hear more of your decision, but I would also like to know if you will be accompanying us."
"…Yes. Yes, sir, I will."
Flint lowered his arm and bowed deeply.
"You have my thanks, your majesty." Flint said, straightening.
"Well, let's go." Howe said. "We've got to get back for the trial."
"I…" Sarid started, taking a half step forward. "…would invite you to spend the night on Terraria."
"What for?" Howe asked.
"…Your men…" Sarid told him. "They had seasickness all the way here, didn't they?"
"…Yes."
"Then…they may camp on the beach." She said. "It will let them regain their composure."
"No."
"Now general." Flint said, looking back at him. "He has invited us to stay the night. It would be rude to turn down his offer. Besides, I think the men would enjoy a break from their sea sickness."
"…Hm." Howe scowled. "Fine. But we leave tomorrow morning."
"Thank you."
"And to make sure Forte doesn't go running off, I'll be staying in town."
"That won't be necessary." Sarid told him.
"Yes, it will."
"I…invite Commander Flint to stay in town, not you."
Howe looked incredibly offended, while Flint looked very flattered.
"Why thank you, your majesty."
"…Yes, sir. You're…welcome."
Next to a still flabbergasted Howe stood Lance, who was quietly enjoying watching Sarid struggle.
"It's an honor to stay in your village." Flint told Sarid, bowing.
"…The, the honor is mine, have – having you as gu-a guest."
"Thank you. Your hospitality is appreciated."
Sarid stared at him a minute, then suddenly bowed.
"You are always welcome here." She said, more words running around her head and bouncing around her throat, though she didn't trust her voice. The residents who were watching gained surprised looks; Sarid had never acted in such a way.
"Oh, stand up." Flint told her, taking her by the shoulders and forcing her up. "I'm no one to bow to."
"No, you…" Sarid's throat tightened, and the words stopped. There was an awkward silence following her words, though she could not get any more to come out. After a moment she fidgeted, then suddenly hugged Flint, much to the shock of the residents watching.
Flint simple returned the hug, placing a hand on the back of Sarid's head.
Sarid was relaxed, her eyes closed and a calm look on her face, smelling Flint's coat. It smelled clean with the slight scent of ocean water, under which was his own scent.
After a minute they separated, Flint smiling at her.
"Well, I'd like to get a move on, your majesty. I'm eager to see what you've been doing here."
"Of course. Do you have any luggage?"
"No, just my overnight bag on my horse."
"Yes, you did stress traveling lightly."
"Indeed. Oh, there is a person here with us who would also like to stay in town."
"Is he a friend of yours?"
"Yes, you've met him."
"I have?"
"Yes, he treated you in that little town."
"…Ah! Yes, him…you know him?"
"Quite the story, I'm afraid." Flint laughed.
"…Well, he is free to stay here as well, seeing as to how two of the residents are relatives of his."
"Thank you, your highness." Flint told her with a polite nod. He then turned to face back down the road and held his hands to his mouth, yelling: "DOC!"
The men of the invasion force parted again, Doc walking past them with a backpack on his shoulders and whistling a tune. On the resident's side of the peanut gallery, Asher and Hannah quietly gasped, and took hands at the sight of their relative.
"Here I am, now what are your other wishes?" Doc asked Flint when he came up to them.
"Can you raise the dead?" Flint asked.
"Nope."
"Well, that's a shame." Flint said, then turning his attention to General Howe, who watched with a scowl. "I'll take it from here, general. We'll meet you at the beach tomorrow morning."
"Fine." Howe said. "Men, back to the beach!"
The invasion force turned and began to march back toward the beach, Lance giving Sarid a slight glare before he turned and went back with them.
"Lance hasn't changed a bit." Sarid said. "Aside from his rank, that is."
"Aye." Flint sighed, then going and taking his horse by the reins. "Well, where can he stay?"
"There's a stable. I'll have Durim take him there."
"Thank you."
"DURIM!" Sarid called, he coming forward. "Could you please take Commander Flint's horse to the stables?"
"Sure thing, boy-o!" Durim said, taking the horse from Flint and leading it off. They watched him as he went down the road, Doc seeing Hannah and Asher.
"WELL, who are those two young people?" He asked.
"FATHER!"
"UNCLE!"
They ran to him and he held out his arms, the three of them hugging.
"Hah ha! It's good to see you both!" Doc laughed.
"It's so good to see you again." Hannah told him, hugging him tighter.
"Heh, come on, you'll break my old man bones, let me have a look at you." He took her face in his hands, holding her gently. "Ah yes…Just like your mother."
Hannah hugged him again, her face in his chest, pressing his ascot down against him.
"Heh…And Asher, you're looking well."
"I've been well." He told him.
"Yes, yes…I don't remember you being so tall either." Doc told him. Asher laughed, and Sarid looked away, Flint noticing her doing so.
"Well, why don't you two show us around the village?" Flint asked, Sarid quickly looking up at him.
"I w- I was…" Her words caught in her throat, and she looked away at the ground. After a moment, she looked back up at him, having regained her composure. "I would like to be the one to show you the village."
"It'd be an honor." Flint smiled. "I'm especially eager to see the castle."
"Of course. It will be a glorious sight when it is completed." Sarid told him.
"You two go on ahead." Doc told them. "I'd like to catch up with these two."
"Very well." Sarid said, feeling some relief.
"Alright." Flint told him, then looking back at Sarid. "Please lead the way, your majesty."
"Thank you." Sarid told him, then walking toward the village. Flint followed her and she stopped, looking back at him. Taking the cue, he went and stood beside her, and the two of them walked on.
They came to the wall of residents, who parted, Sarid seeing Mortimer, Pip, and Faye were all absent, while the rest of the residents were present, Durim having returned. Going on, they walked past Asher's house and stopped in front of the steps leading to the castle doors, the entire village before them.
"The building we just passed is the Library, as well as Asher's home." Sarid told Flint, who nodded. Some of the residents had followed them, watching the two.
"Yes…I met him once when he was a toddler." Flint told her, much to her surprise.
"Really?"
"Yes. He was adorable – bobbing around and sitting on his father's foot, haha!"
"…I see…" Sarid said.
"Yes. I didn't expect him to get so tall." Flint told her, then lowering his voice but keeping his smile. "He wouldn't happen to be the person you wrote me about, would he?"
Sarid reacted like she had been punched in the gut, air suddenly rushing out of her mouth and being unable to breath.
"…"
She stared at him, he surprised at her reaction.
"…W-wh-what ma-AKES YOU THINK THAT?!" She asked suddenly, surprising him more, while the standby residents were confused.
"…Well, you looked away when he laughed."
"BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT!"
"Sarid, there's no reason to yell."
"BUT-!" She looked away then, pressing her lips together. After a moment, she looked back at him, having regained her composure a second time. "Forgive me."
"Of course." Flint smiled. "Now, you were saying?"
"Yes. This house here," she pointed to the one across from Asher's, "is vacant, though you may use it if you like."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Past it is Durim's house, he works with explosives, so it's safer for the rest of the village for him to stay there. The house next door to Asher's is Hannah's Clinic." Sarid told him, they starting down the street. "The house across from hers is a gun and ammo shop, run by a man named Reginald. Next door to him is Mr. Pip-"
"Pip?!" Flint asked, surprising her.
"…Y-yes." She told him. There was a look of amazement on his face, though he blinked and shook his head some, his smile returning.
"Forgive me, please go on."
"…Yes, well, he runs a tailor shop. The house next to him, on the left corner, is a shop run by Mortimer."
She pointed back across the street.
"The house next to Hannah's is a dye shop, run by an exotic man named Danel, and the house next to his, on the corner, is Leo's art studio."
They went pass the platform in the center of the square where Sarid would appear after using her magic mirror.
"On that right corner across from Leo is…Sparkle's home. She's in charge of celebrations. Next door to her is Esmeralda's Barber Shop."
"I see, I see…" Flint nodded. "Though I counted more villagers than houses you've told me about."
"Yes, Autumn and Xanos live over on the western street across from each other. They are mechanical geniuses."
"Good, good." Flint told her. "How is the mine?"
"It is doing excellent, thank you." Sarid told him. "It suffered from severe cave-ins and massive flooding when I first arrived, but it has gotten much better now, though despite that I still have to fight off monsters down in it."
"I take it you do well."
"Yes sir. They give me little trouble. It is only the large monsters and invasion that gave me trouble, but even then I handled them well."
"Haha, good to hear." Flint laughed.
"Yes…" Sarid nodded. Flint merely smiled at her more, then looked around, seeing the Living Tree.
"You know, I think those are unique to this place." He told her.
"Really?"
"Yes. I saw trees like them in my travels, but never one that you could build a house into like that without killing it. Granted, there is a civilization over in Halla that lives in tree houses, but-"
"HARRY?!"
Flint jumped slightly, both he and Sarid looking to see Faye standing there, a vine-wrapped staff in hand with flowers blooming at the top.
"Faye!" He said. "It's good to-"
He was cut off when Faye leapt on him, giving him a hug and kissing his cheek, much to Sarid and the still watching residents shock.
"Harry! It's so good to see you again!" Faye told Flint, who was red-faced.
"I-I gathered that." He told her. "You look just like how I remember you. Though you hair wasn't as long."
"Oh yes, I started growing it out about twenty years ago." She told him, stroking her braid. "But you've aged very well for a human."
"Eheh, thank you." He said awkwardly. "I see you still have that staff."
"Yes. It helps with getting fresh fruits and vegetables." She told him. "I also use it to have the flowers on my balcony in a constant bloom."
"Yes, yes…" Flint said.
"FLIIINT!"
They looked, seeing Mortimer and Pip rushing over to them, they both hugging Flint.
"Well, who are those old men?" Flint asked with a hint of humor.
"Oh suuuure." Mortimer said, stepping back. "Just because you aged the best doesn't mean you're not old either!"
"Speaking of that, you owe me." Pip told Mortimer, holding out a hand.
"I'm not paying you!" Mortimer answered.
"Oh yes you are!" Pip told him. "I bet thirty-nine silver to you thirty years ago that out of all of us he'd be the si-"
"AHEM!" Flint coughed, everyone looking at him. "Perhaps it'd be best for you two to discuss that in private?"
"…Right." Pip said. "Though you do owe me interest."
"Yeah right." Mortimer told him. "But Flint! Come on over, have some tea!"
"That sounds lovely, but later. Sarid's showing me around." He told him.
"Alright, I'm at that house there. Come on Pip, let's go talk about that bet."
They left, and many of the other residents had returned home, leaving Faye, Sarid and Flint in the street.
"Well, I'm going to go grow some crops." Faye told them. "I'll see you two later."
"Very well." Sarid told her.
"It was good seeing you again." Flint told her with a polite nod. She nodded with a smile in return, then went off.
"Would you like to see the Castle?" Sarid asked him.
"It would be an honor, your majesty." Flint told her. They walked back up the street toward the castle, going up to the doors and inside the castle.
Flint gained an impressed look when they entered, seeing the grand hall with the bridge and the banners, the throne on the far side of the room and the half-done stain glass windows.
"You've done very well for only being here a few months." Flint told her.
"Th-thank you." Sarid told him, shifting her weight. "The stain glass windows were a recent idea I had, and under this bridge here, I plan to put water down there, and the banners, I'm trying to get all that I can to hang here, and on this side of the bridge with the throne, I'll put rows of shining armor, all different kinds leading up to the throne. And – and there will be a treasure room, and a grand banquet hall, an art gallery, and…a-a weapons room!"
"It'll be wonderful, Sarid." Flint told her with a smile, Sarid feeling a bright happiness inside of her.
"Uh, come. I have an impressive work area." She told him, leading him over to the Work Wing, showing him her work area, training areas, and storage. After that, she showed him the Living Wing, with her study, arboretum and greenhouse, along with the kitchen and the progress on the dining hall.
"What of your chambers?" Flint asked.
"Oh…well, it's not much to look at. The furniture is makeshift and I'm still sleeping on my bedroll."
"I see." Flint nodded. "Where may we speak then?"
Speak? "Will the study do?"
"Yes, your majesty." He told her. They went back to it, going up a staircase and up into a hall, going to the end closest to the village, turning into the last door.
It had been furnished, with a grand desk and padded chair, bookcases with few books, globe, an abacus on the desk, two padded chairs in the corner with a low table before them, a potted flower blooming from its pot in a window sill. Every other window stuck out enough for a seat to be in it, and between a set of bookcases a fireplace sat dead and cold. Before one of the windows was a telescope, aimed up at the sky, a lectern with an astronomy book beside it.
Flint went to one of the windows, looking out over the village.
"This is a lovely view." He said.
"Yes, though I don't have time for such things." Sarid told him.
"It's important to make time for such things, your majesty." He replied. "Lovely views are one of the little things that mean a great amount."
"…If you say so." Sarid told him. Flint visibly sighed, his shoulders dropping slightly, Sarid feeling a twinge of panic and guilt. "I just…I've been very busy, with my work, and…"
"I understand there are somethings that are difficult for you, your majesty," He turned to look at her, "but please don't try to hide that behind working. I've known you eight years, and you are one of the most driven people I've ever met. I know your goal is important to you, and I don't want you to stop reaching for it, but…don't have it be the only thing in your life. There are many other things worth reaching for."
"…" Sarid blinked, then looked down at the ground, thinking. "…I…I think I…yes, yes."
He didn't press her for what she meant, but approached her.
"Your letter reached me, but by the time it did, Lance had found the other letters you had sent me." He told her.
"Lance." Sarid said. "What is his problem with me?"
"You're better than him."
His answer and how fast he was able to say it caught her off guard.
"He holds a petty envy toward you because you did better than him academically and physically. Granted, he wasn't as driven as you were, and his…pride often left him blind of you running off ahead, but I'm not here to talk about him. I'm here to talk to you about your letter."
"Which, I…admit was a mistake, as the issue should resolve itself at some point."
"No, it won't."
"What?!"
"What you described in your letter, that…Well," He smiled some, "you're romantically interested in someone."
Sarid was taken aback.
"…I understand it may be difficult to deal with, considering your…method…of dealing with feelings, but you're smart, and I have confidence in you not to make an irreversible mistake, but your social aspect on this is what worries me."
"…" Sarid continued to stare at him.
"…Well, for starters, you said in your letter that you typically avoid them, which is honestly not a good way to go about this, as it's better to get to know the person, and that requires spending time with them-"
"I'm, I'm what?" Sarid sudden asked.
"…You have a romantic interest." Flint repeated. "I'm guessing it's on Doc's nephew Asher, due to your reaction when I asked-
"I AM NOT A SODOMITE!"
"I know." Flint told her, which surprised her.
…Does…He knows? I never…told him…
Flint noticed the expression on her face.
"Eight years and you think I didn't know?" He asked.
Sarid blinked in surprise.
"Anyhow, I just need to 'find out' during the trial, so that way it'll seem like you fooled everyone."
"…Ah, yes…You could get in quite a bit of trouble."
"That's an understatement, but yes." Flint agreed. "But back to the original matter, you can't run from this, Sarid."
"I've ran from everything."
"And that's not good for you."
"But I'm fine."
"No, Sarid, you're not." Flint told her. "You are better though. I can see that much."
"How can you tell?"
"You've been more expressive in the time I've been here then the eight years you lived with me back on Julo. As well, you have developed feelings-"
"I HAVE NOT!"
"Sarid, you wrote me yourself."
"I was mistaken!"
"I don't think so, Sarid."
"…" Sarid looked down at the ground, thinking. "P-perhaps I ate or drank or had some…thing, that inflicted some trick that caused something similar to happen?"
"I don't think that's the case. If it was, you would be doing things to try and get his attention."
"..." Sarid started thinking again. "But…! I don't do such ridiculous things!"
"It's not ridiculous, Sarid." Flint told her. "You are entering a stage in your life where such things can be a normal part of life for some. You may not have it to a great degree, but you are experiencing it."
"…No!" Sarid outright yelled, surprising Flint. "I…I refuse it! I deny such an idea!"
"Sarid, you can't run from it."
"Watch me." Sarid told him, then leaving the study with a quick stride, going out into the hall, leaving the door open behind her.
Flint stood, watching the doorway, then sighed.
Is it so wrong I just want what's best for her?
Sarid had changed clothes and had gone down into the mine, working on one of the shafts. The stone crumbled slowly to her Nightmare Pickaxe, though she had nothing better.
A noise reached her ears and she stopped.
It had sounded like some sort of growl, from deep in a throat, though she saw no monsters in the shaft behind her. Turning back around, she found herself face-to-face with a floating purple and blue monster. She threw herself back from the surprise of it suddenly appearing, and got a better look at it, seeing it was an oblong oval shape, the top a bottom made of a pretty purplish rock, a glowing, ghostly blue light in its center. It floated toward her and she shot it several times, causing it to fall apart, dropping coins and pieces of the rock that made it up.
She got out her magic mirror, gazing into it.
Appearing back in the village, she hopped down off the platform and ran to the library, upping the steps and going into it. She heard laughter upstairs, telling her that Doc was still visiting with Hannah and Asher, which gave her a run of the bookshelves.
She went to the section on Terraria, pulling down a book on the natural blocks that the land held. Flipping through it, she found a picture of the rock that she had found: granite.
"Granite is a block found underground in Granite Caves. It can be crafted into Smooth Granite Blocks in order to craft the Granite-themed furniture set. In addition to being found in placed form, it can also drop from Granite Elementals and Granite Golems."
Hm… Sarid thought, wondering if the growl she had heard was from one of the Golems. The door opened, and she stuck her head out from the shelves, and saw that Flint had just come in.
"Ah, Sarid. I was looking for you." He told her. She put her book away and then approached him, stopping a few feet away.
"…I…I realize I was acting childishly before, and…" She hesitated, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and panic over what to say.
"Sarid." Flint said, she looking up at him. "I understand your reaction. You're not good at processing emotions, and as such the idea of such a thing would be distressing to you."
"…I-I am sorry of my…reaction, earlier."
"Your apology is accepted." He told her, then smiling. "You have made progress since coming here. I should've let you come here years ago if I had known that."
"I needed to learn how to fight and defend."
"I know, and that you realized that at such an age is a sign of maturity."
Sarid felt a happiness in herself at his praise, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Halt thieves!"
They looked to see Doc at the base of the stairs, Hannah and Asher behind him.
"Have ye come to steal the books?" Doc asked, holding his cane as if it were a rifle.
"Drat, we've been caught!" Flint said, snapping his fingers. "Quick, back to the hideout!"
"Oh no ya don't!" Doc said.
"Oh? And are YOU going to stop me?"
"Eh, I was thinking about it." Doc told him, lowering his cane and shrugging. He and Flint laughed, Hannah and Asher suppressing laughter. "So, what've you been doing?"
"Oh, Sarid showed me around – she's built a beautiful castle – then I went and visited with Pip and Morty some."
"Oh yes, I was planning on speaking with them." Doc told him. "I'm going to go on and head over there. I'll be back for supper."
"Yes sir." Hannah and Asher said in unison.
"Have a good visit." Hannah told him, hugging him, and he hugged her back.
"Oh, you know how we OLD folk are." He said, which got a small laugh out of her.
"Mind if I go with you?" Flint asked.
"Not at all. Come on."
The two of them left then, leaving Sarid, Asher and Hannah in the library.
"…So did you come by to look up?" Hannah asked.
"I found a rock, Granite, and wanted to see what it was." Sarid told her. "I'm going to go do some more mining."
"Uh, be – careful!" Asher said, Sarid dropping er eyes as she walked toward the door. Hannah just shook her head at the two.
"This is bad."
Flint sat in a chair in Mortimer's living room, Doc sitting in the other chair while Pip and Mortimer sot on the sofa, Faye standing off to the side. They nodded in agreement with Flint's statement.
"But if they find out she's a her, then she'll just be banished, if even that." Faye told him. "Given her royal status, they may just drop the charges all together."
"Yes, but there will be an argument." Doc pointed out. "They'll say that she studied there, that she does owe the country something."
"Perhaps they'll go for a fine instead?" Pip asked.
"Perhaps, but then it would be an enormous amount." Mortimer told him. "I doubt Sarid has the funds to pay off a fine like that."
"That's true." Faye said. "We're still a nation in a stage of re-building, we have a miniscule population, we don't even have taxes yet, we all just gave Sarid things in exchange for providing us housing. Sarid's been here long enough to have some money saved, but not much."
"We can argue that Sarid being here is more important than being back in Julo repaying a debt." Flint said. "As well, Sarid didn't actually desert – she hadn't been enlisted into the army yet."
"That's a good point." Mortimer told him. "It will be hard for them to argue on that point."
"As well, there is the matter of the people here." Faye told them. "If Sarid hadn't of come here, Pip would still be cursed, Autumn would still be trapped, Esmeralda would've been eaten by spiders, and Xanos would still be living with the goblins. Due to Sarid's actions, they're all living happy and healthy lives."
"That is true." Pip agreed. "They can't ignore that."
"But they will still argue that Sarid was in violation of an agreement with the military. All graduates are required to serve five years, and being that Sarid is a woman that went through military school…" Flint shook his head. "Who knows. There will definitely be an uproar about it."
"But there must be an agreement they can reach." Doc said. "What about a treaty?"
"They'll demand Sarid take a groom from Julo, and I can tell you that's not going to happen." Flint told him.
"What about Asher?" Mortimer asked.
"I mean a nobleman." Flint replied. "Sarid…Sarid's in a mess…"
Sarid slammed back against the wall, then fell to the floor, landing on her feet. Looking up, she saw a Granite Golem running straight at her, she jumping out of the way in time to avoid another punch from it, and drove her Phasesaber into its side. It let out a ghastly roar, turned to her and tried grabbing her, though she ducked away in time. Jumping back away, she used her Space Gun on it, at it fell to the ground, dropping coins and granite blocks.
She gathered the items, then yawned. She was tired for so early in the day, though it could have been from her anxiousness about impressing Flint with her progress. Yawning again, she took out her magic mirror and went back to the surface after gazing into it, then tucked it back into her belt. She looked up at the sky and saw it was only mid-afternoon, much to her disappointment.
I should find something to do… She thought, then getting an idea.
Later…
Flint sat out on Mortimer porch with the other elders, Faye having gone home. They spoke of the old days when they served together in the army, back during the Shroud War on Julo.
"I tell you, Lieutenant Parker was the worst officer we ever served under." Mortimer told them, then groaning in response.
"I remember him, not a single funny thing about him." Pip said, Doc snickering.
"Well, I did secretly remove his funny bone." He told them, they laughing.
"Well! That explains the scar on his arm!" Pip laughed.
"Heh heh! Remember when he got mad at us for being late and assigned us to scrub the barracks to an inch of its life?" Flint laughed, the others laughing more.
"Yeah, yeah!" Doc laughed. "Merlin used that spell and the whole place was spick and span in a second! I'll never forget the look on Parker's face when he saw the whole place that clean!"
They laughed, enjoying the memory.
"Commander?"
They looked, seeing Sarid standing there, her cloak pulled around her.
"Ah, what can I do for you, your majesty?" He asked.
"I would like to spar."
"Ah, yes…been awhile since we fought each other." He said, standing. "Where do we spar?"
"I've outfitted one of the stair platforms in front of the castle." She told him. "It should be suitable."
"Very good." Flint told her.
"Yes. Please come with me." Sarid told him. They went down the street, Doc, Pip and Mortimer following. Coming to the castle, they went up the first set of stairs, then came to a flat area, which had a large patch of grass to soften the ground. Off to the side were weapon racks with wooden practice weapons, holding bo sticks, swords, axes, spears, halberds, shields and other such items.
"It looks good." Flint told her.
"Thank you, commander." She said. "Well, let's get ready. How would you like to fight?"
"Oh, how does hand-to-hand sound?"
"Fine. Let's prepare."
They went to opposite sides of the area, Sarid pulling off her vest and unclasping her cloak so she showed her sleeveless white undershirt, revealing some of scars she had gotten, notably the one on her arm from the Eye of Cthulhu and the burn mark on her shoulder from the Eater of Worlds. Turning around, she saw some of the other residents had come to watch, and she saw Flint was ready.
He had shed his coat, tie, and shirt, leaving his sleeveless white undershirt, showing he had kept himself in excellent condition with strong, toned arms and torso. His glasses had been set aside with his things, though he frowned and got a bit of a concerned look upon seeing her scars.
"Ready?" Sarid asked, going to the middle of the ground and getting in a stance.
"Only if you are." Flint told her, doing the same.
They tapped their fists together, and the sparring started.
Flint came right out with a roundhouse kick, Sarid catching his leg and throwing him back, though he went into a cartwheel and landed on his feet, then charging her.
She rolled to the side, Flint turning after her and swinging a fist when she came up, though she blocked it and swung her own, Flint blocking it. Sarid shot her knee up to hit him in the gut, though he side-stepped the attack and caught her leg, throwing her back and she landed with a back fall, tucking her head down and smacking the ground with her arms to absorb the shock. Flint was over her then, though she got her leg between the both of them and pushed him away, rolling backward and coming up on her feet.
"Excellent." Flint told her.
She charged, attempting to tackle Flint to the ground, though he grabbed her shoulders and fell backward, throwing Sarid over him in the process so that they were both on their backs, a foot of space between their heads. In unison, they scrambled up onto their knees, grabbed each other and wrestled back and forth in an attempt to get the other on the ground. Sarid got her feet under her and used the leverage to force Flint back, forcing him up and then on his back, getting over him, then tried to pin his arms, though he pulled them from her grip and tried fighting back, Sarid still trying to grab his wrists.
Flint then suddenly twisted to one side, pushing himself upward along the ground and then pulled himself free from under Sarid, and got up onto his feet, back into a fighting stance. He was panting and his hair was messed up, though he in good enough condition to fight for hours.
"You're strong in your old age." Sarid told him, getting up and into a fighting stance.
"I take vitamins." He said, then stepping forward and shooting a palm-heel right at her, though she then blocked it, forcing his arm out, kicked him in the gut, then struck him in him face with one hand and again with her other hand, when Flint did a back roll, coming up on his feet a safe distance away.
"Excellent." He praised again.
They continued fighting as the sun passed over head, sometimes grabbing one of the wooden practice weapons and using it until they were disarmed, though they were finally forced to stop from sheer exhaustion.
They laid on their backs, panting and looking up at the darkening sky, hurting everywhere.
"You've…really gotten…good…" Flint panted, Sarid nodding.
"Thank you…" She managed to say. "I…have to fight…quite often…"
"Yes, yes…" Flint nodded, remembering what she said about the mines.
They laid there a bit longer, before Sarid rolled up on her side, then stood up. She offered a hand to Flint, which he took and pulled him up, bumping into her shoulder as he was too worn from sparring to catching himself.
"Well…goodnight." Flint told her. "I'm…going to eat…then go to bed…hoo, I haven't…haven't had a fight like that in years."
"I take offense to that." Sarid told him. "I was sparring with you earlier this year."
"Yes, but you've made a great improvement since you've had to fight for your life here." He answered.
"Of course." Sarid told him. "I was fighting for my life."
Flint smiled and nodded, then turned and started toward the house he was staying in.
"Like I said, goodnight!"
"Goodnight!" Sarid called back, then turning and going up into her castle.
AN – I'm just gonna stop here for now.