A/N - I swear, this is probably the worst chapter I've ever written for this story, but the one after this will be much better! Whee....
Log 27: A Temporary Farewell
The journey on Ocean Spirit to the Flame Horizon was a short one, spanning over a few days. The boat, a yacht with three masts fitted with triangular sails and more than enough room for five sailors, seemed to steer itself through the waves. All Jason had done was plase Suruiandagia in a console at the helm and name a destination, and the ship was left to its own devices.
James and Daisuke, Jason's friends from Mêristan, were quite accommodating. They made meals in the galley, usually from whatever fish they had caught. Kathryn had never had fish until first arriving at Jason's, but soon grew accustomed to the new diet. She continued to teach Keith some human mannerisms, including eating, and she seemed to be making progress.
One morning Jason awoke to a crackling roar. He knew it did not come from the ship - his friends wouldn't dare harm it. One glance outside the porthole in his quarters revealed a wall of flame that arose from the sea, sweeping past the ship without harm.
They had passed the Flame Horizon.
Some hours later, after a hasty breakfast, land was sighted. Daisuke had spotted it through field glasses - a port town, with towering clay buildings and docks full of merchant ships.
"Busier than I thought," Jason whispered. "I wonder how we'll dock."
"Must be an uminchu port here," James said. "All ports have one."
"No, not here. I don't think this place has seen uminchu since the flames were formed. But it seems that the ship knows where it's going."
The ship guided itself to an isolated dock, long since abandoned by sailors. In minutes the ship berthed and tied itself to the moorings.
"We have ... docked ... have we not?"
Kathryn nodded. "We have, Keith."
The angel sighed; he had lain in bed all morning - much unlike him - even insisted that Kathryn have the morning meal without him. The ship must have passed the wall of flame while he slept - and now he was too weak to even look at Kathryn. Faintness was coming over him again, all too familiar after his fall, so long ago....
He could not feel the warm hand that stroked his face.
"Are you all right?"
He did not answer - he could not speak. It was like he had lost the ability to do so.
He struggled to take avellonis from his side - felt the cool metal almost fall from his grip - and raised it to the crystal in the sheathed Xariandagia that Kathryn wore. He saw the staff sink into the crystal, and faintly smiled.
"What is it, Keith?"
The angel saw kathryn's face, took time to remember her kind eyes, her thin lips, her fiery hair ... it would be the last thing he would see in a long time.
"I am sorry," he at last managed, shocked at the voice rising from his mouth; "I ... must go ... for now...."
He barely heard Kathryn's outcry as he felt his body fade away from existance.
Kathryn looked down at the bed, mussed by Keith's once-sleeping form. Now he was gone - she wasn't sure why, nor how. He had never said he would leave, not at all....
She noticed a sphere of whiteness on the pillow - a pearl, glowing with a silver light. She picked it up, felt its familiar warmth.
I am still with you, Kathryn - I will never leave you, for I must guard you.
The words echoed in Kathryn's heart, in the angel's smooth voice. With a wan smile, Kathryn kissed the pearl and held it to the crystal in her sword. The pearl melted partially into it, reflecting the ruby's light.
A/N - Uh ... yeah, the next part will be much better than this....