The Seahorse was approaching Ith, Roderick's home, and their next destination.
On the deck, Roderick stood with Farnese, Serpico third wheeling a respectful distance away.
"Come here," Roderick handed her his telescope. Making a hand sweeping motion he said in a rather grandiose way, "Behold, Ith."
Farnese blushed, accepting the telescope she peered through it. After a few moments she said, "Oh- I, um, can't quite see anything yet. Is it often so foggy?"
"I wanna see! I wanna see!" Isidro exclaimed, who had been chasing seagulls.
"She just said she couldn't see anything!" Schierke admonished. She had been making fun of Isidro's attempts to catch seagulls.
Largely ignoring the younger traveling members, Roderick answered his fiance's question, "It can be, can you not see anything?"
"No-" She gasped, pulling the telescope away from her eye, looking mighty frightened.
"What is it?" Roderick asked.
Serpico, who had been there silently the entire time, took the telescope from Farnese's grasp. After a short look into it, his arm fell limply to his side, eyes widening.
Isidro grabbed it from Serpico's loose hand. "I don't see-" Isidro started to say before the lightness of his demeanor dropped, "Oh no."
Isma, who had wandered over with Casca to see what the hubbub was about, wrestled the telescope from him, reacting similarly to Serpico after gazing upon Ith before handing it to Schierke who handed it to Casca after whispering, "It's worse than I thought."
After her turn to peer through the telescope, a grim look settled on Casca's face. She rested a hand on Isma's shoulder.
Guts walked out from below deck, freshly cleaned, armor and weapons well taken care of. He yawned. "When'll we be docking?" He asked.
Casca mutely handed him the telescope. After looking through it with his good eye, Guts didn't react much, just "hmmed" and let the relatively relaxed demeanor slip away. Mumbling something like "Figures."
Rodericks optimism was failing fast. Nervously he asked, "Am I missing something?"
Grimly, Guts held the telescope out for him to take. Roderick swallowed before looking through.
At first all he could see was fog, or what he assumed was fog, until it darkened to clearly be smoke. A fire? And then he saw- them- the horrid creatures. Had it been a few months ago (or years depending on how one thought of it) Roderick would have assumed they were carrion birds, or a stray flag… but now… now he knew better.
With wings like vultures and humanoid bodies. That was all he could see from the distance, and that was more than enough. Roderick had faced all sort of danger and monsters, but for his home to be the place ravaged, it felt personal. It was personal. And as the smoke cleared, He could finally see the ruin that was his. The docks and harbor, all untouched, the ships were another story, smashed and burned, and what looked like human remains strewn about. A truly grotesque sight.
The mood aboard the Seahorse dropped dramatically. Elfhelm had been a much needed reprieve, but this was reality. And reality was biting. Hard.
…
Docking was tricky business. As far as they could tell the harbor was safe, no sea monsters afoot, or that's what the merrows had told them before they left back to their territory. The loss of the merrows was another morale crusher, they had guarded the Seahorse's journey through the sea, now to be without their protection…
It would be difficult, but they could do difficult. There was talk of not docking there, to try and find somewhere better, but Ith's fortifications proved to be to their detriment; there were jagged rocks and cliffs, Ith the only place the boat wouldn't be destroyed by the elements, but if they docked there was a large chance the boat would be destroyed by monsters. In the end, even the loyalist of Roderick's crew were wanting to return to sea, find an island and wait it all out.
"Are they stupid!" Schierke exclaimed uncharacteristically. "There isn't anywhere safe!"
"They think they may find another Elfhelm." Roderick said. He was a free spirit, but this was his home, and what use was rebelling if there was nothing to rebel against? But even someone as noble as Roderick couldn't feel anything else other than dread when he thought of docking in Ith. So his mind knew what was necessary, but his heart was pitifully human.
Guts didn't seem visibly shaken, his only real concern as it ever had been was Casca's safety. Sure they'd be going back into hell, but it was one he understood, and Casca could now look after herself. By no means was he happy, but not nearly as big of a deal as it was for the natives of Ith.
"There are no other Elfhelms! And even if there were we'd never find them."
"I… I figured as much. Roderick sighed, "I know this is what needs to happen, but I don't know if I have it in me to force my men into that. Besides, an intact ship could be invaluable."
"You plan to-" Schierke started.
"I'm letting most of the men stay on the ship out here. We'll take a small boat and sneak into the city." Roderick turned to Farnese. "I- I would be most thankful if you would stay with the ship and cast your protection charm."
Farnese looked startled, "Roderick, I- I."
"Farnese wishes to stay with us." Casca said.
"Casca."
"No, you don't want to be married to him, do you-"
"-Casca."
"Look, I'm saying it, not you, you don't have to-"
"Casca!" Farnese raised her voice. "I can settle my own affairs."
Casca looked surprised, but slightly cowed. Around Roderick, Farnese seemed like a different person, much more submissive and quiet, It dawned on Guts that perhaps Casca didn't know the circumstance of Farnese and Roderick's engagement.
Farnese took a deep breath. Addressing Roderick she said, "I can't leave them. If you're going, then I'm going as well."
"I didn't expect you would let yourself be left behind." Roderick smiled, "Then it's settled, all who wish to brave Ith will take the small boats at dawn."
"I will scout the area, Farnese?" Schierke announced, "Would you help me?"
Farnese nodded, glancing between Casca and Roderick. Once the two of them left, Isidro let out a sigh.
"So we're finally going to get off this boat," Isidro said, "It will be nice to not be in such close corners with the love birds."
"Love birds?" Isma asked.
Puck flew in sprinkling sparkles onto Casca and Guts, singing, "Guts and Casca sitting in a tree, N-" Guts who had admittedly been spacing out almost slapped Puck out of the air when he thought it was just a fast moving object. "Love always did bloom on Elfhelm," Puck said after dodging Guts slap, "Part of the reason I had to leave, always too mushy."
"You're the biggest sap." Guts grumbled.
"Oh." Isma said. "Congratulations!"
This girl really lacked some social skills, that wasn't something you congratulate a couple on. Not like that at least.
"Isidro," Casca started, "You realize once we're off the boat that just means there won't be anymore walls."
The color drained from his face. Sure, Casca, claim to have traumatized the kid and then threaten to do it again. Makes perfect sense.
"You- you wouldn't." Isidro said.
"Guts~" Casca crooned, pulling his head down so she could kiss his cheek. What was she playing at. Guts played along, not super comfortable with this sort of thing. 'This sort of thing' meaning displaying affection in front of people.
"Ugh." Isidro looked pointedly away.
"I don't get it." Isma, "Why are you freaking out? It's just kissing." And with that she kissed Isidro on the cheek.
"Whaaaa?!" It seemed this turn of events fried Isidro's brain. His face turned bright red, "You- She- Tactical retreat!" He yelled and threw something at the ground before running away.
"Isidro! Where are you going?" Isma called, "Was it something I said?" And took after him.
"He realizes just yelling tactical retreat doesn't make it one, right?" Guts said. "What are you teaching him Casca?"
"What, it all goes in one ear, out the other, unless it's about swords or the Hawks." She sighed, "Why did I agree to this? And do you think we should watch those two any closer? They seem to be getting… close."
Guts shrugged, he'd gone through almost all of his life without adult supervision, and he turned out… on second thought maybe some discipline would prove beneficial.
Roderick cleared his throat, as it was Serpico and Roderick were still present. This made quite the awkward situation.
"I'm happy the plan was so easy to agree on." Roderick said. "I'm gonna go um, talk to the crew." He also left.
"Farnese agreed to marry Roderick in exchange for him taking us to Elfhelm, she is duty bound to follow through." Serpico said.
"I- I didn't know." Casca said. "I thought, I have to admit my memories of Roderick… are spotty at best. I shouldn't have-"
"No, you were just looking out for Farnese. I can't fault you."
"He really is a good man." Guts added.
"I just wish I'd known that, now things are weird."
"It'll blow over." Guts encouraged. "Well, I'm getting my last night of sleep before stepping into that hell, see you in the morning." with that, Guts left.
"It's barely past noon." Serpico commented.
"Don't even try to reason with him, He's been able to fall asleep at any time, anywhere since about a week after my return."
"Does your relationship have anything to do with it?" Serpico asked, and it took Cacsa second to figure out what he was referring to.
"Serpico! Really?!" She just about slapped him.
He played dumb, but Casca figured this was only the start of learning new things about other people.