Year 765 The Storm Crawler Charge

Many years ago, before the empire even had the standing that they do now. The empire was a small budding town, ruled by the young Rafferty Claymoore the Driven. Being the new order, they were desperate for allies at the time. Many clans and nations fought for land that was easily more powerful than the empire. Rafferty Claymoore founded their first line of allies; some say they are even Claymoore’s shield, the Einar family. The Einars were a very highly funded family but known for their skill in fort defenses, sword and shield combat. Even that was not enough until they struck a deal with the Saoirse family; others say Claymoore’s double-edged bardiche. This family was known bloodthirsty mercenaries and bounty hunters. They loved war and violence, often too hard to tame in battle. Their tenacious appetite for battle gave enough push back for the empire to win the war on lands. Avid weapon masters, the Saoirse failed at where Einars excelled at, but neither will ever admit their complementary traits. After winning plots and many war slaves, the two houses often butted heads. The Einars wanted order, while the Saoirse wanted more chaos. Tired of the constant bickering in the office, Emperor Rafferty assigned the Saoirse a new mission. They must take over the continent of Vsimere from the natives, a continent secluded from the rest but bears riches of many gems. The Saoirse did conquer Vsimere but decided to stay there to create their own democracy; they still went out of their way to trade with the Empire. If asked, they will even go to war for the Empire, but the Saoirse remain independent. However, the Einar stayed put next to the Claymoore family, acting as their shield and very sound advisors. There are other families who contributed to the Empire’s conquering spree and some that joined in afterwards. These two are just the oldest known family line with the Claymoore’s that still exists today; others were long lost in history. Until the Caems came along to help control the treasury, the strife between the mages and empire was born for some reason. The Chimera Empire still won’t tell the full truth about the matter. The Three Gods Church helped mark the first day they deemed the mages and warlocks were blasphemous, and the Caems became the sword that enforced the culling of these people. They became the alchemy knights that donned the very weapon that, with plenty of discrimination, executed many who practiced magics. The Sword of Alchemy, also not fondly named the Mourning Sigil, was never void of blood on its blade.

As they return together without Azar around, Connor is keen to explain the Einars and Saoirse to Rhea. She didn’t think he would after his intolerance towards Azar’s existence earlier. Regardless, she tried to never think of Azar in fear that Connor can tell what she’s deep in thought about. He’s so good at guessing most times that she thought he was a mind reader.

Then again, it I sn’t hard to not ponder about anything else. That little seer girl still fills Rhea’s attention even if she isn’t here. That child, already marked to become a seer, signed something to her. “There’s a life with you.”

Rhea had some suspicions, but she had so much to think on in the moment that she chose this time to shelve that too. It is only going to make her sick with anxiety if she thinks it further, and her broken ribs are not fully healed yet.

Also, the monsters vanished just like that arcane mage. Like one needed the other in order to exist, the only semblance of them they did come across are carcasses with the yellow fluid spilled out of every orifice.

Once Connor completes his summary on the two families, the gates of Renuo are in sight. The Manuk’s throne barely dips past the halfway point of the skies. Her old home isn’t far, but no one can ever find it unless they risk getting killed by the beasts or the Kraxxian clan.

They got closer to the walls to see the knights still guarding the entrance. With no other options, they had to go through the very same hole in the wall that is still there. Rhea would normally question the lack of effort this place puts into any of their infrastructure, but their laziness helps them peruse in and out of the town without issues. The issues being knights that will find them suspicious.

Rhea did struggle to get through this hole, her injury throbbing from squeezing through the tight space. When she got to the other side, she placed her hand over the spot. It did not look or feel as bad as the first day she got it; she is thankful this day will be the end of the pain.

Rhea thought she had time to discreetly inspect her injury alone. She is wrong. He is beside her, already touching her shoulder with his calloused palm. His whole presence nearly hovers over her when he is trying to console her. His statement is more of an accusation rather than a question: “You haven’t completely healed.”

Berhusk! Rhea straightens her back; the last thing she needs is to give him more reason to doubt her resiliency. “It is better.”

He definitely didn’t believe her, enough to spin her around for him to inspect the injury by touching it without warning.

“Again!” She gasps, hating everything about the intrusion, but again it falls on deaf ears. He isn’t in a listening mood; by the way, he barely reacts to her.

Eventually, his prodding had him exhale some more. She couldn’t tell if it was out of irritation, only until he spoke. “You did heal. But you are never going to be done healing if you keep on moving around like you are.”

There it is! His impeccable critiquing. Rhea didn’t feel as agitated this time. She’d been losing the will to fight over the trivial things. Especially when it felt like things were getting worse since he acquired the artifact. She was exhausted from the whole adventure, even more so than she had expected. It is weird.

Her silence didn’t go unnoticed; Connor points it out as quickly as he inspected her injury. “You’re exhausted.”

“I do not think I am the only one exhausted.” Rhea got defensive, but it carried no weight. What does it matter if he can see that I am tired?

Sleepwalking is not exactly restful, and she still can’t remember the nightmare she felt. Connor just watches her; there’s no saying what he is thinking since he is keeping his stoicism. An annoying trait of his, she rather him be angry.

“We’ll be taking a break.” Connor says out of nowhere. He takes her hand to guide her towards a direction not towards the pier.

“What-“ This is extremely out of nowhere for someone like her husband. Spontaneous isn’t in his skillset. Erathea must be sinking. “What about…the crew?”

“I gave Gash four days to leave. We are early.” Connor said it so simply it almost made her concerns seem crazy. Not this time! He is the one who lost his mind.

“Are you okay?”  Rhea asks, which earns her a side-eye from him.

“Hmph, I’m fine. I didn’t get my ribs broken.” His dry statement is obviously a jab at her recklessness.

“I do not look for these injuries.” She pouts, no matter what her physical prowess is a nonexistence when she barely weighed heavier than the skinniest of pirates. Thinking of weight had her glancing downward at herself. She did gain weight, an oddity, but it made sense. Her ribs don’t show as much. This pirate crew has been feeding her well as the captain promised. She isn’t used to it, having to starve for days when living on her own.

“Still reckless.” Connor chuffs in response, he changes his tone soon after. “It’s in the past. We are going to a bathhouse.”

“Bath house?”  The idea of a bath house brings on no memories in her, meaning she had absolutely no idea what he is talking about.

“A place to take a bath, they have a hot spring.” Connor’s explanation didn’t help her; her mind immediately went to the hot springs near the volcano. Those will easily melt a person. Connor peeks her way to notice her confusion. “Seriously, how did you bathe in the jungle?”

She caught a whiff that she is being teased and snorts, “Like any person or animal in the jungle. Lakes or streams… The hot springs I have seen can melt a person.”

“Not this one.” Connor guiding her to this place intrigues Rhea. He usually relied on her direction when it came to Renuo, it means he can find himself through a town. Then again, he isn’t implying this place is a secret. Rhea spent too long hiding to ever see it. He might as well be talking about another town. She notices some people gawking and whispering at the sight of them. This time she knew why, they look like the monsoon tried to eat them only to spit them out. Mud crusts on her skin and weighs her hair down. Connor isn’t faring much better, dried mud dots his jacket and his boots are caked. Now she understood why he kept insisting on a bath. But she is used to the giant bowl in the ship, they use it for this very reason. One person soaks in it to clean themselves. Just because pirates are surrounded by sea water, they still need fresh water to wash away the salt or gunpowder. Connor had his own bathing routine that eventually included her. However, bathing wasn’t the only activity in that bowl. Heat rushes to her face, it would seem a lot of her memories that involve Connor kept leading to something more intimate than a normal activity. Once they took another turn, away from the gawking residents, she spouts. “How is this bath house different than the bath bowl?”

“You mean the barrel.”  Connor didn’t hold back when he said the next words even if he is the last person to say anything that sounds lewd out in the open. Rhea wonders if she’s just imagining it, “It’s too small for us.”

THAT DID NOT STOP YOU BEFORE! She kept that to herself. Again, arguing about this seems trivial with her current state. Besides, they need to bathe, whether it is using a river or rainwater.

“They also serve food.”  Connor relays, and that had her even more compliant. She’s been needing food desperately; the rations are not enough, and she keeps losing her meals after an anxiety attack. Even her stomach rumbles intrusively, which Connor hears and comments on with a chuckle. “You are easy to read, Rhea.”

“So? I am starving!”

This bathhouse inn isn’t far from where they entered the town. In fact, she read the big sign hanging off the edge of the roof reading 'Hoppies Hotspring'. It looks like any other inn until the steam and smoke billows out of vents. For a second, she thought the place had a small fire.

“Is it on fire?” She asks in awe, about to act.

“No.”  Connor kept holding her hand to keep her from running off. He didn’t hide his reaction this time, raising a brow. “That’s the springs.”

Embarrassed, she pouts in silence. This is all new to her, and everything is so strange. She’s been on edge for too long. Thankfully, Connor led them in since she couldn’t trust her own judgement lately.