Night quickly approached the sailing ship as it scraped against the rough sea, enraged by the growing storm. Some chatter was exchanged by the four as they played war below deck, but most of it lacked substance.
Eventually Lin, Ode, and Rubes retreated to their cabins, seemingly for the night, but Thames remained up. He put his poncho back on and brought an oil lamp up with him as he went to view the sea.
The wind slammed angrily against him as he began to be pelted with rain, slowly walking to the side of the ship.
It was a relatively smaller ship, big enough to fit maybe thirty people comfortably. There were no cannons and only two sets of sails. The edge was lined with a tall fence, preventing anyone from accidentally being thrown overboard.
Fredrick stood at the wheel, maintaining the ships path. Apparently, he was knowledgeable on most forms of transportation.
Noticing Thames, he waved down towards him before yelling through the storm, "How you holdin' up, Thames?!?"
A gentle smile spawned on Thames' face as he quickly ran up the steps to Fredrick.
"As good as anyone in these times, right?" He quickly responded, patting Fredrick's back.
Like everyone else, he wore a poncho, but his was much heavier, built to last for extended times. He had grown out a short black beard during the last six months and had earned a scar just at the center of his forehead.
It wasn't from any battle; in fact, Thames recalled it vividly. Fredrick was tying up a carriage to a horse and, before he could react, the horse had pulled it straight into his forehead. Luckily, he barely dodged out of the way, but the others would never let him live it down.
"Where are you four headed once we reach the coast?" The man questioned, tugging the ponchos hood over his forehead.
"I don't know... But I'm sure we'll remain in Werone. Why? You aren't joining us?"
He just shook his head, grumbling out, "No, no. I gotta visit Lino while I have time."
"Is something happening?" A concerned look appeared on his sleepless face.
"I don't think so. I mean, you know that it isn't the same since the Lino Crisis, but I think it's just some family stuff." He waved off Thames' concern, looking back out to the dark sea.
Lino... It has been a while since I was there. We left quickly after the failed assembly... Then everything just happened so fast.
The two quickly fell into silence as each thought of various things. Thames looked down towards Fredrick.
"Just make sure you keep your wits."
Fredrick laughed heartily at Thames' concerns then pointing out towards something.
Following his finger, Thames noticed Lin walking along the deck, her piercing eyes suddenly fixing on him.
"Make sure you keep ya wits 'round her!" He jokingly said, ushering Thames away.
Stepping away from Fredrick, Thames looked out towards the sea again. It was a raging swirl as if Oril himself was mad. The storm clashed wildly against the blue sea as
Thames met up with Lin, meeting her gaze.
He opened his mouth, but she quickly spoke, "Can't sleep?"
"No..." He glumly responded, avoiding her gaze. "You can't either?"
She shook her head slowly. "I could hear your footsteps." A sly smirk appearing on her face as she said it.
"Ah... Sorry." Flustered, he quickly spat out apologetically.
She laughed honestly then asked, "What's keepin' ya up?"
He turned towards the sea fully before answering her.
"Just bad with the sea." It was an obvious lie, but Lin chose to not pry.
In truth, his dreams have grown more vivid ever since Lino. They all seemed nonsensical to him, but they were enough to derail most of his day. At times they would leave him wide eyed for days.
"Try to get some shut eye." She sorrowfully said, turning back and heading below deck, returning to her cabin.
I will... I will.
Following her shortly, he entered his cabin.
Opening his suitcase, he took out a paint palette and brought it in front of him.
"[Open.]"
As soon as he spoke the spell, the palette quickly spawned an easel with a blank canvas on it. The palette now contained many different paints too.
This was an artifact that Mother Trem had bestowed upon him, a reward for not outright abandoning her during the New Age. He simply called it "Palette", but Ode along with the others frequently bashed him for the name.
His eyes began to work against him, begging for sleep, but he persisted through it, beginning to paint the sea.
It was a glum painting; he used many dark colors to depict the swirling sea and also painted a storm above it.
All together they meshed together. It was hard to tell the difference between the sea and the storm, but this was his goal. This far away from civilization, nature was in its purest form. Raging against each other but ultimately the same.
Just as he went for a final brush stroke, he finally felt the days of no sleep catching up with him.
No... Just one more day.
He sluggishly begged, but it was futile. His eyes fully closed as he slumped forward, falling just shy of his painting.
Thud!
His mind quickly fell into a slumber.
***
The cries of crows entered his ears abruptly, snapping him awake.
Gah!!
He had a splitting headache, growing more and more painful as he looked around.
He was lying down on grass, but it felt slimy. A deep disgust filled his chest as he jumped up, wiping his hands off on his pants.
The area consisted of rolling plains, crows flying above him, and an encroaching mass of shadows.
What's... That...?
Thames questioned inwardly upon noticing the growing shade, but it just shook like it could hear his thoughts. Jumping back, he reached for his right ear, relieved that the feather had come with him.
Above him sat a void sky, lacking any features.
The feather quickly transformed into a short sword, gleaming in the light from a source he couldn't find.
Finally, the shadows began to fully encompass him, but just as it made contact with his sword, he felt the ground below him sink.
Instantly transforming into a sea, the once rolling plains swallowed him up, but also took him away from the shade.
Relieved, he allowed the water to take him as he quickly found himself losing consciousness.
Thank Mother Trem... This dream is short.