Waves crashed unto a stone dock, ships stood still while awaiting their next voyage.

  And there on the dock looking outward to an endless sea that shined from the bright moon of the night sat Jean, alone.

  Wondering if his actions that he's taken so far, were all truly worth doing.

  Though now it had no meaning, he had sacrificed his fate and freedom in exchange of giving his brother a chance to live a better life.

  And while he knew what awaited his brother, he himself was scared for his own story has yet to begin.

  Jean continued to watch the ships from the docks of Cerillia, from small ships that could only house like a crew of ten people, to large ships who's size was ten if not fifteen times the afformantioned ship and could carry a crew of several hundreds of sailors.

  All those ships were so fascinating, yet they brought dread and fear to Jean.

  Perhaps it was because he did not know what awaited him, perhaps it was because it was far too long since last time he left a familiar place or maybe it was because Jean never learned to swim.

  But who knows maybe it's for a very, VERY, V E R Y secret reason.

  The moon was slowly falllng and a new day slowly came to be.

  Jean came to a quick realization, that he must get home, both to say his goodbyes and to prepare for his departure.

  Only issues was that the earliest carriage will arrive in about 30 minutes.

  So the only thing he can do is wait just for a bit.

  It took some time but Jean finally arrived back to the church, somehow he hoped it would look different but it still looked like a building asking to be put down.

  Yet Luka was outside tending to the gardens of the church.

  He was completely absorbed in it, hands full of dirt and crops ranging from bell peppers to strawberries.

  To be honest most of the food that is cooked for the people is made from this garden, except for meat and out of season meals.

  Jean dragged himself to the front gate, exhausted and in dire need of sleep he pushed on the gate.

  Sadly it got stuck got stuck because someone was busy maintaining their garden instead of the church.

  It did open but only after what soome would describe a relentless battle between a century old gate and a half elf with anger issues.

  The battle continued with Jean pushing with all his willpower, while the gate screamed in silent resistance.

  From the outside it looked like he was challenging an immovable wall.

  Jean was very close to losing and giving up, forced to ask for help from Luka, a fate he never wished to live.

  Luka came to the gate watching Jean, quite simply fighting for his life, in silence.

  "A-ARE YOU NOT GONNA-" Jean struggled his body almost succumbing to exhaustion "H-HELP ME"

  Luka looked at Jean with a face that a dissapointed father would give. "Jean"

  "YEAH"

  "It's locked"

  "WHAT"

  "The gate, it is locked."

  "..."

  "..." Luka reached for his keys, unlocked the gate and opened it with relative ease.

  both of them were silent and went their separate ways, probably to avoid any embarrassing things happening further.

  Jean felt exhausted his body falling apart as he went up the stairs and to his room, to the point where his legs were already giving out.

  As he opened the door to his and Tesla's room a silent emptiness filled him.

  It wasn't a feeling of being of stabbed or punched, it was more akin to feeling of creepy silence.

  There was no greeting, no books laying around, or even notebooks, it was clean and spotless.

  Jean easily figured out what happened it was.

  The bookkeeper kept his word, which means that soon enough it'd be his turn as well.

  And as such Jean fell on his bed and quite literally started to fall asleep as soon as he relaxed himself, though it shouldn't be a surprise considering he was outside for an entire day and did not even have a wink of sleep, which further reinforced the sheer size of Cerillia.

  There are faster methods of public transportation than a public horse carriage but the issue came to a price.

  In fact the entire city has canals that stretch to almost all corners of the city, with the exception of the outer wall districts and what not.

  The canals were build new, like the ones where the library was or they were connected from repurposed ditches and moats during the expansion of the city.

  In fact there are some universities that study the city's history using these moats and architecture to date the city's history.

  A crystal clear water brimming with sealife and sand that is as white as snow with walls of stone covered in corals, fish swam throughout the area, their size differing.

  From small shrimp troupes and schools of tropical fish that glide through the underwater currents, to large wales and shark that seem to fly above all the others, both protecting them and hunting them.

  Always staying in perpetual balance no matter the time nor conditions.

  Yet two individuals broke into that area, their appearance invisible yet still clear.

  They did not drown nor did they swim, they stood on the white sand.

  The person on the left had slender body, with an outfit that would fit even the most richest of men and yet he stood with no egoism, instead calmness and safety was his only desire.

  The one on the left was different, like relentless mansoon waiting to happen, he had a red cape over his left shoulder hiding away his arm that has left him long ago.

  He covered his outfit in straps of leather designed to protect him, and a blackpowder pistol on his chest, with a badly mantained rapier on the hip.

  Both stood unwavering, with both waiting for their freedoms to begin once more, around them two beings swam against each other, always the same distance, one never further than the other.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  First one was a whale who's size could cast shadows even in the desert.

  Second was a killer whale who's feared even by the most dangerous of sealife creature.

  It felt as if both spoke ways one could hear but not understand, however their feelings and desire were as clear as the water they resided in.

  Thus the currents moved with their words, fish danced to their songs and sand blackened to their grief.

  Yet they were understood by the two individuals who spoke to them.

  And the fish continued on their journey, sand became white from relief and currents have soothed from the songs that they sang.

  Just as they spoke with the two wales, both of the individuals seemed to have a face of both worry and excitement.

  No song or tune could describe their emotion, and no ink or paint could show the picture of their soul.

  Before long the waves turned once more swepping both of them away to the surface, with water consuming their lungs but even as their body was drowning they did not budge, however their faces looked like they were dealing with a lot of discomfort.

  Which overall made sense, since they were drowning yet still being able to breath air.

  It was to the point where both of the individuals almost puked from experiencing such an event.

  As they moved to the surface of the blue sea, it felt as if the very laws that hold this world pulled you further from the individuals.

  For you still are not worthy to follow them, not yet.

  So wait until the third star appears on the starless sky.

  And mayhaps then will you understand the words yet unsaid.

  A knock was heard in the middle of the night on the door where Jean slept.

  But no reaction and as such the door opened, through which Luka entered and saw Jean sleeping, no it was more accurate to say he was dreaming.

  "So you made a deal with him..." Luka's words pierced the silence.

  In order to wake Jean up a single thing was enough..

  Luka took his cane covered in rags and laid it on Jean.

  Before he knew it Jean was quite clearly having difficulty breathing and soon enough woke up gasping for air.

  Luka, being a benevolent man, got rid of the cane thus allowing Jean to breathe. "What the hell! I was having a nice-"

  "Follow me we gotta talk" Luka left Jean's room and Jen followed suit, pissed that his sleep was disturbed by an unnaturally heavy cane.

  As both went through the short hallway to Luka's office, both sat down sat down on the two couches that were facing eachother.

  Jean waited for Luka to fumble up so he could make fun of him.

  While Luka's mind was far elsewhere, for he looked out of the window briefly, and watched as the first star in years has appeared on the starless sky.

  "Do you know why I woke you up?"

  "To tell me that walking out late and not being home for an entire day is bad?"

  Luka sat down, putting a locked notebook with a key and an expensive looking bottle with two glasses on the table.

  surprised Jean asked "What's the occasion, your death? I sure hope so."

  Face unchanged Luka answered "Look outside and tell me what you see."

  "ughhhh... fine what could even be there-" He saw a star, it was a single star and it shined brightly like a full moon. "Don't tell me that-"

  "correct." Luka briefly looked at Jean his eyes tired and then poured the alcohol into the two glasses he laid out. "come sit, we've got to talk"

  Jean sat and Luka passes him the notebook with the key. "What is this?"

  "It's a diary, with both my sins and the truth, read it once you leave."

  "Why would I leave?" Jean already knew but he did not say that to anyone

  "Because you made a deal with the librarian." Luka once again looked at the star, visible from the window "not to mention the star."

  Jean's suspicion about the true nature of both the librarian and Luka only increased. "so it really did happen"

  "Let me give you some advice." Jean took a swig of the drink he poured "if you ever meet him again, do not make a deal with him, you got lucky." he pointed at the drink "I already prepared a ship for you, tomorrow you leave"

  "why so suddenly, I wasn't even able to say goodbye to Tesla, let alone prepare." his voice trembling.

  "You pose a risk Jean, you have become a liability and as such I am giving you a chance to drink your sorrows."

  Jean felt empty, seeing his father say such things meant that at least for now, he had no place in this city nor the mainland.

  "Drink up, this might be the last time both of us will be able to talk for while."

  taking a glass in his hand and then drinking the entire thing in one go, yet Jean still felt empty. "For how long will I be forced to be there"

  Luka looked at him. "Forever"

  Jean knew that the deal he made was a final one, he just believed that he'd have one more day. "I am... just... I don't know, how was I supposed to know, all I wanted is a better future for Tesla, I didn't think that-"

  "You have paid the price for that."

  "What do you mean" Jean felt that tears would soon pour out.

  "You have sold your fate and destiny for the first and hopefully the last time" he poured more alcohol to him "so drink up, I will deal with everything regarding Tesla."

  Jean felt a bit more calm yet still he was worried. "What do you think will happen to me"

  "Who knows, maybe you will live a better life or you will suffer for the sins that you have committed"

  Jean snickered for a bit before saying "are YOU even religious" he gained confidence from the alcohol "You rarely pray, you drink, are greedy and you hoard expensive stuff without giving it away, you'd think that at this point, THE MIGHTY AND POWERFUL MOON WOULD STRIKE YOU D O W N." he took another glass. "and instead you continue doing what you always do." he paused "gar-de-ning."

  Luka smiled "You will know once you read the diary, it has quite the tale to tell."

  "Veryyyyy cool, how about you pour me moar, eh?" seems the alcohol has slowly taken it's effect

  "of course" Luka smiled "You DO know that this bottle costs more than the church"

  "HUH, then why do we suffer in this decrepit place"

  "Who knows, maybe I like it here"

  As the night went on both continued to drink at their hearts content, with Luka sharing some of his stories as a young priest and Jean commenting with his loose mouth.

  They felt free, for there was no judgment, for both will soon leave their sides and it will take a long time for both to meet once more.

  It will take a long time and both will have a changed ideas of themselves, with their resolve tested.

  So read the notebook on the high seas oh son of the father, may you understand the fate that you have sold To the one who knows everything.