I awoke to the sun casting a beam of light across my face. The sound of Seagulls squawking could be heard from outside. I felt like my heart was pounding through my skull, a feeling I was all too familiar with. Trying to think of what had happened the night before, all I could recall was spending the night at Sailor’s Lodge drinking, and having some kind of conversation with Damon. However my memory was about as foggy as the dark streets of Tiberia at night. Since I didn’t wake up on the deck of my sailboat or back at Ravenna I figured I was still at the lodge, wasn’t the first time I crashed in one of the rooms while too drunk to sail.
The nightstand had a candle set with one of the candles seemingly used. Across the room was a dresser, messily strewn atop it was my jacket, gloves, and hat. My flintlock and sabre laid up against the side of the cabinet. I freaked out a bit, I knew I’d been drinking last night and seeing my clothes on the other side of the room is never a good sign, I lifted the sheets covering myself, fearful of whatever the hell i’d done while drunk. Luckily I was still wearing my blue tank top and spare pair of shorts, the tank top was stained with alcohol though. I gave a heavy sigh of relief. Thank god I didn’t do anything crazy while drunk. I’ve been worried it’ll only be a matter of time before I do something stupid. Still it’s not like anything but the booze clears my head since…
At that moment my heart skipped a beat, I stopped in place as I realized the locket Antonio gave me wasn’t there, the one thing I had left of him. The bedsheets practically flew into the air as I checked again in a panic to not find the necklace around my neck, holy hell where is it?! I jumped out of bed and practically tore the room apart searching, scouring every corner horrified at the thought of losing it. I can’t lose that locket, I can’t lose him! I flipped every pillow, checked every drawer in the dresser, looked under the bed, even searched the pile of sheets I’d thrown onto the floor. I searched everywhere in a panicked frenzy turning the room into a wreck as I went. Eventually I found it, It was just underneath my hat.
Relief settled in briefly after finding the locket, the last memory of him. Relief turned to sadness as I remembered he’s still missing. Three months, one week and now three days now, and still no lead on where he could be. A familiar wave of despair washed over me, wiping away any joy I had from finding the locket. I’ve felt this many times before and each time it hurts more and more.
Thoughts raced through my head, thoughts nobody should have to worry about with the person they loved. ‘Where is he?’, ‘Is he alive?’, ‘What could they be doing to him?’. The black soul-crushing dagger those monsters drove into my heart that day only gets twisted deeper with every passing second. I try to think positively, but it always ends in doubt. “He’s out there somewhere… He has to be alive… He’ll be okay… Right?”
I opened the locket, tears welling in the corners of my eyes, hoping being able to see him again in a sense would help. The locket opened to a picture of the two of us, in a loving embrace. A friend had taken that picture of us. Antonio had matching sapphire lockets made with that picture inside, he gave it to me for our anniversary. It was easily my favourite gift I ever got. Just seeing the sight of him flooded my mind with memories, many of them good. A catalog of fond memories of the two of us, us and friends, all tainted, corrupted by the haunting moment that's replayed in my mind since the day it happened.
I walked over to my clothes on the dresser. The coat and the gloves were covered in alcohol stains. I’ve never woken up the next morning to my clothes being this much of a mess, just how much did I drink? Even the striking blue musketeer’s hat that Antonio had given me wasn't safe from the stains, however it wasn't quite so bad as the rest of what I’d worn that night, that one stung a little as I like keeping it clean. The sapphire locket that was around the hat remained in mostly good condition, though if I’d managed to stain it, I could probably get a bar patron to buy me a drink with how impressed they’d be.
I thought about putting my coat and stuff back on but they reeked from the stains so I decided the tank top and shorts were fine. I started tidying up the room before giving up on that as with the combined torment of both my headache and the thoughts running through my head, I couldn’t bring myself to keep cleaning. Instead I just walked out the door into the hallway hoping Damon wouldn’t be too upset.
The hallway was illuminated by the sunlight and the lanterns that normally lit the place up at night were put out. The walls of the lodge remained the same wood as before. Across the hall from me was a door into another room, and to my left were lined up two other rooms. The floor was covered by a green carpet that filled the middle of the entire hallway. To the right led to two sets of staircases both leading down to the main tavern area. Below two people were talking, one of them I distinctly recognized as Damon, the other wasn’t immediately apparent. Didn’t help that their voices were also being drowned out by the sound of dishes being washed.
Heading down the stairs to the main bar room of the lodge, I was greeted with the usual interior of the tavern. The candles were put out and sunlight filled the room. Working the bar were two familiar faces. Damon who owns the place, a dark skinned man with a stubble beard and brown eyes, his long black hair was braided back. He wore a bartender's uniform and had a toothpick in his mouth. That man was a blessing to the Bronze Sea as he’d opened the best tavern in the entire sea.
To his right was Emilia who worked there as a waitress. Emilia wasn’t even an adult yet which surprised me as to how she even landed this job. She was a blonde girl with pink eyes. Her hair was tied back and she had a black bow in her hair. She too was also in uniform. She always seemed like a nice girl, Always friendly to me and the other patrons no matter how drunk we were. I worry about her sometimes given her age and her line of work though, never knowing what a drunkard will try to do. As I walked down the stairs they both turned around to see me.
“Ah, about time yer awake.” Damon said with a smirk on his face.
“Oh! Hello Miss Amena!” Emilia said seemingly pleasantly surprised that I was even here.
I was surprised Emilia was here at first, but then I remembered it was a Saturday. She often works Saturdays for most of the day. It’s also one of the days the tavern is most busy during the evening. I like to make sure I’m here on Saturdays to make sure nobody tries anything funny. Still I can't fathom how her guardians even let her work here. After a bit of a pause with that train of thought I finally spoke up.
“Yeah, good morning guys. Also Emy, ya don’t need to call me Miss. Just Amena is fine. Hell, even Amy works.” I said still sorta drowsy “Also uh, Quick question for ya, what even happened last night?”
Emilia chuckled a bit as she knew immediately I’d been drinking a hell of a ton off that sentence alone. Damon’s expression however turned a bit more serious.
“You were drinkin’ again to the point where I was worried you’d ki-” Damon said concerned before stopping himself, remembering that Emilia was in the room. He stopped for a moment to reword what he was about to say “...you’d knock yerself onto the floor, passed out drunk… again.”
I’m not sure if Emilia knew what he meant but I knew exactly what he meant. I looked down at the floor in shame because I vaguely remembered saying something about that in my stupor. I had a feeling Damon wanted to discuss that but we couldn’t exactly discuss it with Emilia in the area with us. So I said,
“Yeah… uh I figured I did. I woke up today and the room I was in was a wreck, I don't remember any of it.” I lied, hoping Damon would take the hint.
“Ah, Don’t worry ‘bout it.” Damon said, he turned to Emilia.
“Hey, Emilia you was complainin’ bout havin’ nothin’ to do. Would ye be able to go put room 1 back togetha?” Damon asked.
“Oh! Sure thing! Do you have the key to the room?” Emilia answered.
“Amena?” Damon turned to me asking about the key.
I took the hint and started searching my pockets. The key to the room was in my coat pocket, I tossed it to Emilia, who sort of fumbled it at first but still caught it.
“Good catch.” I smiled pointing a finger gun at her.
She nodded and turned to Damon.
“Thanks! I should be done in like twenty minutes, cya then!” She said happily.
Damon nodded and she headed upstairs to start cleaning the room.
When we heard the door close, Damon came around the bar and pulled a stool for me.
“Take a seat. I gotta ask ye some stuff.”
I knew I must have made him worry about me from last night, which must've been easy to tell from the look on my face. Though my memory of the actual events is hazy at best. Still I felt obligated to sit down and hear what he had to say. I must have said something while drunk last night, He wouldn’t be this serious with me if I hadn’t.
“Alright...” I said puzzled while somewhat solemn.
I took the seat and he pulled a barstool out for himself next to me. I rested my arms on the bar and laid my head down, my head still pounding from the night before. He sat down beside me and asked.
“Hangover?”
“Yeah… my head’s pounding’.” I answered.
“I’d believe it, You’d slammed down 9 of the White Eyes Whiskeys, I was worried ya wouldn’t wake up this mornin’...” I went to speak up but he continued. “...Especially given yer reaction after I denied ya the 10th one.”
I stopped as it hit me. Last night was really bad. It was his birthday. I still had found no leads after spending all day looking for any trace, any note, any thing that could give me a direction. Nothing. I turned into the lodge for the night hoping to drink my problems away as normal. But I just couldn't get the idea of him spending his birthday in the same agony I was put through. I ordered one drink, and then another, and another, and nothing would drown the thought out. Next thing I knew Damon was telling me he wasn’t going to give me anymore drinks.
“...” I wanted to say something, but I didn’t. Even though I knew exactly what I did, I still found myself at a loss for words. Damon spoke up.
“Amena, ye told me a story last night. I’m not sure if ye rememba’ with all the whiskey in yer system. But it was a story I hadn’t eva’ heard before, and believe me I hear a lot of tales in this tavern.”
“I… I did?” I asked, I didn’t remember anything about telling a story. I asked cautiously “...What did I say?”
“It was a bit of a mess with how it came out. But you told me a story of a strange group. They attacked you.”
He didn’t need to say anything else, I knew exactly what he was talking about. The same haunting memory that plagued my mind since the day it happened. Damon continued.
“They separated you and Antonio, they tortured ye… I will admit I was a bit concerned when ye stopped showin’ up to the bar for a few months when before ye were a regular. Figured you’d mention somethin’ bout stoppin’ the drinkin’. A month later though ye were back, but somethin’ was off. Ye didn’t seem like yerself and Antonio wasn’t with ya.”
I wasn’t sure how to feel after hearing that, it was a mixture of emotions and none of them were good. I was enraged with myself, but also wanted to cry. How? How could I have let that moment slip? I couldn’t believe I told him about all of that while drunk off my ass. What if they decided to go after Damon next if I told him what I knew? I know they’re probably out there, I had to deny it.
“... I don't know what you’re talking about…” I lied, It mustn’t have been very convincing though because Damon jumped on that immediately.
“Amena, I know yer lyin’ to me. I can see it on yer face for Poseidon’s sake.”
I tried to refute it but he kept going.
“The second I mentioned it, yer expression changed from sad to almost scared and I could see your face almost go pale!”
I wanted to argue with him about this, I didn’t want anyone from that group of bastards to hurt him. But no words came to mind. I stayed silent.
Damon sighed. “Amena… I told ye last night I’d help ye with finding him, keep an ear out for any tales or leads, put up posters sayin’ hes missin’. But If this group is as powerful as ye say, I need to know more about them…”
I had a feeling I knew what he was going to ask next…
“Can ye explain to me what exactly happened in the few months you were gone?” He asked
…and I dreaded answering. Having to relive the moment I so badly wanted to forget. Having to re-experience the pain I tried so hard to suppress. Having to lose him again. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Even thinking about it makes me sick, more sick than too much beer ever could.
“I…” I paused to try and compose myself as I’d started getting emotional at the thought of going back through that time of my life… I couldnt. “...I can’t…”
Damon paused, he looked at me with sympathy. “I get it, yer afraid those fools will head here to abduct me as well ta keep their details under wraps?”
I sort of nodded. He continued.
“If it’s just that, then it’s more important that I’m in the know. I’d need to know what I might be up against.”
“It’s not quite just that…” I answered “...This time of my life has been tormenting my mind since it happened.. Talking about it is tough to say the least.”
“Ah… I see…” Damon sympathized. “...Well if it helps ya at all, I hear a lot o’ tales around the tavern here. Some happy, some sad.”
He walked around the table while creating a glass with his ice magic. In his hand an ice cube which he spun with the other hand until it formed a cup.
“The taverngoers often find that havin a light drink, nothin too heavy and bein’ able ta tell their tale tends to lighten their mood somewhat.” he said.
“Hell, a few o’ em even mentioned that I’m a good listener!” he joked, giving a short laugh. Pitifully I forced a smile at that.
He slid the drink down the table to me and I caught it with my left hand, It was just a light beer.
“But, as much as I want ta help ye with findin’ Antonio. I can’t unless I get the full picture… So would ya be able ta tell me what happened to you and Antonio?”
I knew I wanted his help, but I knew that telling this story would be torturous to go through. Every painful detail dug deep into my mind, I couldn’t forget. Still I knew if I wanted any chance of finding Antonio, I needed help. Because the last few months and weeks hadn’t given me any results. I tried to compose myself as much as I could.
I took a deep breath and said anxiously. “...Okay… I’ll try and explain it…”
“Alrigh’, if ya need a refill on yer drink just let me know. It’s on the house. Not too many though, don’t think I forgot ‘bout last night.” Damon responded “Now, where did it all start?”
Amena’s Memory.
It was a warm sunny day in Ravenna, The sun shined across the plains giving them their name. A slight breeze blew through the air creating ripples in the lake. The leaves on the trees rustled and the grass swayed with the wind. Antonio and I had been setting up at the lake for a bit of fishing we decided to do that morning. It was a beautiful day for it after all, what could go wrong?
We chose a spot under a tree overlooking the lake to keep cool. He’d brought a crate of fish bait he bought from the fishmonger in Rasna as well as a fishing rod and his Ravenna Sword he’d been practicing with. I brought with me my own fishing rod as well as a backpack of snacks and water, a combination that I bought from the food salesman with the little change I had, and others I just made myself. Oh and of course we both brought a few bottles of beer each. It wasn’t a fishing trip for us if we were completely sober after all.
We hadn’t had much luck with the fish that day. Guess they weren’t all that interested in the bait. Most of our pulls had been stuff akin to toothpicks, cans, hell I even fished myself up a brand new pair of boots! We didn’t care that our luck sucked though, we were just shooting the shit. Spending quality time as we normally would. Lookin at the boots I’d just fished, I decided to mess around a bit.
“Hey Tony!” I called out to him after putting the boots on “Ya think these fit me?”
The boots were comically large on me, more befitting of a Centurion of the Bronze Legion.
“Hah! Maybe if you were General Argos!” he joked back.
“Aw c'mon, I think they look great!” I said sarcastically
“Amy, your feet don't even reach the toes of the boot! I haven’t seen a fit that bad since Elius went to that one party in Tiberia!”
I bursted out laughing, that was the talk of the town when it happened. Lord Elius was supposed to go to this royal celebration and he was all dressed up fancy, yet still ended up in Tiberia for a party that was being hosted by some friends of ours that happened to be happening at the same time. The look on his face was priceless.
“Tony, ya can’t compare my new boots to that! It’s an insult to the boots!” I joked back while wheezing between breaths.
Now he started laughing at the memory of the snooty noble showing up at the trashed house full of drunk Tiberians and Ravennans “Then what would be a good comparison then?”
I thought for a second and then it hit me.
“Remember the time we were with all our friends gambling on Bronze Legion sparring? And then when Caius pointed out how badly Carina stuck out being the only fighting style user in the entire army?”
“Oh yeah! So many guards were messing with her and her lack of weapons or magic!” He responded.
“Yeah and Caeso kept betting on her and losing!” I laughed.
“Yeah! I remember that! He lost so much money that day we paid him back cuz we felt bad!” He chuckled, remembering paying back their poor friend.
That day a few Centurions, Mages, and other members of the Bronze Legion decided to do a bit of sparring in the sandy fields next to Rubica. Us and a few friends watched from afar and one of us had the idea to place bets on who’d win each fight. Out of the 12 of them only one of them used their fists, and that was Carina.
“You’ve gotta respect it though, even despite the disadvantages she had she put up a hell of a fight.”
“Oh, of course! Better than I could’ve done! I bet with enough practice she’ll get it.”
I sat back down and we fished for a bit longer but not before Antonio broke the silence again.
“So any news from House Makarov on the situation in Tiberia?”
I sighed. “No nothing yet. I keep getting my hopes up whenever Revon talks about House Caesar sending some assistance to House Makarov to start getting the place put together. But nothing ever comes of it. It sucks given its the town I grew up in but I’ve started to just expect it. Place has been getting run down ever since Lord Skarde started getting stingy with the money.”
“It just never seems to be good news over there, huh.” he said before taking a drink of his beer.
“Nope, just going about as badly as the last time we tried going surfing with yer magic while drunk on still waters.”
Antonio nearly spat out his drink.
“Oh my GOD, I forgot about that, Hah!”
That one’s a fond memory of mine. Him, I and a few other friends would occasionally head out to the beach on summer days and go surfing if there were any waves. I’d never done it before and to my surprise most people who didn’t know Antonio didn’t either, he kinda pioneered it. Basically you take a flat piece of wood and you go ride waves on it, it sounds crazy but it’s surprisingly fun!
However, the day he wanted to show me, we’d just left a party. We had been drinking plenty and weren’t in the right space of mind to say the least. So he drunkenly decided to hop on the board with me to show me how it's done, and use his magic to create a wave to practice on. For starters the wave he made was massive, and he’s never been able to replicate it since. Second we found out two people shouldn’t be on the same board, and lastly I found out what sand tastes like. Grainy.
“Oh come on, Babe! I thought I’d finally lived that one down!” Antonio said laughing.
“No shot Tony! I still can’t forget what the beach tastes like after that!” I laughed along.
We laughed for a bit before focusing back on fishing and just enjoying each other's company. We hadn’t caught anything for a while now and it didn't look like that was soon to change. I’d gotten pretty focused on the fishing line when I felt Antonio wrap his arm around my back. I instinctively rested my head on his shoulder. He wrapped his other arm around me embracing me into a hug. I always loved his hugs, they always gave me a special fuzzy warm feeling in my chest. They made me feel like the most important girl in the world. I gave up on the fishing and kicked my rod aside before hugging him back. We looked each other in the eyes, before he whispered in my ear.
“I love you, Amy.” He whispered. I turned him around to face me.
“Oh, shut up and kiss me already you big idiot.” I replied with a playful smirk, before pulling him in and smooching him on the lips to which he reciprocated. Most of the time we treat our relationship as just really close friends as the whole romance thing, while nice once in a while, isn’t something we take too seriously. But when we do have one of those moments, it's a whirlwind of emotions and I love every second of it. We were so immersed in the moment that we didn’t even see three cloaked figures walk up.
“Are we interrupting something?” One of them asks.
We’re both surprised by this and let go of eachother and Antonio jumps to his feet, meanwhile I fall back on my arse. I look up at the figures, They're all wearing black robes with purple lining the edges, on their shoulders were a strange purple insignia of sorts. Underneath the robes I couldn’t get a good look at what they looked like.
“Sorry, who are you all?” Antonio asks skeptically as I’m still pulling myself up.
“That is information we will not disclose.” the mysterious figure retorted “We’re looking for magic users of any type. Have you seen any?”
“Why are you looking for magic users?” Antonio asked, a bit frustrated this time.
“We’ll be asking the questions here. The answer is yes or no.” the figure replied.
“...no?” Antonio answers, questioningly.
The first figure turned to one of the figures in the back. It paused briefly before giving a thumbs down of disapproval. The first one turns back around.
“We’re going to need you two to come with us.” They say somewhat threateningly.
“I’m sorry, what?!” Antonio shouted at the figure. “The hell do you need us for?!”
The figure drew a blade and pointed it at Antonio’s throat.
“That was not an offer. You magic users will come with us.” it said.
I was floored at what I was seeing, I knew I had to do something, I pulled my hand out and fired a blast of lightning at the blade knocking it out of the figure's hand.
The figure looked over at me.
“Oh how cute, standing up for your boyfriend huh?”
Antonio drew his bronze sword and slashed at the first cloaked man, they dodged backwards and he missed..
“Amena, RUN!” Antonio shouted at me.
“And leave ya here to die?! Hell no!” I yelled back.
Antonio whipped his sword around himself, slashing at all three in one fell swoop.
“I can hold out for a bit, get the guards!” He shouted back at me.
“Oh shit, Alright!” I yelled back.
I turned to run for Rasna as it was the closest. As I tried to run back one of the cult-like figures dashed at me with incredible strength and speed denting into the ground. I stumbled backward slightly as I was now face to face with one of them. They took a swing at me, at the speed they swung I could feel the air heat up right before the punch connected knocking me to the ground. Antonio, who was trying to fight the other two, saw this happen.
“NO!” he yelled out, while throwing a blast of water at the one who just punched me.
The mystery man fell to his side onto the ground. As he did this though he took a blast of rock to the side knocking him onto the ground and sending his sword flying. I felt my heart sink seeing him on the ground and there being little I could do. I saw him start picking himself up as the figure with the swords walked towards him, I was afraid they were going to just kill him then and there. I picked myself up and with all of my remaining strength I ran at him and tackled him, taking us both to the ground to try and buy Antonio time to get himself together.
He got himself up and grabbed his sword in the nick of time to block a strike from my attacker. As he went to attack he found himself on the receiving end of another rock blast. Knocking him out onto the ground for good this time.
I tried to pick myself but the one I tackled was quicker to his feet. He looked at me struggling to get up and kicked me aside. I laid there with no energy to keep going, forced to see the unconscious body of Antonio lay in front of me. I tried to drag myself over to him but I didn’t have it in me. My consciousness was fading in and out, I vaguely heard the cloaked individuals talking.
“Take them back to the brigs with the rest of them.”
That was the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness that day. After that was just raw agonizing torture. They had me and several other victims of theirs locked up in dimly lit rooms with the bare minimum to keep us alive. We were strapped to these metal tables with anti-magic cuffs that they used to perform experiments on us. The other victims looked beaten and abused by their captors, just like I had been.
They performed many experiments on us, Some being just needle injections before they’d write something down, and others being spells they’d cast on us or potions they’d throw at us. It was horrible the agony they subjected us to, but it was nothing to what was coming next.
They injected me with a few needles that made me drowsy and almost numb but they didn’t work well enough. They cast a spell on me that put me through the worst pain I'd ever been in. I felt like my soul was being’ ripped in two. I couldn’t even imagine what it’d be like if they didn’t use those needles. After it subsided I felt like a part of me was missing. They continued on to do this to the other prisoner I saw across from my cell, their screams and expressions of agony are permanently burnt into my mind.
After some time had passed. The cell had broken open with a taller man with dark skin in a set of armor, unlike what I had been wearing. He had blonde hair cut flat across the top, and a big beard with viking like braids. in one of his hands he appeared to be channeling Metal Magic.
He rushed over to break me out of my restraints. As he did that I saw a bunch of other captives running through the glass for their freedom, Some of the inmates even were fighting the people with the cloaks and hoods to varying degrees of success. We had a brief discussion as he broke me out.
He took the opportunity running from cell to cell, trying to get a bunch of us freed from the contraptions. I tried to help fend off the members of the group imprisoning us only to find out I couldn’t. I was confused at first but then I realized what that mage had done to me. I tried again but it felt like I was trying to pull from something that no longer existed. That mage had taken my magic. It was about then the guards arrived to try and stop us but too many of us were freed and they were overrun.
We had to make a run for it as the other captives were trying to escape as well. We were unarmed without our magic, and if too many of them left we’d be out of luck. I felt weak as I ran but I felt adrenaline rush through my body as I followed a group of them to freedom. We tried to use one of their sailboats granted to us by a traitor of the group and make a break for it.
I ended up taking a ship with a few other captives, including two others named Morden and Tucker, a strange looking mage with grayed hair, pale skin, and a tired look but irate look on his face who went by Baltazar and another man named Ace with short but shaggy white hair and a black eyepatch wielding a strange blue magic. Sadly, one of them got a good shot off on Tucker and we lost him on the way out.
Back to Sailor’s Lodge.
I couldn’t take it anymore, Every single moment flowed through my mind all at once. I felt a wave of despair not just wash over me but drag me out to sea. All the horrible memories I tried to suppress flooded my mind again like I was back on the table cuffed down against my will, having the magic siphoned out of my body with nothing I could do about it. Like I was on the ground again, watching the person I loved the most, watching him bleed out in front of me. As I laid there unable to do anything about it.
“It’d never been this bad, all the emotions running through my head.” I stammered, trying my hardest to keep myself composed. “I’d… I’d spend every day, every hour looking for any lead on him, anything at all. Just to return here at night empty handed…”
“During the jailbreak, I never saw Antonio even though pretty well the entire prison was broken out. I remember they mentioned something about multiple Brigs so there has to be other facilities. He has to still be out there…” As I said this the waterworks started to flow. “...Right?”
“...But I’ve had my days where it all feels hopeless, like I should stop kidding myself and accept he’s gone… On those days, which feels like every day at this point, I just feel like I need to drown my sorrows out. Some days it takes a few drinks, but last night was the worst it's ever been. Nothing would suppress what I was feeling. Nothing would take my mind off the fact that he’s still missing...”
“...W-what I would do… J-J-Just to see h-him a-again-…” I muttered tearfully before lowering my head down into my arms and sobbing onto the table. Damon rubbed his hand up and down along my upper back comfortingly as I just let it all out. He took a moment to properly think about what he was going to say.
“Well Amy, from what yer tellin’ me. This group appears to be a pretty powerful bunch.” he said with compassion. “Howeva’ if I’m correct. They didn’t kill none of their captives did they?”
With tears still in my eyes, I looked up at him sadly.
“W-well now that you mention it… I never saw them kill any of their victims until we broke out of our cells.” I stuttered, still half crying, but then it hit me. I sat up more in my chair and looked him in the eyes.
“W-Wait a minute” I practically shouted. “Y-You think h-hes?!”
“Damn right I do.” Damon said with a hopeful smile “He’s gotta still be out there.”
I never thought of it that way, The bastards never killed any of us while we were still captive. That means Antonio could still be out there. I figured since they killed Tucker, they wouldn’t be afraid to kill Antonio either. I felt myself tearing up again. But this time it was with relief, rather than grief. Damon spoke up before I could.
“So here’s the plan. If you got any photos, drawin’s, hell even a description of him. We’ll put up Missin’ Person posters around the Lodge, as well as give a poster to the Grand Navy so they can keep an eye out for em.” Damon strategized trying to think of every possible way he could help out. “As well I’ll keep an ear out around the lodge for any suspect individuals who go by the same description as the ones who attacked you and Antonio. Any info I get, I’ll relay directly to you.”
I was practically in tears, so blessed that someone would do all of this to help me, Still I had one concern.
“B-but Damon? W-what if they come for y-you?” I said anxiously. But he just laughed.
“Amena, do ye think me ice magic is just for makin’ icy mugs? It takes an incredible amount of magic skill to change the shape of a blast.” He said confidently.
I smiled, feeling more confident in Damon’s abilities to defend himself. It was incredibly reassuring having another person to stand by me in my darkest hour. Even if it was just a bartender helping out the person who’d very well become his best customer. Between Him, Stanford, the Grand Navy, and I. We had to find something eventually.
“Now, I’m gonna need you to do somethin’ for me as part of this though.” He told me looking me straight in the eyes. “I know my wallet is gonna hurt from tellin’ ya to do this, but cut back on the booze. I don’t want another incident happenin where I’m worryin’ yer gonna poison yerself. All that drinkin’ cant be healthy for ya.”
I looked at the floor ashamed of my drinking habits lately, I’d been drinking almost every day trying to suppress the hell I was put through. I didn’t even consider my health as taking liability for it. Damon spoke up again.
“If ya really need ta’ take a load off. I can give you directions to Shell Island. The island’s beautiful and its under Ravenna protection so you should be safe from any funny business from these individuals.”
“Alright…” I said, it may not be a bad idea. I could use a break to be honest. “I’m gonna head back up to my room to get the rest of my stuff.”
I went to head up for my stuff before I remembered something.
“Oh yeah, Damon?”
“Yeah, Amy?” he responded.
“...Thanks… for everything…” I said, still teary eyed.
“Not a problem Amy, I trust that ye’d do the same fer me.” He responded with a smile.
I did my best to smile back.