The mood aboard the trade ship was not exactly what Darius would have expected. He more expected a serious tone or even a somber one. When he thought of sailors he often thought of hard working men pulling and tying ropes and working the deck. While did all those things, they were actually rather uplifted it would seem. Some hummed tunes and others would jest with one another as they worked. The captain, who Darius was told to call Waller, was also quite kind, despite the dark shade in his eyes that Darius recognized all to well.
"Tell me then, D, what brings you to Rimor?" The captain spoke as he sat at his desk in the captain's chambers. Darius looked about the room, which was rather small and quaint with little paintings and trinkets littered around it. A cot was stuffed into a corner and a window was on the left side of the room.
The captain wore leather as all sailors seemed to, and had a scruffy beard and his lips were creased from smiles. Darius found the man confusing. His eyes were so sad yet his face so joyous. It was strange.
Darius pulled down his hood as he inspected a painted which depicted a man holding a comically sized fishing pole that pulled something huge from thrashing waves. "A new beginning, I guess you could say." Darius spoke. He didn't want to say too much, the more he shared the more danger people around him were in. At least that's how it usually went.
"A new beginning, huh?" The man laughed, "yes, what a better way to find a new path than to cross the sea. That can't be all there is to it, come on then. We will be here for some time, might as well get to know one another, aye?"
Darius looked over at the man, thinking about it. Suppose it couldn't hurt much. It wasn't likely that the Black Rose would find them on the sea, much less attack.
"Well.." Darius said, pulling up a chair and sitting backwards on it, facing the captain as he crossed his arms over it. "Guess you could say that I don't have much left back in Seimeir. Bad things seem to follow me everywhere I went there."
"Hm. Can't promise that won't happen over in Rimor, boy. Our country is great, but many have been living in fear these days." Waller said as he grabbed a cup and poured himself some booze.
"Fear? Of what?" Darius asked, curious. It also turned the conversation away from himself, which was all the better.
Waller swirled his drink about staring at it in thought. "There's been recordings of some strange group running amok in the king's borders."
"A group?" Darius raised his eyebrow. "What kind of group?"
"We aren't sure. You could gleen more from the people of Rimor, we don't spend much time on land. But I've heard stories. Men in the shadows, some say they are demons, not even men. They say they wear shadows upon their backs and blades forged in hell. They also say that their faces are completely blank with hollow eyes like some kind of ravage undead."
Darius's mind began to feel hazy. 'The Black Rose? Why would they be in Rimor?' His heart sunk then. 'Of course.. Alabaun.'
Alabaun was the first mage every made by the Nameless Lord. When the Nameless created the fourth and fifth mages, Alabaun had left, betraying the Nameless. In turn the seventh mage was made in order to hunt him. Said seventh mage was the leader of the Black Rose. If Alabaun hadn't been killed yet, it would make sense for him to be in Rimor. That could be why they haven't found him yet. Hence why the Black Rose was there.
Now invested in the conversation, Darius needed to find out more. "These… demons. Is there anything else you can tell me about them? Do they only hang around the King's borders? Or have they been seen elsewhere?"
Waller shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure. I have never seen one, personally, but the stories have become widespread throughout Rimor, with different variations to it. The one I told you is the most common." He stopped swirling his drink, his eyes lifting to Darius. "But I will say one thing. You seem rather interested in this. Before, you were pretty distant. Now your focus has shifted entirely onto me. So, why the sudden focus on this? It's just a folktale."
Darius tapped his finger on the chair as he looked down at the man's drink, the swirling liquid refracting the light coming in through the window as though it were liquid gold.
Waller leaned forward. "Or is it?"
Darius met his eyes. "There is.. a similar story in Seimeir. Though it is more.. concrete in truth. And much darker."
"Oh? And is this the thing you claim keeps following you?"
"Why are you interested?" Darius asked suddenly, trying to shift the topic.
Waller smiled. "Fair. You have a right to your business. But I also have a right to mine. See, I have an interest in folklores overall. They are fascinating to me. But, I do have more of an interest in this one. See, a friend of mine died some time ago before I departed. According to his other mates, one of these demons was responsible. Apparently he'd spotted it and shouted it out to the transports. When the transports came out to respond, he was dead. His throat had been slit and his eyes gouged."
Darius's expression fell. "I see.. that sounds about right."
"Does it?" The man leaned back, taking a drink from his glass. "So what is your version of this tale?"
Darius sighed. Maybe he should tell the man. It could make him more wary. And if the Black Rose were still on his tail, maybe it would give him a fighting chance if he were prepared.
"I'd say 'demons' is a rather fitting description for them." He spoke. "You know of Seimeir's mages, I presume?"
"Who wouldn't. The Nameless's renown goes far and wide." Waller said.
"Yeah, well it isn't such a great title as you think. Seimeir isn't some magical land. It's quite corrupt, in fact. And one of the mages leads a group called the Black Rose. They are human, but the masks they wear are given to them by Etto, the said mage. It grants them a small portion of his power, including the ability to conceal themselves in shadows, and to move at incredible speeds."
"Let me guess, they are some kind of assassin cult that work for the Nameless?" Waller spoke.
Darius nodded. "They killed my family. And they've been following me for the past twelve years."
The man let out a breath. "Well. Can't say I was expecting that. Twelve years? How old are you, boy?"
"Nineteen."
"You were seven.." the man sounded sad. "You saw it, huh?"
Darius gave no response. He simply stared blankly.
"I can see it in your eyes. I'm sorry." He said.
"Yeah." He stopped tapping. "I'm only telling you because I want you to be prepared.. in case."
"I see. Well, thanks for your concern, but I think you've got plenty more on your own plate." Waller spoke. "But what makes you so sure you can trust me? For all you know, I could have these assassins stowed away in the ship?"
"Because. It's like you said." Darius pointed at his eyes. "It's all there."
"Hah." The man chuckled. "Suppose those with the darker tales have a talent for reading character, aye?" He lifted his drink, then took another sip. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want, but I can't help but wonder, why are they after you?"
Darius looked the man in the eye. He wanted to tell him. It had been so very long since he could talk to someone openly. So long since he could have a friend to lend an ear. But.. he couldn't bring himself to say it. Not when he knew what the cost could be.
"I.. I want to tell you.. but.. it's too much of a risk. I'm sorry. That is just something that is too dangerous to say."
"I see. And I understand." Waller said with a grin. "Some things are just too dark to be seen."
Darius gripped his coat sleeve.
"Thanks for being as open as you have been. Can't tell ya how relieving it is to know these tales are just men and not demons, haha. That means they can die." Waller said.
Darius looked at the man sharply. "Don't be relieved." He said. "Just because you can kill doesn't always mean you will. There's a reason they are only known in tales. They don't often fail to kill their targets."
"Yet they've failed to kill you."
"That's.. different."
"Maybe so. But I'd rather die facing a man and fighting than falling hopelessly to some supernatural being." Waller shrugged. "I'm content with my life, boy. As is my crew. We've lived to our fullest. And if we die, I've no regrets dying having lent an ear to one in need of it."
Darius let a smile cross his lips. Sometimes he forgot the world had good people in it. And that was something important to remember.
"Thanks, geezer." Darius said.
"Don't mention it. If ya want, you can sleep in here. I'll sleep with my crew. Hell, I don't normally sleep at night anyway. I like to watch the waves reflect the stars. It is the most beautiful thing you could imagine."
Darius smiled. "I bet. And thanks, I think I'll take that offer. It would steady my nerves. Been a while since I've had peaceful sleep."
Waller stood from his seat. "I can imagine with what you've been through. I doubt I even know the half of it." He made his way to the door. "I'll be off to check up on the crew. Let me know if you need anything, D."
"Ah, my name isn't D." Darius spoke.
"Well, that's what it will be for me. I think we should keep it that way, yeah?" Waller said with a chuckle.
Darius realized all too sadly why. The man realized it was possible the Black Rose would target him. If he didn't know Darius's name, then they couldn't gleen it from him. Darius frowned.
"Thanks."
"Think nothing of it, kid. Get some sleep."
And Waller shut the door, leaving Darius to his thoughts. Would this be another moment he would come to regret? He could only hope it wasn't.