Chapter 77 - Silver Lining

The weight of loss hung heavy in the stale air of the warehouse, a pall of grim silence descending upon the weary survivors. Aden and Ethan gently laid Victor's lifeless form on the cold, unforgiving floor, a final act of reverence for their fallen comrade.Aden rose to his feet, his movements heavy with fatigue and sorrow, and made his way to the front of the cavernous space. Peering through a narrow gap in the weathered window, he surveyed the situation unfolding beyond their temporary sanctuary.Across the expanse of the abandoned pier, Marcus had managed to secure another vessel, a potential means of escape from this waking nightmare. As he prepared to cast off, the harpies' piercing shrieks split the air, their razor-sharp eyes locked onto their prize – the captured sister held captive on the boat.The flock descended upon Marcus like a swarm of hungry locusts, their talons outstretched hungry for blood. Aden watched, transfixed, as Marcus fought with the desperation of a cornered animal, his blade whirling in a lethal dance against the relentless onslaught.From their vantage point within the abandoned warehouse, Maeda, Murdoc, and Oliver joined Aden, their eyes wide with a mixture of horror and morbid fascination. Through the grimy glass, they bore witness to the brutal spectacle unfolding before them.With a powerful thrust of their wings, the harpies seized Marcus in their merciless clutches, carrying him skyward in a whirlwind of feathers and fury. For a fleeting moment, his silhouette hung suspended against the backdrop of the leaden sky, a helpless speck at the mercy of his cruel captors.Then, with a sickening lurch, they released their grip, and Marcus plummeted towards the unforgiving earth. His body struck the unyielding surface with a sickening crunch, the impact rendering him a broken, lifeless heap.The harpies wasted no time, descending upon their fallen prey with savage delight. Razor-sharp claws and talons tore through flesh and bone, reducing Marcus to a grisly spectacle of crimson and viscera.Through it all, Aden and his companions could only watch in stunned silence, their faces pale masks of shock and revulsion. With the golden-winged harpy joining the flock, the harpies' victory was absolute, their fury sated – for now.Aden stepped back from the window, his hands trembling ever so slightly. The harsh reality of their circumstances weighed heavily upon him, a suffocating shroud of dread and uncertainty. They had gained temporary shelter, but at what cost? And how long could they truly endure in the face of such relentless, merciless adversaries?His gaze fell upon Victor's still form, the fallen warrior's features now etched with a permanent serenity, and Aden found himself pondering the grim question that hung in the air like an oppressive miasma. With Marcus's fate sealed and their numbers dwindling, how could they hope to prevail against such overwhelming odds?⁕⁕⁕The fourth morning since Aden and the rescue party's arrival at the village dawned, the port cloaked in a veil of mist that descended from the looming mountains. Seeking refuge, the retrieval party had taken shelter in a sturdy warehouse by the docks, its walls designed to withstand the fury of sea storms and inclement weather.Aden's gaze fell upon the unconscious form of Victor, a troubled expression etched across his features. "We can't leave him like this," he proposed, his voice tinged with concern.Corporal Knightly offered a reassuring nod. "We will bring him back to the village by dusk."As the group took stock of their situation, a sudden realization struck Knightly. "Where is Ralph?" he inquired, his brow furrowing as he scanned the faces around him. Ralph's absence had gone unnoticed, but Aden recalled seeing him fleeing towards the mountain road."Don't know, don't care. That weasel better be dead, or I would kill him myself," Ser Percival growled, his disdain for the missing man evident.Corporal Knightly began inspecting the abandoned warehouse, taking in the damp surroundings illuminated only by the faint light filtering in through the windows and rooftop ventilation. The space was littered with goblin refuse and makeshift beddings, a testament to its previous inhabitants."This place looks like an abandoned warehouse and a goblin's lair. It feels familiar," Ser Percival remarked, his words carrying a hint of unease.Maeda's keen senses picked up on the lingering scent. "The smell. Goblin left. Long time."Ser Percival nodded, his mind dwelling on the grisly display they had encountered upon their arrival. "Maybe because something killed their superior, the hobgoblin, and displayed it on the dock. Made it as a warning for the rest of the goblins." The thought that it might have been the work of the dreaded queen harpy sent a chill down his spine.Corporal Knightly's voice cut through the musings, his tone decisive. "Spread out, close any open windows and doors. Look for anything useful you can find. We don't want any more surprises."The group dispersed, following the corporal's orders. Aden made his way towards the back of the warehouse, his instincts as a cavalry soldier prompting him to secure the rear. As he neared the back door, he noticed a trail of wet footprints leading toward a half-open exit. Aden quickened his pace, intent on closing the door to prevent any unwanted intrusions from the harpies.However, as he reached the threshold, something dashed out from the back door in a hurry. Aden rushed forward, his gaze catching a fleeting glimpse of a dark shadow streaking into the alleyway, disappearing around the corner towards the road leading up the mountain."What is it, Aden?" Corporal Knightly's voice rang out from behind, having followed Aden's lead.Aden's gaze remained fixed on the peculiar scene before him. "Nothing, it looks like someone or something has been here just a moment ago," he replied, gesturing towards the telling wet footprints."By the looks of it, someone forgot to lock the door and left in a hurry," Aden continued, his eyes drawn to the out-of-place sight of a living fish lying on the floor.Knightly's brow furrowed as he surveyed the scene. "Goblins?" he ventured, his mind racing to identify the source of the disturbance.Aden shook his head. "No, it doesn't look like goblin footsteps. It looks like birds or something." He traced the distinct imprints with his gaze, their shape unlike anything he had encountered before.Maeda's voice cut through the speculative silence. "Tori-ningyo?" he queried, posing the question of whether these were the footprints of a harpy.Aden and Knightly exchanged puzzled glances, the ronin's words lost in translation.Sensing their confusion, Maeda simplified his inquiry. "Harpy?"Understanding dawned upon the two men. "Oh," they murmured in unison.Aden shook his head once more. "No, it's not a harpy either. It was black in color and the size of a dog," he clarified, his brow furrowing as he wrestled with the enigma before them.Corporal Knightly offered a tentative suggestion. "Maybe it's just a stray dog?""Yeah, maybe," Aden concurred, though his tone betrayed a lingering uncertainty. How could a stray dog leave bird-like footprints?Their musings were interrupted by Ethan's urgent call from the center of the warehouse. "Aden, Corporal, everyone! Come!"Without hesitation, Aden, Maeda, and Corporal Knightly rushed toward Ethan's position. Upon their arrival, Ethan proceeded to open the small latches at the base of the rooftops, allowing sunlight to stream through the openings and illuminate the heart of the warehouse.Ethan found barrels full of living sea fishes with running sea water in an automatic mechanism. It was a fish farm, and the building was meant as temporary aquarium stock. There was also a trace of a dead fish left out on the floor and some weird footprints the same as the one who got away from the back door."Seven heavens.." Aden was surprised by the amount of fish in the barrels. He could only ask how he missed the pools and barrels of fish when he rushed to the back of the warehouse.He scooped two of the fish with a net pole and put it back inside the fish barrel."What is this?" asked Corporal Knightly."This is why this place feels familiar. It's a fish farm. I used to play here when I was a kid," said Ser Percival. The local-born knight later elaborated in detail.The seaside structure known simply as the fish house or fish farm was one of Master Aldred's most ingenious developments. He was the master scholere of marine structure and engineering from Regalyon Academy.Within the timber-roofed stone edifice, barrels continuously filled with water pumped through pipes from the ocean. Upon reaching brimming capacity, the kegs automatically tilted on mechanical axles to dispense aquamarine bounty into an interconnected sequence of holding ponds.There swam all manner of marine fare in these man-made tidal pools - salmon, snapper, sea bass, and sturgeon. Shelves and slats permitted attendant workers easy access to drop woven traps, hauling up nets overflowing with fresh catches to bring to market daily. The Ponds also emptied in cycles, flushing away debris through runoff channels that flowed back to the churning sea.Master Aldred had cultivated a thriving ecosystem where saltwater creatures flourished entirely enclosed from the crashing shoreline just outside. Gears and levers powered by the wax and wane of coastal tides kept nutrient-rich brine ever-replenished through the barrel apparatus from local waves. Attendants merely greased the gears, lowered the nets, and ferried piscine products to the people. Such was the wonder of the Fish House - a testament to mechanized aquaculture unlocking bounty once reserved solely for traditional anglers."what do you think?" Ser Percival asked Corporal Knightly who stood marveled over the abundance of fishes in the barrels and pools."Flour from Eugene's bakery and fishes from this fish farm.." Corporal Knightly. "It's enough for the villagers, a week or two, maybe.""Enough until the reinforcement arrives," Ser Percival added.Corporal Knightly looked around, observing the fish farm building. It was sturdy and rather new. It could also accommodate the villagers and be close enough the distance with the village with the descending road from the village covered by trees."If anything went south in the village, this will be our fallback point."Considering the sick and the wounded let alone the women and children, relocating the refugees and the villagers to this place through the descending mountain road would be unwise. Yet it was a perfect place for refuge nonetheless."Master Aldred was a friend of Father Edgar. I'm sure Father Edgar knew how to operate this fish farm. I remember he used to help with the affair in this fish farm. It was designed to be operated by a small number of men." Ser Percival added."Gilbert would be astonished by this structure and mechanism," Aden commented while admiring the wonder of the automated machinery of this fish farm."Why the goblins didn't eat the fish?" Aden asked around."Goblins eat fishes. don't like," Maeda replied.Aden's gaze fell upon Oliver, huddled in a corner of the fish farm, his eyes fixed on Victor's lifeless form. The young man was still reeling from the harrowing events that had transpired, his expression one of shock and disbelief. Victor had sacrificed his life to save Oliver, a selfless act that had unfolded in the blink of an eye.As Aden surveyed their newfound sanctuary, he took note of the unexpected provisions – a fish farm, complete with three barrels of ale and a massive container of fresh water. Without hesitation, the party quenched their parched throats, grateful for the respite."Here, drink up," Aden offered, extending a mug of the cool, refreshing water towards Oliver. The young man remained unresponsive, his mind still grappling with the trauma he had witnessed.Aden silently expressed his gratitude, for had the smugglers not attempted their ill-fated desertion, they would never have stumbled upon this invaluable cache of supplies.As they tended to their wounds and rested, waiting for the sun to dip below the horizon, time seemed to crawl by at an agonizingly slow pace.Corporal Knightly's voice cut through the stillness, rallying them to attention. "Okay, listen up. Gather around!"His orders were swift and decisive. "Two of us can go back by dusk, and bring Victor's dead body. Percy and Aden, that's your order. Make a stretcher and bring back Victor's body to the village. Tell Captain Willem that we found food supplies in this fish farm. Take some of the men from the village to carry the fish back to the village."Turning to address the remaining members of the party, Knightly outlined their tasks. "While those who stay here can help pack the fish, there are usable barrels nearby and carts we can use to move the fish barrels to the village, back and forth. We can make two trips in one night if we're quick enough."The urgency in his tone was palpable as he emphasized the importance of haste. "We need to make it in one night, otherwise the harpies might find out, and we'll have to fight against them over the fish."Oliver's small voice broke through the silence, his resolve evident. "I'll go with Aden and Ser Percival. I want to accompany Victor."Knightly granted his permission with a simple nod. "Suit yourself. Ethan, Maeda, both of you help me with the fish.""Aye, sir," the two volunteers responded in unison.As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the men set about their preparations, readying the fish for transport at sunset. The harrowing cries of the harpies gradually faded, the clawing at the doors and scratching at the windows subsiding into an eerie silence.The sturdy stone construction of the building, designed to withstand the fury of the elements and the rage of the sea, proved an impenetrable bulwark against the winged assailants. It seemed they had abandoned their efforts to breach the fish farm's defenses.Had they not given chase to the smugglers, this invaluable cache might have remained undiscovered. Victor's sacrifice, though tragic, had not been in vain, for it had led them to this lifeline in their darkest hour.⁕⁕⁕