Zyra held the side of her chest. She gasped for breath. Catching the attention of the physician attending to those who are injured. They walked to her, and their healing came to patch her up. Elven-Artes was always peculiar to her.

“Are you okay, Lady Zyra?”

Zyra looked at Lady Frigus who sat next to the cot she was laid on. The smell alone told her she was in the hospital of the Arkshelled Island.

“What happened?”

“They got you, simply.”

“Oh.”

“There is no need to be surprised. The creatures of the interstice were crafty. If we haven’t secured the artifact before then they would have not managed to reach the last giant. They have returned from their expedition. Unfortunately, we didn’t get an army of makers in our righteous cause. They had met the Baron of the Interstice as well.”

“Did a fight happen?”

“No, the Baron of Interstice would not dare to fight the blinder alone. His cunning does not allow it. Nonetheless, it seems we are too late in saving the giants of the island.”

“I see.”

Zyra sat up. She craned her neck around and saw that there were only a few left. Each bed was partitioned by green curtains that were smooth and silky. The smell of the Ark’s hospital was grand. Her eyes went back to Lady Frigus who followed her gaze.

“You did well, Lady Zyra.”

“Will you call me Zyra?”

“If Zyra wishes to.”

“Thank you.”

There was an awkward silence. Zyra tapped her fingers on her lap before speaking so low, only Lady Frigus could hear her voice.

“I’m not used to this. I’m no longer rusty, but creatures like that. They are evil. Unlike the creatures that I’d been fighting back in the homeland. These pawns of the interstice are not mindless as we thought they are.”

“They are sentient creatures. Capable of strategies and tactics. It’s because of them that the white sails of our ancestors fell.”

“Ah, that’s right. The white sails. You are part of them.”

Zyra thought about it but refused to answer. Lady Frigus however sensed what she wanted to ask. As if she had seen it far too many times in her lifetime.

“I am centuries-old, Zyra.”

“Oh.”

“I’m not so delicate as to be offended by those who are curious. I was,” she smiled. “The youngest of the white sails. We sailed two continents and found the Icean Spine. We once called this continent the Walls of Ice, and honored it with the name of Elyse's. It was a grand time to explore the world. We had humans in their boring sails which are powered by our sprites. Back then it was a cooperation. An alliance that had once again became true. Time passes and goes but the bond of those who are not spirit-blooded and those who possess the gift. Your people. Your clan were among them.”

“Is that why you are so fond of me, Frigus?”

“Partially. I couldn’t help but notice that you had the same colors as them. The loyal clan that had served kings and emperors. Now you serve another blue-blooded human for the sake of saving the world.”

Zyra nodded slowly. She turned her eyes to the light coming in the room of the Ark’s clinic. She gave a rather stiff smile at the words that Frigus spoke. Lady Frigus calmly took what she saw and beamed at her. As if signaling that she could share her thoughts.

“I will confess that when I joined this. I had hoped to live faithfully as a surgeon of a voyage that my ancestors had once joined. I believe that it was the right. I had a good colleague. And a Grand-Galleon to care. But instead I am dragged because of oaths that would beseech me to walk this path.”

“Our paths always have turns.”

“That is right. But I’d wished that it wouldn’t be so,” she held the place where she had wounds on. “And here I am risking my life once more. I wish to be Zyra, the Surgeon. Not a warrior. Not a fighter. Not a killer.”

“But it can’t be.”

“Yes. It can’t be. Not when they need my help. Not when the promise and the end of our bond has come. I wish to live free from these oaths. Then again, is it not obvious?”

“Indeed, you are not so eager, but you commit to the task ahead.”

“Of course, I do my best when I can. That is why I come and fight.”

“You have doubts. I understand it. I do not mean to compare yours with mine guilt of letting the land that I was told to watch over be drowned and murdered.”

Her voice became heavy. There was no change in the expression of the lady who demanded war. But her steady and solid eyes fluctuated at the thought. Age has made this elven strong, but even stone walls crack when it is ill-maintained.

“Does it bother you?”

“No. It doesn’t. I CHOOSE to do it,” said Lady Frigus. Her words became steely again. She may have stumbled for a moment, but she wasn’t going to stumble thrice.

Zyra wondered if this was an experience. She couldn’t imagine herself living for so long. How many problems and tragedies had she seen over the years? She doesn’t want to know. But at the same time, she wondered if there are great regrets in the heart of the long-lived elven.

“Choice… that is rare these days.”

“Perhaps, but you still choose to do this. Yes, perhaps, because the oath told you. But there is a choice in refusing to follow the oath as well, Zyra. You could have refused, but you did not.”

Zyra laughed. “You know, if someone scolded me when I began to understand. I might have chosen to refuse and stayed in the clinic of Milostiv. But he didn’t. No one did.”

“I see. Hmm, you are tired aren’t you?”

“I am. I would like to leave the Ark and return back to my cabin. I wish to rest and recuperate. Other than gathering the artifact, find the fortress-home of the makers. What else is there to do other than wait for the fleet to move.”

Zyra planted her legs on the floor. She stretched her well-toned and fit limbs. She cracked her neck and then took her coat. Lady Frigus stared at Zyra before nodding. “Then rest well, surgeon. I shall tell you if there is a need for your presence.”

Zyra nodded. She left the hospital of Arkshelled Island and stared at the walls of the city they conquered with a slash from the blinder of light.

“Still long to go,” she blinked. Then she sidled to the path leading to the tailbone where she could get off the Arkshelled Island.

*****

Her steps naturally carried her to the ramp leading to Milostiv. Once she climbed aboard, she was greeted by the sailors, some who she recalled having worked on. It didn’t take long for her to go down the decks. As usual it was the same crowded Galleon where one would think that it was a small town. The people talked and the passageways had crew members staring oddly. There were mostly men aboard, but the families of the sailors, their kids were running around, playing. Most of the people here had been long acquainted, some even recognized her. She found it odd that there was still someone who remembered when she barely had any time at the clinic these days.

Weaving through the crowd of the decks. Arriving on the deck where the clinic was. The noise died down and there were only a few sounds that could be heard. She strode quietly until she reached the doors of her cabin. She reached out to the knob when she turned away, head inside the clinic.

There were no patients on the beds. However, she quickly spotted Gabrio on the desk, tirelessly writing on the book. She didn’t see Wiles, Millie or even Robert around. It was only him in the clinic like usual. She stood so long that Gabrio noticed her.

“Oh, Zyra, you’re back.”

“Hey,” Zyra sauntered to one of the beds closest to where Gabrio’s desk was. She twisted on the bedding and then held her wounds. That took his attention immediately.

“Were you injured?”

Zyra nodded. Gabrio frowned. That lackluster expression changed to that familiar and professional demeanor. He sidled out of his desk and demanded her to take her clothes off. She unbuttoned her shirt and removed her upper clothing, showing a part of her wounds that had been closed off by Elven Artes.

Gabrio inspected the wound just below her breasts. “You should have rested. This is Elven healing isn’t it?”

“It is. I wanted to rest in my own cabin.”

“Reckless. Should have stayed in their hospital.”

He told her strictly. Her body had many scars. Wounds that were mostly in front and barely on the back. She never really was someone who would run from a fight.

Gabrio took his kit and started cleaning her wounds. He said no comforting words. He merely did his work and cleaned her wounds. “Take this,” he offered one of his candies. She gladly took the candy and threw it in her mouth. The mixture of sweets made the alcohol in it unnoticeable. She didn’t really ask for the recipe nor did she have time to concoct it.

“Sweet. This was worth it.”

“Is it? It’s a blessing that you are healed by the Elven. Their healing is magical unlike ours that needs time. They accelerate the healing process of the body, and bring forth a set of skin. It's more wonderful than ours.”

“It’s fine. It’s just a scratch anyway.”

“I grew up in a prison. I saw healing Artes as well. You can’t fool me that this is merely a scratch. Hmm, you are reckless.”

“It can’t be helped with how they needed it. Unless you want to replace me in the team?”

“No thanks.”

“Do you know what I went through?”

“I don’t. It’s not like I could be everywhere all the time. I don’t have some magical eyes to spy on you or I would do so. All I have are rumors of your party’s movements. It’s not my business.”

“Well… that’s to be expected. It’s troublesome really. Makes me want to just quit and stay here. Adventures are hard.”

“That’s your choice. To do this after all. You follow your path, Zy.”

He finished applying the medicine and wrapped her with a bandage. He handed her clothing back. He returned his kit back to where it belonged. When he returned his eyes to her. She was staring at him blankly.

“What?”

“You still call me, Zy… huh.”

“Why not?” Gabrio snorted.

Zyra held her head. She was glad that he was still at least welcoming. It was hard to find someone who was not interested in the affairs of the blinder.

“You want to know what I was going to do?”

“If you want to tell me, why not?”

“You know what? I would rather not.”

She sat casually on the bed while relaxing her head on the bed’s headboard. Gabrio returned to his desk and glanced at the books once again. He began writing once more.

“Hey Gab, you think that we’ll save the world?”

“Hopefully. I’ll cheer you on from here.”

“Heard that you’re long-lived now. Congrats.”

Gabrio snorted. “Nothing changed other than my lifespan. So you’ve heard of it?”

“I did. They told us about what had happened. People were rather angry about the Ladies not shielding you back then. There’s a reason that they stay on the Island now after all. They don’t blame me since they still think I am part of Milostiv.”

“I see.”

“Half of her life to you. So, you two a thing now?”

“Not really. We did spend an awful long time together. But it’s not like just because we saved each other there would be sudden love. Friends, more like.”

“Must have one hell of a standard there, Gab. But I guess that’s why you could keep yourself from touching her. Good job, I’m proud of you as a colleague and a friend.”

“Gee, thanks.”

She laughed. Gabrio continued writing on the book.

“Really though, not once?”

“I had some thoughts… I ain’t going to deny that. But I just thought that if I die. I’d die decently. That was it. Maybe I wanted heaven to accept me for doing good. Anyway, let’s talk about you. You’re part of the team that’s going to save.”

Zyra nodded. “Well, if you let me stay here.”

“Sure. You’re my patient at the moment then.”

Zyra then started talking with Gabrio seriously, listening to what she had done in the past few months ever since coming to the Icean Spine.