Terin opened his mouth.

The Doctor takes this tube-like object with a piece of crystal covering at the tip of the tube. He takes the cover off and shines it on him.

“What is that?”

“Oh, this is a personal invention of mine. I call it a flashlight.”

“I haven’t seen that before.”

“It has been years.”

Terin kneaded his face. The Doctor smiles lightly and hands over a drink.

“Calm your nerves, Blinder. There are many who’d despair if you are not.”

Terin nodded. “I did not expect you to be still alive, Doctor.”

“I could say the same,” Doctor Gabrio looks at the fjords. “I did not think that in my life I would have such longevity. But you slept too long, Gaspar.”

“I did,” Terin looked down. “I missed out a lot, huh?”

“Yes. But not much.”

Terin looked around them. The whole fleet was taking cover and beyond them was a mass of shadows. His heartbeat could identify the monsters.

“I don’t think so.”

“The situation is under control at the moment. If you need to rest, then rest.”

Terin nodded slowly. He drew his breath and can feel the light of the sun itself flowing in. The sun’s back and without other seedlings, he could probably cleave the monsters without effort.

“Your strength is unnatural,” said the Doctor. “Was this an improvement?”

“Perhaps… I think that without any power to flow into. All of it is flowing in me now.”

Terin hesitated. But he knew that the Doctor was more level-headed and reasonable.

“Doctor… I saw the world from above.”

Doctor Gabrio blinked. He closed the cover of his flashlight and then placed it back on his pouches.

“Did you? Ah, is it an ability of yours?”

“I saw the world, Doc. It’s drowned.”

Doctor Gabrio paused, then held his chin. “I see… so Dom was right. There was a great flood?”

“Yes… and most of the land has been covered with water. I think I saw some settlements survive the fall. But they are barely hanging on.”

“Considering how most of the creatures we are fighting have been living underwater or on small islands. I think you have merit. When we left the Long Strait, there was only water. Dom suspected that there was a great flood and it seems he’s vindicated.”

“You believe me?”

Doc Gabrio shrugged. “I’ve lived long enough to understand the Artes and their many uses.”

Terin pours his senses on the Doctor and sees that there was magic gathering around his heart. His Treeheart was pumping power through his veins and yet was also preventing something else. It was circulating and keeping his flesh youthful and sturdy.

He was as sturdy as a tree. But other than that he could tell that the Doctor couldn’t speak the words of power naturally. Still, that Treeheart of the Doctor was robust.

“You’re really come far, Doc.”

Terin thought of something. “You must know a lot by now.”

“I’m still in the process of learning as much as I can.”

Doctor Gabrio looked him in the eyes. “Are you bothered by all of this?”

“I am. Do you know how it feels, Doc? No, you know, Doc. You even get to live through it. I’m sure the Lady and Felecia have seen tired days. I feel like I’ve cheated by sleeping. I could have done much more.”

Doctor Gabrio set aside his tools and then took out a familiar candy. It seems to be a candy made of liquor.

“I have years to perfect this. You know. You just woke up at the right time. We’re in a mess right now and if you saw the world from above… then you know why we are on this island instead of sailing.”

“I do,” Terin stood up and stretched his limbs. “I’m here because I’m needed again. Doctor, I’ve been trying to ask this for a long time now. And seeing you act on your ideals, and now even after so many years. Your dedication to the health of the crew has been… unbelievable to me.”

“Is that unbelievable?” Doc looked up on the chamber’s ceiling. “We find purpose in this Life and my purpose has always been to tend to the people. I made an oath back in Aon that I would always be a servant to the sick and weary. It’s why I’m able to do this. To continue on. Gaspar, there are many things you have to do and I’m sure that I cannot and will never fathom carrying such weight on my shoulders. But sometimes you have to do what you think is right. You’ve been able to protect this fleet even in your sleep. Now that you’re awake. You can do even more.”

“That’s nice hearing from you, Doc.”

“Don’t mention it. Besides, I’ve been doing work in hopes to spend the time as well. When you have so much time in your hands. You can do what you want… but to me it was simply a way to improve and help the people. I like helping people.”

“You really do, Doc.”

Doctor Gabrio packed his things. “What about you? I know that you were chosen, but you should have an opinion on what you want.”

“What do I want?”

“Yes, don’t tell me you’ve not been thinking that? I do understand that you are a Blinder of Light, but you also need to know that you are human in the end. Before taking on this role. What did you want to do?”

Terin froze. He looked back and then thought back to his Pa’s farm. How he wished he could have spent more time in the fields. How he should have done so much more before journeying.

He was happy tilting the fields. Resting near the bank of his family’s farm without a worry about the world. Listening to the river, watching the leaves fall, and basking under the sun.

“You have a lot to think of. I think you should do that. You are more than your role, Terin Gaspar. Don’t let them take that away from you.”

The Doctor leaves. Always somewhere to be. Always on his feet trying to check on whatever patient needs checking. He was always on the move and there were days where he wondered where he got that tirelessness.

Terin stood up and looked at the clothes given to him. He heard that the giant was still around, so he got clothed, and jumped down from the tree where his chamber was.

The island was different. There were many vertical tree-like structures and a lot of children helping around in their little ways. He stopped for a while and saw the Doctor being halted by a pack of children, the Doctor demanded out of his candies.

There were many non-combatants as well. Most of them had prosthetics made from arms of the treants that were housed into them.

They were storing food and ammunition inside Arkshelled. There were tracks installed on the island, some of them are being built to carry supplies and crates around.

He sensed the Arkshelled and found eyes looking at him the moment he did so. He could tell that they were the Ancestors who are watching the Island. They seemed to have connected themselves to the island and have been feeding the island their own reserve of power as well.

Lifespan being spent on keeping the island alive. He can feel some souls screaming out in pain. Creatures that were not human boiled in the belly of the beasts, sustaining this island.

What were they doing? No, it’s probably to keep the soul of this beast living. Not that he doesn’t understand the necessary sacrifices to keep on surviving.

He followed his senses and found himself beneath the island. Before he entered he saw flying ships carried by things heated up by fire. The heat got worse as he got closer to the workshop full of people working on weapons and the creation of them.

At the head of the workshop was the giant he made a promise to. Seeing him walk up, the giant placed his tools aside and then smiled wearily. His perpetual face livened up.

“Blinder, it is good to see that you are awake, finally. Ah, they do say that you are able to wake up now.”

“It’s good to see you, too.”

The giant looked warmly before reaching out to the forge. His skin unperturbed by the extreme heat of the forge. He pulled something out of the forge. A longsword that seems to be made of high quality materials with a gem embedded on the hilt of the world.

“It has been waiting for you.”

Terin took hold of the sword. He thought back to what he wanted. What he enjoyed the most and yet he didn’t let those emotions come out.

“Thank you.”

“The light calls for you now?”

“That seems to be the case. I’d like to know what you’ve been up to, Datu.”

He spent the time talking with Datu.

He heard of the inventions of the Fleet. The loneliness of the Giant and how he was fond of the little brothers and sisters he was working with now. Terin didn’t want to make it obvious, but the Wise Giant was rather keen. He saw through that hesitation.

“I see that you are shaken by your sleep. Many have changed and through luck and your blessings. We have survived this isolation. The people here are nice, decent, but I trust you have seen the depths they will go to keep this fleet protected.”

“So you can hear it too?”

“I do.”

“I will protect this fleet. That’s what I signed up for. But I just don’t know what to do. I’m so lost.”

The giant picked up his tools. “I ask myself that as well. I am the last of my kind. And yet I swing my hammer again and again. Son, we must fulfill our Lot and sometimes we set aside our wishes for the good of all.”

Terin paused. “Do you believe that really?”

Datu snickered. “Sometimes, I really do. We are fools who are pushed by waves after waves. Ego gives us what we want, while the Higher Above gives us what we do not desire. In a way, we are of the same soul, you are the last of your kind and I am as well.”

He hammered away. “Do what you must.”

Terin Gaspar took his sword with him. On his way out he got a revolver from one of the smiths. He was able to test it out and although it was unnecessary considering his strengths.

He still took it. On his way out of the island. He saw Felecia escorted by scholars. He hid his presence and threw himself up. Letting the wind carry him as he took flight using the sun’s embrace.

Eyes glowing. He was a tiny sun floating above the island. Up here he could see the flood of creatures trying to claw up the light.

A broken world… one with little hope. But look at them, trudging on like it's how it is. Who am I… who have been given so much to slack off?

Look at the daughter, not wasting his time, still true to what he wanted to do, fulfilling his role… and the Giant… so full of such a hope. Even as he is the last… how could I dare to be so lazy? How can I not work when they do? I’ve been slacking off… too long… far too long.

Terin summons the banner of light and plants it in the middle of the island. He drags the power of sunlight to his body and manifests himself into this giant made of light holding the banner with one hand the other that was like the surface of the sunlight.

The seas boiled. The salt around the beaches melted. There was a dome of light that surrounded the area around the island. The shadows who were trying to enter the island burned as Terin held the power of the sun within him.

He points the sword on where the sun is and the sunbeams become his weapons. He incinerated the horde of creatures, leaving only their smoke behind.

Come at us.

We shall still be standing.