Chapter 38: Forsaken

It was dark. A familiar darkness clad my view, there was nothing but emptiness and the squeaking sound of something twisting — Similar to a pair of chains sliding across a uneven stone surface in the further distant.

My body was the only thing shining through the lonesome darkness.

I felt empty, my body felt empty. 

Before me stood another shining figure. 

It was Glava.

He seemed to be in sorrow, his gaze was on the ground Infront of him.

'Glava the tragic'

a man who lost nothing yet everything in his life. 

an orphan after his parents died, only to be taken care by the locals who cared for his well being. 

"...Im sorry, for what you went through"

I spoke. there was a genuine feeling going through me. I thought Glava had died peacefully and could rest in the afterlife — someone who never truly was meant for this death vessel, yet here he was, the past already occurred and he here.

Glava didn't look back, his gaze remained on the ground. His expression darkened before he finally spoke up with a sense of anger yet sadness.

"What did I ever do to deserve this".

I watched him, I could sense the frustration within his voice but curious got the best of me.

"...Where did you get the vessel from..".

Of course I've been curious. Glava was innocent all his life until his death, seeing the past memories had made me understand that he hadn't gone through any traumatic events similar to himself and Wade.

I needed answers. 

Glava finally lifted his gaze up. 

He stared straight into my eyes.

I felt the hair rise on my skin. 

He was gazing into me like he was piercing through the outer exterior of my body and straight into my soul — I could feel my body responding in a rather fearful way, I felt my hand shaking as I wasn't sure what he was seeing within me.

Before I'd realize it he started to make his way towards me. 

His steps were slow yet came at me what felt like a charging attack. 

"...These powers?" Glava spoke.

"my original self wouldn't remember it, but I know".

'Original self? was he clarifying that the real Glava was gone, and this man who stood Infront of me was just the former shell of the real one?' 

"My family was attacked by a Leviathan when I was a child".

Ah yes, A leviathan attack. That was something that didn't surprise me at all. 

A leviathan attack was probably the most average case of someone who had lost their family — My master had lost her family and many local island I've visited in the past too had lost their members to such attacks. 

It occurred when ships were sailing without any protection from the Anax or marine. Research had it that the chances of being attacked while being a lone vessel on the sea was a 1/20 chance — giving Glava was alive around 2 centuries ago which reduced the number to even a higher chance to be attacked. 

It happened way to often and is which why I am sailing with the lighting division today. To reduce the chances of being a victim of a leviathan just like me.

"When I woke up I found myself on a Anax ship. a group of hunters had found me when I was drifting the endless sea on a lone plank".

"I don't know what happened while I was unconscious but i know that was when the vessel manifested in me".

Solan thought to himself thoroughly, whilst thinking he gazed at long-dead man. 

"Do you think the Leviathan that attacked your family was a elder beast?"

"That was what I also thought after I died".

"Somehow the leviathan that attacked me was too a curse bearer".

"I don't know how it happened but what I do know is that the creature never appeared".

"I was too young to remember its appearance and according to the hunters they told me that the leviathan was never supposed to appear, the seas we were sailing were protected by the Onslaught group".

Onslaught? I've heard about them before whilst sailing with the division. They are from the Oriental continent and serves as a marine group similar to Soldat except they're smaller in numbers and are closer with the Anax order than their own government. 

"After I was rescued they knew where to sail me, we were only 30 miles away from my home island".

With more brainstorming going through my mind I was utterly confused. Unlike me or Wade, Glava don't remember what attacked him but is completely sure it gave him the curse. 

Solan knew he was given the power when he continued eating into the mudcat trying to survive and stay alive. As for Wade he had slain the beast in the past during his journey as a hunter.

Was there other ways to manifest the powers?

Ways that Solan didn't known about yet?

With a slight frown Solan asked.

"By any chance, where you in contact with a previous curse bearer?"

Glava glared at me, there was a sense of displeasure on his expression which told Solan that 'Yes, he has'

"...I have, but it was a short encounter and the only one I had".

"After my death I was in the same position as you, standing before a previous user".

"She told me that it was my fault for dying, I should've looked for a grave belonging to a man named Pierre".

"But instead I wasted my time in my workshop and stayed within the warmth of my hometown".

"Something else?"

"Yes...There was one last thing she said".

Solan's interest was piqued. He was curious to what he could possible say now and had hope it would be useful information.

"She told me that the 6th user end will be the most tragic out of anyone".

W-What? Solan was baffled and confused, with a frown he stepped closer.

The 6th user. That was me, it didn't make sense no matter how he looked at it. Why would someone from the past speak about someone who wasn't even alive during that time. 

"What could you possible mean? the bearer spoke about someone who wasn't even alive at that time?"

Before I knew it Glava's phantom body started to fade slowly, turning into dust starting from his feet and making its way slowly to the upper body.

"I don't know what she meant, that was the last thing she told me".

Solan was furious, with a step he tried to grab Glava's collar but went straight through. 

"Y-You need to give me an explanation! You cant just say things like that! what could she possible mean!?"

As his form started to make its way to his head Glava spoke his last words.

Glava's look turned grave and had a hint of amusement in his tone. 

"...All I know.. Is that you, Solan... Descendant of the Hydra linage will face a gruesome ending worse then any human who has lived"

"W-What are you saying!?" 

Solan's voice turned into a the voice desperation.

Hydra linage? 

Solan had no time to care about whatever his origin was as it was his future he was talking about.

Before disappearing for what's gonna feel like forever Solan shouted at the dead man with a solemn expression. 

"Where do I find Pierre's grave! how do I change my ending!"

A smug appeared in the corner of Glava's look. The look hit Solan in the chest, he felt his heart sinking — He was mocking him, the smile hinted that there was no way to change his possible fate. 

"You cant".

Solan felt sorry for Glava at the start regarding his past but with the mocking smile it changed his entire perspective about the tragic man. 

Solan raised his fist, wanting to punch the living crap out of him but before he could even hit him he disappeared into the endless darkness — The only thing remaining was the floating dust that had radiated from the man. 

Solan stared into the ground. 

Silence.

Standing silently the darkness around him transition back into his old world. Standing in the middle of the previous blacksmith the only sound clinging through his ear was the steps of someone approaching from the corridor by the exit.

--Step, step-- 

"Sir Solan?" 

Alfred's voice echoed through the corridor. 

"Young sir, was it you that destroyed the opening to the smithy?"

Solan didn't speak back, his back was facing the old man judging by the silent atmosphere it told him that something must've happened.

"..Sir?"

Solan balled his fist together so hard that he started to bleed from his palm. visible veins popping from his hand from the encounter he just had. 

He hadn't told him anything useful, Glava had just spoke about his past and Solan's apparent future. Solan wanted to hit something, he wanted to just leash out his anger out on the entire blacksmith forgetting about honoring the pathetic man. 

With a deep breath Solan finally composed himself, he released his fist and felt defeated. There no use in taking out his anger on a dead man that died centuries ago. 

He felt hopeless about himself. 

But despite that there was something that came in mind. 

"...Alfred...".

"Yes young sir?"

"Arrange a meeting with the grandmaster tomorrow".

Alfred raised his eye, curious why he would visit Lumine again. 

"I'm forgetting about the tournament, I want to kill Leviathans... So badly now".

Alfred wasn't sure where he was going with it but said back.

"...I see, I'll arrange it don't worry"

Alfred took his leave shortly after and when Solan found himself alone again. 

The voices started crawling up on his skin. He couldn't compose himself, he was pissed... he was enraged.

"...This is bullshit, just what does dead people know about my future". he told himself under his breath.