Chapter Text
It had been a month since the floating crystal had vanished from the skies, taking with it all the magic in the world. The Akashic swarms had vanished as swiftly as they had first appeared, the aether that flooded the plains now sinking back deep into the earth. The world seemed to be both at peace and raging with confusion and chaos, yet in the Hideaway there was one more concern floating in their minds.
Clive, Joshua, and Dion had yet to return.
Most simply presumed the trio dead, though the thought pained them deeply. Lord Byron was near inconsolable, his precious nephews lost to him for the second time, when it had seemed he had only just had them restored. Gav struggled with the pressing responsibilities Clive had left in his wake, and a feeling of sorrow hung over the rest of the group like a pall. Even poor Torgal seemed completely disheartened.
It was Jill who tried her best to take charge, to force a smile so that they all might press on into the frightening new world Clive had created for them. It would be what he would have wanted, after all. But every now and then she’d stare off into the eastern skies where the crystal once stood, a deep sadness clear in her face. And not once had she dared look back up at the moon.
She was making herself busy in Clive’s chambers that day. Sorting through the last of his papers. Efficient as he was, he had always struggled with keeping things organized. The thought both amused and depressed her, a few tears running down her cheek as she recalled him sitting at his desk, surrounded by scores of papers so numerous he’d never be able to sort through them all.
Torgal sensed her change in spirits, nudging her with a reassuring whine. She took a deep breath, petting him behind the ears, trying her best to maintain a smile. “It’s alright, boy. I’ll be alright,” she promised, praying she was a better liar than Clive was.
A knock came from the door, Gav peeking his head inside. “Jill, they’re wanting you by the decks. Seems a suspicious boat’s coming in.”
“On my way,” Jill nodded, attaching her sword to her hip. With the realm in such disarray, bandits and thieves made easy money from the panic. Yet even in these times of turmoil, attacking an outlaw hideaway seemed a preposterous thing to do.
The balcony over the docks had already attracted a small crowd, everyone theorizing about the approaching vessel. Jill looked out, spotting a small seacraft bearing two people, their faces and clothes obscured by thick cloaks. “Can’t make heads or tails of ‘em,” Gav confessed. “They ain’t flying no colors and you’d have to be mad to attack this big a place with just two men.”
“Then perhaps they don’t mean to attack us,” Jill suggested.
“If they’re friendly, wouldn’t be no reason to cover their faces up,” Gav pointed out.
“There’s only one way to find out then,” Jill concluded. “Bring everyone up from the lower decks, I’ll head down and find out why they’re here.”
“Alright, just be careful now, mind you,” Gav warned, gesturing to the fishermen and boatmen below to make their way to the lift. Torgal followed Jill’s lead, joining her on the lift.
Jill steadied herself for what might lay ahead. There was every possibility these might just be a pair of lost travelers, but then why hide their faces and fly no colors? She pondered the idea of them being messengers, or even fellow outlaws seeking to join the cause or at least find a place to call home. But for every potential theory she formed, she forbade herself from even daring to hope that it might be him.
She approached the dock cautiously, the vessel reaching the dock with ease, the smaller of the passengers leaping out to tie it off. Torgal sniffed the air, looking confused but undaunted. She placed her hand on the hilt of your sword. “Declare yourselves!” She ordered.
The person laughed, Jill instantly recognized the sound. “I can’t say I was expecting a warm welcome, but I am glad it’s you who came to meet us, Jill.”
Jill felt her heart stop as the person approached her, taking off his hood, a bright smile on his face. “J-Joshua?” She stammered, her voice cracking as she struggled to form the words. She stumbled forward, grabbing his arms as if to see if he was real. “How, but, what happened? We thought we all thought you were dead…”
“Well, technically I was, for a short while at least,” Joshua explained with a chuckle.
“But, if you’re here… Then… What about Clive?” She asked, feeling as though her heart teetered on a precipice, its fate resting on his answer.
Joshua’s expression darkened, pausing a moment and looking away before he answered. “Jill… I’m sorry.” He murmured. Jill felt her legs start to give out from underneath her as he continued. “I… I couldn’t bring all of him back to you.”
She could no longer hold back the tears, burying her face into Joshua’s chest as she fought back sobs. He wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug. “No… no no no…” She cried.
Joshua cleared his throat, Jill looking up to see a small smirk on his face. “However, I was able to manage to bring back most of him.” He remarked.
Jill heard the docks behind him creak as the second passenger left the boat. She hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether or not she should let herself even dream of what it could mean. But, slowly she peeked over Joshua’s shoulder, her chest nearly bursting for the rush of joy.
“I missed you, Jill.”
Her legs could not carry her fast enough as she dashed towards Clive, half-tackling him with her embrace. The sheer force of it sent them tumbling backward, Jill clinging to him as tightly as she could. At this moment, she did not care if this was all merely a dream or some sort of madness. At this moment, her Clive was in her arms again.
“Clive?” Gav shouted from the balcony. “Gregor’s tit, it is him! Thank the Founder!” He
She sat up, accessing every inch of him, as if to make sure it was truly him. But the boyish grin on his face, his unruly dark hair, the kind glow in his eyes… There was no doubt he was Clive. “Clive- I thought,” she stammered, her joyful tears overflowing into sobs. “We all thought you weren’t coming back…”
He brushed aside a tear from her cheek. “I promised you, didn’t I? That I’d come back to you.” He reminded, pulling her in for a kiss. A warm, gentle kiss that seemed to tell her that he was finally home. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”
She nuzzled his hand against her cheek, enjoying the sensation she’d thought she’d never get to feel again. Torgal, now satisfied with his greeting to Joshua, joined the fray, rushing over and rubbing his face against Clive.
“Hey boy, I’m back-” Clive laughed, taking his hand from Jill’s cheek to pet him. Jill began to realize that Clive was only using his right hand, as his left arm was no longer there.
“Clive, your-” Jill began to ask, the sound of a mob running toward them flooding her voice out.
“Clive, you great bastard!” Gav cheered, panting for breath over them. “Had to make us all worried sick, didn’t ya?”
“Out of my way!” Lord Byron shouted, pushing through the crowd. “Those are my nephews, I should be allowed to greet them first!”
“Gav… Uncle Byron…” Clive greeted, taking Gav’s hand to help him get back on his feet. “Sorry for the trouble I’ve caused.”
Lord Byron laughed, slapping his hand against Clive’s back. “First the boy saves the world, and now he’s sorry for the trouble! And after defying death for not just the first, but the second time!”
“Oi did the healers out that way truly charge an arm and a leg for tonics out that way?” Gav asked, gesturing to Clive’s left side. “Cause you seem to be missing one.”
“It’s a long story,” Clive shrugged, already being led away by the crowd.
“Then off to the pub we go!” Lord Byron declared. “I will not have you rest until you regale us with every detail of how you killed the fiend!”
Jill watched on, still in a euphoric shock at everything that had transpired. Joshua walked to her side, offering her a kind smile. “Clive was ever the popular one, wasn’t he?” He joked.
“That he was,” Jill chuckled. She sighed, listening to the Hideaway burst forth with joy and life at the conquering hero’s safe return. “I can barely believe it.” She confessed quietly.
“Then allow me to escort you to the dining hall where you can hear the full story,” Joshua offered, holding out his arm. “Though, I’m sure my brother will be sorely disappointed he could not escort you himself.”
Jill smiled, taking Joshua’s arm and following his lead. And she made a quiet prayer that the moon would shine brightly upon them that night.