The Obsidian Blade

Chapter 15: Stormy Seas

Finally got around to writing this chapter!

EDIT: I added a map of the Ocean and the world so far.

Kelia and I embark quietly from the shore in our oak boat. Our animals follow much less quietly, mooing and whinnying and complaining at the top of their llama-horse lungs. "Grab an oar." Kelia instructs mercilessly. I take the left oar but as I do I can't help but look back at the inn and see a small, solitary figure standing sadly at the edge of the water. I can't help feeling my eyes moisten slightly for poor Aeve back on the shore.

Kelia, though, isn't the slightest bit guilty or sad, in fact, she's looking the same perky-something as she was right before she arrived, except this time it's not from annoyance. I can't help a slight scowl, which Kelia notices and returns gravely. We glide silently and swiftly across the surface of the water which remains as cool and undisturbed as Kelia's heart.

As we progress through the water at good speeds I survey the beautiful views on all sides. To the right, I see towering mountains and catch a glint of green gemstone longingly. To the near left, I see a lively jungle. Birds fly over the trees and cocoa pods sprout on their tall trunks. And in front of me, countless biomes and creatures and landscapes spread out before me. Perhaps I will try to do more boat travel when I get out of this mess and get rid of the voice.

Why would you get rid of me? I can change you, make you great... the voice coos. No, you'll make me die. Go away, now. Lies... I know Shadow, and she is not dead... lies... so I believe you cryptic evil voice over a desperate victim. Yep, not happening. Do I have to block you again? Despite my seemingly unconcerned attitude, I am shaking with fear underneath. And the voice knows it. Shhh... S, darling, you can't trust anyone. You know that. The voice croons.

I shudder, hearing my nine-years life resolution repeated by this creepy being. Before I met Jules, I really believed this was the truth. But Jules had empowered me and helped me to give friendship a second chance after Desid... but maybe he was never my friend... Jules... she's not your friend. She just used you to survive in the Nether. No, I think back fiercely, Jules would never do that! GET. OUT. OF. MY. HEAD! I wrench up my shield, which the voice has been countering with equal fierceness. But I still have some months to go, and right now I still have more power. Right now...

With my mental battle temporarily on ceasefire, I finally notice my surroundings again from my slightly blurred perception. The clouds in the sky are beginning to thicken at alarming speeds, and a flash of lightning and a great clap of thunder warn us of the coming storm. Kelia's expression, for once, isn't an angry scowl, but an anxious scowl. I can't tell if it's an improvement or not.

Soon the wind begins to howl and waves rock our tiny canoe. The llamas begin to cry in fear and their heads bob over and under the water as they gasp for breath. Soon minutes of desperate rowing transform into hours and more hours and the minutes and seconds and hours blend into what seems like a never-ending terrifying dream.

Yet Kelia still does not turn back, and somehow we still make progress as we go. At one point Kelia drops the brown llama's lead because he is taking too much effort to pull. She doesn't even seem to care as we leave the drowning llama bobbing and crying for help. I wonder why she doesn't drop her second llama either except then I remember the white llama was the one chosen to carry her payment and wealth. I feel even more sorry for the poor brown llama.

Day turns to night and then day again. We are both too exhausted to do anything except hope the storm dies. It does, and when it does I jump to my feet with joy. "Hallelujah!" I cry. Kelia merely falls back, asleep. I also lean back and try to rest. Eventually, I reach into my inventory and take out a thin green carpet, and lay it down on my slim side of the boat. But getting to sleep is still hard, and I feel like the waves are still rocking against me in my dreams.

I wake to the early dawn light. The good thing about boats is that unless there is wind or a bug storm they never drift from the place where you stop rowing. Pint looks exhausted from behind me, and I take pity on him and bring him into my boat even though I feel like a squashed silverfish. "Alright, let's get moving," Kelia says easily. The only thing that looks different about her is the dark circles under her eyes and that she's holding one lead now instead of two.

Kelia grabs the oars and moves us steadily forward. I eventually take one of them and she looks grateful for a split second. Perhaps she is improving, but then I see her scowl deeply and look angrier than ever for a second. Kelia's kind of weird, I guess. "There it is." Kelia's voice interrupts my thoughts. "That's the bank where we'll resume our journey."

In the far distance, I see a speck of land directly in front of us. Kelia wears a confident glare now. Every single one of her expressions is mixed with a scowl. The evening sun is fading and with the beautiful promise of land comes the unbelievable crash of thunder. This time, we have no strength left to battle the storm. A few rows and some breathless attempts to call for help and we are plunged into the darkness of the waves.

Swim. Swim. Swim. My eyes open blearily. I slowly inhale a gulp of cold, clear water, and feel it freeze my insides. I should be dead. I can't breathe water. Am I... dead? I think... no, that's not possible. I let down my inner shield and concentrate on hearing the voice. Ah, S, you've finally come to your senses! Listen, Voice, and answer me. Why aren't I dead? Oh, I guess Shadow didn't mention this privilege of hosting me - you can't drown. So don't even think about sacrificing yourself to save the world! You're stuck until the Precitapy.

Precitipy? What's that? Hey, what's that? You'll find out. No! You are going to tell me right now! Patience, patience, S, you'll see only too soon. For now, I suppose you can seek me out. I'm looking forward to meeting you, my dear prodigy. Ugh - why do you come when I don't want you and leave when I do!? No answer. Stupid voice. A strangely elated emotion crosses my mind. The voices emotions. I don't know how I know this, but the possession is getting worse.

With every breath I take I am getting colder. I push upward through the water. I have been down here for at least a night. As I near the surface the water gets lighter and my perception begins to sharpen. I feel as though I am awakening from a deep slumber - or death. I gasp when I hit the air and my first breath of unfettered oxygen. The transition from water to air is like a knife slicing through my heart. If I had stayed down there any longer I think it would have killed me when I came back up. I can feel the voice laughing.

I take a moment to restore my senses before pinpointing the nearest land. My heart thuds. Because the nearest land is not the Spots continent but a medium-large jungle island that I think we passed half a day before Spots' continent came into view. And I am not sure where to go. Nonetheless, mobs can still kill me and I can see no land in any other direction. At least the mid-morning light greets me with some hope.

I reach into my inventory, hoping to find some apples or bread but remember too late that they were all in the brown llama's saddle-bag. Well, that's just great. I don't have any fishing poles with me or string. Just armor, logs, redstone, a slot of iron ingots, and my most valuable or treasured things I chose to take from my base in the swamps. Okay, well there will probably be cocoa pods and then maybe with some more crop scavenging, I can make chocolate.

I swim quickly even though I am not very experienced. I go down a few times - I should be happy I can't drown, though, but instead, I'm even more terrified of having to take another gulp of that icy knife-like 'breathing'. Will I ever get to Spots, or am I just hoping against all the odds... maybe no matter what happens the voice will always be there like a wall between me and Spots. And if I can't get to Spots, then there is nothing I can do except wait to die.

Author's Note

This was a very hard chapter to write and I did not have motivation. Every writer gets this at some point but sometimes you have to write the boring chapters to be able to write the engaging ones.

This story officially has over 100 views! This is a huge milestone for me because I've never even gotten CLOSE to this before, but wow!

Thank you guys so much, I could not have done this without you, or the Lord! In honor of this, I have officially announced Crying Obsidian! This will be a sequel to this book or side-novel I'm not quite sure, but it will tie in amazingly to the epic climax I have planned for this book!

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