CHPT 432: Even in Daylight

"We meet again through this new form of communication, Monsieur. I hope this letter reaches you, I have much to say. But I'd like to start by saying, we are safe. As safe as we can be under the veil of watchful eyes and hungry bellied beasts. We ran into some Raiders, they wanted Piet's armor….. unfortunately they didn't find out what was hidden beneath until it was too late. We made it into the Vada District. I even purchased a sword for Canis— the little goat boy seems to have a thing for swords twice his size. As well as a new development. He spoke. He said your name and I catch him trying to speak to animals as you do. Word of your forest explosion continues to spread as well. Monsieur, your influence— infamy, spreads in the weirdest of ways. Remember this as you grow. We shall see you soon. Stronger and smarter than before, hm?"

Claude folded up Rollan's letter written on actual paper this time and brought it up to his nose. It smelled of coldness, rich night air, wood and fire. He could almost see the forest Rollan sat in, campfire flames as his only source of light while he recapped their time on the road. Loba and Cassidy's Hounds sleeping lightly near their elven counterpart. Piet watching over his speedily growing brother who seemed to want mastery of the sword and the wild.

It was a nice thought. A thought he especially needed after his time in the Tangents.

Gods of wolves and revenge, requesting his deeper allegiance. Shape-Shifting Goblins. And women in the water throwing Bladed Octopi at them as if they were skipping rocks.

"Fuck.." Claude whispered as he watched the endless sea beyond their ship. He could hear a Tangent spitting Kobolds into the cold ocean in the distance. A very far distance, where an entire civilization was consumed in minutes. And it would happen again…. And again.

The ocean was a dark place. Even in daylight.

Speaking of daylight. Theirs was at its peak. They got out of the last Tangent early, meaning Claude had time to train and reset his mind. That's what he'd been doing until Blackbeak landed on his shoulder with the letter rolled up in beak.

Gave him a nice excuse for a break. But after reading the letter, he felt like switching his tempo.

Sometimes it was good to focus on others. Even if personal ascension wasn't only paramount to himself, but one day the world.

Claude got to his feet on the front edge of the ship and flipped off, landing soundlessly on the wooden deck that was beginning to smell like home... lathered in zombie and Goblin blood.

Beggars can't be choosers.

Claude crossed the deck in a jog. Naturally, Frosty found his way beside him drawn in to the movement.

Claude cleared the stairs leading up to the area where everyone else was.

Cassidy leaned up against the steering wheel with the map in his hands. Ursula stood next to him, there heads practically melded together as they discussed their current route. Ma sat across from them, waving to Claude as she calmly sat on the edge of the boat.

"Anything wrong?" Claude questioned them.

"No. We're just covering our bases…."

"And covering those coverings." Ursula added, "Why?"

"Because I need to borrow you." Claude replied.

"For what?"

Claude suddenly got an idea. Maybe it was because of his recent conversations with Fenrir… maybe it was something darker, he wasn't sure.

"I also need you too, Cassidy."

The Hunter shrugged casually, "Well alright."

***

The three of them stood on the deck casually. Ursula was left to face Cassidy and Claude. She looked as confused as she did when he first asked her to follow him.

"We're training. Obviously. We'll be in New Gloria soon— you'll have to face your father... and possible a University's worth of people. And the eyes will be on you more than ever, you can't make mistakes, not like I did." Claude explained.

"So we're learning control?" Ursula assumed.

Claude nodded, "It's especially important to you since your base abilities as a Berserker trigger your Giant-Killer form. You can walk around humans…. We did it for over a month…. Maybe your personable nature makes it easier for you. But it won't just be humans when we get to New Gloria. It'll be Detectives and agitators that want you to let loose. Sometimes I won't be there as a form of focus for you to siphon. So I want to give you some more practice. I want you to do better than I did."

Ursula made a weird face a nodded, "Let's get into it."

"What am I doing here other than spectating?" Cassidy questioned.

Claude turned to face him, "Bleeding."

Cassidy eyed him sideways, "You lose your mind sometime between now and yesterday?"

"I lost my mind when I ran away from school with a Noble." Claude replied. Before Cassidy could fully feel his surprise, Claude continued, "Anyway. You said you wanted this…."

Cassidy nodded.

"Even if you told me not to think about while we're out here, it's not that easy. I'm in my head a lot. The point is, you watch us fight…. Heal… sense— feel, everything good. With your father and his pack I'm sure you saw a few of the downsides, I'd like to remind you of them here."

Cassidy nodded before pulling out a knife and placing the blade against his palm, "You want to use the fact that I'm human to trigger her instincts."

Claude looked at Ursula, "And I want you to fight them."

"Alright, lady. You better not bear out on me. Don't wanna have to shoot you."

Ursula rolled her shoulders, "You're not fast enough."

Cassidy grinned, "Sure."

SHLCK!

He ripped the knife across his palm and let his shining red blood flow. The smell was as rich as Claude remembered. It's effects instant as his senses exploded and focused Cassidy. He could hear the Hunters pulse— hear the droplets of blood hitting the deck with rhythmic red splatters.

"—es Captain!"

A voice in the distance pulled his focus. Some words clear but most of it traveled across the ocean as a dull hum hidden behind the chaotic waves.

"Are there any other boats nearby?" Claude questioned carelessly as he looked around. The sea beyond was vacant for miles.

"All large expeditions are much further into the depth levels than us. We're in a middle ground most don't operate in. We lost connection to the other ships in our first Tangent, why you ask?" Cassidy replied in a whisper as he watched Ursula. "Is she doing well or do I need my bow?"

Claude looked over at Ursula and found her frozen— like a dog that's found a squirrel eating a nut. Her eyes were glowing but no other signs of the beast within showed themselves.

Not good enough.

Claude stepped to approach her. Another drop of blood echoed in his ears— followed by thousands more as an explosion happened in the waters a few dozen feet from their boat.

"Ursula you need to do b—"

SPLSHHHHH!!!

Above the sight of the liquid explosion in the distance, a woman soared through the air towards them. Her skin was so pale she seemed blue where the sea creature armor didn't hide it. Could it have been the one Ma spoke about? The one that attempted to harm them. He didn't know.

Claude didn't get to notice much more as his Prey Drive took over and he jumped off the boat to smash into her midair.

The two grappled, sliced and bit into each-other until they went unseen under the dark waters of the Tendread Sea.

Ursula and Cassidy screamed after him as the waters began to bubble chaotically.

Ursula worked to see through Claude's eyes. All she got was bubbles, blood, black eyes and gills. Gills on a human neck.

Ursula growled and crushed the railing she held in her grip before grabbing her axes. "Cassidy, follow us on the boat."

Claude and the sea-woman took off in the water like twin torpedos suddenly. Blood and cloth pieces in their wake.

"Wha—"

"FOLLOW US!" Ursula snapped as frosty air escaped her lips.

Cassidy grabbed hold of the steering wheel. "Go ahead then."

Ursula jumped overboard and landed on the ocean surface with a Glacial Smash. She continued to follow them with repeated hopping smashes like lily pads of ice.

Ma flew overboard and followed after her while Frosty barked at the waters from above.

As Cassidy worked to steer the boat around, he found the beginnings of a sail or flag in the distance. Far far away…. But still too close for comfort.

"So that's why you were asking….. this might get uglier than I expected. Son of a bitch!"