The Martyr

A seismic shift rocked the ship as news of Ron's demise spread like wildfire. The once-unified passengers now found themselves divided into two factions, highborns and lowborns, each accusing the other.

The air crackled with tension, and whispers of Lord Emberfall's involvement in Ron's death added fuel to the growing resentment. The ship, already struggling after the Kraken's assault, now faced the additional challenge of internal conflict.

Lord Emberfall and his group secured themselves inside their cabins, guarded by soldiers and knights. On the other hand, a group of angry lowborns gathered outside, demanding justice for Ron's death. In a separate area of the ship, scuffles broke out, resulting in injuries to some lesser highborns at the hands of the lowborns.

The ship was on the verge of pandemonium, tensions escalating between the two groups. Morvain watched the unfolding chaos with a cunning grin. His plan was unfolding smoothly, with the orchestrated disorder serving as a crucial element for his ultimate goal.

As Morvain approached Ron's cabin, he navigated through the crowd of lowborns gathered outside, mourning the old man's death. His son remained imprisoned, and a sense of desolation hung in the air. The lifeless body of the old man lay on a cold wooden table, exposed for all to witness. The reactions varied within the crowd – some mourned the loss of a figure who openly opposed the highborns, while others cursed him for sparking the chaos.

Morvain walked towards Ron's still form, his face carrying a somber expression. The melancholy in the atmosphere mirrored the cold reality of their existence in a world divided by social hierarchy.

As Morvain approached the corpse, the crowd fell into a hushed reverence. People reached out to touch his hands as he passed, silently pleading for salvation. They regarded him as their last hope, their hero and savior in a world torn apart by injustice. Despite their silent appeals, Morvain remained stoic, his gaze fixed forward as he pressed on.

Reaching Ron's lifeless body, Morvain softened his expression into one of profound sadness. Gently placing a hand on the old man's chest, he felt the coldness of death beneath his touch.

"I'm sorry, Ron. I'm truly sorry," Morvain whispered, his voice heavy with remorse.

Standing in silent vigil, Morvain became the focal point for the hushed crowd. After a moment, he turned to address them.

"What are we?" he uttered in a low voice that resonated through the somber air. The crowd listened intently. "We are humans," he continued, raising his gaze as if contemplating the heavens. "But what about them? The so-called authority and gods? Are they humans? Or are they gods?"

"...Humans..." a boy in the crowd murmured in agreement.

Morvain's gaze swept across the assembled crowd, his expression solemn. "Are you sure about that? Are they humans? Tell me, are they?" he implored.

"We are humans," Morvain continued, his voice rising with conviction. "And we don't prosecute the innocent. We don't strip away their freedom and punish their fathers for self-defense. No, we do not do that. But they..." he pointed downwards towards the cabins below, "They, the so-called humans, do whatever they want and escape punishment without consequence."

"Ron was innocent. Yes, innocent," Morvain declared, his voice carrying across the somber crowd, each word weighted with a mix of anger and sorrow. "He stood against injustice, a beacon of righteousness in a world shrouded in darkness. And what did they do?" He gestured towards the lifeless form of the old man, laying cold and motionless before them. "They did this to him."

The crowd stirred at his words. People hastily wiped away their tears, their gaze shifting to Morvain with fire in their eyes. Morvain turned towards Ron's lifeless body, his expression etched with pain.

"They will pay. They will pay for this injustice. They will pay for taking an innocent life," Morvain declared, his voice filled with determination. "But first, we need to set something straight." He paused, letting his words resonate within the crowd. "We need to show them that they cannot strip a son off his final goodbyes to his father! We need to show them that they cannot strip an innocent off his freedom!"

Morvain's finger cut through the air like a dagger, pointing decisively towards the lower decks. His voice, a tempest of thunder and conviction, roared through the ship.

"Look at Rony, a hero who ignited the world when darkness threatened to consume it! Where is his reward, his accolades? Instead, he's confined like a common criminal. And Logan, the guardian who shielded us when the world crumbled. Yet, where are their honors? Is prison the thanks they get from these cowardly highborns?" The crowd listened, stirred by Morvain's fiery rhetoric, a spark of rebellion igniting within them.

"Ron was a hero. Yes, a hero who faced injustice head-on. He fought for what was right, for Rony, his son!" Morvain's declaration echoed through the crowd, igniting a flame of passion within them.

The people cheered, their collective voice resonating with rage and grief. Morvain shifted his gaze to Ron's lifeless body, a look of pain etched across his face.

"Today, we mourn the loss of a hero. Shedding tears for a fallen comrade, we vow to avenge his death. Today, we fight for justice. Today, we stand united!" Morvain proclaimed, his voice ringing with determination and conviction.

As the crowd erupted in cheers, their emotions a tumultuous mix of anger and sorrow, Morvain made his way towards Ron's lifeless body. Silent and melancholic, he placed a hand on the old man's chest, his heart heavy with sorrow.

"I'm truly sorry, Ron. I'm truly sorry," he whispered, his voice tinged with regret and remorse. Turning to address the crowd, his expression mirrored the pain he felt within.

"To the prison!" Morvain's voice thundered through the air, resonating with the collective heartbeat of the enraged crowd.

A surge of cheers erupted, a symphony of anger and sorrow echoing through the ship. Morvain, his eyes ablaze with determination and excitement, took the lead, propelling the surging mass of people toward the prison.