The mask was much colder on his face than his streaming tears had been, and the silent expression sent in reply towards Ari was fairly neutral. But her yawn had been exceptionally dangerous just then, and the rings under his eyes seemed to darken in real time as his eyelids began to grow heavy.
The kick of adrenaline he had expounded in the forest had been his last. Now it was only a matter of time; Ari had saved him from complete emotional disintegration, but the lull of sleep was rearing its unstoppable head once more.
No, not sleep. Dolphus blinked as he looked away. I’m bordering on absolute exhaustion. I sure hope my body can keep itself breathing while I’m asleep.
Dolphus hesitated to ascend the plank whilst Ari was on it, but eventually clenched his jaw and stepped forwards. As Ari set both feet on the ship, the board straightened, almost tossing the much lighter Dolphus off, but he threw his arm out for a split second and kept himself upright. Adjusting his collar, he finished ascending the plank until he was on deck, and gave a microscopic nod to Ari before marching forwards.
The surprised glances of the few honored dead on deck both disinterested and inspired Dolphus at the same time. Instantly in his mind the visual appeared of a dozen or so of the ghost sailors with ropes traveling the sea floor and slowly drawing the Caelin’s Hand out of the shore once the tide came in, and in his ears the imaginary mutterings of those around him questioning why he was still alive.
Not how, but why. And it was with a sigh of relief that Dolphus spotted Mariner, glad to have his existence cut off that unnecessarily resentful train of thought before it could properly begin.
His hand motioned behind him for Ari to wait once they reached the foot of the steps. Somehow the tired, sagging form of Mariner with his back to the pair was more ominous than when he towered over him inside his cabin, back when Karl arrived.
What do I mean, ‘back when?’ It was yesterday. Or today. Or…
What day is it again?
He could feel his chest heaving as he ascended the steps on the left side. His footsteps were attempting being light, but he was running out of the ability to moderate their pressure. With a final silent check over his appearance, he set two fingers to rest on the pearl in the pommel of his blade, sucked in a huge breath to puff his chest up, and partially released it.
“Sir.”
@Winterstorm345 it’s finally time 