The Amphitrite's crew said their final farewells to their friend who died honorably protecting their captain. They lowered their hats as they sent him with all love and respect to his final resting place in the dark depth of the sea. Albert watched the man he killed wrapped in a white simple clothes sliding down the cold water, he looked secretly at Alex but was confronted with his cold stares still the captain said nothing and went silently to his room. Albert bowed his head, he could say nothing this time but much to his surprise, Albert wasn't faced by the resentful faces of the crew which made the matter much more painful. He believed that Alice had probably explained everything earlier and how this happened accidentally; including his past with Alex to give him an excuse in front of them but to him, there was no excuse. And not few hours later he understood why no one was actually angry at him. In sorrowful dignified words, the princess prayed for the dead man after which Alice in a monotonous voice announced that their mate's death was avenged as his killer was shot. She blamed the death on Jeremy! Albert could not accept this, but he was such a coward that he did not dare refute her claims. Later he gripped her arm and asked her why she had said this. Jeremy might have been an enemy, and he is indeed dead but there was no need to tarnish his reputation. Alice expressed that these her wish, she did not want a conflict on her beloved ship, she did not want to lose another mate and friend, leaving him speechless.
*****
The candle went out but Albert didn't think of lighting a new one. He did not need a light to see what was truly happening. While seeking to outmatch Alex and portray him in front of the others as a horrible selfish person and while planning to reveal his dark intentions to the people who respected him to destroy his image, he had become a more horrible man.
His great admiration for his father was what led him throughout his life to follow in his steps but it was his hatred for the man his father favored what made him stray from the path of his father. He had blamed Alex for intending to destroy the sacred spring to satisfy his hatred and fulfill his own revenge but was he not standing in the same shoes now? He hated Alex and wished day and night to get revenge on him for his father's death, killing an innocent soul in the process and driving away the woman he loved many times.
He could not understand how a noble pure emotion like love can emanate a tainted flame like hatred. It was Alex's true love for his fiancé that drowned his heart with this hatred and unstoppable desire to avenge for her death at any cost and it was his deep love and respect for his father which made him lose his heart and soul. The same heart that once loved purely and sincerely could now, just as Alex himself described, see nothing but dark hatred and malice.
*****
Albert closed the door behind him as he tried to close his mind on this whole matter. He raised his sleepless eyes hoping to find some rest laying them on that blue rug but he wasn't the only one seeking tranquility. There was someone else.
"I'm glad to see you all better again, Vincent!"
Vincent smiled saying he need not worry about him. Albert stood beside the older man, he wanted to say something he'd realized it just some time ago, he wanted to tell Vincent how being appointed as his assistant, although older and more experienced than him and still accepting the offer with an peaceful mind eased for him being onboard this ship a lot but since their last conversation, Albert felt that he'd even driven this friend away. He didn't know how to start but it was Vincent who began talking:
"I knew he won't abandon us on that island, I meant Alex."
Bringing that topic of Soteria again, even if Albert put an end to it in his mind, it was still hard and heart choking. He decided to say nothing this time although Vincent understood what was going on in his young friend's mind. He didn't wait for him to remark on his words and went on:
"He may have become now cold and isolated but regardless to this; there was that time when you could see him smiling and happy."
Albert looked at Vincent seeing what was hidden behind his words, was he trying to fix Alex's image in his eyes? But the sentence he added after these words revealed a whole different matter:
"I can tell you this as an old friend of his."
Somehow, Albert was not all that surprised as he had had a hunch regarding their relation, witnessing how the two of them acted some times, as if communicating passively. He said looking down at the water around the ship:
" I thought so... you always defend his behaviors."
"You're right. I still have this habit in me. Alex and I used to be friends sometimes ago."
Albert was eager to hear the story, the word "used to" and the echo of solemn reminiscence it left indicated this friendship was no more. Albert was seeking salvation by adding a new black page to that man's profile in his mind and he found himself saying:
"He betrayed you, didn't he? I know this!"
Albert held his tongue regretting what he had just uttered mindlessly. His recklessness was only unstoppable when it came to that man yet Vincent wasn't bothered, he was an understanding man. He smiled at Albert's ashamed face relieving his unease. He started with a sigh intending to tell the young man his story with Alex:
"The stupid pride and rivalry between the kingdom's various noble families separated us. Many contests were held between them, all wishing to prove themselves the best family, and Alex's father was that type of men. He pushed his son to these contests to earn himself, not his son, an outstanding reputation. Day after another, we found ourselves competing and facing each other, our fathers even decided to hold a duel between us since our families were both known as the best in swordsmanship. I think it was that day when it became difficult to remain friends. Although he hated these things, his inborn talent didn't allow him to accept defeat or feign loss. He fought that day as if he never knew me but I don't blame him."
It was the first time Albert felt sadness in older friend's words. The latter continued:
"I can't say Alex was a talkative and cheery person in the past, he was the same as now but you could see him as I described earlier just when we were together alone, or when he was with her."
Albert turned at the talking man, by "her" he was probably referring to Claudine, Alex's dead fiancé.
"Even her, she could be only seen smiling while leaning on his arm and walking in her garden. She chose him and I respected her choice. I was content by merely watching them together from afar. I was truly happy for her..."
There was a smile of content drawn on his face but a cloud of pain shading his beautiful calm eyes. Albert looked despondently at him. Although he didn't see it, he was certain that there was a locked tear there. He wanted to ease things for him as he had always done for him but he didn't know how to do it, it was difficult because all what he could do was backbiting Alex and it'd be of no use but again, it was Vincent who pulled the troubled man away. He said getting out an old piece of paper from his pocket:
"Please, don't be hard on him. Here, I want you to have this."
Albert took the paper and unfolded it; it was a child painting that Albert couldn't clearly understand. Vincent explained pointing at the paper:
"We had a dream, to see what lays beyond the Wilshire's land and refute all the saying about it being standing proudly at the edge of the world, there where ships sink and turn to wreck. We even drew this imagining what would it be like beyond their shores but it wasn't meant to be, at least, not together but I know you can do it. I want you to keep it and write what really lies there."
Vincent finished his talk with a warm smile, he pressed on Albert's hands that were holding the paper strongly then went back to his room. Albert looked at the paper... he had also made one like the one in his hands but he had ripped apart in his darkening heart. He closed his eyes and put that paper on his heart bringing together the shattered fragments of his dream. There was once a destination for him, he had possessed much higher star to make a wish upon but he now, he was afraid of seeking it but now he was owing a debt and an atonement for the entire crew of the ship and he was not going to let another one of them die in vain.