Serena was running as fast and far as she could from the sound of erupting water and destroying cannons looking for Albert and the two girls. To her deep dismay, she could not but leave the dead man behind, hoping his body would be retrieved later. Unbeknownst to her, she took the same path Albert and Alice had taken to escape the flowing water leaving Vincent's body first to be blessed by it holiness then to be washed by it wrath. She kept running until she arrived at some huge collapsed rocks. She found the whole in which Alice had fallen and carefully slid down, not without bruises and scratches paying them no mind. A hole from which light streamed serenely, untainted by the smoke of fire and war welcomed her eyes and there, there was someone kneeling down beside another lying body.
"Albert! Albert!"
She rushed waving happily, but the royal officer didn't move. Upon a second surveying of the scene she stopped when she saw Alice's body laid down, was she unconscious or...?
"What happened here Albert? Is Alice alright?"
Albert did not answer, because he himself did not know. He was holding her hand as if he was the one holding to the last thread of his life. Serena did not press him, she looked around but found no trace of Princess Selene.
" Where's her highness?"
She asked in confusion, dread adding to the weight of sadness. Albert answered solemnly.
"I'll tell you later... you came all this way on your own?"
Albert asked in surprise. Serena's face darkened as she stumbled upon her words.
"No, I came with Sir Vincent..."
He looked around her but saw no one so he asked about his friend's whereabouts. The girl bowed her head with mourning eyes as words slowly slipped from her lips:
"He protected... he wanted to protect..."
She didn't need to go on, the boy understood everything immediately. He closed eyes as he tightened his hold on the other unconscious girl. There was still so much he wanted to share with his friend, but it was not meant to be. Not even the promising sun shedding her light gently upon them could lessen or take their grieve away, never mind granting a simple wish.
"What's going on now, Serena?"
Albert asked her trying to digress and lead his mind away from the bleak events that befell them in the span of a single day or two.
"The upper hand is for the Royal fleet and the Amphitrite; I bet the Wilshire's fleet is almost all destroyed as we speak now..."
The cannons interrupted them, they were louder than before, signaling the royal fleet approach from the shores. Albert remarked:
"I see they still want to destroy this place... even after we have secured the spring."
"After seeing the water flooding from the cave, I'm sure Howard won't let them destroy it... even if he has to face them in battle..."
"They most likely target the palace then..."
Albert thought loudly, and Serena nodded in agreement before the realization came to her mind.
"But the captain is still on the island ... where could he be?"
"At the palace with that woman, where else would she hold him..."
Albert replied automatically without giving it much thought, the current situation they were facing overtaking his thinking but terror was flashing in Serena eyes as she stared at him, but Albert was busy checking on the unconscious Alice, making sure he could still feel her feeble breaths on his cheek and hand. Serena knew the distress Albert was dealing with at the moment, she understood completely but she still tried her best to collect herself, and say in a composed tone:
"Albert, I carry a message from everyone back on the ship... they hope you would bring their captain back safe...this is my wish too..."
Serena added making Albert look at her, her eyes were tearing with the need to shed or show of these tears. He could see them even if she preventing themselves from falling. Albert sighed casting a glance over Alice, then looking into the new brand light he had just unveiled along the lying girl. He was staring at the new horizon he'd just discovered grasping in his hand the map Vincent gave him, as if asking it for a definite answer. Why should he risk his life for that man? Was it not his wish to kill that woman? Was he the one who chose this path, knowing the demise it would bring to many? So, why should he care for a life that its owner intended to throw for the sake of his revenge? This journey had proved him many times that he was not a copy of his father; a man who would risk his life for anybody. Alex gave him nothing but self-doubts, trouble and confusion, in addition to this, he'd taken his father's life too so why should he save him? The words of the priestess princess echoed in his ears through the silence dominating the newly discovered sea. "You had a great father.". True, he was the same as his father, but that did not mean he could really leave the man behind. Not for Alex's sake, but for his own and his father's. For everyone's who set sail on the Amphitrite on this journey sake. and he can he really leave him behind? Albert looked at the map children had scribbled together, and it awakened something in him. Something the two children had forsaken upon growing up, but he fought not to do the same as he grew up no matter how much he wanted at times to desert but still could not.
"Would you please take care of Alice and try to get her out of this place, Serena?"
The tired eyes brightened with happiness and joy, nodding and promising. Albert added nothing more. Casting on last glance over Alice, he climbed the rocks with great difficulty as Serena watched him hopefully and went up again running. He didn't question his reasons, because if he were to, he'd come across his weakness and selfishness. Hearts are born pure but they are tainted with the circumstances and whims of life but he wanted his heart to remain pure like the sea he loved, like his father loved before him. He was weak, and hated his father for acting as his human nature because he didn't understand it before but now thanks to this journey, thanks to the different people he'd been surrounded with, he does. We're weak, a mere toy played with by the changeable wind of time but if our hearts are strong, if we believe in our dreams, if we trust our intentions, then not even that furious wind can change us. Albert was running without knowing where his feet would lead him to. he followed the sound of cannonballs despite the danger. No clear paths were left, he was climbing and rolling and digging, the sound of the holy water humming in his ears. He noticed some shadows running frantically, leaving empty rifles behind. Their flashy uniform gave hint of their identity as soldiers of the Wilshire, he was not totally disappointed although he preferred to come across friendly faces, to ensure the two girls' safety. As the guards left in hurry, he went in the opposite direction, the one he guessed they had come from, and to his amazement he discovered a secret tunnel engraved enchantingly with old pictures and statues of ancients gods and priests. The island was truly well structured and hid many wonders but her destiny, was like everything else, though great, to fall in demise. Albert walked the tunnel, no time for admiring, and soon found himself at a dead end. He cursed and flailed his arms in frustration. What was he supposed to do now? Even if he were to continue looking around for paths, will he arrive in time to find Alex Alive?! In his swift fit of anger, his hand hit the sculpture of a small goddess, and it moved under the pressure. He focused on the statue and could swear he had seen it somewhere. Then it occurred to him; it was the Amphitrite, saving his life and granting him a wish once more. He pressed on the sculpture again and a secret door opened. It was only few steps ahead of them yet the rumbling caves prevented them for finding it. Soon, Albert found himself in a dark room filled with roofs. It was a wine storage. The bottles containing various aged and fine drinks had already fell shattered spilling their priceless carefully stored drinks. He waded through the empty darkness and decided to take a turn to the left. It was a lucky guess, as the new place he found himself in was filled with small barred chambers; it was a prison of some sort but with no guards. None of the cells were filled, not even soldiers were not there but prisoners as well. He called Alex's name to no avail, receiving in answer the echo to his own calling. Albert sighed almost giving up. If Alex was not held here where would he be? He called one last time as the roof started to give away. When he received the same hollow echo he left quickly, running breathlessly yet still calling as loud as he could through the chaos. He came across some servants and soldiers but none paid him attention or noticed him. Deciding the lower parts of the castle was no longer safe, he went up many stairs, never giving up on his calls turning into pleading shouting for Alex to come around, hoping he will appear miraculously like every time he showed up. He knew there was a time for giving up, the most reasonable thing to do right now was to go back to the two girls and getting them through the secret tunnel instead of leaving them down threatened every second by collapsing caves or flooding water but even the palace was not safe at this point.
"Alex... you bastard just show up already!"
Albert yelled out of hope, as if his frustration would manifest into a spell and bring the man. He did not wish to disappoint anyone on the ship, he wanted to prove that her was a better man, so he had to keep looking. Finally, after god knows how many stairs he had been frantically running and shouting through, he found himself in a familiar place, the corridor that leads to the main hall of the palace where he had met with the Wilshire's head. Albert gripped his sword, hands numb and too exhausted to fight but there was no one in sight. The palace that seemed so vivid and well – organized was almost deserted, everyone fleeing for himself at its fall became a certainty. Fire was engulfing the palace, as it was everywhere else on the island in an unsatisfied hunger that would not stop until it devours every trace of that arrogant family, their pride, their proofs of greatness, their fine arts and grand architecture... everything.
Blazes of fire and black smoke welcomed Albert's eyes, he had to warp himself with his cape to avoid the flames, although it was already half useless, being torn through the tunnels and secret passages he had been tumbling over with Alice. The fumes were scorching, sweat dripped heavily over his forehead, the heat snatching at his body but he did not stop. He rushed to the main hall and barged through the broken door calling for Alex. He stopped for a second, thinking Alex maybe already killed by Iris and if not burnt by the fire. He turned quickly to leave, to find anyone who would be willing to guide him though he was sure no one would be helpful or free to do so, but as he gave the place one last look, curiosity taking a hold on him; was Iris Wilshire still sitting on her throne, was she dead as well? Did she escape? No, she did not give the impression of being such a woman. Through the last look he gave the tumbling chamber painted grey and red, shining with the color of a hyacinth. He spotted a kneeling figure in black as the smoke roaming the room, his head lowered looking intensely at what seemed a whole in the ground. . He did not need to ponder who he was.
"Alex!"
For the first time, the royal officer called the name in excitement but the man he had finally found did not move or hear the call.
"Alex!"
Albert shouted louder as he moved through the collapsing room, time was running out. He reached the captain at last, putting hand on the man's shoulder and shaking him out of his daze without success. H spared him a quick look, he was not injured in anywhere so what's was the matter with him. Albert peered down the hole and held his breath at the sight of dead woman. He gulped and carefully spoke:
"You have done what you have been waiting for for a long time... come on now... everyone is waiting for you on the Amphitrite!"
Albert did not received no response even as he repeated the last part. His
patience quickly dissipated into the raging fumes and he tried to pull the man to his feet.
"I won't let you die like this, not here! Not while everyone entrusted you to me!"
At this declaration Alex finally reacted. He waved the young man's hand away and spoke in his usual calmness, his eyes not leaving the woman's body.
"You fool, why did you come here? Go and save yourself. There is nothing left for you to do."
"What!"
Albert exclaimed in anger; he had been wading through fire and water, going down and up and labyrinth of tunnels until he arrived here just to be dismissed so nonchalantly. It was not a strange thing for Alex's character but he was still infuriated. Exhaustion was taking over his body, the flames and choking air already draining his strength.
"Alex, we have to get out of here, do you want to die?!"
Albert asked indignantly, then he understood as the man's eyes were still fixed, as if by a spell, on the dead corpse slowly devoured by the fire, even the scent of roses was fading into the thick brimstone smoke. He was planning on dying alongside the woman, as he had nothing else to do or seek any longer.
"What about your ship? Your crew? The new sea that we have discovered!"
"There is nothing more for me to do. It is over."
Albert was stunned at these words coming out of the most famous captain. After his finance death, he could believe in nothing anymore, only his revenge and now that it was executed, there was no reason for him to go on. Albert could not believe this, even with the strong conviction these words were uttered with. There is still so much more to be seen and lived for. Alex's wish had come true, but it did not bring him any satisfaction. That was evident, but it did not mean that Albert was willing to let be do as he pleases. He was sick of that. Albert grasped Alex once again, more powerfully, resolved to drag the man to safety if he had to, as he muttered, starting to suffocate by the sulfur air.
"This is not the man my father had saved! I will not allow you to die for your stupid reasons! Everyone is waiting for you! I'll revive your dead faith in the sea even if had to toss you out of the window!!"
The room started to give away totally into the fire by this time, pillars started to collapse, the walls cracked and crumbled, the furniture was already eaten up by the fire, the scattered red petals burnt into black. Alex was adamant to greet his demise in this hall but Albert was the same about not letting him die, exclaiming in retaliation:
"Idiot, I will not let you change me then die!"
Strongly, to Alex's surprise, he grasped the captain's arm and with all the might he could muster, forgetting about the fire and the smothering air. Being exposed to the fire and denied fresh air for a long time, Alex's body was weaker at that moment, allowing Albert to howl him up to the man's astonishment, Albert himself was quite amazed by this display of strength. Alex did not try to fight this time, realizing Albert would not give up, and he refused to carry the burden of another death. He had carried enough. Albert looked around for an exit, the window out of question as the height alone would crush them down the water. He looked amidst the flames but then the entire room collapsed altogether as if sealing the tomb of her dead mistress.