Further Beyond: Ascension

Lunesday, 16th of Julius, 470th Year of the Fifth Era

A week was needed for Josias and his companions to prepare themselves for their great journey. Some of his companions had an easier time than others receiving the permission and blessings of their elders to embark upon this 'mangaranto' (lit.: 'wandering') with him.

Sadrach had the easiest time convincing his father and their grandfather to allow him to travel. At that point it was a tradition for the Hutabaru men to embark on a far off journey. The only thing his father warned him of was to not die and not come back with a bastard child. Though, that last part was threatened upon him by Johannes and Helena's father.

Speaking of which, Johannes too was begrudgingly allowed by his father to travel along with the rest of his companions with the duty of protecting his sister Helena. His own message to Johannes was similar to that of Sadrach's. Don't die and make sure to come back some day and to make him proud.

Lords Hasudungan and Mardomu only had special requests for their daughters and that was for them to write home often.

Mateus also surprisingly had an easy time convincing his own father for his quest. It was much more difficult trying to talk Lord Hariara into allowing Arta to come along with her husband to Feldonia. Lord Hariara almost insisted on accompanying the group to Feldonia but was convinced by the other five star warriors that his presence was indispensable to Goria due to the current political situation.

But by far the most difficult person to convince was of course Hesekiel's mother, Josias' aunt Pauli. After a week of being almost as quiet as Hesekiel, she had an animated argument as well as a shouting match with her husband in regards to sending their precious son away to some far off place. It took a firm decision and decree by Elder Rihar and Ompung Ester for his aunt to finally be pacified. Aunt Pauli also insisted on coming along with the group to Feldonia but again the rest of the elders convinced her otherwise.

The most prevalent reason being to keep an eye on her brother Partogi.

Josias' uncle Partogi was currently being held under house arrest inside of his house. A couple of three-star warriors had been assigned to guard the house where Partogi was. Josias' aunt had been allowed to leave with the rest of the Pasaorma clan when the kings had returned to their respective realms a week earlier.

She had tried to fight tooth and nail to be with her husband and the rest of the children but the Gorian council was firm. She was to return with her family back to her home village with her youngest son while the council of Goria deliberated on Partogi's fate.

King Lombutua had wanted to dispute such a one-sided action but with the Halaklands being such a powder keg, he couldn't risk escalating things any more.

Josias' strike to his uncle's mana-cores had severely damaged him. He couldn't utilise his powers as a fifth-star warrior any longer and was depowered to the level of at most the second star. Without proper treatment and rehabilitation, the damage could prove permanent towards his uncle.

It was the day Josias and his companions were to leave the village for the port-town of Aleito under the control of the Hutabaru clan. The archbishop had already chartered two galleys that would take them to the port where they would then be transferred to a larger western vessel. The large western vessel was a merchant ship from the Newlander Republic who's captain and owner was a close trade-contact with the Hutabaru clan.

However, before Josias could set off on his journey, he had a few things he wanted to clear up with his uncle. He hadn't dared to even see the man let alone speak to him since his father's death. But he couldn't avoid him forever.

With that in mind, Josias had gone to visit his uncle's home where he was being held prisoner. Just as he approached the front porch and greeted the two guards, Josias saw Timotheus and Maria along with Johannes coming out of the house. Timotheus had an austere expression but it quickly softened when he saw Josias. Maria's eyes were reddened but they weren't swollen too bad.

"You've all already said your goodbyes?" Josias asked his cousins.

"I was only here to accompany my sister." Timotheus answered "I don't have anything else to say to that man. I don't require the blessings of a heathen kinslayer to embark on our journey to the west."

Josias could only give a wry smile before he placed an understanding hand on Maria's shoulder. She grasped his hand in kind before returning a pained smile.

"How… was he?" Josias asked with a hesitant tone. He still wasn't sure whether or not he had the courage to face the man who murdered his father without devolving into anger. No matter how thankful he was to the friends and family who've supported him the entire way, the wounds on his soul still felt fresh.

"...You can see for yourself." Timotheus answered once more in a more solemn tone.

Josias nodded as he excused himself to come inside the house. Before he entered, Timotheus held his shoulder once more. "I know I don't have any right to say this to you, brother, but my hatred and enmity with my father are my own cross to bear… Please, don't put such a burden upon your shoulders as well."

Josias breathed in before sighing out a long breath. "Pray for me, brother." Josias nodded.

"Forever and always, brother." Timotheus left along with Maria and Johannes.

Signing the cross upon himself, Josias opened the door and entered the house. At the far end of the narrow corridor sat his uncle upon a chair. He had a disheveled appearance and looked like a diseased paddy rat. His hair was clearly unkempt and his eyes had dark bags under them. His cheeks were also more notably sunken.

His outward clothes and appearance were technically clean. Clearly the servants that had been assigned to wash him daily and change his clothes were doing their job. But he still looked haggard. No matter how beautiful and ornate one made a tomb, it didn't hide the fact that inside it were still the rotting bones of the deceased.

His uncle was breathing but he didn't look alive. He was looking around emptily before finally he had locked eyes with Josias.

Josias was prepared to lash out, to scream once more in anger. He was even prepared to perhaps kill his uncle to avenge his father's death. He was anticipating rage and pure hatred. But seeing his uncle like this, it felt underwhelming. What sat in front of him wasn't a demon filled with contempt and hatred. No. What sat before him was a broken man, perhaps more akin to a mongrel pup that had gone astray.

"...Josias?" His uncle said weakly. "Josias…"

Josias stopped in his tracks a few feet away from his uncle. The two of them stared at each other for a while in silence. Their gazes told a million stories. His uncle's eyes were shaking with the weight of a thousand words but nothing came out of his mouth besides his name. Josias kept a steely gaze despite his tumultuous heart.

"Bapauda (uncle). It's been a while." Josias said, doing his damnedest to maintain a semblance of cordiality.

"...It has." His uncle replied weakly.

The two went silent for another short moment before Josias continued.

"I'm sure the others have told you about our journey…"

"They have."

Another beat, another awkward silence. Finally Josias sighed before he spoke again.

"Do you have nothing else to say, bapauda?" Josias asked but his uncle only shook his head weakly.

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"...What more can I say? Will any of my words even mean anything to you?"

Josias didn't answer him back. His uncle was right. All that could be said had been said and there was nothing he could do to bring his father back anyways. Josias was starting to question what he was doing there anyways.

Eventually, he sighed once more before turning his body around. It was only then did his uncle say one last thing, "Take care of the little ones for me…"

"I will." Josias finally took leave of his uncle.

***

Josias stared at the empty dragonbone throne within the King's Hall of Goria. It had been decided by the elder council that the seat of king will remain vacant until further notice. As it stands now, Goria will be ruled by the council itself, presided over by Elder Rihar and the Archbishop.

He had been called to the royal hall by the elder council because they said they had something to give to him before they would see him off to the ships.

In front of the dragonbone throne was a full suit of blackened steel plate armor. It's a closed helmet carved in the figure of a roaring tiger. Emblazoned upon its cuirass was the red 'Chi-Rho' symbol flanked by the symbols of 'alpha' and 'omega'. It was his grandfather's armor.

"You have your grandfather's stature, Josias." Archbishop Ludwig said as he presented the armor to Josias. "He never explicitly said it, but it's clear that he had wanted to give it to you. I only hope you would do the armor justice. But above that, I pray that you may find peace."

Josias nodded. That was something he had hoped for as well.

***

At the jetties of Goria's river port, Serena had been overseeing the loading of all the cargo they were to bring with them. In total there would be thirteen people headed for the western continent. Besides her husband, his companions, and their partners, the elder council had chosen three other people to send along with them. The young Reverends Nalom Rapmasari and Timotheus Sigumogo as well as the Lady Ruth Hutabaru.

Their families had already been waiting by the docks since a few hours ago to see them off. The red sun was already beginning to set in the west. Serena sat upon one of the crates while holding onto Tiur who sat next to her and Tigor who was playing with a wooden toy tiger on her lap.

The last of the cargo was being hauled into the galley. They were filled with all manners of things starting from supplies, their personal items, even the wealth of coins they had. On the way they would have to go to some of the northern Newlander ports to exchange their currency with that of Feldonia's.

It was a large move and Serena could only wonder whether or not her uncle could even accommodate all of that. Maybe once they reached Feldonia, they could sell off a few of their more non-essential items as 'exotic goods'.

It was a terrifying thing, travelling to an entirely foreign kingdom upon an alien continent. Yet, beneath the fear and uncertainty, Serena could also feel an unprecedented sense of wonder and excitement. She would finally be living out one of her dreams to visit the lands of the western continent. There was so much she wanted to discover, she didn't even think it was possible to list out all the things she wanted to do.

All of those stories of western kingdoms, cities, princesses, knights, that her father would always tell her growing up. And she was about to see them for herself… It would've been more perfect if her father would be coming with her.

As she thought that, a sense of guilt crept up within her heart. Was it actually right? Travelling like this and leaving her sick father behind? Who would care for him and his daily needs were she not there? Who would cook his food? Remind him to rest…

With all these thoughts in her mind, Serena didn't notice the small hands that were holding her cheek. She was slightly startled when she noticed little Tiur looking at her with a concerned gaze.

"Is kak Sere okay? You look sad…" the little girl said with a furrowed brow "...Did I do something bad again? Like what kak Juli said about me being bad… Is that why you're sad?"

Serena's heart felt like it was being tugged as she saw a girl as young as Tiur blaming herself for things that were out of her control. Serena immediately pulled the girl close to her before planting a few kisses on her cheek.

"You are the sweetest little girl I know, my sweetie Tiur. Like your name, you are a light in my life that shines even brighter than the stars." Serena smiled as she lightly tapped the little girl's nose with her finger causing Tiur to laugh.

"That tickles! Hahahah…"

"Don't you ever let it cross your mind that you're a bad girl or that bad things are happening because of you. You are a precious child of God and beside that, you are my precious little sister. Don't you ever forget that, okay?"

"...Okay."

"Now give your big sister a kiss." Serena presented the little girl with her cheek to which a small peck was planted. Serena laughed before kissing the girl's head once more. It was then did she finally see her husband and father approaching from afar. Behind them, most of the other elders and councillors were also there to see them all off.

It was going to be the last time she would see her father in a while, yet the smile on his old face as he saw her told her everything she needed to know. As if he was telling her that everything was going to be alright.

As her father approached her, Serena steeled herself as he brought her into his embrace.

"Stay safe, mein Engel." Her father said to her ear as he hugged her. "I can only pray that the Lord keeps you as He had promised to us all. Never forget to pray, and most especially pray for me as I pray for you and your husband."

"Always, papa." Serena nodded. "And you too, papa! Don't forget to take your medicine and please for the love of all things holy, do not push yourself… I promise I'll be back and when I do come back, I want to see you here again waiting for me, papa."

"If the Lord wills it, so shall it be, daughter." Her father said with a small sigh and a cough.

"I'm being serious, papa." Serena puffed up her cheeks as she pouted "...I won't forgive you if you ever decide to pass on before seeing at least one of my descendants! Hmm, actually make that four."

"Pffft, you don't know what you're asking for, daughter."

"I do know what I'm asking for. I want you to be in good health and to be filled with joy."

"The Lord is kind, because I can scarcely think of a time in my life when I am happier than this moment. To see my daughter fulfill one of her dreams is enough for me. You have a husband who loves you and you have your future in front of you… You make me feel fulfilled"

Serena could sense tears about to appear from her eyes, but for once, these weren't tears of sorrow. She gave her father another warm embrace.

"Ich liebe dich, Papa!" Serena said.

"Ich liebe dich auch, meine kostbarer Engel." Her father said.

***

Josias gave his mother a final embrace upon the docks of Goria. She was sobbing her heart out but she did not say anything to stop him. All she did was remind him to pray and tell him to write to her often.

He then turned to his younger brother Jakobus and gave him a warm embrace.

"...You are much stronger than me Jakob." Josias said as he held his brother "You are now the man of the house and your job is to protect mother and our little siblings… And I just want to thank you so much… for being the pillar of strength that our family needed when I couldn't be that."

Jakobus nodded and his eyes were also beginning to moisten, but he toughened himself up as he stood there stoically. Even in this situation he was doing his best to appear strong.

"...Stay safe, abang."

"That I will, anggi."

Josias then turned to his two youngest siblings, Julia and Janus.

"Don't be a bother and listen to your abang Jakob and to mother when I'm not here, okay?"

The two children nodded.

"And always know that your abang here loves you two always."

As Josias released them from his embrace, all of a sudden, Julia began running towards Tiur. She quickly hugged the smaller girl and started crying. "I'm sorry that I called you bad, Tiur. I was the one being bad…"

Tiur had a look of surprise on her little face but eventually she returned Julia's hug. It was an adorable thing seeing the two children reconcile. Why couldn't it be as simple as that between adults?

With all of his goodbyes in order as well as that of his companions, Josias' father-in-law led everyone in a final prayer to send them off on their journey. Josias boarded one of the galleys along with his wife and two young cousins followed by his companions.

The captain of the ship made a few final calls before the crew lifted anchors and released the ropes binding the ship to the dock. As the crew began rowing the galleys to leave the port, the sails were unfurled in order to catch the wind.

Josias and Serena kept on waving their hands towards their family as the view of them became smaller and smaller. Once Goria was no longer in sight, Josias and Serena came up to the helm of the ship as they cast their gaze forward towards the far horizon of the Arus river.

Josias put his arm around Serena as he felt the breeze on his face. As it was with the winding and turning flow of the river, so too did his life still feel like there was still much to do. He had yet to have the strength to bring the people that would dare work against his realm to heel, but all things had its process.

All he could do for now was plan his steps for the future. With his loved ones at his side, he made a promise to himself. He would set things right and properly claim the throne. If God was on his side, who could be against him?

One day he would return. And on that day, the Halaklands would be in for a rude awakening.