A Drifting Boat, A Lonely Granddaughter

 

 

 

In the long sea of New Earth, larger than ever and yet still not forming even 40% of the planet's surface.

 

Swish swish swish swish...

The waters were seemingly calm, like a lake, barely moving. But if a cruiser were to get in here, they would be going at a speed of about 150 knots, almost 280 kph that could make even the advanced warships of the Peaceful Rain Corporation bite the dust. A boat, within all this so expanse and seemingly boundless sea, of seemingly 8 meters in length and 3 meters in width; drifted on and on through the waters.

Though it was all calm, there was a lot of air going around, be it right on top of the water to tens of kilometers in the air above it, it was all filled with seemingly strong, gushing wind but that was so harmless, a mere boat made of wood was completely unscathed even in the times that storms raised waves of kilometers-long monstrosities.

Right now, as the boat drifted, it had been only a few years after the beginning of the Lineage Era. The world was still in deep memory of the Founding Clans, and their subsequent fall more than anything. History books were already talking of the Yuns as the most perverse, despicable and cowardly repugnant humans to ever exist, leading all the horror in their world to exist in the first place.

And all of that, for what exactly? To overpower the Crestfallens, to rise in power and become what nobody else had the chance to but could now do so; gods!

However, the Crestfallens uncaringly left the world, and afterwards, what was left was a ‘minuscule’ group of a destined to fall-ish young man. But that young man’s Peaceful Rain Corporation not only ended up being the ones declaring war on all ‘Founding’ still remaining in this world, they won it as well!

If that wasn’t enough enough, then the fact that the deciding matters of the real world to be handled in the virtual world of Rising Essence also fell into the hands of the very same young man should be more than enough to elicit all readers of the history books to understand what kind of doom the ‘bad side’ must’ve felt in their last times existing.

As a result, 3 ‘Founding’ Clans were exterminated, leaving only some remnants here and there to work for the Peaceful Rain Corporation and for them only. The entire virtual world of Rising Essence was dominated by that young man…along the entire Human Civilization of New Earth.

Yet, nobody ever talked again about the parents of such a prodigal son, and it wasn’t without a cause or a cute, simple and mere coincidence. Were it not for the Peaceful Rain Corporation ‘checking’ the new history books, expos and meetings; it might’ve been all different.

Despite that, it was indeed known of the Chief of the Peaceful Rain Corporation’s incestuous marriage and love with his little sister, one that somehow ended up being passed as news and not debated as much as one would think they could have been so.

Pew. Vrrr-Prr.

As the boat drifted at insane speeds, a sound came from so deep within the ocean, an event that should’ve been impossible to ever occur with how deep the ocean was and with the laws of the world not being  joking matter. However, there was first that sound akin to a tiny explosion of the smallest, tiniest of things going ‘kabum’.

Tap, tap, taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptap…

And just as the second sound came to be like that of all laws bending and being forcefully yet naturally obeyed at a being's will, Yun Beishang’s wholly naked body suddenly appeared on the helm of that boat. Behind him, many smaller figures appeared, also totally naked and landing on the rest of the boat, being extra careful not to step on the bones on the boat that were so close to each other already.

Behind Yun Beishang to his left, Katia’s naked body appeared, her small frame looking almost dwarf-like compared to Yun Beishang’s, but it was only petite in reality. As she glanced at the floor of the boat, and those remains of what seemed to be 2 skeletons, she then glanced around at the boundless, rapidly moving calm ocean.

“...What are you gonna do?” After looking around a bit, smelling a saltiness in the air she hadn’t had the chance to smell for so long in a real world, Katia placed her right hand on his left shoulder, asking him straightforwardly as she noticed that Yun Beishang kept looking on and on at the bones.

The pair of skeletons’ remains were as if hugging with each other, their fingertips were all in contact with each other, and to which they might’ve been in contact with the other’s skin; at all times. Without knowing it, Yun Beishang slowly entered into his brand new capabilities, as his very own blood resonated too.

…A young looking, heavily beautiful woman and a young looking handsome man.

In a night so cold, hungry, without food and with just their bare bodies as they had smartly thrown off their clothes. Even with all of that, it wasn’t enough to steal the gazes they exchanged as they looked on and on at each other, smiles appearing from time to time to stay for several minutes and their hearts slowly beating but still ever so strongly.

Days passed, they only moved a little every now and then, changing the position of their heads from time to time and only their heads; because they only needed that much movement while waiting.

Weeks went by, they would occasionally caress each other’s cheeks, sending shivers of actual sensations and…touch to one another. Always retaining their gaze fixed on the other, the young looking woman smiled so beautifully and at ease a few times, each time enamoring the young looking man yet again and even more for that matter.

The young man’s eyes were enough for the young woman, as she felt her skin still existing, while both of their skin was also beginning to show signs of malnutrition.

Months went by, their bones were now more visible, as if they had been held captive and barely allowed any food, let alone enough water to keep a semi-healthy body condition. But their gazes still remained that loving towards the other’s.

Years, several years passed. Their bodies were no longer able to be moved on their own, their hair didn’t fall off but became completely grayed out, with some white touch and even some obscure color still remaining on their hair. Eyebrows, eyelashes and their lips, eyelids, ears and skin become paler and less lifeless with the passing of each slow year.

When just 11 years had gone by, the young looking woman, with shriveled skin and her eyelids barely moving while her eyeballs seemed waterless as well, her head suddenly knocked against the boat’s bilge. The sound made the eyes of the young looking man slowly end up changing in the course of 2 seconds, nothing compared to the 11 years  they’ve been here.

His face, as if becoming alive, suddenly twisted with his lips enlarging more than possible, cracking open his dried skin as it didn’t even streamed out blood right away as it should’ve been. After 2 minutes, 10 seconds and 40 milliseconds of crying so dryly it hurt to just watch; he also fell on the boat without any remorse, only the pain of losing his wife right in front of his eyes covering him fully.

A year and some months passed; they became bones, but their bones weren’t eaten away by time, nor drifted into the wind and then fell into the ocean or even merely always floating within the endless sky. Instead, the bones remained right there, on top of the boat, resting still with their love attaching their bones to one another’s.

“...” Katia became silent, her face becoming sour while she threatened to spill out tears, something she didn’t even think of ever going through again even as she was fully reborn. Yun Beishang was already streaming down his tears as he slowly knelt before the bones, before his parents.

“Dad… Father…Daddy…” Everyone called out to their creator, dad and master even; the little kids could feel the sadness in him…but also all of his regrets washing away. He was now breathing, he was that alive even after being reborn as well…for what could be considered his third rebirth for that matter.

While his eyes hurt and his vision blurred out, Yun Beishang moved his body in that kneeling position and, one by one, picked up their remains; each bone at a time.

Tap, tap, tap…swish swish swish…

Walking towards the helm once again, with his arms embracing his parents’ remains… Yun Beishang let go of them as they noiselessly fell onto the water, his eyes looking as if, once upon a time, he would've been deadly envious of them - as they fell and became nonexistent the next second, diving so deep they could no longer be caught back up again.

Tap.

The wind surged about yet, the boat was completely immobile as if it wasn’t going through such dangerous speed on the ocean. But at this moment, with his back being given to the ocean and facing his new children made from nothing and his wife, the world seemed to come to a stop as Yun Beishang slowly turned back around once more.

“...” After just 3 seconds of thinking while Katia looked up at him and blinked once her gorgeous translucent, sparkling greeny-azure eyes with a dark-like abyss bottom as her pupils at him as well, while his children blinked several times in a flurry towards him and his strong back that was presented to them.

‘I don’t know what things you did and you don’t know of…’ Yun Beishang thought, his face serene but also sternly serious as he walked to the edge of the boat and looked exactly at where he threw the bones, despite that they should’ve been left behind long ago according to the most obvious common sense. Ending his thoughts towards someone as he ‘looked’ into someone else, ‘But I sure as hell am not rejecting it.’

Saying so, his right hand and left hand materialized an ever so pure, blinding white energy mass that condensed into whip-like shaped substances, just before plunging into the water and the setting sun suddenly speeding up in allowing the dark night to come; warmer and ever so more caring than ever.

Phuwoshaaaaaaa~~~!

Suddenly, as everyone looked at where Yun Beishang ‘injected’ his hands and whole wrists to, whereas the water he went through with his limbs became like semi-jelly, semi-solid and semi-liquid; a ginormous, circular blurry white lotus was formed. Surrounding not them as the core of the lotus but the place where Yun Beishang had penetrated through the water.

The entire ocean suddenly turned into the deepest, colorless, darkest of blues; the darkest of all sadness.

But while the entire ocean turned like so, the entire white lotus remained untouched and brightly lit, as if not even darkness itself could ever hope to consume its existence and whole self; ever.

Plop, plop.

Softly, as if a murmur from a parent in their sleep while hugging their blood, flesh and love; a pair of tiny bodies came out of the water along with Yun Beishang’s palms holding them dearly, shaking and…sobbingly.

“Haah…” Even Katia gasped at the sight, her husband already having an ugly face as he held, so endearingly, at the tiny pair of baby bodies in his very own hands. Once again, his- that blood that formed him resonated.

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

 

New Earth, 37th year of the Lineage Era. Silent Vanity Region’s capital, Schadenfreude Polar City. Within the Tron Clan’s commemorative burial palaces’ territory.

 

“It’s him, hush and bow silently, let the old Master relax.” - “Chief, it is an honor for you to come.” - “Chief, thank you for coming…thank you.” - “... … …” Not many spoke as they saw Yun Beishang walk through the road leading to the central mausoleum, one that wasn’t that large, just slightly larger than all the others and one that didn’t have any kind of special decoration and was just as stall as any other around.

And in return, Yun Beishang ignored them all, only looking at them with his naked eyes, his gaze remaining more than an iota of an instant on those silently looking up at him, pained but silently grateful of his visit. This was the day, after all, and he was here, after all…

Tap, tap, tap. Step~~, step~~, step~~. Step~~, step.

Walking into the slightly larger mausoleum, Yun Beishang saw to his left and right, images and names of the many Clan Heads and Grand Elders of the Founding Tron Clan. Each of them, Yun Beishang knew of and memorized every single detail of their lives written by hand by a few historians and lifelong fans of such.

His gaze was expressionless but not cold nor indifferent as it went through all the names and images, this mausoleum was far from empty, but it seemed like it wouldn’t be filled with anymore of the same rank. Even others that were classified as side branch members of the Clan could be allowed to rest in here, in any form, if they wanted.

No one would be lonely, in that way, at the very last.

Arriving behind a young woman, so pretty yet strong yet looking fragile to no end. Yun Beishang placed his right palm on her left shoulder for a second before removing it. He then made another half a step forwards with both his feet to gaze at the dying old fart of Tron Palas, on a sick bed as he enjoyed the ceiling of the square and simple mausoleum.

“Ah, Yun Beishang, you boy…” His voice was hoarser than ever, besides being still innocently strict and stern as always, not changing to gentleness nor softness when at his dying hour. Yun Beishang looked down, and hearing his words, tilted his head to the left. Tron Palas looked at him with his extremely tired eyes looking at him with his utmost. “Those brats didn’t come?”

“Hmph,” Yun Beishang snorted cheerily, grinning a bit as he spoke lightly, “They are finishing up preparing someone’s tomb.”

“Tsk, too guilt-ridden to come see their senior?” Tron Palas complained, Yun Beishang merely responded after pushing his lips in a slight jump, “More like they are busy having so many grandchildren to spend time with.”

“..:” Tron Palas became silent, defeated again by Yun Beishang’s deathly casualness. After a while, just as the world seemed to end, he pointed with his crooked, twisted and naturally bent right index finger at his granddaughter. “I know…she doesn’t feel love…nor has any…desire …needs. And that, with your family’s rule…you cannot have children with those who aren’t yours…”

“But I…wish…for you to…grant my…my…my Little Piria…even if it is…wi…th…artificial insemination… She…cannot be forever alone…she’s just…too young to understand… What life really…means. And, you, y-yo- you are…a great teacher, for that…Yun Beishang.”

Fwees~~, tap.

“Haehp!” Tron Piria’s cute, sweet and adorable face immediately wrinkled, while Yun Beishang on the other hand caught Tron Palas’s right hand falling and hitting heavily against his own sickbed. That alone might’ve directly broken his entire right side of his body after all.

After doing that, Yun Beishang placed the right arm of the deceased old grandpa under the blankets, while a certain ‘Little Piria’ began calming herself down with great aptitude. Standing up after caressing her grandpa’s cheeks, her fingertips stained a bit with her tears, she then stood up after gazing at him with her nape empty, fresh and way too light-feeling.

“Grandpa would’ve wanted to be buried along with your Grandparents, that is how he would’ve wanted it.” Turning around, she said to Yun Beishang who in return looked at her halfway through her words. Yun Beishang nodded a tiny bit, his lips adding in a low, semi-consoling tone that he knew was not needed. “I know, I’ve already put people to work on it.. You can come look if you want to as well.”

“No, thanks.” Saying that, Tron Piria began walking away, towards the exit from where Yun Beishang came from while he himself remained on the spot and looked a bit upwards into the mausoleum ceiling and wall on his front.

Step, step, step, step…

“Ah, though I know Grandpa said otherwise,” just as Yun Beishang was wondering why the steps stopped so soon, he heard Little- no, Tron Piria start talking towards him aloud. Her voice clearly emotionless but, a hint of young ladiness couldn’t be concealed effectively, “I will dictate how I become pregnant, and since I am Grandpa’s remaining blood and only hope, it will be in the most natural of ways.”

“Only, when I say so and only then. So don’t fail me when the time comes for you to impregnate me, remember that well, Yun Beishang.” Saying so, Tron Piria left at last, all of the Tron Clan’s clansmen following her right away and subserviently with hints of fear on their faces, like but also unlike ants controlled by mind and chemicals.

“...You’ve brought up quite the tsun tsun, old pal.” Yun Beishang looked with upturned eyes around, tilting his head, inclining it to the left and right multiple times while pursing his lips, wrinkling his chin as he hid his hands in his pockets. Stepping backwards, Yun Beishang said as his hands went free from his pockets after some seconds of silence, “Have a nice rest.”

Yun Beishang turned around, his back given to the mausoleum and the resting Clan Heads and Grand Elders, and after he came out, he looked around at the entire burial grounds of his place. Each mausoleum looked like a humble palace, and the one whose entrance was right on his back and he had just come out from was a bit larger.

For a moment…for some moments; he felt as if he was walking among a myriad of shadows, those that were looking at him, saluting and bidding goodbye while thanking him as well.

Over his left shoulder, on his back, a young but old shadow of an old man could’ve been seen, he looked up at Yun Beishang before his entire image suddenly turned how he was just about 55 years ago, playing with a little girl, an infant whose emotions were only showing when she played with grandpa.

“Sigh…” Yun Beishang sighed before noiselessly disappearing, not a noise nor a ripple in the tiniest measurements of space, with the shadows vanishing like smoke with strong winds passing through. The old grandpa playing with a little infant naturally vanished away…only…the little girl instead grew up, and looked at his back. That strong, seemingly comfy back.

It was like looking at her grandfather, but different, as if she could…simply lie on it forever.

 

…