Let 'Em Go

[vale grove]

[five-part vignette]

A faint stirring of winter wind swept through Leafiara's rain-soaked clothes as she stood leaning over the edge of her crow's nest, warmed only by the mana flowing through her armor. The cold never deterred her from the primal simplicity of skirts and sundresses, even when the season demanded at least accompanying stockings. She took the chill as a reminder that she was alive and a reminder that she could die.

Many acted as if no one could die.

Hardly any starlight seen
A perfect time for sailing
On the last frontier that's free```
Lightning flashed on the horizon and she leapt down to the main deck, briefly catching a rope to slow her descent, then strode with purpose toward the ship's helm.
```A rougher storm will soon come bearing down on Darkstone Bay
Nothing's new with the classic Imperial way```
She gripped the wheel and turned hard to ride the currents toward Icemule, a town that would make a better home for her ship--a town more independent than the Landing would ever be again with the Turamzyrrian Empire at its doorstep.
```"Respect their law"?
"Respect their rules"?
Complacent words from self-destructive fools
Standing idly by, then hundreds die
And they wonder why?```

Her course set into the eye of the storm, Leafi pulled the wheel back to a neutral position and stared forward into the dark, nebulous horizon. Codes, niceties, oaths, civility, formality--all worthless. A bubble of folly, manners, and blind hope detaching everyone from reality.

Dennet, Naimorai, Quinshon, Octaven, Praxopius, Vlashandra, Malluch, the blood cult, Amos: the Landing's enemies were the same story in an endless loop.

First step, the town's supposed defenders exercise caution and give benefit of the doubt. Second step, the enemy exploits their idealism to be proactive and maneuver in deep, then kills a slew of people. Third step, "heroes" manage to end the scheme in a victory for "justice," but only for those fortunate enough to have survived their negligence.

The newest enemies would be at least two out of Elidal, Enisius, and Sablo. Only a citizen uprising could save the Landing now, if anything at all could, but Leafi had never seen the town that Stormyrain once knew. The Captain's words in 5117 had never left her. Don't underestimate the town that rose up to defend itself from Walkar and his cursed armor.

But five and a half years had passed since that tableside discussion--and longer still since Walkar's days. It was time to face the truth: that Landing was gone.

And it was time to face another truth: the current one would soon be gone too.

And it was time to face a third truth:

Never more will I compromise
When things turn, they'll all burn
With their posturing and lies

The shattered shields of their failed ideals
Can't stop their demise```
...she no longer cared.

The billowing sails of a man o' war appeared in the distance and it turned toward Leafiara's own ship, cutting sharply through the black waters. She likewise steered toward it. At least the ocean still held promise. Here she still had a life to live.

Makes social codes seem small
And concerns that once constrained me
Won't cross my mind at all

No holding back what I can do
Live brave and free, live pure and true
I leave their game of "dark" and "light"
It's black and white```
Deafening cannon fire from the enemy ship pierced the ambient rain as the vessels neared one another. The first two cannonballs went wide, sending water flying, but the next several salvos landed hard, rocking the Fearless Phoenix's Song and hurling Leafiara to the ground. She careened into the mast, driving the chain links of her zelnorn tunic hard into her upper back, barely blunted by the thin protection of her sundress underneath.

Yet she only grinned as she rose to her feet. The man o' war drew close and shouts from the enemy crew boomed through the air as they readied to board. She liked bringing friends, Twilight Hall, or the Drakes Vanguard, but tonight she was alone and sometimes she liked that even more. One against an army was the best time to let go.

Leafi removed her sandals and stockings, then tossed them into the captain's quarters, fully welcoming the cold to drive her survival instincts for the coming battle. Better to be barefoot in the winter rain than a goody two-shoes in the slow boiling waters of Wehnimer's.
```Now I see, that's not me
Never more will I hesitate
Won't conceal what I feel
Only I decide my fate

My life, my tale,
And my will prevail
Let the storm rage on!```

The ships nearly crashed into one another as they neared close enough for boarding. Another run of shouting rang through the air and she kicked her gangplank over, drawing on the pain to rile herself into focus as she rushed into the fray.

They sent a mere three pirates at first, probably their newest recruits eager to prove themselves--and utterly failing as they surrounded her in a haphazard formation with too many holes for any veteran to list off. Of course, if it wasn't rookies, it would be scouts. That was how pirates usually operated, throwing away lives. She was familiar with many people like that.

Beautifully ironic.

Her eyes gleamed with the thrill of battle as she wove mana into her song, channeling Tilamaire's power to overwhelm the pirates with sheer disruptive force carried through the unavoidable sound waves.
My magic warps the air as pirate guts explode
With her opening attack delivered, she transitioned seamlessly from song to dance. The brilliant white eonake of her warblade and slasher glinted in the dim light as she cut throats, severed limbs, and pierced eyes. This was truth. This was reality. Visceral. Raw.

And as my blades strike true, I know my way at last
I'm never looking back
Appeasement is the past!```