The sound of water crashing against the hull filled Tucker's ears. Waves upon waves tore against the surface of the ocean, desperately trying to pull the currents back into their embrace. The boards groaned with each sway of the ship, and the air reeked of salt. He could feel the ship violently rock back and forth like a chaotic rhythm that saw no end.

In his hand, Tucker held a small silver pocket watch that had lost its shine. The trinket bearing the crest of a hearth resting in a wreath had faded from its time in the bastion, but not enough to erase the symbol of hope his men believed in. It was nearly half past midnight, only a few more minutes until the start of their operation. Each one of them was wearing custom equipment that was selected just for this mission.

They were equipped with the best possible gear for the grueling task ahead. The green cloaks and insignias of the watchmen were replaced with tight, pitch-black garments built for stealth at sea. Their armor, etched with faint runes that shimmered like the waves, would guide them through the dark waters below, enhancing their movements. While their metallic helms, forged with broad brims and masklike visors, would allow them to breathe where no man should. Tucker gazed at the owl's face carved into the cold, black iron with eyes filled with unease.

"Ya nervous, Tucker?" Alex asked.

Tucker looked up as the cabin lurched again. "Would be lying if I said I wasn't."

"Heh." Ray crooked a grin as the moonlight flashed across his face. "Never thought I'd see my fearless commander like this."

"It was bound to happen eventually," Tucker said. "Can't always weather the storm."

Alex slowly nodded. "Is it cause of Adira?"

Tucker slowly exhaled as he leaned back against the wooden boards of the cabin. The light from the lantern had long faded, leaving only the dark, and the muted thrum of the sea. Not a word escaped the small room, yet the hammering of steps continued to echo through the ship. He closed his eyes.

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Tucker stared at the stone arches surrounding the teleportation platform. Watchmen and countless other support staff lined the chamber, their gazes watching their departure. Their green cloaks and black iron armor, as dark as the night, gleamed faintly beneath the dim glow of the magic lanterns. If not for that pale light, then they would've vanished entirely into the shadows.

Yet what drew his attention the most wasn't his comrades, but the erratic rhythm of footsteps echoing across the gothic structure of the chamber. The sound drew his gaze to the far end of the platform, where Adira stood. Her unsteady breaths and desperate eyes searched left and right until finally landing on Tucker.

He froze as the young girl tightly clenched her hands.

"Are you really leaving without saying goodbye?" she asked, just loud enough for him to hear.

Tucker forced a smile that felt like a blade twisting in his chest. "I'm sorry, I… didn't want to make it any harder than it needed to be."

Adira shook her head. "Charles told me that life is a cycle of hellos and goodbyes." She stepped closer. "I'm scared I'll never see you again, but that doesn't mean you can just leave without saying anything." Her voice trembled with each word. "You're my guardian, aren't you?"

"I am," Tucker said, lowering himself to one knee so their eyes could meet. "But before I am your guardian… before you are my ward… I… am a watchman. Sworn by my duty to protect those beyond the border." He hesitated for a moment as the words refused to come. "One day, I might disappear without a trace, and I didn't want you to bear that pain before it came."

Adira's lips trembled. "And I just wanted you to show up." A tear slid down her cheek. "I—I already lost so much. My friends have been turned into monsters. I can't even see them again, or speak to them!" Her voice broke. "It's not fair that I can't even say goodbye to you when you're right here. What were you even thinking? That I would be okay if you left—it's not fair!"

Tucker kept his mouth shut, unable to say a word. He tightly clenched his hands until his knuckles turned white. It wasn't fair to her, but it was for the best. That was what he told himself—what his mind vouched for. The life of a watchman was like the flame of a torch weathering the fiercest storm. One that desperately fought back to last seconds longer. They all had their purpose.

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A purpose he didn't fully understand until now. Until he lost his men, his friends. If he grew attached to Adira, if he tried to be there for her, then it would only leave a greater wound. A heartbreak that would only hurt more. It was better to distance himself now than for her to mourn his death over an empty casket.

"The kid's right, you know," Ray chimed in, smacking Tucker on the back so he stumbled a few steps closer. "Better to leave facing those you care about than to disappear without a trace."

"It's a liberty many never get," Alex added. "I'm sure you've seen it yourself at the bastion. Letters written by soldiers who knew they wouldn't make it home."

Tucker's breath broke. How could he ever forget? There were hundreds of letters written by knights and footmen alike, all filled with hopes, apologies, and dreams for the ones they left behind. Letters dedicated to wishing long lives to their loved ones, to their children. He shut his eyes for a moment as his chest swelled with regret.

He hesitated not because he was afraid of dying, no—Tucker was prepared to die if it meant stopping the evil that sought to ruin the lives of those he cared about. It wasn't possible to save them all, but to those who were within his reach. He would reach out, grab onto them, and pull them to safety even if it meant giving every fiber of his being. Yet, the pain in Adira's eyes ripped his heart apart. And in that moment, a quiet realization struck him.

The sight of Adira was more than just a painful goodbye, but a life he could never have.

To have someone waiting for him.

To open a door and return to a place that felt like home.

That was a blessing he didn't deserve. And how could he, after all those he'd failed to protect? He should have perished in the bastion with his men. Instead, he survived by luck, by Luka's sacrifice. Now all that remained was a burden far too great for himself.

But in that moment, amid the ache of parting, Tucker reluctantly reached out his hand before opening his eyes. He held onto Adira as she quietly sobbed on the platform. The warmth barely pierced through his dark leather gloves. "There, there… I'm sorry, Adira, I made a mistake, and I wasn't being considerate."

Adira wiped her tears before wrapping her small arms around Tucker. She then stared at Alex. "You too."

Alex forced a smile as the corners of his lips awkwardly curled up. He slowly shook his head before feeling her fierce glare stab his heart. "Ha… children," he muttered. With a small step, he knelt beside Tucker and gently patted her on the back.

Then her gaze fell on Ray.

"What? Me too?" Ray raised a brow before sighing. "Nah, I don't do this type of stuff." Yet he stepped forward anyway with a smirk tugging at his lips. "But, you can have this." Ray reached towards the left side of his belt and ripped off the iron medallion with a flame pattern engraved on the center.

"I saw you already had Tucker's, try not to make it a collection," he jokingly said. "This is my lifeline, so if I ain't dead, it'll be intact."

"You can have mine as well, kid," Alex added, placing his medallion within the palm of her hand. "It ain't much, but maybe it'll bring you some peace."

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Tucker slowly opened his eyes as the ship jolted once more. Voices on deck came to life as roars burst forth from above in frantic beats against the crashing waves. The hull groaned in protest as the sea hammered against its sides. Each splash spilled onto the deck before dripping down below.

He glanced down at the silver pocket watch resting in his palm, watching as the long hand struck the sixth number.

"Half past midnight," Tucker muttered, gently closing the trinket. "It's time for the operation to begin."

A horn's deep bellow rolled across the horizon as the masts came down. Horns blew one by one, rippling over the ocean. Through the cracks in the wooden boards, Ray watched as hundreds of Everheart ships surged forward with their azure flags snapping beneath the moonlight. Four silver stars encircled a crown on each banner, gleaming like fractured starlight in the night sky.

"How close do you think they'll get us?" Ray asked out of curiosity.

"Not too far," Alex replied. "The admiral only agreed to sail just within the Empire's range."

"That leaves about what? Four hundred meters we would have to cross?"

"Give or take," Alex said with a shrug.

Ray clicked his tongue as the ship violently shook once more. "Shit… we should've brought a water contractor with us."

"We work with what we have," Tucker said, rising to his feet while grabbing his helm. He braced himself against one of the wooden pillars as thunderous blasts erupted along the port side. The cannons roared one after another. The deck shuddered with each blow, and the iron wheels screeched as they rolled back into place.

Tucker drew a deep breath. His life was built upon failures, but for now, all he could do was continue to move forward one step at a time. With each passing day, he would try to be a better person than he was before.

"You're far more resilient than you think, Stormbearer," Alex said. "Takes a lot for someone to acknowledge their mistakes and grow."

Tucker gave a firm nod and pushed the cabin door open. The cold sea air rushed in with the scent of salt and powder. Sailors scrambled across the deck, desperately rushing to complete their orders as the captain of the ship furiously shouted through the chaos.

Before them was the Empire's fleet. A wall of iron and fire guarding the coastline of Alexandria with all of its might. Both sides released volley after volley of hellfire, dyeing the night's sky in streaks of crimson and gold. The sea boiled beneath the bombardment, with ships burning as the air quaked with powder. It was the kind of sight that could shatter the courage of most men, but not Tucker and his team. They had endured far worse at the bastion.

Tucker fastened his metallic helm with a heavy heart. He felt the weight pressing down against him. All around him, Everheart ships were burning, each paying the price for another few meters of ocean gained. Yet he couldn't let this break his resolve. He glanced over his shoulder at Alex and Ray, both fully equipped with their gear.

They each met his gaze and nodded once before stepping onto the deck. No words were needed. This was the turning point of the war. Every sacrifice from this moment on would mark their path to victory.

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