Chapter 31: Why

Sigh. Why do I bother taking these people to my humble abode? Alaric's thoughts weighed heavily as he led the group deeper into the landship. It's not like I was lying about the ship containing secrets, but those secrets are simple… logs, nothing grand. His brow furrowed. The idea of a "legacy landship" carried with it an air of mystery, but to him, it was nothing more than a relic—an old piece of machinery rotting away in the forest. Landships in general don't really exist in any meaningful way anymore. They were once blueprints for terrestrial warships and, later, nomadic cities—mobile cities for short.

His boots scuffed along the rusted floors as he warned the group, "Careful, there's a hole a few meters ahead."

The crew's attention shifted to the ground, avoiding the potential hazard. Ava looked particularly focused, her fascination with the structure growing with every step they took.

This landship… 800 meters in length, 345 in width, Alaric thought. It was modest by modern standards. It could be considered average for its time, but now… now it's just a relic of the past. The thought settled like a weight on his chest. The only people still interested in these wrecks are industries and city-states that think they might find something useful. But they never do. It's just… junk.

Zyra's voice broke his reverie. "What was this landship used for?"

Alaric paused, glancing back at the group. "Originally? Exploration. Most of these ships were designed to be used in terrestrial navigation. But as things progressed, they became the blueprint for mobile cities—massive, moving metropolises that could carry entire populations across the continents." His voice trailed off as the memories stirred. "Some… some even carrie terrains, mountains, valleys, even rivers. But those were few and far between. There was one in particular… controlled by a royal family called the Shu in the east."

Zyra's eyebrow raised in curiosity. "The Shu?"

Alaric nodded. "A powerful royal family. They managed to pull off multiple instances of carrying terrains within their mobile cities. I visited one once. It was… a sight to behold."

For a moment, his mind drifted back to that visit. The towering mountains, the sprawling rivers, all within a moving fortress of metal. It was breathtaking, sure, but it felt distant now—like a dream he'd barely held onto.

"Alright," Alaric's voice broke the silence as they approached a gaping opening in the rusted walls. "We're here. But as you can see," he gestured vaguely to the wreckage, "I don't really know what's left. The interior is badly damaged."

The crew stood around him, their eyes scanning the ruined space. Bits of metal hung loose from the ceiling, and large chunks of the floor had caved in, leaving gaping holes into the lower levels. The entire ship creaked with the slightest movement, as though the very act of walking through it would cause it to collapse.

Zyra's piercing gaze turned to him, cutting through the air like a blade. "Why did you bring us here?"

Alaric stiffened. Her question struck him harder than it should have. Why? His mind fumbled for an answer. Why did I?

His mouth opened, but no words came out. His heart began to race, pounding in his chest. He wasn't sure why, but the question unsettled him. Why had he brought them here? What was the point?

Why did I bring them inside?

His breath quickened. The dim light of the landship's failing systems flickered around him, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch and twist in his peripheral vision. I don't have to explain myself to them, he thought defensively. I've been surviving on my own for years. I don't need them. I don't need anyone.

But even as the thoughts formed, they felt hollow. Empty. The truth, buried deep beneath years of isolation, began to bubble to the surface. He could feel it gnawing at the edges of his mind, threatening to pull him under.

Why did I bring them here? The thought repeated, louder, more insistent.

His vision blurred slightly, the edges of his consciousness narrowing. Why?

He took a step back, trying to steady his breathing. His heart hammered against his ribs as if it were trying to escape. He felt exposed, vulnerable in a way he hadn't in years.

You wanted company.

The thought slammed into him with the force of a freight train. He blinked, his mind reeling from the realization. He hadn't been alone for a long time, and while he had told himself that he liked it that way—that he preferred it that way—something had changed.

You wanted someone to talk to.

His fists clenched. He could feel his body tightening, like it was rejecting the idea. I don't need them. I don't need anyone.

But deep down, he knew it wasn't true. The isolation, the years of surviving alone in the forest, scrounging for food and shelter—it had worn him down. The quiet had become oppressive, suffocating. And now, standing in the ruins of a forgotten landship, surrounded by people who were strangers, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time.

Loneliness.

Alaric's breathing became shallow as he fought the emotions swirling inside him. He felt dizzy, like the world was spinning out of control. The walls of the landship seemed to close in on him, the weight of his own thoughts pressing down on his chest.

"Alaric?" Sera's voice cut through the haze, grounding him for just a moment.

He blinked, his vision focusing again as he turned to face her. Her expression was concerned, but her gaze was steady, as if she understood. She didn't push for an answer, didn't press him further. She simply waited, giving him the space to breathe.

"I…" Alaric swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. "I… I don't know."

It wasn't the answer Zyra had expected, but it was the truth. He didn't know why he had brought them here, not really. But now, as the realization settled in, he felt the weight lift slightly. He had wanted company, wanted someone to talk to, even if he hadn't realized it at the time.

Sera's gaze softened slightly, her expression understanding. "It's alright," she said quietly. "You don't have to know."

For a moment, the tension eased, the oppressive silence of the landship broken by the quiet acknowledgment between them. Alaric's heart still raced, but the panic that had gripped him began to fade. He had spent so long trying to survive on his own, telling himself that he didn't need anyone. But now, standing in the wreckage of a forgotten ship with these strangers, he realized that maybe… just maybe… he didn't want to be alone anymore.