Tranquility

by David Gay-Perret

  Glaide felt gladness fill his heart. His worries had disappeared the second his eyes had met those of his friend. Yes, they had been waiting for him. They’d never stopped. He forced himself to continue with the same measured steps. Time seemed to have slowed, almost stopped, and he knew that this moment would remain forever ingrained in the memories of the two of them.

  Then, the two girls noticed the strange expression on their companion’s face. Intrigued, they turned to see what was affecting him so... Glaide’s smile grew as he saw Gwenn’s eyes widen, and Emily lift a hand to her mouth, both mute with shock. He was still a ways away, but with a raised voice, he’d be able to make himself heard.

  “Good to see you guys again,” he called out joyously. Emily’s lower jaw quivered a bit as she spoke a single word.

  “Glaide...” Unable to control herself, she threw herself at the young man, hugging him close as if she couldn't quite believe he was real. She was shaking like a leaf, and tears poured down her cheeks. Holding them in was more than she could do. Glaide held her tenderly for a moment.

  “I promised I’d return to you, and here I am.” He let her cry for a bit, then gently drew away so that he could meet her gaze. Her face was soaked in her tears, but she bore a smile.

  “Glaide,” she murmured. “My god... It’s really you. It’s incredible... Finally, you’re here with us again...” The young man returned her smile, then looked up to meet Gwenn’s gaze. She looked upset, and when he moved closer to her, she spoke with a trembling voice.

  “You left... You left us all alone...” Her next words came out as more of a yell. “Did you really think you could just show up, and we’d forget everything we had to go through without you? That we’d forget how long we were left waiting? Do you know how much time we spent just sitting there, hoping you’d come back to us?” Glaide made no reply, but held out his arms towards her, and finally, Gwenn launching herself into his arms for a hug of her own.

  “I’m sure you’ve faced many challenges without me,” he whispered. “And I’m sure you’ve grown through them all. I can’t possibly know how many times you wished for my return, but it has to be about as many times as I wondered to myself if I’d done the right thing, and as many times as I wished I was at your side, and no longer had to be alone...” Glaide was deeply affected by her words, because they showed him all the distress they had felt when their guide—the only one to have truly accepted their new lives in this world—had left them... However, he had to admire the young woman across from him when she—after stepping back from him and looking him over from head to toe—spoke one simple phrase:

  “You’re forgiven.” She took up a position at his left, while Emily stood at his right. He found himself facing Jeremy, now. The surprise on his face had given way to a more welcoming, pleasant expression. Then, it was Glaide who stepped forward, and the two hugged like brothers who’d long been apart.

  “I’m happy to see you again...” Glaide murmured, his throat tight with emotion. “How many times have I wondered if I’d ever see you again? If you could only know how much I’ve missed you...”

  “Probably about as much as we missed you,” Jeremy replied. “And now we’re here, together again, just as you promised, but seven months later. Welcome back.”

  Their words and their voices brought calm with them. Glaide stepped back a bit to look at each of his friends. Their faces remained familiar, though they had changed a bit. A few wrinkles had appeared, perhaps, and there was more depth to their facial expressions, and more candor in their smiles. He couldn’t look away, because he so desperately wanted to fill his mind with every detail of this scene that he’d so long tried to imagine.

  It was only then that he remembered the fifth person. He turned towards the young woman, who appeared to be just slightly older than him, and took a moment to look her over. She had chestnut brown hair tied back in a bun as if for combat, which framed a soft and delicate face. Glaide could see no sign of any scars or other marks of combat, and he wondered briefly if she’d ever actually seen battle; her eyes and face seemed too peaceful for that. Then, he let his gaze wander to the point over her shoulder where the handle of one of her blades stuck out. Did she really know how to use those weapons? Even as the question crossed his mind, he moved on to study the clothes she wore: leather pants in a leafy green color that looked thick enough to stop a dull blade, then a brown bodice with long sleeves of the same material, fitted quite tightly thanks to the laces which crossed her chest. Glaide assumed the material was meant to act like armor; while not as efficient, it would also be much lighter and easier to wear. It was a very typical outfit for a warrior who needed to travel. After all, didn’t he wear about the same thing, though without sleeves? The girl smiled at him, and Emily set about beginning the introductions.

  “This is Renhai. We met on the road, and she chose to join us. She’s quite a talented fighter, but you’ll be able to see that for yourself soon enough. We told her where we came from.” Glaide chose not to ask questions about how they met; they’d have plenty of time to trade stories soon enough. Then, to Renhai, Emily continued, “And let me present Glaide, who we’ve told you about practically nonstop.”

  “And so you are the one who is said to be the Destroyer,” the young woman said softly, looking at the boy. “It’s an honor.” She bowed her head to him then. “Your friends are quite charming, and it’s been a pleasure to travel with them. The past you have in common with them is an incredible one, and I must admit that I’ve been quite impatient to put a face to the name that seems so important to them all.”

  “And I’m pleased to meet you,” replied Glaide. “I hadn’t really expected to find them in the company of someone native to this world, but a friend of theirs is a friend of mine.”

  “Right then,” Jeremy exclaimed. “Now that the introductions are over, we should probably get going. Is it okay with you if we leave the city?” Glaide nodded at that.

  “Don’t worry about me: the road and I are already old friends. But I hope you have something to eat!”

  “We have plenty of supplies,” Gwenn declared.

  When he’d arrived in Heidro, the young man had thought he might get a chance to relax a bit, but now that he’d found his friends, being with them was the only thing that remained important. The place and context, and his state of fatigue or weariness didn’t matter. All that mattered was that his solitude had reached an end.

  The group headed towards the city gate, where the guards cheerfully greeted the maggs and Jeremy before wishing them all a pleasant journey, then the five companions headed down the road to the north. Glaide took great joy in glancing to the right and to the left as they walked, since each time, he saw the smiling face of one of his friends. And they, almost as if they were afraid he might disappear at any moment, seemed unable to keep their own eyes off of him. Truth be told, everyone’s hearts were filled with joy because now they were just as they had been when they’d arrived: together.

  The adolescent realized then that he’d only really traveled in the company of his friends once, back when Rackk had just been destroyed, and they had had to find Shinozuka. “That seems so long ago,” he thought to himself. “Almost a lifetime. And yet, it’s almost as though the last seven months were just a parenthesis in this whole story. One that closed today.”

  He thought to himself that it was entirely possible he would never again see any of those he’d met while traveling on his own, with the exception, perhaps, of his master. He wondered for an instant just how the meeting between Kezthrem and his friends would go, especially since he’d left them to go find that man, and he was the one thing that connected his lonely wandering to the life he was now returning to. Soon all of those questions evaporated, though, leaving behind a simple feeling of peace and tranquility.

  On the horizon, the silhouette of a lone warrior on a quest for strength and wisdom had disappeared, to be replaced with four friends with a common past, but unique memories—four f
riends who had been separated, and were now together again. The road continued on its eternal way, but now, none of them were alone to journey down it. The confidence, joy, and hopes that they shared were probably the best evidence of the strength and wisdom they had all acquired.

  As always, the day was bright and sunny. However, one small, milky-white cloud floated through the sky, casting a shadow on the green grass of the plain, a sign that something had changed...

  End of Volume 4

  The adventure continues in “Chronicles of Galadria V: A New Beginning”

  And so ends the fourth volume of the adventures of Glaide...

  The first two stages of their story have flown by, and now we’re headed towards the end of it all. The two volumes that remain are also the longest and richest parts of the tale. Our characters will meet new people, make new discoveries, and experience journeys, magic, joy, sadness, and personal reflection. The group is together again, and they’ve learned all that they need to know. They’re ready for battle. But where should they start? Would it not be wise to gather their allies? Will the title of ‘Destroyer’ be enough to bring the peoples together? And more importantly, will they all find themselves of one mind as they view the future? The answers to all of those questions await you in the volume to come.

  As usual, don’t forget to leave a comment wherever you procured this book. That will help other readers know if the book is for them, and I’d love to know what you’ve thought of it myself.

  To prolong the adventure, why not listen to the music associated with the story, which I composed myself? If that interests you, the tracks are available on Jamendo (as a series of albums entitled “Chroniques de l’Autre Monde”), and I can also suggest a combination of music paired with text from the books, available on Youtube (as a playlist entitled “Chronicles of Galadria”).

  Don’t hesitate to visitwww.gayperret.com, (under Music, My Compositions, Chronicles of the Other World) for more information.

  If you wish to contact me, don’t hesitate to send me an email (I speak French, English, and Swedish) at david.gayperret@gmail.com!

  Your Review and Word-of-Mouth Recommendations Will Make a Difference

  Reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations are crucial for any author to succeed. If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review, even if it is only a line or two, and tell your friends about it. It will help the author bring you new books and allow others to also enjoy the book.

  Your support is greatly appreciated!

  Are You Looking For Other Great Reads?

  Your Books, Your Language

  Babelcube Books helps readers find great reads. It plays matchmaker, bringing you and your next book together.

  Our collection is powered by books produced at Babelcube, a marketplace that brings independent book authors and translators together and distributes their books in multiple languages globally. The books you will find have been translated so that you can discover terrific reads in your language.

  We are proud to bring you the world’s books.

  If you want to learn more about our books, browse our catalog and join our newsletter to learn about our latest releases, visit us at our website:

  www.babelcubebooks.com