The Icean Spine’s conflict would not end peacefully. Gabrio had somewhat understood this. Everyone was fighting for their morals. To the things that they believed in.

To them, what are they? Invaders that had come bringing death and destruction to their land.

Gabrio looked at the soldiers who came climbing up Grand Galleon through the rope ladder. He moved next to the railing, held them up, and made sure that every soldier was able to get in.

“Anyone injured, needed some checkup, come here, Welcome home, boys,” Gabrio said. He went back to the railing, and grabbed on to a hand reaching out. He recognized the rough look on the man’s face, and saw the people with him.

Gabrio squashed the thought inside his mind. Then pulled Caldor Ando up the deck. He went back to the railing, and helped the rest of his group come aboard.

Terin Gaspar collapsed on the deck. Gabrio went next to him, and looked at the Lady next to them. “Is there something wrong with him?”

“He’s experiencing extreme fatigue,” the madam said. “Would you be so kind as to check him, Doctor?”

Gaston lifted Terin Gaspar’s chin. His eyes are okay. He seemed to have not been sleeping as of late. There is a glow on the upper layer of his skin, what is it?

“Is this an effect of your powers?”

Terin nodded weakly. He eyed Gabrio for a moment before saying. “Doctor, I’m glad that you didn’t die.”

“Thank you, but you need to take a rest, lad,” Gabrio helped him up. He took him to the clinic below the deck while his group were heading to the Captain of the Galleon. Along the way, the soldiers, and crew were looking at Terin Gaspar oddly.

They had something in mind, but seeing Gabrio with him. They all looked away.

Gabrio led Terin Gaspar on the passageways. Terin Gaspar behaved as if he was hesitating to ask.

“Doctor, how do you keep on going?”

“What do you mean?”

Gabrio led Terin to a narrow passageway. Terin ducked under, and dragged himself.

“You always looked so strong, Doctor. Always willing to save people. I’m supposed to be a Son of Light, and look at what I’m doing. I’ve been doing nothing other than killing.”

Gabrio gave him a glance. “I heard that you’ve become stronger. I saw that pillar of light from a distance four weeks ago. Quite the lightshow, if anything, hearing you now somewhat made me think that at least our Son of Light isn't someone who wouldn’t think of your responsibility.”

“I’m killing people who we are saving. I was told that I would be helping them.”

Gabrio pushed a door open. He let Terin Gaspar in first. He then followed after. A woman carrying a breadbasket waved her hand at Gabrio, placing a piece of bread on his hand. “Thank you for this, Miss.”

The woman walked in the door they just came in. Terin Gaspar braced himself on the door.

“Sorry, it seems like these fools are starting to like me.”

“Who wouldn’t Doc? You’ve always been kind to them.”

“I’m just doing my duty. Lad, I don’t know what it feels like to be the person who’s supposedly saved us. Perhaps one day, I might just tell my kids, If I ever have one. That I had met someone who would save the world,” he laughed. “It isn’t easy, this role is yours. No one can tell you what is good and wrong, you can ask anyone, they might tell you, but lad, I don’t think that I will. Your values are yours, I doubt anyone could tell you what’s right or wrong. Would you even agree?”

That quited Terin. Gabrio moved down the deck, dodged the animals that were somewhat loose, and greeted a few of the crew. Gabrio felt rather vigorous as of late, but he thought to himself that it might be the effect of the treeheart.

Gabrio found the door of the clinic, and went in. He had Terin settled into one of the beds. He went to the cabinet, procured medicine, and threw one of his candies to Terin. “Here, take some of my candies.”

Terin caught the candy, and placed it in his mouth. Gabrio took the tray of medicine to Terin’s bed. He checked his pulse, and had him drink a mixture.

“What’s in it?”

“Should make your muscles relax. I’ve seen enough sleepless people to identify one at a first glance.”

“I...would you be willing to hear me out, Doc?”

Gabrio stared at him. “That depends. Truthfully, your business as a son of light is beyond what I can handle. I’m just a Doctor, and even if I do know your plight. I can’t tell you what you must do. But..alright, what is the problem?”

“I’ve been stronger, Doc. Sometimes I feel like I could crush a single person with my powers. We’ve been fighting after we made everyone know that we were on that peak of the Icean Spine.”

“And?”

“We didn’t have a choice. It was...so easy, Doc. To snuff the life out of them. To point my finger at them and incinerate them with the sun within me.”

Gabrio sat down at the end. He placed the tray of medicine on his lap.

“Those people that threatened us months ago. Do you think you can handle them now?”

“I can. I think I can, Doc.”

“That’s good.”

Terin looked at him, searching for any answer. Anything that could help get through whatever it was inside his head. Gabrio looked at the bulkheads of the cabin.

“Most of this fleet relies on you. We can fight the natives of the Icean Spine, and defeat the natives. We have the Elven-kin supporting us alongside the son of light. Lately, I heard from the soldiers that we’re getting some of the people in this land to cooperate with us.”

Gabrio had heard news of victory. There are casualties on the side, but the superior firepower of the Company, the tree-armor of the Elven-kin, and the walking island proved to be dangerous enough for the natives of this land. They’ve not seen such strange forces for years, and honestly they weren’t prepared.

“Then are we in the right?”

“In my point of view, we are the right one. If you think about what they may encounter. Then we are the bad one. Just think about it, in our view they are stopping us from venturing off this island. If we could we would have circumnavigated off the Icean Spine. It would take time, and yet most of the areas beyond that way are blockaded with island-sized icebergs and boulders of ice. In a way, if your company goes that way, even if you do light our way, we’d have to worry about the ships, and the coldness of the surroundings. We’ll save time, effort, and save the lives of the people on board. We need coal, and firewood to keep ourselves fed, and although we carry tons of them in our ships, it’s hard not to worry about accidents. If we plow through this area, then we can gather wood, and somewhat resupply. Even if we do have a way to do so, who knows when we will see land again?”

Gabrio doubts that the Reconnoiter Company wouldn’t take this chance at all. Even if there was a way, they would still choose to go through the Icean Spine, and gather supplies.

“We need supplies and they are in our way. If we look through this on our side, they are preventing us from delivering you to the place where you might save the world.”

Terin listened with his head down.

“But if we think about the other side. Then we are the evil that came from the sea. We bring weapons that are harsher than theirs, and we bring along monsters in the shape of monsters. What do we want? We want the Great Stone Gates to be opened. If it's really mountain-sized, then imagine how much work will be needed? Can you imagine the sheer amount of seawater that will be spilling into the Icean Spine? It would reach some of the villagers, the clueless people who have no idea what’s happening. And if stories are to be believed, then opening that stone gate would lead to the lost loss of lives and the appearance of the monsters that they’ve been preventing from coming to this land. The seas will be opened to us, and we will be able to continue our journey.”

Gabrio explained. His hand was on one of the bottles. He inspected the contents of the medicine by sniffing into it. Terin watched him take the cork off the bottle, and placed it back.

“We’re destroying their lives, and releasing monsters on their land. By the time we’re away, they’ll be infested with monsters and would have to fight them.”

“Yes, we will. We’ll be putting this land into chaos, and we’ll be sailing away like it was nothing at all. Isn’t it terrible? If you were in their shoes, then you would be fighting us, trying to drive away the foreign invaders who have come to seek destruction on their doorsteps,” Gabrio inspected another medicine, smelled it, and his face distorted. “Here, take this, it should help you sleep.”

Terin took the bottle, and drank it one one go. The lad puckered his lips at the taste of the medicine.

“Nasty, isn’t it? Terin Gaspar, I don’t know what to think of your role in all of this. Yes, you have the power, and the influence to change things here. But you must allow yourself to think for yourself, don’t let anyone bother you about what you must do. Still, the Milostive, the people here, they are people relying on you. They might feel bitter, but who doesn’t feel that after you didn’t help?”

“I’m sorry for what they did. They didn’t have a choice, and it’s partly my fault.”

“No, you have nothing to apologize for. Your companions did what they think is best, and chose to save the person that could help out in the long run. Hell, it’s an easy choice, isn’t it? I’m just a Doctor of the Grand Galleon.”

Terin Gaspar looked at him with a tired look on his face. “I think that no one should experience something like that. Still, I still want to apologize for what they did.”

Gabrio shook his head. “The apology shouldn’t be coming from you, lad. You’re just the person they are trying to protect. Still, I would be lying if I say that I don’t hold a bit of grudge for not trying to help me.”

“Then why are you treating me now?”

Gabrio sighed. “Because I am the Doctor of this Grand Galleon, there’s nothing wrong with treating the people that I need to treat,” he stood up and placed the medicine back in the cabinet nailed to the bulkhead of the clinic. “Still, if you are really asking me who I want to pick? It’s kinda obvious whose side I want to win. Terin Gaspar, I think you should stop asking who is in the right here. You should be asking who you want to protect instead. I think it’s far easier to do that instead of thinking whose side is right.”

Terin didn’t answer. He just laid on his bed and stared at the ceiling of the clinic. There was a distant look on the eyes of the lad.

Looks like the stress is getting to him, I guess I should be happy that he isn’t using his powers recklessly, I guess that's why he’s been chosen to wield such power.Gaston looked at the young lad. The whole world was on the shoulders of this lad, and he could only rely on himself.

Gabrio didn’t understand the feeling. How could he?

It was simply too hard to understand the feelings of a young man who was destined to save the world.