Rough waves crash against the rugged cliffside. Retreating into the sea, small pieces of stones break off from the erosion. Close to the water’s surface, small flat boulders line up against the rocky shoreline. The low tide exposes small markings pointing to a man size opening in the cliff wall. Just inside torches light up a pathway, leading deeper into the musky cavern. Rhythmic water drops collect in smaller pockets of dirt, which flow back out into the ocean. Inside, Ryo walks in front of Axel carrying a lit torch to guide their way. Silence creates an invisible barrier between them. Ryo breaks it first.
“I never expected there would be something this close to the water.” Ryo says.
Axel shifts uncomfortably but doesn’t say anything.
“Was your relationship that bad with your father?” Ryo glances over his shoulder.
The stones under Axel’s feet glimmer from the torch. The stiffness tightens his muscles. Ever since the day before, a tight sickening turns in his stomach. Ryo’s words muffle into darkness Axel’s mind twisting from the news Finn shared with them.
Axel’s foot slips from underneath him, and he falls forward. Ryo twists his upper body, catching Axel midfall by his waistline. His air intake catches in the back of his throat. With the high difference between them, Axel hangs over Ryo’s hand like clothes out on a clothesline. Light flickers around them casting various shadows between the damp walls and slippery walkway. Reality finally hits Axel, and he struggles to get out of Ryo’s grasp.
“Why didn’t you left me go?” Axel dusts himself off.
“You looked like you were about to walk into a wall.” Ryo says, continuing his stride across small cobblestones.
“Is it that bad?” Ryo repeats.
“He just was never there. I won’t forgive him for just abandoning his home like that.” Axel whispers. The torches grow dimmer, the yellowish gleam melts into a light blue hue coming from the floor and walls. Small stones embedded in the stones collect tiny water droplets, converting them into a shimmering light energy. Axel brushes his fingers over them, causing each stone to waver their light right and left. Water under their feet streams in between the stones, disappearing further down the tunnel. “I’ve never seen anything like this.” Axel can’t hide his amazement.
However, Ryo feels disturbed by the phenomenon. His eyes follow the energy swirling in circles. He touches one, and that same energy collects itself at Ryo’s fingertips. It releases from the stone, creating veins up the side of the wall, then dispersing into other nearby stones. A light shock hits his fingertips. A familiar coolness rushes up his arm, disappearing past his shoulder.
“Hey did you see....” He turns back but Axel’s too focused tapping each of the stones to even notice Ryo’s words. Ryo looks down at his hand. The heat of fire. A hot sensation travels along his fingertips.
The flame on Ryo’s torch completely goes out from a light breeze deeper into the cave. Musky heavy sea salt air fades away, replaced by a pure refreshing grassy dew scent. Careful with their steps, Axel and Ryo reach the end, with the tunnel opening into a large rock enclosed space. Patches of grass thrive on the rock landscapes. Above a small circular opening, lets one stream of sunlight shine down to the center of the hidden lake. Axel takes in the sights. Ryo abruptly stops inches away, and Axel slams face first into his back.
“why did you stop?” Axel peeks around him. His eyes catch a sight straight out of a picture book.
In the center of the lake, a large three mast wooden ship gently rocks over the water. Its solid foundation sits two levels high outlined with gold plating. The craftsmanship screams professional perfection by the smooth edges, deep design, and several unique carvings between the stern and bow. What catches Axel’s eyes is the figurehead stretching from the water’s surface up to the top deck. It’s large feather wooden wings reach several inches behind, cradling the ship’s body between them. The slender body reflects a sea creature but transitions into the head of a dragon. While the rest of the ship gleams brown, it stands out painted in a bluish green shade. The fierce eyes stare straight ahead, with unwavering courage and foresight.
At their feet, a long plank bridge stretches from their location over to where the ship is. They make their way over the water until they reach the dock. A long board slams onto the dock, and Finn stands above them. His front left footrests on the step entryway. Finn opens his arms wide for dramatic emphases, throws his head backwards.
“I welcome you to one of the best ships of the open seas. Its name is…the Azure Zephyr!” He shouts out.
Minutes tick by, Finn rests his arms over the rail in front of the ship’s wheel, glancing down at Axel and Ryo. Both men climb aboard the ship overwhelmed by the ships large frame and the smell of freshly clean wood. A sense of familiarity washes over Ryo each step he takes across the deck. Each sight and scent guide him up to the wheel, a red wood stands out in the center surrounded by a lighter brown wood. He moves his fingers over the wheel. Pain pulses in the back of his head with an annoying dullness. From behind Finn cross over to the steps and goes down them to meet up with Axel, who remains in his place.
“He knew you would need this one day.” Finn tries to break the silence with a lighthearted comment.
Axel remains silent, his eye gliding from the bow of the ship to the stern. Towering above him, a large mast hides a rolled-up flag tied with thick rope. Beneath his feet the wood creaks each motion he makes to take a step forward. He reaches the other side, looking out onto the still water. Unlike its calm surface, Axel’s mind swirls in confusion from what Finn told him. From behind Finn notices Axel curls up both of his hands into fists on the rail. A slight tremor moves from his feet to his head.
“He also left you this.” Finn reaches into his chest pocket, producing a letter with a red seal on it. He holds it out to Axel’s side. “It’s probably something important.”
Axel lifts his gaze to meet the envelope but swats it away. He tries to hide the scowl beneath his breath. The confusion turns into pain that swirls within his head.
“I don’t need it.” He answers back in a quiet voice.
He turns around, striding over to exit the ship. Finn intercepts him just before he can leave.
Thump!
Both Finn and Axel turn as Ryo collapses against the second-floor rail. He staggers a bit around the ship’s wheel and places his hand on the rail to steady himself. The dull pain grows into a massive headache.
“Are you alright?” Finn asks, concerned.
The pulsing nags at Ryo’s memories, blur images of people running, and shouts penetrate his ear canals. A long shadow stands in front of Finn’s figure, it shouts up to him then points to the mast above. Ryo’s eyes follow the motion to see a large mast break off from its secure lines and fall onto the deck below. Back to reality Ryo’s eyes snap open, sweating breaking across his forehead.
“I said are you alright?” Finn repeats.
Trying to calm his pounding heart, Ryo wipes the sweat from his brown and nods to Finn. A sense of familiarity nags at him. The place that he will always belong. One that brings him to the closet feeling of home. He brushes his fingertips over the wheel, gripping it at with both hands. In front of him the open sea just beyond the cavern’s entrance entices him to come. He feels drawn to it like a moth to the bright flame.
“My boy, I know you don’t view your father favorably, but you mustn’t let those feelings cloud a sound judgement. You need to reach the mainland and for that you need a ship.” Finn throws the facts at Axel, bluntly. Axel also snaps out of his mindset.
“I don’t need anything that man leaves for me.” He pushes pass Finn. Pain and confusion reflect on his face, a bubbling anger heating up in the pit of his stomach.
Ryo comes up behind Finn, who lets out a frustrated sigh. “Whether that boy wants to admit it or not he has it’s his father’s temper and stubbornness.”
“He will accept it” Ryo says.
“You think?” Finn turns to face him.
“It will happen. Deep down I think he knows it too.” Ryo follows Axel off the ship, leaving Finn alone.
The next day, Ryo and Axel make their final preparations to set sail. All their supplies were loaded up and a small group of residents gathered to bid their farewells. Thersea makes her way onto the ship and holds out two bracelets for Axel and Ryo. One shines a dim blue color like the ocean waves, the other glows red like a deep fire. She gives the blue one to Axel and the red one to Ryo. The men turn their bracelets and look back at her.
“Here are some replacements. Their a bit stronger than the last ones.” She smiles, giving them both kisses on their cheeks. Axel stumbles back, stunned but Ryo gives her a confused look. She doesn’t say anything, exiting the ship as quickly as he boarded.
Finn comes up from below deck, he passes along a folded-up parchment paper to Ryo. “We gave you all the supplies we could spare. It should last you until you get to the city.” He smiles at them.
“Are we going to be able to handle this thing by ourselves?” Axel’s skepticism isn’t hidden.
“I can handle it.” Ryo places both hands at the ship’s wheel.
“You know how to steer a ship?”
“I can learn as I go.” Ryo’s confidence doesn’t ease Axel’s anxiety.
“I hope that we make it to our destination.” He covers his eyes with his left hand.
“Well, this is the last of the help we can give you. Good Luck on your journey. I expect great news!” Finn exits the ship. From below shouts from the people wishing them luck echo around the cavern. Axel presses a button, and the anchor pulls up from the water. A light wind gust unravels the sails, gently carrying the ship across the water’s surface.
Finn watches the ship sail off into the distance. Farther ahead the horizon darkens with an approaching storm. An uneasy feeling prickles at Finn’s heart. Thersea stands behind him, watching the ship grow small and smaller. From above, a small envelop flitters down into Finn’s open palm.
“Was there a response already?” Thersea glances over his shoulder.
Finn opens the parchment inside and a grim expression cloud over his face. It darkens after each word he reads. In his pocket, he takes out a feather pen. Below the last paragraph, he pens a response to what was written. Once resealed, Finn opens his palm, and a light breeze gently lifts it out into the open sea.
“It seems that they have begun to make their move, and their first target is Milonite City.” Finn utters in a low voice. He no longer sees the Azure Zephyr but the raging storm in the distance expands wider. “We must be prepared for the coming storm.”
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