Keith Reyes, a young father, helps lift a huge wooden beam in place for a house frame. Behind him, baby Axel lays in a basket made from large leaves weaved together and soft wool for comfort. Around him some children hold up bells and other items to keep the baby distract, while his father works. Together with other villagers rise the outer wall frame into place. Sweat drips down Keith’s forehead. From behind one of the men come up and slap him on the shoulder.
“He is starting to look like you Keith. What were the odds of that happening?” He heckles Keith.
“Maybe your temperament as well.” Another adds. He watches Axel throw a bell many feet away from the basket.
“I hope not. He would be better off like his mother than me.” Keith chuckles to himself.
A younger Finn strides up to Keith, his cheery disposition washes over his face and movements. He takes in the sight of then new home and shakes his head with a sigh.
“I still do not know how you manage to get all these supplies. Its one mystery after another.” Finn says.
“It’s the least I can do after you gave my family a place to stay, Mr. Finn” Keith bows slightly to Finn.
“You don’t need to be so formal. Just Finn is fine.” Finn throws his arm over Keith’s shoulder and brings his ear down close to his mouth. “This is a lot of items from trading with nearby towns. How do you do it?” He whispers to him.
“Ha…hahaha. I cannot reveal all my secrets.” Keith whispers back to Finn.
He turns back to watch his son fall asleep. “Secrets, huh.”
Finn stares at a charred thick wooden beam from one of the houses barely left standing. He runs his fingers over the splintered wood, some of the smaller pieces break off. To his left murmurs from the villagers catches his ear, drawing his attention away from the home. Just under the broken archway, Ryo stands holding Axel’s right arm over his shoulder. Cuts cover Axel’s face, and dirt covers his clothes. Ignoring the stares of everyone, both make their way over to Finn.
“I thought it was going to be a talk?” Finn scans Axel up and down, looking at the various wounds.
“I went easy on him.” Ryo answers back right away.
“Bast-“ Axel tries to speak but Ryo yanks his arm and he flinches in pain.
Finn rubs the back of his head. “Keep in mind the boy is still hurt.”
“He didn’t act it.” Ryo says.
“Anyways…come with me please.” Finn motions them both to follow behind him back to his home.
Inside his home, Finn sits down at a circular kitchen table and takes out a sealed envelope. “I was going to wait until you go better, but lets give you this now.”
Axel and Ryo both look down at the letter.
“I have an acquaintance, who is the best in the trading business. We may be able to get materials and supplies from him.” Finn explains.
“And where would we find him?” Axel asks.
“Being a trader he moves from place to place, I think this time of year he may be found at a port city on the neighboring continent. I would like you two to get into contact with him.”
Axel glances at Finn, his mouth open a bit. “I think I am missing something. Do you expect us to swim there?”
“That brings me to our next discussion, tonight, I would like you to meet me at a cavern just below the cliff where your house is Axel.” Finn says.
“My house?”
“Yes, everything will be explained there. Until then get some rest, and try not to get into anymore trouble.” Finn lets out an exasperated sigh.
He stands up from his seat leaving Axel and Ryo alone in the kitchen. Axel casts a glare over towards Ryo, who choose to look the other way completely ignoring him.
“You hear him.” Ryo leaves the room without making any eye contact with him. Leaving Axel alone, he takes a moment to glance over the wounds on his body. Some of them still sting where pieces of metal contacted skin.
“Went easy on me, my ass.” He says, heading into the living room.
Later on that night, both men approach a large open cover at the base of the cliffside attached to a beachfront. Drenched rocks beneath their feet stick of salt water caused by the receding tide. Through the pitches of darkness, small flickering lights help guide them over the slippery surfaces. Upon entering the cavern, the ground beneath evens out. On the walls, small torches sit in metal holders on both sides of the walls, illuminating the damp pathway. Silence fills the air between Axel and Ryo, only wet footsteps echo off the rocky walls.
“You have something to say to me, don’t you?” Ryo breaks the silence first, glancing back at Axel behind him. “You’ve been glaring at me since back at the village.”
Axel shifts his eyes to the side trying to avoid any contact with Ryo. Mix emotions bubble up from inside him. Frustration mixed with an unknown feeling of weakness from powerlessness in the battle against Ryo. Throughout his mind, the overwhelming difference in power bothered him the most and he can’t shake it. Slight embarrassment prevents him from coming up with any to say back.
“Fine, I will speak first. You act rashly, your battle stance is sloppy, and to be honest you will get yourself killed one day.”
Clutching his fist, Axel pushes his way in front of Ryo stopping him in his tracks. “Say that again?! What does an outsider like you know? What gives you the right to say-“ Ryo takes Axel by his collar and pushes him up against the wall.
“Cool it. I am also tired of the outsider business. I didn’t choose to be here. Now smarten up or you won’t be able to do anything for that village. Enough is enough.” Even though Ryo’s eyes don’t express anger, his words cut through Axel’s chest like knives, hitting the one weakness he hates to admit to himself.
Axel grabs ahold of Ryo’s hand and takes in a deep breath. “I-I’m sorry, That was out of line.” Avoiding eye contact he looks towards the ground. Ryo releases him.
“You aren’t stupid. I saw the potential in that fight, but you have a long way to go.” Ryo walks off again, leaving Axel a few feet behind him.
Silence builds up again between them as they continue their journey deeper into the cavern. Soon the torches become fewer, causing the darkness to grow around them. Ryo takes one of the torches off of the wall, to help guild them once the torches disappear behind them.
“Hey want did you mean?” Axel now speaks up wanting clarification about Ryo’s words.
“Shhhh” Ryo responds by trying to keep Axel quiet. A slight cool breeze comes from the opening in front of them. Sounds of water crashing against the rocks grows louder. An unknown creaking accompanies the noises every few seconds. Ryo holds up the torch, slipping through the narrow opening in front of them.
Axel follows behind getting caught for a moment on a broken piece of wood. He pulls himself forward, stumbling out the other side, hitting Ryo in the back.
“Why did you stop?” Axel looks up, peeking around Ryo’s figure. His mouth opens slightly.
The cavern opens into a large hollowed out room. Rock walls reach up high with a small opening above letting in the smaller light from the night stars. In the center of the water, a large wooden ship shifts gently from the restless water underneath. The ship’s body created by sturdy, crisp wood towers over them. Its masts closed up with thick ropes. On the bow, a carved majestic dragon-like figure stretches its wings down both sides of the ship. The body of the dragon’s chest puffs out proudly, its neck in a “S” shape just above the main deck level. Small openings on the side, house cannons, their mouths barely visible. Towards the stern, a few large glass windows glistens from the faded lights.
“What? How?” Axel scans the ship up and down, a loss for words.
“Surprised you, didn’t I?!” Finn shouts from atop the main deck.
A long board, lowers onto the rocks in front of both men. Drawn to the ship, Axel walks pass Ryo and heads up to the deck. Behind him, a sense of familiarity washes over Ryo’s mind. A small pain pulses in the back of his head. He tries to shake it off and follow behind Axel. At the top they both greet Finn.
“What is this? I never heard of a ship here.” Axel confronts Finn.
“Of course. No one knows its here.” He glances at Ryo, who comes up right behind Axel, listening.
“The only people who know its existence is me…and your father.” Finn directs his words at a stunned Axel. “Let me introduce you. This is the Azure Zephyr. The ship once belonged to your father.”
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