“Was it really so long ago?”

The sun shone brightly as the sensei’s voice called out.

“Who can tell us what today commemorates?” he called out to the children before him. Several hands shot up eagerly in response.

“How we fought to protect our village!” a young girl cried out/

“Very good!” the sensei congratulated as the eight year old girl beamed proudly. “Does anyone have anything to add to this?”

The hands were a little more reluctant this time as one of the older boys sheepishly raised his hand.

“Eighteen years ago a broken ship landed on our shore.” The boy explained.

“Hansemo the Sixth elder of our village took a group to help them and were met in battle. Even though there were only seven of them, and they were beaten up, they almost wiped us out.

In the end we beat them, but the Sixth died in the battle. His father the Fifth announced that all the weapons and bodies of the invaders should be destroyed, as such bringers of death had no place in our village and we have lived in peace ever since.”

The teenager who had been listening in on the class turned away.

He was quite clearly a foreigner himself with his chestnut brown hair, tan skin, and hazel eyes, but he had lived in the village his entire life and considered himself one of them.

Picking up the long curved blade he had been holding in his arms, the teen rose to his feet just in time to hear his name called out.

“Makku! Makku!” another teen called out running towards him.

The newcomer, like most of the village, had long black hair, pale skin, and dark brown eyes. He also carried a long curved blade hanging on the sash on his waist.

“Ryuku what is it?” Makku inquired as Ryuku caught his breath.

Between gasps, Ryuku grasped Makku’s shoulder pulling him forwards.

“We need to go!” he cried. “Strange ships have been spotted approaching our shores and the Fifth has ordered all warriors to gather!”

“Ships? Here?” Makku exclaimed.

The island they lived on was small with no other land for miles. While there were other villages on it, it was almost unheard of for ships to find it. In fact, these would be the first ships since…

Makku turned back towards the children who were continuing their lecture. Could this really be happening again on the anniversary of the dreaded day? Could such a thing be considered as coincidence?

Ryuku’s voice broke his trance.

“Come Makku!” Ryuku insisted. “Sensei is waiting for us!”