Chapter 7: Flame

Teebs and Shards docked on an island not too far from Simon’s town. Shards was sitting under a tree and Teebs was on the ship reading a book with a shovel in his hand. He occasionally looked at the sand and the shovel. He finally put the book away and walked to the beach. Shards looked his way and watched him as he dug through the sand. He came up with a box and pulled it towards her.

“Would you do the honors?” he asked, smiling.

“With pleasure,” she said, smiling as well.

She whispered something and a purplish-black smoke came from her hands. The smoke enveloped the box as she continued to whisper her chant. Finally, there was a loud click and the box flew open. The smoke disappeared and revealed the contents. The box held jewels and metal coins, some that looked like they had some person on them, but the most important item in the box was a smaller box. Teebs picked it up and opened it.

“Well?” Shards asked.

“There are letters in here,” Teebs said, looking at the dates printed on the aged paper, “2020, 2000, 1973, 1960, 1934, 1903… these date back to old world times. Most of them go before the End of the Old World, some even on the same year it happened.”

“What do they say?” Shards asked, pulling him down to the ground with her.

“Umm…. It’s kinda hard to translate old world, but I can try…,” Teebs said, sitting next to her, “Dear Fancie, I know it’s ban… been a tough few months, but we’ll prival… prevail. I got a new job working for Jacob, so hope… hopefully I can help pay the bills. I miss you mom… Sincerily… Sincerely, Luis.”

“Ooh, sounded like they were having trouble with money. What year was that?” Shards asked.

“Uhh, 1934,” Teebs replied, looking on the envelope.

It was rare to find Old World items, even more rare to find letters from the time. Very few people are able to read and write in that language, due to the fact that it has been forgotten over the past century.

“So, how much do you think these things will sell for?” Shards asked.

“Well, judging that it’s Old World, the museums and researchers will want to buy it. That and all of these coins would probably add up to at least two hundred jewels. That is, if we don’t check the dates on these things,” Teebs said, looking at a silver coin with a sideways head on it.

These coins were definitely Old World, the coins today had a unique symbol to their country. But these had faces, not symbols. And they had four numbers on them, some saying 2008 or 2000, some even saying 1962, absolutely nothing like the coins they had.

Zenith’s symbol was yellow with three black triangles pointed towards a black circle in the center. Harma’s was a bird that seemed to glow with different colors, each one different depending on where it was on it’s body. Apra’s being a crown of thorns or swords or some kind of knife, all of them pointing up. But these coins didn’t have any of these. Very few have ever seen coins like these outside of a museum.

“I’ll check the dates, you keep an eye on the pendant spawn,” Teebs said, placing the smaller box back into the bigger one.

“He’s been asleep for a few hours,” Shards said.

“Oh. Then do you want to help me?” he asked.

“Sure. It beats having to watch someone sleep,” she said, standing.

Teebs raised his arm and a block of dirt lifted the box and moved it towards the ship. When they arrived, they found that the island natives had gotten aboard.

“Hello there!” One of them said.

They seemed normal, mostly because they were. The island was found not too long ago, twenty years or so.

“Hi,” Teebs said, offering to shake his hand.

“I’m Miles,” Miles said, shaking Teebs hand, “This is an amazing ship you have.”

“Yeah, I guess it’s nice,” Shards said, glancing at Teebs.

“Uh… May I ask what are you doing on my ship?” Teebs said.

“Oh, I was dared to face the pirates of this ship, but I haven’t found any,” Miles said.

“I’m the only pirate on this ship,” Teebs said, setting the box down.

“Oh, is that the Old World chest? Man, we’ve found so many things from back then that we just decided to put it in a box and bury it. Glad you found it,” Miles said, putting a coin in there.

“Wait, this is the villages?” Teebs asked.

“Well, yeah, who else’s would it be?” Miles said.

“May I talk to you Shards for just a second?” Teebs said, grabbing her shoulder.

“Yeah?” She whispered.

“We can’t take this,” He said.

“What? Why?!” she said.

“Well, mostly because this belongs to living people! We only take from the dead, remember?” he said.

“Fine, but we’re going to find something on this island,” she sighed.

“Okay, got it,” he said.

“Uh… guys?” Miles said.

“Sorry about that. This is your’s, right?” Teebs said, pushing the box towards him.

“Yeah, well, technically it’s the village’s,” Miles said, picking up the box with ease, “Thanks for finding it.”

“No problem,” Shards said, giving Teebs a look.

“Uh… Do you know where we could find something that doesn’t belong to something alive?” Teebs asked.

“Well, there’s that weird obelisk in the center of the island, you can try that,” Miles said.

“Thank you,” Shards said, leaving the ship.

“No problem,” Miles said, following her and walking to the village.

What a nice guy, Teebs thought.