hi. gonna try something new, ill update the rest
[Part 5] — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — [Part 7]
Chapter 11
Tachys
Over the course of a week, Anthimos trains Emilios and Cain like hell. Due to lacking the experience or ability to use spirit energy, Emilios’ martial prowess improves much faster than his control over the energy, while Cain’s own abilities develop at a similar rate.
While in a sparring session, Cain rushes toward Emilios with a training sword, Emilios barely dodges in time, his shirt nearly getting caught in the wooden blade. He sighs, and looks ahead.
“Uncle Anthimos has repeatedly mentioned that speed is the key… But Cain’s still faster…”
While in thought, he ducks under Cain’s blast of explosion, and kicks over a ball of spirit energy. He watches the energy barrel toward Cain, who destroys it with an explosion.
“Hm…”
Cain rushes in for another slash. Emilios, lost in thought, has his head smacked by the sword.
“…Something wrong, Emilios?”
“I’m feeling like I’m not fast enough… But I just had an idea.”
Cain stands back, watching Emilios as he begins to charge energy up, his anklet beginning to glow white. He goes into a wider stance as the energy begins to form a shroud around him.
“Ahah… Hah…! A name came to me… This’ll be… Epitachyno!”
The power around him explodes, and he begins to lap around Cain several times with Cain being unable to track him.
“Wha?! Where’d this speed come from?!” Cain yells, getting dizzy from spinning around.
“Woahoh… Emilios..” Anthimos gets up, watching intently.
Emilios suddenly stops as he lands a strong side kick on Cain. He lands on both feet and lands several punches, lifting him up and finishing with a strong somersault kick, sending Cain flying backward toward Anthimos, who catches him.
“Yeesh…! Emil…” Cain coughs.
“Ahahahahah! Finally! All this energy feels… Amazing! Hah!” Emilios says, running around wildly like an animal.
“Now this is what we’ll need… You kids might finally stand a chance.”
The energy then dissipates, causing Emilios to trip and fall.
“Only temporary… But with the two of you there, hm… Well you two, you’ve come quite a way from when you started. I think you’re ready for the second stage of your training.
“There’s a second stage?” Cain asks, rubbing his stomach as he gets up.
“Yep. I can teach you what I can, but ol’ Gaius thinks that you won’t grow past a point without hardships. I won’t doubt him, though, he’s got a point.”
“Our own assignment? Hell yeah! So what’s up first??? Destroying Fort Neos??” Emilios excitedly asks, getting up.
“Pfft.. Well, actually…. No. Even if the commander is relatively weak, we can’t risk you guys being away for too long. Gaius’ll tell you your task. Go back to him.”
The two men nod, and wave goodbye. They head to their rowboats and start rowing back, but spot a ship coming toward them. A cutter sailboat. The sails raise and the ship anchors, with a figure waving at the two. Upon closer inspection, the figure was none other than Bevel.
“Oh, hey Bevel!” Cain waves, climbing aboard her ship.
Emilios jumps aboard as well, landing on the aft end. “Hope you don’t mind giving us a ride?”
“I don’t. I was on my way to let you know your blade was finished, Cain.”
“Oh, nice…! Thanks again, Bevel!”
“Good timing. We were headin’ back to my father’s hall anyway, for our next assignment!”
“You’re getting an actual assignment, huh? Niice…” The slightly older woman turns the boat around, and unfurls the sails. “There’s nothing like sailing. The feeling of freedom on the seas… Too bad you’re caught up in this stuff.”
“I don’t mind. Redwake is my home, and the Basileus is my father. I gotta make him proud somehow!” Emilios replies with a smile.
“Mm… It seemed nice, out there. Maybe after this is done, I can sail…” Cain responds, looking out toward the jaws. He could almost see other islands, through the many spires of earth.
“It’s a wonderful feeling, Cain. Gotta say. Hey, maybe you guys could use my ship? I could come with and pilot it. I don’t assume you guys have a ship lined up, huh?”
“Would the Basileus be alright with that…?” Cain asks.
“Probably. I’m forging stuff for you guys anyway, I’m basically a part of the war effort. Gettin’ a little cooped up here, though. Could get some materials out there… Or some inspiration…” She says, looking away.
“I mean… You seem smart, and strong enough. Emilios?” Cain looks toward his friend.
“Sure, why not? More the merrier, right?”
“Well, I’ll ask the Basileus. But for now…”
Bevel docks the ship by the pier, and anchors it. She hops off, with the other two following behind. Emilios walks ahead of them, running toward his father’s hall, forcing Bevel and Cain to run after him. They get up to the Captain’s Hall, where Gaius sits.
“What business do you have here, Bevel?” Gaius asks, eying the unexpected third member.
“I was wonderin’ if I could get in on whatever assignment these guys have. Get some material and inspiration and such… Iiiif that’s fine?”
“…Fine. But you had better be certain that no harm comes to my son. Or to Cain. Or I’ll have Petros personally test his mace on you…” Gaius gives the girl a menacing glare.
“Yeesh, I get it… Nothing bad’s gonna happen, don’t worry…” She responds, shivering a bit from the glare.
“So what’s the assignment, father?” Emilios stands at attention, with a wide grin.
“The Veridian Dynasty has a division dedicated to scouting, bounty hunting, and killing. The Veridian Hunters, led by Captain Veyne. We weren’t considering an attack on them before, but… It seems that the Grand Navy has issued an official criminal notice for them.”
“A criminal notice…? What’d they do?” Cain asks.
“Their killings of criminals and wanted men were listed as ‘inhumane’ according to them. They’re known for using poison-steeped weapons as well, which makes them dangerous. Because of this, I believe we can deal a crucial blow to the dynasty if we take them down.”
“I get it, yeah. They won’t be able to scout as easily.” Bevel deduces.
“Yes. You three should be more than enough to track him down. They’ve been seen building some outposts around the Crimson Sea, so keep an eye out for those. Check the bounty board before you leave, it might have an approximate location.”
“Got it. Thanks, father! We’ll do our best!”
“Please, be safe. Retreat if needed. And… Make sure you ransack the tower, for all it has.” Gaius smiles.
“Heh… You won’t have to tell me twice. C’mon you two, let’s go. Gotta pick your weapon up, Cain.” Bevel says, waving and turning back.
“See you, sir.” Cain waves, following her.
Gaius watches the three exit, eyeing his son in particular. He sighs, thinking to himself.
“Anthimos… Me… and Sevasti. Hmph… History really does repeat itself… Let’s hope it doesn’t repeat completely.”
Chapter 12
Crimson Seafarers
The three head down the stairs and into the blacksmith’s open office.
“Ah, there you are. Here ya go.”
The blacksmith picks out a certain polearm that stood out on the weapon racks. He hands it to Cain, who takes it in his hands.
“Woah…”
Cain admired the beauty that laid in his hands. A four foot wooden haft reinforced with steel, ending at a wide steel crossguard with a small ruby adorning the center. Atop the crossguard sat a three foot double edged blade, a bit darker from his tanto. On the other end of the haft was a small steel platform, in place of the typical sauroter. He was given a leather sheath on his back as well, which he puts his swordspear in.
“This thing’s incredible…! Thank you so much, Bevel..”
“Yep, don’t mention it… That platform at the other end is meant for your magic. A little reinforcement that you could probably imbue it onto.” Bevel responds, admiring her work.
“Almost makes me wish I could use weapons… Eh, whatever. C’mon, let’s move on!” Emilios says, marching out of the smith’s den.
Bevel looks at him with disdain, but follows along. They arrive at the bounty board and begin looking through the many papers.
“Should be… Ah, this guy!” Emilios pulls a certain paper off the board, and reads it out, “100000 Drachma for this guy, huh.. Last seen… Harvest Island?”
Bevel looks at a map of the Crimson Sea. “Hm… Not too far from here. We can probably stop at Palo town, then continue onto Harvest.”
“Sounds good to me. Anything else we need before we leave?” Emilios asks.
“We’re fine. We can get some things at Palo Town if we need to.” Bevel responds, heading toward her ship.
The two men nod and follow her back. Cain and Emilios sit on the ship while Bevel turns it around, facing the open waters. She checks her compass, and has the two unfurl the sails. Cain takes slightly longer, but copies Emilios and gets it done. Before long, they sail out of The Jaws, and into the open waters.
Cain looks over to the island on their right, where he awoke for the first time. He smiles a little, remembering the events that led him here. He looks out to the massive iceberg, with a small town atop it, then out to the open waters. The sea breeze felt quite nice, and the sea itself was absolutely beautiful. The islands around him brought no memory, but the open sea certainly felt familiar.
Emilios brings out his own compass, helping Bevel navigate.
“I didn’t think you had any ability to navigate..” Bevel says with a surprised tone.
“My father taught me during his crusade!” Emilios responds, smiling.
They sail between a couple islands, then Bevel turns the ship to the left. Far ahead of them was Palo Town, which stood in stark contrast to Redwake. Brick houses with colorful roofs, and a small wilderness on the back.
Cain looked at it in awe, but his attention was soon grabbed by something else. A massive stone spire that stood above even The Jaws.
“Woah… What is that..?”
“Huh? Oh, they call it The Stepstones. They lead up to the Sky Islands.” Bevel answers.
“The Sky Islands…?”
Those words felt familiar to him, for some reason. Before he could think on it more, Bevel anchors the ship and they raise the sails in the docks of Palo Town. Emilios and Bevel hop off the ship, Cain following shortly after.
“It’s getting a little late, so I think we can rest up for now. Hopefully they won’t move overnight…. We’ll need the rest, anyway.” Bevel suggests, heading off toward the city center.
The other two nod, and follow her. They find an inn after a short time, and rent their rooms, resting for the day ahead.
bye, next one