Winds of Destination

 The Dragon Slayer order, founded in the middle ages as a mercenary group that accepted newcomers with unified goals, regardless of nation, faith or fortune in their name. Soon their numbers increased and influence rivaled that of the church.

A political menace for the clergy, a deal was made between the Vatican and the order, which by the time the deal was made, was as strong as a sovereign nation, and thus, it was respected.

Also, the right for parallel organizations to operate with the Order as an overseer of the occupation as a whole. Intended to be a checkmate, orchestrated by the Holy See and the empires of the old world, in fact, led to a stalemate. One of many. No one can anticipate with precision how the scales will be tipped this time.

“Knight takes the bishop, check.” said the Order’s grandmaster, playing as blacks against a cardinal in a garden in Malta. Creating a three way fork between the king, queen and a rook.

Chapter V: Winds of Destination

Rome, Italy, the wind whispers from the sea, the autumn morning climate is the preferred for both of them. Alex and Karasu walk around in civilian clothes.
Alex goes for a simple combination, a white shirt with a stylized skull print, a black jacket with an union jack stitched on his left arm, with ripped jeans and red converse-style sneakers combination.

While Karasu wears beige skinny pants, a longer gray shirt with an asymmetrical cut, and a black cardigan with carps printed in the lower half, wearing a cream-colored scarf, and the ever-present cloth face mask, and finishing his outfit, a pair of lace-less gray shoes.

“Too bad we can’t spend longer here.” Alex remarks. 

“We are not here as tourists.” Karasu replies annoyed, as they enter a cafeteria.

Then they take the queue and make their requests, as they take a seat, on the other side of the hall, a woman with an appearance comparable to a mythological nymph, taking sips of coffee and reading a book, skin as pale as a marble statue, contrasting to her black hair, that reflects an iridescent glow.

Alex notices her, but quickly, his attention focuses again on the present, such a sight, being a simple ephemeral medicine for his eyes, soon, just a memory. He takes a sip of his drink, a cup of café latte. “Too bad we don’t have coxinhas here” Alex remarks.

Karasu takes his black coffee and replies with a hint of sarcasm “And you wanted to be here a little longer?”

A tall man, slightly hunched, eyes hiding behind the curtains, formed by his white hair, passes by. Karasu takes a look at the lady sitting across, her attention changes from the book to the white haired man.

He looks back at Alex, who looks at the sea from the window. “We will embark soon, let’s head to the port.” Karasu says.

On the way to the port, people live their lives. Some workers running late, some locals just enjoying the mornings, some tourists taking pictures, couples on a date and some street performances. People, living their lives, our heroes are to them, other nameless faces.

“As soon as we embark, suit up and get armed, we will have about 12 hours of patrol ahead of us.” Karasu reminds Alex, who just nods. They embark without issues.

🟆🟆🟆

In the ferry, Karasu, in uniform, approaches the deck, removes his oni face-mask, and gets a cigarette from his uniform’s inner pocket. He tries to light his cigarette but the wind extinguishes the flames regardless of direction.

Near the rails, a woman wearing a similar uniform takes her lighter and says in a soft voice “Here. This one is wind proof.” 

He takes her lighter and ignites his cigarette. “You were in the cafeteria this morning, right?” he says as he gives her lighter back. She turns around, as her hair dances with the wind.

She smokes a mint flavored cigarette, all black apart from a silver line dividing the filter and the tobacco. She carries 6 swords in her hips, her uniform’s coat is cut differently, her coat is more like a jacket, with a sash fitting like a corset, a hood and two fabric straps hanging on her back like a cape. bearing the emblem of the order.

VIVIANE MILLEFLEUR
Age: undisclosed
Veteran slayer

She nods as an answer for his question. As Karasu exhales the smoke he says “Thank you.” They share the silence of their words, hearing the wind’s song. 

“Are there more rookies this year?” Karasu asks, breaking the silence.

“I was expecting you to ask that.” she replies with a slight gasp of relief. “The one under my custody, one lady under Atila’s custody and a child under Margaretta’s custody.” She continues as she resumes to smoke. “I assume the one that was with you is a rookie as well, right?”

“Yeah, my boss sent me to watch over him, I still don’t have a name for myself in the order, I hope this doesn’t stop him from getting the license.” his worries and insecurities flow with the smoke. “By the way, I’m Carlos Kawata, call me Karasu.” He interrupts himself, suddenly remembering the social norms.

“I’m Viviane Millefleur, nice to meet you.” she replies in the same manner, not actually caring about such norms. They resume to be in silence, enjoying the wind.

🟆🟆🟆

Alex leaves his cabin for a walk. He bears his new shield, similar to his original round shield, now a well constructed shield, instead of being just a layer of steel over some crude frame. He looks at the horizon, mesmerized somehow, he bumps into someone shorter than him.

“Oh, sorry!” Alex says politely.

“HEY! What’s your problem?” a younger boy says. “Wanna fight?” He continues, wearing the same uniform as Alex, but unarmed, bandages cover his arms and parts of the face. His eyes locked in an angry expression, his uniform doesn’t have a collar and his coat is sleeveless.

“I already apologized.” Alex says annoyed.

 “DON’T SHOUT AT ME!” the younger boy says. Alex takes a deep breath and shouts back “YOU ARE THE ONE WHO STARTED!” They both stare at each other, with killing intent.

Alex takes a deep breath “Well, it would be cowardice to hit you, because you know…” he remarks.

“Is it because of my height?” the lad replies with an unamused expression.

“NO! It’s because of your wounds!” he says out loud, he thinks to himself “I could beat him anyway, I just don’t want trouble by fighting another slayer.”

“Well, whatever, I could beat you even with worse injuries.” the boy comments, while turning around.

“Repeat it.” Alex says in an imperative tone. The boy keeps walking, “If you are a man, repeat it!” Alex challenges.

He turns back to Alex and says “I can beat you up.”

“I ain’t gonna be beaten by a kid!” Alex expresses loudly.

“Why? Because of my height??” The boy replies in a similar tone.

Alex escalates and says “Maybe? What ya gonna do? Bite my ankles?” They both resume staring down, like angry dogs barking at each other, but with no intent of actually attacking.

“YOU BETTER NOT UNDERESTIMATE ME!” they shout in unison, calling the attention of a veteran agent.

He places his hands over their shoulders. “Gentlemen, you don’t want to give the order a bad rep, do you?”

They look at the man that interrupted their confrontation, Black haired with a stubble beard wearing the same uniform as them, carrying nothing but a spear wrapped in cloth.

ATILA KAYA
46 years old
Single Strike Spear

Both of the rookies calm down, as a form of respect towards a veteran, or fear… or confusion, maybe both. He pats their backs and says with a smile “Release your anger on the next dragon that appears, alright?"

 He leaves with a snarky remark, “heh, boys never change.”

As he leaves, both of the boys look a little perplexed. “Who does he think he is?” the younger one says.

“Yeah, he seems full of himself.” Alex adds.

“Sorry for earlier, my mistake. I’m Leonidas, but you can call me Leo.” he says as he extends his hand for a handshake.

“No, don’t worry, I’m the one that bumped into you! I’m Alexander, But everyone calls me Alex.”

 They shake hands, as if everything was solved, however, both think that the other was lucky they won’t get in a fight.

🟆🟆🟆

Attila climbs up to an upper deck, he looks up “Hey, you were supposed to be patrolling this boat, not having a snack.”

Sitting above him, a girl wearing her slayer coat over her shoulders, with a red shirt, black shorts with fishnet leggings. She holds a plate full of beef cooked rare.

“Hey boss, you know I need the extra iron, right?” she does a snarky remark, and offers some for him, while munching on a chunk of meat. “Wanna join us?”

“Us?” He asks.

By her side, a tall woman appears and leans in the same guard-rails as she seats.

She carries a large plate, with an entire roasted piglet, with an apple in its mouth, on her right hand, a lamb leg, roasted and glazed.

MARGARETTA LEIFSDOTTIR
33 years old
Thor’s hammer

“Hey Atila!” she says with a bright smile, and soon takes a bite on the roasted lamb leg. Atila looks unamused and waves: “Hi… by the way, your pupil almost had a fight with the Brazilian rookie.”

“Leo? Wow, but he’s such a sweetheart! His grandpa was lovely when talking about him!” Margaretta remarks, when reminiscing about her stay in Akritas. “He is such a sweet boy who helps in the farm. I can’t see him getting into a fight!”

The girl interrupts while munching on her meal “You told me he buried a hydra head by punching it into a mountain.” Margaretta stops for a second, “Adelheide!” she says, as if she was scolding the rookie.

“Well, whatever, We’ll be in charge of training them when we get to Malta anyway. Just be sure to not be eating the entire trip, see ya!” he says as he leaves.

🟆🟆🟆

Inside the ship, deep within one cabin, the pale lanky figure that accompanied Viviane curls up. He touches his left cheek, with his right hand. He remembers her caressing his cheek back in the barn, he remembers her stoic face changing to a sweet and warm smile as she speaks. A faint smoke comes out of his mouth, between his jagged teeth, a gasp of relief.

🟆🟆🟆

Hours go on in peace, the pass between Sicily and the mainland is the highlight of the travel, all slayers sit in one of the cabins. Karasu leans against a wall and take a look around. Adelheide leans in a sofa with spread arms and crossed legs sharing it with Margaretta.

 Leo and Alex share a single sofa, while Viviane and her mysterious rookie share another, with Atila prepares another Turkish coffee.

"Another cup anyone?" Atila offers with a joyous voice. Alex is the only rookie to accept the offer. "This one tastes really good." Alex says. 

"Hah, my father taught me how to brew a good coffee! I've heard about the Brazilian coffee, so I'm flattered for the compliment." Atila says with an smile on his face.

"Ah, you both are from Brazil! I would have never guessed!" Margaretta comments. Alex doesn't mind the comment at all. But Karasu? he looks away while drinking his coffee. A slight gesture only noticed by Viviane at the time. 

Viviane replies, "Well, maybe we should do the rounds of introductions now? We are comrades yet not everybody is familiar with each other. Especially the newcomers. well, I'll start." her voice sounds musical in itself, she then continues: "I'm Viviane Millefleur, from France."

Margaretta eagerly follows "I'm Margaretta Leifsdottir, I'm from Iceland! Nice to meet you all!" her smile fills up the room with her presence, she then proceeds to resume drinking the coffee.

in a clockwise fashion, they introduce each other. "Adelheide Schmidt, Germany, call me either Adel or Heide, how you prefer." she introduces herself in a laid back and casual tone.

"Leonidas Orestis, from Greece! You can call me Leo." he says with confidence and pride.

Next in line is standing up, he takes a sip of his coffee, "Atila Kaya, from Turkiye." he's simple and sharp, he resumes to drinking his coffee.

Alex freezes for a second, he thinks about the needs of this introduction ritual for a second, but he's one of them, at least for now. No thoughts about the uncertain future are present however, "I'm Alexander Camelot, From São Paulo, Brazil..." he slams on the table, stands up and then continues: "...and I will slay ten thousand dragons!" 

A silence takes over, he looks awkwardly at the room around him, everyone but the hooded rookie looks at him. Karasu leans against a wall, his gaze can be felt as if it was the edge of his blade. "Will you give them your social security number as well?" Karasu says. 

Adel starts laughing, followed by Leo and Margaretta. the others, except for the hooded rookie, gives of a faint smile.

"Forget them, you got the spirit! You will conclude this sooner than you think." Atila reassures as he pats Alex's shoulders. 

"More coffee?" the veteran offers, while everyone else anticipates Karasu's introduction.

"Well, I'm from the same city as him, my name is Carlos Kawata, but please, call me Karasu." He says as a way to deviate the subject.

With only one left, everyone ceases the laugher, the hooded figure's pale fingers curls on his cloak, he opens his mouth, showing jagged teeth, and lowers his head, leaving some strands of white hair to show up. 

"I... uh. My..." he hesitates to say, Viviane lays her hand in his, he opens his pink eyes, and takes a quick glance at her. Gaining the confidence to speak. "My name is Dino... nice to meet you."

Viviane smiles to him.

🟆🟆🟆

Scattered in the boat, Karasu and Alex stands guard firmly. Leo crosses his arms near the guard-rails, Margaretta fidgets her mallet while sitting nearby. Atila leans on his spear, while Adel sits on the roof above him.  And lastly. Viviane stands prepared to unsheathe a pair of her swords, and Dino stands nearby, a hooded figure towering over her with two sashes of his cloak flowing in the wind like wings.

The skies darken, the sunset is nearby. Malta, now visible in the horizon creeps closer. Anxious, our heroes await to reach their destination.