Chapter 6:

Want One – Need Two

Strikers


The ‘Ns’ and Strike’s team walked around ten yards under the overhang and finally reached the left side of the projection. There was a triangular-shaped entrance towards the inside of the overhang, like a tunnel. Inside there, were iron torches, fixed to the wall. As they went further inside the tunnel they kept hearing a metal smashing sound.

“It is really hard to find our house because of the random winds. It only happens here, in the whole archipelago as far as I know.” said Nick. “By the way, what is the smashing sound we hear?” Strike throw out an open question. “Oh, that’s just our father. He’s a blacksmith as well as an armorer”.

Strike and Mike looked at each other’s faces and smiled while nodding. “Noah, we are double glad to meet you and Nick. Since we now know your father’s profession. Will he be able to make us, two custom weapons?” Strike asked pointing to himself and Mike. Noah stopped. Crossed his arms and looked down while holding his chin (In short, a ‘thinking posture’) and said “Well…I can’t guarantee he’ll make them. It actually depends on what my father thinks about you. He first judges a person by so many levels before he slams a hotrod iron onto his anvil”. Strike thought for a bit. “Alright, I and Mike are ready. Can you call your farther out? We are ready for the judgment” Strike said confidentially. “Here you go. There he started showing off his confidence again.” Knightin Gale said in a way of disregarding. Then Nick started talking. “One thing: He doesn’t like ‘being ordered’. He says ‘if a customer wants something to be done. He or she needs to meet him face-to-face’ personally”. 

For a moment, Strike thought that he was too rough on meeting guests. He apologized to Noah and Nick, asking them to call out their father. “I’ll…I mean; we’ll go meet your father. Can any of you direct us to him?” Strike came to his utmost politeness. Nick and Noah looked at each other and gave a slight smile to Strike and Mike and said “Okay. Come with me”. Noah said. And took Strike and Mike, further into the cave. What Knightin Gale saw was; that they kept going further in, to a dimming light of the fire. And she stayed with Nick, waiting for their return and started having a conversation with Nick, about their islands, about their abilities against warfare. And that story went in so many directions with so much information.

( Part one: Want one )

Strike and Mike came to the end of the cave. They saw a furnace crackling with hot burning coal, sketches and measurements of different weapons and more mind-blowing armourer stuff. “Hey father…” Noah spoke normally. But his voice didn’t get heard due to his father forging a weapon. “FATHER! YOU HAVE CUSTOMERS!” Noah screamed his throat out. And finally, he heard. The armourer stopped forging the weapon and came running (he was a fat person, his run meant a thin guy’s walk) towards Noah (don’t know why he was running as if to kill Noah). The armourer grabbed Noah from his shirt and exclaimed. “Where the hell have you been!? I am worried sick. I searched all over the place for you. I searched for Nick. No one! You both were GONE! No note. Do you even…” “Whoa, whoa father slow down. We’ll talk about this later. Okay? You have customers.” Noah said to dodge the yells. The armourer pulled Noah up from his shirt and raised him off his feet and dropped him. “Don’t you dare do that again” the armourer spoke madly and as soon as he dropped Noah on the floor and looked at Mike and Strike with narrowed eyes. “What do you want? Make it quick before those cleavers go cold” (armourer had no politeness; customer or not). 

Strike began to talk. “Hello, sir, sorry to bother you at a time like this…” “What time is it?” the armourer asked. Mike sighed and said “It’s about a few hours after sundown” and whispered into Strike’s ear, “this might be part of the test right?” Mike nodded. “Let me continue…this is Mike, my best friend in my homeland. We two are Haeicrols, from Blastrik island” Strike said while pushing Mike away and pausing for a moment. The armourer had been ‘jawdropped’. “Wait! You mean…you are … what was your name again?” the armourer asked. And this time he was a bit polite. “I didn’t tell you my name. Yet. I’m Strike K. Ace. Alpha of the Haeicrols clan. Anyway Mike wants a … some weird looking chain weapon and what I want is a sword that fits my skills”. The armourer began to speak. “My name is Robert Wiscurd. Pleasure to meet you…” and while he’s thinking “…I think; I might have what you wanted from me Strike. I’m not sure about your friend. If he or you have any idea of what you need. I mean, a sketch of the blade he needs and components likewise, I need more details”. “Oh I have more than enough details of my weapon. It’s my dream to wield it. Here’s what I think all you need to know about my weapon,” Mike gave a scroll. Inside there was the weapon of his choice. Mr. Wiscurd took the scroll. “Hmm…Shouldn’t be a problem making it. I’m worried that you might get cut into pieces by wielding this” he said and giggled. “But, right after I’m done with your pal Strike here”. He continued.

“Master Strike, follow me. I was waiting long enough to meet a person like you. I think; you might be the right person to be the one!”. Mr. Wiscurd took Strike towards the well they found near the overhang. Strike was surprised to figure out a short, safer path to Nick and Noah’s house from the well. The path was also covered with a fake rock, that really blended in with the other rocks. Mr. Wiscurd revealed four sketches of unique swords. “Master Strike, these are the four blessed swords of the two tribes. Identify them. Choose one and only one. Choose the wrong, then I’ll make your sword depending on your skills, but if you choose the right one, the one true emperor chooses, I’ll give it to you. Remember, follow your instincts” Strike got anxious. He rubbed his eyes and started examining the sketches.

Strike described what he saw in those swords, whispering to himself. “the first sword. Definitely belongs to the Descendants, cause the blade is divided into two from the middle to the head; like two wings of a phoenix. The second, looks like to be built for defence and deal heavy damage to the enemy, therefore it can be Yaeries; to represent the Chimera”. After figuring these out Strike was stunned by seeing the last two swords. Those two swords were so unique, kept Strike struggling with his own thoughts. “damn, only difference except the shape here is that, in third, user can shoot the whole blade, but the fourth, user can shoot the blade in pieces…” Strike whispered. He knew that one belongs to Haeicrols and the other one belonged to Mesuiers. But he didn’t know which one and questioned Mr. Wiscurd. “Mr. Wiscurd, are there any other weapons not shown here and you wish to tell me about?”. Mr. Wiscurd smiled with tears of joy in his eyes. “All this time I wanted to just hear those words. A sword is other than the blessed sword. A swordsman relies on skill than power. You are one of the chosen emperors, master Strike.” He said and wiped his tears. Then in a different voice he said, “in fact, master Strike, there’s no set of swords as blessed swords.” Then again in another tone, “the sword you seek is inside the well. Jump and dive until you see a glimmering shine. Then go towards the light. Take the DRAGON sword of the emperor!”. But that’s not just it. He indirectly pointed out to Strike, that if he is still not commendable with that weapon he’ll drown. Strike got the idea. He jumped. On the way down he quickly figured out two ways to climb back up. One way to come with the sword, the other way is to come without the sword. He fell about two hundred feet into the well to touch the water surface. It was pitch black under the water. When Strike looked back up, Mr. Wiscurd holding a burning iron torch. The torchlight kept dimming and was not much of help down inside.

( Part two: Need two)

Meanwhile, after Mike was told his weapon will be made after Strike got his sword, Knightin Gale and Nick were having their conversation normally. Mike and Noah came back towards the cave opening, to meet Knightin Gale and Nick. “Hey guys, we’re back!” Mike shouted. “Hey Mike, Noah! Where’s Strike?” Knightin Gale questioned. “He’s getting his sword from Mr. Wiscurd, Noah and Nick’s father”. Mike said. Knightin Gale was happy with that answer. “So, Noah, Nick…I need to ask something from you. Did you give any protection to the small Yaeriy group, the South side of this island?” she probed. “Ever since the Queen Yinsu declared war, me and my brother didn’t help any trespassing Yaeries. Why ask?” Nick answered. “Well, there was a small group of Yaeries who came and demolished ‘the Central’ to ruins. Strike was the third-in-line for the alpha. It was just a few days back. Strike lost his brother and I lost one of my best friends in that fight. Strike was so heartbroken, that he couldn’t do a thing to at least see his brother’s face. I can feel his pain though I’ve never been in such a situation”. Knightin Gale told the scene in short and explained it to Nick and Noah. “Me and Knightin Gale joined him, as a team, making him the leader. We are planning to stop Yinsu from disturbing the peace of seven centuries. And we have to find an archer, a short blade wielder and a swordsman except Strike and Me and Knightin Gale”. Mike explained the mission; adding more reasons and information to Knightin Gale’s statement. Noah and Nick looked at each other and smirked. “Well…We can help you with an archer and a swordsman”. Knightin Gale and Mike were thrilled at the moment. They instantly asked who they were. And Noah and Nick pointed them out. “You see; I like to hit targets from long range but Noah likes to go in; straight into the battlefield. Since we are ‘to be’ and ‘already’ alphas. It’s good to join some known, skilled people. Right?” Nick said. Knightin Gale and Mike happily agreed.

A few hours later, the earth quavered (just a little bit. No big deal). “Noah. He’s the one. He really is the one!” Nick shouted. “Who’s what?” Mike asked. Then Noah and Nick explained about the sword and the test his father was doing with Strike. Right after the part, Noah said that Strike found a sword hidden deep inside the 200 feet deep well, Knightin Gale stood up and grabbed and held Noah just like his father did. “You may be now our friend. If anything happened to Strike, I WILL PUT YOUR HEAD INTO YOUR FATHER’S FURNACE!” Knightin Gale yelled. “Oh this is getting old; the second time in the same day. Can we talk this out? I don’t want to start another war by hurting a lady”. Noah said a bit chokingly. “Whoa take it easy NG. As long as I know Strike…Nothing will happen to him.” Mike said. “I warned you. Remember that.” Knightin Gale released him.

A few hours later (almost midnight), Mr. Wiscurd appeared from the front entrance. “Sorry children, Strike lost the test. He drowned” he said and covered his face with his elbow. “That’s it. You are DONE FOR!” Knightin Gale tackled and grabbed Noah again but, from the neck, this time. “Wait! Father, what do you mean? The earth shook!” Nick tried to save his brother’s head from being barbequed by an iron forging furnace. “Of course, I’m joking. what do you expect? Ha ha!” Mr. Wiscurd laughed holding his belly. Then Strike appeared behind the burly armorer, so tired that he could hardly breathe and can’t walk straight. “Guys…I…Found…The sword…the sword…” Strike fainted. Knightin Gale released Noah. “Well this is not called for. Take him to your bed, Nick. Let him rest. And, Mike, right? I already made your weapon. Just need to cool it for a bit. It’ll be ready for action by tomorrow at least by high midday.” Mr. Wiscurd said. “That’s fine by me”. Mike said. “I’ll show you a few places in our house, so you can decide where to sleep”. Noah said and led them to, a bit less deep into the cave.

Everyone but Strike went to sleep. Strike brought his sword and came to the cave entrance. There were only a few hours left to moonset. He first closed his eyes and swung the sword with the scabbard and fixed it to his back. Then he pulled the sword, off the scabbard over his shoulder. But he felt a little lightness than with his previous swords. He opened his eyes and all he saw was the hilt, cross-guard and a small chain coming out of the ricasso. He removed the scabbard and turned it upside down. The whole chain came out from the scabbard with parts of the blade. “Did that old man gives me a broken sword!?” Strike said to himself in disappointment. “It’s…a chain sword Strike. Better get used to it or you’ll end up cutting your team and yourself” Noah yawned and giggled. “I can teach you the basics while on the way to stop Yinsu”. Noah said again. “I almost forgot…Welcome to …Strikers! Yeah, that’s a good name for our group.” Strike said. “Well, let’s head on to bed. Wake up tomorrow and leave to the eastern harbour. We can get a ship my friends have built for me.” Noah said, yawning. Both of them went back to have a few hours of much-needed sleep.