Chapter 7:

Came Back Home

Strikers


The sun had risen, when all the five ‘STRIKERS’ (That’s what we call them now) woke up and came out of their beds. Mike kept hearing a metal refining sound from the armoury. “I’m going to the armoury to check my beauty. Be right back.” Mike said and whooshed out. Meanwhile Noah pulled down a map hung to the cave wall and showed it to the other. Strike told the plan so far…to Noah and Nick. Noah thought for a bit and pointed out few locations. “I hear what you’re saying Strike. We have to make a real plan now. With everything,” Noah said. Strike said, “We’re listening…” and drew a symbol ‘S’ and stroke through it from the point, like to separate a small piece of the symbol. Knightin Gale saw that and thought “I’ve seen that mark somewhere. Why can’t I remember the meaning?”. “Any troubles NG?” Nick asked. “Not at all” Knightin Gale smiled and said. “Okay here’s the plan…”

( Part one: The final plan )

 “After Mike brings out his (mockingly) ‘beauty’, we’ll head on to the East-Southeast coast of Jweyine island. We commandeer one of the vessels docked in the harbour and head too…” Noah hinted Strike to hear, where to land. “We’ll land on the coastal bridge of the Blastrik island. But we have to go around Peninsula of Draum, so it’ll be easier for our upcoming activities.” Strike said. “Very well. We’ll set sail to the coastal bridge and may I ask why we can’t go through it?” Noah questioned. “In winter, the water becomes ice, and not in other seasons; the waters are shallow because of the reefs. The place is kind of a fish sanctuary. Plus, the sand washed away from Draum and the desert Ashes a bi-colour sand path is made. And that’s how the bridge becomes ‘the coastal bridge’.” Strike replied. “Copy that. Good to be able to know some geography about your homeland. As I said, we land NEAR the coastal bridge and go to Zornd bay through Venviiya village. Then we meet NG’s team, the future strikers and head back coastal bridge. Get on board the ship and straight to Grand Lagoon, then, build a camp. Couple of surveillances and BAM! Stop Queen Yinsu from sending her armadas. To be honest; far as I know. Yaeries have the biggest armada out of all four clans.” Noah came to the end of his plan.

“Children! Do any of you recognize this emblem? Never seen anywhere before,” Mr. Wiscurd said. “Where’s Mike, father?” Noah asked. “He’s in the armoury sharpening and cooling his weapon so it’s ready for action.” Mr. Wiscurd said. Strike was surprised. “Where did you get it? Give it to me, please Mr. Wiscurd.” Strike stood up shocked. “Here you go. I don’t know what that is.”. Mr. Wiscurd said. “This is no ordinary scroll. This belongs to Yaeries. A beast scroll, to be exact. And it’s locked. Are you two hiding something?” Strike looked at Noah and Nick madly. “We have nothing to do with it Strike. You have to believe us.” Nick said. “Alright then, NG do you know how to open this?” Strike asked. “Piece of pudding,” said Knightin Gale. She did some sort of tricky things with the scroll and when Strike got it back, the fangs that were beside the “Y” were removed with the silver ribbon. “How did you do that NG?” Strike questioned while unrolling the scroll. “True skills happened to be learned. Not by teaching how. Know what I mean?” Knightin Gale proudly said and giggled. “Whatever. It’s my good fortune that I have you, to unlock upcoming scrolls.” Strike said and started reading the scroll. Written there was…
Captain Shaei,
The time has come captain, you have to unleash the myths by any means necessary, Queen’s commands. Also ordered to send a report to homeland headquarters about the demolition process.
Sergent Yin

Strike read it aloud so all of them can hear. While rolling back the scroll, he noticed a crack in a fang (the only fang) (looks like, whatever the animal that had had that tooth, never brushes its teeth.). Strike held and put his left it through the crack. “There’s something in here. NG…” Strike held it to Knightin Gale. “Why me?” She asked. “Because you are a lady. Your hands are delicate when it comes to opening up cracked fangs.” Strike said as if to joke and placed the fang in Knightin Gale’s hand. She unpleasantly took the fang and opened the fang by using the crack. “Oh my god! This just can’t be? I thought they…they are just rumours.” Knightin Gale shockingly cried out. “What is it? Say it!” Nick asked. “This, right here is an actual Chimera’s tooth.” She said. “So…?” Nick asked. “That means that the beasts are real.” Noah said in curiosity. Strike read the small paper. It said …
She who finds you ‘at’ an end, will be your worst mystery. The greatest will fall on his knees, for the first and the last time in front of who she is. What you would become, is a right to you to choose by yourself. Know who to believe and find the key to reveal.

“This thing sounds like, one of that guy’s riddles, right?” Knightin Gale said. “I know; We have to be on alert.” Strike said. “HOLY PUMPKIN PIE! I just understood the letter!” Nick screamed suddenly. Everyone in the room was surprised. “What is it? Spill the beans Nick,” Noah said. “The Myths…the myths are the beasts of each clan’s fighting technique. Unleashing the four beasts means working for Yaeries. The demolition process is what they did to ‘the central’ city. Group-wise destroying critical places of each island” Nick explained his theory. “Holy…I’m speechless! But Nick, proud that you solve it. WAIT! We have to be quick before they get to the beasts.” Noah said. “You’re right Noah, let’s leave as soon as Mike gets his weapon. Tell me; How much time does the journey cost to go to the harbour?” Knightin Gale asked. “Well, if going on foot, it would take about three days. If straight without sleeping or resting, on camels, it will only take a day and a half. With rest.” Nick said. “We have no camels. We’ll be on foot. We’ll sleep each day as the moon rise and leave as soon as the majority of us woke up. Sounds good? I’m suggesting we start at, three hours before sunrise, so we can go a good distance in the time the desert is not too cold and not too hot. What do you say?” Strike ordered and openly suggested. “That’s good you lads. As I experienced, that way you’ll be in the harbour in MAXIMUM four days.” Mr. Wiscurd said. “Okay, then all we have to do is wait for Mike.” Nick said.

( Part two: Left – Right – Left )

Mike came running all the way to the cave entrance with his weapon (sort of). He raised his arm and showed them his weapon and all of them barely held their breaths from laughing, seeing what he has in his arm. All Mike had of it was the grip of his weapon, the rest was laid down on the road, by mistake and it looked like a giant metal python slithering in the cave. “Why are you laughing? It’s a perfectly cool weapon.” Mike said. Strike secretly raised his right arm and pointed at it with his left arm to signal Mike to look at it. Then Mr. Wiscurd told them how the weapon operates; “Young lad, you have to keep in mind that I let the trigger tight to the grip. Put the thumb and rub on one way, to either pull or throw the steel string. It’s kind of a chain; so I guess you can call it that way.” Mike noticed what Strike showed and Mr. Wiscurd said. “Oops, I guess, I should rub the grip, down, so the chain gets retracted. I just need to…” Mike placed his thumb finger on the top of the weapon’s grip and pulled it down. The 30 feet long chain came whooshing back with its massive sharp-edged scythe at the end. “Father watch out!” Noah jumped and fell with his father. If Noah hadn’t seen the scythe at the end, his father’s head would have split in two. The chain was now retracted. “Can’t you be a little careful Mike? You MORON! you almost killed Mr. Wiscurd” Strike yelled. “Sorry man, I didn’t know it’ll come that quick. Sorry everyone”. Mike apologized.

“Well, it’s about time we should leave.” Strike said while putting his old sword on the scabbard attached to his belt on the right-hand side and putting the new sword to the scabbard attached to his back (slightly tilted to right). Strike was about to be the sixth dual-sword wielding alpha in his clan. Dual-wielding skill was endangered in their clan because the skills didn’t pass down.

“Children, take this bag with you. I packed, a few water sacks, an enlarged map of each and EVERY SINGLE island in Mythesia, a flint with a knife, some silver-green plant leaves and a rough paper to sharpen your weapons. Good thing I have experience in those adventures.” Mr. Wiscurd said. “Thanks father. These stuff will be more than helpful. We are leaving now. See you in few weeks or maybe months, father.” Noah said. “I’ll send you a report every week father” Nick said. They both greeted Mr. Wiscurd and left the cave, the cave to the top of the overhang and headed to the East - Southeast side of the Jweyine island.

Time is now two and a half hours before sundown. They came about one-third of the way to the harbour. The heat of the desert was now starting to cool at a really sluggish way. “I’ll stay on guard, Nick. Mike, grab some dried bushes that are grown near those greeny throne trees.” Strike said. “They are called cactus. Sheez” Knightin Gale said. “Whatever!” Strike ignored and continued, “Noah, get the flint and knife, and prepare a camp fire. I’ll keep adding bushes in a small amount so you guys can sleep in warmth.” “Well, since you are on guard, I’ll keep you company. So I can have some time to teach you about the emperor’s sword. By knowing the rumours and actuality of the sword, you’ll be an expert it no time. I’ve fought with my grandfather before he left father and us.” Noah suggested. “That’s great Noah! Plus, we can do the guard in shifts so at least not the same person needs to stay, without sleep till the journey is over” Knightin Gale added another idea. “Fine. Let’s do it that way then.”

 As discussed, all except Strike and Noah went to sleep. “So Strike, since you are the captain” Noah became friendly and took Strike a bit away from his teammates. “Let’s see…” Noah drew his sword to Strike’s neck “…WHAT YOU GOT”. Strike bent and pulled out his new sword. “What do you think you’re doing!? SNAPOUT OF IT!” Strike confusingly looked at Noah. “Man, chill out, part of the training.” Noah winked. “Oh! I see, so I have to TRY to kill you. Isn’t it?” Strike assertively said. “you are on mate.” Strike finished his words and drew his old sword from his left hand, while holding the two-handed emperor’s sword in right. Noah was surprised as Strike made himself to wield the two-handed sword in one hand. “Strike what you’re trying to do is not good for your hand. The emperor’s sword is a two-handed, heavy sword. You only need to block one heavy attack of the enemy and your right arm is done for!” Noah warned Strike. “What happens to my body is not your concern. Fight me Noah!” Strike shouted. At that moment Mike also woke up. “holy sea crabs!” he swiped his sweat on his forehead. “What a nightmare, What’s happening?” Mike saw Strike and Noah fighting. He ran to them with his scythe (he named it, chained-dragon) screaming “STOP the fight NOW!” and released the chain. The scythe dashed toward Strike and Noah... and hit at the same moment, and the three swords crisscrossed. The impact was so heavy, that it blew away the three swords with Strike and Mike to the front. The sound of the impact resonated through the air at the contacting moment. Mike ran towards them much closer while retracting the scythe. “What in the god’s name are you two doing? We are on the same team”. “We know that Mike. Man that hit was too great.” Noah complemented. “Well, at least one of us understood his weapon’s potential” Strike put back his swords to their scabbards; crossed his arms and nodded. “Go back to sleep, we were actually training,” Noah said to Mike. “We’ll stop for today. You were not bad. Unbelievable that your arm is still able to move after the hit from the scythe.” He said to Strike and went back to the camp (they had built a campfire, so now the place was a camp. Even provisionally. Campfires are supposed to be in camps, right?)

It’s the third day of the journey to the harbour. “Strike…” Mike tiredly called. “What?” Strike stressfully replied. “it’s just…we are AGAIN, running out of supplies.” All of them stopped at once and shouted “WHAT!?”. “Don’t look at me, by the way it was only food.” Mike excused himself. “Well we just have to be quicker. Speed of all activities should be done in double” Strike sighed and ordered. “argh…affirmative” all Strikers agreed.

One hour past midday; “Hey guys? Am I seeing things or is that a person lying in the middle of the desert?” Nick said. “I can assure you, you are not the only one,” Mike said. Strike instantly started running towards that person. He took a look and the person was extremely wounded; cuts and bruises were seen all over the body. “Strike! What’s happening over there?” Knightin Gale shouted. “Not good…I think he’s still…” Strike couldn’t say a word. A group of about twenty men came to Strike from the direction they headed, with swords, knives and literally anything that has a sharp blade. They surrounded Strike in a shape of a crescent moon. After a few seconds rest of the strikers arrived. Then ring leader of the group called out, “halt! The commander is here” to his men. “Hey juniors! What are you doing here?” Nick asked. At that very moment the ring leader screamed “SALUTE” all men put left leg forward and knelt down from the right leg and bowed their heads. Nick started smirking, “alright fellas stop it. You made me kinda embarrassed.” Nick said. “You know these guys?” Knightin Gale asked. “Yup. They are kinda my trainee students; in the one-hand sword-wielding academy.” Nick answered and hinted to the ring leader that he already asked them a question. “Oh. Sir, we spotted this man who was followed suspiciously by a group of Yaeries. But we couldn’t assure that the followers were Yaeries though. We thought this guy killed him so we tried to attack him and extract the information so…” Nick raised his left arm to the ring leader to stop and introduced Strike. “This is the alpha of Haeicrols’ clan. You may speak now, respectfully”. Ring leader continued, “my apologies alpha” he bowed. “return to the barracks men!” He saluted back to Nick and advanced away with his men back to where they came from. “Sorry for the troubles, Strike,” Nick fairly apologized. “Nick, you are lucky. You guys came just in time, or otherwise, if they tried to bleed ME, they might end up in a random heaven” Strike unwantedly warned all, like a way of saying it’s okay.

Knightin Gale took the person’s head to her hands. “Mike give me some water,” she said. “But our provisions…” Mike said. “What! Are you telling me to spray him some hot sand? Just give it to me for god sakes.” She yelled. Mike noticed tears in the edges of Knightin Gale’s eyes. He quickly took out a sack of water and gave it to her. Knightin Gale instantly took some water out and drizzled it to the wounded man’s face. “Hey…Hey mister…are you okay?” she tried to wake him up. “Does he look okay to you?” Strike said. She grabbed her knife and warned. Strike saw that’s odd behaviour for her to look at him that way. And Strike saw him from Knightin Gale’s eyes and remembered the day the central got attacked. “it’s happening…IT’S Happen…” he passed out. “NG, give the guy to Mike. We are taking him with us” Strike ordered. “Strike wait! Look…” Nick pointed at the stranger’s wrist. There was the same logo (‘Y’) as was in the beast scroll. “he’s one of the Yaeries. Strike, we can’t take him! Once he knows our plan. He’ll either destroy us or inform Yinsu.” Noah said. “Words stand for themselves, Noah. The decision won’t change.” Strike said. “Are you insa…” Mike let go of his right hand and told Noah to stop. “Forget it Noah. Once he says it, we do it. Remember? He’s the leader and I’m not putting this guy on the ground until he tells me to.” Mike said. “Guess we have no choice either” Nick sighed and said shrugging.

“Well, that’s JUST great! Another hour late. Sun is down. And we have miles to get through” Mike said. He was bored from walking miles straight. “Sun may be down; just because I say so, let’s just go over that dune.” As Noah suggested they all walked over the dune and finally reached their destination. The East-Southeast harbour of Jweyine island. “So, which boat are we going to commandeer?” Mike asked. “Oh, we don’t need to commandeer any. My brother is the alpha.” Nick winked. “Let’s take that boat over there. Three ropes are attached to the edge of the cliff connecting the foremast of the boat.” Noah said “Stop calling that precious, a boat. Look how gorgeous she is…don’t you dare call her a boat. And by the way, there is no crow’s nest there!” Mike loves the sea; like a treasure-hunting, ever-sailing pirate (except for the treasure-hunting part). “alright. Her actual name is Northern-Jewel”. They went to the cliff edge. Nick and Noah, Mike and stranger, Strike and Knightin Gale grabbed one rope each and jumped and slide on the black and green designed sails. “All hands on deck! Setting sails to coastal bridge…Arr!” Strike said. “You may be the captain of the ship but, PLEASE stop trying to be a pirate. Your voice doesn’t even sound like one” Knightin Gale mocked Strike and he looked down embarrassingly depressed, and the whole crew laughed together. “Mike, put the guy into one of the below-deck rooms. And come back.” Noah said. “Nick, Noah…hoist the sails of the mainmast. NG to the crow’s nest. I… to the helm” Strike said. “I told you, you are too bad to speak as a pirate. moron” Knightin Gale whispered to herself. “I can still hear you. And for the last and first time respectively; there is NO crow’s nest and there is NO helm in here! Gosh, seriously.” Mike shouted from below deck. And they left the harbour.

( Part three: Welcome home )

After spending a few hours, they were halfway there to the coastal bridge. “Strike…Watch the starboard! Watch the starboard!! WATCH THE STARBOARD!!!” Knightin Gale shouted. Strike suddenly turned the rudder to starboard so the ship turned to portside, so hardly turned, that the whole ship bent slightly. And that action also succeeded to wake up the stranger. The stranger (who is now covered in bandages) fell off the bed, rolled over and hit his head on the door. Then Mike opened the door. “Oh my my… you know, if you want to get out, you can always use the door knob. No need to smash it. Or at least not from the head” Mike said it as if he was giving an inspiration. “What…” asked the stranger, rubbing his head. “where am I?” “You are in a below-deck room in the Northern Jewel.” “Why am I here?” “Because captain found you dying in the desert of Jweyine island and brought you with us here.” Mike kept answering all his questions, and some before he even finished the sentences. “I need to meet the whole crew. Please, this is important!” the stranger couldn’t even stand up, but he grabbed and pulled down Mike from his shirt. “Alright, Alright.” Mike calmed down the stranger. “come with me…I mean hold me.” Mike brought the stranger to the deck. Noah grabbed his sword, Nick pulled out an arrow to shoot. “Guys, calm down. NG look around and come down.” Strike ordered. “My name is Michael. I am from Yaeries clan. HEAR ME OUT. The war is happening. Haeicrols, Descendants and Mesuier are gathering troops for the war with the Yaeries. But Yaeries didn’t want a war to happen. The war is…ah….” Michael’s courage began to drain. He slapped himself, grabbed his head with both hands and shook and whispered “why? why can’t I remember what I had in mind?”. “Well, Yaery or not, you are one of us now. Tell us what you know further when you remember. Nick, you go with him to the room and explain everything.” Strike told Nick. And so they went.

“I guess what he was trying to say earlier was, it’s happening might be the commence of the war between clans…though I keep wondering. If all three clans join forces to stop Yaeries. Yaeries won’t have a chance right?” Knightin Gale said openly. “We can’t underestimate them. As a matter of fact, Yaeries style is a Chimera which has the fighting techniques of a lion, goat, and snake. Plus, it was one of the Yaeries in the Aweners, who planned to stop the grand war.” Noah explained how troublesome Yaeries can be. But Strike didn’t attend the conversation, he locked the rudder previously after setting the course because they were in a low-wind zone. Strike was on the plank of the topgallant sail of the mast, grabbing a rope and looking towards the sun that was about to set on the horizon, wondering about the letter that came up with the beast scroll “Who will I meet at the end? What is the end? Could it be Yinsu? And why in the first place Yinsu want a war? For what reason? Argh! My head feels weird.”

A couple of minutes after the sun is completely down, “Strike, look! It’s Draum right?” Knightin Gale shouted to Strike from the far corner of the ship front, holding a rope tied to the flying jib. (‘flying jib’ is the first triangular-shaped sail which is connected to the plank in the front to the mast. Mast is the tall pole with sails, behind the flying jibs there are, outer jib, inner jib respectively). 

“Yes! Yes, it is!” Strike was glad they came back to Blastrik island. He swung down using the rope he was holding and jumped to the spanker and unlocked the rudder. “Hoist all jibs and sails. Full speed to the Peninsula of Draum.” Strike ordered. And in a matter of another couple of minutes, they came ‘too close’ to the peninsula. “So which way is it? should I turn the rudder” Strike whispered. No one heard the rudder part, so they yelled ‘turn to portside’. “Alrighty rudder to the port side!” Strike shouted. “WHAT! The RUDDER!?” the ship turned to starboard. “Everybody braise for impact. We’re going to hit the northern reefs of the coastal bridge.” Mike said it so much normally. “You freaky MORON! Turn the rudder to starboard. Ship to the port side. Idiot captain” Knightin Gale said. “Strike, if anything happened to this ship. I’m gonna give you a hard time in training.” Noah warned. “Sorry. My bad. I can’t see because of the mainsail and riggings and stuff. Turning ship to portside.” Strike said less contritely.

 The ship and the strikers finally went around the peninsula and came to the coastal bridge. “Let go of the anchor!” Noah said. All of them left the ship and started their way to Venviiya village; in the dark. “Why is Draum so dark Strike?” Nick asked. “It’s an animal sanctuary. Even Haeicrol clan people were prohibited to go there without telling the alpha or king’s note. We leaving it to stay naturally as it can. But every alpha should visit there and gift something to nature. It’s a ritual.” Strike explained to Nick. “well we have to cross through a wasteland now. The desert of ashes. It’s actually an ash-dried-up swamp. But some places, there are quicksand, mud traps and much unpleasant stuff.” Strike said. “then why didn’t we directly go to the Zornd bay?” Noah asked. “Because if we came back from your home, the chances Yaeries spotting us is high.” Knightin Gale said. “Don’t forget the desert that makes you go in the wrong direction without camels.” Mike said while nodding.