I feel a softness on my back and a cozy sensation as I open my eyes, the slight shaky sensation makes me realize that I'm on the ocean. It was not unusual for me to travel by boat since I've always been going around studying ruins here and there, so I tend to travel on all sorts of vehicles on a regular basis. I've been at least once to all continents so It really is nothing new.
However, strangely enough, getting to a boat without the slightest clue on how, and where on Earth I'm heading towards is a first.
I try to recall what happened but my head hurts so much I could swear I had just been hit with a hammer. I assume this is what people feel when they have a hangover. Thought I can only assume since the only alcohol I buy I either use it to disinfect wounds or to "buy" information of any locals.
If money makes them talk, then a drink makes them sing. I do however drink on special occasions.
I take a look at the room where I'm currently at. I'm laying on a bed and there are some cabinets with all sorts of flasks and medical tools and shelves with various books. Sitting on a chair while reading a book is also a middle-aged man who should be around forty, he has a ginger beard and is wearing glasses.
He notices me as I raise my upper body and sit on the bed. Closing his book he turns my way addressing me.
"Good morning. I was wondering when you would wake up."
"Morning Doctor, what happened?" I say as I massage my forehead.
The Doc gets closer and starts to examine me.
"Well my friend, I was hoping you would tell me." He then proceeds to explain what happened as he finishes examining me. As I hear his story my mind gets clearer and I remember what happened in the ruins all the way to me touching the sword. I however decide to not to tell him outright what happened.
"I see... how long have I been asleep then?"
"Since you landed on the deck about 16 hours. I'm not sure if you were unconscious or not before landing thought. From what I can tell there was and isn't anything wrong with your body. If I had to guess It was probably severe energy or mental exhaustion, you sure you don't remember anything?"
"Nope sorry, by the way which day is it and where am I?"
From what he told me I should have been unconscious for about two and a half days since the fight. I was now on board of a trade ship and should be arriving in the town of Initium later today.
That caught me off guard. If I was almost arriving at the Wind Continent then just how fast had I been travelling. Central Island was a week away from every Continent by boat, yet I made it here in less than two days. Sure I went trough a portal, but I assume It didn't take me that far away from those ruins.
"If you don't mind the captain would like to have a word with you since you are now awake."
"Ye, no problem."
He leaves the room and tells me it should take about half and hour and to rest if I still don't fell well. After he left I closed my eyes and lay my head on the pillow but I almost instantly raise myself.
"The Sword!?" I almost shout as the sudden realization falls on me.
"Did they store it away? Or did I just leave It at the ocean back then."
I look at my hand as I still fell the lingering sensation of the sword in my fingers. Almost like its still there.
In fact It really fells like its still there now that my focus is on my hand.
"What the..." The felling grows stronger and more consistent as I focus deeper on my hand.
I then remember the sword in my mind, an image as clear as if I was still looking at it comes to mind. When I focus on It more The Sword then appears out of thin light as I hold It in my hand dumbfound.
"Okay..."
After I recover from my sudden brain shutdown I then closely inspect the sword. Unfortunately I'm unable to make sense of the handle Inscriptions since I don't have my journal with me but I did now just notice four symbols on the blade which I previously hadn't. Even without having my journal with me I can easily read the symbols since they are the most basics ones one can learn.
These are the Iconic symbols of the four Sacred Temples.
"Wind, Fire, Water, Earth..."
A smile forms on my face, since now, I know exactly where I'm headed next.
The smile Is very soon replaced by panic however, as I hear people coming near the door. I very appropriately look at the beast of a sword in my hand and say to myself "Well that's not good".
I open my hand and close my eyes as I focus my best not to focus on the sword I was just focusing on.
The door opens. I then also open my eyes and look at my hands. Thankfully the sword had just vanished. Although I could still feel it in my hand, even if there was nothing in it.
"Hello there lad, felling better?"
I turn my head to the side as I see a middle-aged man whom I assume is the captain carrying in this face a cheerful expression alongside a young man not much older than me probably in his early 20s.
"The Captain I assume?"
"That would be me. Yes!" He says still with the same smile. The other person however had a serious expression on his face it was like he was piercing me with his gaze. My head still hurt but I could notice his aura.
He's strong.
"I'm still a bit shaken but other than that I'm fine."
"I see. Good to hear. I'm sorry to be a bother right after you woke up but the Doctor told us you didn't remember anything, not that I doubt you but do you seriously don't remember anything?"
"I'm sorry but I..."
I opened my mouth to answer, but as I felt the crew member's gaze I decided to switch my version ever so slightly.
"I just remember me being In central Island a few days back. The last thing I remember was me having a discussion with an... individual on the... heavy side and losing conscious after our interaction. I am unaware on how I arrived here other than what your Doctor explained."
The Captain nodded. "Hu hu I see, by the way do you happen to be an Elementalist?"
Elementalist. In this World anyone is able to use Energy from their surroundings to do a variety of things from enhancing one's strength, speed, toughness, and senses to levitating objects and some other rare abilities. However, they are not elementalists. An elementalist is "officially" someone who usually between their 6 and 12 years gains an attachment to one of the 4 elements gaining all sorts of abilities attached to their element. They are not exactly rare, as about 25% of the population gains and elemental attachment, even animals (the so called elemental beasts).
I say "officially" as the term is usually not used to describe one of those individuals but instead people who train the element they are attached to and make their job revolve around said abilities. Either to fight elemental beasts or on a job which relies heavily on their use, since even if you are an "elementalist" you may not have a good affinity or just don't care about such things.
"No. I am not an Elementalist either on job or status. I'm just an archeologist."
"Archeologist?! Really?" The Captain gets surprised by my answer and suddenly his expression stiffens. "What kind of archeologist gets himself in such a mess?"
"Hum... me?"
The Captain looses it at this point.
"Hahahaha, well I guess so. Right? Hahaha..." He chuckles for a while before talking again.
"Listen mate you look alright in my book. We are gonna arrive at Initium near dusk, you can stay in the ship until then and eat with the crew. From what I can tell you have nothing on you, but I'm afraid all I can give you is a full stomach and a spare set of clothes as from what I can tell yours are barely clothes anymore."
I take a look at myself and just as the Captain said my attires resemble more something you would use to clean the floor than something a person would wear.
"Thank you. I'm not sure how I can repay you."
"Nah don't be absurd lad. From what I can tell you've been trough hell, and its lot like I'm doing anything special. Now I have a crew to handle, so I'm gonna let you rest. No offense but you look like a dog who got stabbed just after he crapped his intestines while giving birth to octuplets."
He soon after left, the crew member following right after. I just laid my head and rested my eyes.
...
...
The Captain was walking away the infirmary with his First Officer.
"So..." He said in a semi serious tone. "Is he a lying bastard or not?"
"No Captain, from what I could tell he didn't lie, but I don't think he was completely truthful thought maybe he was just confused."
"Well that much is to be expected." He said in his usual cheerful tone. " Guess you're just gonna have to keep an eye on him until we reach Initium".