I look toward the vast ocean in complete serenity. When Hero persists to let me join him on board, I climb the tree to avoid him. And since he can't climb the tree saying something that sounds like "I'm sorry, I'm scared of heights," I can't help but laugh at his face.
"That's not what I said!" he yells. Yes, yes, whatever. I shrug him off.
The wind feels strong up here, and when I'm not careful, I'll definitely kiss the ground right now.
Up here, everything feels great. I can calm my senses, and I feel like I am free to the world. I can't wait to sail.
I made up my mind. I'm going to sail tomorrow. Since all the things I need to sail is ready, I'm going to conquer the four seas. After that, I'll find the Star Country and write the greatest book of my adventures.
"Let me take a ride on that deer!" I call, pointing to the red stag.
"I will let you take a ride with Haku if you consider me joining your crew!" he reasons. I ignore the thought almost immediately.
I climb down the tree deftly after what feels like a long time. "What do you mean by your eyes?" I turn to Hero.
"Um, the thing is, this ability I have let me see things from a far distance," he says when I land next to him.
"How does it work?" I ask. That's a weird ability he has.
"I only think where to see and my vision clears at a specific location," he replies but my attention is fixed to the stag. It lifts its head and stares blankly at me. I want to ride that.
Hero moves towards me. "Are you considering?" he asks. "What do you look so disgusted for?!" he exclaims.
I try to change the subject. "Can your eyes reach the Lost Town?" I ask after a moment.
"No," he says.
I walk towards the house and pass Mr. Stewart harvesting some carrots and potatoes.
"But it's weird because there's this huge mass of darkness engulfing the Lost Town," he adds. I walk inside the house.
"What were you doing for the past years?" I ask and approach the long table.
He looks taken aback from my inquiry. "What do you mean?" he asks.
I look up at him. "Staring surreptitiously and invading the privacy of others."
Hero looks down. "What are you? Locked inside the castle?!" I exclaim.
"Yeah, I think so," he mumbles.
"Let's not enclose you inside the castle, then. I think I might consider letting you join my crew," I say which takes a smile etches across Hero's face.
"Really?!"
"Now, why do you want to sail?"
He looks thoughtful for a moment before he gaze at me, his eyes shining a thousand lights. "Because it feels like I am free," he says. I smile at that.
"Let's meet tomorrow at the edge of Mirth Town where the river ends." Hero nods his head, looking as excited as I am.
Now, let's go! To the ends of the world!
〰☸〰
Narrator:
Meanwhile on Lost Town.
"Where's your lord?" asked the hooded man. While he rode astride on a magnificent black stallion, he spoke of complete intimidation and power. But inside the hood, an elfish smile played on his lips.
"The lord will be delighted to meet you," one of the lord's commanders spoke, bowing his head in regard. His long dark hair was pulled together and tied on his back. He looked up, his yellow eyes stared at the hooded person.
"I bet he will," said the man. He hopped down to the ground and turned his attention to the stallion. "Go back to your master." The stallion neighed and galloped back towards the capital, it's black coat glistened in the sun's blaze.
"What a convenient transport the Emon Kingdom has," he added, looking at the trail of dust flying behind it.
"You must have traveled far from the sea. How was the WAF's acknowledgement of your existence?" asked the commander.
The hooded man grinned. "You see, even the government cannot do anything to me. They will only lose a valuable asset to their presence."
"What about the Hell's Haven?"
"Tip of northeast, just before the surrounding sea. Now, let's not talk about boring things like that! Let's meet your lord and talk about preparations, shall we?"
The two of them hiked towards the topmost peak of the Cool Mountain. Leaving a scar the Emon Kingdom will forever remember.
The Lost Town remained the same it had been when the new self-proclaimed ruler anchored his ship on the wharf. The ruins stood bold under the same cerulean sky, and the tower of god proud on its might.
While there were claims of crimes rising from the capital, the king was oblivious of the danger his beloved kingdom was under. Robberies and theft would just be a warning of a great wave that would hit the Tonin Island of the east.
Would the other brothers of the kingdom extend their hands, that would only be a next assumption of the destiny that'd unfold.
The two men arrived at the entrance of the cave obscured with a curtain of ivies. They walked inside the dark cavern of the lord. The man beside the commander tugged his hood back and bore his sharp gaze to the lord. Pyros, himself, gave a thunderous laugh that almost shook the entire mountain.
"You've come, my friend," the lord said, and another boisterous laugh reverberated.
"I wouldn't call you a friend, Pyros. I only came here because I'm interested to what I heard from your plans," replied the man.
"Don't be like that, you hurt my feelings."
"Really?" A sarcastic smile formed across his lips. "Pyros, I'm an entertainer. I only do what I think is fun," he enunciated, clicking his tongue at the end.
"Then let's have fun!" said the lord. "Come, my friend, I've got a banquet held only to our certain success!" Pyros added.
"Make sure to regale me, Pyros, I've got a city to run," the hooded person said, turning to leave. "And I don't want to talk about your plans inside this dirty cave of yours, madman."
"You really entertain me, King of the Demons," Pyros said. "All right! Our plans will commence only when the time comes. I've got one of my commanders hiding inside the clutches of the King himself." Lord Pyros stood, hovering the commander and the cloaked man.
〰☸〰
When evening comes, I prepare the things I need inside my bag. Mr. Stewart and Mr. Knickles are standing on the table, looking in earnest. I got to say the plan.
"Listen guys," I start. I collect the maps from the table, roll it and slide it inside a wooden sling canister for storing maps. "I have something I need you guys do," I add. It's now or never.
Both of my friends looks up at me with a keen awareness of the problem. They nod their heads in complete resolution. I smile at that. I trust my friends with this, and they trust me, too. I can't get any happier thinking that fact.
Tomorrow, Ali's little adventure will begin.
〰☸〰
Narrator:
Morning came. And time came when our little dreamer seek the lost country and start the adventure.
Ali heaved the boat towards the river. The sun was up on a balmy day with a wind enough to sail the sea.
Meanwhile, our little prince, trying his hard to escape the castle clandestinely, sneaked behind the castle where a vast grassy ground meets the Angry Forest.
There were some scouts patrolling the area but with his ability, he managed to pass through just fine and was now heading straight towards the ends of Mirth Town, riding his favorite red stag.
Back to Ali who safely float the boat on the water. He put his bag and foods in the boat before boarding it.
"Today is the day," he said in a singsong tone. "I wonder what takes Hero so long." Ali grabbed the paddle and pushed himself away from the bank.
Ali simply drifted on the river's slow current, looking behind the trees for signs of Hero. He doubted if Hero could make it in time before he set the sails and full speed ahead when he heard a bounding gait of a quadruped animal.
Ali smiled when his eyes met the red stag hotfoot it towards him.
"Haku!" he yelled.
Hero had a big toothy grin on his face. He couldn't quite believe himself to leave his post as the second prince and leave the Emon Kingdom.
He only left a letter on his bed which he suspected Taya to read it already and the whole castle to learn his absence.
He cringed when he thought of his father, King Magnus, bewildered of the situation, and his brother, Prince Edward, who would be laughing at the boldness of his younger brother to sail beyond the Tonin Island.
"Hero, let's go!" Ali called.
Hero jumped from the stag and stumbled his way towards the boat.
"Haku! Tell them I'll be back after the adventures! I promise!" The stag regarded him with a long bow before it turned back on the trail towards the castle.
Now, both of them, aboard the ship, waved good-bye to their hometown.
"Set the sails! Let's go!" started Ali.
"To the ends of the world!" both of them yelled at the same time.
At long last, the two, showing ingenuous thirst for adventure, left the island and headed straight northeast. Neither of them realizing they've made one serious mistake.