The waves shaking the boat, the winds were calm but most anticipated for the worse to come. No lands were on sight but the depthless sea.
"It's a bit cramped, isn't it?" Mika chuckled nervously, glancing around the small, damp interior of their newly acquired ship. "I could've afforded the bigger one, but the thought of managing such a large ship, and the crew to man it, was just too much. We're a small team, and we're short on shipwrights, too."
Mika and his friends, excluding Sougo who remained outside, were crammed into a single, confined space. The room was a tight squeeze, filled to the brim with their belongings. A solitary lantern, casting a dim glow, illuminated the cluttered interior. With little room to spare, their bodies were pressed together, occupying nearly every inch of the available space.
Even though it was problematic, it was still comfortable enough to sleep.
Sougo offered a solution, "Should not fixing a ship would not be daunting for your smarts?" Mika replied, "I would if I wanted to, but a ship that big would take time for me to adapt. We just need an experienced one in our crew, I for one, can manage theoretically."
The voyage ensued as they chatted, the only problem now was the food and a place to land. Roznok was tasked to navigate, due to his power that could roam the skies and by his shadows that could sense a nearby presence.
"I forgot to ask, why didn't you teleport us just straight to the store back then?" Mika asked to Roznok. "Warping 5 people at once at such distance is beyond me, it'd be efficient to walk than just wasting my energy." Roznok showed his vulnerability.
Mika turned to Luna, who was seated beside Kimaru. "How are you feeling, Luna? Are you recovering?" Luna offered a weak smile. "I'm alright, just a bit drained. I should be fine."
Meanwhile, Sougo had taken up the task of fishing. To everyone's surprise, he proved to be quite skilled. "I didn't know you were such a talented fisherman," Mika remarked, amused.
Sougo nodded. "I once traveled the sea. Fishing is not a stranger to me." And with that, he reeled in a magnificent catch - a Lamp Bass. Its iridescent scales shimmered in the dim light, and its crystal-like exoskeleton glowed faintly.
"A Lamp Bass, no less!" Mika exclaimed. "That's quite a prize."
The Lamp Bass was a creature of the deep, known for its bioluminescent properties. Its exoskeleton, charged by sunlight, emitted a dazzling light that could illuminate the darkest depths. However, this beautiful creature was also a formidable predator, relying on its light to both attract and blind its prey or blind the predator away.
To prepare the fish, they had to carefully remove its internal organs, particularly the toxic sac that contained a radiation that came from the sun's energy. Once cleaned, they seasoned the flesh and began the slow process of cooking it using Mika's witchcraft. As the savory aroma filled the air, the weary travelers anticipated their first meal on their long journey.
"Witchcraft...? You hail from a witch's family?" Roznok queried, his tone laced with curiosity. "Not exactly, I was nurtured by one."
"I see."
"Are you related to ask me that?" Mika retorted. "No. I only know a small amount about them, but I've never delved deeply into the subject. You could say I hardly have interest for them."
Two days had elapsed since their departure, and Mika's anxieties had subsided after Roznok had discovered an inhabited island. Roznok sensed an undercurrent of hostility and warned his companions that they might not receive a warm welcome.
"There's a bonfire smoke in that place... Given its remote location, they must be a tribe..." Mika mused.
Roznok, perched high above in his raven form, confirmed, "I can see it too. They're dancing, and they're certainly not human."
Watching from afar, they had gone close to as beautiful island with lush forests. Rich within its beauty, it was tantalising to the eye. The uncanny feeling was felt throughout, even for such a beautiful place to stay.
"I've encountered tribespeople before, hopefully this one isn't as aggressive as the last," Mika admitted, his voice tinged with nervousness. Sougo, his arms crossed, maintained his stoic demeanor.
As the ship finally made landfall, Mika and his companions except Kimaru who were told to stay inside cautiously stepped onto the shore. Yet, fate had other plans as they were ensnared by the tribespeople's net trap.
Before the inevitable, Mika implored his friends, "Do not harm them unless they harm us." Once freed from their captors, they were bound to a nearby post. The tribespeople, their faces etched with curiosity, watched intently.
"Are you certain this will work?" Roznok's skepticism was palpable. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing," Mika replied, his tone resolute.
"Care to explain what they are?" Luna inquired.
Mika cautiously explained their extraterrestrial origins. They were humanoid beings with a piscine appearance, their skin tinged with blue. Notably, the red-skinned individuals were ostracized due to their intolerance. Like fish, they possessed three gills near their necks, enabling them to breathe underwater, and webbed fingers for swift aquatic movement. They were the Zavarian tribe.
The blue tribe, a haven for the marginalized, was less aggressive than their red counterparts. These tribespeople were drawn to them, treating them as if they were beings from another world.
"Zamua zets zinggobba. (We're not here to harm you.)" Mika uttered in their language, startling the tribespeople. "Zii zeg zug? (You friend?)" one of them queried.
"Z'ey (Yes)," Mika affirmed. With their doubts allayed, the tribespeople released them, though they remained vigilant, their spears poised.
"What tongue is that?" Roznok inquired.
"The Zvur language, or simply Z language. They prefix most words with 'Z'," Mika explained. "Their most peculiar delicacy is Tiger Frog tongue, believed to bolster digestion due to the acidic nature of the flesh."
"Tiger Frogs? Aren't they dangerous?" Roznok questioned further. "If you consider that dangerous, you should learn about Mulkum blood wine. Besides, they're not human."
Though the threat of the spears persisted, the chief's gorilla-like roar signaled their retreat.
The spears were now sheathed, but the chief's inquisitive gaze remained. Adorned in traditional jewelry and attire, including a towering feathered crown, he wielded a staff topped with a luminescent crystal.
"I presume you seek something," the chief began, speaking in a language they could comprehend. "How do you know our language?" Roznok asked, perplexed.
"I am not of your human world, but I have learned from the poachers and invaders who have sought to infiltrate our lands. My senses are sharp, and I see no threat from you," the chief replied, a knowing smile playing on his lips. He addressed his people, "Zanur zaaaaaa Z'AVGGR! (Welcome them!)"
The tribespeople erupted in a celebratory dance, their earlier suspicion dissipating as they embraced their unexpected visitors with open arms.