{ Present day }
Across the room of the navigator's office, lies dozens of opened books. Some are scattered on the floor, in the mahogany table, the shelves on the wall are messier than ever. Scratches of papers thrown in every direction, countless sea charts tossed at the corner of the room, as it is marked wrong. A navigator staring at the long chart at the wall, trying to figure out which constellation better brings the whole conclusion.
A sigh can be heard in ever moment that passes. It goes with the mixture of the office, tired, frustrated, and almost wanting to rip the papers and his own head and hair into shreds. At almost, his fist folds and grips at nothing, clenching it from now and then as the figuration of the suspicious and mysterious map continued to puzzle the navigator. Slowly, he loses his ground as the pirate king's talented sailing master.
It is no secret that the navigator has been one of the contributors to the pirate king's success. Expert at voyaging the seas, a top notch sailor equipped with knowledge of both directions and weather. The stars aligned in the skies are enough for him to take the pirate king anywhere he wishes, reading every twinkle woven in the vast ocean of seas and skies, Felix dares the dutchman to lose his ways, but they could never.
No map has never been failed to uncover by his expertise. No sea charts has been missed on his analysis. No one will never trust this man when it comes to the sea. He grew up on the tidal waves, he has memorized every weave and motion as if it was a dance he had been dancing for all his life, the smell of salty sea and the sound of water splashing has always been home.
He is a son of the sea, a true pirate.
Yet, his mind can't cease the frustration and worries as he puzzles on the mysterious map given by an unknown child to his captain long yet not far ago. His captain who has never let his guard down to any strangers, suddenly following the words of a mere child—as if it was a whisper from the devil.
Felix doesn't like the idea of using the untrusty looking map. Coming from a stranger, and hearing the orders from his captain who seriously demands for the map to be use to their journey.
As if, everything they have is at stake within those drawing of a map he can't even analyze clearly.
Half of it is missing, nothing about it is credible enough for him. Aside from being in a possession of a suspicious boy who claimed he has been waiting for the captain of the Mad Treasure never sits right with him. The old and almost destroyed paper in his hand, the ink of which draws the path, the names of the islands that is no longer visible makes him doubt his captain for the very first time.
Felix has been traveling the seven seas, yet the an old piece of paper that illustrates a map far from what he has charted. The drawings, the places, the islands, the routes are familiar yet it touches a mysterious look.
Despite the blurry contagion of the suspicious object he can recognizes the area and lands but it seems like he has no premonition of where to start.
Which makes him wonder; will they be able to find the real beginning of this journey that has started long ago?
[ Where will this map can lead us to? ]
His mind dances ever since he was given the responsibility of the map. Clues are never seen, not to even his captain can elaborate. He was there when the child spoke with riddles. Yet nothing was given much with the exception of a compass that they are already looking for since then.
That the child has spoken; compass that shines like a jewel—something that they were all searching for desperately to finally kick off the door of desperate hopes in their journey.
He has heard of this long ago, a compass that shines like a magnificent jewel that attracts not only pirates and group of bandits but also other group of people that wants to get ahold of it. In which this compass can lead you to the path of where your soul wants to be.
A land where all you have ever desire exist, a place in which utopia is no longer an idea but reality. This legend pass down to every sailor, leading the story to be a myth as no one has ever seen such navigation compass that will certainly sparks everyone's greed.
However, Axel assured him that it exist.
After a week of sailing, Azura is almost at their horizon in less than an hour. In which follows the mission that comes with visiting the said island. However, ever since meeting that kid, the secrecy around Axel becomes more vague for him that he can't help but question it now.
" Felix, stop trashing the room. Elijah will run his mouth again."
A bored gun master whines across the room, sitting near the window looking at the grand sea.
" It just...."
He started, eyes still focused on the map as he tries to compare its features to their main map spread like a neat bed sheet on the desk. The marks of ink in every shape, almost overlapping some of the drawn lands.
The evidence of the hard work and teamwork is visible in every streak and line of the black liquid, writing up their whole adventures together.
[ What am I even thinking? Doubting Axel? That is unacceptable of me! ]
He is reminded by the sheer amount of memories he have with him. From being a small group of bandits, with only three people—consisting of Axel, Felix and Hakim in a small sailing both.
Doing everything they can to survive, from being merchants to rogues, to even become a group of mercenaries since they were young. All this memories that lead them into this journey, Felix feels heavy all of a sudden.
" You'll disappoint him?"
Hakim finishes his sentence when he realizes Felix did not bother to do so. A sigh escapes his lips as he looked at the tiresome navigator, wondering how a talented navigator can have times like this where a map can make him feel hopeless.
The master gunner believes in Felix's capabilities; he believes in his team and the whole crew. After all he has seen everyone work, and the crew has always been the main priority in their actions. He knows how hard Felix works, yet the worries of the navigator puzzles him, never thinking that there is a chance that Felix will ever fail as their navigator.
" He trusts you, we all do."
Hakim assured the man who only sinks deeper in his frustration.
" I know, that is why I'm more frustrated. I can't seem to understand anything about what Axel is thinking. Don't you think there are many things that he had never talk about. Something is missing, as if he won't even give us anything to understand."
He ranted, his voice getting sturdier hands almost breaking whatever he is holding.
" Do you doubt him?"
The gun master asks, finally sitting next to him and patting Felix's blue hair.
" No!"
Felix defensively response, not even giving a second thought about it. Pushing Hakim's hands off, his eyes widening at the accusation.
" You do, don't you?"
Hakim rebutted, his deep voice getting lower as he does, the sound of disbelief and sadness taking over him.
" Its that kid!"
Felix admits, not liking his on tone and the way he said it. As if he is switching his own doubts to someone who he wants to push the blame rather than accept that he bears confusion over his captain.
" Felix, I understand."
Hakim breathes heavily, putting his pistol down and approaching the stressed navigator.
" There are a lot of questions—I have a lot of question to hammer Axel. After all, despite being with him for so long he is still as mysterious as the first day we met him."
There is a mixture of amusement in Hakim's voice, laced with irritation as he remember those days.
" This curse journey, when will this end?"
Felix sighs, his shoulder slumping down while his eyes look borely at the map he can't understand.
" Everything that leads us to anything that can aid this journey, leads to false start. How are we supposed to believe a ghostly lie of a kid who claimed to have been waiting for him?"
" I don't believe the kid."
Hakim answered immediately, sitting closer to his friend in an attempt to console his worries.
" But I believe Axel."
That made Felix turn his head and look at the latter. His blue eyes intently looking at the grinning man, the subtle dimples on his cheeks, the eyes that bears the color of coldness that matches his gray silver eyes. He observes the man who just spouted such words that made his worries lessen.
" I didn't know a fucking twat like you is capable of growing up."
Felix ruffles the grey hair of Hakim, making him defensive.
" I am fucking grown!"
He remarks with a huff. In which causes his steps to apply a huge thud as he stands feeling upset how Felix ruined his hair.
Felix laughs, watching his best friend as like how he usually do. A typical kid in a grown body, those icy eyes and magnetic stance the intimidating feature that scares everyone leaving in a spun of moment. The gun master allowing himself to let his guard down and be himself in front of his childhood friend.
Times like this makes him remember the days in which the two of them were nothing but just a freeloader in another pirate ship. The children of mighty pirates who took abode in the shelter that Axel's father had offer.
The days in which the only problem they face was trying to befriend the spoiled and bratty son of the ship captain. Hakim fighting him everyday, while Felix tries his best to get the two close.
"If you have such uncertainties, talking with him might ease that."
Hakim shrugs, as if that advice is the easiest thing Felix can do.
" Talk? You think its that simple to admit that I can't feel at ease with his decisions?"
He laughs in responds, he finds it unbelievable.
" Well, if that is hard for you then just trust him."
Nonchalantly, Hakim words slaps him. Although his voice came out with simplicity, the heaviness of what he realization can't compare to that simple weight.
The truth slaps him—he almost found Axel distrustful.
" You trust him." Hakim voice got lower, his eyes darkens.
Someone might mistake the way he look at Felix as something threatening, however what Felix sees is desperation. Hakim might not make it obvious, Hakim might be good at hiding his expression but Felix can always see what's in his eyes.
" Right?"
Hakim added, the way his voice dragged that question, trying to emphasize the answer he wants to hear.
Felix can see it. The hesitation that is shifting in his eyes. If Felix shows his doubts over his captain, then Hakim will be torn. If the trust between the two person he calls his best friend and brother disappear, then what happens to his own trust.
" He is Axel, Felix. Trust him."
The comes off like he is begging after not hearing an answer from the man. "
The room suddenly fell into a silence as their minds wander too loudly. Their captain, who did nothing but do whatever it takes to gain their freedom back, he who put the trust of this journey in everyone in the ship.
Yet the root of this sudden doubts and questions that they should have asked long time ago is the fact that Axel is never the man that let people in, in the most crucial part of this journey.
His journey.
Some part of the whole story has never been read to them. There are just too many things that Axel has not elaborated, whether it is for the good or bad. Their captain can be secretive at times, even though all they want is to share the burden he holds, Axel never let them near his problems.
They know, they have been with him since the starting point of the voyage.
From Axel's father who laid the path to the start, and Axel who continues on. The people who knew has already died that day, the only one who knows too much is the captain himself; yet he won't let anyone know.
They all trust him.
A trust that burdens him.
Axel, who is on the other side of the room, behind the thin walls, heard the two men talking.
The two men who has been with him for a very long time, who was with him during that day. His first family, the men who vowed to never leave his side. It is only right that these two shall never remain in the dark corner of this mystery. Axel never wanted to keep anyone out of the bay, he sure wanted to let everyone in.
But he knows that is out of the question considering what he has on his hands.
He can't afford for anyone that is boarding his ship will be carrying the burden for him. Of course, people will say sharing such a burden with everyone as a team, a crew, a family is helpful and will strengthen their bond.
However that is a question that does not need to be asked anyways. He has already made up his mind the moment he knows what this journey is for, he knows what the are chances and the risks, he is not going to risk anyone for that.
Yet he can't erase the guilt of keeping them at bay, especially those two who should've known from the start. But Axel decided to give them nothing but half of the mysteries.
The mysteries that were never a mystery to him.
Its memories.
...
{ 13 years ago, in the shore of Amphitrytah }
Big waves almost crashed into the petite body of a young boy. The wind slappped his red cheeks, the icy cold water chilled him as he fought the tides and gets to the coast as soon as possible. Men around him, although sons of the sea drowned by the mere effort of the cruel waters that they had made home.
It was as if these men who had stitched their lives, their souls, their mind and heart, their spirit in the sea; the ocean had never seen them as hers.
The sight of a man being stabbed in the heart, all in front of the eyes of a child as he struggled from the hold of the waves, a scream was heard; a cry for the man was heard, a cry of a child was heard through the sea.
Then a voice came.
Amidst of the battle with the moving water, bodies swallowed by whole underneath if not floats towards the bay like dead fish. The child managed to surface, towards the sand, the beach, from the enormous cruel body of water.
And with him surfaces the grief, the anger, the confusion.
He emerged with his rage.
Then he heard the voice.
Get angry my child.
Get angry, angrier, rage on.
Take those flames and destroy them.
Destroy her.
For you,
You shall continue on.
The stabbed heart and the wounded one,
Rage towards and find it.
The island of wonder.
You shall see her again,
and then rage on.
Towards her.
For him.
Rage.
The voice was gone, yet it continued to echoes on.
...
{ Present Day }
It isn't a mystery.
It is everything he knows, everything he has been carrying.
Rage.
The memories suddenly floods his eyes in the form of liquid running across his cheeks. As his heart burns and swells with fire determined to burn the world before him. His chest aches as the events from the past drowns his mind, the exact scene plays on repeat.
The anger fuels on and there is nothing he can do but grip on the chair, his strength almost destroying it. The captain who is feared by a lot looks somehow pitiful in the grasping of his past that slowly torments him over and over again.
The ever so proud, mighty, fearsome pirate king is tormented.
And he swears he will never let his crew handle and at least touch the burden he has been keeping with him. Axel vows to never do the same mistake that man did that resulted not only his death but his whole crew. It's not a matter of trust, he has plenty of those to all his men.
It's a matter of trusting himself, if he has what it takes to save them all.
He alone knew exactly what can reckon them, and that shall remain until the end.
If he can bring them towards their destination, to where the burden for all that he alone has caught will finally cease. He will endure the weight.
" It's on that island."
Axel enters the navigation room, where Hakim and Felix are still bothered by the mystery that surrounded their friend ever since.
Both shutting their mouths and thoughts as he entered, figuring they had been heard.
Felix, who looks taken aback, responded immediately.
" Captain, it's not that I don't trust-"
" Aye, I know. I know you trust me, and I know despite that there are things that are still hidden about what I can give you. However, I don't lie-not to my family at least."
Axel gives them a smile, the playful smirk showing them the confidence he got-but his emerald eyes showed no similarities to his smile.
"Believe me, the compass, is there."
He simply continued to flash them a reassuring smile, shutting the blue haired navigator who did not want to hurt the captain's feelings.
" I trust you. The kid? No."
Hakim said under his breath.
"We've been searching for years, the goddamn curse is at our end, Axel. One more failure..."
Hakim sighs, standing up from the floor to step in front of his captain.
He is towering him with his height, the captain almost looking like a teenager next to the enormous man. In comparison, both in height and physique, the captain figure will shudder on the gun master build.
Axel, however carries the spirit of what real authority is. He never moved an inch despite the intimidating man in front of him who never slumped a shoulder.
If one can tell, the way Hakim eyes Axel can see that there must have been bad blood between them. Hakim's grey eyes look exactly how he represented himself, cold and brooding. Axel never falters, still bearing his full authority over the man.
There is no bad blood between them, not even once. Axel, the older between them, has served as his big brother since they were kids. Their bond goes beyond the adventures of the Mad Treasure.
They had something between them that is stronger than any bond, brotherhood.
If Felix won't hesitate to take the ship everywhere in this world for Axel, Hakim will give his life for him.
However, Hakim has always been different.
Despite his undying loyalty to his captain, he is more logical about it. That is why, even though he trusts Axel no matter what, to the point that he found himself almost begging for Felix to trust this man.
Hakim always want a better explanation and clearly, Hakim has been tired of seeing themselves fail the journey they were set to for years, and this is because of Axel's tendency to be secretive and handle things on his own.
He might be contradicting himself from how he acted in front of Felix earlier, but the navigator's worries are contagious. Hakim has also gotten tired of seeing the people of Mad Treasure desperately clinging to the baseless and uncertain hope that their curse will eventually be lifted.
" Captain, I will raise a mutiny if that island has another ambush."
The man speaks in a low voice, almost sounding serious and deadly, except that the whole crew had heard him threaten the captain in this way for millions of time, if one was counting.
It is never serious, an empty threat as always. He just liked to stand in equal feet with the man that he respects the most.
Felix eyes widens with alarming feelings with the sudden statement, not wanting to see his closest friends fight. He is worried about what will happen if Hakim will further intimidate Axel, but those worries are useless. He laughs in relief the moment he hears the familiar threat.
" You should stop at this point scallywag. I wouldn't be surprised if Elijah gets the title first before you."
That statement that Felix made just earned him a scornful look from the man, hesitantly stepping back after he saw the smirk in the captain's mouth, teasing him.
"What about me then?"
He whines like a child, stomping his feet slightly as he sulks at the corner of the room, still looking at Felix with scornful eyes.
The two men with him laugh at how childish this big man can be. His whole build does not suit his personality so well, not even his main job as a master shooter can ever justify what a kid this six feet man with intimidating eyes and deep voice is that is enough to scare people.
" As I was saying, worry not Felix. That kid brought the news himself."
The captain said, turning the mood in the room shift in a quick manner.
" Do you trust the kid? " Felix asked seriously.
" I don't trust him, but he have no reason to take me astray. "
Axel promised, feeling the depth of the seriousness in Axel voice Felix decided to shut his mouth.
" I trust you." Hakim blurted out.
That made Axel smile, the most genuine one he can get. Although there is a hint of guilt in his eyes, he pushes it aside.
"Land ho!"
Someone from the main deck shouts.
The three of them turn their head to the cabin's door, into the main deck's direction. Upon hearing the call, they can't help but look at each other with gleam in their eyes. After a long week, they has finally arrive at the Azura.
" Hakim, survey the land and take Argus with you. You must return before supper. This afternoon, we will determine the location of the compass. Whatever information you will bring ascertain our plans for this mission."
Axel commanded with urgency, as if time is raising with them.
" The moment we lay our anchor, our time starts. Understood."
He added, giving the gun master a serious look intending for him to understand the weight of this matter.
" Felix, prepare the details surrounding the islands. Mandate the combatant to search perimeter for possible threat. Remember, we have no luxury to make this slow."
" Aye, captain."
Hakim quickly left the room with urgency as he scour the place for Argus. Telling everyone he passes by to prepare themselves for the mission they are ought to do.
" Captain, I trust you."
Felix finally said, shame in his eyes as he look at Axel.
The thoughts he has from earlier makes him hate himself for a moment. It is only because of the look that Axel has, the tone of his leader, the determination in that voice that pulled him back to what is important.
[ I trust you. ]
Axel comes out of the room with his navigator with a smile. Their eyes looking straight ahead, the island almost near them. The winds flaps through sails with the sound of excitement, as the crew works on together. The water smoothly yet aggressively brushes the rudder. The mountains of ahead them is getting bigger, the beautiful tropical trees are getting visible as they the ship sails nearer.
Axel has his eyes only fixated at something. The reason why he has set sail all these years with everyone else. He had never drifted away from his priority, he had never forgotten not even once after all these years his reasons. The island in front of him is just the start of the journey he set a long time ago.
Finally a progress.
After a long run in a path that no one can see any possibilities, in which they had seen many forms of collapse. The vision of the upcoming times almost stopping, the light in the esplanade almost dimming, the defeat almost being accepted by the fate that concurred to their reality.
Yet they continue sailing into the abundance of escapades that dashed the two sides of life in their times. And here they are now, through the thick of storms that took their day and nights for the future of what is being pursued. Finally, the path has survived the storms. Although it was never easy, the years where they sailed endlessly to an aimless journey with the uncertainty of the tales and aids, they are now seeing it.
The real starting point.
Felix smiles genuinely at his captain, watching his eyes show hope and desire. The captain who can stare deadly at anyone, showing such emotions in the eyes that deemed him a monster. No matter what everyone has said, every tale has spoken about his captain; he who has been a friend to the man has always known the real
Axel.
His reasons, his journey.
The hopes and desire that he sees in Axel's eyes clutches his heart with the delight of his purpose to his captain. The man that he has been with since the very beginning, not only as his navigator, or his friend, but a brother.
The times in which he holds so dearly between them, the bond they share that can't ever be severed by anything or anyone. For Felix, the eyes of hope and desire that shines at the sight of a journey that will finally begin after the many years of failures, for him it is his duty to take Axel there.
He is willing to risk his life to take him there.
Even with the countless worries that struck him in reality, he is sure he will follow his captain, even at the edge of the world.
" We are here."
The navigator said under his breath. Looking straight ahead draping his arms in his captain's shoulders like he always had since they were kids.
Axel feels his whole body run with the excitement and the crippling anxiety that balances his adrenaline. In the sight of the island in front of him, the past of his life slowly playing at the back of his head.
Everything is still clear in his replays, the exact thing that induced the journey. Axel ponders upon it as he anticipates their docking to the island, in which he will get his hand over a certain object that will helm the history to the present.
As they got closer, waves has never feel harsher beneath, the sound of whispers that comes with the gushing winds comes back to him just like any other day. Axel can hear the whispers that has been tormenting him, the same voice that tries to push him.
The words of blank encouragement that sounds foul in the tone of cynical pronunciation. All he can think about while he hears her muttering against the sound of the wind, is that one day right at this very beginning-he will stop hearing her.
Everyone looked straight to the island, slowly getting bigger in their eyes as they approached. The excitement, yet the seriousness are mixed in all. Everyone has been thinking the same thing, as they ran across the ship, attending the sails, preparing to dock and setting the anchor, their mind thought of one thing.
"The start." He smiled.
Everyone has been thinking the same thing.
The start.