by Tony Johnson
“A vision?” Haruto scoffed at the odd question. “No, I was too busy trying to stay alive to think about anything else.”
“I think we can confirm it's just the four of us seeing these flashbacks of the Hooded Phantom's past,” Steve told Kari after Haruto headed to a different part of the ship. “Willis didn't see Grizz’s vision when he was with us back in the Evergreen Forest.”
“We know Alazar empowers people with five elements. Now that King Zoran is dead it seems like instead of one person getting all five elements, it’s multiple people. Ty and Grizz are two of the elect and we may be as well, considering we also see the visions. Do you think King Zoran got a vision like the ones we get?”
“I don’t know. I don't ever remember hearing that he did, but I do remember in some of the heroes of legend stories, some of the heroes who could control elements had a vision similar to what we’re experiencing.”
“Maybe Zoran did then,” Kari guessed, “but we just don't know about it.”
“It makes me wonder. There's only four of us who saw the visions, but there are five elements. You know what that means, don't you? Either one of us is getting two of the elements or…”
Kari finished Steve’s sentence, “There’s someone else out there who’s seeing what we're seeing.”
Chapter 77
Steve and Kari had a fun time working together cooking lunch for the crew, all of whom worked vigorously to clean and repair the ship. Even though everyone had been awakened in the early morning hours for the pirate attack and expended energy during the battle, no one was tired. Adrenaline still coursed through their bodies, even hours after the harrowing ordeal. Only Grizz and Ty were inactive. Both spent time alone, albeit in different parts of the ship.
“I can finish putting away the leftovers,” Kari offered, although she was disappointed the fun time her and Steve had once again come to an end. “Why don't you go try talking to Ty now? It's been a little while.”
“You sure you don’t need my help?”
“Not as much as Ty needs yours. It’s good he's had time alone to process the vision, but too much time thinking about what happened can do more harm than good.”
“Ty, it’s me. Can I come in?” Steve asked, knocking on the door of the forecastle cabin.
“It’s open,” Ty stated in an unusually flat, non-humorous voice. Inside, he lay on his back on his cot, one hand dangled off the side where Copper lay licking it. In the other, Ty held one of his swords, which he was using to conduct an electric current through the blade. He would turn it on, then off, over and over again, playing with his newfound powers.
Cutting straight to the point, Steve sat down on the storage chest and stated, “I wanted to see how you're doing after seeing that vision. I can't imagine what you're going through. It must've been rough seeing that.”
“It was,” Ty admitted after an awkward silence in which he had to build up the willingness to talk about what the vision showed, “but I'm glad I finally know who murdered them. I've wondered my entire life. It's such a weight taken off my shoulders, but a new one is put on. I’m going to kill Malorek. I don’t care if he’s the Hooded Phantom and he has all five elements and a dragon. One way or another I’m going to kill him. He took my parents, Darren, and Thatcher from me.”
“I’ll fight right alongside you in that endeavor, brother. I feel like this passion for vengeance will only increase the more we learn about all the evil he’s done. I keep wondering what we're going to see next. With five elements total, that means there are three visions remaining. I want to know how Malorek turned from the person he is into the man we call the Hooded Phantom.”
“His past seems to connect to the elect,” Ty reasoned. “I’ve been thinking about it as I lay here. He interacted with Grizz, he killed my parents, he knew Quintis and Thatcher. Malorek's intertwined in our pasts and we didn't even know he existed until now. How come Thatcher never mentioned him? He must've had a guess Malorek was behind the murder of my parents. Did he know, but refuse to tell Darren and I?”
“I'm not sure. Maybe he didn’t know if it was Malorek who was behind it or maybe he did know and didn’t tell you or Darren to spare you the pain of the truth.”
“Well, regardless, Malorek will pay.”
“Your parents didn’t deserve what happened to them. They seemed like good people.”
“Yeah, I wish I could've known them,” Ty said, uncharacteristically glum. But then, perking up, he thought back to a part of the vision that warmed his heart. “Did you see how my dad had a second meal that first day of Boot Camp?”
“Yeah,” Steve laughed. “Seems like he had quite the appetite, just like you.” For a minute the two reflected on the similar mannerisms between Ty and what they saw in Caesar. Then, Steve said, “I’m happy you got to see your parents, despite what happened. I can only hope I get to see mine as well.”
If I do, I’d be able to have a better understanding of my past, Steve thought, thinking on the limited information he knew about his mother and father. All I know is that I was abandoned at a watchtower by a man with red hair who had been unable to support me after his girlfriend’s unexpected pregnancy. My entire life I’ve been trying to find them.
“You have to be content with the fact they might not be a part of this story,” Ty cautiously proposed. “I think we’re elect because the Hooded Phantom has somehow affected our pasts through his actions. With Grizz, it was his uncle, Malorek’s foster father. With me, it was the murder of my parents. I know your family is the biggest mystery of your past and you want to believe they are connected to Malorek’s life so you can learn more about them, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up that they are. You may only be able to see these visions because of how Malorek affected Thatcher’s life, not the parents who abandoned you.”
“They didn’t abandon me, they gave me up because that’s what was best for me!” Steve argued defensively.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that,” Ty began to apologize, but Steve interrupted him.
“I want to know who they were. Is that too much to ask for?”
“Yes. It might be,” Ty tried to say as kindly as he could. “I’ve never told you this before, but the week we moved out of Thatcher’s house and into the barrcks for training, Titus told me to never let you get carried away with trying to find your parents. He made me promise to keep track of how much time you spent searching.”
“Why would he have said that?”
“You know he was abandoned at a watchtower just like you,” Ty explained. “He, too, became obsessed at times with trying to find his family.”
“Do you think I’m obsessed?”
“No, I just think you have the potential to be. Even when we were growing up, whenever you found what you thought was a lead, you put all your time and energy into it. It always left you disappointed after it didn’t amount to anything. I don’t want you to hold onto the hope that your mom and dad are a part of Malorek’s story and that you’ll see them in one of these visions. Even if they are, you’re just going to be disappointed like I am because Malorek probably killed them.”
“Are you kidding me? How could you say something so pessimistic?” Steve nearly shouted.
“Look at what he’s done already!” Ty raised his voice as if Steve hadn’t even seen his vision. “It’s not pessimistic, it’s realistic.” Then, settling down, the Elf calmly shared what he wanted most for his brother. “You’ve got to give up his endless search and find contentment in the great father you were blessed with.”
Although Steve’s heart was racing from the argument and he wanted to lash out and continue the fight, he took a moment to carefully consider Ty’s words. I don’t think I can ever fully give up my desire to know, but Ty’s right, I do have the tendency to get tunnel vision about it and lose my focus on what matters.
“I am thankful for Thatcher,” Steve said, “and for growing up with you and Darren. I don’t want yo
u to ever think that I’m not. I hope you know I wouldn’t change my past for anything. We had a great childhood.”
“Thanks to Thatcher, we did,” Ty agreed, and both warriors lamented the loss of their father.
“So the element of electricity, huh?” Steve changed the subject, seeing Ty continue to play with his powers. “That's pretty cool, the ability to control lightning.”
“I've been playing with it as I lay here, thinking about everything. It’s interesting,” Ty explained. “Sometimes using it takes more energy out of me than other times. For example, just covering my sword with an electrical charge isn’t tiring, but controlling all that lightning to bring bolts down on the kraken made me pass out. It’s kind of like how the earthquake Grizz created in the Spider's Lair took a considerable toll on him. These elements feed off our energy. The aerial monsters I worked with in Celestial were the same way. The older dragons weren't as powerful with their elemental abilities because they didn’t have that same stamina as younger ones.”
“But the power isn't only from energy,” Steve remembered. “Don't forget what Silas said about being Zebulon's elect; the eviler he is, the more power he’ll have with the dark god’s elements. Alazar’s the same way, the more morally right choices his elect makes, the stronger they are. I'm assuming the closer you are to the god who is giving you the powers, the more abilities you have. I couldn't help but notice you were stronger in your element than Grizz was.”
“I thought about that too,” Ty admitted.
Maybe if he didn't kill Commander Krause in cold blood or kill the defenseless pirate that I had knocked out, he would be stronger.
Rather than saying what came to mind and revealing what Grizz had done, Steve instead reverted to thinking about all the reasons Ty was strong. He acted selflessly sacrificing himself in the lair and decided not to pursue Kari for himself when he knew I liked her.
“It makes me wonder what you're going to be like when you get your element,” Ty’s words broke Steve out of his train of thought. “You've always had a strong faith. You and Thatcher were in a league of your own when it came to your dedication.” Then, getting back to his joking mood he said, “But then again, if we're comparing who's the better man by using the game we play, then, clearly, I'll be the most powerful in my element, having saved your life seven times to your lowly four.”
The brothers shared a laugh, followed by a still silence in which Ty reckoned, “We're going to have a lot of opportunities to save each other’s lives coming up soon.”
“Yeah, if the army is headed to Casanovia like we think they are, it's going to be a full-scale battle, one of which we haven’t ever come close to seeing.”
“Do you think we can do it?” Ty asked. “Do you think we can stop them?”
“I don't know,” Steve admitted. “But we have to try. I know that if I die, I'd like it to be in battle, defending the kingdom, standing next to you.”
Ty nodded. “I wouldn't have it any other way.”
The rest of the day was much calmer and more peaceful than how the day had started with the stormy weather, pirate brawl, and kraken attack. No longer was it overcast and cloudy. The sky was full of streaks of puffy white clouds set against a bright-blue backdrop. The sun was a steady, bright yellow sphere overhead. The night was equally serene, followed by another beautiful morning.
There was a competitive tournament of Kings, a simplistic game of red and black squares woven into a tunic where the goal was to jump over your opponent's pieces and reach the other side. Myoki won, having learned every strategy possible from hours of playing during times Andonia was stuck at sea.
Steve, Ty, and Kari all helped the crew catch fish with nets and then laughed as they tossed a salmon back and forth through the air with Copper in the middle of the circle trying to intercept it.
Everyone seemed to be in good moods. Only Grizz didn't fit this mold, as he continued to prefer to be left alone.
“Land Ahoy!” Haruto called from his watch in the crow's nest followed by Jun-Lei's ringing of the bells at the confirmation of the jagged silhouette taking up nearly the entire horizon. A favorable breeze escorted Andonia swiftly across the remainder of Lake Azure.
From the deck of their ship, the heroes all stood with their armor on, weapons sheathed, taking in the sight of the rectangular city, bordered by a thirty-five-foot-high, four-foot-thick stone wall. Warriors' Watchtowers guarded the outside four corners of the city, while four more could be seen inside, rising higher than the wall. Atop the towers, flags of Casanovia’s colors of yellow and sky-blue flapped in the breeze.
Jun-Lei smoothy sailed into a bustling cul-de-sac with ships coming in and out and fish being carted around on the wharf to a variety of waterfront buildings.
“It reminds me of Port Meris,” Steve said, as the anchor dropped and Myoki and Haruto jumped out to tie ropes to the cleats on the dock.
“Yes, but this port is much brighter, nicer, and cleaner,” Kyoko offered.
“Well, we made it!” Jun-Lei sighed a breath of relief once the ship was fully docked, joining the heroes with the full crew on Andonia’s main deck.
“I can’t thank you enough,” Steve reached out, shaking her hand with utmost appreciation. “We owe you a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.”
“All I care about is bettering this kingdom for those who live in it after me,” Jun-Lei put her arm around her daughter and looked to her niece and nephew. “I hope Casanovia doesn’t come under attack by the army that overtook Celestial, but if it is, I know I did my part in helping to defend it. The rest is up to you two,” she pointed to Ty and Grizz, Alazar's two elect.
“What will you do now?” Kari asked.
Jun-Lei whispered something to Haruto and Kyoko, who went to the shipmaster’s quarters and retrieved the two giant sacks of coins given to her by Steve in Port Meris. She had each brought forward and set down in front of the heroes.
“I’ve already taken out enough gold to repair the broken mast and other damages,” she answered Kari and spoke to Steve, Ty, and Grizz. “We’ll rest here tonight and head back first thing in the morning. The rest of the gold can remain here.”
“What? This is your payment, it belongs to you,” Steve couldn’t understand why she was leaving it behind.
“I have what I need,” Jun-Lei patted the coin purse attached to her belt. “My crew does as well.”
“You've barely taken anything from your earnings,” Steve began to argue, but Jun-Lei cut him off.
“One day we may choose to accept the rest of our payment, but in case you need it now, we decided we want to leave it with you. There are more important things in this kingdom than a paint job or higher quality sails.”
“I don't know what to say,” Steve was speechless at the shipmaster’s generosity.
“Then there's nothing more to be said except goodbye,” Jun-Lei stated, coming forward to give Steve a final handshake. The warrior embraced her in a hug while his fellow heroes did the same with the rest of the crew. Even Copper jumped and put his paws on the chest of each crew member as his way of saying goodbye.
I have never met such an amazing group of people, Steve thought after he, Ty, Grizz, Kari, and Copper set foot on the wooden docks of Port Misthaven and turned around to wave to the four people standing on Andonia.
Please bless them Alazar. Keep them safe in their travels. They deserve it.
Chapter 78
It’s so weird to be back in civilization, Kari thought as she walked with the companions up the dirt road that led from Port Misthaven to Casanovia. Around them, horse and oxen-led wagons were heading to and from the city, carrying the last loads of a long day’s work.
We must make quite the sight, the Halfling considered why passerbys were staring in their direction. They see a bruised and beaten warrior with dented red armor, a woman dressed in armor carrying a bow, a Dwarf carrying two sacks of gold on his shoulders, and a blonde-haired Elf
who within five minutes of landfall had already bought and consumed both a beef and chicken skewer.
And, of course, there’s the main attraction of our party, she looked down at Copper, whose pink tongue hung out as he panted, looking up to see if Ty had any more food. Kari scratched the orange direfox’s head, then, handed a few silver pieces to a vendor as she walked by, grabbed and tossed Copper a hunk of meat that he swallowed without a single bite.
“Keep the change,” she told the woman who was calling after her to come back for her leftover bronze coins.
Many of the onlookers seemed overly nervous at the sight of the lion-sized monster, despite the fact Copper was happily trotting along with the group. It was children who were less timid, some of whom even ran over from playing on the beach to pet the beast they could tell was friendly towards people.
Where the sand of the beach ended, the grass and trees of Highland Woods began. Casanovia’s main gate stood at this juncture, its colorful banners draping down either side of the raised portcullis. Since there were about four more hours until the sun disappeared and night fully set in, the gates would stay open for that much longer before being closed until morning.
It was through these gates the heroes entered Casanovia and took in the view of the buildings, people, noises, and smells as they walked down main street.
It feels like home, Steve thought, thinking back to how Celestial had the same busyness and activity. There are hundreds of people, each with something to do, running errands or completing the duties of their job. Cities run like clockwork. For the most part, it’s routine and predictable, and we’re coming in to throw a wrench in the gears and tell everyone of an impending attack they know nothing about.
“You two probably shouldn’t use your elements,” he mentioned to Grizz and Ty. “People will know something happened to King Zoran if they see another person using the powers he had. It’s best we keep the information about his death and Celestial’s fall quiet until we speak with the commander and he addresses the people.
