Three days.
That was how long they had been on the island.
Three days since the grip of fear has loosened.
The house they had chosen as a headquarters was located in the center of the town. It was not very large, and it was certainly nowhere near pretty. But it was a sturdy house. The roof was fixed and there was even a basket of bread that had been left there that morning.
It was first noticed by Vivi.
"…They're smiling more," she whispered, sneaking a look through the window.
Outside, people were moving purposefully. Some men were mending a downed fence. Children were carrying buckets of water without being shooed away. A woman laughed—softly, like she wasn't sure she was allowed to.
Kaya tightened the cloth on her wrist, sealing the wrap. "I didn't think it would occur this quickly."
"It didn't? They've been waiting for a reason to stand up," Robin sat on a chair against the wall, folded arms, and half-closed eyes.
Ethan was standing near a doorway, his arms crossed, his eyes fixed on the street. He did not utter a thing.
Everyone waved as he appeared.
This in itself told him how much everything had changed.
Training Never Stops
In the back, the dirt area where they could play had been cleared. Rocks were neatly stacked in one corner. Broken wood was pushed off to the side. It wasn't much, but it was functional.
Ethan pitched a small rock up and caught it.
"Again," he said.
"You've already made that announcement every morning," Vivi groaned but raised her hand nonetheless.
"And you've improved every morning," Ethan replied. "So again."
She breathed, concentrated.
Not power.
Control.
She flicked.
The stone hurtled forward—not a perfect toss, not a clean one—but quickly enough to bang against the wooden post instead of falling short.
Vivi blinked, and a smile crept up her face. "
"You didn't hesitate," Ethan said. "That's the real improvement."
Kaya was practicing, moving her weight from one foot to the other, cane rhythmically touching the ground. But she was still stiff, cautious—but not panicked.
Robin watched both of them, then approached.
"Switch," she said.
Kaya blinked. "What
"You respond to Vivi," Robin went on. "Vivi responds to Kaya. There are no punches. Only action."
They nodded.
It was awkward. They bumped shoulders. Stepped back too soon. Too late.
But they were thinking.
Adjusting
Ethan watched intently.
Still amateurs, he thought.
However, not helpless.
This mattered.
â
The Town Responds
The training ended at midday, not because Ethan ordered them to, but because someone knocked on the door.
There was an elderly man standing outdoors, holding a box of dried fish. He bowed deeply.
"For you," he said. "For helping us."
Vivi panicked. "You don't have to—"
"We want to," the man answered finally, firmly but gently. "We can breathe again."
Others also followed.
Water. Fruit. Tools. Bandages
Kaya's eyes stung. "We didn't do that much…"
"You didn't merely fight, Robin put a hand on her shoulder. "You did more than fight.""
"We're not finished yet," Ethan spoke up then.
The man nodded. "We know. Some pirates are still hiding."
Ethan's eyes turned sharp. "Have you seen their captain?"
"Not once. But he's still here. Everyone knows it." said the man while shaking his head.
And that settled like a weight.
<---
### A Warning, Not a Comfort
But that night, they sat inside the house as well. There was only one lantern, casting flickers of lights on the walls.
Vivi yawned, extending her sore arms. "I think I've been struck by a ship," she said.
Laughed Kaya quietly. "Same
Robin leaned back against the wall. "You all handled yourselves well today."
Vivi smiled--then scowled. "But it's not over, is it
"No," Ethan said, shaking his head.
They looked at him.
"The ones you've fought so far?" he went on. "They're noise. The actual threat has not moved yet."
Kaya swallowed hard. "The captain
"Yes," Ethan said. "And whoever stands with him."
Vivi stood up. "Then we'll be ready."
"You are looking better. Good enough to deal with the low-tier pirates."
He paused.
"But don't lose your guard."
"
The room fell silent.
--
### *Elsewhere – Beneath the Island*
Deep down on the island, hidden by thick rock and underground tunnels, a fire was burning.
There was a large room excavated from stone that was used for meetings. There were maps fixed to the wall. There were weapon crates stacked in order. There were guards at every entry point.
Three men knelt down.
One stood.
The captain.
The man is broad, scarred, and calm in a way that makes silence seem thick. He listened as one of his executives talked.
"They have pushed back our men," growled the executive. "Seized streets. Inspired the townspeople."
Another fight on the side. "Just a few women and one man."
The captain tapped the table once.
Silence.
"How many times have they fought back?" he asked.
"Enough," said the first one. "But they're not professionals."
The captain slowly nodded. "Good."
"That man with them. Ethan." one executive said, leaning forward.
"Yes?" the captain asked.
"He doesn't look like much," the executive went on. "No bounty we know of. No rumors."
"We kill him first," said another, "He looks like the weakest one,"
The captain didn't answer promptly.
A third executive, who till then had remained silent, was fixated on the map. His eyes narrowed.
"…He seems familiar," he murmured.
"What?" the first executive inquired.
"Nothing," said the third, shaking his head. "Just a feeling."
The captain didn't pay heed to it
"We remove the man," he said calmly. "Then break the women. Take the island back."
There was the sound of the
Plans were being made.
They didn't know.
"They hadn't seen Ethan fight."
They hadn't investigated his background.
And that mistake would prove costly for them.
---
#### *Above Ground*
Darkness fell over the town.
Ethan was on the roof of the house, gazing out at the lights—more lights in total than he'd seen in the past three days.
Here, Vivi laughed at something Kaya said. Robin listened, his eyes soft.
They were tired.
Still learning.
But standing.
Ethan allowed himself a small nod.
Good work, he thought. Just don't lose your guard. The wind changed. Underneath the island, something terrible began to stir. And the actual battle was drawing near.
---
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