"That damned old man… he put a curse on me!" Cameron snapped. "He made sure that after he dies, I won't be able to tell his beloved grandson about what lies beyond this fucking island. We need to hurry and tell the Lakan," he said to his companions.
After a while of traveling, they finally reached the island where the Lakan resides.
"I really don't like the atmosphere on this island…" Cameron muttered to himself.
At first, the island looked completely empty. But as they moved forward, they passed through an invisible barrier. The moment they crossed it, a hidden castle revealed itself.
Cameron approached the gates, but two guards stopped him.
"What's your business here?" one of them asked.
"I'm your Lakan's merchant," Cameron replied coldly. "If you keep wasting my time, I'll have your heads."
The guards hesitated, then stepped aside, allowing Cameron and his men to enter.
They made their way inside until they reached the hall where the Lakan sat.
Cameron bowed slightly. "I bring news, Lakan."
"Speak," the Lakan said.
"I visited the island after a year of absence," Cameron began. "And upon my return, I received good news. The old man is dead. The swords are vulnerable now—"
"Then why didn't you take the swords?" the Lakan interrupted sharply.
Cameron remained calm. "The boy may still be young, Lakan, but he is still an Emovere. My men are skilled swordsmen, but they are not built to kill an Emovere. However… if you grant me access to the Agarthan technology they call 'guns,' I will have your swords within a week."
The Lakan fell silent, thinking. Then his advisor leaned in and whispered something to him.
Cameron frowned slightly to himself. That advisor… I hate that fucking guy. Whenever he whispers, things go wrong.
After a moment, the Lakan finally spoke.
"I will give you a sample of this 'gun.' But you are not to sell the weapon or its blueprint… not until this war ends."
Cameron smiled. "Of course. You have my word—"
The Lakan cut him off.
"And if you break that word," he said coldly, "I will feed you to my jester. Do you understand?"
Cameron lowered his head slightly.
"Yes, Lakan."
Back on the island, Navi was preparing for a hunt in his house.
When he opened the door, he saw Jiro standing on his doorstep.
"Jiro? What are you doing here?"
"Uh… I just want to thank you for giving my brother money to buy the medicine my sister needed."
"Yeah, don't worry about it," Navi replied. "I gotta go now."
Navi started walking, but Jiro followed him.
"What is it, Jiro?"
"I… can I please help you hunt Likha?"
"But it's dangerous, Jiro. The only reason I'm still alive is because I heal faster than normal people—"
"Please, please, Ser Navi! At least let me carry the Likha you've killed. I won't ask for payment, please—"
"You can't go with me, Jiro, even if I wanted to—"
"Please! I'm good at hiding! I—I'll hide if you're about to fight! Please!"
Navi thought to himself.
I think I should let him come with me once… so he can see the danger of this job.
"…Alright, Jiro. But only this once, alright?"
"Yes! Yes!"
While they were walking, Navi asked,
"Jiro… where are your parents?"
Jiro hesitated.
"My mother left us for another man. Our father doesn't feed us."
Navi thought to himself.
That's cruel…
"Where did your mother go?"
"To the mainland. With her lover."
"Mainland?" Navi asked.
"Yes. Have you never heard of it? It's all over books. I think it's called Manila, and we're in a country called Maharlika."
"A book?" Navi asked.
"Yes. My mother used to be a librarian before she left us. There are a lot of things in books… I wish I could read all of them, but since she left, the new librarian won't let me in."
Navi looked at Jiro while they were walking.
"What's your dream, Jiro?"
"Oh, it's simple!" Jiro replied. "To see a Glacies dragon!"
"A glasi—what?" Navi asked.
"You've never heard of dragons?" Jiro said.
"Uhm… well, kinda. It doesn't really interest me," Navi replied.
"They look like big lizards with wings, and they breathe fire or ice," Jiro explained.
"That's cool… I guess. What about you?" Jiro asked.
"About me?" Navi replied.
"Yeah. What's your dream, Ser Navi?"
"Oh… it's, uh… I think I want to see what's beyond the sea. To see if there are really stronger Likha outside this island…"
Jiro smiled.
"Are you a kid?"
"A kid?!" Navi replied.
"Yeah, you are! Hahaha! There are no bigger Likha on the mainland. We have Hades people who kill Likha. The mainland is safe now!"
"How do you know that? You've never been there—"
"I read it in a book, Ser Navi," Jiro replied.
Then Jiro looked at him more closely.
"…And why are you always sad, Ser Navi?"
"Sad? What are you talking about—"
"I know those eyes, Ser. My mom had them."
For the first time, Navi's smile disappeared. He looked down and whispered,
"They misunderstood my grandpa, Jiro…"
Jiro tilted his head slightly.
"What do you mean, Ser?"
Navi paused for a moment, then forced a small, awkward smile.
"Uh… nothing, hehe. Let's just keep going."
After a while of searching, Navi only found a boar-type Likha.
"I don't count weak Likha as my kills," Navi said.
Jiro came out of hiding.
"You count the Likha you kill?" Jiro asked.
"Yeah. I've already killed… uh… twelve Likha. All of them were strong, I'm telling you."
Jiro laughed as he carried the dead boar.
"You sure they weren't weak like this one?"
"Hahaha. Funny," Navi replied.
They brought the creature to the shop and sold it.
Navi handed Jiro money.
"Here, Jiro. That's 1 zyrah silver. Your half."
"Wait, no! I said I'm only helping you, Ser Navi!"
"Nope. Take it. I'm not giving it—I'm lending it to you. So you'll pay me someday."
"But still—"
"No 'but,' Jiro. Go home and give food to your siblings."
Jiro cried and thanked him over and over again.
Navi remembered Ulap.
Yeah… they're really siblings…
After a while, Navi went home, and Jiro headed back as well.
But on the way—
Someone cornered him.
Cameron.
"Can I help you, sir?" Jiro asked.
"Do you know that boy?" Cameron said.
"Uh… yes. That's Navi. He helps me and my brothers a lot. What do you want from him?"
"I have a job for you, kid," Cameron said. "I'll give you 50 vetha gold if you lead him to the forest."
"For what, sir?"
"I want to surprise him. I'm his grandpa's friend, and he hasn't seen me for years."
"…Then why not just go to his house?"
"Shh. If you want the money, no more questions," Cameron said.
"Later this evening, tell him a Likha is attacking someone in the forest. Lead him north, and you'll get your payment."
"But—"
"You see, he's my nephew," Cameron interrupted. "I just want to show him something in that forest… and I need his dearest friend to help me. Okay?"
"…Okay," Jiro replied.
On the way home, Navi found Gab crying on the sidewalk.
"Gab?" Navi rushed over. "Why are you crying? Why are you here?"
"Ku—Kuya Ulap… is dead…" Gab sobbed.
"What?" Navi said.
"Our father found out he had money… he tried to take it… but Kuya Ulap didn't give it to him… so our father slammed him into the wall… and b—blood started running down his head…"
"I was looking for Kuya Jiro so we can bury him…"
Gab broke down crying.
"Hey, hey… it's alright," Navi said softly. "Everything's going to be fine, okay? Come on, lead me to your house."
"N-no… our father will kill you…"
"Your sister is still there, right? We'll go get her, okay?"
Gab hesitated… then finally nodded.
They reached the house.
Their father was outside, drinking like nothing had happened. Ulap's body was still inside.
Navi clenched his jaw, controlling himself.
"Gab, go inside. Get your sister and take her to my house."
Gab looked at his father, hesitating.
"It's okay, Gab. I'm here. He won't hurt you."
Gab gathered his courage and slowly walked inside.
"Where are you going, kid?!" the father shouted. "And who the fuck are you?!"
Navi didn't answer.
"I asked you a question!"
The man lunged at Navi, swinging a bottle.
Navi moved faster and struck him with the handle of his sword, knocking him down.
"Go, Gab! Take your sister!"
As Gab and his sister left the house, they looked at their father with pity… then kept walking.
Navi stepped inside.
He walked toward Ulap's body.
Tears fell silently down his face.
No sound.
Just grief.
He gently covered the body.
"…I'll come back," he whispered. "We'll give you a proper burial."
Then he turned.
"Come on… let's get you to my house first."
They were walking through the streets when, from another road, Jiro suddenly ran toward them.
"Kuya Navi!" Jiro shouted, exhausted.
"What happened?" Navi asked.
"What are you two doing out here?" Jiro asked his siblings.
"Oh—before I forget, someone's being attacked by a Likha in the forest! We need to hurry, Kuya Navi!"
"What?" Navi replied. "Uh… alright. Gab, you know my house, right? Bring your sister there. There's food inside."
Gab nodded. "O—okay, Ser Navi."
"Let's go!" Jiro said.
As they started running, Jiro asked, "Why were they outside?"
Navi looked down, his expression darkening. "It's hard to explain, but—"
Jiro cut him off. "Explain it later! We need to hurry!"
They both ran.
While running, Navi tried again.
"The thing is, the reason they were out is—"
"Kuya Navi, faster!" Jiro shouted.
"…Right. Right."
They reached the forest.
It was dark.
Too dark.
"There are no signs of a Likha… Are you sure this is the place, Jiro?" Navi asked.
Jiro hesitated.
"…Ser Navi… please don't get angry, but… there's no Likha here."
Navi frowned. "What?"
"…Someone just… wanted to see you here."
"What—"
BANG.
A gunshot echoed.
A bullet pierced straight through Navi's chest.
He dropped to his knees.
Jiro froze. "W-What is happening?!"
He rushed to Navi, pressing his hands against the blood pouring out.
"Help! He's bleeding!"
Figures emerged from the bushes.
"Good job, kid."
"What is this?!" Jiro shouted. "Help me! He's dying!"
"…Cameron?" Navi spoke weakly.
"Yes… yes, Navi. It's me."
"What are you doing?!" Jiro shouted.
"Hey, kid. Go now. Here's your payment—"
"I don't need your money!" Jiro yelled. "Help me bring Ser Navi to a healer!"
Navi tried to draw his sword—but he was too weak.
Cameron saw it.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
The bullets hit—his hand, his neck, his chest.
Navi collapsed.
"What are you doing?!" Jiro screamed as he lunged at Cameron.
Cameron shoved him away. "Get off me, you scum!"
Jiro hit the ground hard.
He tried to stand—
—but one of Cameron's men swung his blade.
Jiro's foot was severed clean.
"That's what you get for not knowing your place, kid," Cameron said smugly.
Jiro screamed in pain.
Navi lay on the ground, unable to move, bleeding out.
Still—
Jiro tried to stand.
BANG.
Cameron shot him in the head.
Jiro's body dropped.
Still.
Navi saw it.
Even with his body broken, even with the gunshots tearing through him—
he tried to move.
One of Cameron's men stepped forward and slashed Navi across the face.
The blade tore through his cheek, exposing his teeth.
"I'm sorry, Navi," Cameron said. "I respect your grandpa… but you refused the greatest merchant of the five continents and seven seas."
"I'll take the rest of your swords from your house."
Navi couldn't speak.
His voice was gone.
His body wouldn't respond.
Cameron stepped on his head.
"But since I've known you since you were a kid… and out of respect for your grandpa…"
"I'll put you out of your misery."
BANG. BANG.
Two bullets pierced Navi's head.
Everything went black.
"Alright. Business done. Grab the sword," Cameron ordered.
His men tried to take the sword from Navi's hand—
but his grip wouldn't loosen.
"Can you be faster?!" Cameron snapped.
"I can't—he's holding it too tight!"
"He's dead," Cameron said.
"…Fine. Leave it. It's useless anyway. Let's go."
They walked away.
Their silhouettes slowly fading into the darkness.
…
Then—
Navi's finger twitched.
Cameron went straight to Navi's house.
Inside, he found two children… and a dog.
They entered and trashed the place.
Gab stood in front of his sister, trying to protect her.
Cameron glanced at them.
"Oh… don't worry. I won't hurt you."
One of his men found the swords.
"I've found them, sir."
"Good. Let's go."
As they turned to leave—
"You can't take those!" Gab shouted. "Leave them here!"
Cameron slowly looked back.
"They're ours, kid. Don't worry."
Then he gave a silent signal to his men as he walked out.
After he stepped outside—
Gab shouted.
Then—
silence.
A dog cried out.
Then—
silence.
While unconscious, Navi couldn't fully heal.
Half of his brain was damaged.
But the other half remained intact.
That meant… he could still recover.
Slowly.
As his body healed, his mind drifted.
Memories.
Dreams.
A peaceful day.
"Come outside. Let's train," his grandfather said.
"What? Now?" young Navi complained.
"Yes. Why not?"
"I don't want to…"
His grandfather paused, thinking.
"…Hmm. If you complete the first form of our Haus swordstyle today… I'll tell you a story about what lies beyond this island."
Navi's eyes lit up. "Really?!"
"…But why do I need to learn it if I don't even know our last name?" Navi asked.
Seraphiel smiled slightly.
"As I said… finish the training, and I'll tell you."
"…Fine."
After a while—
Navi collapsed from exhaustion.
"Grandpa… huff… huff… how are you not tired?"
"I use my Motus to endure fatigue. I'll teach you someday. Now get up."
Then—
the ground shook.
A giant Likha appeared.
Seraphiel's expression changed.
"Stay here."
"No! I can fight—let me help!"
"No."
Seraphiel walked away.
Villagers ran in panic.
"Ser Seraphiel! A giant Likha—please, lend us your swords! We can help!"
"No."
He walked past them.
And fought alone.
An hour later—
the Likha was dead.
So was he.
Navi ran to the village.
Bodies everywhere.
But he didn't stop.
"Grandpa!"
He found him.
Sitting.
Lifeless.
"…It's better he's dead," someone muttered.
"So many died because he refused to lend his sword!"
"Ever since they arrived, Likha started appearing!"
"They're bad luck!"
Navi cried over his grandfather's body—
Then—
He jolted awake.
His body was mostly healed.
But weak.
"…Where am I…?" he muttered.
Then—
he saw Jiro's body.
Everything came back.
"No… no… Jiro…"
he remembered cameron.
He forced himself up.
Stumbling.
Running.
Back home.
The door was open.
He stepped inside slowly.
Then—
he saw them.
Gab.
Shiela.
Dead.
Their heads severed.
His dog—
dead.
Navi collapsed.
Crying.
No sound.
Just tears.
He searched for the swords.
Gone.
He knelt there.
Still.
Empty.
Then—
the guards arrived.
"What the hell happened here?!"
They saw the bodies.
One of them vomited.
Navi didn't move.
After a while—
he collapsed again.
"What the hell…"
"Take him to the barangay. He's an Emovere, right?"
"This is Hades' job."
"Call backup. Clean this massacre."
Navi heard them.
Faintly.
Then—
darkness took him again.