https://app.t2.world/article/clwwpmvl729235720mctmy769qg
It was still early morning when Luna woke up from her dream. She was still thinking back on it, laying on bed staring at the ceiling. That was weird, I’ve never dreamt of the Wall of Lightning before, and there was a ship inside of it.? A ship she never seen before. Her memory tried to put the fragments back together, but she couldn’t make any sense of it.
Friday was her favourite day. She had some freedom to do what she wanted. Especially with the big visit tomorrow, Father was busy enough that he paid her no mind. She looked underneath her bed to make sure the box was still there. She grabbed it and turned it around in her hands. The blue light was still there, emanating from within the box. Still no hinge or opening to be found. Out of frustration she threw it against the wall. A piece of the wall came off, nothing from the box though. What is this made of.?
After trying to fix the wall but failing miserably she got out of bed, put her travel clothes on, grabbed her backpack and put the box inside before heading downstairs. She grabbed some left-over breakfast and walked out the door. Just before leaving she heard a voice calling out to her.
Where do you think you’re going young lady?
I’m walking to the village today Father. Orym asked yesterday if I could help him clean up his workshop a bit. I’ll have Bren take me back with the cart.
Okay, but don’t be late, I don’t want Captain Kento’s first assignment after his surgery to be to find my irresponsible daughter.
Yes Father, I’ll make sure to be back before sunset, and with that, she was off.
A cool breeze met her as soon as she closed the front door behind her. It’s a long walk but it was early morning, and she wasn’t in a rush. She took the box out of her bag and held it against the sunlight. Still no sign of opening this thing. What if it wasn’t meant to be opened. The blue light emanating from within was still there, maybe she had to fill it with more of this light to open it? Or… all the light had to be out of the box before it opened. All these thoughts running through her head, her feet walking the pad towards the city.
After walking for about 2 hours, she took a rest about 20 minutes before the city. There she took out the left-over breakfast and sat down to eat something. Looking out over the city
The city was small, but the docks were huge. Ships from all over the island came here for Father’s medical care. For that reason, it was no surprise that the docks were almost filled with all kinds of different ships. Most of them were here just to catch a glimpse of the Baron of Viraal who was supposed to arrive tomorrow midday. There were also trading ships docked and it looked like they were ready to set out to sea again.
According to a deckhand she talked to once, a trip around the island took about a week. From one side to the other was estimated to be a 4-day journey. She asked Mother once if she could join a crew for a time. She would be the medicine woman on board. The captain of the ship thought it was a great idea, unfortunately her parents weren’t that open-minded.
She finished breakfast and grabbed the box once more. Got to find a way to figure this out, the light is here for a reason. She willed herself to relax, she crossed her legs and started meditating, something she saw Captain Kento do on multiple occasions. She placed the box in front of her and closed her eyes, with her hands resting on her knee’s, palms open towards the sky.
Just breath and think of nothing, once the mind is empty, visualize what you want to achieve. Captain Kento made it sound easy, how in the world do you think of nothing.?
She took a moment to relax and once she thought her mind was empty she visualized more light into the box. In her mind a picture showed itself. A picture of the box completely blue, almost none of the dark green was visible. YES, exactly like that. She opened her eyes and looked at the box but there was no change.
Okay, let’s try something else. She started again. This time really focussing on her breathing, in and out, in and out. Until her mind was empty. She focussed on the box, how the blue light would be gone from it. Another picture showed itself in her mind, this time it was a picture of an ordinary box, but something else was there. She could feel tingling in her fingertips. Like something was reaching out. She opened her eyes again and she freaked out at what she saw.
The box was just an ordinary box, all the light was gone, that wasn’t all though, when she looked at her hands she saw blue light coming from her fingertips. Sending sparks from one finger to the other. She wanted to take a good look at her hands so she held them out in front of her so she could see how far the blue light reached up her hand. What she saw next scared her even more, for a small lightning strike came out of her hands and hit about 20 feet away from her into the ground. She jumped up and took a step back. What in the world just happened?? Did I just shoot lightning out of my hands, she thought smiling.
The mark on the ground was clearly visible, it wasn’t like she imagined it. Plus, the box was now an ordinary box, no blue light visible anymore. She sat back down and took a minute to get her thoughts under control. A summary of what just transpired, however impossible it sounds, I just took the light from the box and transferred it to my own hands. I then used that light to shoot out a lightning strike 20 feet away from myself. She laughed out loud at the thoughts in her head, but to be fair, all evidence let to that exact scenario. She threw her hands forward again, kind of expecting it to happen again. It did not.
Instead of looking over the city she turned towards the sea. The Wall of lightning was far enough away that transport and trade was not a problem. The occasional story you heard of a trading ship getting too close and being destroyed was still there, but the last time somebody tried to pass through the Wall was many years ago.
Looking at the occasional Lightning strike hitting the water she couldn’t help but feel a resemblance of what she just did. What if this box made it through the Lightning and got hit by a lightning strike while it was in the water. It would explain the blue light, and the fact she just produced a lightning strike out of her hands. Could this box be the key to traveling the Wall?
After getting her bearings again, she packed up her stuff and continued her walk to the city. She arrived at the entrance of the city when the sun was at its highest point.
She walked over to the stables looking for Bren, she found him sitting down against a pole reading a book. Bren was an older man in his late fifty’s, he had a trimmed beard and short hair.
Good afternoon Bren, I walked towards the city but was hoping you could bring me back when I’m ready to go. Is that okay? Of course it is Miss Luna. Just let me know when you’ll be leaving, I’ll start preparing the cart for the way back. Any groceries we must do before heading back? She was about to respond when she heard commotion behind her, she turned around and saw many people running towards the docks. Shouting out things like “hurry, hurry, they’ll be arriving soon. Bren, what’s going on, isn’t the Baron supposed to arrive tomorrow? I have no idea miss Luna responded Bren Luna walked out the stables a bit and stopped a woman running towards her.
Excuse me miss, could you tell me what’s going on.?
You haven’t heard? Strangers are coming to the docks; people say they travelled through the Wall of Lightning!
Through the Wall? Now this is definitely the change she was looking for.
Bren, ready the cart and meet me at the docks, my father will want to examine these people in case they bring foreign diseases on the island.
If it’s true what she said Miss Luna it might be a good idea to send a rider towards your parents to have them prepare.
Good idea Bren, take care of it. I’ll meet you at the docks.
She ran after the woman she just stopped and followed her to the docks. Upon arrival she could see the mass of people already gathered at one of the ships.
A white flag was hung from the mast, and a person was standing on the side waving another white flag. The military presence had already arrived and surrounded the dock where the ship was trying to dock itself on.
Please don’t shoot us Luna heard coming from the ship. We come in peace. We travelled through the Wall of Lightning and come looking for aid, medical aid to be precise. You heard a big gasp coming from the people around the docks. So it was true, they really did travel through the Wall.
Throw your weapons on the walkway and get ready to be boarded, Luna immediately recognized the voice, Captain Kento was already up on his feet and ready to fight if necessary. The surgery on his left hand was yesterday and he is already up and running towards danger. I don’t know if it says more about how great a doctor father is, or how amazing a soldier captain Kento is.
Luna wiggled herself to the front of the line and saw Captain Kento getting ready to board the ship after all the swords and muskets were thrown overboard. She walked up towards one of the guards and coughed her throat. The soldiers turned around and looked at her, one of the soldiers dropped his musket to his side and stepped towards her. Excuse me, if these people need medical attention I should be there with the captain, step aside. A bit of arrogance gets you a long way. Something Orym always said. Plus, the fact almost everybody knew her to be the daughter of the famous doctor definitely helped.
Of course Miss Luna, I’ll take you to the captain.
They walked on to the ship, and she saw 10 soldiers plus captain Kento. On the other side of the ship were 5 people all with their hands up. She came up when she heard part of a conversation.
Another is within the ship; He is also the one that needs medical attention as soon as possible. He is the reason we passed through the Wall, so if we ever want to make it back, we need him alive.
Well, it’s a good thing I’m here then. Luna said a bit louder than she meant to.
Everybody turned around towards her. Miss Luna said captain Kento, what are you doing here?
I was in the city captain, heard the commotion and came to see for myself. Now according to this woman here there is somebody who needs medical attention, is it okay if I go and look?
Captain Kento nudged towards the 3 soldiers around Luna to follow her into the hut. Upon entering the hut, she looked around and saw a man lying on a simple bed with thick bandages around his head. The man looked to be around the same age as Luna, maybe begin thirties instead of late twenties like Luna. He had a scruffy beard that looked like a man that has been on sea for many weeks, his torso was exposed, and his entire upper body was one big bruise. Like he ran into a wall and expected to run right through it. He was breathing but very weakly, if he didn’t get the medicine he needed he would not survive the day. Luna walked back on to the deck and looked at the crew that was now surrounded by soldiers.
Captain Kento.? A word if you will? She stepped to the side for a bit of privacy, the captain stepped over with his eyes never leaving the captain of the ship.
Yes, Miss Luna? Did they speak true?
It seems so captain, if the man inside doesn’t get the necessary medicine within the day, he will die. I believe the best course of action is to take everybody to my house. I already had a rider sent home to inform my father of the possibility that these people come from beyond the Wall of Lightning. I know father would want to check everybody for any foreign diseases. Tomorrow the Baron if Viraal will be at our house as well so he will be notified immediately I imagine.
Luna saw the captain think on all the possibilities that could happen. His eyes darting back and forth now between Luna and the strangers.
I will agree with you Luna on a couple conditions. First, we will escort you all the way back to your home. Second, I saw your cart already rolled up next to the docks, I will be with you on the cart with their Captain and the man who is inside. The rest of their crew will be put on horses surrounded by my soldiers.
We will take 20 soldiers with us towards your home. Third and most important one, you tell your father that this was all your idea. I deeply respect your father for what he has done, not only to me but what he does for the village, but I’m still scared of him. A quick smile came over his face, although Luna could see he did mean it.
Of course captain, although I’m sure father is already well aware that this is my doing, in fact he is probably thinking how to punish me for it.
Captain Kento sent out 4 soldiers to grab a stretcher from the mess hall. When they came back the crew was already off the ship, put on horses and surrounded by a group of soldiers. Captain Kento had the captain of the ship placed on the cart. The injured man was being brought out on the stretcher to join them there.
She stepped up on to the cart next to the stretcher, Ready Captain? Captain Kento and the captain of the sip responded with a silent nod of the head. A small smile came over Luna’s face. Let’s go Bren. With that they were off, towards home. With a strange feeling in Luna’s stomach. Change had finally come