After hearing probably the craziest story from Captain Osana, the captain of the ship that came in port yesterday. She acted quickly and took the crew of the ship to her parents for medical examination. Father was in a state she never seen before. He didn’t know if he had to act angry, proud or livid for the way that Luna handled it. First he was angry of course, but after explaining that these people came from beyond the Wall, where there is apparently Magic!? Magic that was not only used for military purposes, but also medical purposes, father’s eyes went wide with excitement.
He first treated the man that was still unconscious, Cyrus was his name according to the captain. He was still unconscious, but his breathing came back to normal, and his heart rate was improving rapidly. It was only a matter of time before he woke up. He then checked the rest of the crew for any anatomies that differed from ours, under the watchful eye of Captain Kento and his soldiers.
A word Captain, said father when he was finished. They went to the next room and Luna was left in the room with the crew and the soldiers.
So, if I am to believe you, you guys came from beyond the wall, made it here because the unconscious man built a ship that could direct the lightning away from the ship. However, when you were through the Wall you were betrayed by a Master of Magic.? Never before has someone done what you guys did, and you had no idea of our existence before you set out to do this? How am I doing so far?
The captain got a small smile over his face. Pretty great actually, you only wrong about a couple of things. Well, not necessarily wrong, you just left out some key points. Damn, I left that out on purpose, the soldiers don’t need to hear that. Especially when I still have the box in my bag.
Please, enlighten me captain. Luna said, also with a bit of a smile so she would not come over too arrogant.
Well, we are from the mainland called Mantanar. Also, the Master of magic, Master Selin is his name, he took the Vault with him. That’s what was getting us safely pass the Wall. It looks like an ordinary box, but it can store great amounts of magic. He used the Vault to teleport him safely back to Mantanar, I assume. We don’t really know where he went. Only people that can use and channel magic know how it works. Before he teleported he used some sort of Magic to push Cyrus off the crow’s nest. He then fell overboard into the sea, and we had to rescue him. About 5 hours later we saw this island and hoped somebody could save Cyrus. Without him there will be no going back for us.
I’m not sure if leaving with him is an option for you either captain, but that’s something the Baron or the military will discuss with you.
Not 2 minutes later the door opened, and captain Kento walked in with father.
Thank you for your patience everybody, the captain and I have come to an arrangement.
We will keep Cyrus here under supervision in case something happens during the night, the rest of you can go back with the captain towards the city. For one night you will have to stay behind bars, upon tomorrow you will be set free and return here. Your friend should be awake by then, and we will have the Baron visiting from the Capital. He will know what to do with you for the remainder of your stay here on the island. This is not a punishment and I hope you don’t see it that way, this is more a precaution. The people here are very concerned about outsiders since we’ve never had them before.
Captain Osana stepped forward when father was done speaking; excuse me sir, but I think it would be wise if somebody will stay at Cyrus’ side in case he does wake up in the middle of the night. Somebody who he is familiar with, if he does wake up and doesn’t recognize the people around him I might fear for how he will react.
He’s got a fair point Doctor Treshi, I can put soldiers in de room but if we are not allowed to injure him he might run away or worse, injure either my men, or himself. Captain Kento looked at father with a worrisome face.
Excuse me father, sorry for interrupting but maybe I can be of service.?
I know I’m not familiar to the man but what I’ve heard from Captain Osana on the way here, this Cyrus is an honourable man, I don’t think he’ll strike a woman whom he doesn’t know, plus if he does wake up in the night I can make sure everything goes smoothly. C’mon father, take the bait, let me stay in the Recovery room with him.
He looked at both the captains, captain Osana nudged his head and said, your daughter speaks true, I know Cyrus for many years, he will not harm her.
Captain Kento perked up and said: The choice is yours doctor, but if I may, I will sent 2 soldiers to accompany her inside the room and 2 at the outside of the door.
Father looked at them with piercing eyes. I don’t want more outsiders than necessary in my house and Recovery Room, especially with The Baron arriving tomorrow.
He then turned his attention to Luna.
Okay daughter, you will stay by his side, the soldiers will be stationed on either side of the door, inside and out. Damn, two guards on the inside, no private conversations if he wakes up.
Thank you father and thank you Captain Kento. She started moving towards the Recovery Room and was quickly followed by 4 guards with swords to their side and muskets on their arms.
They set up next to the door and Luna made herself comfortable on one of the resting beds next to Cyrus. He was still breathing normally and the bandages around his head were replaced with fresh ones’.
He had taken all the medication he was allowed to have for the day, it was up to him if he was waking up or not. There was nothing she could do for him.
Goodnight guys, wake me up if he wakes up please.
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Cyrus woke up with a pounding headache. Uughhh, well at least this means I’m not dead. He tried to remember what happened on the ship. We made it through that’s for sure, Selin betrayed us, he looked possessed, like the Lightning from the Wall did something to him. No, it was before that already, it started when he came out of his trance.
After thinking back for a bit, with his eyes closed, Cyrus started to try and move his body a bit, mainly to feel if nothing was broken. The headache was still too much to open his eyes. However, he then heard something he wasn’t prepared for, and tried to get up.
Excuse me Miss Luna, I believe he is waking up.
Someone grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back on the table. Not with force, but gently and with care. He could feel that it was a woman’s touch. Definitely not the captain’s though, which is the only woman that was with them on the ship.
Please sir, try to stay calm, you are in good hands. You are inside a medical facility on the Island of Viraal. I believe this is an unknown island to you, but we have spoken to Captain Osana, and she trusted me with your care, hopefully you will do the same.
He had to open his eyes, he needed to know where he was. He opened his eyes, slowly, thankfully it was dark in the room with the only light coming from the other side of the door. The first thing he noticed were the 2 soldiers by the door looking back at him. When he looked up, he saw the woman that was speaking to him. She was a woman of a proximally the same age as he was, maybe a couple years younger. Black hair tied up high and looking at him with a warm smile.
My name is Luna she said, I’m a doctor here and in charge of your treatment at the moment. It is however the middle of the night sir, try to get some more sleep, you’ll feel better in the morning. Cyrus closed his eyes again and felt instantly better.
Thank you miss, please tell me before I fall asleep, is my crew okay?
They are sir, you will see them here in the morning, goodnight.
When he woke up again the woman was gone, only the soldiers were there.
She returned only a moment later, ah, you’re awake, good that will make the next part much easier.
She put the plate of food next to him, simple fruits and vegetables, a slice of bread with some cheese. Cyrus attacked the plate like a wolf.
I will be taking some of your blood sir, after that my father will check other parts of your anatomy to make sure you are who your crew says you are. After that your captain Osana will come in and will tell you what has transpired since you have been unconscious.
After being subjected to all different kinds of tests by a man who was not at all as kind as his daughter was, and clearly in a hurry. The soldiers stepped outside, and Captain Osana stepped in. The two embraced for a moment.
I thought you were gone for sure the captain said. So did I Osana, so did I. You however brought me back from the death, you brought us here, and these people saved me.
These people are Viralians apparently, or the people of Viraal, the name of the island Osana said. They have been here for more than 100 generations if I am to believe the stories I heard yesterday.
Cyrus sat back down on the bed and let Osana tell him what happened, all of it.
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When Luna stepped out the room to give the outsiders some space she finally could check on her bag in her room. The Vault as they said turns out to be the key to traveling the Wall of Lightning. I have it, the one they lost on their first trip is in my hands, they will need it if they are to leave this island. If the Baron will let them.
She walked into the living room where her parents were having a conversation with captain Kento, she grabbed some bread to have a late breakfast.
Turns out this Cyrus fellow is also speaking the truth; they didn’t bring any diseases with them. They are free to go.
Excuse me Doctor, but if they leave who is to say they will not bring more people this way and try and conquer this island.
Luna spoke up after hearing this; The reason they came this way was to charge up this box of theirs, they succeeded so now they can go back, if they come again this will be their reason. This might be a chance for us to set up a trade route with the people outside of the Wall. Think about it. If we were to give them food and fix their ship for the way back, we could set up a trade route. Every time they come through the Wall we can give them food and they can give us products from their lands. We can live in harmony with them.
That would be a conversation for them to have with the Baron. I’ll be honest daughter, it’s not a bad idea. Luna couldn’t believe her ears, did father actually agree with me just now?
The Baron can arrive any moment, let’s make sure everything is ready for him, set up Cyrus in your room Daughter. Make sure you keep him there, I’ll have some of the soldiers clean up the recovery and surgery room, father said looking at Captain Kento.
Not a problem sir, I’ll have my men start immediately. He walked out the room and started pacing towards the stables, where most of the soldiers were located with the rest of the ship’s crew
Luna stepped out the room and made her way back to the recovery room. She knocked and walked inside. Cyrus and captain Osana were still in conversation. Pardon me sir, I am here to escort you to a different room. We need the room for the Baron, he’ll be arriving shortly. You can continue your conversation there.
Of course Miss, please show us the way, Cyrus said with a bit of a bow. The 2 outsiders got up and followed her to her room. When they walked in she was surprised to find an extra table with 2 chairs located in the corner of the room. She signalled the outsiders to take a seat at the chairs while she sat on the bed. They looked at her with a look of confusion.
I am sorry sir, but this is my room, I am also confined to this space. Please, you can continue your conversation, I promise it will not leave this room. Hopefully I get the information I need to decide, it seems these people need to box I have, and they have something I need. A way off this island.
The captain continued without further ado, Cyrus there is no way we will make it back. Without the Vault, the adamantine coil has nothing to transfer the electricity too, you said this yourself.
Well, what will you have me do then. We can’t just stay here and live the rest of our days on this island. We need to go back; we need to warn the people of Mantanar about Master Selin. You saw him, he had a plan. He said that the Vault was ready for what was needed. We have no idea what’s happening over there. Mantanar might already be corrupted.
The net can be fixed on the waters towards the Wall of Lightning, you said it took about 5 hours to get here after we passed through the wall, now we just need to modify the coil that it will work without the Vault. Although I have no idea of how to do this.
Besides if we do make it back, I’ll have to explain that we lost another Vault, they will probably put me in chains, and I’ll live the rest of my days in a cell in the deepest dungeon of the capital. No, there must be something we can do. Cyrus got up and started pacing through the room while the captain threw idea’s towards him, one more crazy then the other.
We can just stay out on the waters, become pirates? Osana said it but didn’t really believe it himself.
Pirates ha, don’t make me laugh, with what crew? We have 6 people. We don’t even have a navigator.
We can sail to the unknown regions and hope we come across another island.?
And then what? No Osana my friend, we must face facts. If we are to survive the trip through the Wall we will have to go back to Mantanar. We just need a good reason why we are back without the Master of Magic and without another Vault.
Excuse me sir, I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but I might have the solution you are looking for.
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Cyrus turned around when he heard the woman speak. What he saw lit up his face with a big smile.
There, on her lap, was the solution to all his problems. How did you get this Miss Luna?
Two days ago, one of our villagers found this on our beach, he gave it to me to explore. Now I know you need this to leave the island. However, I also need something from you.
I don’t have to give this to you, If I give this to the Baron he will probably keep it far away from you. So, let’s make a deal. This is one smart woman. She is of course completely right and were she to give this to the leader of this island he would never see it again.
Okay, please tell me what you had in mind, what is it that you need Miss?
I need you, to take me with you. I need to get off this island, you need this box to make that happen. So, take me with you and you’ll have your box.
Deal. Cyrus said it without hesitation. She was right, he needed that Vault, and he needed it badly.
Deal, Luna said. They shook hands and looked each other in the eyes. I’m starting to like this woman. Direct and to the point. Like me.
Alright Captain, that solved pretty much all our problems, now we only need a way off this island with Miss Luna over here, which I imagine is an escape plan? Your parents don’t know about this do they? He looked at Luna with a hard look, a look that used to say, if you lie to me you’re in deep trouble, let’s hope this is still the case.
You are right sir; this would be an escape attempt. The first one ever made, according to my father nobody has ever left this island. But then again, nobody has ever made it passed the wall. So, if somebody can do it, I imagine it would be you sir. She looked at him with a smirk on her face. Owhh this woman knew exactly what she was doing, and it was working.