To push towards the unknown is not cowardice; If we are men who want to live well in this world, the fear of danger is natural.

― The Way of the Warrior, Volume 5, Chapter 3: A Word for Those Who Dare to Stand Out From the Crowd, by the Master of Strategy

“Leon, put the book down. Get up here!”

Leon scrambled to his feet, pulling his boats on as he hopped towards the stairs leading to the weather deck.

“I’m on my way, mate.” climbing up the stairs.

The sky was black as pitch; The moon was out more than the night sky, and the rain had just started.

“What is it Henry?” his eyes meeting his brothers, he was staring at something behind him.

His older brother stepped towards him and raised a finger at the bow. Leon spun around, scanning the horizon, and then he saw the plume of mist. Their aim was in sight.

Henry rushed over and put a hand on Leon’s shoulder. “It’s almost time, baby brother.”

“Ten years we’ve been waiting for this moment,” turning towards Henry, “Today we find out what happened to dad.”

The sound of a bell cut the moment short.

“Captain, mist ho! Our destination is north by northeast.”

Leon turned around to face the crew and then he heard the captain call out to his men.

“With that, he turned the wheel ten degrees starboard.

“Will be there by sunup!”

The wind picked up, as did the sea. Waves crashed against the hull of the ship and water began pouring into the hold.

“Henry?”

Leon called to him, but there was no response from his brother. He’d gone up to the bow in silent meditation. The crew worked, tying the ropes and turning the sails. Leon ran over to the side of the boat where Henry stood, his eyes locked on the mist.

Leon grabbed him by his shoulder.

“You can feel it too, isn’t it strange?”

“We’ll find something…”

As Leon looked into the dark waters surrounding the ship, Henry’s reply was lost in the howl of wind. He felt his heart beat faster and he could see that his older brother shared in his excitement and fear.

“Let’s do this.” his hands shaking before mustering them into fists.

He knew there were two possibilities: either they would find an answer, or the mystery of what had happened to their father would remain a question forever.

The rain fell harder, and the storm intensified as they sailed into the mist. The captain of the ship ordered his men to take cover. As the mist thickened around them, so did their fear. But Leon had seen this before. This wasn’t his first time aboard ship in such weather.

Past the mist, the island came into view. The main peak of the mountain rose from the mist, and as they grew closer, it was far larger than they expected.

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Leon could see that a great number of boats wretched ahead in the bay, most of which were small skiffs like their own, but there was no sign of their father. And as he looked out over the island, his eyes focused on what seemed to be an opening between two cliffs; it was too dark to tell.

“Raise the canvas lads, let’s take it slow.” Said the captain, while adjusting the wheel.

“Aye!” shouted a crewman from below. “Ready to hoist!”

All together, the sailors heaved down on ropes attached to the sails, inching them higher and higher with every tug. They moved into the bay past sunken ships and between jagged rocks before coming to a stop a short distance from the beach.

“We’re here. Drop the anchor and ready your weapons and prepare to dismount, lads.”

“Keep your weapons ready! No one goes in unprepared,” the captain shouted, but even his commands could not keep the nervous anticipation from shaking those aboard ship.

The captain jumped over the edge, landing in knee high water, followed by the eager crew amongst them. Leon looked at Henry before nodding at him and they vaulted over the ledge into the water.

Weapons drawn, the thirty-five men moved with haste but also caution towards the shore, and they found themselves in the treeline. Wet and sandy, “Island of the Mist!” shouted the captain and his crew all cheered at this unexpected turn of events. They hadn’t expected such a large island, or any land at all.

The captain turned and called to his crew, “Stay close lads, we go in together.” And with that, they continued through the trees. Hours of hacking their way through the dense forest before coming to an opening at the base of mountain peak.

“Alright lads, take a breather. We’ve got plenty of time,” resting against a large rock, “no need to rush.”

A couple of men gathered some wood and other kindling to start a fire, which everyone huddled around. It was morning, however, the sun wasn’t penetrate the shroud of the mist. The constant rain and the wind made the entire situation bleak.

While everyone was resting, out of the shadows a group of warriors emerged from the shadows and advanced on them; Leon saw their long black robes with silver thread weaving through, as well as the golden masks covering the lower half of their faces.

The first of the masked warriors drew a metal pole-arm and thrust it towards him.

“Hah!” he dodged and fired back, striking the man in the chest. He fell to the ground, gasping for breath and writhing in pain.

And with that,there was no turning back. They attacked in a great melee; Leon ducking beneath the swing of a blade and then swinging his rapier at the masked fighter's legs. He felt his sword hit flesh with a resounding thud. His opponent staggered back as he plunged the rapier into his chest. Leon had taken down two before Henry even got close.

"Men to your feet!" Unsheathing his blade and pistol. "Form the line lads."

A second later, his brother Henry charged down into the open area, taking a quick swing that took off the arm of his foe before pulling out his pistol and shooting another of the men sneaking up behind Leon.

Henry and Leon trained together for years at this moment. They had been ready.

The battle went on for only moments after that; the enemy defeated, Leon looked around and found himself surrounded by only ten of his crewmates. Leon turned to his brother, and they both took deep breaths.

"It's over…" he whispered, but loud enough so that all could hear him. The others nodded in agreement and lowered their weapons.

Leon turned towards his older brother and noticed a smile on his face.

"lads, over here." Beckoning them over with his rapier still in his hand.

The captain had moved towards the cliff where the enemy advanced from. There was an opening that led to a large cave. They traversed their way to the cave entrance. A faint humming sound resonating from within.

"On me lads, no one discovered anything by running away!"

The ten remaining men moved forward with Leon, his brother, and the captain, who lead the way.

The first chamber inside contained several small cages containing skeletal remains. Most in various states of mutilation, their arms cut off or hands broken at the wrist, and several of them had spears shoved into their skulls.

The next chamber was a lot like the last one except lit by torches, the bodies piled high; many of the men, missing heads, which had been impaled on spears scattered around the room. But all of them had suffered.

Leon stepped into the third chamber as soon as he spotted the glowing object in the middle.

He approached with caution, not sure what he might find, and when he got close enough, a spherical black ball, pulsing with energy.

The stone itself, smooth and seemed to be devoid of any colour or imperfections. It glowed in the torchlight. He looked around the room again and noticed that all the dead men had their eyes locked upon this same black stone, with their weapon drawn towards it.

Henry standing right beside him. He reached out and touched the stone and, in a flash, he vanished before Leon's eyes.

"No, brother!" Holding out his arm before falling to his knees and weeping. The other men came rushing forward and helped him up.

Leon looked towards where Henry disappeared, but there was no sign of his brother.