The parties resumed on the island of Dreya, day in and day out. The streets were bustling with people, the folks were tireless even on the seventh day of celebration.
The crew-mates and the people danced together, feasted on wonderful meals, and enjoyed their time with a myriad of different entertainments. On the morning of the seventh day, Tommy announced that they would reside on the island for another week, a delightful piece of news to everyone on the land. Right after that, the man said no more as he disappeared from town.
In the local tavern, the crew-mates drank and played darts, and cards, and ate to their hearts’ content. Neila was no different, sipping on the sour-sweet lemon juice while indulging in poetry, scribbling on a leather notebook with a magnificent quill she was given by Tommy years ago.
“Oi, Neiiiiilaaaaaaaaaa!” Jacob—a crewmate—called out, leaning towards the bar counter next to the woman. “Where’s Tommy, eh? He says he wants to stay anotha week but he dun stay with us, that bastard.”
He was drunk and unsteady, his face flushed red and his words jumbled and incoherent. If it weren’t for the years they spent together, the woman would’ve brushed him off as a drunk fool; but he was a dear drunk fool to her.
“Tommy?” She wondered, “Well, he’s somewhere else.”
“Jacob, stop bothering her.” Nathan, another crew member, interjected. “Sorry for that, Neila. What are you doing?”
“Just writing some poetry.”
“Poetry?” Jacob blurted out, “I love poetry. Ya know, there’s this girl who used to read me poetry when we-”
“Alright, enough, Jacob.” Nathan interrupted, shoving the man away. “Drunk-ass.”
“You’re a little harsh on him, no?” Neila wondered. “There’s not much left before we all go our separate ways, you might miss his…behavior.”
“To hell with him. You wouldn’t catch me dead missing that bastard. I dread the day we get to Tommy’s town so I can forever fuck off from him.” He complained.
“We’ll see.” She replied, “Want something to eat?”
“Not at all, I’m stuffed!” Nathan exclaimed, “Beats me how some of the guys aren’t barfing already. Much appreciated hospitality, but they have to tone it down, I’ve had six meals in half a day, god.”
“Don’t bite the hand that feeds.”
“Well the hand that feeds should stop shoving shit into my mouth, now shouldn’t it?”
“Just don’t say that in front of the Dreya-folks or Tommy.”
“Oh, right.” He remembered, “Where is Tommy, by the way? I haven’t seen him in a while.”
“He’s off tending to other things.”
“Like what?”
“He took a liking to that boy, Adrian.”
“Adrian? The son of that couple?”
“On the dot. He wants to spend the remaining week with them.”
“He still feels grateful, aye?”
“I don’t think that’s the case. I believe he just grew…attached to them, I think?”
“Grew attached? Like what, a family member?”
Nathan’s words were unexpectedly on the dot, again. Tommy grew attached to the Reyos, he respected the couple like his parents and loved Adrian like his brother. While his crew-mates were spending time at the tavern, Tommy was playing hide-and-seek with the little boy in the forest.
“8…9…10!” Tommy exclaimed, uncovering his eyes. “Alright, come out come out wherever you are!”
He turned around, leaning back from the tree he stood facing. He was in the middle of the forest, surrounded by trees and bushes, looking right and left with a squinting gaze. He paced through the dense forest, twigs breaking and leaves rustling as he scanned his surroundings enthusiastically.
“You can change your ways, but you can’t change your place now! I will find you!”
He strutted around the trees, searching for Adrian, looking for clues to his whereabouts. Surprisingly, the boy proved harder to find each time he lost a round, now having found his best hiding spot yet—a hassle to find.
But! As the man was scouting the forest, he heard the leaves rustling behind the tree to his right. He smirked and leaned forward, noticing the ruffled brown hair of the boy. He took a step behind, and scratched his chin while thinking aloud:
“Oh, I wonder where you could hide, Adrian!”
Another rustle resonated from behind the tree, causing the man to hold back his chuckle as he thought of how adorable the frightened reaction was. However, seeing that it was nearly lunchtime, he decided to end the game and call out the boy. But right as he leaned onto the tree, he noticed a snake on the bottom branch, eyes locked onto Adrian.
A second before the viper struck, Tommy chopped the tree down with his bare hands, delivering an inhumanly powerful blow that split it horizontally and sent it flying a few meters back.
The snake fell from the branch, and landed right between the boy’s feet, drawing a frightened shriek from him. Tommy guarded the boy with his arm as the viper sunk its teeth into it and coursed its venom. But the man was nonchalant, smiling in triumph as he successfully averted a catastrophe.
“Bad call, Mr. Snake. Very bad call,” he muttered through gritted teeth as he firmly grasped the viper by its head, swiftly extracting its venomous fangs from his flesh. With a deft motion, he twirled the serpent like a slingshot before propelling it through the air, sending it soaring hundreds of meters away. “Goodbye, and never return!”
“I win!” Adrian exclaimed, raising his hand in the air. “You didn’t say ‘Found you’ in time, I win!”
“What? You nearly got bit by a snake and that’s what matters to you?” Tommy chuckled, “Are you insane?”
“I’m not insane, I’m a winner! I won, I won! You lose, Tommy! Finally, I win!” He cheered while jumping for joy, finally having beaten the man.
“Oh, give me a break You’re just lucky, you little devil,” Tommy said, rubbing his unscathed forearm, as if the snake hadn’t bit him at all.
“That’s what losers say!” Adrian argued.
“Fine, you win! But don’t forget I won twenty-seven times and only lost once, you looooser!”
“Don’t care, I won!”
“Fine fine, enjoy your moment.”
Tommy stepped towards the chopped tree, gazing at it for a moment with a hint of regret in his expression.
“Ah, man. If only that stupid snake didn’t show up, I wouldn’t have resorted to this. But, whatever!” He said, raising the tree and firmly placing it on his shoulder, carrying it as if it held no weight. “Now the tree will make for some splendid firewood, or probably a bookshelf for you, Adrian.”
“Really?! You’ll give me a bookshelf?!” The little boy asked, excitedly.
“I will give you the tree, and then you can make the bookshelf yourself.”
“Whaaat? I hate you, Tommy. You’re stupid!”
“No, you’re stupid!”
“You’re stupid!”
“Nu-uh!”
The two went back and forth with pity insults, each more pitiful than the other. While Adrian was putting all his effort into jibes and warring with Tommy, the latter was having the time of his life as he saw the frustration growing in the boy’s voice and expression, until they finally reached home.
Right as Tommy and Adrian reached the house, Charlotte set plates of baked fish and boiled potatoes on the lunch table, while Isaac was already sitting on his chair, reading a newspaper.
Adrian washed his hands with the bucket of water outside and ran to the table, jumping in his seat in anticipated excitement, while Tommy placed the tree near the shed before taking his place at the table.
“Was that a tree?” Isaac asked; his stern, squinting eyes unchanged.
“Er, yes. I apologize for that.” Tommy replied.
“But why?” Isaac wondered, perplexed.
“I think we should leave it for later, else…” Tommy whispered, pointing at the kitchen. “Charlotte would get upset.”
“Understood.” Isaac nodded before getting back to his newspaper.
“A new hobby, sir?” Tommy wondered, pointing at the newspaper.
“He didn’t use to read much,” Charlotte interjected, exiting the kitchen with a jug of orange juice. “But ever since you took to the seas, this husband-o-mine kept reading every day!”
“Not every day.” He corrected, “This here is a week old. Merchants that come to Dreya don’t have the newest papers.”
“But you read them regardless.” Charlotte chuckled as she took her seat at the table next to Isaac.
“Because there isn’t anything else. But, week-old news is still better than none.” He explained, sighing in defeat. “I began reading to see whether you did your thing or not, Tommy. But I like reading from time to time, so it’s now more of a habit than anything else.”
“What’s a newspaper?” Adrian wondered, tugging on Tommy’s shirt.
Taping the table, Charlotte interrupted the two while pointing at the food, “Now, boys. Lunch will get cold, better help yourselves before nothing’s left!” she said.
And so, the family ate to their full. The empty plates were scattered along the table before Charlotte began to clean up, declining Tommy’s offer to help her and leaving him bickering once more with Adrian.
“Say, Tommy,” Isaac said, “Where to now? I’m sure the man of the moment has many places to go.”
“Certainly, sir.” Tommy replied, “I’ll have to make a few stops around the world, then to my hometown far up north.”
“What?! You’re leaving?!” Adrian gasped, “Not fair, take me with you!”
“Of course not, you sly devil,” Tommy said, playfully tapping the boy’s nose. “The sea is treacherous and dangerous for you, you wouldn’t last a week!”
“I will go on my own ship!”
“Hah! You won’t last a minute!”
“I will!”
“Then tell me, how do you sail a ship? Just a small one.”
“Um…” The boy stuttered, “You push it into the water!”
“See? You know nothing, you will sink right as you set sail.”
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“Screw you, I will swim!”
“With these arms?” He laughed, stroking the boy’s thin, tinny biceps. “It’s called sinking, not swimming.”
The little boy couldn’t hide his anger as he began punching Tommy in the arm while holding back his tears in frustration, garnering a suppressed chuckle from the former as he endured the harmless blows.
“Alright, enough of that, Adrian.” Isaac interrupted, “Tommy, can you join me on the shore for a moment?”
“Absolutely, sir.”
“What about me?” Adrian asked, “Can I come?”
“If I recall, your teacher gave you homework.” The father argued.
“But I–”
“Adrian,” He reprimanded with a stern voice, “Do your homework, now.”
As a feeling of defeat succumbed onto him, Adrian pouted as he gazed down. Isaac made for the door and towards the shed, fetching fishing rods and bags, while Tommy took a moment to ruffle the boy’s hair before whispering to him:
“If you do your homework, I will buy you candy.”
“Really?!” The boy exclaimed, a gleeful sparkle in his eyes.
“Of course, but it’s between me and you. Now, go ahead, don’t waste your time!”
The two men were standing on the edge of the rocky shore, their fishing rods pointed at sea with two large burlap sacks in between them. They were silent, focusing on the fishing while tuning into the sound of the sea, the wind, and the crashing waves on the shore.
Finally, Isaac’s fishing rod twitched with movement, and he pulled back with great force before a fish came leaping out, stuck on the hook. He caught it, examined it, and broke into a smirk before tossing it into the sack.
“I feel as if the fish dislike me, for a reason.” Tommy said, “It’s your eighth fish while I still haven’t caught a single one.”
“Patience, boy.” Isaac replied, “You might be an adventurer, but you’re not a fisherman. The fish can feel the hunter and can smell the anticipation in them. You must be calm and collected, patient and neutral, but vicious and robust when the thread twitches.”
“Strange, that’s what my master told me about knights, quite the exact words.” He chuckled, “I can’t begin to understand old men, they all seem to be the same.”
“You will, once you grow older.”
“I hope not.”
A moment of silence ensues as the men go back to meditating on the ambiance of the sea, only for the silence to be broken by the stutters of Isaac.
“So, uhm…” Isaac began, “Tommy, what do you plan to do after you’re retired, or I assume you will retire?”
“Somewhat, I believe.” He explained, “Once I get back to my hometown, I believe that will be the end of my adventures and quests around the world. But, I do dream of going on a journey into the oceans one more time, for no particular reason, just to discover and take in the beauty of the world.”
“I see,” Isaac said, succumbing to silence for a moment before mustering up the courage to continue. “Tommy, do you still feel indebted to me?”
“More than I could describe.”
“Then, would you fulfill a wish of mine?”
“Of course, what wish is it?”
He was silent for a moment, gazing down at his feet before he spoke. “My boy is dying.”
The words shocked Tommy into silence. They echoed in his mind as he tried to make sense of it, to understand its meaning, to wish he had heard wrong and his ears were damaged instead, but the heartbroken expression on the stoic fisherman’s face was enough to prove otherwise.
“…I don’t know what I could say.”
“It began a year before you came to Dreya before I found you on the shore. Adrian had fallen sick with a strange disease that we knew nothing about, nor did anyone know. A year after you departed, a renowned physician sought respite on the island, and we were encouraged to ask him.”
“What did he say?”
“Adrian is sick with a disease that has no cure. He’s seen it rarely, so rarely that Adrian was the first boy he knew with the illness in person. Most of what he knew was from history books, even ones belonging to ancient times, but they all say the same. It has no cure, and it kills at a certain age depending on when it began. For Adrian, since it took him when he was young, it will eventually take his life around puberty or shortly after. The disease disappeared and, thankfully, Adrian was able to walk and talk again, into the second year of your departure. But the disease dwells within, and it won’t bear its fangs until Adrian is in his late teens, which will eventually, but surely, take him away from me.”
A moment’s silence passed before Tommy asked: “What can I do for you?”
“Take him with you, if you can.” He said, “My boy loves adventures, he loves them dearly. I had to put him in school just to have him occupied, or else he would’ve found a way to sneak onto a merchant ship and sail away. His dream is to one day see the world, and I don’t want him to die before it happens…please, Tommy, I don’t want the life he lived to be mostly taken by school, or by a boring life in Dreya. I want him to see the world, or at least parts of it, before he takes his final breaths.”
“What about Charlotte, does she know?”
“I spoke to her about it, she’s the one who thought of the idea, actually. We came to an agreement, and we now only wait for yours. I know it’s a hard task, but I understand with every fiber of my being why you would refuse if you do, so don’t feel pressured by my words. I now leave the decision to you.”
“Wouldn’t you…be sad, sir?”
“Sad?” He repeated, “If every drop at sea was a crippling feeling of despair and grief, then the oceans of the earth aren’t a drop’s worth in my sea of sadness.”
“Then, wouldn’t it be better if he was left with you, or if you took him on a journey?”
“I can’t take him on my own, god knows I thought about it. But Charlotte can’t come, she’s seasick, she would suffer greatly, and I can’t leave her alone, but I can’t imprison Adrian here, I don’t want to see my boy die full of regrets, I wouldn’t take it. I would throw myself in the ocean if I happened to see it.”
“I see,” Tommy said, gazing at the sea with a saddened expression. “I will see about it.”
“Thank you, my boy. I will forever be indebted, even if you refuse.”
“Much the same, sir.”
Another moment of silence shrouded the conversation as the two were left with their thoughts and the calming sounds of the sea. Suddenly, Tommy smiled and then chuckled.
“You know, my dream is stupid. I wanted to go alone to see the world again, but I forgot how lonely it can be without someone to bicker with.”
Upon hearing his words, Isaac’s eyes widened in surprise before his face softened and a smile was drawn on his lips. He understood; his gratitude was far too great to describe with words and far too embarrassing to admit. A second later, Isaac shifted into a serious expression but spoke with a sympathetic voice.
“Tommy, I know what you’ve done, I know who you defeated.”
“Really? Aren’t Dreyans unconcerned with the world outside?”
“I’m no Dreyan, at least not born one. And Dreyans aren’t all born here. Who came here live the rest of their lives here, but who were born here take their lives elsewhere.” He explained, “And well, it would be wrong to say that I didn’t take after them. I was indifferent, more or less, but upon your departure, I began to develop an interest in news from merchants and sailors, and newspapers brought here. I began hearing tales of what you’ve done, not all the sugarcoated wonders you tell Adrian… It’s courageous, dare I say even stupid, but brave beyond what words can describe.”
“Then, you know who I-”
“Yes, I just told you. And I know how much you suffered to do it. I never said nor will I ever say that you’re the greatest adventurer in the world, that is reserved for my son, those are words I want to say only to him. However, I must admit, you’re the bravest man in history beyond what words can admit.”
“Wow, truthfully, I don’t know how I reply to that. Thank you, sir. It’s always a pleasure to speak to you.” He paused, “On that note, you said you weren’t a Dreyan, how come?”
“Now that’s none of your business.”
“Oh, nosy me!” Tommy laughed, slapping his head.
The two men went silent once more, focusing on the fishing.
“Oh, oh!” Tommy blurted out, pointing at the twitching thread while jumping for joy. “Fish! Finally! Let’s get it–”
But his happiness was short-lived as he lost his balance, swaying left and right before eventually losing his footing and slipping on the rocks—tumbling into the water. He floated as the waves passed him by, a grumpy expression plastered on his face. The expression was only grumpier after the fish that he caught leaped from the water, slammed into his face, and swam away from the shore.
However, Tommy was taken aback by Isaac’s response. He couldn’t believe it, not in his most distant dreams. The man was laughing. He wasn’t hiding it, he wasn’t suppressing it, he erupted into a hearty laugh—his face beaming with joy. The former’s expression froze in disbelief before he eventually laughed along with the man, triumphantly, for he did what no other could; he broke the stern-faced man.
Days later, the final day had come. It was noon. Tommy’s crew was waiting by the port, indulging in one final meal as they, along with more than half of everyone on the island, waited for the man himself to arrive.
In the meantime, he was enjoying one last lunch at the Reyos. And right as he finished, he made for the door, dressed in his adventurous attire and unwavering smile. He stood at their doorstep, gazing at the sky overhead while taking in a final breath of fresh air from this place that he now calls “Home”.
“Well then, I believe that you should be making your way, already. It’s best you depart around the sunset when the waves are calmer.” Isaac said, standing next to the man.
Charlotte stood next to her husband, tightly holding onto his arm, on the brink of bursting into tears, while young Adrian stood in front of them, confused at the sudden emotional shift.
“And just like that, you’re leaving again, you silly boy?” Charlotte chuckled, trying to cover her tears. “You know, we don’t mind if you stay.”
“I can’t be more grateful for the offer, Charlotte. But, I have other people to keep my promise to. A great many that look at the horizon waiting for me, and I can’t leave them hanging.”
“But you will come back again if you have the time?” She pressed.
“Well, let’s leave that for time to decide. Though as it stands, this the end, for now.” Tommy said, turning towards the couple with his hand stretched for a handshake.
But the latter was caught by surprise as Isaac slapped his hand away before pulling him close, wrapping him in a hug along with Charlotte. Tommy was shocked, in all the good ways. And as he hugged them back, he couldn’t hide the few tears that trickled down his cheeks. The warm and loving embrace the couple wrapped him reminded him of his parents, of their hug which he was robbed of so early in his life.
“Well then,” He pulled back, wiping the tears away. “That was quite something.”
“Tommy?” Adrian asked, his natural enthusiasm and glee overwhelmed by a strange air of sadness. “Are you leaving?”
“Of course I am, don’t you know?”
“Are you never coming back?” He wondered.
“I don’t know, I can’t say.” He said, pausing for a moment before a smirk crept up his face. “But do you know who is coming back?”
“Who?”
“You!” Tommy said, his words erupting with joy. “Would you like to come back to Dreya after you’ve wandered into grassy plains, rocky mountains, and treacherous seas? After you’ve eaten exotic foods, met wonderful people, and seen extraordinary places?!”
With each word, Adrian’s eyes glimmered. A flash of childish wonder and astonishment flared in his dreamy eyes, imagining the life waiting for him and all the cool and exciting stories he would tell to his friends and parents.
He turned towards Isaac and Charlotte, tugging at his mother’s skirt while pleading with all the energy his little body could muster.
“Can I go on an adventure too? Please, please, please! It will look so cool and amazing! I want to, I really want to go on an adventure! Can you please let me, pleaaaase?”
Isaac smiled, masking his sadness. Charlotte smiled as well, wiping the tears away. In unison, the two knelt towards their son and hugged him tightly before the father pulled back, and ruffled his son’s hair.
“Of course, make me proud. And be the greatest adventurer in the world, alright?”
The boy nodded and smiled, throwing his fists in the air and promising not to disappoint his father. In the spur of the moment, Tommy lifted Adrian and put him around his shoulders.
“So excited already? Well, the journey won’t disappoint, I promise.” He turned towards the couple, a bittersweet smile plastered on his face. And with one final wave, he made his way towards the dirt track in the forest and spoke his final goodbyes: “Isaac, Charlotte, I owe you my life. Thank you for everything. I will keep Adrian under my care, I will show him the world from where he can’t be harmed! He will be the greatest, you hear me? The greatest!”
And with that, the two walked out of sight while the two watched in bittersweet joy, reminiscing the memories of the past two years as they imagined the life their son would live.
The sun began to set. The crew were on board the ship, bored out of their minds as they waited for their leader. Neila was once again writing poetry as she sat on the deck, her back resting on the rails.
“Neila,” Jacob called out, “When will Tommy be here? Didn’t he say he will meet us here around noon?”
“Did something happen to him?” Nathan wondered, “I trust Tommy, but that father seemed really shady as if he’s hiding something.”
“Captain’s orders. He said we wait, so we wait.” Neila replied, sternly. “Besides, are you in that much of a hurry to leave the island?”
“Of-fucking-course yes! What the hell do you expect me to- Are you ser- I just- I should throw you off the fucking ship.”
“What? Did I say something wrong?” Neila argued.
“Try sailing at night, you smart ass.” He replied.
“Okay, fine. Just keep waiting, and if Tommy doesn’t show up before sunset, we’ll stay the rest of the night here.”
“Oooooh, great, just what I needed!” Jacob huffed, sarcastically.
Meanwhile, Tommy and Adrian had just arrived at the village, gazing at the port from far away, from the end of the main street. The mob of the townsfolk that crowded the entrance proved a hassle for the man as he consulted the boy.
“Now, Adrian. That’s quite a lot of people, it will take a lot of time to talk to them and explain why I have you with me. But my friends can’t bear to wait any longer, they’re already planning to give me an earful, I know.” He said, looking up at the boy. “That would be pretty tiring for you too, wouldn’t it?”
“Mhm.” The boy nodded.
“Well then, how about we do a cool little trick to kick off our adventure, what do you say?”
The boy nodded even more enthusiastically.
“Well then, cover your ears.” Tommy lowered the boy to the ground and filled his lungs with air as he spoke to his crew. “Everyone!” His booming voice caught everyone’s attention, including the townsfolk. “Sail the ship, now!”
Not a second was wasted as the crew rose to their feet, and rushed into their positions. Neila shouted orders, Nathan directed the crew members, and Jacob assisted in all ways he could.
The townsfolk turned to look at Tommy, cheering and clapping as they waited for him. However, their joyful faces shifted into perplexed gazes as the man didn’t move a muscle, and then began to sprint towards them!
His speed was freakishly fast! He paced down half of the street in mere seconds before he pinned his feet to the ground, took Adrian in his arms, and threw him into the air far up high.
Tommy resumed his sprint down the road before jumping on top of a poll, leaping in swift, long steps from one object to the other before he took one last massive leap from a poll towards the ship leaving the pier. As soon as he landed, Tommy looked back at Adrian, still falling from the sky.
A flash illuminated Tommy’s hands before golden hathphools materialized on them. Suddenly, a chain shot from the hand chains and wrapped around the boy before they pulled him towards the ship. The chains disappeared, and Adrian fell into Tommy’s arms, unharmed but not unfazed.
A moment of shock passed as he processed what had happened. A smile stretched from ear to ear as he turned towards Tommy, his voice bubbling with childish excitement.
“That was so cool! How did you do that? I want to do it, I want it really badly! Throw me again!”
“Before that,” Tommy interrupted, turning the boy to face the port. “There are some people you have to see off.”
Some had suspicions about why Isaac and Charlotte’s son was with Tommy, who was presumably to leave with no return. But, in the grander scheme of things, the folks trusted Tommy, and Adrian’s beaming smile only added more comfort as he waved them away. They all stood cheering, voicing prayers for a safe trip and others of good health. And among the masses, the baker waved goodbye with a little girl holding his hand, the same age as Adrian. She was crying as she saw the ship drifting away, but as her eyes met the boy’s gaze, she mustered up the courage to shout loudest of all.
“I will wait for you!”
Thus, the ship drifted away from the port, away from the village of Dreya into the vast ocean, into the seas; right as the sun was setting behind the ocean, it’s glamorous orange rays reflecting off of the clouds and sky, off of the water, and off of the boy’s face.