Aboard the jet, Alexander, Thomas, and Kai sat in the lounge chairs surrounding the table. Alexander had placed a steaming bowl of vegetable soup in front of the guys and by the couch, a shared plate of fries for the kids. The jet was flying on autopilot, headed North to a location Kai had locked into the map.
Blowing on his soup to cool it a little, Thomas scratched his chin. “So we’re just gonna land right in the middle of the warring pirates and pick a fight?”
Between mouthfuls, Kai answered. “Nothing as exciting as that. The Green Mamba is technically feuding with those other pirate crews, but it’s not like we are headed to an active battlefield.” He raised from his chair and ran over to the counter holding the pot of soup for seconds. “From what I’ve heard, the northern territory is just a pissing contest between the pirates. There are some scuffles here and there, but the military presences in the area are more of a deterrent.”
Thomas chewed through the carrots and potatoes loudly. “That is… remarkably less interesting than I initially thought.”
Still leaning against the counter, Kai snapped back. “What did you expect, Thomas? We aren’t doing this because it’s fun. A dragon assigned this mission to you guys after one of his commanders gave Alexander a HUGE prophecy about this future. This is serious!”
“No, well, I know it’s serious. I wasn’t trying to undermine the severity of this mission. I only meant…” Thomas sighed. “That was a crass comment. I was just curious about why the old man told us to go North.”
“I imagine it’s to take advantage of the Green Mamba’s enemies. My enemy’s enemy is my friend, right? If we can find some sort of common ground, they might be willing to help us bring the snakes down. We are in desperate need of allies if we are meant to succeed.” Kai slumped on his chair again, with a third bowl of soup.
“Can these allies even put us on even ground? What do you know about the other pirate crews? It would be great to know some info about them right, Alexander?”
Alexander swirled his spoon through the soup aimlessly. His attention was only snapped back after Thomas called him a second time. “Hmm, yeah. Do you know anything about them, Kai?”
“Yeah, give us the scoop. Also, for the love of all that is holy, can you leave some soup for the rest of us? You’re eating like you’ve been fasting for a month! Blessed, Nu.” Thomas snickered as he watched Kai devour his latest bowl of soup.
“Haha, I can’t help myself. Nothing Luca ever cooked could ever match up with Alexander’s food. I’ve gotten spoiled!” Kai slurped the last of his soup. “Anyway, the two other pirate crews, they’re called the Eagle Eye and the Everland pirates. The best way I can describe them is as a group of patriots.”
“I’m sorry? Kind of a weird way to describe pirates.” Thomas leaned back in his seat as he shot a scrutinizing stare at Kai.
“Well, I’m not sure how much you know about the history of Kedra.” Moving his eyes between Thomas and Alexander, Kai continued. “I’m assuming nothing, but you must have wondered at some point about the original residents of the island. The war started a decade and then some ago, and the pirate Empress arrived here with her entourage not long after. Did Kedra’s people just bend over and peacefully accept subjugation?”
“Didn’t know I had signed up for a story.” Thomas rolled his eyes. “I just want to hear the relevant information, dude.”
“I’m just saying. If our goal is to take down the Green Mamba, I think it’s reasonable for you both to know more about Kedra’s history. What do you think happens to this place if we succeed. There will be consequences if there’s a sudden vacuum of power. It’s our job to not only defeat the Green Mamba, but also plan out how to make sure the people of Kedra don’t suffer.”
Thomas shook his head. “No, I sincerely disagree. Nidra’s mission was to defeat the Green Mamba. That means taking down their top brass. What it doesn’t mean, though, is overinvesting ourselves in the lives of some random people.”
“It’s the least we can do, Thomas. These aren’t random people. We are the ones interfering in their lives!”
“Am I supposed to feel bad because we are planning to overthrow a tyrant? We are literally planning on setting the people of Kedra free- whatever happens after is not our business.”
“It’s not the freedom I’m harping on.” Kai slammed his fist on the table causing Pola and Pengu to look over. “Sorry, guys. Go back to playing over there.” With a softer tone, he continued. “Thomas, I’m not denying that we are doing a public service by overthrowing the Green Mamba, but you have to see how this will affect the people of Kedra. There’s jobs and a certain security that comes from living under oppressors.”
Thomas’ voice began to raise. “And they’ll pick up the pieces just fine! We can’t be expected to not only defeat the Green Mamba but also babysit them while they rebuild their society. Every day I worry about the people of Mesto. The WHOLE point of coming to Kedra was to get strong enough to help my planet. I’m so much more now. Thanks to the prophecy, I know I can go back with you guys and be sure we will make a change. So I’m sorry, Kai, but we are heading to Mesto as soon as we beat down the pirates. Back me up here, Alexander!”
Setting his jaw, Alexander kept his eyes on his now cold soup. “It doesn’t hurt anyone to learn some history, Thomas. Just shut up for one second and let Kai talk.”
Thomas opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. Alexander’s unusually sharp comments had left him speechless. Kai stepped in to fill in the silence. “Umm, as I was saying, the two pirate crews are just the measly forces the original people of Kedra gathered. Their resistance grew over the years as they lost territory, until they were finally able to stop the Green Mamba’s conquest. Unfortunately, they had lost more than half their land by that point. They raid the Green Mamba’s ships to find the goods needed to keep their citizens healthy. Ironically, they were only coined as pirates to further establish Celia’s image as the ruler of Kedra. They aren’t some hardened criminals; they are the righteous in this scenario. We need to keep that in mind as we approach them.”
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Alexander sat in the pilot’s booth a few hours after Kai had finished his explanation. He had given a pretty thorough summary of the social landscape in Kedra, complete with a profile on the important history and people of the two pirate crews. They’d even managed to hash out the beginnings of a plan for how to win the people over. Nevertheless, this was the last thing on his mind.
Swiveling around on chair adjacent to a window, Alexander kept his eyes closed. He was rocking himself back and forth in the chair, hoping to grab on to the sleep that kept eluding him. With a sigh, he relaxed his leg, bringing the spinning chair to a stop. As he opened his eyes, the deep darkness of the night sky filled his sight. There wasn’t much to see, especially because he had his eyes closed for a while, but as they adjusted, he managed to catch the sparkle of faraway stars.
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Wouldn’t it be nice to be a star? A piece of the grand architecture of the universe, their role is clearcut, and they follow it dutifully until their death. I bet stars don’t waste their time worrying about the future. Shifting his eyes to his hand, Alexander analyzed the soft white glow emanating from within. It pulsed with vitality, filling him with a foreign strength he had come to accept as his own. Next, he tugged at his shirt and peered at the familiar tattoo on his chest. The 9-colored flame had been his beginning; the first step in his evolution from a simple medical aide to… Something. I’m not even sure where this will take me. Is it worth it?
Two short knocks brought him out of his daze. Glancing back, he saw the silhouette of someone leaning against the wall of the pilot’s cabin. The darkness of the room prevented his eyes from registering who it was, but he had grown used to this aura by now. “It’s late. What can I do for you, Thomas?”
Walking forward, Thomas took a seat beside him. “I woke up for a glass of water, but when I saw you weren’t asleep, I figured now would be a good time for a chat. What’s on your mind?”
“What isn’t on my mind? The past few weeks feel like they’ve been ripped straight out of a fairy tale. The good parts have been idyllic, but everything else has flipped my world upside down… repeatedly.”
“No, I know. But up until today, I thought you had taken everything in stride; I was impressed even. I don’t think anyone could fault you for freaking out about everything. A full-on panic attack is well within your rights” Thomas paused as he searched for the right words. “I guess what I’m asking is what’s weighing on your mind right now. You were broody during dinner. Spaced out for most of the conversation, and when you did chime in, you were uncharacteristically cold. I’m trying to understand what’s bothering you to see how I can help.”
Alexander reflected on Thomas’ sincerity, mentally going over the dinner situation. Staring back out through the window, he began fiddling with his fingers. “I’m in over my head, bro. You and Kai were so calm when you discussed the fate of an entire people, but I can’t do that. My only dream was to become a physician, one who could help his patients. That didn’t extend to the entire planet, much less the solar system. What is little old me even supposed to contribute to this grand mission.”
Thomas tried to interrupt him, but Alexander raised hand to stop him. “I’m serious, Thomas. You’re the Prince of an entire planet. Your dream has always been to gain the strength necessary to pull Tlaloc ahead in the war. Kai might not say it, but I can tell he’s also hoping to bring about the downfall of the Jupiter clan. Both of you have the strength, charisma, and mindset required to do that. I really believe that, but I’m just not like that.”
“I think out of all of us, you’re the one who needs to worry about that the least. There’s an entire prophecy about you!”
“I understand that. Somehow, I’m meant to bring great changes to the scheme of the war, maybe even its end. But what I’m trying to tell you is that’s not at all what’s on my mind. You and Kai argued about how involved we should be with the people of Kedra after we defeat the Green Mamba pirates but I’m not even at step one of the plan. I agreed to Nidra’s request because deep-down I know it’s what I need to do, but I’m still thinking about the people we healed Kalas. I think about how we missed out on potentially healing the people at Port Talan. I think about how important a healer like me would be in the northern territory of Kedra. I’m not sitting here thinking about how I’m gonna mow down all the enemies in my path. In fact, depending on the situation, I might even be inclined to heal members of the Green Mamba.”
Thomas watched as his friend huffed from exertion, as if sharing his mental burdens had been physically taxing. A smile tugged at the edge of his mouth, threatening to reveal itself. “Maybe that’s why the prophecy is about you and not me. You’re a better man than I, Alexander. That’s for sure. If that’s what’s weighing you down, I was worried over nothing.”
Noticing his friend scowl, Thomas quickly added. “I don’t mean to minimize your qualms, but frankly, I think I can speak for everyone when I say no one expected this of you. You just learned how to fight. It would be alarming if you were already some sort of killing machine, and likewise, if your moral compass had already been thrown out the window, I would be questioning Dartuga’s prophecy more than anything. Despite what you may think, we’re all trying to figure this out, and as much as we can put up pretenses, Kai and I are just as lost.” Thomas snickered to himself. “What I can say with certainty is we both have your back. I have no problem being the sword that eliminates those in our way.
Alexander finally felt light again. With a laugh, he smacked Thomas’ back. “My sword? Haha, my sword is looking a bit haggard. We should try getting it some rest. If I’m already stuck with second-rate goods, I may as well do what I can to upkeep it.” The two laughed as they headed back to the main cabin. “And Thomas… thanks.”
Thomas looked at his friend and said nothing, choosing instead to flick him off. Walking away, his smile eased, giving way to a more calm expression. As he laid down in the recliner he was calling bed for the night, he sunk away into his own worries.
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Waves crashed into the mountain of blue scales emerging out of the depths of the ocean, but they calmed instantly upon contact as if realizing they had besmirched their monarch. Over time, the ocean had grown eerily still around Nidra, mimicking the appearance of a pristine lake. His torso was hidden beneath the surface, but his draconian head gave the nearby whales a run for their money. Here in the ocean, Nidra was free to reveal his true size- a monstrosity better left underwater.
“Are they here?” His voice rumbled through the skies. The water was unaffected, but the clouds seemed to be driven away by the power contained in his words.
A giant turtle, appearing small only before the behemoth that was Nidra, floated in front of her king. “Our forces have sunk another one of their ships, but according to Enzo, it was only an exploratory vessel. None of their true military has been spotted yet, my Lord.”
“Keh, give it time. Those bloodthirsty insects are sure to come. What of the other task? Has there been any progress on that front?”
“That is the reason for my appearance, my Lord. The scouts have returned with news. Although they did hear whispers of the Sabians and Hunters coming to some sort of deal to join the war, this has been swept away by a much more turbulent matter.”
Nidra growled, freezing over a large section of the ocean before returning it to liquid with a simple cycle of inhalation and exhalation. “What could be more important than that? The Sabians and Hunters joining the war could signal the beginning of the end for Tlaloc, Frigg, and Kukulkan!”
Dartuga released more of her pink mist, hoping to appease Nidra. “It would appear a member of Agni was able to breach the defenses of the Demeter clan. The member infiltrated the deepest area of Pacifica, becoming the first outsider to reach their holy lands, and set fire to the Life tree.” She paused for a second, waiting for Nidra to take the news in. “Upon burning, the Life tree did not turn into heaping bulk of charcoal but instead transformed into seedlings that flew away, to the furthest corners of Pacifico. Agni, Geb, and Jupiter have recalled a lot of their armies from the different planets to focus on Pacifico. Hoping, I imagine, to obtain as many seedlings as possible to create new Life trees in their own planets.”
For the first time in a long time, Nidra appeared bewildered. His usual sovereign presence was replaced with a silent surprise. After a long minute, Nidra spoke. “Find me Linota. If anyone will know what to make of a divine treasure splitting, it would be them. Regardless, Derapen’s news remains our highest priority. What is the current situation there?”
Dartuga glanced at two turtles who rocketed away before reporting back to Nidra. “While the plans have stalled due to the developments in Pacifico, the Jupiter clan remains the most heavily involved party in Derapen. They have left many Elementalists with the Sabians and Hunters to appease them and plan to further their relationship once the situation in Pacifico clears up.”
“Then it would appear now is the best time to strike.” Rising out of the water, Nidra’s giant serpentine figure eclipsed the many beasts surrounding them. “Let the humans remember our beast faction once more!” He roared, and the beasts answered his call.