Jade

Jade stared out of the port at the water, her heart racing. Beside her, her elven companion, Jaffle, stood, bargaining with the sailor for quick passage on his ship from the seaside city of Greenfall Grove to the Kingdom across the sea, Konxik. The breeze from the sea ripped through Jade’s long blonde. She laughed softly, following the breeze with her eyes. She saw the farms along the horizon, with large creatures of the earth, Terranins, farming the land. Her eyes looked them up and down. Their bodies were covered in moss or plants. Most had solid rock for skin, while others had smooth clay. One person in the group had skin like a human's, with plants jutting from his shoulders.

By their feet was a river with the luminescent people of the sea, the Hornirsons, trying to sell goods to the Terranins collected from the ocean. Jade watched them until Jaffle put her hand on Jade’s shoulder. Jade glanced over to her.

“Jade, let’s get going. The captain said he could take us to Konxik, but we must go now.” Jaffle gently spoke.

Jade nodded and moved closer to her. Jaffle handed the sailor the coins from the small leather pouch at her side. Three platinum coins went into the sailor’s hands. Within an instant, he had the coins in his pocket and walked towards the ship. The girls followed behind him, each shouldering one small sack with belongings.

Jade watched as her companion tensed, walking up the warped gangplank. Each step made the plank shift to the left or right. She gently grabbed Jaffle’s hand, trying to help relieve the tension. The sailor walked them below deck, tossing one coin in the air and catching it repeatedly.

“Here. You can stay here as we sail. Don’t touch anything; our buyers don’t like it when their merchandise is broken.” He spoke harshly before turning and heading back up the steps.

“A Trader ship,” Jaffle muttered, upset.

Jade rubbed her back. “It was the only ship that would take us. And Konxik isn’t that far.”

“It’s hundreds of miles of,” she paused and gagged, “the sea..”

“It’ll be okay. Let’s get you to sit down and rest, then we’ll sleep and arrive in Konxik.”

Jaffle chuckled softly, “How do you know? Did you study the maps of our world?” She sat on the wooden floor, leaning against the ship's hull. Jade looked around the hull, glancing at barrels and crates that filled the room, wishing to be able to open any of them.

The ship groaned as it left the dock. Jaffle set her hand on her chest, breathing deeply. She rested her head against the hull again, closing her eyes.

Jade kept exploring, walking through the maze of goods. She found one labeled “Qonrix,” and shivers went down her back. The Kingdom of Fire isn’t an amiable place. Rivers of lava burn most of the residents constantly. Yet they still stay, eventually gaining endurance to the heat. Not many travelers visit due to the heat and the lava. From what books told her, the creatures of Qonrix had gained abilities of the heat. Some could manipulate the lava; others could swim through without getting a single burn. Jade smiled at the thought, doing something few can. Her smile dropped, recalling how the books made the people of Qonrix look. Demonic horns, glowing eyes, scales, or feathers cover their bodies. Fire spreads across their bodies, burning all who come near them.

She quickly walked back over to Jaffle, trying to shake the thoughts from her head. She found Jaffle bent over, her head between her knees, clutching her legs with her hands. Jade softly rubbed Jaffle’s back, brushing her black hair away. “It’s okay, Jaffle. We won’t be on the boat for very long.”

“From Dwoniz to Konxik???” She questioned, giving Jade a look that screamed, ‘You’re joking, right?’ She put her head back between her legs, groaning as the ship tilted just a bit.

Jade kept rubbing her back in circles, trying to calm her companion. She gently rested her head against the hull, trying to calm herself to sleep. Every movement from Jaffle made Jade open her eyes to check on her. After several moments, Jade leaned against Jaffle, resting her head on Jaffle’s shoulder, and softly fell asleep.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

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The sound of yelling on the deck woke both girls. Jaffle stood, Jade, following right behind her. She looked around, scratching the back of her hand. The sound of running came from all over the deck. Metal clanged together, echoing down the steps, getting louder every moment. Jaffle grabbed the small dagger tucked into her corset, preparing to attack if anyone came down the stairs.

The ship rocked violently back and forth, sending the girls sprawling across the wooden floor. Above deck, the pounding of footsteps grew louder, making Jade’s heart race. “Jaf-” she began, only to be cut off by the door at the top of the stairs slamming open. Blinding light and searing heat flooded into the room. In the doorway, a dark silhouette appeared, wings pressed tightly against its body.

Jaffle scrambled to her feet and rushed to stand in front of Jade, her body a shield against the approaching figure. “Who are you!?” she shouted, unsheathing her dagger. The blade gleamed in the intense light emanating from the figure.

The figure moved swiftly, a sword materializing out of the darkness. A low, menacing chuckle echoed as it advanced. Jaffle lunged forward, slashing at the intruder, but the figure sidestepped effortlessly. Its wings flared open, casting blinding light and unbearable heat throughout the cabin. Jade cowered in the corner, eyes wide with terror.

“Stay back!” Jaffle yelled, her voice wavering. She slashed again, but the figure was too fast. It caught her wrist in a vice-like grip, the heat radiating from its body scorching her skin. With a swift motion, the figure disarmed her, sending the dagger clattering to the floor.

Jaffle kicked out desperately, her foot connecting with the figure’s shin. It barely flinched, its grip unyielding. The heat intensified, making it hard for Jaffle to breathe. She gasped for air, her vision blurring from the oppressive heat.

The figure, a young man with eyes like molten lava, smirked and released her wrist. Jaffle staggered back, clutching her burnt skin. Jade, paralyzed with fear, could only watch as Jaffle fought for their lives. She grabbed a nearby wooden plank and swung it at the intruder. The man blocked it effortlessly with his sword, splintering the plank in two.

Desperation fueled Jaffle’s next move. She dove for her fallen dagger, rolling to avoid another searing blast of heat. She grabbed the blade and sprang to her feet, ready to defend Jade with her last breath. The young man advanced, his wings casting an eerie glow in the confined space.

Jaffle struck low, aiming for his legs. The man parried her attack, his eyes glowing with a mixture of amusement and annoyance. Jade, still huddled in the corner, prayed silently for their survival, her heart pounding in her chest.

Roaring in anger, the figure’s wings flared wider, releasing a wave of scorching air. Jaffle was thrown back, crashing into the wall of the cabin. Pain shot through her body, but she pushed through it, scrambling to her feet. Jade remained frozen, unable to move or speak.

“Jade, run!” Jaffle shouted, raising her dagger for one last stand. The man lunged forward, his sword gleaming in the dim light. Jaffle met his attack with fierce determination, her blade clashing against his.

With a final, desperate effort, Jaffle swung her dagger at the man’s exposed side. The blade found its mark, and the man howled in pain, staggering back. Jaffle seized the moment, grabbing Jade’s arm and pulling her toward the stairs.

“Go, now!” she urged, pushing Jade ahead of her. Jade grabbed Jaffle’s hand as she ran up the stairs. The man, still recovering from the wound, glared at them with fiery eyes, but Jaffle didn’t look back. She only focused on getting Jade to safety, her own fear overshadowed by her resolve to protect her friend.

The man lunged at Jaffle, tackling her to the ground and wrenching her away from Jade's grasp. Startled, Jade whirled around, her heart pounding as she watched Jaffle's hand slip from hers. "Jaffle!" she cried out, her voice trembling with fear and desperation.

Jade's wings brushed against something as she stumbled backward, trying to escape. Panic rising, she hesitantly glanced behind her and found herself face-to-face with another man. Before she could react, he swiftly grabbed her, pulling her close with a strength that left her breathless.

Heart pounding in her chest, Jade felt a cold shiver run down her spine as the man drew a sword and pressed the blade against her chest. She went silent, her breaths sharp and heavy with fear. "Well, well, what do we have here? Hello there, Darling." the man spoke with a mocking tone, his voice cold and calculated.

Jade gulped, paralyzed with fear, afraid to make any sudden movement that might provoke the man holding her captive. Time seemed to stand still as she stood there, the blade digging into her chest, the man's grip tightening around her.

After what felt like an eternity, Jaffle staggered back up from the stairs, wielding a weapon in a desperate attempt to rescue Jade. Hope surged within Jade's chest as she saw her friend returning to save her. But before she could utter a word of relief, everything fell apart.

Jaffle collapsed, unconscious, and the winged man draped her across his left shoulder. The realization hit Jade like a physical blow. Her savior was defeated, leaving her alone and at the mercy of these menacing intruders. She stood frozen in terror, tears welling in her eyes, unsure of what fate awaited her next.