CHAPTER 81 – ONISHIRA

KATE ZEPHYRUS

In the bright embrace of morning sunlight, I stirred awake. Without hesitation, I abandoned the confines of my room and ventured straight to the heart of our airship-slash-home – the dining room. There, the familiar sight of Charlotte engaged in the alchemy of brewing Caffe Americano welcomed me.

Gaeun and Lysander, already ensconced at the table, cradled their coffee cups, savoring the dark elixir that promised to fuel their day. This morning stood in stark contrast to the tense atmosphere that had gripped us in the preceding five days.

"Can I have one, please?" I inquired of Charlotte, my anticipation evident.

"Here, Kate. It’s quite hot, so tread lightly," she cautioned with a knowing smile.

As the morning elixir cascaded into my cup, a rich aroma enveloped the room, coaxing my senses to full alertness. Seated at the dining table, I observed Lysander, who, in a display of swift determination, downed his coffee in a single gulp.

"Finished already?" I queried, my voice laced with concern, as I witnessed the culmination of his caffeinated ritual.

"Yeah, why?" Lysander's azure eyes sparkled with curiosity and naivety, akin to a puppy eager to understand.

"You ought to sip a little at a time and enjoy the smell. You might palpitate if you drink it that fast," I chuckled, offering friendly advice.

"Lysander won't get it. He definitely has no class as a gentleman. Forget it, he's not even a gentleman in the first place," Charlotte sassily remarked, taking her seat beside us and elegantly sipping her coffee with her pinky raised.

"Fuck off, Charlotte," Lysander retorted, but his bravado quickly wavered. He clutched his chest. "You know, you are right. Now I'm palpitating."

Gaeun chuckled shyly in the background, and a brief silence enveloped us four. As we savored the camaraderie, it dawned on me that the four of us were Hiraya's dragonoids, even though Lysander was a Demi-Dragonoid. I wondered what Hiraya was up to right now; usually, she was the first to wake.

"Hey, guys..." Hiraya's voice slowly infiltrated the room. Our captain peered at us from the pantry room with her characteristic poker face. "I... I have bad news. We are running out of ready-to-eat meals in the pantry."

"Noooooo!" I couldn't contain my emotions and became the first to break down into tears.

"Oh my!" Charlotte dramatically played along, pretending to faint in response to the dire news.

"W-Wait, hear me out!" Hiraya pleaded desperately.

"I'm not listening!" Lysander protested childishly, covering his ears to block out any further developments.

"What are you, twelve?!" Hiraya retorted sharply. "I have good news, darn it!"

Relieved, we returned to our original positions, eager to hear the positive turn of events. Hiraya flashed us an innocent smile.

"The Island of Onishira is now on sight. We can refill our supplies when we dock," Hiraya announced.

"Wait, we're there already?" I asked in disbelief.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I guess we're ahead of schedule. See for yourself," Hiraya responded warmly.

All of us hastened to the viewing deck of the ship. Normally, our view consisted of nothing but the vast blue ocean below and the endless blue skies above. However, this time, a peculiar island in shades of red emerged in the eastern direction. At first, it seemed like the island was engulfed in flames, but as moments passed, the island grew larger, and we realized that all the trees there bore reddish-orange leaves.

"Wow, so that's Onishira!" Gaeun gasped, captivated by the breathtaking sight.

"The Land of Onis," Lysander muttered, his voice carrying an undertone of unease.

Hiraya seized control of the moment, positioning herself at the center. With unwavering determination, she proclaimed, "Listen up, Daybreaker Squad! Our first objective is to refill our supplies and gather information simultaneously. We need to locate the Fourth Dragon Lord on this island and destroy their bell tower, but that comes after we have ascertained our victory. Get it?"

"Aye aye, captain!" came the unified response from all of us.

"I can't hear you!" Hiraya bellowed.

"Aye aye, captain!" we chorused again, this time with heightened enthusiasm.

"Kate, Charlotte, Gaeun, since you are dragonoids, you girls will be a perfect disguise on this island. The three of you will go to the heart of the island and gather as much information as we can get. Lysander and I will hold the fort. All clear?" Hiraya outlined the plan.

"Will do, Captain!" we all saluted, and it was I who offered the most resounding acknowledgment.

Hiraya tapped my left shoulder, a gesture that carried both trust and responsibility. "Kate, I will appoint you as the field leader for this operation. If we ever lose communications, you call the shots."

"I will, Captain," I affirmed, accepting the gravity of the role.

"Okay!" Hiraya then turned around with a playful sway of her hips and hair, her demeanor shifting from casual to resolute. She clenched her fists with a determined smile. "Onishira, Fourth Dragon Lord, here we go!" The sense of purpose in her words echoed, fueling the fire of anticipation within the Daybreaker Squad.

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We disembarked onto the port, where a trio of airships, including our Windwalker, were anchored. On this relatively quiet day in Onishira, only three ships graced the island with their presence. In a departure from our usual combat gear, I, Charlotte, and Gaeun opted for casual attire—simple shorts and shirts adorned with different logos. I sported a jean short paired with a red shirt featuring a prominent "Buster" logo. Charlotte chose a green shirt emblazoned with a "Quick" emblem, while Gaeun donned a blue shirt adorned with an "Arts" insignia.

As we descended from the airship, it became apparent that the dock was sparsely populated. Among the inhabitants were dragonoids with gleaming red eyes, sharing the space with demons known locally as onis.

Onis distinguished themselves from humans and dragonoids by the two horns protruding from their foreheads, and their reddish skin set them apart. Unlike dragonoids, their eyes featured yellow sclera with pupils colored black. Towering over humans and dragonoids, onis boasted an average height of two hundred centimeters.

According to the tales my grandmother spun during bedtime, onis were deemed monsters after the First Dragonoid War. The humans harnessed the power of the Vesryn Pulse to become Dragon Knights and to eradicate them, wiping out millions of onis in the process. However, the survivors sought refuge on Onishira, where they thrived. For centuries, onis and humans maintained a delicate distance, the former steering clear of the major continents.

Onishira's traditional pathways, adorned with shrine gates, guided our way through the island. Clear signages directed us toward the main shrine, leading us into a lively crowd of mixed onis and dragonoids, as if stumbling upon a festive gathering. Our journey culminated in the presence of the giant eastern-style temple, where a ceremonial event was in progress.

In the midst of the ritual, my attention was captivated by a striking oni. Her skin boasted a delicate pearly white hue, and her crimson red horns adorned her forehead with grace. Dressed in the traditional attire of a shrine maiden, she danced gracefully, twirling a flag bearing the sigil of a dragon's face—the emblem of the Republic of Dragons. The oni's hair blazed like a bonfire, swaying in sync with her graceful, flowing motions.

"Wait, isn't that..." Gaeun whispered, fumbling to retrieve the piece of paper Lysander had given her days ago.

"She's the person," Charlotte affirmed. "Lysander's description of the Fourth Dragon Lord matches her features. And look at the shrine's sign." Charlotte pointed upward.

We all gazed at the signage, its characters inscribed in moon runes. Fortunately, Lysander had shared the identical moon rune on the piece of paper he gave us.

"Mariko Septem. The Fourth Dragon Lord," I muttered. A subtle smile crept onto my lips. "And I think I fell in love at first sight."

"W-What!?" Gaeun and Charlotte exclaimed in unison, startled by my unexpected revelation.