The Warriors' Journey
A/N: Hi everyone who's somehow clicked on this story. This is actually part of a larger retelling of the whole series I've been trying to put together for a while now. But since I've put that idea on ice at about 12 chapters in I decided to just release this, as it is a stand-alone prequel of sorts.
I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 1 – Land
Year 845
The first thing that becomes visible is a thin line of green on the horizon, clearly set apart from the ever present blue and white sky above and the reflecting ocean below. The small fleet had been on it's journey for nearly a day, blessed with clear skies and a quiet sea. Small waves rock the ships as their steam turbine powered propellers steadily push them towards their destination.
For the experienced sailors on the military escorts surrounding a seemingly small and old cargo ship at the centre of the formation this trip was neither difficult nor demanding. Their unusual destination and cargo is what has many on edge, though the hand-picked crew of the fleet knows better than to complain or ask difficult questions. Their orders come from high command, they're well compensated and in just a few short hours they would be on their way back, knowing their duty was fulfilled.
The one to spot the approaching green first is the boy that has been staring towards the horizon from the bow of the ship for the past hour. His swept back, short dark brown hair flows lightly in the cool ocean breeze as he turns around and sprints off towards the interior of the vessel.
"Hey! You guys, come look at this!" he shouts as he practically flies into the small chambers where he's shared bunks with his friends for the past nights, only to find it abandoned by everyone but a small blonde with her hair tied back, resting in the only chair in the room. Her eyes are glued to a thick book in her hands when the excited boy skids to a halt in the middle of the room. She looks up from the page she's been reading and slowly raises a single eyebrow at him and the exhilaration clearly visible in his face.
"What is it, Marcel? We're not there yet are we?" the girls asks him, her expression entirely bored compared to the giddy boy standing before her.
"Ah, no... but you can see it already!" he declared, rubbing the back of his neck.
By her unmoving expression and from knowing the girl for years Marcel can guess what the answer would be if he asked her to come up to deck so he merely gives her a wide smile.
"I'll see you later then, just don't complain about missing the view." his smile only widens as her icy blue eyes narrow at him. He throws his hands up in a mock surrender and turns around, stopping only in the doorway to look over his shoulder.
"Did you see the others by any chance? I thought they were still sleeping-"
"They were. Try the kitchen." Her eyes already back on her book, Marcel steps out of the room and turns for the small common area and kitchen. Here he finds who he's been looking for, his two targets sitting at a cramped table in the corner of the room, both chomping down on a simple loaf of bread each. The room is otherwise empty save for the cook preparing several ingredients in the tiny kitchen, likely for a stew or soup the crew would get to enjoy on their way back.
"Guys! There you are!" Marcel exclaims happily.
Two pairs of eyes look up at him, sleep still clearly visible in their faces, and he can't help but laugh.
The pair of brown eyes belonging to the blonde boy move down to the tabletop, followed shortly by his head while the tall dark haired one next to him tilts his head at Marcel in question.
"C'mon, you can eat outside, we can already see the island," he moves over to them and pats the blonde on his back "and you'll wake up properly with some fresh air around you." The groan he gets as a response only makes him laugh harder.
"Don't tell me my brother has to stay home only for you to be too tired to carry out our mission, Reiner, he'd never forgive you," Marcel teases, already heading for the door.
"As if Porco doesn't hate me already." Reiner quietly grumbles from the table.
"Aw, don't say that. He may be a grumpy ass sometimes but he cares in his own special way." Marcel retorts, although Reiner could swear there was something off in the way Marcel said it.
"Now let's go, we might already be able to see the docks." He turns quickly without looking back, knowing the two boys would likely follow.
His mouth curls up into a grin as he hears a defeated sigh and the sound of two people standing. Marcel heads outside again and breathes deeply, enjoying the smell of seawater as he does.
He turn around at the two boys joining him, both rubbing at their eyes while they're adjusting to the bright sunlight as he leans on the rusty wall behind him.
"So, Reiner, Bertholdt, how'd you sleep? You both look like shit."
"It's alright Marcel. We can deal with it." Bertholdt speaks for the first time today, his brows crunched together seriously while trying to straighten out his messy dark hair.
"Yea, it's fine." Reiner says in affirmation, eyes downcast.
"Hey," Marcel begins, shifting his gaze between the two "I know we trained hard for this, I didn't mean to berate you guys. Besides I'm sure Captain Magath will have more than enough of that before we're off on our own, if he gets up before we're there" Marcel said, giving Reiner a weak nudge to the shoulder. The two other boys couldn't help but crack a small grin.
"Now enough of that" Marcel tells them, pointing towards their now clearly visible destination, "I wanted us to see the island before we dock, it's pretty big! You can't even see the entire shoreline, just like at home."
The three move towards the bow of the ship, watching the growing hills of the island as the small fleet of ships approaches the only dock in sight. The docking area is a big concrete structure with what looks like a huge stone square right behind it. Several stairs lead up from the docks to the top of the block and Marcel realizes that this is where Eldians that are sent to 'Heaven' must end up.
Aside from a few birds in the sky, the entire region is silent, empty, almost eerily so. Even the active sea-life they saw at the start of their journey seems to avoid the island.
"It looks quiet, peaceful... deadly." Bertholdt remarks almost nervously, making Reiner shoot a quick glance at his tall friend. "It's where the devils live." Reiner says sourly. "We need to destroy that evil and restore the good name of our people everywhere. Then we'll be heroes of this world."
Marcel looks over at the blonde boy and places a hand on his shoulder, an unreadable emotion written on his face.
"We will, don't worry," he shifts his gaze back to the large island before them. "I guess the name does fit, it is a kind of paradise, just not for anything human."
The rest of the ride is spent in a solemn silence, only broken by the sounds of light chewing and the occasional deep signal horn from one of the escorts veering off. Their ship would be the only one docking here today.
The crew of the cargo ship would unload a few horses and supplies, then the four kids, their primary cargo, would be sent off on their mission deep into the island. The fleet would start their trip back across the ocean before nightfall.
The headlines back home would report that the four brave warriors had landed and would soon claim victory by defeating the devils on that cursed island.
Paradis.