Darkness was pressing in on the small seaside village. A strong wind was beginning to form, grey clouds heavy with rain rolling across the ocean. The palms that scattered the coastline were bending severely in the gale; sand spiraled into the air at times, making difficult to see through the grit.
Fisherman Ollie was no stranger to storms like this. In his younger days he'd gone straight into foul weather, just him and his boat, to see if he could survive such a thing. But luckily he'd long since lost the recklessness of youth and moved to Sandover to have what he believed was a peaceful existence, acting as the village's main fisherman. It was a position he was deeply proud of, and he was well-respected amongst the community. Ollie squinted his eyes to see through the needles of rain as he hauled in his tools and the catch of the day to keep them safe from the weather, having already beached his boat and covered it tightly with tarps. He scanned the village, relieved to note they had closed up their homes.
All save for one.
Ollie shook his head; it was the young sculptor who lived in a house closest to the beach. He was running through the downpour right toward him.
"Ollie! Ollie!"
He raised his eyebrows as the teen skidded into him, clearly desperate to get his attention. Ollie caught him in his arms and held him worriedly at arm's length.
"What's wrong, Laddie? You didn't lose the Muse out in this mess?"
"No! No…the beach! I need help- you need to help!"
He sounded distraught, his eyes scared beneath the dark violet slicks of hair plastered to his forehead. Clearly something was wrong. Ollie nodded as thunder boomed above.
"Alright, Let's go."
The Sculptor whirled around, sprinting back through the village, slipping across the wooden planks of the small bride that crossed a gap over the water. He was moving quickly, already panting like a dog as they ran. Ollie followed as he jumped on to the wet sand behind the teen, his feet sinking deep with every step. The horizon had turned a menacing charcoal black, the ocean a deep grey, waves angrily churning over the shoreline. The young artist turned to shout over his shoulder.
"Over this way!!"
Ollie looked ahead and his eyes widened. Two figures lay sprawled across the sand- a woman and child.
"My God! How long have they been here?" Ollie asked as they ran up to them.
"I don't know," was the reply, "I just found them!"
Ollie knelt down beside the woman as lightning trailed across the sky above. Thunder cracked soon after as he reached for the girl, who appeared to be conscious but wounded. She cringed as he moved to sling her arm around his shoulders. The child was unconscious; he looked no older than five years old. Rain lashed at their faces and Ollie knew they didn't have much time.
"You'll have to take the boy, Cody," he said to the Sculptor as he struggled to his feet, holding the woman in his arms.
Cody nodded, scooping up the child. "We need to get them to the Sage."
He turned and headed back to the village, Ollie following at his heels. Thunder crackled threateningly as they traveled, heads bowed against the wind. The palms were bending fiercely and sand spiraled in tight circles. Cody held the little boy closer to him, trying to shield him from the rain.
"Please be okay," he was saying to him, "Please be okay…"
The teen was the first to sprint up the planks leading to the Sage's hut, shouting.
"Samos! Hey! Someone help!!"
Lightning flickered threateningly, trailing across the sky in bright spider webs of light. Ollie appeared at Cody's shoulder, searching desperately for any sign of the Sage.
"Samos!!" he shouted.
There came a crack of light from one of the heavy wooden doors obscuring the workshop from view, and soon the man in question stood before them, silhouetted in the doorway. He seemed irritated at first, but his eyes widened, magnified by the spectacles he wore. Samos pushed open the door to allow them to come inside, straining against the fierce wind. Rain pounded down now in fat droplets, thudding against the planks and bouncing from the shoulders of the two men as they ran inside with the strange visitors in tow.
"By the Precursors," Samos whispered in disbelief, "What happened?"
"I heard screaming coming from the beach while I was readying the house for the storm; they were in the shallow end when I found them," Cody explained breathlessly, still clinging tightly to the child, "I thought the worst…"
Samos nodded, clearly disturbed by this knowledge. He looked up at Ollie, motioning for him to lay the woman on the table top he had recently cleared. The Sage placed a pillow from a nearby bench behind her head as he said,
"You did the right thing in bringing them here, Cody. I only pray I can help them."
Samos nodded to the child. "Is he breathing?"
Cody pressed his ear to the boy's chest, relieved to hear a heartbeat and the normal rise and fall of breaths. He sniffed as he listened, water dripping from his clothes profusely.
"Yeah. I think he just got a hit on the head or something."
Gently, he ran his fingers through the boy's hair, and could feel a decent-sized bump on the side of his head. Samos looked at the child wearily, turning to quickly rummage through the shelves off to his left, grabbing various jars of Eco. The girl was tossing her head, struggling to keep awake.
"You'll have to hold him for awhile, Cody," Samos said, "Can you do that for me?"
The Sculptor nodded, carefully adjusting his grip on the boy, turning his gaze to the wounded woman lying on the table.
She was beautiful, in all actuality, with full pink lips and a small rounded nose. Her bright orange hair was tied back into a long ponytail, which curled around her neck and stuck fast due to the rain. Bangs poked out from beneath the leather gap attached to a pair of goggles that she wore on the top of her head; a loose chocolate brown dress hung to her knees, a dark green blouse beneath it. She also wore a pair of leather sandals that strapped around her ankles and a gauntlet on her right arm that shined dull silver in the light.
Cody found himself caught up in her beauty, and failed to notice what Ollie saw. Thunder crackled menacingly outside as he stepped closer to inspect the girl. Her skin was a strange pale color- a slight lavender tinged with a hue of blue. Scratches and cuts glistened red on her limbs.
"Samos, what's wrong with her?" Ollie questioned, quietly.
The Sage had found everything he was looking for, hurriedly coming back to the table. His eyes scanned the woman briefly before he set to work unscrewing the caps from the jars.
"Looks like Eco poisoning," he answered with surprising calm. Something bright green swirled in the glass as he held it over the girl. "From what I can tell, it's in the early stages. She's been exposed to Dark Eco and- strangely- blue Eco."
Ollie took a small step back, knowing how dangerous something like that could be. Cody remained where he was however, trying to swallow a lump that had formed in his throat. He examined the little boy in his arms, relieved to see he appeared normal, save for being slightly pale. A brilliant flash of emerald suddenly caught his attention and he watched in awe as the healing Eco swirled above the young woman. Samos waved his arms as he stared intently at the substance, directing it to settle over her. There was another dull flash as it was absorbed into her body, and the three men watched on with bated breath for her reaction. Rain thudded on to the roof of the hut in the silence that followed and lightning flickered yet again outside the windows as they waited.
The woman suddenly drew in a sharp breath and coughed, rolling on to her side. Samos gently laid a hand on her arm; Ollie and Cody's shoulders slouched in relief. The girl cringed, groaning in pain. She curled up slightly, holding her stomach.
"...Wh-where..am I?" she murmured.
"Sandover Village," Samos answered, "These gentlemen found you on the beach a few minutes ago-"
The woman coughed again and moaned, her arms trembling from the effort of trying to lift herself up. Samos tried to stop her, but she gripped a fistful of his tunic and said,
"My son! Where is he?"
Cody walked toward her quickly so she could see the little boy, and she seemed to relax, allowing the Sage to gently push on her shoulder so she could lie down once again. She placed her hand on the child's forehead, as if touching him gave her strength.
He seemed to share the same physical traits as his mother, though his hair was a bright yellow, the faintest highlight of orange visible. His rounded nose was similar to hers; he wore a light blue tunic, a dark hooded jacket over top. He also wore khaki trousers and was barefoot.
Cody lifted his gaze back to the woman, rainwater beading on her forehead. Her skin showed bright with moisture; she clutched her stomach again and blew out a breath, squinting in the light as if it pained her.
"What's your name?" Cody asked her.
She winced at a sudden ache. "M-Mina…"
"Well, you're safe here, Mina; you and your son."
She curled her fingers into fists, nodding slightly. Samos had grasped her wrist, seemingly checking her pulse. Cody noticed strange lettering on the hem of her dress; it looked similar to Precursor writing, only with a few differences.
"Where are you from, Mina?" Samos asked after he'd finished with her pulse. He walked up to carefully inspect the unconscious child.
She watched him intently, tensed slightly as they looked him over. Tears shined behind her eyes as she gazed at her son. It pained her to see him that way and she knew it was her fault.
"We…are from the…Grecca Islands," Mina finally said, gulping in a few breaths to calm herself.
Cody frowned, exchanging looks with Ollie. Samos gently tilted the child's head back to inspect for wounds, finding only a small scrape on his chin. Cody readjusted his grip on the boy only slightly, his arms starting to tingle with numbness.
"Grecca," Samos mused, feeling a strange pang of familiarity.
"Yes…there is civil war on the Islands, now. My husband was driven into the army and was killed; my son and I escaped. Someone told me to head for Sandover Village…that we would be safe there." Mina winced and sucked in a breath through her teeth, a terrible grimace crossing her face.
"You were merchants of some kind?" Ollie suddenly asked, walking closer.
Cody looked at her sympathetically; Mina's jade green eyes settled on the fisherman and she managed a nod.
"My husband was before…I was an Archer."
Mina pointed to her goggles with a shaking hand, as if to prove this fact. Ollie directed his attention to them curiously; Cody frowned as Samos made his way back over to the table, having finished treating the boy. Mina whimpered slightly, but quickly steeled herself. Ollie appeared surprised.
"I've heard of your land," he said, "Archers are specially trained warriors; they are very talented, almost legendary in this part of the world. I'm most surprised to have met a woman Archer."
Mina actually smiled. "I am one of three female members. We protect the Rulers…but the Queen requested I leave to protect my son…" she paused to cough roughly, but forced herself to continue. "My ship was attacked- I don't know by what, but they wanted us dead."
Samos moved to stand beside her, taking her arm in his hand. He straightened it out, disinfecting a spot on her forearm with a swab.
"Your English is very good, Mina," he told her as he presented a small syringe filled with liquid Eco.
"Thank-you," she replied with the hint of a smile.
Samos pushed the needle into her arm and she cried out, hitting the back of her head on the table as she gritted her teeth in pain. The Sage looked at her apologetically, but she shook her head, taking somewhat shallow breaths.
"It will take away the stiffness in your limbs, as well as lessen the pain," he explained.
The young artist moved to sit on the table beside her and she opened her eyes, her expression softening upon seeing her son. Mina looked up at Cody and smiled. He returned the gesture, softly asking,
"Tell us what happened. We might be able to tell you who hurt you."
Mina closed her eyes and sighed, listening to the steady sheet of rain pattering on to the roof. The wind still howled outside and the wooden planks of the hut creaked from the force. Mina frowned as the words came to her.
"…They were creatures," she began, her voice stronger now that the pain had ebbed away. Her accent was less noticeable as she continued. "But I swear…someone was there, leading them…I… I could be wrong," Mina shook her head. "Either way, I hid the baby in the lower deck and fought the beasts."
She opened her eyes and a tear rolled down her cheek.
"There were too many. They destroyed the ship; my arrows are made from Eco crystals, and the creatures shattered them in the attack. Dark Eco splashed over everything, myself included. The fuel ignited as well...The last thing I remember is hitting the water…thank the Precursors we survived."
The rain increased in intensity outside; thunder boomed loudly, rattling the foundation of the workshop. Sand fell from the roof as lightning flashed again. Suddenly, the little boy jerked awake, blue eyes wide in terror. He struggled in Cody's grasp, who nearly dropped him out of surprise.
"Whoa, take it easy, little guy!"
"Mama!" the boy cried.
Mina slowly rose to a sitting position, slinging her legs over the table. She leaned forward to take her son in her arms. He embraced her fiercely, burying his face in her clothes, trembling. The young woman kissed the top of his head and held him close. The three men watched on somewhat cautiously.
"I'm scared, Ma! Where are we?!" the child sobbed.
Mina gently pulled him away from her to gaze into his eyes, wiping the tears from his cheeks with her thumbs. She brushed the curling bangs from his forehead reassuringly, and he sniffled, biting his lip as he awaited an answer.
"We are safe, Daxter. There is nothing left to harm us, my love," Mina told him in a soft voice.
The boy nodded, sniffing. He moved to sit in his mother's lap, cuddling close to her and staring critically at the others around them. He drew his knees up to his chest and Mina wrapped her arms around him, planting another kiss on his freckled cheek. She placed his head under her chin and closed her eyes.
Samos appeared shaken by something. He took a few steps back toward the table, and the child edged closer to Mina, looking wearily over his shoulder at the Sage.
"I'm sorry," Samos began, "Your son's name is…?"
"Daxter!" the boy informed him, scowling.
Samos repeated the name, shaking his head slightly. He looked back at the yellow-haired child, who was still frowning disapprovingly at him. Mina hugged him comfortingly and he presently stuck his thumb in his mouth, sighing through his nose.
"Are you alright, Samos?" Ollie asked.
The Sage tried to blink out of hid daze, but couldn't. Mina, in spite of how pained she looked, laughed lightly. She ran her fingers through her son's damp hair, combing out the little tangles as she did so. His wide eyes scanned the room curiously, still pressed fearfully against his mother.
"I know it may sound strange to you, but in Grek, 'Daxter' means 'adventurer.' We named him so for a good reason."
"He certainly lives up to it," Samos muttered under his breath.
Little Daxter's scowl returned as his gaze settled back on the Sage, still sucking rapidly on his thumb. Mina winced at the small jabs of pain in her back and carefully adjusted her position. Samos would have said something, but a door opened behind him and his four-year-old daughter appeared from behind it, rubbing her eyes roughly. She wore a little pink night gown and her aqua hair was in disarray.
"Daddy," she said, "What's going on?"
Her bright emerald eyes settled on the only unfamiliar faces she saw: Mina and Daxter. She looked at them for a long while, as if trying to determine who they were. The woman smiled at her warmly.
"YahSu, little one," she said.
The girl frowned. "Hi…"
She noticed then there was a little boy in the woman's lap, and tried to see him, standing on her tip-toes. Samos stepped in front of her in that instant, blocking her view. He picked her up in a small embrace, balancing her atop his arms.
"Keira…go back to bed, dear," he advised her, walking back toward her room.
She yawned, wrapping her arms around his shoulders in a lazy hug. Her eyes met with the woman's once again, and she smiled at her. The little boy was trying to look at her as well, his thumb still planted firmly in his mouth. His mother whispered something to him in a different language and a curious expression crossed his face. Keria was automatically interested at the prospect of speaking to people who spoke differently from her.
"Are you bothered by the storm?" Samos asked her, gently.
Keria shook her head. "I'm worried about you, Daddy. You didn't go to sleep yet."
"I'm alright, sweetheart," Samos chuckled, "Just talking with Ollie and Cody, that's all."
The little girl nodded this time, fluffy hair bobbing up and down. Samos coaxed her off to bed in spite of how interested she seemed in their new visitors.
Mina listened to the Sage put his daughter to bed and bit her lip, hugging Daxter closer to her. He seemed tired as well and let out a big yawn, revealing his slightly crooked front teeth. Mina smiled at him and brushed the hair from his eyes once again, ignoring the pains that were now shooting up the length of her back. Samos arrived back in the room after a few minutes, smiling apologetically at the group.
"Keira is just too curious some times," he sighed.
Mina smiled, though it looked more like a grimace. "She's beautiful, Samos," she told him.
His gaze fell back to the young woman and he noticed her skin had turned lighter and her eyes looked sunken in. she was beginning to shiver slightly as though she were cold. Her son, however, was unaware of how sickly she looked, curling up in her arms and nudging closer to her, rubbing his cheek in the soft cloth of her dress. He closed his eyes, still sucking contentedly on his thumb.
Cody had edged closer to Mina, and she allowed him to wrap his arm around her as Samos injected another dose of liquid Eco into her veins. She winced and wiped away the sweat from her cheeks with a free hand. The rain had dissipated somewhat, but thunder still rumbled threateningly outside.
"…I know it's getting worse," she whispered, laying her head on Cody's shoulder as another series of tremors ran through her body.
Ollie shook his head. "No, Lass. What kind of thinkin' is that?"
Mina closed her eyes as a dull pain made her shiver yet again.
"All warriors know when their time has come," she said.
Cody's grip increased protectively around her; Ollie leaned against the wall and massaged his temples. Daxter twitched in his sleep and whined slightly, as if having a bad dream. Mina gently stroked his hair and he stopped fussing. Samos sighed; Mina opened her eyes and gave him a small smile.
"How much time do I have?"
Her voice was low and strained, but still strong. She gazed down at the sleeping boy in her arms as she awaited an answer.
"…Not very long, I'm afraid," Samos murmured. "The Dark Eco has corrupted too much for me to heal you. Mina…I'm so sorry."
She shook her head. "You did all you could, Samos- more than I could ask for. I am humbled by your kindness."
Mina felt needles of pain travel up her arms and gritted her teeth, waiting for it to pass. When it subsided, she could feel something swirling in her stomach, something that burned uncomfortably within. The fire was spreading, and she could feel it coursing through her veins. Tears came to her eyes, but she blinked them away. When she spoke, it came in a forced, stilted voice.
"I have no right to ask you people of anything," Mina paused to gather her bearings as the Dark Eco burned through the muscles in her arms. "But…please. Take my son. Take Daxter, please- keep him safe."
She held the toddler close to her, pressing him gently to her chest. He sighed and wrapped his arm about her shoulder, leaning his head against her. She pressed her cheek to him, feeling his little heart beating against hers, and smiled. She ran her fingers through his hair, unable to stop the tears this time. But her voice never wavered.
"The Greccians are a proud people," Mina told the three men in a whisper. "We are courageous, talented, tenacious… tell Daxter these things. Tell him he is these things."
Mina looked up at them pleadingly. All nodded solemnly.
"You have my word, Lass," Ollie said.
She smiled slightly, burying her face one final time in Daxter's hair. Cody's eyes had glazed with tears and he stared vacantly at his feet, waiting for what else she had to say. Mina breathed a hiccupping sigh, squeezing her eyes shut as pain circulated through her legs, neck and chest. Her grip on Daxter loosened.
"…He does not understand your culture," she whimpered, "You must be patient with him. Daxter has an irreversible sense of curiosity…" Mina shook her head, fighting to tell them. "Do not hate him for such a thing."
She hugged her son tightly one final time, holding back a desperate sob.
"Sa-aga-po," she whispered to him.
Mina gently handed him to the Sculptor, who took him back carefully in his arms, almost freighted he would hurt the child.
"Daxter…is my life," Mina said, softly. She took the goggles from her head and pressed them into Cody's hand. "Please, gentleman, take care of him. Tell him I love him, so very much…"
The rain had finally stopped. Samos instructed the Sculptor and the Fisherman to take Daxter and Keira upstairs to the Lab, and they did as they were told. Outside the air was cool and the wind had died down considerably. The dark clouds had moved behind the mountains; above, the moon showed bright, its reflection rippling on the surface of the ocean. Cody gently laid Daxter down on one of the benches and sat on the floor in font of him, drawing his knees close to his chest. Ollie followed soon after and left Keira on the bench as well, walking back to the shop at Samos' request. Cody buried his head in his arms and waited for his heavy heart to lighten.
Mina passed away a few minutes after sunrise. Samos had made her passing as gently as possible, giving her more Eco injections to take away the pain. Ollie stayed to comfort the both of them. He arrived back in the lab soon after, and Cody looked up at him.
"She's gone, right?" the young artist asked him, dimly.
"Aye," Ollie sighed, "Peacefully."
Cody's eyes swiveled to the sleeping boy, still sucking every now and then on this thumb, completely unaware of how his life had changed.
"What do we tell him?"
"…Everything she wanted us to tell him."
"But she's gone, Ollie," the Sculptor reminded him firmly, "How do we tell him that?"
The Fisherman sighed, hanging his head. He paused at the doorway, watching as the sun rose in the East, turning the sky a dull pink.
"The truth," he finally said, "She's in a better place, now…"
