Shadow Island (903 years ago)
Tore woke up with a warm towel on his head. Tore looked around the room he was in slowly. All Tore could make out was the dimly lit portion of the room, lit by a candle.
It was chilly, but perfectly warm under the covers. Scales still littered Tore's body but he felt slightly better.
A dark brown, acidic drink next to him. Tore stared at the drink for a moment until a voice broke through the silence.
"Drink it. It's fine." The voice said.
Tore jumped slightly then looked back down at the drink.
"It's just carbonated water with flavor added to it." Cyclone said, getting on his knees, japanese style.
Tore was hesitant but picked up the drink.
"Well, you saved me sir, so, I don't see why'd you kill me now. That wouldn't make much sense." Tore said with a laugh and drink.
"No... no it wouldn't." Cyclone said, studying Tore, the last time he saw Tore he was a 3 day old baby.
Tore finished the drink.
"Wow! That was really good. Can I have more?" Tore asked.
"No." Cyclone said.
"You're pretty up front aren't you sir?" Tore asked.
"It helps prevent any miscommunication." Cyclone answered.
Tore set the cup down. Tore was still sore and sapphire scales still lined his body.
"You know anything about these scales sir?" Tore asked, nervously.
Cyclone was silent for a moment.
"I do. You're lucky, I'm probably the only man alive who can help you with this." Cyclone said, looking closer at the scales, "They got worse when you stepped outside to endluge in your session with the Earth..."
Tore was embarrassed.
"Don't tell Papa Ubois that's all I ask.. purple brush just helps me forget things." Tore said softly.
"Ubois... right, I understand." Cyclone said.
It was quiet for a moment.
"So why did you, or, why are you helping me?" Tore asked.
Cyclone breathed in and out.
"Well, Tore, this may be very hard for you to believe.. but 23 years ago our parents were killed in battle. The enemy took you away and I've spent the last 2 decades searching for you..." Cyclone said.
Tore started to tear up slowly.
"Wh-What..." Tore started.
Cyclone teared up too.
"Baby brother... I've... missed you." Cyclone said.
Tore couldn't believe it. Tore thought Dubois was his real father this entire time, that he was an only child. Now there was the mention of his real parents and older brother.
Tore didn't know what to think or how to feel.
HOLY LAND ROOM OF AUTHORITY
"Has Ubois left yet?" St Ethan asked.
"He left earlier today.." St Mars confirmed.
"We'll need to replace his position as elder, to keep things balanced." St Topman added.
"We were going to do that anyway." St Saturn said coldly.
"Who are our candidates?" St Ethan asked.
"St. Nefetari Cotter and St Kaden Bison are the next in line." St. Saturn said.
"The Jito of Okino Island?" St Ethan spit.
"Yes. He is well qualified." St Topman said.
"And how is the Lecnian doing..?" St. Mars asked.
"The Sapphire scales are working like a charm. He will be dead around the time of the Reverie." St. Saturn answered.
"There's definitely no more reason to keep him alive since his father's power is already in The Mainland." St. Ethan said, "What's bothering you?" St Ethan asked St Topman.
"I can't help but think of that weasle Muranaka. He shows up out the blue with knowledge on Lecnians and that boy? You don't think he'll go for the kings' body too?" St. Topman said.
"It doesn't matter what Muranaka does. Captain Lowery is one of our most trusted and top officials. He will relay everything he knows to us anyway." St. Saturn assured, "Working with that man, as disgusting as he is, would be the safe move for now. Until we acquire the power necessary to kill him."
"Hmph. So, we begin the inaugurations for the new elders tomorrow?" St. Ethan asked.
"That would be best.." St. Mars said.
The elders continued to sit inside the Room of Authority.
Mainland Waters (10 Nautical miles from the coast).
Knights from The Secret Order and Marines continued to watch over the waters for potential threats.
Sir Richart and Captain Lowery sat in the captain's office of Lowery's ship. Lowery poured the two coffee.
"So this demonspawn... is it the only threat we'll have to deal with on this island?" Lowery asked.
Richart lifted his helmet just enough to use his mouth to drink the coffee.
Lowery was visibly disappointed he couldn't see under the mask.
Richart set his cup down.
"I think you'll be troubled to hear that the demonspawn are actually a newer problem to what we've already had." Richart said.
Lowery rubbed his head.
"May I show you something?" Richart asked.
Captain Lowery became slightly worried, wondering what Richart was going to show him.
"S-Sure, anything Mr. Pierrot!" Lowery said.
Richart stood up and grabbed his hammer then got in his battle stance, holding the hammer down at his right side with two hands.
Lowery was confused until a blue aura slowly took over Richart and ran down to his hammer, making it glow a beautiful light blue. Captain Lowery was amazed.
"Wh-What is that?" Lowery asked.
Richart powered down and put the hammer on his back.
"We call it "Life force." The Mordecai have figured out that it is connected to the user's life some how." Richart explained, "This is the power has roamed our island for the last 23 years."
"Good grief... 23 years huh? You don't know where this power is being sourced?" Lowery asked.
Richart folded his arms.
"Unfortunately not, sir. All we know is the Shadowkin are connected in some way. Their ship was reported in the Ogryn ports on the same night the power started moving throughout the island 23 years ago. The fiends cleverly live across the water so they are out of our jurisdiction. Whatever they bothered to deliver that night was clearly worth the risk of potential capture." Richart explained.
Lowery took down notes.
"The main issues we've had are with the Ogryn, Lizard people, Skinwalkers, and of course, The Demonspawn." Richart said
"And we have to go through all of them?!" Lowery yelled nervously.
Richart laughed.
"The path we're taking to the Kingdom will take us through the Wretched Wood, the Skinwalker faction is heavily active in that area." Richart said.
"We seriously can't take any other route without threats?!" Lowery yelled comically. Richart put his hands up nervously.
"I'm sorry Mr. Lowery! That's the shortest path with the "least" amount of trouble." Richart said, "We will meet with the Barbarios in the Unwelcoming Desert immediately after we leave the forest. They will take us to the Kingdom from there." Richart laid out.
"Just how many factions are there, sir? Outside of your enemies." Lowery asked.
"There are 8 factions in total." Richart said, holding up 8 fingers, "The aforementioned Ogryn, Lizard people, Skinwalkers, and demonspawn. Our allies are the Barbarios and The Crimson Order. There are a couple factions who do not align with anyone, those are The Dwarves and The Watchers. All of these factions have many who can manipulate Life Force as I've demonstrated before." Richart explained.
Lowery was overwhelmed.
"That sounds like a lot of trouble..." Lowery said depressed.
"Oh, it would be! If not for his majesty." Richart.
"Joy Boy?" Lowery asked.
Richart looked up.
"Yes. King Joy Boy.. so full of life, always and I mean always laughing. There is no one who can defeat him. To challenge his authority is pointless." Richart said.
"All races are allowed to enter his kingdom, even races from the enemy factions I told you about before and no one lives in fear." Richart continued.
"How is that possible? Surely there would be bad blood somewhere at some point?" Lowery asked.
Richart shook his head.
"Well, the main reason is the king's right hand man is a skinwalker! Lord Jambavan. He is King Joy Boys' right hand man. They won't allow anyone to discriminate against anyone else. No fighting allowed and if it must happen, make it a fun game!" Richart laughed.
Lowery laughed nervously.
"The factions outside the kingdom would never even see the king if they decided to attack because we would be right there on the front lines, as well as Lord Jambavan, but even if they did make it to the king, it would be useless, he'd obliterate them." Richart said.
Lowery was amazed and a little scared.
"Is he really that strong?" Lowery asked.
"Hopefully you don't have to find out Mr. Lowery! Ha ha ha!" Richart laughed.
"Why doesn't Joy Boy just take control of the other factions and rule the entire island?" Lowery asked.
"He doesn't want to." Richart said simply.
"A king who doesn't want more to rule? I'm surprised..." Lowery said.
"It's their right to live as they want. That's their territory they can have it!" That's what he always tells us." Richart said.
Lowery was in disbelief. Lowery's been to many countries and almost all of their kings were tyrants. Truly good hearted kings were few and far between.
"That's also another reason they don't attack his kingdom, because he doesn't bother them. They usually fight with other factions close by or attack anyone unlucky enough to enter one of their ports or territory." Richart explained.
"Like us?" Lowery asked nervously.
"Ha ha ha ha! Lucky for you, any faction unfortunate enough to come across The Secret Order are the unlucky ones!" Richart boldly claimed.
"Hey can I ask you something that's been killing me?" Lowery asked.
"Anything!" Richart said.
"The elder was bit by one of those monsters... what's going to happen to him?" Lowery asked, biting his nails.
Richart looked up.
"Sir.. Mr. Ubois.. is going to die." Richart said sadly.