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CHAPTER I
FULFILLING AN 18-YEAR PROMISE
Since his birth in 1645, Robert Ibeada has often wondered what the customs and culture of his mother, Isabella were. From the time he could speak, he made a promise to himself that when he was of age to travel, Robert decided that the first place he would visit would be England, the birthplace of his mother.
As he always did, since the day he first learned to ride a horse, he would often ride to the cliffs looking over the sea. When he was a year old, his mother took him to the Japanese coast and told him about her travels. She also told him about how she would sometimes go to the harbor in Liverpool and skip a stone and ask God to give her the chance to go across the water just as the stone she threw. Once he reached a specific spot he particularly liked, he grabbed a pebble and threw it into the water. It was now 18 pebbles for 18 years.
While returning home, Robert took a detour to pay a quick visit to his grandfather, George. While George was indeed happy to see his grandson, his smile was interrupted by a cough. For several months, George had been battling dysentary, yet he still smiled.
"Grandfather, I must know. How can you smile in a sickly state?" Robert asked,
"Because I imagine that each cough is your grandmother calling me to join her. Every night, I always tell her that I will join her eventually, but desire to see my family on these earth as much as I can before meeting her at eternity's gates."
"If my wife is anything to go by, she must have been beautiful." Robert said,
"Though it has been decades since her untimely passing, I can still recall the beauty I gazed upon when we first met." George said wistfully,
"I may be traveling soon. First to England to see how my mother's people live. Then abroad to see the world beyond." Robert said,
With a fond sigh, George smiled at Robert and fondly said, "You truly are my grandson. It is not only your eyes that belong to your mother, but your heart as well. For many years, Isabella longed to see the beyond. It seems now that you yourself will follow her footsteps and embark on your own adventure."
"I even have a journal to chronologize every experience. Every joy; every pain; every lesson. I have heard that the world is round in its shape and large in its size; I wish to see it." Robert said,
"How long do you plan to stay in England?" George asked,
"As long as I have been in Japan. Eighteen years in Japan. Eighteen years in England." Robert said,
"In that case, I have something that I intend to write for you to take on your travels, but you are to not open it until the end of your eighteen years in England." George said,
After near an hour, George came back from his study holding a letter, which he handed to Robert.
"Remember, boy…" George started,
"Only after 18 years in England am I to open this." Robert said affirmatively,
"On your way, then, my boy." George said,
With that, Robert rode back to his parents and readied himself to speak his intentions. As he rode his horse throughout the streets, he looked at everything he could. He remembered everything from the first time he walked through the streets with his grandfather to the times he went with his mother to the times he went on his ownI l
"I would very much wish to stop you, but that would more than likely turn it into a family tradition and denying you joys that I was allowed to experience." Isabella said,
With a hand on his son's shoulder, Boriato said, in English so his wife could understand all, "Honor is a vital point in Japan, and by traveling to her home country, you do your mother a great honor. Go, my son. Sail the seas. Brave the storms."
The following day was spent readying Robert for his journey to England. Isabella was particularly ecstatic, taking extreme pleasure in helping her son prepare, giving him sacks of water, rice, and medicinal herbs if it were ever necessary.
Just as Robert was heading out, Boriato called out to him to stop a moment.
"Take this." Boriato said while handing Robert the Ibeada katana.
"But, father, this is your sword." Robert said, a stunned expression on his face,
"It is the family's sword, and you are part of this family." Boriato said,
"But do not choose it as your first solution; kettō should only be a last decision." Isabella said,
"I will only defend, mother." Robert said,
"Go, Robert. England awaits."
With a confident smile, Robert headed to the docks at Nagasaki to board a ship. What he would not expect is that he would be completely reversing the trip his mother took to Japan on his journey to England.