Chapter 1: Dawn of a Journey

~New Wind Town, Kingdom of Vasilosse~

Gently, leaves rustled in the wind, swaying enviously toward the vast blue encircling the island. It was the wish of countless adventurous souls to sail the seas of the Five Kingdoms in search of fame, treasure, love, of themselves. Of all the riches one could find in the Five Kingdoms, of all the legends carried by the tides and by the winds, nothing united the intrepid more than the treasure of the stars. Said to be the greatest treasure left behind by mankind, vestiges of a kingdom long buried by time, a heritage of what the world had become; treasure hunters, historians and royalty alike sought it out, no matter what it may hold in the end.

Two in a sea of thousands, Hunter and Luck were no different. Just like their fathers, the two cousins had a dream to leave South Breeze Island, to set out to sea in search of the mightiest treasure of all. Once they would uncover its mystery, their names would be forever etched in history.

For years now, they had been repairing an old ship brought back by Luck’s father during one of his many bouts with the sea. Hunter and Luck had few tools, and little to no shipbuilding experience, but with passion, time, and many mistakes and lessons learned, their humble vessel finally neared completion, just in time for Luck’s birthday.

The ship was anchored in an inland cove, hidden by a hill above and sturdy tree roots dangling from the hill’s edge. For their entire life, this cave had been the cousins’ secret spot.

As nightfall loomed over another sunny day on the island, the cousins rounded up their tools and made sure the boat was well anchored.

Luck tossed a hammer in a large wooden crate filled with other tools and moved his hair away from his eyes. “Can you believe we’ll soon be able to set sail on the waters beyond the restraints of this cove?” he asked his younger cousin, a mix of satisfaction, pride and wonder twinkling in his eyes.

“Considering we’ve been working on this dumb boat for years, I’d say it’s about time,” responded Hunter.

Luck ignored the coldness of the remark. It was in Hunter’s habits to speak bluntly, which sometimes betrayed his gentle nature. His cousin knew he meant no offence; after all, they had been talking about travelling the world together since they were children.

Of the two, Luck was the oldest, by a little over a year, his nineteenth birthday coming up shortly, whereas Hunter had yet to celebrate his eighteenth one. They bore many physical similarities, often being mistaken as brothers by people who did not know them. They were both slightly above average height, had similar facial features, brown eyes and short brown hair, Hunter’s hair curling ever so slightly at the tip. The two cousins also each wore a single earing on their ear – Hunter on the right, Luck on the left – as a memento of Hunter’s late mother.

She had passed away in a tragic accident when they were still quite young. With Luck’s mother having vanished without a trace not long after she gave birth to him, and with Hunter’s father having left to look for the treasure of the stars eighteen years ago, only Luck’s father remained, occasionally making an appearance to visit them. However, South Breeze Island was home to a small community of kind folk who had been looking over the two boys ever since their parents had been gone.

Luck and Hunter left the cove and walked onto the white beach, their sandals sinking in the soft sand. The sun began to set over the horizon, covering the endless ocean in an orange glow. On the other end of the beach, a girl came down from a beaten path, waving at the cousins.

It was Taina, a girl around Hunter’s age, who had been acquainted with the cousins since a young age. They were not particularly close friends but being some of the only inhabitants of the island of their age group, they naturally banded together. Taina was a beauty with an uncommon exotic tanned skin. Her long and luscious hair covered her back like a blanket, and her hazel eyes and warm smile radiated kindness.

She met up with the boys on the beach, her long draped skirt dragging in the sand behind her. “Hey there, boys,” she greeted them.

“To what do we owe the pleasure of this surprise visit?” asked Luck in an almost flirtatious manner.

“Braham said he needed your help with something. He’s in the tavern as we speak.”

“With what exactly?” asked Hunter.

“That, he didn’t tell me. But he was very adamant in his request, so I wouldn’t keep him waiting long if I were you.”

“Alright, I suppose we have no choice, then,” shrugged Luck, a smile on his face.

He was always glad to help the people of New Wind Town, the island’s only settlement, especially those who had helped him before. Braham was one of those people. He had served as a father figure to both him and Hunter for the majority of their lives.

After a short walk along a dirt path connecting the beach to the town through a small, wooded area, the cousins and Taina arrived in front of a rickety two-storey building. A hanging sign, as well as the rambunctiousness of the jolly men inside, indicated this was New Wind Town’s tavern.

Luck pushed the door open and stepped inside, followed closely by Hunter. Having fulfilled her errand, Taina remained outside and went about the rest of her day.

Braham, who seemed to be frantically working behind the counter, noticed them entering and called out to them. “Over here, you two! I need your help right away.”

Braham was a short, somewhat chubby man in his late fifties. He always wore a poorly made patched hat to cover his balding head. Most of the hair he had left sat over his upper lip, forming a thick mustache that connected to his sideburns. He was the owner of the town’s tavern and a well-respected member of the community.

“Why do we specifically have to help?” asked Hunter, unable to hide his disappointment. His body was tired from his long day in the cove working on the ship, and all he wanted was to be able to rest.

Tossing him cooking utensils, Braham answered, “I received a phone call not long ago from a certain someone who’s coming to town for a few days. He’ll be arriving tonight. Those machines are truly remarkable, aren’t they? Had I been informed of his arrival by a formal letter, I might have received it after the fact.”

“Is it dad?” asked Luck, his smile ever growing.

“That’s right. It shouldn’t be long before he’s here, so you two need to help prepare to give him a warm welcome.”

“Uncle Silvers is coming,” said Hunter to himself, also excited at the thought.

“Let’s get to work, Hunter!” exclaimed Luck as he too grabbed whatever utensil lay near him to help.

It did not take long for the awaited visitor to walk through the threshold of the tavern. In the kitchen, Luck and Hunter were finishing up preparations for the meal, when they heard the bell sitting atop the door ringing. Loud cheering then burst from the main room, which prompted the cousins to run into the dining area with a similar reaction.

Near the door was a tall and well-built man in his late forties, still full of vigour and life, as if he were still in the prime of his life. He wore his graying hair in a ponytail behind his back. He was a man overflowing with charm and charisma, leading a notorious treasure hunting crew in search of the world’s greatest treasures.

Luck ran across the room and hugged his father, whom he had not seen in over a year.

“Looks like you’ve grown again,” said Silvers, returning the hug. “You may overtake me soon at this point.”

“Nah, I doubt I’ll get any taller,” replied his son.

“What about you, Hunter? You still have a bit of growth left in you.”

Hunter tossed his shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess we’ll see.”

Silvers approached his nephew and hugged him as well, though he seemed less responsive to the gesture than his cousin. He simply stood there awkwardly and waited for it to end.

Braham was the next one out of the kitchen. “Silvers!” he called out. “I would have come to welcome you properly when you arrived, but these two decided to leave me alone instead,” he said with a mocking smile.

“Don’t worry, old friend,” said Silvers. “I’m just glad to see everyone again. It seems nothing has changed around here.”

“Of course not. Why would I need to change perfection?” laughed the tavern owner, knowing full well his establishment needed a great deal of repairs. “Come take a seat, we have a table for you.”

“Thank you, I could use the rest.”

Silvers was seated on an old wooden chair next to Luck and Hunter, in the center of the room. The tavern’s patrons began gathering around their friend to ask him stories of his latest voyage.

“Did ya find anything worth while?” asked a man, a mug of ale half covering his mouth.

“Everything I find is worth while, my friend. Have I not told you a hundred times before? The main reason I live this treasure hunting life is for the freedom, to quench my adventurous thirst. Any treasure I come across is merely a coin in a life worth more than the royal family’s treasury.”

“Such a carefree guy, that Silvers!” exclaimed another man.

“Indeed. It is the way I chose to live my life.”

“Did ya bring anything back this time?” asked another one.

“Have I ever failed to bring back souvenirs for my little island?” Silvers put a bag on the table. He then reached his hand deep inside and rummaged around, eventually pulling out an ancient compass. “This is no ordinary compass, my friends. Believe it or not, it in fact once belonged to the legendary treasure hunter from the Finhro Kingdom, Maraco Pololo.”

“What? There’s no way!” said Luck. “How can you be so sure?”

“I’m glad you asked. You see, on the inside of the compass, is an engraving of Pololo’s name, presumably made by the man himself.”

“That is beyond cool! Where did you even find that?”

“We used old texts written by Pololo, describing in great detail his many voyages across the seas. In one of them, he and his crew brought their ship ashore on an uncharted island in the western parts of the Mara Kingdom, which we now know as Serpent’s Nest. Speaking of, have you any clue why we call it that?”

“No, why?” asked his son, fully engrossed in the story.

“Well, the story goes that while exploring the island’s verdant jungle, Pololo came across a dark cave from the inside of which he could hear an ominous hissing sound. Being an adventurer at heart, he descended into the darkness with only a torch in hand, barely illuminating the tip of his toes. Deep within the cave, he apparently encountered a snake the size of which he had never thought possible. In fact, it was the largest animal he’d ever laid eyes on. It’s said the snake measured over fifty meters long and had fangs the size of fully grown men.”

“How did he know the serpent was fifty meters long if he couldn’t see one meter in front of him?” interjected Hunter.

“You’re ruining the magic of the story!” complained his cousin.

“But it doesn’t make any sense.”

“Anyway,” their uncle interrupted them to finish telling his story. “Pololo stood in awe before the beast. As it turns out, the serpent was a peaceful creature, one which we now know as one of Mara’s guardian deities.”

“That story has quite a few holes,” said Hunter, unimpressed by what he presumed to be fantasy.

“Correct,” agreed Silvers. “A good chunk of Pololo’s journal is missing, so interpretations were made accordingly.”

“So, it’s not true, then.”

“We don’t know that!” said Luck, trying to grasp onto any semblance of truth.

“And we might very well never know,” added Silvers. “Words can fade out, whether spoken or written. History is a fragile thing.”

“That it is,” said Braham as he came carrying plates of steaming meat and vegetables. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Do tell more stories. Not much ever happens here nowadays, so we could use the entertainment.”

“But of course. It would be my pleasure. Before I recount another of my many adventures, I would like to give this compass to someone.” He handed it to Luck, who accepted it in a heartbeat. “When you set out on your own journey one day in the near future, use this compass to guide you, and may the soul of Maraco Pololo aid you.”

“Yes sir! Thank you, dad!”

“You don’t have to be so formal,” laughed his father. “As for you, Hunter, I have something to give you later.”

“Oh, okay,” replied his nephew, a bit unexpecting.

“For now, let’s enjoy this meal, together once more!”

Evening elapsed, and the moon’s pale light shone protectively over the island. Overwhelmed by the never-ending cacophony of shouts and laughs, Hunter got up and excused himself from the party.

Outside, he inhaled deeply, as if he had not breathed properly in hours, and headed for the cove where his and Luck’s ship waited to be pushed into the light of day, to brave the waters of the world once again. As he savoured the serenity of nighttime, a voice called out to him.

“Hunter, wait up!”

He turned around to Taina jogging toward him, a book resting in her hand.

“Still reading that book?” asked Hunter. “How many times is that, now?”

“I never bothered to count,” she responded somewhat shyly. “Is the party not to your liking? Seems like everyone else is having fun. They can be heard across town.”

“It’s fine, I just needed a break.”

“Hm, gotcha. I understand. Do you mind if I tag along? The cove at night is a refreshingly peaceful place. Not that peace is lacking, but you know what I mean.”

“Who said anything about going to the cove?”

“Where else would you be going at this hour?”

“Home?”

“Your place is in the opposite direction, Hunter.”

“Oh, right.”

“So… can I?”

“Of course, you can.”

With a smile, Taina gayly hopped at Hunter’s side as they traversed the darkness enveloping the small forest separating the town from the beach. As the tide had risen, they had to submerge their feet to enter the cove, where only sparce beams of moonlight barely illuminated the boat rocking along with the waves, creaking with each one that came rolling underneath it.

“It’s almost time, isn’t it?” asked Taina. “It looks ready to sail.”

“Yeah.”

“Are you?”

Hunter took another long breath and exhaled a grunt filled with uncertainty.

Taina sat down on a nearby rock protruding from the ground. “Something’s up, Hunter. You know you can talk to me, right?”

“It won’t be long before we leave, Luck and I. The ship is pretty much done with its repairs. We worked years to get to where we are. Sailing the seas together has always been our dream, but…”

“But what?”

“The day is so close, now. I don’t know what I want anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“I realised when uncle Silvers came back earlier and was retelling his adventures, I hadn’t seen him in over a year. The time before that was almost two years. I can probably count the amount of times I’ve seen him in my life on my fingers. Other than Luck, he’s the only family I have, and I rarely get to see him. I don’t blame him for living his life the way he is, but I wonder now, is that how I wanna be? Only a thought at the back of everyone’s heads until I come back for a week, only to be forgotten again when I leave.”

“I think you’re thinking about this too hard. Nobody is going to forget you, just like I know you’ve never forgotten your uncle. The treasure hunting lifestyle is a commitment; it’s normal if it’s not an easy decision.”

“What do I do?”

“I can’t answer that for you. You’re days away from your departure, and you’re feeling nostalgic, bittersweet, conflicted. All that’s normal. I say, you go out there and sail the seas of the Five Kingdoms with your cousin. It might be hard at first to leave our little island behind, but it won’t disappear. You can always come back if you get homesick. As your adventures multiply, as you discover new places, meet new people, maybe you’ll find the passion for treasure hunting that I suspect is tucked away inside you.”

Hunter stared longingly at the water through the roots growing from the trees on the hill above. “You literally just answered that for me.”

Taina’s eyes grew wide as she realised the rant she had just gone on. “I guess I did,” she awkwardly laughed.

“I think you’re right. I’m probably just scared of the commitment.”

“Don’t be afraid. May the fire ignite your soul like the flames burn on the sun, may the wind guide your heart and carve a path for you to sail, may the lightning illuminate your way as the stars do the night sky, may the water soothe your worries and heal your aches, and may the earth bring comfort to your tired body.”

“What was that?”

“What was what?”

“That. Did you just make that up?”

“No, you give me too much credit. It’s a passage from my book. Apparently, it’s something people say to bring good fortune to those setting out to sea.”

A voice, coming from the entrance of the cove, echoed off its walls. “That’s right.” It was Silvers, carrying in his hands something wrapped in layers of paper. “I’ve heard that charm once before. Back when your father and I left on our journey to become the greatest treasure hunters of all time, your mother stood on the beach, her feet draped in sand. She looked lovingly at Travis and recited word for word that saying.”

“Uncle Silvers,” unexpectedly said Hunter. “What are you doing here?”

“I have something for you, remember?” He looked over at Taina. “Would you mind giving us a minute, dear?”

“Of course. I’m sure you have a lot to catch up on. I’ll leave you two alone,” she politely said, before leaving the cove.

“You look unsure,” observed Silvers. “Is something the matter?”

“It’s okay, I’m better now. I was just… unsure, as you said.”

Silvers nodded in understanding. “It’s a big step in your journey. If anything, I would expect that uncertainty.” He turned to admire the ship aboard which he had once sailed the seas with his friends. “She looks much better than when I brought her back. I could barely get her to sail. Look at her now. You took better care of her than I could have ever hoped.”

“Thanks, but can you stop calling it ‘her’? It’s a boat, not your girlfriend.”

“Come on, Hunter, don’t be like that! It’s just common sailor lingo!”

“You’re not a sailor.”

“It may not be my primary occupation, but I do, in fact, sail ships. I wouldn’t be much of a treasure hunter if I didn’t.”

“Don’t expect me to give it a name. I won’t.”

“Bah, you’re no fun.”

“What’s that in your hand?”

Silvers held out his hand, holding the thing he had brought with him. “Take it. It’s for you.”

Hunter reached out and grabbed the parcel out of his uncle’s hands. He carefully unwrapped it, revealing a golden necklace with five small empty chambers around the lower half. “What is this?”

“This necklace used to belong to your mother. Travis and I, back when we travelled together, before his ambition became to find the treasure of the stars, we found this necklace. Albeit clearly incomplete, it could have easily fetched enough money to make you and your mother live comfortably for years. When Travis gave it to Jewel, she decided to keep it as a testament of their love.”

“If that’s the case, when did you get it?”

“A few months before Jewel passed away, I was visiting. She gave it to me, told me to hold on to it. When I asked why, she looked at you – at the time you must have been five years old – with the eyes you never want to see a mother look at her child with. There was desperation, concern, fear in them.”

“Why?”

“She never told me. She only told me to give it to you once you were ready to leave South Breeze Island. Hunter, though neither of us may understand it at the moment, it’s clear there is a significance to this necklace. Jewel must have figured it out just in time to protect you from the Royal Army.”

“You think this necklace is the reason the Royal Army came to our little island… and killed mom?”

“It would make sense. They had no reason to do what they did, if not for the fact they were looking for a very specific item, one which she no longer had.”

“My mother raised me alone; she took care of me. She was always there for me, giving me her undivided love and affection. She dedicated her life to me. Meanwhile, my father, whom I’ve never met, who was never there to show mom any support, gave her a necklace which would end up being the source of her demise. He was never there, and he still managed to get her killed.”

“Now, Hunter, I know what you’re feeling. But you must understand this was never your father’s intent.”

“I sure as hell hope it wasn’t. Tsk! How can he still be gamboling around the seas without a care in the world? He didn’t even come back for her funeral. What a caring husband he was.”

“Last time I saw my brother was before your mother passed away. It’s been over twelve years. I don’t know where he is, or what he’s doing, but I can tell you with absolute certainty, that he loved you and Jewel more than anything in the world. Whatever the reason for his silence, I’m sure once we know the full details, it’ll all make sense.”

“You’re too optimistic, uncle. I know he’s your brother, and that you actually had a relationship with him, but I can’t help but not care. He was never there, probably never will be. He exists to me only as an echo in the wind, the same as the treasure of the stars he forsook his family for.”

“I can’t say I blame you. Will you still try to find it? The treasure of the stars.”

“I will live my life the way I have for nearly eighteen years. Unaware of his existence. Luck and I’s adventures will be our own, not a copy of his.”

“I see. What about the necklace? Will you keep it? Will you try to find the missing pieces?”

“This is a memento from mom. I will cherish it for as long as I live. Thank you for bringing it to me, uncle.”

“Of course, it’s what your mother wanted. Now then, it’s getting late. We should get some sleep.”

Silvers gave his nephew a light tap on the back and left the cove. Hunter stayed behind, clenching his mother’s necklace, hypnotized by memories of her. His and Luck’s departure drew nigh, and the mystery of the necklace now gave him another reason to explore the world.