"Guys, take a look! There's a whole island there!"
The shout came with a surge of excitement as the group crowded around the ship's edge, the wind catching in their hair and clothing as they caught sight of land for the first time in days—a lush and sprawling island that seemed to emerge from the mist like a forgotten paradise.
The island's green fields stretched endlessly from the shores, undulating like waves frozen in time, leading the eye toward a distant mountain whose jagged peak vanished into the sky beneath a veil of mist and mystery, as if daring any who approached to uncover its secrets.
Pirates lined the deck beside them, their worn coats flapping in the salty breeze, gazes fixed on the shore with a mixture of familiarity and unease, as if the island held both memories and warnings within its soil.
"That's Evergreed Island," one of the pirates explained, his voice a low, thoughtful rumble that carried the weight of experience. "Place like this… peaceful on the surface, but there's always something hiding deeper down."
Another pirate gave a wry smile as he glanced at the group. "We'll help you get some repairs done once you're on land. That ship of yours won't survive the Outer-Sea Barrier unless it's patched up properly."
Elliott leaned forward, his eyes shining like a child's at a festival, and let out a breathless gasp, practically vibrating with excitement. "This is incredible! I've only just joined up with pirates, and now I'm about to explore an island that looks like it belongs in a fantasy novel!"
Unable to contain himself, he clutched his cheeks with both hands, his voice rising with a ridiculous blend of passion and glee. "I bet there are so many sexy girls on that island just waiting to meet someone like me!"
While Elliott descended into his usual theatrics, imagining himself in a crowd of swooning island maidens, Temoshí and Codey had a very different set of priorities—ones that were far more grounded in hunger than romance.
"Real food at last!" the two shouted in unison, their eyes practically sparkling with visions of stews, meats, and mountains of rice. They thrust their fists skyward like warriors charging into battle, driven not by valor or glory, but by the promise of a long-overdue meal.
"Wait for us, food! We're coming for you!" they cried, their stomachs growling in approval.
Behind them, Ayuka and Niina exchanged slow, tired glances that said more than words ever could, the kind of look forged from shared trauma and deep-rooted secondhand embarrassment.
"…It's genuinely painful to be around them sometimes," Ayuka muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose as if trying to contain a growing headache.
Then, with a sudden shift in energy, Temoshí turned toward Codey with a spark in his eye—the kind of look that always led to competition.
"Hey, Codey! Let's race to the island! First one there buys lunch for the other!"
Without missing a beat, Codey's competitive nature kicked in like a reflex. "You're on! But don't think you stand a chance—I'll be sipping coconut milk on the beach while you're still falling over your own feet!"
The two of them dropped into a runner's stance, the intensity between them rising like a storm ready to break—until Ayuka's hands shot out, snatching them both by the collars with the effortless authority of someone used to babysitting grown children.
"You're not diving off the ship like lunatics," she said flatly, lifting them into the air as they flailed helplessly. "We don't know how the islanders will react to strangers. Let's not give them a reason to panic."
As if to emphasize her point, she looked toward the distant shoreline where a handful of buildings and figures could be seen faintly through the haze, each one watching with quiet caution.
Temoshí kicked his legs in protest, trying to wriggle free. "Ayuka, come on! I have to beat Codey! He's got lunch money and I'm starving!"
"Yeah, yeah," Codey added with a smirk. "As if you'd ever win. You'll be buying me dessert, too."
The two boys started bickering again, slinging insults about speed, reflexes, and whose stomach growled louder, until Ayuka finally sighed and turned toward the ship's captain.
"Slade," she said, her voice calm but edged with tired irritation, "I know we're not in a rush, but if you could speed things up just a little, that'd be great. These two are going to explode if they don't touch dry land soon."
The pirate captain nodded in silent understanding and turned to his crew, motioning toward the dock ahead.
As the ship creaked forward, Niina raised her hand and pointed out toward the water.
"Uhh… Ayuka? I think Elliott's gone."
Ayuka blinked. "What?"
She turned just in time to see a tiny figure speeding away from the ship, cutting through the waves with shocking determination and speed.
"You lovely ladies of Evergreed!" Elliott's voice rang out over the ocean, full of flair and misplaced confidence. "Captain Elliott is on his way to sweep you off your feet—and maybe into his arms!"
Ayuka's expression fell. She didn't speak. She just sighed again.
Ayuka didn't bother chasing after Elliott—not because she couldn't catch him, but because she knew from long experience that the effort would be wasted. He'd either make a fool of himself before even reaching the shore, or someone on the island would take care of it for her.
Still holding Temoshí and Codey aloft by the backs of their shirts like disobedient kittens, she slowly lowered them back to the deck, giving them both a sharp look that brokered no argument.
"Behave. We're guests here, and the last thing we need is a dramatic entrance."
Temoshí grumbled something under his breath about "killing the mood" while Codey adjusted his jacket with exaggerated dignity, pretending he hadn't just been dangling in the air like laundry.
As the ship finally reached the edge of the island, ropes were thrown, and a creaking wooden ramp was lowered with a dusty thud. The scent of fresh grass and blooming wildflowers wafted toward the crew, mingling with the salt of the sea and offering a warm, almost nostalgic welcome.
A small group of locals stood near the edge of the docks—men and women dressed in loose-fitting, earth-toned clothes with tools slung at their hips and curious eyes peeking from under wide-brimmed hats. They didn't look hostile, but they didn't look entirely at ease either.
From the middle of the group stepped a tall woman, her stance straight and sure, with a calm intensity in her eyes that suggested she was used to handling strangers—and not easily impressed by theatrics.
She looked the group up and down, noting their variety—an orange-haired girl in monk-like garb, a boy with headphones and wild silver hair, a swordswoman with messy energy, and a self-declared "captain" currently flailing in the shallows and declaring his love for Evergreed's womenfolk.
"…Welcome to Evergreed Island," she said dryly, arms crossed. "I take it you're not from around here."
Ayuka stepped forward, slipping into her role as the group's voice of reason. "We're travelers. Just passing through for repairs and supplies. Sorry about the noise."
The woman gave a slow nod, but her eyes lingered on the ship behind them, and then on Elliott, who was now trying—and failing—to climb onto the dock while dripping seawater and reciting poetry.
"I see," she replied. "Well, travelers or not, things have been tense lately. I'd appreciate it if your crew didn't stir up more trouble."
Behind Ayuka, Temoshí snorted. "Relax. We're just here for food and a few good naps."
"Speak for yourself," Codey said, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder. "I came to find rare herbs and possibly a good time."
Niina stepped beside Ayuka, folding her arms with a soft smile. "We'll make sure they behave. Promise."
The woman regarded them for a long moment more before finally stepping aside, waving a hand toward the road that led into a village nestled just past the fields.
"Fine. Stay out of the forest, don't start any fights, and if you see anything strange, report it to the guard outpost near the square. Enjoy your stay—just don't make me regret this."
The crew filed down the ramp, each one taking in the new surroundings with different energy: wonder, hunger, suspicion, or sheer delight. And as they walked down the dirt path into Evergreed Village, a quiet tension loomed in the background—subtle, like a distant whisper. The kind that made the hair on your neck stand up even when the sun was still shining.
Something about this island wasn't quite what it seemed.
To be continued...