The ocean voyage continued for several more days.
Days became nights.
Nights became mornings.
The fleet sailed farther and farther from the known world.
Farther from imperial trade routes.
Farther from established maps.
Farther from civilization itself.
Unknown waters stretched endlessly beneath the ships.
Ancient currents moved beneath the surface.
Dark depths concealed creatures no scholar had ever documented.
Clouds drifted overhead like silent observers.
Normally.
The farther explorers traveled from civilization.
The more nervous they became.
Unknown lands meant unknown dangers.
Unknown monsters.
Unknown diseases.
Unknown disasters.
Unknown deaths.
Explorers were supposed to fear such things.
Supposed to.
Unfortunately.
The crews had recently discovered something far more important.
Throwing things.
As a result.
Fear had become strangely difficult.
Land
"LAND!"
A lookout suddenly shouted from the crow's nest.
Instantly.
Every ship erupted into activity.
Sailors rushed toward railings.
Explorers climbed masts.
Merchants abandoned breakfast.
Pirates abandoned gambling.
Even Raven stood immediately.
The island appeared slowly from the morning mist.
Massive.
Ancient.
Untouched.
Gigantic cliffs rose from the ocean.
Dark forests covered most of its surface.
Towering trees stretched toward the sky.
Strange birds circled above.
The island radiated mystery.
It radiated danger.
It radiated opportunity.
And most importantly.
It radiated treasure.
Every explorer immediately imagined gold.
Ancient ruins.
Lost artifacts.
Forgotten civilizations.
The atmosphere became tense.
Excited.
Anticipatory.
Then.
A sailor proudly lifted a spoon.
The atmosphere died instantly.
"Don't worry everyone."
Another.
"I brought my Heavenly Spoon of Absolute Destruction."
The explorer beside him raised a fork.
"I brought my Divine Horizon Fork."
Another explorer pulled out a potato.
"My Heavenly Potato Art is ready."
Silence.
Kel stared.
Raven stared.
Captain Blacktooth stared.
Captain Darius stared.
Nobody knew whether to laugh or cry.
Landing
Small boats were lowered.
Dozens of explorers descended.
Weapons prepared.
Eyes alert.
Bodies tense.
Normally.
An exploration landing party moved carefully.
Slowly.
Cautiously.
Not today.
Today.
Every single person carried random objects.
Knives.
Forks.
Hairpins.
Nails.
Coins.
Spoons.
One pirate carried three boots.
Nobody asked why.
The pirate himself didn't know anymore.
It had become tradition.
Kel stepped into one of the boats.
Raven sat opposite him.
Several members of her exploration group accompanied them.
The boat rocked gently.
Waves splashed against the wooden hull.
The island slowly grew larger.
Then Raven finally asked.
"Do you regret teaching them?"
Kel looked toward the approaching shore.
"No."
Raven blinked.
"Not even a little?"
Kel thought for several moments.
Then answered.
"A little."
The explorer woman laughed.
At least he was honest.
First Steps
The landing was successful.
Boots touched untouched sand.
The beach stretched endlessly.
White sand reflected sunlight.
Crystal water rolled gently onto shore.
Behind the beach.
Ancient forests waited.
Dark.
Silent.
Watching.
A strange atmosphere hung over the island.
Even the wind felt different.
Older.
Like this island had existed long before kingdoms.
Long before empires.
Long before history itself.
Many explorers felt it immediately.
Their smiles faded.
Their bodies stiffened.
Instincts warned them.
Danger.
Something dangerous existed here.
Then.
One sailor confidently raised a spoon.
"DON'T WORRY!"
Another.
"I HAVE THE HEAVEN PIERCING CELESTIAL SPOON!"
The tension vanished.
Immediately.
Captain Darius buried his face in his hands.
The Forest
The expedition advanced.
Trees rose hundreds of meters into the air.
Massive roots twisted across the ground.
Ancient vines hung from branches.
Sunlight barely reached the forest floor.
Shadows dominated everything.
Bird calls echoed occasionally.
Something moved among distant foliage.
Watching.
Observing.
Waiting.
Several explorers noticed.
Weapons immediately appeared.
No.
Not weapons.
Spoons.
Forks.
Hairpins.
The observer hidden in the trees immediately retreated.
Perhaps it had never seen such insanity before.
First Contact
A rustling sound emerged nearby.
Everyone stopped.
The forest became silent.
Very silent.
Too silent.
Something approached.
Branches moved.
Leaves trembled.
Roots cracked.
A large creature stepped from the shadows.
The beast resembled a wolf.
Except.
It was nearly four meters tall.
Dark scales covered portions of its body.
Its eyes glowed red.
Massive fangs protruded from its mouth.
The creature stared.
The explorers stared.
Silence.
Normally.
Someone would scream.
Or draw a sword.
Or prepare magic.
Instead.
Thirty people simultaneously pulled out random objects.
The monster froze.
Confused.
Deeply confused.
One explorer pointed dramatically.
"HEAVEN BREAKING FORK ART!"
WHOOSH!
A fork launched.
Another explorer followed.
"HORIZON SPLITTING SPOON STRIKE!"
WHOOSH!
Another.
"DIVINE POTATO OF DESTRUCTION!"
The potato flew.
Even Kel stared.
The monster stared.
The potato stared.
Nobody understood what was happening anymore.
The beast turned around.
And ran.
Immediately.
Without hesitation.
Without dignity.
The creature fled deeper into the forest.
As though deciding that starvation was preferable.
The Monster's Perspective
The wolf-monster had lived here for decades.
Decades.
It ruled this region.
It hunted everything.
Nothing challenged it.
Nothing threatened it.
Nothing scared it.
Then.
Humans arrived.
Which was normal.
Humans occasionally appeared.
Usually screaming.
Usually terrified.
Usually edible.
Today.
Humans arrived carrying spoons.
Then started shouting nonsense.
And launched vegetables.
The monster reached one conclusion.
These humans were cursed.
Possibly insane.
Definitely dangerous.
Retreat was the only logical choice.
Telepathic Conversation
Far away.
Beneath Scarder Lake.
Seiren observed everything.
The Guardian sat quietly.
For several moments.
Then she finally spoke.
"Kel."
"Yes?"
"You broke explorers."
"What?"
"Look at them."
Kel glanced toward the expedition.
One pirate was explaining advanced spoon trajectories.
Another was arguing with a scholar about fork aerodynamics.
A third was attempting to sharpen a potato.
Kel remained silent.
"Fair."
Seiren sighed.
"I miss Lyra."
"Why?"
"She was normal."
Kel thought.
Then nodded.
"Fair."
Discovery
Several hours later.
The expedition reached the island's interior.
And there.
Everyone stopped.
Ancient ruins stood before them.
Massive stone structures.
Collapsed pillars.
Broken statues.
An entire city.
Forgotten by history.
Covered by centuries of growth.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Excitement appeared.
Wonder.
Curiosity.
Awe.
Even Kel's eyes narrowed slightly.
Ancient civilization.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Then.
A sailor raised a spoon.
"Should I throw one inside?"
The entire expedition screamed.
"NO!"
For once.
Everyone agreed on something.
The Ruined Gate
The group approached carefully.
A gigantic gate stood before them.
Covered in ancient symbols.
Strange writing.
Unknown language.
Forgotten history.
The scholars immediately became excited.
Notebooks appeared.
Measurements began.
Discussions started.
Arguments followed.
Then.
One explorer noticed something.
A pressure plate.
Hidden beneath vines.
Immediately.
Everyone became cautious.
Ancient trap.
Dangerous.
Potentially lethal.
Then.
A pirate slowly lifted a spoon.
Captain Blacktooth slapped him.
The spoon disappeared.
The pirate looked offended.
"Why?"
"Because this is not a spoon problem."
The pirate thought.
Then nodded.
Reasonable.
Nightfall
Eventually.
The expedition established camp.
Fires illuminated the ruins.
Tents appeared.
Food cooked.
Guards rotated.
The island grew quieter.
Darker.
More mysterious.
The ancient city seemed alive beneath moonlight.
Watching.
Waiting.
Remembering.
Kel sat near a campfire.
The flames reflected within his silver eyes.
Nearby.
Raven sat quietly.
Most explorers slept.
Others discussed discoveries.
The scholars remained awake.
Still arguing about ancient symbols.
Then Raven spoke softly.
"This island feels strange."
Kel looked toward the ruins.
"Yes."
The explorer woman frowned.
"You noticed too?"
Kel nodded.
The wind moved through broken pillars.
Creating sounds resembling whispers.
Ancient.
Forgotten.
Unnatural.
Something existed here.
Something old.
Something hidden.
Something waiting.
Kel could feel it.
The island wasn't empty.
Not truly.
And whatever watched them from the darkness.
It was patient.
Very patient.
For now.
It observed.
Just as Kel observed it.
The moon climbed higher.
The campfires burned.
And somewhere deep beneath the ancient ruins.
Something slowly opened its eyes.
Watching the explorers.
Watching the intruders.
Watching the silver-haired young man.
And for the first time in countless centuries.
The forgotten island began to awaken.