The first morning on the ship felt like waking up inside a moving fortress. The air was heavy with salt and the faint scent of coal. Somewhere below deck, the ship's engine thudded like a heartbeat.
Zephyr's eyes snapped open, he lay in his bunk for a moment, listening. Nothing but the steady rocking and the distant murmur of students waking up.
He rolled over and looked toward the window, the sky gray, and the ocean endless. For a second it felt almost peaceful.
He then sat up, rubbing his eyes. A faint creak of the bunk above him signaled someone else waking up. He blinked once, then—
Lya: "Morning, sleepy head."
Zephyr snapped his head up.
Lya was siting on the edge of her bunk, hair messy, eyes half-lidded, looking like she just came out of a hurricane.
Aron lay across his bed like a fallen statue, his hands behind his head.
Aron soon woke up and yawned, stretching like a cat.
Aron: "Man my back is killing me, what're these beds made of?"
Lya: "Wood? What else would it be made out of doofus." She snickered.
Zephyr sat up fully, ignoring their sparked argument.
Then, a muffled sound came from the hallway, then another voice, loud and irritated, their door then swung open.
"Finally found ya twerp."
Aron groaned as he stood up.
Aron: "What now?"
The man who had opened the door was the same burly one from the night before, his eyes scanning the room, with a smile slowly spreading across his face.
Zephyr looked up, and replied in a monotone voice.
Zephyr: "Oh it's you." He then crossed his arms and continued, "What do you want?"
The burly student walked forward, staggering like he owned the place.
"Just checking if you're still breathing" he paused for a moment, then continued, "Last night, you got lucky you brat. I'm not the kind of guy who forgets easily."
Zephyr's eyes narrowed, Aron stood besides Zephyr, cracking his knuckles.
Lya got off her bunk and stepped forward too.
Lya: "Back off."
The student laughed, "Or what?"
Zephyr didn't respond, he had no need to talk back to a worthless grunt like him.
The student then spoke up once more, "I'll make sure you regret ever stepping foot on this ship, blondie."
Zephyr stared at him, "Is that a threat?"
The student grinned like he was crazy, "It's a promise."
He then turned and left.
But before the door closed, he added:
"This isn't over."
Zephyr watched him go.
Lya's voice was quiet.
Lya: "Zeph… we should just ignore him, he's just a good for nothing grunt."
Aron scoffed.
Aron: "I want to see his face imprinted on the floor boards."
Zephyr clenched his fist.
Zephyr: "Fine, I'll play his little game."
Lya frowned.
Lya: "Zephyr, you don't have to—"
Zephyr shook his head.
Zephyr: "No. If I don't, he's just going to keep giving trouble."
Aron smirked.
Aron: "Let's save his beatdown for later, I'm hungry and I'm pretty sure they're serving breakfast now."
Zephyr's mood lightened.
Zephyr: "Yeah you're right, I'm hungry too."
The trio then went to the dining hall, which was huge.
Then Lazarus who was already sitting at a bench, called them over.
Lazarus: "Hey guys! Over here!" he waved.
The trio went and sat down alongside him, he had already prepared plates of food for them.
Lya: "Woah Lazarus, you didn't have to…"
Lazarus shook his head.
Lazarus: "It's not a big deal, anyhow dig in!"
Aron and Lazarus instantly started gulfing down their food, while Lya and Zephyr ate at a steadier pace.
Lya: "You guys eat like you've been starved for weeks. It's making me lose my appetite."
Aron, swallowed his food before speaking up.
Aron: "We're just hungry that's all." He said, as he stuffed bread in his mouth.
Lazarus nodded, his mouth full of food.
Zephyr, simply smiled and continuing eating.
After they'd finished their food, Aron spoke up.
Aron: "Hey you're pretty ripped Lazarus, what's your routine?"
Lazarus: "That's a secret." He smirked.
Aron: "Awh come on, no fair!"
Lazarus then leaned back.
Lazarus: "So what's the plan today guys?"
Zephyr: "Dunno, maybe just look around? Or relax back at our cabins."
Lazarus laughed.
Lazarus: "I like your style."
Lya leaned forward.
Lya: "So we're going to arrive at the island by tomorrow, right? That's what they said at least."
Zephyr nodded, "Yeah."
Aron glanced around.
Aron: "Anyone else notice how the staff barely speak to us?"
Zephyr frowned.
Zephyr: "Yeah, it's creepy."
Lazarus nodded.
Lazarus: "I agree, they don't even let out a single sound."
Lya shrugged.
Lya: "Maybe they're just shy."
And then—
The door to the dining hall swung open, the burly student and his gang from before walked in.
The student looked like he was searching for someone, then his eyes locked with Zephyr's and he smiled.
He walked towards the table.
Zephyr stood up, standing tall.
The student leaned in, his hands in his pockets.
"A promise is a promise."
Zephyr didn't respond.
The student then pointed at Zephyr, "Ready for round 2?"
Zephyr's voice was calm and calculated, "Are you?"
The student laughed, "Of course I am."
The student then stepped back signaling for his gang, they moved in like a pack.
Zephyr didn't hesitate, his body surged with lightning, a faint glow building around him.
Lazarus looked at Lya and Aron, who were simply watching.
Lazarus: "Aren't you guys going to help him?"
Aron: "Nah, he can hold his own."
Lya: "Yeah, Zephyr's tough, he can handle it."
The gang then charged, the first student lunged at Zephyr, but he quickly sidestepped, and a bolt of lightning crackled from his palm, he hit the student with a palm strike to the face, and the student's body convulsed and slammed into the floor.
The other students who were casually enjoying their food, all looked over at the scene and froze.
Zephyr's eyes remained steady.
Zephyr: "Last chance, back out now."
The gang leader spat, "That was just a lucky shot."
Zephyr's fists clenched, and the air around him crackled.
Then—
Zephyr disappeared in front of their eyes, completely out of their perception.
Suddenly, he appeared behind each and every one of the remaining gang members and quickly chopped their necks, making them pass out.
They all hit the floor at the same time, releasing a loud thud that echoed throughout the dining hall.
Zephyr turned to his friends and walked back to sit with them.
Lazarus looked impressed.
Lazarus: 'Hey you're pretty fast!"
Aron: "That's Zephyr for ya." He smirked.
Zephyr: "I'm sure they've learnt their lesson now."
Lya: "I'm sure they got the memo, Zeph."
Shortly after, the four of them walked out the dining hall and back to their cabins.
1 day later, the ship finally approached the island, the massive landmass rose from the sea like a shadow.
The sky looked a bit dark, and the air felt a bit heavy.
Nonetheless, the ship docked and the students filed out.
The island servants stood in formation, simple maids and butlers, greeted the students.
"Welcome." They all said in unison.
Then the servants asked the students to follow them, and then they began to lead them across the island.