The Forgotten Hero - PART ONE

I – The Calm Before

 
The endless sea stretched out on all sides as a tiny brown speck crossed its serene waters.
Another day was beginning, although it made little difference to the occupants of the little boat. This was their sixth day out at sea, and for the last three they had seen nothing but the unending ocean that filled the world.
The soft swaying of the boat brought Liana Keamy from her troubled thoughts. She considered dressing for the new day, eyeing her filthy clothes that draped over the old chair across from her cot. Once, she would have been too shy to sleep in just her undergarments in the company of a young boy–her mother’s scolding’s of what’s proper had successfully ingrained into Liana’s beliefs–but after so long in Jerrim’s company, she no longer cared for such modesty. Even so, she quickly pulled on her blouse and shorts, not taking the chance of being caught dressing. 
She rubbed her eyes and couldn’t help but smile when she saw herself in a dusty mirror by the door. Weeks ago she would have spent a good half hour readying her hair and face before leaving the house. But of course this was no house.
Up on deck, she saw the bare back of Jerrimas Lightrun as he steered the boat through the early morning haze. The soft wind and the creaking boat were the only sounds in the quiet morning. She hesitated before disturbing him, not wanting to ruin his peaceful moment. If it was one thing she was sure they had both learned during their trip, it was the necessity of spending time on your own.
Jerrim seemed to have accustomed well to the sea-faring life, not having complained nearly as much as Liana had so far. He stood only in his cropped blue shorts–not even wearing sandals–his wavy brown hair ruffling in the warm breeze.  
“Morning,” Jerrim’s light voice called over his shoulder.
Liana smiled. Somehow he always knew when she was around.
Jerrim had certainly grown in the two years Liana had known him. The hardening lines of the man he would one day become were evident even in his nineteen year old frame. Liana found herself wondering what it would’ve been like to have been friends with him in the time they had known each other, rather than just being two people that saw each other around town. She still couldn’t believe that she had run away from home with a boy she hardly knew, with dreams of finding a treasure in the Islands of the Mare.
“You’ve missed an eventful day so far,” Jerrim continued without turning around. “A pod of Delphin’s came by to sing us the morning song, before they dropped off a nice hot freshly made persebanae pie. Oh and you missed the synchronised thumb dragons that gloriously danced overhead just a while ago.”
Liana hugged herself and stepped to him, preferring to keep quiet and not let him know he was funny, which only encouraged him.
Jerrim turned as she came to him, flashing his winning smile. “A singing P’sarri merchant conjured a magical rainbow–“
“Enough, Jerrim,” she said, suppressing her smile.
“Just say I’m funny and I’ll stop,” he huffed, feigning frustration in a childish voice.
Ignoring him as she’d learned to do, Liana studied the never ending ocean. At first she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. After so long at sea she wouldn’t be surprised. But, squinting, she was sure that she saw something out there now.
Faint brown marks smudged the misty horizon. The longer Liana looked, the clearer the protruding shapes became. She rested a hand on the ships mast, the large white sail billowing above her.
“The Mare,” Jerrim declared in a deep, melodramatic voice.
Liana’s breath caught. They had finally arrived.
The distant forms of the cluster of islands could now clearly be seen as their little boat approached. Somewhere out there, on one of the hundreds of the Islands of the Mare, was a treasure that would change their lives forever. A treasure that Liana needed more than anything.
She didn’t want to think about how worried her father must be, having disappeared in the night like she did. The note she left didn’t say much, but she wished that she had done more, instead of running off on the spur of the moment. But she had to go–things had to change. This treasure would help her start a new life. A life away from Dorian.
“We made it.” Liana’s relief was clear as the breathy words left her.
“Not yet, Priestess.”
Liana scowled at him, though Jerrim pretended not to see the look. His rosy cheeks made it clear he regretted the remark, however.
The wind picked up, whipping her hair into his face, as if acting on her emotions. She let the wild hair flick into his face a moment, enjoying the hint of frustration on Jerrim’s face, before she brought out a band and tied her messy red mane back.
She would let him be the first to speak again after his remark, and focused on the enlarging islands.
After what seemed like a good hour–who could tell time on the ocean–their little sailboat finally drifted through the first few islands of the Mare.
These were relatively small, Liana knew, compared to the larger ones that made up the bulk of the collective islands, known as The Republic of the Three Great Schools. They were mostly rock and sand to start with, though as they progressed, some of the islands showed signs of vegetation and sparse trees. She scanned some of the more habitable looking land masses, wondering if they would see any of the Great School species roaming around.
She thought of referring to the treasure map they had stolen from Old Krupp’s attic, but didn’t want to miss the sights around them.
“Quite something, aren’t they?” Jerrim asked over his shoulder. His hands held the wheel tight as he maneuvered through the islands, careful to stay clear of the surrounding rocks.
Now he had spoken, Liana was happy to talk to him. “They’re amazing,” she said honestly.
Liana had thought that the icy peaks of Iselda’s Crown were something to behold, although she had never been as awestruck by them growing up there. Not like she was now, taking in the dozens of islands in the warm breeze.
She had never felt so free.
The wind picked up as they cleared a cluster of islands and entered a large open section of the sea.
Jerrim grunted beside her, and she knew it wasn’t a good sound.
“What’s wrong?”
Jerrim’s piercing blue eyes continued to study the area, ignoring her question. She hated when he did this. He had the most selective hearing out of anyone she had ever met.
The strengthening wind howled. Bulges of soft waves rolled around them now.
Liana steadied herself as the boat rocked. Her heart raced, having not felt the boat feel so unstable in all the time they had been on it.
Jerrim stepped to the mast and pulled on the ropes, furling the billowing sail.   
“Li….” Jerrim said as he worked the sail, his brow furrowed.
She waited for him to continue, though it was soon clear he was lost in his thoughts again.
“Yes?” she asked, failing to hold back a hiss of frustration.
Something splashed in the water behind them. Liana spun towards the sound and saw nothing but the disturbed ocean. The rippling waters sent a chill through her.
Jerrim finally responded. “We, ahh… we might be…”
Liana’s stomach dropped when she guessed what Jerrim was going to say.
A strong wind whipped at their clothes and hair. The sea heaved and the rolling waves grew larger. The sky somehow darkened, though Liana couldn’t tell why.
…we might be in trouble.
The boat crested a wave and splashed through the roiling ocean.
A massive bulge built up over the open sea ahead of them, filling the world.
An impossibly large eye broke through the crashing water, and then they saw it. A scaled bulk lined with giant suckers cleared the rolling waves, its enormous eyes glaring at them. Thick green scales covered the massive head, which rose up like a mountain from the water.
“Hold on!” Jerrim screamed over the crashing waves as he spun the ship’s wheel.
A deafening roar bellowed from the mouth of the enormous green head. The ripples of force were visible as the scream met them. The blast of wind shattered their ship’s mast, cracking it in two. The wayward sail swept over them before the splintered mast rolled into the rough waters.
A green column broke through the waves and lashed out. Muddy liquid poured from the suckers of the thick tentacle as it wavered, smacking the water near them.
The boat lurched on a bulging wave, for a moment becoming weightless in the air, before crashing back down into the swirling sea.   
All around them, thick tentacles shot out of the water and thrashed around, sending the helpless sailboat back and forth. Barrels and crates on deck scattered, bouncing into the water or shattering on the sides.
Steadying herself, Liana shielded her face from the rain that belted down from the fast moving storm clouds.
Jerrim shouted out, but she couldn’t determine the words through the storm. Turning to him, her eyes widened in horror at seeing he was no longer at the wheel. Liana called out his name, but not even she could hear her own screams. Scrambling to the cabin door, she slipped on the wet deck and continued moving on her hands and knees. When she reached the cabin door, she felt more than saw something large falling towards her.
A tentacle came crashing down onto the front of the ship, tilting it into the water. Liana managed to lock her elbow around a wooden beam as the boat lurched up and became almost vertical.
For a second she locked eyes with the great beast when the boat became fully exposed to it. Its glistening, blood-shot eyes watched her through the storm, the tiny pupils moving up to follow the path of the boat. The heavy protruding brows, surprisingly articulate, were downturned in an angry scowl.
Liana still couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
At the sake of their own lives, they had finally witnessed the legendary Kraken of the Mare. Through the turmoil, her mind singularly focused on their goal, the treasure hidden somewhere in the Kraken’s home. She glared at the monster, determined not to let it stop them.
With a loud smack the boat fell back into the water, sending Liana across the deck to land on a fishing net filled with empty shells. The breath knocked out of her, the world began to dim and the pounding rain blurring her vision.
Finding her feet, she desperately searched the boat–and the waters–for signs of Jerrim.
Another terrifying roar filled the sky, rippling her clothes and threatening to shatter her eardrums. Tears almost joined the rain and sea foam on her face.
A hand grabbed her arm and spun her sharply.
“Get back!” Jerrim shouted, appearing with a long harpoon in hand.
Liana stumbled back from his protective shove. She watched as Jerrim pointed the harpoon at the colossal head of the Kraken. It took him several seconds to aim, holding his firm footing on the rocking boat, before he released the harpoon. The unspooling rope wavered wildly as the harpoon darted through the storm.
The point penetrated an eye of the great beast, plopping in a gush of yellow fluid and thick red blood. The massive head reeled back, roaring louder than ever. Every tentacle tensed in shock, giving the impression of dozens of columns in the sea.
Jerrim let the rifle drop. As it hit the deck it was quickly pulled out towards the heaving bulk, becoming lost in the crashing waves.  
Two of the stunned tentacles came to life again and smacked the waters near them, lashing out frantically, not caring if they found their target or not.
The boat careened sideways, gallons of water pouring onto the deck.  
Jerrim wrapped an arm around Liana as he steadied her, his other hand gripping the remainder of the mast.
Gigantic waves built up ahead when the Kraken rose further out of the water. Specks of fish and marine life shone on its glistening bulk as it sped towards them.
The boat sloped downwards, caught up in the trough of the building waves, now red from the pouring blood.
For an instant Liana and Jerrim’s eyes met. Their terror-stricken expressions held an acceptance in them. An acceptance that this was the end.
The Kraken dipped into the red water, along with several of the nearest tentacles.
With a great heave the head burst from the sea. The tiny sailboat curled up along the rushing waters, and as it crested the immense wave it left the water, shooting through the air with fierce velocity.
The world spun. The young boy and girl held onto the remains of the boat for their lives. The shuddering roar of the Kraken subsided somewhat, though the beast was the least of their concerns now.
How high they were, Liana could not tell, but they seemed to fly for an eternity. The inevitability of death forever approached.
Holding on as best they could, an arm wrapped around each other, Jerrim pressed his cheek closer to Liana’s. She squeezed him tighter, more for fear of the inevitable than anything else.
The peace of the serene air was replaced by a rushing wind as the vast ocean finally reached out to them.
The tip of the boat crashed into the calm waters, splitting the ship in two on impact and throwing them both into its black depths.
 

II – The Jungle of Ari

 
The soft roar of crashing waves was the first sound that came to Jerrim.
When he finally managed to open his eyes, he saw nothing but white light. Rough shapes began to form through his blurred vision–wispy clouds in a bright sky.
Birds cawed nearby, joining the sounds of the ebbing waves crashing on the beach.
Coarse sand shifted beneath him.
The cool water–refreshing on his legs and bare torso–pushed its way up to Jerrim’s chin, forcing him to lift his head. He could taste the salty sand that stuck to most of his face. While his head throbbed and his eyes stung, when Jerrim thought of Liana, all other thoughts went away.
His head darted up with a vitality that shocked even him, but a sharp pain immediately shot through his abdomen and he keeled over. Clutching his side, he felt the fleshy wound there. He carefully removed his hand and saw the pulpy gash that spread along the side of his body. Slowly seeping blood had begun to flow from his movements. He struggled to breathe as the shock reached him, although his mind was soon elsewhere.
Frantically scanning the beach, he saw her.
Liana lay on a wooden board further up the beach, her face hidden within her messy hair. She was not moving.
Mastering his breath and fighting through the pain, Jerrim cursed his inability to run to her.
“Liana!” he called. His hoarse voice caught, so he called out again, stronger this time.
 When there was no response, he began to panic. He tried to rise onto a knee but the pain was unbearable, and he keeled over. He called out again; a desperate cry.
He cursed himself again. Going on this crazy adventure was his idea, sort of. If anything were to happen to Liana, it would all be his fault. Why did he have to let her come along on his stupid treasure hunt, sweeping her up in his dreams of unimaginable wealth?
He thought he saw slow movements at first, and then it was clear that Liana was waking.
Jerrim dropped his head with a great sigh of relief, and coughed when the pain hit him again.
Liana rose onto her hands with groggy, careful movements, and settled into a seated position. Jerrim watched her survey the area, waiting for her eyes to fall on him, too exhausted to call out again.
She darted up when she saw him, almost falling onto the white sand as she scrambled to her feet.
“Jerri!” she called, reaching him. She brought his head onto her knee, startled by his cries of pain. Her trembling eyes studied him, a hand hovering helplessly over his injuries.
“Wha–what… are you okay?” Her voice shook with fear and adrenaline.
Jerrim grimaced. “I’m fine. I think so. I just…” He attempted to sit up, but was forced back down by another bout of stabbing pain that took his breath.
“Here,” Liana offered, bringing an arm under him and lifting. With a great effort and several groans from him, she managed to bring Jerrim shakily to his feet.
Breathing heavily and sweating profusely, Jerrim’s chest stung where she placed a hand, and he knew he had been burnt by the sun.  
He looked along the beach, seeing the vast ocean beyond the foamy waves of the shore. Further down, the remains of their boat lay scattered across the beach, some pieces floating back and forth in the shallow tide.
Behind them they saw a thick collection of leafy trees, that seemed to spread as deep as they could see, and across the length of the entire island.
Jerrim recognised the sight straight away, but he couldn’t understand how they were here.
His eyes roamed the great ondr trees and the green and purple plants of the Jungle of Ari. Though he had never been here before, he’d seen enough images and heard stories of the place to understand where they were.
“Is… is this…?” Liana said, seeming to follow his thoughts. Her warm arm was wrapped around his bare back, a hand in his armpit. He wasn’t sure if it was the heat of the strong sun, but his head grew hot and he began to feel dizzy. Even after all they had been through, he could smell her sweet perfumed hair, which brought about a familiar yearning within him. 
“Yeah,” he told her, rubbing his wet eyes while trying not to also brush sand in them.
“But… how?” Liana breathed, her voice rising in disbelief. “I mean… how did we get all the way here?”
“I guess we were thrown off course,” Jerrim said.
Liana waved an arm towards their broken boat and groaned. “How are we going to get back now?”
“I… I don’t know, Li, but we’ll figure it out. We’ll find that treasure, I promise.”
She huffed and shook her head, lost for words as she looked around. Jerrim wished he could just give her everything she wanted. All the treasure in the world. Whatever life she wanted. It was crazy to think that he had only known Liana for two years–neighbours who hardly spoke for most of that time–but he felt like he’d known her his whole life. He wished that he could start a new life with her, but he had to go back to Gerrun Edun, to bring his family the money they so desperately needed.
He looked around at the crashing waves on the beach and at the tall inland trees. Would it be so bad to spend some time together here? Alone with Liana? 
“Maybe there’s another boat on the shoreline,” Liana suggested. “Come on. Come here,” she added, readjusting her hold of Jerrim and pointing her head down the beach. 
The trees near them suddenly shook, the tops of them rustling and swaying back and forth.
For a moment all that could be heard where the creaking trees and the lapping of the waves behind them.
Jerrim felt Liana’s hold tighten. He wanted to offer her reassuring words of safety and a plan of action, but didn’t know how. And he didn’t want to tell her she was squeezing too hard for fear that she would let go.
A fierce roar shook the forest, sending a hot air blasting out to them.
For an instant Jerrim feared the Kraken had caught up with them, but realised that didn’t make sense at all.
Trees broke and flew away, shattering under the huge paws of the beast that stomped onto the beach.
It leaned on powerful front legs, its small eyes falling on them. Its thick-lipped mouth huffed and spat, sending out a mist of heavy breath. Long scaled horns curled out from its wide furry head. It reached about three men high, though could have been more than triple that if it stood on its hind legs.
Jerrim froze, knowing he was unable to do anything to protect them in his state.
The beast rose and stomped, kicking out sand and rocks in its wild rage. Rearing back, it shot forward and charged at them, unleashing a trembling growl.
A stream of bright energy landed between them and the beast, exploding in a powerful collision. Wisps of white vapour dissipated among the flying chips of stones and sand.
The energy cleared to reveal a figure shrouded in dark clothing, a heavy cloak billowing in the charged air.
Jerrim and Liana exchanged surprised looks, though had no words for the sight.
The beast reeled back, studying this new addition. It huffed and growled, shivering with pent up aggression. Lowering its head, it prepared to attack.
The cloaked figure held a hand up towards them, the hood still facing the beast.
“Run,” a gruff male voice called out.
Jerrim turned to Liana, nodding sharply towards the beach. Even if he couldn’t run, he would make sure that she got to safety. Liana glowered at him, shaking her head with a dramatic frown that could have been comical in other circumstances. He wasn’t surprised that she’d be too stubborn to leave him, but the gesture did little to comfort him.  
The beast charged at the figure. In an instant his cloaked form erupted in a blaze of rippling white energy. He jumped to the side, dodging the rising horns of the beast, and then appeared to freeze in the air. The ball of white flames flickered for a moment, before rocketing down to the beast. It struck the creature on its head, sending it stumbling into the trees and falling on its back.  
The hood spun towards them. He appeared to look them over–perhaps wondering why they were still there–though his face was hidden beneath the heavy cowl.
A smoking burn mark lay between the horns on the beast’s head, but the injury did not appear to bother it much.
It charged again, grunting and growling with streams of stringy saliva. The hooded man jumped back, his hand flicking. A metallic device landed in the beast’s path. A mechanism flicked open and from it burst a cloud of inky purple energy. Running into the mist, the creature became lost within its darkness. Several seconds passed. Letting out a screech, the beast came out and collapsed in a heap, appearing completely beaten and exhausted as the energy dissipated.
The stranger stood for a moment, his shoulders heaving, before he turned to them once again.
As he stepped, motion was heard behind him. The great beast was somehow on its feet again. It rose on its back legs, roaring and shaking with rage, before stomping towards them.
Spinning, the hooded man once again burst into white flames, and this time he darted head on.
An explosion of energy erupted on their contact. Bouncing back, the white blaze shot forward again and knocked into the beast like a flung arrow. Launching into the air, the figure held his position momentarily, pulses of power growing as he gathered energy, before shooting back down and splashing white flames over the beast.
The subsiding energy revealed the downed beast, covered in oily dark blood, its huge belly heaving as it panted.
Bright flames lapped at the nearby trees, burning them to a crisp.
Turning to them, the figure threw back his heavy hood, revealing the sharp lined features of a bearded old man. His hair was more grey than black, both on his head and scruffy beard. He huffed and wheezed, stifling a bout of coughs as he said, “Well that was exciting.”

III – The Old Hermit

 
The jungle proved far cooler than the hot sands of the beach.
When the stranger asked them what they were doing on the beach, Liana and Jerrim had explained that they had become shipwrecked. After some hesitation, the stranger had offered to tend to Jerrim’s wounds, and led them to his hut further in the jungle.
They both knew that staying with the stranger was their best bet for survival, for now. 
The dense jungle was alive with the chirps and calls of countless birds and bugs, not to mention the odd creature they spotted scuttling through the underbrush. What was most strange to Liana were the impossibly tall trees, and the overly large leaves that made up the thick ceiling of the jungle–a far cry from the sparse saplings in the northern Central Plains. 
They stopped when the pain became too much for Jerrim. Liana supported him as best she could, though fatigue soon took her and she stumbled more than once. When the old man eventually offered to take Jerrim, she reluctantly refused, not trusting her friend with the stranger just yet.
Liana had never seen magic like the old man had conjured on the beach–or any magic that was as powerful as he wielded. She wondered what source his power came from, unsure if she wanted to know the answer. The device he had used made her think he was a Halitae-Magus, and this thought caused her to eye the stranger wearily. If he was the race that was considered rivals to Liana’s own people, the Halitae, she would have to be extra careful.
The old man, who spoke little beyond what was necessary, appeared to know the jungle very well. While Jerrim lay exhausted during one rest, the stranger told them he would find them something to eat, and disappeared into the jungle.
Alone with Jerrim once again, Liana studied her injured friend, frowning at his wound.
“Li,” Jerrim said, stifling a grimace, “how did everything go so wrong? We were so close to the Mare…”
“Forget about that for now,” Liana said. “We need to get away from this guy as soon as we can.”
Jerrim studied her, searching for an answer.
“You saw his tech,” Liana said. “And you saw what he could do. Jerri, he’s a Magus!”
Jerrim shook his head. “We don’t know that. Not for sure.”
“Come on, you know he is. I’m not putting our lives in the hands of a Magus. What if he finds out who I am?” Liana shook her head. A Halitae trapped on an island, at the mercy of a Magus – she wouldn’t last a minute.
The foliage shifted near them. The stranger appeared with a bundle of leaf-wrapped fruit, and handed them one each.
Though she was cautious of the strange furry fruit at first, Liana could not deny how hungry she was, and knew that Jerrim needed to eat too. She quickly took a bite, before it was obvious that she was testing the fruit before Jerrim could, hoping they were as safe as they appeared.
She was surprised how juicy and tasty the yellow fruit was, and felt greatly relieved by its refreshing pulp. She was happy to see the colour that returned to Jerrim’s cheeks after just a few bites. They drank the sweet juices, not caring where it spilt over them. While Jerrim still only wore his shorts–the rich blue faded to a dull navy–Liana’s top and shorts were muddied and dirtied beyond any washing.
She gave the stranger their names, hoping to build some trust between them, and asked his.
“Elias,” his harsh voice grumbled, his startling deep, grey eyes studying her closely. Though he said no more.   
Liana’s entire body ached by the time they reached Elias’s home, but she was determined to support Jerrim until she found a safe place to lay him.
Mostly hidden beneath thick undergrowth, the wooden hut had a look of an ancient forgotten structure. The front side was tilted back, giving it a skewed impression, although the ground was flat here.  
Warm musky smells enveloped them within the tight confines of the hut. A mess of collected trinkets and boxes of mechanical devices filled the sides of the front room. What looked like a small kitchen area lay further on under an archway, mostly comprised of a wash basin and shelves lined with jars and sundries. Liana was surprised to see so much tech scattered around the meagre living quarters, and now was sure the stranger was a Halitae-Magus. She shuddered at the thought of her parents knowing she was seeking sanctuary with a Magus–they would drag her back home in an instant.
They lay Jerrim on an animal-hide rug next to a crooked wooden cabinet on the right wall.  
Liana checked her friend, seeing he was mostly unconscious now that he was finally able to lay down in peace. She cursed herself–they should never have left Gerrun Edun. She missed their hometown dearly. What were they thinking, running off with dreams of treasure and fresh starts? She told herself that there was more to their trip than just seeking treasure, but resisted thinking about them.
Something clanked in the corner, and she saw the old man had thrown a device on a pile of tools scattered on a long bench. It was the same circular contraption he had used against the giant beast; the one that released such a powerful energy. The disjointed parts of rusted metals were crudely fused and the wiring, from what she could see, was a mess. Liana eyed the device, becoming lost in thought.
“Come,” Elias said, startling her. Perhaps it came across harsher than he meant, for she saw him frown with thought, before adding, “I have ointments for your leg.”
Liana wondered what he meant, and then saw the scratches that ran down the length of her right thigh. She hadn’t even noticed them.
Elias approached her. “Your friend will be fine here. It is best he rests for now.”
She nodded numbly, the weariness of the day getting to her.
On the opposite wall Liana saw a doorless threshold, which led to a small room that looked nothing more than a large cupboard. It reminded her of the space under the stairs in her home. A mattress and mess of cloths and sheets were laid out in the cluttered space, the slanted ceiling coming up to her shoulders. She guessed the place was Elias’s sleeping room.
On the wall next to the doorway was a large wooden board, which Elias lifted to reveal a square compartment. A strong smell of spices came with the sight of jars and pouches clustered within the hole in the wall. Elias reached into the mess, knocking a few bottles over, and brought out a thin vial of a purple liquid.
“What is it?” Liana asked, trying to hide the mistrust in her voice.
Before Elias could answer, a loud commotion came from the kitchen. Pots and pans were knocked around and clattered on the ground.
Liana startled at the small creature that flew towards them.
Long furry limbs flailed as its short, bat-like wings carried it across the confined space. Large golden eyes glared at them both, a squeal passing its thick lips.
“My mouth!” it screeched, twisting its long furry body as it bobbed in the air.
“No,” grumbled Elias. “Not food.”
The creature frowned spectacularly and scrambled forward, small paws reaching towards the compartment. Elias held it back with a hand, ignoring the clawing hands and heavy whimpers.
 “Hooky?” The energetic creature pleaded, raising its glistening eyes to Elias.
“No, not for Hooky,” he said sternly. “Now, go and clean up that mess,” he added, tilting his head towards the kitchen.
The creature named Hooky stopped struggling and dropped its arms, its entire body becoming limp. When Elias released his hold, it fell to the ground in a heap. Hooky groaned and stomped towards the kitchen with great exaggeration.
While the clangs of pots and utensils rang from the kitchen, Liana gave Elias a blank look.
The old man sighed, shaking his head. “Hooky,” was all he said, in way of explanation.    
He sat her down on a dusty cushion and removed the stopper on the vial.
The cool liquid stung Liana’s scratches and she winced, although she noted how careful and gentle Elias was throughout the process. He wouldn’t be this way if he knew of her heritage, she was certain.
Elias went back to the wall compartment, rummaged within the mess and then returned with a woollen bundle.
“Let the ointment cool first, and then I will apply the bandage,” he said to her, and stepped to Jerrim.
Elias wrapped the cloth around the boy’s midsection, careful not to aggravate his wounds–and, as Liana saw it, careful not to wake him. When Elias was done, he rose and returned to her. Eyeing the scratches on her leg, reddened from the rubbed ointment, he made sure the liquid had dried before wrapping the cloth around her thigh. Liana shuddered at his touch, and she held still, helpless. Though she wasn’t in danger–she could tell that much at least. Someone else might have seen Elias as a saviour to them, but she knew better than to feel safe around him.  
 “I will see to your bed sheets.” This was how the old man told her they could stay the night. “And some supper, hm?” he added, before he entered his sleeping room and searched through it.
Alone in the main room, Liana hugged herself as she looked to Jerrim. Her friend remained still, his partially-wrapped chest rising and lowering slowly. His floppy brown hair hung over his dirty face, which held a peaceful expression.
Liana shivered. The more she studied the cluttered confines of the hut, the more tech she recognised. A modified grissum-boar trap, motorised fishing poles, worn out transmitters, and a very old-looking frequencer were among the devices she knew. She startled when she saw the crudely put together spear rifles in the corner, and wondered what other weapons were among the harmless clutter. She made a note of all the things she could use as a weapon, if it came to it.
The racket from the kitchen grew louder, forcing any thought from her, and she saw the furry creature scatter back and forth from the doorway, pans and pots flying in its wake.
Despite the troublesome Hooky, Elias managed to make a simple stew of vegetables for them that night. Liana was offered the only chair in the hut, while Elias cleared some booklets off a crate and sat on that. She watched Jerrim’s sleeping face while she ate and made some conversation with their host, who spoke little. Patters of rain became audible in the silence of the room. From the half-opened window in the kitchen, Liana could see the heavy rain fall on the leaves and trees, glistening in the darkness. A loud drip signalled a leak in the hut, though she couldn’t see where.
Soon after finishing his meal, Hooky darted off through the kitchen window, and Liana was thankful for the peace the creature’s absence brought.
When Jerrim eventually stirred awake, she offered to feed him stew, although he was adamant he could feed himself. Jerrim responded with minimal words, and seemed a far cry from the usually high-spirited boy she knew. His eyes were heavy, as if the dim light hurt him, and looked like he wanted nothing more than to sleep.
Their host offered Liana his bedding in the small cupboard, and when she asked where he would sleep, he simply told her he would make do outside. Though the rain had stopped, Liana wasn’t sure where he would go, and found it surprising that he would leave them alone in his home. 
Jerrim was asleep soon after Elias left them. Liana was relieved, as she was too tired for any more talk, wanting nothing more than to lay down and close her eyes.
She thought she would not be able to sleep, being in a stranger’s home in the middle of a jungle. Possible dangers all around them. But soon after closing her eyes, the weariness of the day finally overwhelmed her.
She did not hear the return of the rain and the thunderstorm that followed, or the comings and goings of Hooky throughout the night.
 

IV – The Folly of Faith

 
Jerrim appeared more alert in the morning.
Leaving her small room, Liana was pleased to see him sitting up, thick blankets over his legs. His clean bandages looked fresh and covered less of his torso now.
“You look better,” she told him.
Jerrim’s grin was almost at full strength. “Our friend Elias fixed me up this morning with some creams and new bandages. Feeling much better.”
His eyes were still dark, and she could see he was hiding the full extent of his pain. That was typical of him, always trying to show a stronger appearance. Afraid to show his true feelings.
“Good. And where is our gracious host?” She asked wearily, wondering if they were being overheard.
“I think I heard him outside a while ago.”
Liana knelt beside Jerrim, lowering her voice. “As soon as you can move, we’re leaving.”
Jerrim gave her a grave look. “I know. I don’t want to stay here any longer than you do. I promise I’ll try to get better as soon as I can.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. You’re not putting us in danger by keeping us here. Just…” She sighed, shaking her head. “Just get better, Jerri. I hate seeing you like this.”
She rested a hand on his, and attempted to give him an encouraging smile.
Jerrim held her gaze, his eyes shifting as she studied her. She knew the look. His mind was racing with thoughts.  
Just then the front door opened and in walked Elias, shrouded in heavy cloaks of browns and greens.
“Morning,” he said, his gruff voice sounding hoarse. He cleared his throat. “How are we today?”
“Better,” Liana said, standing. “Thank you. For… everything you’ve done for us.” She realised she hadn’t thanked him nearly enough for saving their lives, despite not fully trusting him yet.
The old man regarded her a moment, then nodded. “Think nothing of it.”
He collected a few trinkets and tech off a shelf, packing them into a woollen rucksack.
“I will gather some food for us. Make yourselves comfortable here.”
“May I come with you?” Liana was surprised she had asked this, but felt it was the right thing to do.
Elias paused, his cold grey eyes penetrating her again. He ran a hand over his scruffy beard, the scratching sound audible in the silence. “It can be dangerous out there.”
“I’ll be by your side,” she told him. “Would just like to be outside. See the jungle.” She gave a quick look to Jerrim–he could be sensitive if taking someone’s words the wrong way–but his eyes were on Elias, his expression neutral.
Elias finished collecting his supplies and turned to them. His bushy brows seemed constantly furrowed. “Very well,” he said, and reached into a box by his feet. He withdrew a metal object and tossed it to Jerrim.
Studying the metal cylinder in his hands, Jerrim frowned thoughtfully. The device consisted of several rows of wheels, which could be rotated and spread apart.
Liana recognised the children’s puzzle, and wondered how something from the Crown had made it all the way out here. Perhaps it was part of some salvage from a crashed ship.
“To pass the time,” Elias told him, his voice softening. “An old child’s toy.”
“Ahh… thanks,” Jerrim told him, raising an eyebrow. 
Liana knelt beside him. “Here. Turn these to match the pictures. You have to match the columns as well as the row. No diagonal matches. If it’s too easy I can rework it to make it harder.” She smiled at Jerrim, but the severe look from Elias sent a chill through her. She suddenly felt exposed, like she had revealed herself to a predator.
Turning back to Jerrim, she put a hand on his shoulder. “Try not to overwork yourself.” Though her voice was light, she couldn’t hide the concern in her eyes.
“I’ll be fine here,” Jerrim said gently, laying a hand on hers. “Be careful.” His face softened, the way that made Liana uncomfortable.
Seeing Elias stepping through the door, she gave Jerrim a weak smile and followed the old man out.
The jungle heat smothered Liana soon after leaving the hut. The air was moist but had a refreshing purity to it. Their feet crunched on the leaves and twigs that littered the muddy ground.
Shafts of light pierced the thick canopy of leaves high above them. Countless birds and insects sang their songs, along with dozens of gnats spiralling around her.
“I wanted to thank you, again… for helping us,” she told the old man, feeling the need to speak to him now that she had the chance.
Elias nodded without responding.
A series of bird shrieks cried out in the distance, filling the silence.
After some time Liana made another attempt at conversation. “Have you lived here long?”
Elias regarded her. “Aye,” was all he said.
“It’s a wonderful place,” she told him, trying to keep the conversation going. She thought she sounded foolish.
He nodded. “Never cared much for the outside world. This island provides me all I need.”
Liana imagined herself living in such a place, and inadvertently shook her head.
A shimmer caught her eye. She stared at the bird hovering ahead of them, darting and stopping as if teleporting to and fro.
The long beak of the yellow and blue bird cawed as it saw them, its luminous round wings beating faster than the eye could see.
Liana’s heart jumped at the sight, for a second thinking she was seeing a godly vision. Her parents had spoken of the gods communicating to people through signs and images, but she had stopped believing in those things when she was old enough to know better.
Her exclamation must have been audible, for Elias turned to her.
“A Tissiq,” he told her.
Liana watched the bird dart into the trees and disappear from view. She swallowed, finding her throat dry. “I… I thought it was something else, for a second.”
“Oh?”
She knew his cold eyes were on her again. The smothering heat did not help her sweaty face, and she rubbed her hands on her shorts. “It’s nothing. Just…” she gave a weak laugh.
Elias considered this. “The Spyra Fyre of Iselda,” he said, his deep voice lost in thought.
She stared at him wide eyed, unsure of how to respond. Despite the heat, a cold shiver ran through her. She had said too much.
“You are a Halitae, of course,” he said. “And no doubt you’ve gathered I am a Halitae-Magus. Though it should not alarm you. The ancient conflicts of the Halitae and the Magus have never concerned me.”
It took her a moment to search for a response.
“What did it mean to you?” Elias continued. “Thinking you saw the Spyra come to you?”
So he knew about the legends of the Spyra Fyre appearing to those it chose to bless. Feeling that he would see through any of her lies or denials, she decided to speak honestly. “I thought…. for a moment I thought it meant my ma was praying for me. And it had somehow answered her prayers to bring me back home.” Her heart raced while she waited for a response from him.
“Faith can be a powerful thing,” he said softly. “I’m sure if your mother is praying to the Lady, she will be heard.”
Liana was surprised at the grunt she made, and quickly explained. “I should agree. I used to be a Priestess of Iselda, when I was very young. Though I… was never much of a follower. Haven’t practiced for many years now. It’s funny how old habits come back without you realising.”
Elias nodded thoughtfully, his brows as furrowed as ever. “Maybe you did see Iselda’s favoured pet, and I just saw a Tissiq.”
She was not sure what he meant by this.
They came to a flat section of grass in the centre of a group of trees. From the crops of various vegetables in the moist soil, Liana recognised the area as a garden of sorts.
She heard the squeals of Hooky before seeing the furry creature by the crops.
Hooky held a dented tin can over a row of roots, tipping water onto the soft soil. He was squawking random sounds to himself; what could have been a song of some kind.
“Welcome to Hooky’s garden,” Elias told her, raising a hand out to the crops.
“It knows what it’s doing?” Liana asked hesitantly.
Elias shrugged. “He can be surprisingly resourceful, in some areas. Particularly those involving food.”
“He is a pet?” she asked, unsure of what to make of the alarmingly alert golden eyes watching her.
“Of a sorts. Though more of a helper. Hooky has proven to have his talents, despite his… eccentricities. Here.”
He crouched over a pile of muddy potatoes that had been dug up. Liana helped load his rucksack with the other vegetables around the area. She recognised the carrots and turnips, but was not familiar with what looked like spiked peppers and scaled onions, and a star-shaped vegetable.
They collected fruits from the trees also, and when Elias spotted a critter scuttling in the undergrowth further away, he dropped the rucksack and paused.
Hands half raised, Elias watched the shifting of the tall grass as the furry critter scrambled.
His arm flashed forward, as if punching the air. A puff of dark mist exploded in the grass, followed by a squeal and a soft thump.
“Some meat for tonight,” Elias said, heading to retrieve the animal.
Liana noticed Hooky watching her still, and when she faced him, the monkey-creature refocused on the crops and took up his chiming squeaks once again, swinging his head and adding yelps.
“Let’s go,” Elias said to her, shouldering his rucksack. What looked like a very long rat was hanging in his hand, though no injury showed on it. “The jungle is no place to linger.”

***

Jerrim was asleep when they returned to the hut. Liana smiled when she picked up the puzzle by his hand and saw it had been solved.
“Looks like I will have to make it harder,” she muttered to herself. She looked around the messy hut, realising that she felt somewhat at home among the clutter of tech. A chill ran through her at the thought.
Sometime later, the sounds of Elias chopping fruit and filling bowls eventually caused Jerrim to stir awake.
“How’s my hero?” Liana asked, sitting on a cushioned stool.
“Tired” His voice did sound weak. “I’m feeling better, I think. I just… feel like sleeping a lot.”
“You should listen to your body,” Liana told him.
She raised her arms and stretched an ache in her back, a soft groan escaping her. When she noticed Jerrim’s eyes on her, she lowered her arms, suddenly feeling exposed. Jerrim turned away and looked over the hut.
In the silence that followed, she said, “You don’t want to overdo it before you’re ready.”
Before Jerrim could respond, Elias returned with the bowls of fruit, handing them each one.
Soon after they had begun eating, the familiar cacophony of crashing pots and pans came from the kitchen. Hooky burst in, shouting, ‘My mouth! My mouth! Yap, yap, yap!” in a melodic yelp that almost sounded like another song.
“In the kitchen,” Elias barked. “Hooky’s in there!”
Hooky blinked at them with a goofy grin on his face, before darting back in the kitchen.
Elias shook his head and threw a melon piece in his mouth. “It’s the food that drives him crazy. Yet also what inspires his assistance.”
Jerrim chuckled, and they continued to eat, making some pleasant conversation.
The rest of the day went by in a dull blur, with Liana tinkering with the puzzle for Jerrim, and then helping Elias cook dinner.
On one occasion, Jerrim attempted to stand, and with Liana’s help he achieved the task. He managed to take a few steps before light-headedness took him, though Liana saw it as a good sign.

***

At some point in the middle of the night, Liana was awoken by a clanging pot. She stirred, mostly asleep still, listening to pattering footfalls. She opened her eyes and focused, and saw the faint outline of Hooky scurrying through the gloomy front room.
She watched him go back and forth a few times, the sounds of rummaging and falling objects filling the silence of the night.
When she heard the kitchen window open and close, her curiosity brought her to her feet. Quickly pulling on her boots, she left through the front door.  
In the cool outside, she followed the patters of feet and Hooky’s soft grunts to the back of the house.
Hundreds of firebugs did what they could to light the jungle, though the area was mostly shrouded in darkness.
Liana snuck up to a tall tree, the bristly bark cold to her touch, and leaned out to where she thought Hooky was. The creature was not there, however, and she wondered if it had flown off into the night.
Turning, she studied the area, seeing the nearest trees curving upwards towards each other, becoming lost in the darkness above. Their curving nature gave the impression of a large cage, and she shivered at the thought.
Her weight tilted the tree as she leaned back onto it, frowning with a troubled thought. Something about Hooky that she didn’t trust…
Looking at the darkness around her, she decided that the jungle was no place for her. The tree tilted again, without her shifting her weight.
Suddenly the solid tree sprouted from the earth and move up into the darkness, and from the corner of her eye she saw another tree move up further on.
She stepped back, her heart racing. A third tree moved, its curving top swaying.
Two gleaming green orbs looked down on her, and she froze at the sight. Suddenly she realised what she was seeing, but it was too late.
The giant spider moved towards her.