The Red Lion

1357

Don't worry Hina. I will be back with lots of money. You will see it. We will no longer starve. I will help you.

Those words flew round and round in Geeas's head as he stared into the horizon. It was already 2 days since he went to sea... 4 since he last saw his sister Hina. 58 since he joined the king's services. 3 more until he would return

He was counting. He always did.

(If there are any gods up there please keep her safe while I'm away) he prayed.

The crew of the ship was tasked by the king of Palestone to transport a chest containing gods-know-what from the shores of Emerborn back to Fyrir

He took off his helmet and brushed off the red lock of hair from his sharp yellow eye. He had the look of someone to be taken seriously even if he was the youngest one in the crew.

-Geeas!

His eyes locked on the one who called him without turning his head. It was Laist, the closest thing Geeas had as a friend. He was clearly older than him with an unkempt beard and scars on his face, giving away his many battles.

-Cheer up lad! We are getting paid good coin for delivering that thing from our neighbors.

-Makes you wonder, right? What could be so precious that the king would send bloody Arko and his brother to make sure we see it trough. Not to talk about the small fortune they pay us too.

-Keep your voice down you idiot! And call them by their ranks. They are the hands of the king after all.

-Can't say I care.

-I knew you would grow horns after gaining your badge so fast. Don't get cocky Geeas... your skill with a sword won't get you out of trouble if you piss them off.

continued to stare at the waves pretending not to hear Laist.

-Worried about your sister, aren't you?

The red-headed man finally turned his head and looked Laist into his eyes.

-Knew it...Don't worry Geeas. I bet she's doing alright. After all she is YOUR sister.

-Laist... She was sick when I left. I only left her enough money to buy some food. I haven't been in the king's service for long enough to have the coin for medicine. What if she's...

-Don't say things like that! Said Laist cutting Geeas off, Just don't. Tomorrow we will be back home. I'll take your shift. Go rest.

-Thanks Laist but I don't need it.

-You haven't slept since we arrived on Emerborn's I don't want to bring back a corpse to Hina.

Geeas sighted

-You do you old man.

-Don't call me that you prick. Get out of here already. And treat me one after we're done here.

Geeas went under the deck and collapsed into his hammock. He fell asleep before he even laid his head down.

It was the same dream again... the same dream as the day they loaded the chest on the ship. An open red space with no ground and no sky in which he was floating. He could not move or scream as the red found its way into his body, claiming him.

Geeas woke up to the shouts on the deck and the violent movement of the ship. It was a storm.

The crew fought the waves and kept the ship steady but the storm was only getting worse. In spite of their effort it was a lost battle. The ship would sink and most would die...but not all of them.

Geeas has washed ashore alongside the remains of the ship. He coughed out the water in his lungs and raised his head to take in his surroundings: driftwood that used to be a ship, rags that used to be sails, corpses that used to be soldiers...and a smashed down fancy chest. The accursed chest that made all of this possible. Geeas raised to his feet and slowly walked towards the remains of the chest. He dug away the splinters only to find a red almost clear crystal. Was that it? This was the reason for so many to make this journey? he asked himself. He felt like he was going mad. Clutching the crystal in his hand and thinking about his sister. He had to take this back to the king. He had to protect his sister as he always did after their father left and their mother died. He would steal and beg in the streets again if needed. He would fight hundreds again to regain the trust of the king. All those feelings made Geeas clutch the crystal even harder to the point it cracked into his hand. At that point the crystal shattered into dust. Geeas went pale. How could it shatter so easily? he asked himself as he desperately tried to pick up the remains mixed with sand. There was no point. A sudden gust of wind surrounded Geeas and sent the particles of the crystal flying around him. It was like that dream. He could feel sharp stings as the crystals stabbed Geeas's skin millions of times. He let out a scream. It didn't take long for the crystal to enter his body and then the pain suddenly stopped.

Geeas could feel the magic under his skin. With a gesture of his hand the mist of crystals went in and out of his body. He could not believe his eyes. It was magic. Real magic. He was not born with any kind of power but now he had it. He let out another stream of crystal shards from his palm and let them take shape. The result was another crystal different from the original and slightly bigger. He let it shatter and return in his body just to try again, this time creating a cube. He tried different shapes and sizes amazed by the control he had over it. It wasn't long before he learned how to create daggers and later swords and shields.

But his task remained. He would have enough time to think about it on his way to Palestone.

Little did he know about the grave he was about to find.

Little did he know about the brewing storm.