It took a whole day to build the pier, but it was well worth it. As transportation of the supplies took less longer, and of course, getting up and down from ship to land was swift opposed to before.
Atten and half of his crew ventured inwards the land. It was pecuiliar, many of his sailors have visited the ins and outs of Europe, many from different English villages and towns. Yet the scenery evoked no nostalgia of Europe, or of their hometowns. It was completely… Foreign.
What looked like pine trees were actually a mix and match of Pine and Maple trees, what was sprawled on the dirt were different kinds of seemingly exotic looking bushes with equally exotic-looking fruits hanging from their twigs.
One sailor had noted that the fruits reminded him of the time he visited Singapore. But everything else was just a jumble. The exploration group got back to the pier after a whole day of exploring. Finding nothing. "We've walked one kilometer in all ways. We should have found a city, even just a town by now since we're so close a beach. But nothing." Atten sighed in exhaustion, catching a canister of water from his officer.
"Could it be?" Wagner mired, "we've done the impossible and found another continent!" He laughed triumphantly.
"Or another world entirely." Pais replied sarcastically, "your sailors say they've found plants so queer they're out of this world. The trees are so, in instinct, pine. But are not pine. And the land, it's too big to not have been found by some famous explorer. And… The days before, when we had first been thrusted into a stormy ocean… It's impossible to not think the impossible now."
Atten and Wagner couldn't help but be in deep in thought. Thinking of the past and the future at the same time that their heads were heating up.
"Then." Bundle nudged in, "if we were persay, in another world. Then I would first want to investigate those berries your crew had found. If we're staying indefinitely, and have found no communication with the outside, securing a foodsource would definitely be nice."
"The berries had spikes, some had weird poisonous-looking colors too," Atten retorted. "I doubt any of your crew would eat something lookin' like it'll eat you."
"We risk to survive." Bundle said, striking a stoic pose.
"We should build a camp here, establish our presence, if we're to be found, then another ship from yonder the ocean could see the smoke blowing off from our tents and fires." Wagner suggested.
"Aye that for now."
---
The shore was plenty short, fortunately the Americans had axes aboard the Oregon. They started deforesting the area to make way for some camps that the French were to supply. Of the thousand people there, it had enveloped them into a sense of community. There were different languages, yes. But everyone knew how to speak English, to some extent.
Comraderie was being made as the trees were cut down and tents were being built by cloth and wooden logs. Then, the dry twigs and small trunks were thown in bug hunks, supplying the heat of the little town they've created.
Night had came, to their disappointment, stale bread was their dinner. Fortunately, the French, German, and British bonded together and threw a whole wine, rum, and beer party for the whole thousands of sailors. The Americans had not been able to drink in years, this was their time to let out drunk!
The day after, everyone was laying on the sand, inside tents, some had even woken up atop the tall trees, and some were even on the pier, splayed out with bottle in hand.
"I'm afraid that having them drunk was a mistake," Bundle chuckled. "But it's my men's first time drunk in a while, couldn't help for some myself."
Atten and the other three didn't drink, as the four were busying themselves with some future plans the night prior. "I'm planning to build another pier for Pais' and Wagner's ships." Atten retold last night. "After that, it's the American's tern to venture out, exactly north, up the shore. Seeing if there's a city yonder."
"A wager that we're in Africa." Wagner chortled out, "we were hit by a wave that threw us hundreds of kilometers south and now we're in african waters."
"But the climate supposes we're somewhere in the colder regions of the Earth. It's better to think that we're somewhere in the temperate zones of the world." Atten retorted.
"It's all a humblewash." Bundle couldn't help but say, "let's save the theories later, I will have my crew be there and back tommorow."
"Aye."
As the sailors awoke from their drunken slumber, they salvaged the rest of the water there and drank like pigs. Running out of water and food rations was becoming more and more an issue, and finding a source to their scourge was becoming top priority.
The geography of the shore was nothing weird, not of the sort that the trees and flora were of. But, taking a closer look at the fish that the sailors had catched that day, they were all of species they could not determine. Tilapia? Carp? No, they could not have been; frankly, they were… Ailen, in a way they could not describe.
The sea was also not as salty as one sailor had commented, having drunk it the night prior.
"All signs of the impossible!" Wagner couldn't help but cry, "Africa it is not, what it is a world-change! That, that I am certain Atten! No other word would doubt me this!"
Atten boarded the HMS King Edward, "pray to God, to the lord that even if he hasn't ventured to this world, that he still protects us if so."
"Aye, Atten; that you are correct."
---
By the strike of morning of the next day, two hundred of Bundle's men ventured northward of the shores. A lot of adieus were received, some Awf Wiedersehens, and many salutes.
They had enough water to last the trip and back for two kilometers, but even still, they'll be rationing that as well. "To any animal we come across, we kill, then we cook and eat." Bundle joyously remarked. "Unfortunately, it'd be without the seasonings, but I'd like to eat some rabbit right about now."
"You have us stomachs growlin' sir!" Laughingly cried his men.
"Then let's not waste time with our exploration and find us some rabbit, men!"
"Yes, sir!"
They walked into the forest; near shore but not stepping on the sand. What maniac would want sand in their boots in long hike? Certainly the worst of maniacs if so.
The company of Bundle's men were spread out laterally, mapping out interesting things they see in the forest and near the beach. Occasionally, they shot their rifles to hit some large looking bird peaked on a tree, the flesh was tasty, but it was as if eating a wild variant of fish. Ocean-like but uniquely cow.
Hearing a stream in the distance, one of Bundle's cried; "Water ere! Get your canisters full up!"
A whole lot of relief washed the company, walking all timidly to the stream, and hovering over the water, letting the canisters fill up as it enters. The refreshing cold lifting them up, "Take your lasts sips before we drain the stream dry!" Cried Bundle.
Ahead, there were a couple of mishaps.
The forest and it's surroundings had unique topography, plain smooth and times, and rough and jagged at others. There were even tall cliffs that had one of his sailors injured, thankfully nothing too drastic; his arm needed a cast for a little while though.
Bundle assessed that because of how the forest was… Foresting. There would be no one who would think about living there. Fairly, where any civilization would be in, would be somewhere out of this wild clearing. Yet, this forest seemingly went out forever.
A distant roar shook the ground!
In instinct, they ducked.
"Where?" Bundle crawled for his quartermaster.
"Somewhere East from here, sir." He pointed, "what do you propose?"
"Travel it; have my men latter that direction take a look. I'll also want to come investigate myself. The rest are to be ready for anything whilst staying where they couped, sounded like a lion. But so unlike a lion." He gulped.
"Aye, sir."
Immidiately, Bundle cautiously crouched east. His torso ducked in the bushes, but moving carefully alike a cat. His right hand was gripping onto his Colt 38. And his left hand stabilizing him while he crouched.
His word already having been reached, Bundle and fifty of the men nearby unbuckled and aimed at the source of the sound. Walking cautiously and arms trained, Bundle questioned; "What happened?"
"Nothing happened, sir." One of his men answered, "the sound came and went. But the sound, that roar, sir. It reminded me of a defeated roar."
"A defeated roar…" Bundle pondered. "If someone defeated a roar as powerful as that, I'd amuse myself that there was something more powerful enough to usurp it.
"Aye, sir." His courageous face hid the nervousness in his voice.
Making their footsteps as slow and as quiet as possible, they neared.
Neared.
And neared.
They were uncertain where the sound had came from. It's been a long while of walking when, from a clearing; Bundle saw something. Someone.
"Get down." He said in a whisper.
They listened.
There were three people, all dressed quite weirdly (to them), with swords, spears, and shields. There was also one with a wooden staff. Bundle couldn't understand why there were people in such a modern world that would wear such medieval-looking garments.
Just a few meters behind the three was a body of a great-looking monster. Nothing Bundle's ever seen in his life, not in books, not in his own life. Maybe something from a novel, but nothing in Earth, in the reality he knew. It was like a manticore.
With how it was Lion-like, with it's bottom and tail of a snake's.
"We are in Europe, I do say." Bundle chuckled silently, "just a hundred years in the past."
"Who's there!" The man from the trio shouted at Bundle's direction.
Finding their defensive stance, and the way the one with the staff was readying herself by raising and chanting something from afar, Bundle was forced to make a move.
"Hold yourselves!" Bundle shouted, "we are not here to harm you!"
"Then who are you!?" The tall and muscular man in the group (the one who held the spear) was uneasy, under a second, there were multiple figures in the distance.
Bundle neared the opening, and gradually he unveiled his apperance under the shade of the trees.
They were astonished.
Bundle's outfit was entirely military-like and noble. The three were forced to bow down, "sir! I did not know the Grand Military was conducting business in the forest. We apologize for intruding!" The tall man cried.
The man observed Bundle, his navy-blue double breasted suit, the outfit was reminiscent of his kingdom's naval captains and admirals. But it did seem familiary to him, however, he wouldn't be taking the chance to disrespect someone if he was actually from the navy.
"Ah, no, no. That is fine." Bundle neared, "lift your heads for I have some questions."
The man's companions gulped, all nervous.
"Come with me, you will be perfect for our means." Bundle gestured for the men behind him.
As the sillhouetes moved, the trio was astounded by the amount and the weird weapons they were holding. And by their stark white uniforms and blue accents, it could only mean that they were from the navy.
"Are we being invaded!?" The man thought, "the Grand Navy's sailors don't wear that kinda' uniform. Never have I ever seen them wear that ever!"
"I assure you we mean peacefully, however I do need you in our mission."
"S… S-sir, I do note that my companions were fulfilling a subjugation quest," the woman (the one with the staff) said, "the body might be caught by another group, and these are not easy monsters…"
"That is quite fine, we will make reparations for it." Bundle mused.
The three hesitantly went with them.
---
On the walk back, Bundle got to know their names and what and who they were. The muscular man with the spear was named; Herald, whilst the woman with the staff was named Marie. The lean swordsman was named Fisch, and he wasn't that talkative.
Apparantly, they were adventurers. And were undertaking a commission from the so-called adventurer's guild.
When Bundle questioned, Herald answered; "Marie is a magician, a sorceror. Sir. She has the… Power to chant and release magic spells."
"Ah? Is that so?" Bundle and the rest of his officers who overheard were full of questions and curiosity. "Please, show me a spell. Can you create fire then shoot it off to the ocean?"
"I… I can, sir."
"Ah, then, to delight me and my crew, please. Show us what you can do."
"Much obliged." She bowed with a little curtsy before preparing her staff due ocean-ward. Bundle's men silently watched as he also was. The girl inhaled deeply, exhaling softly. Then by the second breath, she began to chant.
It was in a mumble so Bundle couldn't understand the words she was blurting. But, at the end of her chanting, the end of the staff began to glow, then a ball of fire, increasing in size by the second. Glowing hotter and hotter…
"Release!" As she shouted, the flaming ball of fire propelled outward and towards the water at incredible speeds, when, it hit the water; it exploded! Like it were some cannon!
Bundle clapped, as did his crew. Cheering the woman, "truly magnificent."
"Ah, t-thank you, sir."
"But that was just a normal fireball though." She thought to herself.
The three looked at each other with doubt, accepting into their escort, he grasped just how many were there. "With this much sailors, they could take over a town." Herald told to his companions in a huddle. "What are they even doing here? Where are they takin' us?"
"That I don't know." Marie held her staff tightly, "they don't seem to be aggressive, and really, their commander is gentle with us. They've been giving us water and some of their rations, so we shouldn't be thinking anything bad, Herald."
"I ain't, I ain't." He scratched his head, "it just nudges me wrong, ya' know? They don't look like our navy's officers. They each look more like nobles in formal wear rather than people from the navy."
"They aren't from the kingdom of Grand at all even." Fisch spoke, "I had questioned one of them while I was getting some water from their pack, and they said they were from; The United States of America."
"Long." Marie commented, "and have never heard of it. But, if they are a country not from this continent and beyond that," -she pointed at the ocean- "it could only mean that our greatest scholars were incorrect, and that there was another continent out there."
Herald had hope in eyes, as there was money involved, and a chance for fame. If it was true that they were from another continent, and that this continent and the kingdom they found were very royal-looking, it could only mean greatness for him and his companion's futures.
They all had the same thoughts radiating inside their heads.
Herald froze, so did Fisch. From the distance, they saw the most gigantic, the most bewildering ships of yore they had ever seen before. "W-what are those?" Herald was shocked beyond belief, but questioned to Bundle.
"Docked on that pier is my ship, the USS Oregon." He smiled, "I am the proud owner of my country's flagship battleship. And it truly is beautiful. And! The other ones are also the battleships of other nations in our group-"
"Wait a second," Marie interjected, "sir, pardon my intruding, but… Battleships? They do not look like galleons, they are ships? There is no way! They look more like fortresses! And what are those… Great cylinders on the back and front of the ships!?"
"Please, calm yourselves with the questions. My men will be quite fond in telling you all about the uses, the functions, the hows and the whys, and their appearances."
Herald couldn't fathom that they were ships, the other two were simply astounded. "This other country, no… These other countries that surely I've never heard of. Have ships that look more like fortresses, are longer, are bigger, and look more foreboding than the Grand navy's greatest warships." Herald was thinking of a future, not of greatness, but now of war. "May the lord help me."
( * )
"It's clear now." Wagner spoke, "it's clear we're not in Europe."
"Well ain't that great!" Atten joyed, "I could… We could… We could conquer the world! Just as my English ancestors wish!"
Everyone's faces were blank, seemingly in annoyance of Atten.
---
Just two hours after the adventurers settled in with the sailors in the camp, they had been called by the four in the spacious USS Oregon's quarters. Guided by his officers, Bundle was the first to greet them. "Hello, again, sir." They bowed. Their faces, brimming with curiosity.
They had just boarded and were already full of questions, they had already heard much from the sailors they conversed with, that the cylinders were actually huge guns that could turn, and that the ships used no sails for they did not use the wind, but instead steam and propellors to propellor in the water.
But they couldn't grasp the concepts, they were all too advanced, and three couldn't keep up. The sailors definitely had some fun explaining it to them, some even ventured a competition to get them to understand in the most caveman-like and simplest ways possible.
"Enter." Bundle carried himself to his three comrades as the other three adventurers entered, a sailor; shut the bulkhead door behind them.
They gulped.
"So these are the… Adventurers?" Pais looked on, analyzing their features, clothes, and expressions. "Certainly otherworldly."
The three didn't know how to react to the comment, "t-thank you? S-sir?" They sat down opposite them. On the large table.
"Now, I don't wish to dally you." Wagner started, "but we're here to gain information. I am sure you are smart enough to understand that we're not from here. So, I'll be straight with you, in that; we need information about your country and where we could be able to dock."
The three looked at Herald, sucumbing to their want. "U-um… I'll go one at a time sir."
"Right, go on."The four looked at him attentively.
"We are from the kingdom of Grand." He started, with a semi-serious face. "This is the forest of the West, the greatest of the four great forests of the Bolachia continent-"
"This… Kingdom of Grand," spoke Atten, "what is it's goals?"
"We are a peaceful… Kingdom." Right now, his words carried weight for the Grand Monarchy, he was a delegate to a powerful force.
"Peaceful how?" Atten pressed. "There are many countries, any kingdoms whose intentions differ from their desires. Say, how big is this Grand Kingdom?"
"The fifth biggest one in the continent, however, there are only six countries, so we aren't that big. We span the entirety of the forest of the West, medium military, and don't have that much influence with our neighbors. In all reality, there's some territorial dispute or something North from here."
"Ah, territorial disputes!" Pais cried sarcastically, his eyes gazed down at Atten. "Atten, this is perfect for you."
"It sure is." Atten irritatingly groaned, "Now;" -stern and serious, he eyed Herald- "adventurer… How would you feel if we gave you a mission?"