Kain surveyed their beached vessel with a critical eye. The Crimson Serpent listed slightly to port, her hull wedged firmly into the sandbar. Waves lapped gently against her sides as the storm gradually subsided, leaving behind a persistent, clinging fog that shrouded everything beyond fifty paces in ghostly white.
"How bad is it?" he asked as Redd emerged from below deck, his notebook in hand.
"Could be worse," Redd replied, flipping through his meticulous notes. "Hull's intact. We've got some water damage to the lower storage compartments, but nothing structural. Once the tide rises, we should be able to push her back into deeper water."
Talon appeared from the opposite direction, his boots squelching with seawater. "I've checked the rigging. Some lines need replacing, but the masts are solid."
Ash paced impatiently along the railing, staring at the mysterious island. "So we're stuck here until the tide changes? That could be hours."
Kain nodded, studying the shoreline through the mist. Strange rock formations jutted from the beach like broken teeth, their surfaces slick with moisture. Beyond them, he could make out the shadowy outlines of twisted trees and dense vegetation.
"Looks like we don't have much choice," Kain said. "We might as well explore while we wait. Could be useful to know what kind of island we've stumbled upon."
They lowered the ship's boat and rowed to shore, the oars cutting through water as smooth as glass. The fog muffled all sound, creating an eerie silence broken only by the occasional cry of an unseen bird.
As they pulled the boat onto the pebbly beach, Kain felt a strange sensation—like they were being watched. He scanned the treeline but saw nothing except swirling mist.
"This place gives me the creeps," Talon muttered, voicing Kain's thoughts.
"It's just fog," Ash said dismissively, already striding toward the jungle. "Come on, let's see what's here."
The vegetation proved difficult to navigate. Twisted trees with pale bark grew in unnatural angles, their branches tangled together like frozen lightning. Vines thick as a man's arm hung from above, dripping with condensation.
"This isn't natural," Redd observed, touching one of the trees. "The growth patterns are all wrong. It's like the whole forest is... warped somehow."
They pushed deeper into the island, climbing a gradual slope. The ground beneath their feet changed from soil to stone as they ascended what appeared to be a low mountain. Kain noticed ancient carvings in some of the rock faces—symbols he didn't recognize, worn smooth by centuries of exposure.
By midmorning, they'd reached a plateau that offered a view of the island's center, though the persistent fog limited visibility. Kain could make out the vague outline of what might have been structures in the distance.
"Look there," Ash pointed to their right, where a dark opening yawned in the mountainside. "A cave."
Kain approached cautiously. The entrance was perfectly arched, too regular to be natural. Ancient stonework framed the opening, though most had crumbled away.
"This was made by people," Redd said, running his fingers along the weathered stone. "A long time ago."
Before they could investigate further, voices drifted through the fog. Kain signaled for silence, and the four brothers melted into the shadows of nearby rocks.
A procession emerged from the mist—several figures in uniform escorting a man in pristine white robes, his head encased in a bubble helmet. Behind them trudged three people in tattered clothing, heavy collars around their necks.
"That's him," Kain whispered, recognizing the Celestial Dragon from the ship that had fired upon them.
The Celestial Dragon appeared to be complaining loudly to one of his escorts. "Disgusting place. If what we seek isn't here, heads will roll. I didn't leave my comfort for nothing."
"Of course, Saint Roswald," the escort replied deferentially. "The reports were quite clear."
They watched as the group approached the cave entrance. One of the collared slaves was forced forward to light torches, illuminating a pathway that descended into darkness.
"Why would a Celestial Dragon come to a place like this personally?" Redd whispered. "And where are his CP0 guards? They never travel without them."
"Whatever he's doing, he doesn't want anyone important to know about it," Talon suggested.
Kain nodded, watching as Charlton barked orders at his slaves. "He's only brought people whose lives depend on his goodwill. No witnesses he can't control."
The procession disappeared into the cave, their torchlight fading into the depths.
"We should go," Kain said quietly. "Whatever's happening here, it's not our business. We need to get back to the ship and continue to Ironhearth."
Ash's face had darkened with each passing moment. "That's the bastard who tried to sink us. Who fired on us without warning."
"Ash—" Kain began, recognizing the dangerous look in his brother's eyes.
"He would have killed us without a second thought," Ash continued, his voice tight with anger. "Just because we existed in his path."
"We can't touch him," Redd insisted. "He's a World Noble. If we harm him, the entire World Government will hunt us down. There's no coming back from that."
Ash was already moving toward the cave entrance. "I don't care who he is. No one tries to kill my brothers and walks away."
"Ash, stop!" Kain lunged forward, but Ash was already sprinting toward the cave.
Talon grabbed Kain's arm. "If you go after him, you can forget about joining the Marines. Both of you. If anyone recognizes you..."
Kain hesitated, torn between his future plans and his brother's safety.
"Maybe Redd and you should stay back," Talon suggested. "I'll go after him. That way, at least two of us can still have a future in the Marines."
Kain shook his head, decision made. "I'd rather have no future as a Marine than watch my brother die. Come on!"
The three brothers raced after Ash, following the torchlight deeper into what was clearly no natural cave but an ancient, carved passageway. The walls were lined with the same strange symbols they'd seen outside, and the air grew colder with each step downward.
They caught up to Ash at a bend in the passage, where he crouched in shadow, watching the Celestial Dragon and his entourage enter a vast underground chamber ahead.
"This is insane," Redd whispered. "We need to leave. Now."
But Ash's eyes were fixed on Charlton, who was berating one of his slaves mercilessly. "He's alone except for those three guards and the slaves. We've faced worse odds."
"This isn't about odds," Kain hissed. "This is about consequences. If we're caught—"
"Then we won't get caught," Ash replied, drawing his staff. "Or we'll make sure there's no one left to identify us."
Before Kain could respond, Ash was moving again, silent as a shadow, toward the chamber entrance.
Kain exchanged a desperate look with his brothers. Their futures—everything they'd planned—hung in the balance. But there was no choice. They couldn't let Ash face this alone.
Drawing his gauntlets, Kain followed his brother into the darkness.
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