<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Chapter 3</span>
Draven leaned on the sword stuck in to the floor planks of the deck of his ship. The rising sun painted the eastern sky a crimson red, but Draven?s gaze was fixed to the northwest. The air was heavy. The time had come?
Draven?s feet lifted above the deck and he floated over the edge, slowly advancing over the water toward the shore as he held the blade pointing downward in his right hand. After a moment, he set foot on the rocky southern shore of Romme once again. It was a short stroll up the sandy hill before him. Once he got to the top, he saw exactly what he expected to see? dark clouds circling a black object just above the sea in the northwestern horizon (Since he docked his ships in the southwestern ?corner? of the island, where the southern and western shores meet, the sea to the west was visible at this hill). He was nearly here?
The Emperor?s ship was a massive, unholy vessel, some 10 times larger than one of Draven?s warships. Rather than float in the water, it actually hovered some hundred feet above, surrounded by a thick gray mist like a ghost ship, although it could not travel over land. The dark sides were covered with alternating rows of cannons and grotesque statues of demons by the hundreds. The gray sails that were attached to the pointy shafts that shot up seemed too small to propel the ship. But the most defining characteristic was the touches. Hundreds of them lined the sides, the deck, the poles? giving the ship a fait red glow in the fog from a distance.
Due to its vastness and slow speed, the ship looked closer than it actually was, and it would still be awhile before it arrived at the island?
But Draven?s attention was immediately caught by something much closer in the sea before him? A small transport boat approached with two figures plainly visible? one as dark as a shadow and the other?s armor shimmering a bright blue?
?Wonderful? he brought them along for the ride??
Draven leapt off the dune to the rocky beach below. The boat landed in front of him and the two figures leapt off in the same fashion, standing side-by-side before Draven, crossing their arms. Draven gave the woman on the left a faint nod, almost respectfully.
Draven: ?Neptra??
He didn?t do the same for the tall man on the right, instead merely glancing at him without moving his head.
Draven: ?? Jayce? what brings you two here???
A faint breeze blew, and Neptra moved a strand of hair away from her face.
Neptra: ?Our Lord wishes to know if you have the sword??
Smirking, Draven flipped the blade up, slashing the air inches away from the two new arrivals? chests, yet they did not flinch.
Draven: ?Right here.?
The tall general in black armor raised an eyebrow at the sword in front of him.
Jayce: ?Let me see it.?
Draven rested the blade on his right shoulder.
Draven: ?I think not! I?ll be presenting the sword to our emperor personally??
Jayce: ?I don?t think you want to do that??
Draven: ?What?s that supposed to mean??
Jayce responded only by extending his right hand expectantly. Draven studied the man?s face for a moment, but then handed over the sword-- blade first. Jayce grabbed the blade and swung the sword around, catching the handle with his left hand before inspecting it.
Jayce: ?Hmph??
With that, he struck the large rock to his left with the sword, shattering it to pieces, before throwing the broken handle down at Draven?s feet.
Draven: ?Wha-- ? You IDIOT! What in blazes did you do that for?!?
Jayce: ?The real sword is unbreakable. You?ve been tricked, you pathetic little man??
Neptra, who had thought for a second the real sword had been destroyed, covered her mouth and began to giggle. After a second, Jayce joined in with his insidious laugh. Draven stood there speechless, eyes wide, looking at the shattered bits of metal on the ground, while the laugher of the two generals rang in his ears.
Jayce: ?I?ve managed to obtain three of the weapons, Neptra has obtained two. Yet you? you have yet to retrieve just one??
Draven clenched his fists; he could take no more. The uncontrollable rage of fire within him burst through.
Draven: ?ENOUGH!?
Dropping his fists to his sides, a blast of fire surged from his body in all directions, catching his two rival generals in the full fury of the blast due to their proximity. Neptra took a step backwards, covering her face, but Jayce did not flinch. After the initial explosion, Draven, wrapped in an aura of flame, pointed his finger up at the tall Jayce?s face.
Draven: ?You know very well it took me weeks to find this wretched little island! And you stay out of this! I will retrieve the blade soon enough!?
Jayce emitted an aura of his own-- a force rather-- yet it was invisible to the eye. It was so quick and so violent that both Draven and Neptra lost their balance, taking steps backwards to regain it. After that, it was gone. Arms crossed, Jayce glanced at the dark ship approaching behind him.
Jayce: ?Don?t you have a job to do??
Draven traded his pointed finger for a clenched fist, beginning to levitate off of the ground until his head was even with the taller man, about to hurl a spew of insults. But remembering his time was almost up, he turned around, rocketing towards the northern horizon like a red comet. Images of the group gathered in front of the cave flashed through his mind? laughing, joking, making snowballs? but most of all, Zeros? confident smile as he gave him the fake sword?
Draven: ?You wretched little INSECTS! I?m gonna KILL YOU ALL!?
His voice boomed across the island as he sped northward, flames from his aura licking the treetops.
Jayce and Neptra watched the red star fade into the distance.
Neptra: ?Really, you two must learn to converse less violently??
Jayce ignored her, now levitating a few inches above the ground himself.
Neptra: ?Now what are you doing??
His eyes remained fixed on Draven in the distance.
Jayce: ?Retrieving the sword. Notify my father of? our friend?s failure??
With that, he sped off though the air in pursuit, his black cape outstretched. He disappeared into the horizon quickly, since he gave out no light as he flew.
Neptra returned to the boat. With a motion of her slender right hand, the waves changed direction, propelling her towards the humongous black ship out at sea?
