Seafarers

Chapter 6

Chapter 6- The Shrine of Doom

Randell had reluctantly agreed to sail into the dangerous Demon-infested seas and even towards the one place the swashbuckling pirate was afraid. He didn't talk much about why he was afraid of the empire, but he seemed to mention some incident regarding gambling, the underworld, and the map to the Shrine that the Princess had given Peleg and Tepan. The seas were rugged, as so Peleg learned as he continued to train in the Dandy Bow. Randell was very passionate about his boat and didn't want it near the Demons either. Peleg started to learn some brief magic like he could lift a crate in the cargo area a couple feet above, but it was very difficult and he had to focus and give it full attention. Where Peleg had soared and exceeded in swordsmanship and the use of the blade, he wasn't able to in magic. Rather it was the opposite. Peleg seemed to struggle with his magic training. After a week of a seasick voyage across the waters looming towards doom instead of away from it. The Shrine was visible. According to the plans or map that Eutha had given them, it almost seemed like it was complete. Everyone's deepest fear was that it was finished and ready to launch at land. Using the forbidden spell of chaos magic, it would be able to corrupt an entire continent of land and turn it into more room for the seas and islands that would only be destroyed, controlled, and created by the Demons. "We have come close to the Shrine. We should be ready for any attacks." Tepan said. "Nah, they'll first send a note from a parrot." Randell said, as just as he spoke, within minutes the exact events occurred. "How", the elder mage said, shocked, "did you know...?". Randell laughed, "That's why I'm a pirate and you aren't. Send the Demons' parrot back saying that the Demon King has sent them with special cargo for Raiknos, Lord Raiknos. ". Tepan quickly did so and sent it back. The Dandy Bow had arrived at the shores of the Shrine. It was hideous, yet somehow awesome in Peleg's eyes as they approached the harbor. Ten or so Shadows stood with a commanding officer, who unlike the Shadows did not wear a mask. "How do we enter?" Peleg asked, curiously. "I'll handle that, y'all just be ready to charge". Randell jumped off the ship and landed readily. "Ahem, Identification?" The Officer asked right in front of Randell. Randell quickly knocked the officer's stomach. The Shadows lunged at Randell, but he ducked and quickly took out all of them and once. "Come on out." he asked, dusting his hand stained with the blood of the fallen Shadows." Tepan, Peleg, Bishan, Louie and Nova all exited the ship and stood ready. "Okay there are 3 entrances, Peleg should go from one, I will go from one, and Tepan will go from one all looking for the Princess. We find the Princess and get the hell out of here. Bishan, Nova and Louie guard the ship and get ready for a getaway drive at any moment" Randell finished elaborating the plan. Louie and Bishan ran inside while Nova guarded the door. Tepan took the north exit, Peleg took the west, and Randell took the east. Peleg as he lurked through the hallways of the giant building-into-an-island, avoiding the Shadows and knocking those who saw them unconscious. Peleg didn't feel like killing them; they too were humans underneath the masks. While walking he saw a door labeled cells. He opened the door and saw a miniature prison that housed mostly pirates, but other warriors and beings as well. Then he saw a lonely woman sitting in an cell. He assumed it was Princess Eutha. He whispered through the cell doors and asked, "Are you the Princess, leader of the Revolutionaries?". The Lady answered back, "Yes. Are on a rescue mission here from the Revolutionaries". Peleg quickly shot up with a response, "No. But I am rescuing you, I'll explain everything later." He saw a lock which he unscrewed and opened the door. There was an uproar among the prisoners and quickly the Shadows realized someone had broken out. Shadows cornered Peleg and Eutha from all directions. Then suddenly from one side a spears were shot into the heads of the Shadows who all fell. It was Randell. Randell signaled the two to follow his lead. The Trio kept away from the pursuing Shadows. They had to find Tepan, but first they needed to get Eutha to the Dandy Bow. Meanwhile, Tepan stood alone in another hallway wandering and searching for the others. Tepan was walking quietly when he sensed another presence near him. Oddly he had not encountered any Shadows for a while. From behind he saw the looming figure of Raiknos, the Demon Lord. ¨Come to look for your apprentice? He's long gone¨, the Demon snickered. Tepan wisecracked back, ¨No, although I still see him, and he'll never truly be gone¨. ¨No, your apprentice died the moment you left him to burn Mount Warfolk. And after you killed everyone he ever cared about. The Mages were a corrupt, manipulative power that fed stories to children and snatched them from their homes, forced into a rigorous life of no emotion or say, and to be used and woven into the political way of the Elder Council". Raiknos elaborated his insult. ¨You corrupt my Master's words. I don't know what tales the Demon King has fed you, but you insult the name of my master itself when you utter those words'' . Tepan angrily spoke as he slid out his icy, blue sword and swung it swiftly at Raiknos. With agility, Raiknos evaded the attack, and pulled out his blood, red sword of the opposite color and then spoke,"Alas, our rematch, fifteen years in the making¨ .¨It will end the same way as the last one¨, Tepan said as the swords clanged against each other, sparks flying. The Shadows walked closer, "Shall we help you finish him?¨ one of them asked. "No, he's not here alone, and his friends are scattered around the Shrine. Find them, I will duel this Mage. Alone¨. ¨You still fight as honorably as ever.¨ Tepan praised Raiknos as he twisted his sword and nearly stabbed him. ¨And your swordsmanship skills have not dulled..... But mine have increased¨, Raiknos slashed Tepan's head. He smiled and then whispered, "You may have won this duel, but you just lost the war.", as he fell to the ground, motionless. Just then, Peleg and Randell had arrived with the Princess. ¨NOO!" Peleg said, almost weeping. Eutha ran inside the Dandy Bow, dragged Peleg in, and comfort him, yet his anger could not be controlled. He loosened and escaped from Randell's grip and ran towards Tepan's corpse. Raiknos stood and watched the boy weep. Raiknos said, ¨He was a powerful man. A shame he didn't join the Demons. You still can¨. With moments, Peleg briefly spun and knocked Raiknos down as he ran with Tepan's corpse. Randell sent a spear killing a few of the following Shadows, as they jumped onto the sides of the boat with Bishan steering it away. The Dandy Bow had left. ¨Shall we follow with our vessels?¨ the commander of the Shadows asked. ¨No. It is time to get the Shrine ready. We are going to destroy the base of the Revolutionaries. They will be headed to the bordering Verline Isles. And the sea between will be turned red, with blood. It's all out open war.¨