The story of a man named Sky. There is no arch-enemy. No end-of-the-world conflict. Just Sky exploring the world, and learning that there is so much more than he knew existed on his tiny island. Each chapter is a self contained narrative, one of the...
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The rocking of a boat was a new sensation to Sky, who had spent his entire life on the Island of Ligo. He leaned against the edge of the boat, watching the island fade into the distance. This was big, the biggest decision he'd ever made. As he watched the ocean glistening, he contemplated the journey ahead of him, he couldn't help but reminisce about the island and his childhood there.
Sky had never been a normal child, far more interested in exploration and education than his peers. When his friends would be off pretending to be knights, he'd be exploring the island. Sky knew every inch of the island like the back of his hand. Every hill, every valley. Sky never made very many friends, despite his every effort. Sky would invite all his peers to his favourite spots on the island, and they would always say no. So Sky would go alone, watching the sun set and hoping every time that someone would show up. And one day, someone did. A large man named Charlie.
Charlie wasn't the most popular kid either, but he was the most skilled at combat. Whenever the children got together with sticks he would play the bad guy and all the children would work together to bring them down. Charlie won every time, much to the chagrin of the children who would yell "Bad guys aren't supposed to win!" Charlie brushed this off and would yell back, "Good guys are supposed to be able to beat me" before sauntering off laughing. Charlie was very laid back, nothing anyone said to him seemed to faze him, so everyone let him be.
He walked up to Sky, smiling as he approached. He sat down beside Sky, who was seated at the edge of a cliff, and they watched as the sun set. They could see for miles, all the way to the other end of the island. The trees looked like grass, and it felt like they were on top of the world as the sun painted the sky in shades of red and orange. They didn't say a word to each other as the sun set.
"Quite a sight, they're missing out by not coming"
"Yeah." Sky responded meekly. Sky hadn't expected anyone to come, let alone him. Sky was a bit overwhelmed. Charlie looked at him and chuckled.
"Not very good with people are you?" Sky shook his head.
"This is the first time anyone has actually come and talked to me" Sky stuttered. "There are a dozen more places on the island we could visit," Sky hesitated, "If you want, that is.
Charlie laughed, "I'd be happy to." Sky smiled and finally felt like he had someone to connect to.
Over the next five years Sky showed Charlie every inch of the island. Caves, valleys, swamps even. Sky wanted to show Charlie everywhere, and Charlie wanted to see it all. As their education continued, Charlie began focusing on his martial skills, learning how to use all the weapons on the island. Sky took a different path, and decided he wanted to learn more academics, and spent his time mapping the island. No one had ever mapped the island before, and by the time he turned 20 he had a full map of the region. When the map began being distributed across the island, Sky realised he wanted more. He wanted to map more, he wanted to explore more. He had heard stories of the world beyond his island, and he felt the need to explore the entire world.
Charlie, meanwhile, had mastered his combat lessons, and felt like he had nothing more to learn. However, living on a peaceful island, working as a guard or knight is very uneventful. Charlie needed excitement, and this island was not it. Charlie also decided he needed to travel the world. Sky and Charlie arrived at these realisation separately, however both had a feeling the other would join them for the trip.
Sky felt a hand on his back as he watched the island grow further and further in the distance. Charlie had joined him.
"Well, this is it."
"Yeah. We're really doing this."
"No one on the island could have stopped us even if they had tried" Charlie smirked, "None of them could have beaten me." Sky laughed. There had been some resistance to them leaving the island, Sky was the smartest of the children and Charlie was the strongest. But they were determined, so no one got in their way.
Sky made his way to the front of the boat, Charlie in tow. The wind blowing in his long, black hair. He looked forward and saw only open ocean. And Sky was happy. He was doing what he loved, and he was with his best friend. Anything they came across, they could handle. He was sure of it.
