Hidden Pathways (BOOK 1)

Shadow Reckoning - Chapter 118

As the Shadowed Symphony finally reached the shoreline, they were greeted warmly by the villagers, whose faces lit up with joy at their return.

"Welcome back, everyone!" the villagers cheered, their voices filled with genuine happiness.

"We're glad to see you back here again!" another exclaimed, waving enthusiastically.

"Any tales to tell us about your adventures?" came another curious inquiry, mingled with anticipation.

The crew of the Shadowed Symphony reciprocated the warm welcome with smiles and waves of their own.

"Thank you, everyone!" Jiighual expressed, his tone reflecting genuine gratitude.

"We're glad to be back!" Leeani chimed in, her voice carrying a sense of relief.

"Hello there!" Qarek added with his usual exuberance, drawing laughter from the crowd.

"We're back!" Andhur announced proudly, his voice ringing out amidst the chatter of the villagers.

Amidst the bustling scene, Kazaks, Zach, and Gargeal remained relatively quiet, their thoughts drifting elsewhere.

"Yzavynne... Ruby'ck..." Zach's voice was barely a whisper as he remembered their absence.

Meanwhile, Kazaks seemed to be in a hurry, his gaze scanning the crowd for a familiar face.

"Yzavynne, I have to go look out for her. Where are you--- oh, right. She's with Seraphina. I have to go to her hut," Kazaks muttered to himself as he dashed off through the crowd, his determination evident in his hurried steps.

"Hey, Kazaks! Wait!" Zach called out, but Kazaks seemed too preoccupied to hear.

"Sorry, Captain Zach! Yzavynne's waiting for me!" Kazaks shouted back, his voice fading as he disappeared into the crowd.

Zach watched him go, a hint of concern flickering in his eyes before Andhur's playful comment snapped him out of his reverie.

"What's the hurry all about?" Zach muttered to himself, his gaze lingering on Kazaks's retreating figure.

Andhur, ever the joker, took the opportunity to lighten the mood with a quip.

"Captain, let them. Those two are love birds, right? Perhaps they missed each other so bad that even Kazaks couldn't contain his composure. HA HA HA HA HA HA!" Andhur chuckled, his words infused with playful jest.

Zach couldn't help but crack a small smile at Andhur's humor, appreciating the lighthearted moment amidst the flurry of activity.

Lyra made her way through the bustling crowd to greet the returning Shadowed Symphony, her face lighting up with a warm smile as she approached them.

"Welcome back, Rena--- I mean, Shadowed Symphony!" she greeted them enthusiastically.

"We're back, Lyra," Zach responded, returning her smile.

As they exchanged pleasantries, Zach couldn't help but inquire about Ruby'ck's whereabouts.

"Any idea where Ruby'ck might be? I don't see her here in the crowd," he asked, his concern evident in his tone.

"Oh, Ruby? She's with Yzavynne as of the moment. She's been by her side all along. She actually can't even leave the hut without reassuring Yzavynne multiple times that you guys will come back," Lyra explained, her words laced with understanding.

Zach breathed a sigh of relief at the news. "Thank goodness," he murmured, a weight lifting off his shoulders.

"Yep, yep, yep. Importantly, you should greet them. Yzavynne and Ruby. They're probably both still sleeping from their tiredness from the recent travel," Lyra suggested, offering Zach a friendly reminder.

"Right. Thank you, Lyra," Zach acknowledged gratefully, nodding in appreciation.

Before Zach could leave, however, a nagging thought crossed his mind.

"Oh wait, before I go. Do you have any idea where Haerak might be? I don't see him anywhere here. He's the most important person in this village, so why isn't he here?" Zach inquired, his brow furrowing with concern.

"Ah, Haerak. One of the villagers told us that he sailed off to Aeolantis. I'm surprised we and you guys didn't even come across his boat at all," Lyra revealed, her expression reflecting a hint of confusion.

"Back at the Aeolantis again? But why?" Zach wondered aloud, his mind racing with questions.

"The villagers said that Haerak didn't tell them the reason why he urgently needs to go there. But yeah, some of the villagers did catch him carrying gold bars as well," Lyra added, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Gold bars?" Zach repeated, his interest piqued by the mention of such valuable cargo.

Suddenly, Zach's thoughts collided, connecting the dots between Haerak's mysterious departure, the gold bars, and the recent ambush Yzavynne and Kazaks had faced.

"Wait... wait. Don't tell me... Haerak..." Zach trailed off, his mind reeling with disbelief.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Zach?" Lyra inquired, noticing his sudden change in demeanor.

Zach hesitated, grappling with the implications of his realization.

"No--- Nothing. It's nothing," he finally responded, masking his concern with a forced smile.

"Thanks again, Lyra. We'll head off now," Zach expressed his gratitude with a nod before turning to leave.

"Take care, Zach," Lyra replied with a warm smile, her eyes reflecting genuine concern for their well-being.

With a final nod of gratitude to Lyra, Zach turned away, his thoughts consumed by the unsettling revelations about Haerak's actions.

"Thank you all for the warm welcome," Zach's voice carried over the crowd, his tone appreciative and sincere. "After many days at sea, we've finally returned home, weary from our travels. Some of us are even feeling the effects of the constant motion of the ship. Your greetings mean a lot to us!"

Turning to his comrades, Zach added, "Let's head back to our haven, friends. It's time for some well-deserved rest."

Andhur, Leeani, Qarek, and Jiighual all responded with enthusiastic affirmations, their voices blending with the sounds of the crowd. "Yes, let's go back home! Rest sounds amazing!" they chimed in unison.

Gargeal, as stoic as ever, simply nodded in agreement, his expression conveying his silent assent to Zach's words.

As they walked, Zach couldn't shake off his concern about Haerak's sudden absence and the suspicions it raised

"There's something you all need to know," Zach began, his voice serious. "Lyra told me that Haerak sailed off to Aeolantis without informing anyone. Some of the villagers even caught him carrying gold bars. No one knows why he left or when he'll be back."

Andhur's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Aeolantis? Why would he go there all of a sudden?"

Leeani's concern was evident as she spoke up. "That's strange. The chief, Haerak, leaving his village without a reason. And without telling anyone about its further information? It doesn't make sense."

Qarek's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "And what's with the gold bars? What could he possibly be up to?"

Jiighual's face held a mask of inscrutability as he contemplated the situation. "It seems Haerak may be concealing more than we realize. And not just from us, but from everyone. We must uncover what secrets he is harboring."

Gargeal's silence spoke volumes as he listened to Zach's words. His vigilant gaze swept over their surroundings, a silent reminder of the dangers that lurked beyond the safety of the village.

"I've got a bad feeling about this. My instincts are screaming at me, telling me there's trouble brewing. I just hope this doesn't end in disaster... Nert, wherever you are, stay safe," Zach muttered, his voice heavy with concern.

Zach gazed out at the sky, his thoughts swirling with worry and uncertainty. "Sometimes, it feels like the weight of the world is on our shoulders," he murmured, his voice tinged with resignation. "We've overcome so much together, and we'll continue to do so. Because in the end, it's not just about bearing the weight of the world; it's about lifting each other up when we need it most."