Chapter 11: Chapter 10 – Smoke Signal

I raise my body up, and I look to the wall, my armor is hanging quietly on the wall, it no longer shines with as bright a hue as before, throughout the year I’ve used it a lot, and I never got time to wash it, maybe later. I take it down from the little hanger it dangles from. I start with the foot piece, I pull over my black sock first, and then the piece of armor. I look over to the clothes I have lying on my bed, I forgot the leg piece. So I take off the footwear. I slip the leggings on, and I pull up the thigh guards, next I yank the knee pads up. and finally the shin armor. I then take the footwear on again. Rito looks at me as I slowly go through my process with a sort of disturbed look.
“How did taking on your lower armor take like ten minutes..” He says.
“I messed up by taking my footwear on first.” I say. Rito sighs as he takes his shiny armor on. I look at the scratch mark left on my breastplate, I touch the dent, and feel the small pieces of metal shrapnel, peering they’re way from the ‘wound’. Rito then walks out the room. I stand there watching like an idiot. During the two weeks since Askeladds death, me and Rito haven’t spoken at all. I know he isn’t exactly angry at me, but he doesn’t want to talk to me, and I have to respect that. I put the thought away for a bit while I pack the essentials for the new mission, food, water, sharpener, flint, ink, pen and paper. I ruffle through the bag again to check everything is there. I then walk out of the room.

I meet outside with Rito and Frey. They are talking about the new mission we are being sent on. I walk closer to listen to their conversation.
“So of what I’ve been hearin’, you twos are going to the Sleeping Forest!” Frey says loudly. “Yes, there have been reports of a necromancer roaming the area, and we are to capture them. But in my mind, that's not the Order's main goal, as you may know-” Rito suddenly stops talking as he sees me.
“Oh, hey Judari.” He says with a dead tone. 

“Anyway, the vacation was fun, nothing huge though.” Rito says.

“I bet it was a true bore sitting ‘round all day, well that’s the life of a Sigil kid, we always want adventure hehe.” Frey laughs to himself. 

“Alright sir.” Rito says as I approach them.
“Ah Judari, you excited for the new mission?” Frey asks optimistically

“I guess so, but Frey I have a question.” I ask, Rito then walks over to the docks, a big wooden boat is parked beside the dock, with mast and everything, in the back I spot a window, presumably a place for a captain to be. I look over to the bearded old man again.

“I wanted to ask who our new squad leader will be, I guess it won’t be you right?” I ask Frey.
“Haha, of course not me, my bones are way too old to hold up against a lot of enemies right now.” Frey laughs
“Well I assigned Ryude to the task of squad leader. He's an experienced guy, he should be able to keep your squad alive.” Frey pauses as he looks up towards the Sigil tree.
“Oi that's him right there, the red guy!” Frey yells.

“EY RYUDE! YOUR SLOW ASS HAS MADE THE RECRUITS WAIT!” Frey yells out, his voice booming through the forest, impressive how such an old man can still roar so loud.

Ryude looks down at Frey with an annoyed look. As the elevator lands on the ground he steps out and walks slowly towards us.

“Hello Frey, I am exactly on time, if I made the knights wait that is not my fault.” Ryude says with a brash attitude.
“Yeah yeah buddy, you can act all high and mighty, but at least say it with a good attitude.” 

“I don’t understand.” Ryude replies as he looks away from Frey.
“Alright, well say hi to one of your ‘freshies’, Judari Onyx.” Frey boasts. Ryude’s eyes light up a tiny bit.
“Oh, you're the son of Inari huh, that’s not surprising though, since there aren’t a lot of Vind on the mainland. Anyway, I must collect the group, see you two.” Ryude says as he goes over to the docks.
“Well you betta be on your way Judari, unless you wanna keep an old man company hehe.” Frey jokes.
“Yeah I'll go now, see you soon Frey.” I say to Frey while walking over to the docks. Frey waves back. I step onto the crusty dock, its planks cranking and wailing with each step, small crustaceans and seaweed have climbed their way up the poles keeping the platform up. I walk further ahead and I look at the ship, its sides are painted in whites and blues. The anchor was down and had landed into the smooth sand below. I step on the small plank connecting the dock to the ship, and I go aboard.

“All aboard! We are setting sail in about ten minutes!” I hear being yelled from the upper parts of the ship. Ryude was the one yelling, his brown hair flowing in the wind. I walk across the massive ship, and I see many of the same people from the last mission, though a lot seem to be gone, mainly some of the people who were already not sure about being a Sigil. I look around the wide boat, and I spot a piece of rope, I go over and fiddle with it while I wait for us to set sail. I look up to see a couple of people helping with setting up the mast, and suddenly the sail blows open.”
“Setting sail! We are to leave in about two minutes!” Ryude yells out. I raise myself up from the planks, and I try to find Rito, but he’s nowhere to be seen. Suddenly I feel the boat beginning to move, I look down to see the boat making ripples in the water, we were finally sailing.

The breeze of the sea is fresh, I feel it piercing my nose, as my gray hair flows with the wind. I look down as the oceans get torn apart from the boat's size, and the water sloshes up and down the boat. Looking deeper into the azure water, small fish were dotting around, it feels like the bottom is so close, yet is endless. I take my eyes up from the water, and I inspect the boat from a distance. In the center of the main deck, a box with metal bars on top was places below, presumably for prisoners. I look up to see the sail, its blue and orange colors glowing through the skies. Slowly we approach the gargantuan trees, and I realize how truly massive they are, the dark green canopies of the trees cast a shadow over all of the land. Their long thin stalks reaching the skies, truly fascinating. I look back at the land of Gaia, and I see the Sigil tree standing tall and proud with the other gigantic trees, behind all of the mountains and terrain, a blue darkness had arose, the sun was now on the other side of the coast, spreading a pink hue through the clouds above. The first time I’ve ever been outside Gaia, what a day. I look back at the Sleeping Forest, its trees now slowly beginning to cast a shadow upon the ship's brown planks.

After about thirty minutes of sailing on the open sea, we finally docked on the soggy grass of the Sleeping Forest. The dark and gloomy was starting to set in, as the critters and bugs were filling my ears with noise, small exotic plants were dotted around the ground and trees. The dirt beneath me felt more muddy that steady. As Ryude gathers the squad for a meeting, I finally spot Rito. I walk over to him, he looks at me and does a slight nod up.
“So… How ya been.” I ask nervously.
“I’ve been fine.” Rito answers, the air between us does not get less awkward, lucky Ryude begins briefing before I collapse.
“Soldier! Our mission tomorrow is simple, we have to capture a rogue Necromancer.” Ryude pauses as he makes sure we all heard his message.
“We can only presume he or her could know we would come, so be prepared to fight the, mainly the Necromancer's beasts, like for example the Shrieker. And you may think that such simple minded corpses could never take me or the squad down, let me reassure you, if they come in a pack of three or more. Run, they will overwhelm you. Of course remember our main target is the Necromancer, if we take the Necromancer down, the shriekers shouldn’t be an issue.” Ryude yells out.

“We will be setting camp here on the shore tonight, keep yourselves and the tents to the walls for stability, we have only brought so much. Supper will be later tonight! Also, special team, report to me after everyone has left. Call for help is needed. Dismissed!” Ryude yells out one last time as we all depart and set up the tent supplies we brought. We all walk to the higher areas of the shore, slowly starting to set camp up. I get bored and I walk away having nothing to do, suddenly though, I feel a slight tap on my shoulder. I look behind me.

“Hey.” Rito says.
“Oh hi, uhm, what's up?” I ask.
“Can we talk?” Rito replies.

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“Of course whats up.” We go around the shore to a more private area, we position ourselves against a wall of earth.
“Look Judari, i-Im sorry.” Rito sniffles.
“For what?” I asks
“Don't act dumb, I’m sorry for snapping at you, you didn’t deserve to be scolded at all, I don’t know what came over.”
“I’ve been avoiding you because I thought you were angry at me after I yelled at you, which is deserved, I’ll understand if you don’t want to associate with me after this.” Rito says trying to hold back tears.
“I’m not saying it was alright, but i'm glad you said sorry, at least I have my friend back.” I say as I hug Rito.
“T-Thanks man, It means a lot.” Rito replies, hugging me back, and with a small tear dropping down from his eye.
“Hey I actually got something from Frey.” Rito says enthusiastically.
“What is it?” I ask as Rito pulls out a little carton box, he pushes the front and a compartment with small paper sticks is revealed.
“They are called cigarettes, Frey said he got them at Sentinel, or somewhere in Sea of Dust, it's a sort of exotic plant, and when its rolled up like this, you can inhale it.” Rito says.
“Inhale?” I say with a confused tone.
“Alright look.” Rito says as he puts one in his mouth, he then takes his sword out, and lights a small fire on it with the Sigils. The cigarette then lights up, and Rito takes an inhale. He then blows out a sort of smoke. After he coughs a bit.
“Phew, it's a bit bitter, but it's fun, you should try.” Rito says
“Alright I’ll try.” I say as I scoop out a cigarette from the box, Rito lights it up with his sword again, and I take an inhale, the bitter feeling spreading through my throat. I exhale the smoke, and I let out a bigger cough.
“Yeah that's bitter!” I exclaim. Rito takes another inhale, and after places his hand on his thigh, the small cigarette lighting up the darkened area.

“Still fun though, right?” Rito asks with a smile.
“I guess so.” I say as I take another inhale. But just before I could fully take a breath, I drop the cigarette. I bow down to get it.
“Aw it's nearly out now, and it’s got dirt on it and stuff.” I say disappointed.
“Eh, it can still be smoked, just clean it off, and I’ll light it back.”
“Alright.” I say as I wipe the bit of dirt off the smoke, Rito lights it again. We stand there, just smoking a cigarette. I look to Rito, who is nearly done with his, but before he can do the last bit, he throws it to the ground and turns off the gnister.
“There was still a bit left, why did you extinguish it?” I ask Rito.
“I don't know, I felt it was time to put it out.” Rito replies.
“Heh okay, just be careful not to light the ground on fire.” I say
“I won't.” 

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