By Allen on March 26, 2023
Along for the Long Journey
The great Spanish Captain Gonzalo was preparing for his third tour to Azuria when his son Leo turned 14. Upon learning of the next adventure, Leo begged his father to take him along. At his age, boys in Leo’s family prove their manhood through rites of passage. Leo has been trained in swordplay but wants to prove himself worthy by exploring the seas for lost treasures with his father. Alas, his father allowed him the privilege of the journey, as he could not deprive Leo of his hard work and determination.
Leo’s first voyage was exciting and scary, but he quickly realized the open sea was charming and peaceful. He gazed in amazement at the never-ending view of the dancing seas. Every wake excited the new adventurer. When night came, the crew gathered around to eat and exchange stories, memories, hopes, and dreams of unimaginable things.
The greatest of these stories come from a curious old man, the Storyteller. He is the crew’s source of all legends of ancient Azurian lore, lost treasures, and their interaction with the gods. Some say Storyteller was an Azurian who washed up on the shores of Spain ages ago. Some believe an evil god of Azuria stole him from his mother and sent him to Spain to punish her. Leo soon grew closer to him than ever with his father, Captain Gonzalo.
Lost Treasures in a Lost World
Captain Gonzalo’s armada of ships plundered the islands on the outer isles of the Azurian Sea, but the gold and lost treasures were running short. King Tesoros of Spain sent Gonzalo to Azuria to bring great, ancient artifacts, lost treasures, gold, and resources from the New World. Storyteller was well aware this would make for a dangerous adventure and decided to have some fun with Leo.
“The evil gods have cursed the Azurians, Leo,” Storyteller grumbled through the piece of jerky meat he smacked with his old grin. “Do you know what that means?”
Leo was enduring his daily chore as a professional deck scrubber. He stopped abruptly and nearly slipped on the slick deck’s surface. “Cursed? We’re going on a cursed adventure?” His eyes lit up in anticipation for Storyteller’s next hook.
The Storyteller’s grin grew as he saw the fascination in young Leo’s eyes.
Spitting the rest of his jerky off to sea, he leaned in and said, “The gods of Azuria have cursed them for their sins. Monsters born of fallen heroes and creatures of rage and death plague the land and guard the lost treasures we seek.” His old voice reminded Leo of the creaking of the wood below deck.
“Storyteller. Have you seen these monsters?”
“Oh yes! The lizard people called Tlapalin who hide in deep caves and temples have chased me away through the jungles.”
Storyteller grabbed Leo’s shoulder and pointed to the sky. “I have seen great serpents flying across the night sky.” Snapping another piece of jerky off into his mouth, he leaned forward. “Leo. The gods themselves placed cursed relics across these seas as temptations and tests of human will,” the Storyteller reached out with his free hand and continued in a grizzly tone. “I’ve even held them in my own hands.”
Leo, eyes wide and mouth opened exclaimed, “¡Dios mío!”
He thought a moment and said, “But wait! Are you cursed then?”
Slowly leaning back, Storyteller chomped off another hunk of jerky. “I think you missed a spot, boy,” he barked playfully. The old storymaker chuckled and watched as Leo continued his chores. He wouldn’t reveal more about Azurian adventures just yet. Part of him wanted to embrace these legends and his secret past, while another wanted to protect Leo from those troubles. He wished it was all just mere legend. He wished jokes were the only way the legends could manifest.
They continued onward, sailing into a new land. Later, a storm began to swell in the distance ahead, but more than a storm would forever change Leo. Rough seas might be the least of his worries in due time.
To be continued.