The ship groaned as it was brought to a stop, its massive wooden hull looking impossibly large against the tiny, weathered dock. Lucious stood at the railing, watching the islanders assemble below. One by one, the crew and passengers began descending the narrow, swaying exit ladder.
When Lucious and his companions finally stepped onto the solid wood of the docks, the crowd surged forward. Important-looking local dignitaries moved through the throng, presenting woven garlands of vibrant island flowers to the newcomers. Lucious accepted his with a polite nod, though his eyes were already scanning the layout of the port.
Suddenly, a loud commotion drew everyone's attention. A man climbed onto the central stage, leaning heavily on a walking stick with every step. It was the island's mayor. He gripped a heavy brass microphone, the screech of static cutting through the chatter of the crowd.
He waited for the noise to die down before speaking, his voice heavy with grim finality. "The council meeting was unsuccessful."
A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the crowd. Pin-drop silence. Lucious turned his head sharply, a jolt of shock hitting him. Looking at the faces of the villagers, he could see the palpable exhaustion and fear; they were completely fed up with the failing security of their home.
The mayor raised his hand, trying to inject a note of hope back into his voice. "But we have brought a skilled swordsman here with us! His name is Lucious!"
The crowd instantly erupted. The bleak silence shattered into cheers, people jumping and shouting in excitement.
"He will give our soldiers training and teach them expert swordmanship!" the mayor boomed over the microphone.
Before Lucious could even protest or prepare himself, a dozen hands grabbed him. The cheering crowd lifted him into the air, tossing him up in celebration.
A few yards away, Jack and his dog, Hero, stayed firmly seated on a stack of cargo crates. Jack watched the chaotic celebration with a smirk, completely unbothered, content that he didn't have any of that responsibility on his shoulders.
But the mayor wasn't done. His voice screamed through the microphone over the din, pointing directly at the crates. "Till your training begins, Jack will patrol the island with his dog, Hero!"
The crowd instantly shifted its energy. A wave of islanders rushed over to the crates, hoisting a thoroughly surprised Jack and a barking Hero into the air, tossing them just as wildly as they had Lucious.
After the speeches finally concluded, the reality of the situation set in. Lucious was officially stuck here for the next two to three weeks, tasked with turning the ragtag island guards into a proper fighting force.
Later that evening, away from the roaring crowds, the companions gathered near the beach to discuss their unexpected duties.
"Okay, let's help them," Lucious said, looking over at Jack.
Jack shrugged, leaning against a palm tree while Hero rolled in the sand nearby. "Yeah, I will help them—if I'm getting fed. No problem, patrolling is not that hard anyway. And I even have a dog! Yeah, it will be a piece of cake." Jack offered a lazy grin. "Then let's help the island people."
"Today we are relaxing," Lucious decided, rubbing his temples as he thought about everything that had happened since they docked. "I need a break."
"Yeah, let's enjoy the beach," Jack agreed, already looking for a good spot to take a nap.
Lucious walked down toward the shoreline to clear his head, Hero trotting along closely behind him. The island was incredibly beautiful, dominated by the shimmering peaks of the Crystal Mountain that rose high into the sky, reflecting the fading sunlight.
Lucious sat down in the cool shade of a rocky overhang, watching the water. But his peaceful moment didn't last long. Far out on the horizon, a strange ship was moving through the waves, navigating the waters with a predatory quietness.
Instantly alert, Lucious stood up. He pulled his telescope from his belt, extending it and pressing it to his eye. He focused the lens. It wasn't a standard merchant vessel. He saw the rugged hulls, the aggressive rigging, and the dark flags.
"Those are pirate boats," he muttered to himself.
"Damn pirates," a sharp voice called out from the rocks behind him. "They are here to disturb the island peace."
Lucious spun around, his hand instinctively dropping toward the hilt of his blade.
A rugged man stepped out from the shadows of the cliffs. "My name is Charlie. I stay here near Crystal Mountain. I see lots of pirates—at least three ships every day. They do illegal mining on the mountain, and they attack the guards whenever they get close." Charlie's jaw tightened, looking out at the distant sails. "Yeah, I see them... but I will make this island secure."
Lucious relaxed his stance, looking from Charlie back to the horizon. The threat to these people was much closer than the mayor realized.
"Sure, I will help you," Lucious said firmly. "Yeah, we should increase the traps and make their path harder. We need more people guarding the other part of the island."
Charlie nodded, a look of grim relief washing over his face. "That will be a big help."
"Yeah, let's start tomorrow," Lucious said, his mind already racing with defensive strategies. He looked back toward the village where the locals were still celebrating their arrival. He was determined to save these generous people from the pirates.