Just beneath the surface

The deep breath before the plunge

Back in India, the crew began their preparations for the mixing of the ingredients.

"It seems like that hooded man isn't coming anytime", Fernando said.

"We'll have to do it without him then", Andres said.

The materials were laid out in front of them, and still the pearl kept gushing out with water that they had to make a canal to drain the water into the sea. Fernando began the incantation to control the pearl, and recited the mantra. The pearl resisted, hitting Fernando with a jet stream of water.

"I can't finish the enchantment if that thing is going to keep spraying, and the incantation required close range and direct eye contact, so staying far or covering myself won't be of any good", Fernando said.

Andres condensed the mana around him into a screen, then turned it into a transparent disk in front of Fernando.

"I knew we could rely on you", Fernando said.

The pearl resisted violently, shooting water in all directions. Fernando managed to finish the incantation, and they managed to put the pearl under their control. They then prepared the cauldron, and placed the map on a flat rock nearby. Using a pulley, they hoisted the pearl down, and manipulated it to rain water into the cauldron. Afterwards they poured an eight of the Terracetacean sap, an eight of the chorus flower poison, and the lava into the cauldron. None of them were sure if the mixture was right, but it seemed to look just fine.

"Are we supposed to pour this on the map?" Pedro asked.

"It's the only way", Fernando said, taking a bucket full of the mixture. It was a daunting undertaking, risking the success of the entire voyage. If it ended up burning or melting the map, it would be the end of the line. They tried it on regular papyrus, but the heat melted the paper and it became part of the mixture.

"We can't just go wasting the mixture, that's all the lava we have", Pedro remarked.

"I know but it's too risky", Fernando said.

"Isn't this trip about taking risks? Whether we do it or not we can't deny the fact that people died to bring us this far", Andres said.

Fernando sighed, and looked at the crew. He lifted the bucket, and the crew gulped in their throats. Fernando poured the mixture over the map, and that second became the longest they ever had. they watched as the first droplet dripped on the thin paper of the map. When the mixture hit the map, it hardened into a thin film. Could they have messed up? Fernando asked himself, dreading the possibility that the journey could have been all for naught. Gently, he took out the film, and as it slid off the paper, smoke rushed into the air. Out came the map, now fully detailed. Right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, right in the equator between America and Africa, there was a symbol. It was a castle, blue in color, and on its side, there was a name; Atlantis. Fernando raised the map, and looked to his crew in tears.

"This is it. The last push", he said.

For the first time since they exited the mountain, the crew rejoiced.

"It's too early to celebrate!" Fernando shouted. The crew went silent, and lowered their heads.

"But who gives a damn! I'm sure Jahmil and the others would be celebrating by now!" Fernando said, as the crew laughed.

While the crew celebrated that night, drinking and laughing to their heart's content, Andres went to the cemetery where they made tombstones for everyone they had lost in the labyrinth. He sat by Jahmil's cross, which was adorned with glowing flowers.

"You i***t!" He shouted.

"I'm not as strong as you! I'm not as brave as you! I need help, I can't wield these powers alone!" He continued.

"I can't take your place, I'm not as steadfast as you", he said.

"You don't have to take his place", Veronica said.

"You're you", she continued.

With all the emotions in his heart, he took his bow, the one he obtained back at the labyrinth, and condensed all the mana he could into an arrow, and shot for the stars. It rose like a comet, illuminating the night sky, and exploding in a bright display of white fireworks. He swore on his life, to finish the job, and he knew that if he had to, he must cast aside all his self doubts.

Fernando leaned on the stone fencing on the balcony of the inn they stayed in, and saw the explosion in the distance. He felt like his heart was clad in iron. Heavy, but secured. Nothing could stop him now. All they needed was to sail to the location, raise Atlantis and take the treasure. It seemed so simple. But Fernando knew it wouldn't be. After having explored far and wide, he knew the feeling. He never accounted for the lives lost for treasure before, but now it was different. He knew he would not be in peace knowing people died for a treasure he sought. Not only that, he had a strange feeling about the journey ahead. If it was all calm and peaceful, his heart would not have sealed itself in armour. He felt troubled, thinking if they missed something along the way, or worse, deceived. He decided to take a walk around the town. He went to a nearby bake shop to buy some bread, which he ate as he sat on the sidewalk. An old woman passed by, then sat beside Fernando.

"Can I have at least a morsel of bread?" She asked.

He felt something he had never felt before; compassion. He was moved by her sorry state, considering her age. He had given away riches before, but not because his heart knew it was right. He gave the woman a loaf of bread.

"Oh thank you good sir", the woman said.

"You speak Spanish?" Fernando asked.

"I travelled here from Spain to see my sons, but they denied me as their mother, and went to China, leaving me here", the woman replied.

"What son would do that?" Fernando asked.

"Anyway", he said, as he handed the bag of bread to the woman.

"Oh no that's too much—"

"Take it, it's not much but, it will last you for a few days", Fernando said.

"Not much he says, this could feed a family!" The woman said, laughing.

"I don't know how to thank you", she said.

"Like I said, it's nothing", Fernando said, then looked down.

"You seem troubled, is something bothering you?" She asked.

"Oh, ah it's nothing", he replied. The old woman then stared at him with a poker face. Fernando sighed.

"Yes, something is bothering me", Fernando said.

"And what is that?" The old woman asked.

"There's this final voyage that I have to accomplish, but something doesn't feel right. Something tells me I should do the voyage at all, as I might create bigger problems in the future", Fernando replied.

"Well you see, I used to tell my sons , especially the elder one, this advice. Go on and do whatever you want to do, no matter how foolish, how reckless, or how rash, it may be. Just make sure you clean the mess up, not one stain must be left behind. Well then again they were so young, the elder was five and the younger was three so I don't think it entered their thick skulls", the old woman said. Fernando felt something odd. He felt like he heard something like that before.

"If you don't mind, may i know your name?" The old woman asked.

"Fernando El Magillione, that's my name", he replied.

"That name— aren't you the great Spanish explorer known for finding relics and ruins throughout the pacific?" The old woman asked.

"Yes, yes that's me", Fernando said.

"Oh dear, to be speaking to you right now, it's such an honor but, aren't you ashamed to be speaking to a beggar?" The old woman asked.

"Not at all, we are all humans under the same creator, I mean, you are Christian aren't you?" Fernando replied.

"Oh yes I am. If only the world shared your principles Captain", the old woman said.

Fernando then took out ten gold coins from his pouch, and handed it to the woman.

"Goodness the bag of bread was already too much", the old woman said.

"Your sons failed their obligation, so in their stead, I'll do it", Fernando said. "I am commanding you to take it was the great Fernando El Magillione", he continued.

The old woman laughed.

"May God bless you and your crew", she said.

"Thank you ma'am, may God bless you too", Fernando replied.

As he walked back to the tavern, tears fell from his eyes. He was still unsure, but he found the old woman's soothing voice very familiar.

The next day, they readied the ship for their final voyage to Atlantis. They restocked the ship with ammo, supplies, and food. Fernando went to the British coast Facilitator, an old man who took charge of the entry and exit of all the ships at the harbor.

"You're leaving, Captain?", the man asked.

"Yes", Fernando replied. "Oh by the way lord Honduras", Fernando said.

"What happened to my parents? Where are they now?" He asked.

"How should I know? I only knew you when you were commissioned to my ranks", Honduras replied.

"Enough with the lies! I know you're the one who captured me. You were the lieutenant of that attack force that destroyed my father's ship. Now tell me, what happened to my parents?" Fernando asked.

"If I hadn't lied, would you have reached this point in your life?" Honduras asked.

"I don't care, just answer me", Fernando replied.

"With that said, I have lived a life of lying. I'll tell you. We killed your father. Your mother was tortured. She vowed not to tell anyone of what we did. After that, because she was neither of purpose nor a threat we returned her to Spain", Honduras replied.

"I see. I appreciate the honesty. There's an old woman, a beggar. You'll know when you see her. Make amends for your crimes and treat her well", Fernando said.

"She's here?" Honduras asked.

Fernando signed his name on the paper, and left. He looked to the city, and prayed. He prayed that he just might once again meet his mother. They sailed off from the harbour, and into the open sea. It was rather calm, as the crew were expecting another brush with a storm. The sea birds flew overhead, probably heading to their nesting sight. Andres now realised why Jahmil was stay up every night sitting on the deck. He couldn't sleep either. He also couldn't feel hungry. At night, there was nothing for him to do. All he did was walk back and forth across the wooded deck of the ship, staring off into the darkness. Veronica noticed this, and one night, she decided to see what Andres was up to.

"Can't sleep?" She asked.

"I could ask you the same", Andres replied.

"Are we really switching roles now?" Veronica asked. Andres smiled, but in the instant it immediately faded away.

"Well I can't fall asleep. Mana moves continuesly in my body and it interrupts my sleep. It does give me energy though", Andres said.

"When were don't with all this, what do you plan to do?" He asked.

"Will your really kill the captain?" He asked again.

"I will kill him. It's the only way I can feel free", Veronica replied.

"Will you feel free when you realise that you murdered a man?" Andres asked.

"Free is defined by who utters it. In my definition, I will be free if I assert my revenge", Veronica replied.

"What happens if he dies by someone else's hand, what will you do?" Andres asked.

"To that I have no answer, but until then I will prevent that from happening", Veronica replied. Silence engulfed the ship, even the sails did not bellow. The night sky was enchanted with an array of stars, like a host of angels over the pitch Black Sea.

"Why were you the one asking questions?" Veronica asked.

They both laughed, and for the first in a long time, Andres' smile stayed.

"You're not going to sleep?" He asked.

"I'd rather look at the night sky. Besides, imagine how lonely it would be if I left you alone", Veronica replied.

"Is this your true self or is this an act?" Andres asked.

"Who knows", Veronica replied, smiling as she looked up to the cloudless sky.

"Well, it is beautiful indeed", Andres said.

He began to wonder. Was his choice the right one? To leave his mother behind? Thirteen months. What if she succumbed to her emotions, and worsen the sickness. He wouldn't be there for her. He knew he had to survive, in order to heal her. He looked at Veronica, whose tears began to fall as she looked at the starry sky.

"So you really weren't cold to begin with", Andres said.

"I just can't accept that my father died before even bringing me on one of his journeys. He promised me I'd be on one someday. And indeed, I am on one. But where is he?", Veronica asked.

"We do share a lot of things in common. It was my dream to set sail on my father's ship. Ironically I've never seen his ship. I can only imagine from the descriptions he'd give me", Andres said.

"To make matters worse my mother is on her deathbed. Thirteen months from now, the dark angel will come to take her. It's pathetic, look at me, out here on a journey for treasure while she awaits a doom she cannot escape", he continued.

"Don't be silly, you have the poison of binding and your powers", Veronica said.

"I know but, what if I don't make it. Worse still, what if her grief takes the best of her. She never wanted me to leave, and did everything to stop me from leaving", Andres explained.

"We'll Just pray that she survives until you return home", Veronica said.

"Are you even sure that I'll get back home in one piece?" Andres asked.

"I'll make sure of that too", Veronica replied, and looked back up to the sky. As the ship steered under the veil of stars, their hands gradually got closer, and touched.