Bloodlines of Archaea I. Afira

“Look,” I said, pointing excitedly at the island in the distance.

Akamu looked at the map. he looked up at the island, saying, “the Island of Tuana.”

“And a good thing we’re close, too. There is almost no food left,” I said, opening the storage compartment.

“What if this island turns out like the last one?” Akuma asked, becoming worried once more. “I don’t know if I can live through another mystery,” he said, anxiously looking out at the island.

“Hey,” I said, looking into his eyes. “You scared away a group of shadow creatures. Whatever faces us next, we got this. We have come so far." He blushed, smiling sheepishly.

We tied up our boat, stepping warily onto the well-kept wooden dock. Akuma and I drawing our swords, walking slowly onto the soft sand. I pulled the hood of my red cloak up, hiding my face.

We were greeted by a short girl, with fiery orange hair she was the same age as us and wore a long dress, which was covered in designs of palm trees and leaves. “Hello,” she sang quietly. “My name is Malia. What brings you to my island?” She asked, her voice like that of the stars, twinkling calmly.

“We are here because of a lack of supplies,” Akuma answered. “We wish to receive such items, rest the night, and be on our way by dawn,”

Malia’s face went pale, as if for one moment in deep pain. She shook her head, “I see,” she said darkly, pausing. “Where are my manners? What are your names?” She asked, once more as sweet and innocent as before.

“My name is Afira, queen of the Island of Skyfire,” I said with regality, looking down at her through the shadow of my cloak. She stared up at me, looking hopefully into my eyes.

“Oh wow. A queen? I’ve never met a royal before. Nice to meet you,” she said, curtseying lopsidedly, almost falling to the ground. She blushed, looking up at me. I bowed, slowly and gracefully. “And you are?” She asked, gesturing to Akuma.

“I am Akuma, lead knight of the royalty of Skyfire,” he said, smirking at me. I stifled a laugh, remaining regal in my majestic stance.

“This way, please,” she said, turning and walking back onto a pathway, gesturing for us to follow her.

“So you’re a knight now?” I whispered, playfully. Following Malia.

“You know, just ‘Akuma’ isn’t as impressive as ‘Afira, queen of the Island of Skyfire,’” he mocked, in a high pitched voice.

I giggled, “fair enough,” I said, pleased with his reaction.

We came upon a village which sat many miles from the dock where we had first arrived on the island.

“Here is where you would be able to trade and rest for the night,” She said, anxiously looking around.

“You can take a look around, I’ll catch up,” I said to Akuma. He nodded, glancing back at Malia, before looking around at the stalls.

“Are you okay?” I asked Malia, watching as she looked tearfully at the people of the village.

“Don’t stay here tonight,” she said, looking into my eyes as if it were her last night to live. “Our island is cursed. Every night that volcano erupts, killing children, parents, families, everyone. And anyone who may venture here, and stays the night, after they die, are forced to stay until the curse is broken. All because I couldn’t leave my island the first time,” she whispered. I gasped, remembering the story Grandma Lilly told me.

“But that happened so long ago,” I said, “I thought it was just a legend,” I said, looking into her sorrowful eyes.

She chuckled, “and I thought the fire queen who wears a red cloak and battles shadow creatures was also a myth,” she said, smiling up at me. I giggled.

“Do any of these people know?” I asked.

“No. It is my curse alone, as I will be forced to live this day forever more,” She looked down. “And I can never leave this island, for then the day will end, and these people will die, because of me,” I nodded.

“Who cursed this island?” I asked, hoping it wasn’t the one with the blackest of hearts.

“Sombra,” she whispered, her eyes looking worriedly into the shadows. “This island was cursed by Sombra just over a century ago,” Malia said, putting her head down.