A medium-sized ship appeared on the island, it was a ship with red sails, topped by an orange banner featuring two crossed axes.
The water was shimmering under the sun's rays, and small waves were crashing against the side of the ship, moving it as if it were dancing on the sea.
– Is that a person on that island? – A person at the ship's bow asked.
The person speaking was in his late thirties, wearing a round blue hat striped with white, from beneath which his black hair protruded.
A voice came from a young man on the side: – Yes Captain, he beat us badly.
The person near the Captain turned his head and looked at him with a harsh glance, and the person who spoke swallowed his words.
– Sir, with you among us, we will teach him a lesson.
– Naturally, don't worry, the Boss is here. No need for fear, as long as Captain Nelo is with you, there is no need to worry. I will smash his head. A wide smile appeared on Captain Nelo's face as he eyed everyone while brushing dust off his orange jacket.
Everyone on the ship shouted: – Captain! Captain!
Nelo turned his body and waved his hand, his black cloak rising in the air, then he shouted loudly: – You scoundrel! You strike Nelo's followers? Nelo himself will teach you a harsh lesson. Be ready, I'm coming!
Yousafer and, beside him, Yuray stood on a high cliff, waiting for the approaching ship.
– It seems the beating they received earlier wasn't enough, – Yousafer spoke.
– Should I act? – Yuray cracked his knuckles.
– You are a bit too excited, Yuray, no need for that. I am the one who will beat them, even their mother won't recognize them.
A look of inquiry appeared on Yuray's face: – What will you do?
– You'll see soon, – Yousafer said as terrifying features appeared on his face.
On the deck of the ship, everyone saw Yousafer and Yuray on the cliff, and as the ship approached, their features became clear to everyone. On the ship, fear appeared on some faces when they saw Yousafer, and they remembered that strange smile he used to flash.
Nelo turned his face toward his followers: – What are these faces? Don't you know that the Great Nelo is with you? Why the fear?
Nelo wanted to show off in front of his followers, so he turned his head and pointed his finger: – You there!
Then he paused, looked at his deputy, and the deputy also looked back at him.
– What is it, Captain?
– Which one of them hit you?
– It's the one in the black cloak.
– Ahem, ahem... Okay. He raised his finger again: – You, man in the black cloak, you will pay a heavy price for hitting my followers!
Disdain appeared on Yousafer's face as he stared at Nelo.
After that, Yousafer smiled a smile that made his face twisted, then he jumped from the high cliff towards the ship which, in turn, docked on the shore. Some people stepped back, including the blonde-haired deputy.
Nelo also jumped towards the shore, drawing the axe that was behind his back: – You scoundrel! You dare strike the followers of the Great Nelo? You will pay the price! He charged towards Yousafer, brandishing his axe, I will make you hate me, you scoundrel.
Without stepping back, Yousafer charged, a smile appeared that an innocent heart could not show, a smile that made Nelo's heart flutter.
Nelo's eyes widened as he looked at Yousafer.
The axe strike passed in front of Yousafer's scornful face, who raised his left eyebrow in a strange way that made his face more terrifying. He waved his hand, a punch stopped in front of Nelo's face, Yousafer retreated, then he soared into the air and fell on his back.
The impact of Yousafer hitting the pebbles caused dust to fly around him, and everyone stared in astonishment.
Everyone on the ship was surprised, and a hint of thought also appeared on Yuray's face: – What is this fool doing? Didn't he say he would beat them badly!
With all this amazement, the most astonished was Nelo, because a punch almost reached his face but suddenly stopped, and then the other soared and fell on his back. He didn't understand anything.
– You scoundrel! – False expressions of anger appeared on Yousafer's face, and he dashed towards Nelo.
Nelo could do nothing but swing his axe, Yousafer twisted his body to the side and once again dodged the attack, and his eyes met Nelo's, a fleeting glance showing disdain on Yousafer's face, then he retreated quickly and crashed into the ship.
"Boom..." The sound of Yousafer crashing into the wood shook the ship's surface.
Yuray's eyebrows furrowed, has he lost his mind?
Fear crept into Nelo's ribs, suddenly he heard a scream from Yousafer that made the hair on his arm stand up:
– I w i l l s m a s h y o u!
But above the ship, shouts rose: – That's the Captain! That's our leader! – Skin him, Captain! Make him regret facing you!
Nelo spoke to himself, his knees trembling: – What are these scoundrels saying?!
Yousafer advanced towards Nelo quickly, he stood in front of him. Nelo froze in place when he saw the expressions on Yousafer's face, a mocking smile with lips curved down and his eyes slightly widened.
Those eyes were what made Nelo's heart beat strongly, but with the palpitation he heard a faint, mocking voice coming out of Yousafer's mouth:
– You will do what I tell you, or else you won't see the light of tomorrow.
When Yousafer spoke, Nelo saw his gaze was not looking at him, but at his hand which was near the banner that adorned his chest and was the same banner on top of the ship.
Nelo's gaze shifted to Yousafer's hand, which was approaching his left shoulder. At that moment his face turned pale.
He saw a black chain coming out from under Yousafer's sleeves, but what made the chain more terrifying were the eyes that adorned some of the chain's links... they were the same eyes as Yousafer's.
– H-he... He... He is Possessed! Nelo almost cried.
– Listen to me well, you scoundrel, I know you don't want to lose your prestige in front of your followers, but if you don't do what I tell you, you will lose your life, not just your prestige.
After a moment of silence, Nelo stammered his words: – W-what... What do you want from me? I-I... I'll do it...
– I will let you defeat me, but you have to head inside the island, go west until you stand in front of the highest peak on the island, wait for me there. But if you think about running away, don't think I won't find you. Anyway, we will talk about the matter later. Do you agree?
Without hesitation, a trembling voice came out of Nelo's mouth: – A-a-agree.
Yousafer's face returned to a look of scorn, and with satisfied features, he then soared seven meters into the air. He looked towards Yuray who understood him, Yousafer fell to the ground as if he were unconscious.
Silence fell on the place, everyone looking towards Yousafer, suddenly...
"HAYYYY"
– Well done, Captain! Well done! You are the best! The shouts of Nelo's followers rose: – This is our leader!
Nelo composed himself a little, raising his hand to the sky declaring his victory, but deep down he was cursing his followers.
Sweat ran down his face: – These scoundrels... I almost died! I'll show you later... What did you get yourselves involved in with this possessed person?!
Yuray descended with slow steps, approached Yousafer, then reached out his hand and lifted him up, placing Yousafer's hand over his shoulder, then began heading inside the island.
– What is going on in your mind, Master of a Thousand Faces?
Yousafer mumbled: – You will know later.
– Sir, they are leaving, should we chase them?
– No! No, stop! – He gestured with both hands, panic on his face, then with an artificial smile he said: – No need for that... A loser remains a loser. I taught him a lesson. The world must know that whoever messes with Nelo and his followers will pay a heavy price.
– The world is not ready yet, sir.
His followers descended to the shore, then Nelo said: – We will set up a camp here.
– Won't we go inside the island, sir?
– Not now. I am your leader, I must scout the place first. We don't know if those two scoundrels have set any traps, so I will wander alone. When I return, we will enter together.
– That is our leader! He risks his life for us! – Sir, I will follow you to the end of my life! – Me too! – And I!
A sign of satisfaction was drawn on Nelo's face as he smiled: – Okay, no need to shout. I will return later. You guys take care of things here, and prepare the tents.
Nelo's gaze shifted from his followers to the island, then he swallowed.
– Damn... Damn you... You're making me stand alone against that devil!
Nelo advanced slowly and disappeared among the trees.
Nelo quickly reached near a high mountain full of trees. Nelo did not encounter any villagers because everyone was in the midst of work, as winter was approaching and some lands had to be ploughed and planted.
He approached a large tree and sat waiting.
Three hours passed: – This scoundrel is late...
No sooner had he spoken these words than Yousafer and Yuray appeared in the distance.
Nelo showed some fear, then stood up and smiled: – Hello, hello my friend!
Yousafer interrupted him: – I don't have time for this talk. Do you know why I didn't kill you and your followers?
Nelo shook his head right and left.
– I left you to protect this island.
Both Nelo and Yuray were astonished.
– Protect this island? – Nelo wondered in confusion.
– Yes, you will stay on this island, and you will protect it for six months.
– S i x m o n t h s?! – Nelo's voice rose, but suddenly he lowered his voice when he remembered those features on the face of the person in front of him.
– What's wrong? Don't you want to?
– No... No, I don't mind... But what will I protect this island from?
Yousafer scoffed: – You will protect it from people like you.
Nelo gave a painful smile then scoffed internally: – Well... Six months with this person and these strange features... I won't do it.
Suddenly, his facial features changed as if he remembered something: – How will this weak person protect the island while you are on it?
– I will leave here tomorrow, but you have to know... I will stay in contact with the villagers. If something happens, I will chase you to the ends of the earth.
Nelo swallowed as he remembered that chain and those eyes, then he said: – Don't worry... Nelo is at the young master's service.
Yuray, who had been standing on the side and hadn't said anything, smiled.
– Let's go, come early tomorrow morning. As for your followers, deal with them. If any of them do something wrong... you don't want to know what will happen.
– Okay, okay, I will. Don't worry, my friend.
Nelo turned sideways and returned the way he came.
Yuray turned his face towards Yousafer, smiled and said: – Should we climb the mountain?
– Let's go, the sunset is approaching.
The two climbed to the summit of the mountain, they stood looking towards the sun slowly departing. Yuray, despite his closed eyes, seemed as if he could see.
After a moment of silence, Yuray broke it: – Isn't the sunset something wonderful?
Yousafer replied: – Just enjoy this moment, because it is the last sunset we will see on this island.
– I will miss this island, we spent beautiful years here, except for that day.
Yousafer remembered the long years he spent on this island and the things he went through and faced, now it is just a memory that will be folded and left behind as if it had never been.
Yousafer smiled: – Nothing lasts in this life. Spring's plants, their summer comes... and the summer of this world has approached.
The End.