After several days, aboard the small boat that swayed gently atop the calm sea waves, Hamza, Travis, and Basil sat as they made their way toward their destination. The sun had begun to set beyond the horizon, painting the sky in a warm orange hue, while the water reflected this breathtaking scene.
The three remained silent for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.
At that moment, Hamza broke the silence as he looked at Travis and asked in a serious tone,
"What you did surprised me, Travis… why did you run away at first when the pirates attacked us?"
Travis did not answer immediately. Instead, he pulled a small necklace from his pocket and held it gently between his fingers.
He stared at it, as if memories were beginning to flood his mind, before saying in a calm voice,
"I didn't run away… I was looking for something important that I lost in the sea."
Hamza raised an eyebrow in curiosity, while Travis continued to gaze at the necklace and said in a low voice,
"I was carrying this necklace… it's very important to me. When the pirate ship collided with the merchant vessel, it slipped from my hand and fell into the water. I had to jump into the sea to search for it. Once I retrieved it, I returned to the ship."
Hamza listened carefully without commenting. Basil, who was leaning against the edge of the boat, glanced at the device on Travis's ear and asked curiously,
"The thing you're wearing on your ear… what exactly is it?"
Travis finally lifted his head from the necklace, slipped it back into his pocket, then touched the small metallic device attached to his ear and smiled.
"It's part of the wheel I carry on my back. When I place it on my ear, it wraps around my eyes and grants me unique abilities."
He continued,
"This tool gives me special powers. Through it, I can see distant objects clearly and detect what is hidden, and it greatly enhances my sense of hearing."
Then, in a sudden motion, he detached the metal wheel carrying his weapons from his back, placed the device onto it, and pressed a symbol near a glowing stone at its center.
In an instant, the wheel shrank until it was the size of his palm, causing Basil and Hamza to stare at it in astonishment.
As they were talking, suddenly the stone in Basil's necklace lit up with a brilliant glow!
From within it emerged a strange bird, resembling a falcon, but distinguished by a small crown upon its head, giving it an air of majesty.
The bird perched firmly on Basil's shoulder, then spoke,
"I am Zirs, your guide on this journey."
The three stood frozen in shock, staring at the bird that had emerged from the stone.
The bird continued,
"Your next destination is the island of Estlazon. But beware… monsters live there. This journey will not be easy."
After finishing its words, it returned to the stone, leaving everyone in a state of disbelief.
Travis, still trying to process what had happened, asked Basil seriously,
"Who is that bird?"
Basil answered in confusion, staring at the necklace that was still faintly glowing,
"I… I don't know him. I've never seen him before in my life."
At that moment, Hamza sensed something suspicious in Basil's words. Without hesitation, he drew his sword and pointed it at Basil, saying sharply,
"Tell the truth, Basil. Who are you really?"
Beside him, Travis did not hesitate to draw his weapon as well, his brows furrowed with concern.
"Have you been deceiving us all this time? Are you really who you claim to be?"
Basil looked at them in shock, raising his hands in an attempt to calm them.
"Please, there's no need for this… there's been a misunderstanding!"
But doubt had already crept into their hearts, prompting Travis to step closer and say coldly,
"I've always felt there was something mysterious about you. The stone you carry is no ordinary object… why didn't you tell us about it before?"
Basil took a deep breath, realizing there was no escape from the truth. He sighed and said,
"I'm searching for the seven Papryos Stones… these stones possess immense power, capable of destroying kingdoms. I must find them before they fall into their hands, or the world will sink into darkness."
Travis, now more alert, said thoughtfully,
"I've heard of these stones… it's said they hold supernatural power. But who are these people who could plunge the world into darkness?"
Basil replied in a low voice,
"There is a secret organization of villains called the 'Liberation Organization'… they're after these stones as well. If they obtain them before us, there will be no hope left for this world."
Hamza looked at him seriously and said,
"Why didn't you tell us from the beginning?"
Basil looked down, as if carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and said,
"Because I wasn't sure who I could trust. I should have been honest with you both from the start."
After a few moments of silence, Travis's grip on his weapon loosened slightly, while a thoughtful expression appeared on Hamza's face. Then he said,
"So this is the real reason you came to Estlazon…"
A brief silence followed before Hamza lowered his sword and said,
"You seem sincere. But remember, we're in this together. And if you're hiding anything else, it's better to tell us now."
Travis, now fully aware of the danger of the journey, said cautiously,
"If these stones are that powerful, we should expect dangerous confrontations."
Basil nodded firmly and said,
"I'm ready for whatever comes."
And so, the three realized that their journey was no longer just an adventure… it had become an encounter with forces far greater than they had anticipated. The only key to survival was trust and working together.