Recruitments
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It was early in the morning as the group gathered in the barracks, the sky a colorful dance of oranges and purples. The kingdom was just beginning to awaken to life, with faint smoke being spotted from chimneys and the many clatters of merchants and workers heading to work. One of these many early-birds, was the prince himself as he tiredly got out of bed.
It was a week after the message was sent to all major cities across Yueii, of King Enji offering gold for whoever will take up the dangerous task. The talk of mermaids was more of folktales and bedtime stories, commonly told to scare children is not going far from home. In the Westerlands the elves barely even believed in them, simply disregarding them as from a sailor's hallucination.
With this, the group was quite shocked to notice an abundant amount of candidates for the task. Aizawa simply pointing out how the gold reward was enough to persuade them, the rest nodding in agreement.
Shoto stared at the lineup of different types of people, he was a bit tired to have wakened up early but at least it was a decent crowd. Yawning softly as he made his way down the steps, accompanied by the other advisors and knights.
Aizawa wrote their names down and went through some series to test their skills, primarily just him and Iida sparring with them. Even testing their archery skills with the infamous Edgeshot, just to see where they stand. Shoto sat back and eyed his future crew members, taking notes of which one failed or succeeded in the challenges.
Shoto was quite taken aback as he noticed just how different each one was from the rest, wondering where they must've come from. There was a tall-broad man with multiple arms, another with what seemed to be a bird for a head, two others with one being mute, and a small boy with purple hair who just so happens to be quick enough to qualify. A diverse group, but that's what they were looking for after all.
The new team decided to rest after such a challenging morning, servants coming around to offer small treats or drinks to the others. As he rested on the ground, Iida came up to him. "So, what do you think about our future acquaintances?"
"They're alright, I'm sure they'll be beneficial during the actual mission," Shoto replied, earning a nod of agreement from the blue-haired elf.
Just as Aizawa was about to state their second course of action, a rather boisterous roar rang throughout the sky, the men shaking from the sheer volume of it. Guards hastily went on alert, swords at the readied, as they stared above to pot the culprit.
Mingling amongst the clouds, against the rays of the beaming sun, they spotted a shadowy figure flying through the clouds. What made them more nervous was when it began to get bigger and bigger, eyes widening as the image became more clearer. The calm atmosphere changing as the spotted the crimson scales.
Shoto looked fascinated, it is his first time to see a dragon so close before he was promptly swarmed by guards and others blocking his view. Though it didn't take long to notice it as it crashed onto the ground, they were caught by surprise again when the large dragon in front of them, proceeded to turn into a human.
"Oi Shitty Head! Who told you to shift back!? I didn't even make my entrance yet!" A spiky-blonde head said, who Shoto instantly recognized as the prince of the Drache people, he met him once and could never forget such a loud guest. Bakugo was his name, he recalls.
It was rather uncommon to meet a Drache Royal far from home, especially in Endea of all places. In the past, the two groups were constantly feeding until just recently a treaty was signed, thus how he even came across the angry blonde. Though what they weren't expecting was him to also participate in the journey too.
"I'm sorry! It's just that guy over there stared into my soul, so scary!!" The dragon-boy exclaimed, cowering behind the prince as he motioned towards Aizawa who still held his gaze.
The huddled group dispersed at the presence of another royal, Shoto also taking the time to step forward. He noticed a bunch of bags on the ground, and also two people behind the pair who seemed to be passed out, one snoring rather loudly.
"Who cares, you're a dragon for god's sake!" Bakugo barked out, now turning to the sleepers before kicking them both in the head. "And you two, get up! Dunce Face and Duct Tape, you're getting all my stuff dirty!"
The two got up rubbing the newly made red spots on their heads. The blonde one with a black streak yawned before tiredly standing up. "Geez Bakugo, I told you I needed beauty sleep!"
"Yeah, we're not even here yet—" the black-haired cut himself off once he glanced over his surroundings, his mouth opening in an 'o' shape. The group now comprehending where they are, and who they're with, the two sleepers quickly bowing as mumbling apologies before Bakugo again yelled at them to 'shut up'.
Aizawa was first to speak, lowering his weapon which the others followed in suit. "It's a pleasure to be in your presence, despite such an entrance, but may I ask why you're here?" Giving the prince a confused expression through his tired features.
"Oh! We came here because we heard of the reward and bounty! Bakugo here is the strongest in our entire city after all." The dragon said, more cheery without Aizawa's glare, Bakugo giving a smirk but silently giddy over the praise. "I'm Kirishima Eijiro, call me Kirishima! I assume you already know Bakugo, that guy over there is Kaminari and the other is Sero!" He happily cheered.
"Are we going to act like the dragon didn't just turn human!?" Hizashi questioned, giving Kirishima a skeptical look. The blonde nearly had a panic attack when he saw the beast, it took all his courage to not scream his soul out.
"Oh! It's our magic, transformation magic to be exact, it's how we got here so quick!" The red-haired exclaimed happily.
"Either way, it's a pleasure to meet you all, I'm glad to know you all came to help us," Shoto stated, beginning to bow to show his thankfulness before interrupted by a rather loud Pomeranian.
"As if I'm here to help you! This is just another step for me to show everyone I'm the strongest and most powerful, nothing gets in my way no matter what they are!" Bakugo shouted pridefully, grinning proudly. "You might as well call the job done already."
The two groups began giving small introductions, Bakugo boasting of all his achievements until Aizawa ushered them into the building, leading them to the dining hall which was rearranged to make a longer table for them all to sit together.
Each one seating along the table whilst a servant from nearby rolled out a map across it of the region of Yueii. It depicted the region as a whole, showing from the most notable cities to the smallest towns and landmarks. Due to the large group, some were forced to stand and simply peer over the other's shoulders to admire it.
However, none of their attention was on the region itself but the archipelago to the eastern coast of Endea, with a name which is at the center of countless tales and bedtime stories. The infamous, Moonshire Bay, home to the mermaids.
The bay is the center of countless deaths, entire armadas can go in and only one or two ships would leave it, scarred by the horrors they witnessed. Mermaids were mysterious creatures, they say they're the prettiest beings the stars ever created yet one of the deadliest.
Their beautiful features match their lovely voices, which captivated even the strongest wills. However, just like the ocean, soft and gentle on the surface, underneath it holds countless hidden horrors.
Shoto immediately sensed the tension in the room, even Bakugo who rested his feet lazily on the table had nothing to say. Shoto eyed the others and noticed the many emotions flickering in their eyes, some were scared, frightful, others hesitant and some grinning at the new challenge.
"Now that we're all here, before we get started I'd like to remind you all this is entirely optional." Aizawa began, also eyeing others and continuing as he saw some hesitate but not leave. "Well, reminder there's no going back, but anyways... We've already prepared the ship for the adventure, you all will be assigned to it by tonight and get settled in. You'll leave by tomorrow during daybreak, the trip will take no less than 5 days if the weather is ideal."
Aizawa took a pause to let his words begin to settle in with the group, Bakugo being the first to speak up. "Why not get going now? I've spent an entire week just to come here, the sooner the better."
"The water is low tide currently, it won't be a good plan to set sail," Shoto replied, earning a glare from the blonde prince. "Now that's out of the way, I'll like to remind everyone that we're not going to kill a mermaid, but capture one, and from what I've read they only seem to be the most active at night which is our best chance."
"If that's your plan Icy-hot you might as well send half the people in here to their graves, mermaids are the most active at night since they're at their strongest." Bakugo blurted, scoffing at the slight shocked in the other prince's face since he didn't know such a basic fact.
"W-what Bakugo meant to say, was that Mermaids, like other creatures, gain magic through the primal sources. Dragons get it from the sun, Elves from the land, Harpy's from the sky, and Mermaids from the moon. Thus well, making them stronger.." Kirishima stated, saying the last part for lowly as he went to scratch the back of his head.
Aizawa looked to the prince for a reply, noting just how riskier this journey began, but the prince took a deep breath before saying, "If that's the case, then we'll give it our all. This is the only way to save my fa-sister from that unfortunate disease." He breathed out, internally criticizing himself for almost slipping up.
Almost no one knew of the king's condition, not even generals or members of the Royal Guard due to how closed off they kept the situation. Aizawa quickly spoke up to divert the other's attention, "With that being said, you all are welcomed to sleep in the bunks while we prepare for the trip. I suggest you all sleep tight and even write your last wills if worst comes to show."
With that, the group dispersed, once most left the room Iida running up towards to two-toned haired prince. "My Prince, are you sure about this? You are your father's heir and if anything were to happen—"
"It's my duty Tenya, I know you're worried not just as a knight but as a friend, though this is our only option," Shoto said, getting out of his chair as he fixes his shirt. "Despite my own opinions towards my father, I'd make a terrible ruler unlike him, and also my sister has been pressuring me to attempt on rekindling a connection."
He glanced towards the table, eyeing Moonshire Bay intently. And so, the journey begins.
...
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Hopefully you guys enjoyed the first chapter, not much is going to happen and it's be a while until we finally meet the friendly neighborhood broccoli, so sit tight!!