by Jay Noel
Under his shirt, Zen felt his stone amulet pulse with heat. He placed his hand over the warmth, and he said a prayer to the spirits for their continued guidance.
Enapay, with his dark goggles covering his eyes, walked up the short stairway and worked the many levers and controls at the helm. The propellers groaned as they turned downwards and spun rapidly. Zen felt a creaking shift in the normal tilt of the wooden floor as the airship rose. The hull rattled, and the familiar agonizing sensation of leaving the earth crept into his core.
The propellers gathered strength, and when Enapay turned a smaller wheel built into the side of the wooden helm, the ship gently floated high up above the trees. Enapay's movements were automatic, and Zen felt a little more at ease from seeing the pilot’s expertise. The propellers swiveled again, returning to their places at the front of the metal cylinders he assumed housed the gas ballonets. Enapay pushed a tall lever forward, and the airship went from hovering to gliding.
Zen held onto the metal railing and watched as the sun began its fall towards the horizon. He peeked over the hull's edge, surveying the unfamiliar landscape. Red mountains and miles of desert with sparse vegetation dominated the land. He felt the pilot's stare on his back, and his mistrust of the man returned. Zen couldn't bring himself to trust someone who wore a permanent smile, so he kept his right hand on the grip of his pistol.
“I assume you're a long way from home.”
Enapay's voice cut through the constant humming of the propellers, and it made Zen jump.
“Where are you from?” Enapay asked.
Zen turned away from the railing to face him. “Nihon.”
“What brings you here to Agrios?”
Several explanations almost escaped Zen's mouth, but he reminded himself once again to keep his nobility a secret. It felt unnatural pretending to be someone else, and in his hesitation, he failed to find the right words. He had made the mistake of replying with the truth before, and it had drawn laughter from Zapitoni's pirates. Zen was reluctant to be the butt of jokes again.
“You must be looking for someone. Or something,” Enapay added.
Zen tipped his head, just enough to let Enapay know he was correct.
“I'm well-traveled. Perhaps I can point you in the right direction. I've flown from one coast to the other, and I can navigate all the spaces in between.” Enapay's tone conveyed sincerity laced with curiosity. “What are you looking for?”
“A sword.”
It was almost a whisper, and Zen couldn't believe he actually said it. He wanted to take it back the moment his words escaped his lips.
“A sword?” Enapay scrunched his lips. “You're a treasure hunter. How magnificent. Now you're talking my language. What kind of sword?”
Zen took a long time in answering. There was no turning back now. “A special sword.”
He fiddled with the strap pressed against his chest. The importance of his quest was a source of pride and embarrassment. The contradiction made no sense to him, and he kicked the wooden hull in disgust. Doubt had been his only companion during the long voyage across the Pacifica Ocean, and now it stalked him to Agrios.
“This is an untamed land, home to fleeing criminals, exiles, and eager pioneers from all over the world. If you're looking for a long lost sword, you've come to the right place.”
Zen spun around and caught Enapay still showcasing his nonchalant grin. He waited for the pilot's ridicule to begin, and he already felt hot resentment burning his veins.
Enapay said, “Please, tell me more. I would like to be of help.”
The pilot's response bewildered Zen, and he wondered if maybe he judged Enapay too harshly. Or perhaps the native feigned compassion in the hopes of drawing more information out of him. He went up the steps that led to the elevated helm. Zen sighed and willingly took the bait.
“My people believe Iberia's invasion of Xia is inevitable. If Xia falls, Nihon will be next. Xia is already weakened by a civil war. The sword will help unite them, so we can form a formidable alliance against Iberia.”
“A treasure hunter with a purpose, searching for a special sword?” Enapay's right eyebrow arched.
“The Sky Blade,” replied Zen. It felt foolish saying it aloud, but he continued anyway. “It is an object of high reverence to the Xian people. The one to possess it is the preordained ruler of Xia. The weapon is known to be enchanted with otherworldly powers.”
Once again, he waited for Enapay to jeer at him. However, it never happened. This gave Zen enough courage to continue.
“With it, we can stop the civil war and unify the country. Together, with all of the powers of the Sun Nation as allies, we will have a chance against Iberian aggression.”
Speaking of it made him feel naked. Zen regretted even answering. He turned away and looked back down at the thinning trees for answers. His lack of faith made him unworthy to find the mythical sword, even if it did exist.
“We have a similar story told by the Elders of our tribe,” said Enapay. “In our version, the weapon is a golden spear.”
Enapay's words offered no solace. In fact, it trivialized his quest. How many civilizations spoke of similar legends and myths? Maybe the Sky Blade was nothing but a bedtime story. He was so far away from Nihon, and returning home empty-handed was inconceivable. Zen would rather die than face such humiliation.
“The Iberian Empire is a growing threat here as well,” Enapay said. “They've even managed to establish several metropolitan settlements along the Eastern Seaboard. The Wild Land tribes settled their differences in order to repel the Iberians.”
The wind grew cooler, but it pushed the airship even faster towards its destination. Zen shivered. He was thankful Enapay had not belittled what he was sure sounded like a fairy tale, and Zen decided to change the subject.
“This is a remarkable craft. We have nothing like this at home. We use balloons for island hopping and observation, but nothing that can travel this fast.”
Enapay pointed to the black towering machine sitting in the stern of the ship. The iron monster let out a constant growl. “The key is not the boiler, nor the advanced condenser I built with my own hands. The secret is the coal.”
He pulled a small lever that seemed to lock the steering mechanism in place and walked over to a large wooden chest on the floor. From the way Enapay opened it, Zen guessed the contents were fragile. Inside was a mound of black coal, but upon closer inspection, the coal was infused with blue iridescent flecks. It illuminated the entire chest, and when Enapay grabbed a chunk with his hands, it seemed to glow.
“It's Iberian coal.” Enapay held the rock as if it were a delicate flower. “They call it carbsidian.”
Zen took the sample rock from him and noticed its warmth. “What exactly is it?”
“I worked for a great scientist and engineer on the Eastern Coast, right in the middle of the Iberian colony. When my tenure was over, I brought some of his new technology with me. The Iberian vehicles in the east travel at great speeds, yet need less combustible fuel. The secret is their carbsidian. I took two crates of it.”
“You stole them?” Zen asked, speaking before he was able to choose his words with more care.
“Practically. I challenged an Iberian captain to a stick-war with Toksu. I wagered my airship, the captain wagered his stock of carbsidian. Toksu thrashed him.”
Enapay laughed, and Zen couldn't help but follow.
“The problem was creating suitable components and mechanisms to burn the carbsidian correctly. The stuff creates such massive pressure in the boiler. Standard casing wouldn't work. My first dozen experiments didn't end well. I finally got it right.”
Zen appreciated Enapay's talents, and the airship was most certainly a marvel. This was the kind of technology Nihon could use in a war with Iberia. Zen was not in the least bit mechanically inclined, and he admired the skill necessary to build such a machine.
“Carbsidian allows my ship to be the fastest and the most efficient flying m
achine in the world. Even faster than an Iberian Nao class warship.” Enapay took the piece of blue coal from Zen. “A lot goes a long way. That one chest will last me two years at least.”
“This carbsidian is mined in Iberia?” Zen asked. His amulet's heat grew, and its intensity caught him off guard.
“Not necessarily. They infuse standard coal with a blue rock called azullium. They re-manufacture it, and it's a process that must be complicated and expensive. I hear azullium is found throughout the Iberian Peninsula and is being mined along the eastern coast of Agrios. They say the blue rock might also be hidden under the mountains of Western Xia. Before I run out, I'll have to go back and sucker somebody else to give me their carbsidian.”
With deliberate hands, Enapay placed the rock back into his trunk and closed the lid. “Makes you wonder what else those Iberians are working on, right?”
Zen nodded. “That is why I am here. I watched pictogram footage in which an Iberian soldier climbed into a massive suit of armor and suddenly gained the strength of a hundred men. They have created rapid firing guns that can cut down troops in mere seconds.”
There was an uneasy shift in Enapay's eyes, and Zen felt the rush of blood fill his face.
“You do not believe me?” Zen asked in a low voice.
“Actually I do,” Enapay began. “But...”
“You think I am an ignorant child, chasing after a dream.” Zen wrapped his coat tighter around his body while he kept his eyes staring out into the distance. It was foolish to think Enapay or anyone else might believe him. “I can tell that you think I am a buffoon.”
Enapay put a hand up in defense. “No, you're not a buffoon. Misguided maybe.”
“It seems I keep running into faithless men like yourself,” said Zen. “I have no choice but to believe. Maybe I am a buffoon after all.”
Enapay looked as if he was going to speak, but he tightened his lips.
“I was taught to believe in Fate.” Zen stood up, holding onto a rope for balance. “That things reveal themselves in due time.”
For a moment, Zen wondered if he was trying to talk himself into pushing aside his doubts. When his amulet pulsated against his flesh, he struggled to grasp the new found strength of his conviction and virtue.
Enapay shook his index finger. “Fate is when we construct meaning and order where there is chaos.”
Zen couldn't resist any longer, and he pulled his glowing blue medallion from underneath his coat. He held it out while still around his neck. He watched Enapay's eyes grow wide as the amulet released its blue light in time with the rhythmic humming of the airship's engine.
“This is a special stone, enchanted by my master to assist me on my quest. It has been glowing like this ever since I have been in your airship.” He held onto the stone, as if he was holding his resolve in his own hand. “It is a sign.”
Enapay stepped forward and examined the necklace. “It looks similar to the shards of azullium fused with the Iberian carbsidian I have. Maybe your stone is reacting to it.”
Without saying a word, Zen tucked his amulet back under his shirt. There was no use in trying to convince Enapay of the validity of his quest. More importantly, Zen still needed to convince himself. He wanted to change the subject again. Zen looked at Enapay's steering wheel in contemplation.
That was when he saw it. Zen rushed towards the helm. He couldn't take his eyes off of the intricate design etched into the wood of the steering wheel.
“What are you doing?” Enapay asked finally.
Zen stepped away. The veil of doubt and fear evaporated from his mind. “The carvings on your helm. I did not fully notice them until now.”
Enapay's smile returned. “You like it? I hired a craftsman to carve this design for me to commemorate the dragonfly. I had him carve them into the wood, around the entire rim of the wheel.”
“Why dragonflies?” Zen's heart hammered against his ribcage.
“My airship reminded me of a dragonfly. The propellers also make the same papery fluttering sound. You're on board the Dragonfly.”
Zen hadn't moved. Surely he could make Enapay understand now. Without a word, he hurried to his backpack. He removed the rigid armor and held it up for Enapay to see. “This is my nerigawa.”
Enapay shrugged as if he was lost. “That's your Origin word for chest armor, right?”
“The Kanze Clan symbol.” He pointed to the center of the red breast piece. “This is the symbol of my clan, and it is now represented on my country's new banner.”
Enapay grabbed a lantern from the floor, throwing light onto the armor. The pilot nearly dropped his light. His eyes came into focus on the crest embossed onto the red lacquered leather.
The dragonfly. It was the most sacred and profound emblem in Zen's family, and now for his whole nation.
Zen removed his coat and began to strap his nerigawa on his torso. Euphoria filled his heart, and his feet felt as light as air when he sauntered away from the helm to a small built-in bench near the stern of the ship. Wearing his armor brought him peace and solidified his conviction. When he plopped down on the hard wood, he let out a deep breath.
“It is Fate, Enapay. I am meant to be here, and I heed the signs because I have faith. Your lack of it changes nothing for me.”
The Sky Blade was out there, somewhere in this untamed wild land. He would find it. Or die trying.
THUNDER RIPPED THROUGH THE SKY. It startled Zen, and Enapay veered the airship sharply to the left. The Dragonfly cruised at approximately a thousand feet in the air as it approached the Nabeho fortress. Even in the fading sunlight, Zen saw a wide river flowing north of the walls.
An imposing rampart surrounded the village, which looked more like an enclosed metropolis. In one corner of the compound, a tall castle-like structure dwarfed the tiny domed-shape homes scattered around it. At this western gate, a pair of bastions jutted out from the wall. This is where Zen saw a burst of flame and knew it was gunfire. Enapay must have seen it too, as his airship jerked before diving towards the ground. Zen held onto a rope. His stomach jumped with the sudden loss of altitude.
A wide dirt road led to the high wall, and Zen caught a wild commotion outside the iron gates. There was another flash of gunfire followed by a man's anguished scream.
“Raiders.” Enapay maneuvered the speeding Dragonfly towards the gate. “They're trying to break into the village.”
Despite the dimming light, Zen made out several large figures wearing overcoats and hats. There were maybe four or five of them forming a semi-circle around someone injured on the ground up against the closed gates. The menacing figures turned and looked up at them. They raised their weapons and fired at the airship.
The raiders' shots harmlessly cut through the air as the Dragonfly descended. Zen saw bodies scattered on the ground thirty feet below, which he concluded were fallen Nabeho guards. The bullets were getting closer to finding their marks, and Zen could wait no longer. He found his revolver and climbed to the starboard edge of the airship.
“What the hell are you doing? We're still too high.” Enapay kept one hand on the steering wheel, but tried to grab Zen with the other.
Zen crouched low and gripped a rope for balance. He allowed the inner calm to settle in his body, and he beckoned Ishen to overtake him. His vision sharpened, and he welcomed the surging energy growing from within.
All four raiders stopped shooting and reloaded their weapons. After a deep breath, Zen let go of the rope and hurled himself into the air. He fanned his gun and unleashed three bullets as the ground swelled beneath him. His legs crashed onto the dusty ground. Zen's momentum carried him forward, so he tucked his body into a tight ball and tumbled towards the raiders.
Zen watched two raiders go limp before dropping to the ground, and that left another pair standing. They both drew their reloaded pistols, but Zen sprang up on one knee and fired first. Despite the sensation of the ground spinning, he struck both. One of them managed to pull his trigger before taking
a bullet to the forehead, and Zen felt the shot tear through the air on his right. He got to his feet and went to the wounded Nabeho warrior who sat against the tall, iron gate.
The Dragonfly hovered above the ground. Distant gunfire rang out, but Zen couldn't discern where it came from. His head buzzed, and Zen felt Ishen dissipate. Thinning light clouded his vision, and he watched the dark forms of people inside the compound running towards him. Enapay landed the airship, and with his rifle in hands, he joined Zen at the gate.
The wounded brave whispered in his Origin tongue. Zen kept his face close to the young Nabeho. The brave's jacket was damp with blood, his breaths labored and shallow.
“We held them off, right?” the drifting warrior asked in the Standard language.
“You did,” replied Enapay as he crouched down and touched the warrior's forehead.
The warrior let out one final breath before all the tension in his face and body released.
The heavy gate slid upwards, and more Nabeho approached from inside. They were all armed and breathing heavily when they surrounded the fortress entrance. The sounds of war still echoed from the distance, sounds Zen knew all too well. He realized that over two seasons had passed since his final battle with the Kaga Clan, and he thirsted for the thrill of war.
“More of them are at our east gate,” one of them said to Enapay. The tribesman suffered from a still-fresh bullet wound on his left arm. “We have them pinned down there.”
Enapay nodded. “We'll get back in the air and take them out.”
The Nabeho warrior said something to Enapay in their native language, and Enapay responded likewise. Zen had no idea what they had said to each other, but from the looks on their faces, it didn't look like a pleasant exchange.
Enapay motioned for Zen to follow him to the Dragonfly. Zen stood over the dead Nabeho warrior and said a silent prayer before he followed Enapay to the airship.
The boiler roared and blew out blue smoke from the exhaust as the two propellers came to life. With a sudden whoosh from inside the metal cylinders, the airship lifted from the ground. Enapay stood behind the helm and grasped the levers and steering wheel to maneuver the Dragonfly back up into the air.