Bathed in the warm light of the sun, the lush beautiful and vibrant archipelago of Yamata flourished, like a stunning garden. Behind Yamata sat the Oeo. It’s water so clear that you could, see the blemishes on your skin, from its reflection. Its purity was used as a comparison to all things clean. Teeming with crustaceans and fish, untouched by the harsh arcane energy, and not yet mutated.

However most of the citizens in Jux knew Yamata, by the dividing Maelstrom. Scarcely anyone could make the journey to Yamata, without assistance from a flying level Draken, or a strong enough mage.  The Maelstrom was a monstrous never ending force of nature, which whipped and lashed against the cliff face of Yamata.

Comprised of eight colossal whirlpools, that leads to the dark abyss. With clashing waves so violent and fierce, they would break the bones of any creature too reckless or weary to avoid its wrath. It is said that there is enough water in Maelstrom, to quench your thirst by gazing at it. The dark waters were salty enough to rust steel in an instant, and block out the sun.

Under the dense shade of a mighty oak tree, overlooking the Maelstrom, a young olive skin man gently snored away, on a bed of soft grass. He wore a frayed and withered Kāṣāya, the fabric barely clinging onto his body. Leaves rested his short tuffs of black hair, his slumber deep and tranquil.

 A large dark skinned burly man loomed over him, with a furious scowl and puffing. His sweaty skin glistened under the sun. He wore nothing but a lavalava, a traditional skirt of the male Islanders. 

“Oi, wake up.” The man growled, prodding him with his toe.The young man let out annoyed groan rolling onto his side. The burly man grit his teeth, a vein bulged in his head.

 “I SAID WAKE UP YAMADA!” The man yelled stomping his foot into the soft grass.

The young man quickly shot awake, his eyes half open and drool trickling down the side of his mouth. “Huh! Wha?” He said dazed with his fists up. Yamada rubbed his eyes taking a closer look at the furious man, and giving him an annoyed and disinterested look.

“Oh, it’s just you Kale.”

 Yamada said sitting back down and dusting off his Kāṣāya. Kale’s hand enveloped over Yamada’s forearm, and yanked him to his feet with a single tug of the arm.

“Yamada get up!” Kale exclaimed. “Training is about to start, and Chieftain Kekoa is leading it this time.” Yamada pulled his hand away with ease, and fixed his hair, starting to stretch his shoulders.

“So what? Kekoa never likes me coming to class anyway. What’s he always saying to me? ‘If you can’t use Enk magic, why come to training?’ It was something like that.”

Kale grabbed Yamada by the shoulders, lifting him into the air, shaking him around. “The mage from the Citadel is visiting today? Do you seriously not remember?” He gave Kale a derisive smirk.

“What? That’s not today, there are only seven whirlpools. They said they would come when the Maelstrom is strongest.” Kale spun Yamada in the air, giving him a view of the Maelstrom, as if he had climbed the tree.

 Yamada quickly focused his eyes and began counting the whirlpools. “OH SHIT! THERE’S EIGHT! WHY DIDN’T YOU WAKE ME UP EARLIER!? WE’RE GOING TO BE LATE!” Yamada shouted breaking free of the grip in an instant. Kale threw his hands up in disbelief and annoyance. “Are you serious right now?”

The two of them sprinted across the island with Kale falling behind. “Slow down!” Kale called out, huffing and puffing, struggling to keep up. Yamada planted his bare feet down, splitting the earth apart like a brand new hoe, and turned around.

Kale froze in shock and confusion, watching Yamada running back to him. His eyes bulged and he let out a scream fright, as Yamada threw him onto his shoulders, like a small sack of grain.

Yamada sprinted through the busy market place weaving through the crowds. Vaulting through the vendor stalls, with Kale’s bulky and chunky legs, leaving a trail of destruction. The Islanders cursed and swore at them. “SORRY!” Yamada called out, with Kale giving them an uncomfortable smile and wave.

In a large open field, overlooking the Maelstrom, besieged with battle damage. Several young dark skinned men paired off. Training with wooden staffs, their muscles covered in tattoos of weapons, glistening with sweat.

Yamada leapt out of the thick bushes, covered in twigs and leaves, tumbling in with Kale. Yamada sprung to his feet slightly huffed and looking around frantically, whereas Kale lay on the ground catching his breath.

 “Chieftain Kekoa isn’t here yet. Wooo! Told you we wouldn’t be late.” He said triumphantly, resting his hands on his hips.

 They all glared at him annoyed, as he dusted off his Kāṣāya, now with several more tears. “LINE UP!” A deep booming voice yelled out. All of them stood shoulder to shoulder in an instant, not even dusting off their dirty lavalavas.

Chieftain Kekoa; was a large bald brawny man, covered in scars, and tribal tattoos, past his prime.  He sauntered over with his bulging gut hanging out, holding a thick cane, wearing an oversized jade lavalava, and a grass woven crown. Out of breath from the small walk, he scanned the men up and down with contempt and disappointment.

“The Maelstrom is at its strongest, and when it spits out a beast, you pitiful lot are going to be its first sight. I am filled with nothing but anger and shame, that you children will be the first defence for Yamata.” He shook his head disappointed, turning his back to them and gazed to the vibrant blue sky.

“Grand Mage Urkse will be here shortly to find a new student, for the school of Enk. Look sharp and do not humiliate Yamata, and lose to whatever creature crawls out.”

They all gazed to the sky, the sun blaring down on them, eagerly waiting for the clouds to part. Encara slowly and quietly, stretched his head through Yamada and Kale.

“What are we all looking at?” He asked with a grin.

 Everyone yelled out cursing and swearing, jumping forward and raising their fists. Encara reeled back chuckling, holding his stomach, with Urkse shaking his head.

Chieftain Kekoa was at a loss for words and quickly fell to his knees, slamming his head to the ground. “EVERYONE BOW TO YOUR KING NOW!” He ordered. The others quickly fell to their knees, bowing.

“I told you they were expecting me to fly in.” Urkse said letting out long sigh.

He helped Chieftain Kekoa off his feet, while Encara settled down under the shade of a nearby tree. “Why has the King decided to grace us, with his presence?” “Because he felt like, making my life difficult.” Urkse growled.

Encara opened his magenta cloak, fluffing his high quality white silk shirt, enjoying the cool wind against his skin. Yamada furtively looked up at King Encara, and saw nothing special. He was taller than Yamada by two heads, and nothing else, but being taller than Yamada was an easy task.

“When does the creature arrive? Urkse has prattled on and on, about the delicacy of the Maelstrom.” Encara called out.

“Sh..shortly my King. The Maelstrom will soon change directions.” Chieftain Kekoa said bowing his head down.

Encara rushed over to the perilous cliff edge, to Chieftain Kekoa’s dismay and fright. He peered down at the whirlpools in the Maelstrom, slowly growing in size and merging. “How often does this happen?” He asked.

“Every eight months.” Urkse answered standing next to him. Urkse licked his lips, and swallowed his saliva pooling up in his mouth. Encara looked at him concerned, and back down to the Maelstrom.

“Any creature in particular you want to come out?” Encara asked sarcastically.

 “I really hope it’s a squid, or octopus.” Urkse said rubbing his hands together.

 The whirlpools fused, and then suddenly inversed in directions, the waves crashed away from the large whirlpool. As if even the waters itself feared what would emerge.

 The men all jumped to their feet, pulling obsidian edged leiomanos, spears, and axes from their skin. Encara looked back at the young timid men, readying themselves, however only one of them piqued his interest.

Yamada stood beside the others with the top of his Kāṣāya hanging by his waist. He had the body of a great warrior, but no stories to tell, but his scarred knuckles told a story of rage.

Encara grabbed Urkse by the scruff of his cloak and warped them away. A geyser of water shot into the air, and several giant scaled tentacles latched onto the cliff edge, with spiked suckers.

They tore through the ground, and a water logged roar rang out, sending a shiver down the young men. The giant scaled octopus pulled its gelatinous body up, its bulbous head pulsating with each breath, its scales coloured in vibrant blue rings. They all froze in fear as the creature, glared down at them with its sharp elliptical eyes, like a viper.

“DRAKEN! RUN AWAY NOW!” Chieftain Kekoa shouted, tossing his cane aside, and pulling out his leiomanos from his back. He let out a battle cry charging the Draken, as the other men ran in terror.

Urkse popped the cork from his flask, when he felt Encara’s firm grasp on his shoulder.

“Don’t interfere.” He said with a smile.

Chieftain Kekoa leapt into the air, breaking the ground beneath him, slammed his leiomanos against the Draken. The massive wooden club shattered against the scales, and Chieftain Kekoa stared on frozen at his broken weapon.

A shadow loomed over him, and he gazed up to see a spiked tentacle, coming down. Chieftain Kekoa closed his eyes and readied himself for death. Chieftain Kekoa was tackled out of the way by Yamada.

“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?” Yamada yelled angrily. He was stunned and at a loss for words, staring vacantly at Yamada.

The draken let out a roar, lashing its armoured tentacles, rending the earth apart, charging at them. Chieftain Kekoa ran for dear life, his jiggling fat and fear, irked Encara.

Yamada grit his teeth and clenched his fists, taking a fighting stance. He lowered his base and cocked his fists back. Urkse watched on filled with dread and apprehension, whereas Encara watched on filled with glee and excitement.

We need to help them Encara!” Urkse pleaded. “If they can’t handle a single draken, they’re doomed anyway. Now give them a chance.” Urkse grit his teeth, and knew it was futile to argue against Encara.

“Run away, boy.” Urkse said to himself, keeping his hand ready at his flask.

Yamada leapt off the ground shattering beneath his feet, letting out a battle cry. His lightning fast speed shocked Urkse, Encara and the Draken. His fist dug deep into the beast’s bulbous head, and knocked it back a few meters.

Its tentacles slammed into the ground, the beast shook its head enraged and let out another roar. Swinging its spiked tentacles wildly at Yamada, he dodged each strike, like a leaf dancing in the wind. Encara smiled from ear to ear, watching Yamada approach the beast.

He continued to dodge over and under, in and out of the tentacles. Delivering heavy yet swift blows, to any tentacles he could not dodge. Each blow cracked the hardened scales, and made the beast cry out.

The Draken recoiled onto its tentacles, revealing the scaled beak underneath its gelatinous body. Yamada mounted a tentacle, as a torrent of hot ink shot out. The ink melted through the ground like butter in a hot pan, before being sucked into Urkse’s flask.

Yamada quickly scaled a tentacle, to the Draken’s head. He cocked his fist back and let out a primal scream, plunging his fist through the beast’s eye. A spout of blue blood splattered across Yamada, and the beast recoiled in agony, stumbling backwards to the cliff edge, its tentacles still flailing wildly.

Yamada continued his barrage, each blow covered in him blue innards and blood. The cliff edge gave way and the two of them plummeted down to the Maelstrom.

Urkse and Encara rushed over to the edge, watching the two of them descend into the raging waters below. Urkse popped his flask, when Encara swatted him away with the back of his hand. He was sent flying away, crashing into the trees.

“Bliss.” Encara whispered. The golden and turquoise cross of blessing magic branded Urkse, his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and a euphoric smile crossed over his face.

The Draken’s twitching corpse crashed into the Maelstrom with Yamada following in suit. The Draken was quickly swallowed by the whirlpool, and he was thrown from its corpse into the middle.

He took a breath, large enough to crack his ribs, as a monstrous wave swallowed him whole. He felt his bones crack and his muscles rupture.

He mustered all his strength swimming to the surface, taking a gasp of air, before he was crushed under another wave. Yamada desperately swam back to the surface, for a wisp of air. He was whipped back and forth by the violent waves. Sucked into a whirlpool, desperately trying to swim out of its mighty pull, he felt his energy being sapped away.

He screamed for help, the water filled his lungs, in an instant. He sunk into the abyss of the Maelstrom. Yamada bounced off a colossal stone serpent head, at the bottom of the Maelstrom.

Yamada was but a speck to its fang, as he continued to sink. The stone around the serpent’s neck shattered, with two frilled fins coming out, and it let out a roar, before turning back to stone.

The islands of Yamata shook violently for a flash. Encara looked down at the Maelstrom with pure glee. Seeing his reflection and Yamada floating atop the gentle and calm Maelstrom.