Traversing the Waters of Ilo

Baaarf…

"I can't last another day…I feel so nauseated."

Baaarf…

Rigo's stomach keeps on churning with the transverse motion of the ship, and he's already looking 5 years older. Feeling a rocking sensation, his eyes are pouring a pool of water. It's been two days already and they have to travel another two whole days before disembarking to the Capital.

"Yikes! Rigo, you looked as pale as a ghost."

"Don't talk to me, blondie! This was all your fault."

Collapsing on the deck, Rigo waved his hand weakly trying to dismiss Blair.

Baaarf…

"What have I done, superior?"

Blair's emerald eyes full of worry stared at Rigo.

"If you… didn't insist on traveling by water—I wouldn't experience this embarrassing incapacitation."

"Sigh…"

She clasped her hands together and drooped her head and shoulders.

"I just missed eating fresh food especially the sweet and tender buffalo meat."

Blair sighed and walked away; started to whimper on a corner. She turned back and crouched on her feet.

"Ugh! I can't believe you—"

Baaarf…

Rai came out from the cabin and saw the miserable Rigo. The guy who could give protection to others; the one who could pacify a scared heart—is now a scared as a cat and couldn't even win a simple banter. She approached the man and kneeled down in front of him.

"Sanar…"

A gentle cool breeze penetrated the body of Rigo. Slowly, his complexion started to change and get better.

"Thank you, again, Rai. I'm ashamed."

"There's nothing to be ashamed of. It just so happened that the 'mighty' Rigo has also its weakness just like any other else."

Rai smiled politely and suddenly turned her look away from him; suppressing her laugh.

"Are you making fun of me? Why does everyone seem to like teasing me, eh?"

"No, Rigo. I am on your side."

Rai gave him a knowing smile and patted him on the shoulder. She knows Rigo's weaknesses and strengths; there could only be some things for him. They have been together since their academy days and he has been one of the apprentices of her brother.

"How is Agor doing?"

"He hasn't woken up yet but I think he's having nightmares at night."

"…"

"He's sweating profusely and really cold. He's saying something I couldn't understand."

As the two continue their conversation, the seawater started to agitate the ship.

Wooosh! Slap!

Swoosh! Whoosh!

Thud!

The water started to tremble, and strong splashes of water collided with the ship's hull. The water waves are somewhat familiar to the travelers, but something is telling them that there is something more.

"There's no wind and the current is changing."

Rigo looked up in the sky and wondered.

Noticing Rigo's deep pondering on what's happening, Rai turned to the waters with a puzzled stare.

There are shadows underneath, progressing in their own movements and not just going with the flow of the now raging sea.

"Wha… what are these kataws doing in the waters of Ilo?"

Kataws are generally found in the waters of Boho and have a covenant with the Elf Guardian. They are green sea creatures with fins on their face, hands and legs, and gills covering their body. They lure inhabitants with their hypnosis and drown them in the deepest part of the sea.

Inspecting the surrounding of the ship, there are more or less 25 kataws swimming and getting closer to the ship. Their eyes are hypnotic and weakening one's nerves.

"Get away from the side of the ship."

An orotund voice was heard from behind.

"Captain!"

"We can't do anything to them."

The kataws are now getting on the ship. Rigo cast a protective barrier on him and his team.

"Why here, in Ilo where we can't do anything to them?"

Wilo gritted his teeth with seething anger.

"There's no chance I could contact Minokawa, much more the Elf."

The captain stated and grew despondent.

"Rai, you better not let your guard down the most. They are most likely to manipulate you since you are a water mage."

"Yes, Captain."

She nodded in respect. The captain moved in front and tried to talk to the kataws.

"Why are you in the waters of Ilo?"

The captain directed his question to the leader of the group. The kataw leader has a golden insignia of the kataws on its left chest; a broken golden treble fish hook carried by a muscular kataw. It signifies their strong power under the waters.

"We are here to procure something that is in your possession."

The kataw leader proclaimed authoritatively.

"What is it that you want?"

The leader didn't respond but instead, he started surveying the ship. He instructed his men to search for the thing they must acquire.

"How did you know it is here with us?"

"Don't need to answer. I just need to obtain that thing."

"Whatever it is, you won't be getting anything from us."

Captain Ravil moved two steps forward. He couldn't control his seething mana but was shortly stopped by the kataw leader.

"You know we can't fight, Captain."

The captain couldn't do anything but made sure that he won't be pushed back. It may seem unfair but they really can't do any harm towards the kataws. They are the protector of the waters; the protector of the region of Boho. Without the blessing from the Elf Guardian, they are not safe. They can fight them and inflict harm, but this will mean that they have to face the grudge of the entire kataw and ruin the trust of the Elf.

Part of the covenant between the Elf Guardian and the Most High Kataw is that inhabitants will not inflict any harm or danger towards the kataws as they protect the inhabitants of Boho from others who intend to do them harm in any way. They could only fight a kataw in areas protected by the Elf; no reason is reasonable nor unreasonable if it's outside the protection of the Elf.

Long before, kataws are hunted by the inhabitants for slave trafficking. Ten years before the establishment of the new Irca, an inhabitant of now Boho region formed an alliance that suppressed the illegal kataw slavery and killing. At first, this group was demoralized and inconspicuously attacked by other inhabitants who benefited from slavery. They were those unscrupulous, powerful, rich, cunning inhabitants. One incident turned the events when the leader of the group freed the captive kataws. The kataws returned to the waters and after a day, there were no fish or any sea creatures found in the waters surrounding Irca.

Things were blamed on the group who fought for the sake of the kataws. Some members were kidnapped and killed. The group was silenced and for days… weeks and months, the illegal acts of the nobles were once again progressing swiftly. With the powerful backing of nobles, money to sustain the magic on changing the appearances of the kataws are undeniably not a burden. Though reports keep on piling up about the captive kataws, there were no shreds of evidence that could prove the accusations.

Almost a year has passed and the incident was long forgotten. But the undying agonies of the kataws still linger. The waters cry and they refused to provide for the inhabitants.

The inhabitant who once stood up for them came to the deep forest of Boho and met with the Elf.