THE SWORD AND HEIR OF SHADOWS

Chapter 51: Rush of Water.

The grand stone table beneath the levitating sphere began to descend slowly. It was as if the magical enchantment that had lifted it into the air was fading away. The mountain, their solemn host, quaked and shuddered as though it were stirred from a deep slumber. Jack could feel vibrations coursing through the very walls of the cave.

As he turned his gaze upward, he spotted water trickling from the cracks in the cave's ceiling. It was a worrying sign, hinting at the possibility of an impending catastrophe. He recognized the potential danger, but before he could react, a deluge of water cascaded from above, drenching the chamber and enveloping the sphere.

The floodwater surged with such power that it swept the remains of the stone table toward the cave's opening and the Soldier's fallen bodies. They were like driftwood caught in a torrent, swept along a perilous path leading to a perilous unknown.

Jack's quick reflexes allowed him to snatch William from the grasp of the relentless flood. He clutched the boy tightly in his arms, fighting against the chaotic current. The water roared and raged around him, and his heart raced with the fear of losing William, the only living family he had left.

Amid the chaos, Kael was nowhere to be seen. The young boy, who had been the silent witness to his father's mysterious disappearance and his brother's cries for help, had been engulfed by the unrelenting deluge. Panic surged within Jack as he realized that Kael had been taken by the torrent, swept away into the dark depths of the cave.

The cave's treacherous nature had transformed into a relentless force of nature, a danger that now threatened their lives. Jack struggled to remain afloat as he held William aloft, his strength tested by the unforgiving waters. The chamber that had once harbored the sphere of the void had become an abyss, and the opening through which the water flowed led to an uncertain destination.

Desperation and sorrow filled Jack's heart. Kael was out there somewhere, vulnerable to the whims of the torrent. Jack couldn't afford to let the tide claim another soul, especially not Kael.

With every ounce of strength he could muster, Jack propelled himself forward, clutching William as if their lives depended on it—because they did. The tumultuous waters pulled them closer to the cave's opening, the precipice of uncertainty.

As they emerged from the cave, Jack's eyes scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of Kael. He had to hope that the young boy was fighting to stay afloat, that he had not yet surrendered to the cold embrace of the deep.

The floodwater, its source concealed somewhere within the mountain, continued its relentless rush, spiriting away the mysteries and secrets of the void. And in the heart of this chaotic maelstrom, Jack clung to hope, determined to find Kael, reunite their fractured family, and unearth the enigmatic destiny that had brought them here.

New dawn arises and on a wooden floor ,Kael was disoriented, but as the moments passed, his memories began to resurface. He remembered his father, Hector, his younger brother William, and Jack, the trusted companion. He realized that he had been separated from them by the torrent that had engulfed them inside the cave of the void.

Awakening in a small, cramped space, he looked around and found himself on a ship. Confusion and fear swirled within him as he tried to comprehend the abrupt change in his surroundings.

One of the men on the ship, a weathered sailor with a stern countenance, approached Kael. "Who are you, lad?" he inquired, eyeing the boy with curiosity.

Kael hesitated, not certain whether he could trust these strangers. His voice was barely a whisper as he responded, "I'm Kael. I don't know how I got here."

The sailor's expression softened. "You were caught in one of our nets while we were out fishing for food. What brings a young lad like you to these waters?"

Kael's thoughts were a tumultuous whirlwind, and he found himself yearning for his family's presence. "Did you see any others with a boy who has a gray eye and a bulky man?" he asked, hope and anxiety evident in his voice.

The sailor glanced around at his fellow crew members, who were busy with their tasks. He chuckled softly and turned his attention back to Kael. "A gray-eyed boy and a bulky man? Nah, lad, you were the only one we found."

Kael's heart sank. He was alone on this ship, separated from his beloved family. But he couldn't give in to despair; he needed to understand his situation. "What is this place? And who are you people?"

The sailor leaned closer, his voice low and secretive. "This, lad, is the open sea. We are sailors, and this ship is our home. As for what we do, we're a part of something bigger—a group of people who help those in need."

Kael was perplexed. "Help those in need? Like who?"

The sailor offered a cryptic smile. "The less fortunate, lad. We provide aid to those who've been oppressed, imprisoned, or enslaved."

Realization dawned on Kael. Slavery, oppression, and the mysterious nature of these people's mission began to take shape in his mind. His thoughts raced, and he couldn't help but wonder if this group might hold the key to his family's whereabouts.

Desperation filled his voice as he asked, "You said you help people who are oppressed. Do you think you could help me find my family? My father, my little brother, and Jack—they're all I have, and I was separated from them." n/-o-/V/(e/(l.-b/.I-.n

The sailor paused for a moment, his gaze distant. "We can certainly try, lad. But it won't be easy. Finding someone lost in these vast waters isn't a simple task."

Kael's heart was heavy with worry, but he clung to the glimmer of hope offered by the sailor. "I'll do whatever it takes. I have to find them."