Xavier's eyes snapped open and the sound of cicadas filled his ears. He looked around and found that he was in a bed inside a hut made from trees and leaves. Rose was fast asleep on the bed next to him and judging by the sounds of the jungle, it was nighttime.

Xavier didn't remember passing out, the last thing he could remember was firing that flare into the sky. Well, it must've worked, looks like the Marok people found us. He mused.

Xavier tried sitting up but felt the sharp pain in his shoulder sting it again. "Damn!" He hissed.

At the same time, Arvirdi walked into the tent. Arvirdi was the village chief of Marok. The chief was a man with no hair on his head but a long gray beard that came down to his chest. He had large and wistful brown eyes.

Arvirdi's skin was dark brown and he was a fairly muscular man. He was also a bit taller than Xavier and carried himself with an air of wisdom and professionalism.

"Xavier! Glad to see you're finally up!" Arvirdi said as he approached Xavier's bed.

The pirate nodded. "Aye. I'm guessing you guys found us passed out."

"Indeed," Arvirdi confirmed. "I'm not certain why you decided to skip the main entrance and go through the jungle but it's a good thing you had that flare on you."

Xavier slowly sat himself up, careful of his shoulder injury. "Why's that, exactly? Can't you guys talk to the forest?"

Arvirdi sighed. "Well first off, it isn't speaking to the forest. That's a bit of a silly way to put it. But, we've lost our ability to communicate with the island."

"What happened?" Xavier asked. The entire thing was beyond Xavier but he couldn't fathom how the Marok had lost contact with their island.

"It started with the teleportation zone to Muerend on the island being blocked off by a plant. We allowed it to grow because we wanted to respect the island but it grew so out of control that it took hold of the island and cut off our communication from it." Arvirdi explained.

Xavier shrugged. "I don't quite understand, but tell you what. I'll gladly help you resolve this problem tomorrow in exchange for lending me a boat that I can take to Kingston."

Arvirdi wanted to protest but Xavier explained everything. Including the attack he and his friend had suffered.

Arvirdi began to scratch his chin. "A Shade you say? Hm. Well, I'm happy to accept the help. With the island out of our control, we haven't been able to easily bring cargo in and out. For now, though, I'll let you and your friend rest and we'll head out tomorrow."

I gave him a thumbs up and laid back down. "Thanks, Arvirdi, good to see you again."

Arvirdi nodded. "It's certainly nice to have you visit us, Xavier. Now get some rest."

Arvirdi didn't have to tell Xavier twice. The pirate shut his eyes and let himself drift off into sleep.

The next morning, Xavier awoke to the pain in his shoulder being even worse. He mentioned it to Arvirdi as they were getting ready and a healer swung by to finish the treatment Rose had started.

The sensation of having your wounds healed was one Xavier always enjoyed after a tough battle. "That feels so much better!" Xavier said as the healer finished.

"You know Xavier, maybe you should learn a healing spell or two?" Rose suggested. "Could come in handy when I'm all worn down."

"No thanks." Xavier immediately replied and he began to prepare to set out.

Rose tilted her head. "Why not? There's no harm in learning a new trick."

"Oh boy, here we go." Arvirdi sighed.

Xavier stood up. "Just not how I like to do things. Now let's get going." Xavier was eager to move on from the subject but Rose continued pressing it.

"Xavier come on, it's just a simple spell." Rose insisted.

"I said no." Xavier snapped. "Now let's get moving."

Arvirdi rolled his eyes and led the duo out of the tent. "I see you're still as stubborn as ever when it comes to magic." He commented.

"I'm not stubborn." Xavier huffed. "I'm an Ice Mage and it's not smart to focus on other things."

Xavier wasn't sure why everyone was so pushy about the subject of learning different types of magic. He knew what he did best so why shouldn't he put in the work to master it?

The three of them journeyed into the forest and didn't speak for a little while until they came to a focus in the path and Arvirdi wasted no time going down one.

"Mr. Arvirdi, how do you know where to go if your connection to the island is cut off?" Rose asked.

Arvirdi gestured to the trees around them. "My tribe has lived on this island for generations. Even as it shifts and changes, we're able to notice the little nuances. Old trees that do not move, new ones that sprouted up in old paths. Before we could communicate with the island, we had to learn to speak its language."

"That's incredible." Rose awed. "I read books about Marok but it's nothing like actually witnessing an expert in the field. How do you communicate with the island?"

Arvirdi waved his hand and flowers began to blossom on the ground. "We are gifted with Plant Magic, a rare form of Earth Magic not unlike your light casting abilities. Through that, we can extend ourselves to the island to understand what it needs and so it can help us."

Rose was enamored by Arvirdi's speech and it reminded Xavier of the first time he had visited the island so many years ago and been told the same thing. "So how exactly did that plant cut off communication?"

"I'm not certain," Arvirdi stated. "But I believe it spread out throughout the island like an infection and closed it off. If we can kill the source near the teleportation stone, that will solve the issue."

Xavier still couldn't wrap his head around it all but the explanation made at least a little bit of sense. "So why do you have a teleportation stone that takes you to the Isle of Muerend? Isn't it just nothing but death?"

"That's exactly why we're so compelled by it," Arvirdi replied. "And island that suddenly died out of nowhere is incredibly intriguing for spiritual people such as ourselves. So we would study it from time to time before the plant cut off access."

"The Isle of Muerend," Rose repeated. "That's the island Kingston claimed after Solanja sunk, correct?"

Arvirdi begrudgingly nodded. Any topic relating to the sinking of Solanja was a sore subject. The island was controlled by Kingston many centuries ago and was suddenly plunged into the ocean.

Countless lives were lost and Kingston blamed the Marok Nation as they were the only ones who could do such a feat. The incident resulted in Marok nearly being invaded and turning into the isolationist, neutrality-based, trading federation it was today.

The Marok denied having any involvement in the sinking but there was no other possible explanation for how the island vanished overnight.

Rose realized the potential insensitivity almost immediately. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry if that's an uncomfortable subject for you!"

"It's fine dear," Arvirdi assured Rose. "The incident was a long time ago and it resulted in my people taking a turn for the better. This isn't to say that we did or did not sink the isle, if I'm being honest I don't know for certain. My forefathers made many mistakes and if I knew for certain I would be sure to apologize to Kingston profusely."

Xavier could tell how careful Arvirdi was trying to be regarding the subject in the pretense of Kingston nobility. It was still a point of tension between the two nations and Marok needed its neutrality more than anything else.

"But back to the original point, Muerend's sudden death is a major point of interest for us. And it's quite a shame that we can't figure out what exactly caused it." Arvirdi said.

"You certainly haven't changed much at all, my friend," Xavier said to the village chief.

Arvirdi laughed. "Ah yes, especially not much in comparison to you Xavier. Going off on years-long adventures and capturing entire fleets is quite a change in pace."

Rose raised an eyebrow. "How do you two know each other?"

"He hasn't told you the story of how he became a pirate?" Arvirdi asked. "I assumed he told everyone who boards his ship."

"Well," Xavier cut in. "I told her A story. But I like to change it a bit to keep my reputation up. Either way, the real story is that during an uprising the people of Centrixia had against Kingston when they were giving the island to the Scalliers, I lost my parents. I ended up stowing away on a Marok Trade Federation ship and convinced them to let me stay for a bit."

Arvirdi began to laugh. "It took some time but we eventually found a crew who would take on such a young child."

Rose seemed to look at Xavier a bit differently. "Oh goodness Xavier, I had no idea. I'm so sorry."

The captain shrugged. "It's no big deal. Certainly wasn't your doing, plus now we're even when it comes to telling the truth." He joked.

The ground started to slope upwards and Xavier took notice of how humid it was getting again. How am I going to cast magic when it's this hot? He wondered.

"We're nearly there. I hope you're both prepared for a fight because this creature won't go down easily." Arvirdi informed them.

Rose nodded and gripped her staff while Xavier sighed. "I can't cast ice magic when it gets this humid. I tried to yesterday and I couldn't form anything."

"No worries Xavier," Arvirdi assured the pirate. "If we target the plant's roots and tendrils we should be able to sever its control over the island and then I can dissipate the humidity. In the meantime, put that sharp sword to good use."

They claimed up the incline until the ground finally leveled and the trio faced down their foe. A giant purple tree with tendrils shooting out of its back and wrapped around other trees bore down on us.

The ground shook as massive roots beneath the ground shifted to the surface and lashed out at them. Xavier drew his sword and cut one in half with ease while Rose burned the other to pieces.

More and more roots started to emerge from the ground and Arvirdi put his hand on the earth to try and seal it shut to no avail.

Rose launched several fireballs at the trees but they were all blocked by a meaty root. Another one nearly blindsided her but the pirate was able to block its attack and cut it apart.

Xavier's mind was racing as more and more of the plant tendrils started to lash out against the three of them. "Rose you've got to score a hit on it so I can use my ice magic! Otherwise, we're goners!" Xavier told her as he blocked an attack.

Rose grit her teeth and sent out a wave of fire that stunned the plants. "I'm working on it!" She let out a yelp as the earth beneath her feet suddenly rose from the ground until she was high in the air.

Arvirdi made a fist with his hand and suddenly vines shot out from the trees and grabbed hold of the roots. "I can't hold it... for long... attack now!"

Rose pointed her staff at the tree and unleashed a pillar of fire from it that scored a direct hit on the target.

Somehow, the tree was still standing as if it wasn't made of wood and the roots broke free from the vines' hold.

Several roots made their way to Rose and she began desperately trying to defend herself from her vulnerable position in the sky. Xavier shot a few with my weapon but it had little effect on them.

I need my ice magic! The captain felt frustration build up as he tried to conjure any sort of ice but got no results.

A root slammed into him from behind and the ice mage was knocked into the base of the pillar. He struggled to his feet and looked up to see another root preparing to strike.

Rose screamed for help as more and more roots prepared to strike her from her precarious position.

"Xavier! Listen to me!" Arvirdi shouted. "Focus on your emotions and calm them! Your magic reflects your emotions!"

Arvirdi had told Xavier this before but now was the time to put it to the test. The pirate tried to calm himself and then summon ice to strike the roots approaching Rose.

He held out his hands and icicles metabolized in front of him. Xavier sent them into the roots and the tendrils stopped moving as they were impaled.

Arvirdi created a staircase for Rose to run down so she could escape the dangerous spot she was in and she rejoined Xavier and the chief.

"Glad you figured out your ice magic," Rose commented.

Xavier nodded. "Now let's finish this thing off!" Rose and Xavier turned to face the tree and unleashed fire and ice magic respectively.

The attacks slammed into the target and knocked it over, severing many of its tendrils. Arvirdi grinned and put his hand on the ground. "I can communicate with the island again! It will take care of this scourge from here!"

The ground suddenly split open and consumed the tree and its roots before sealing itself back up.

"Remind me to never piss off this island," Xavier remarked and the trio walked up to the teleportation stone.

"I cannot thank you both enough," Arvirdi told them. "It'll be a little bit before the rocks in the water are moved and traffic can flow freely but as soon as the path is open, I'll get you a boat and you can head out of here. In the meantime, Rose. I want you to have this."

A wooden staff that curved at the top emerged from the island's earth and into Arvirdi's hand. He handed the new staff to the girl and she marveled at its craftsmanship. "This is amazing! Thank you so much Arvirdi!"

Xavier shook Arvirdi's hand. "Fantastic! Thanks, lad!"

"Wait!" Rose shouted. "Xavier, do you think we could go to Kingston from the Isle of Muerend instead? I really want to check it out and this'll probably be my only opportunity to!"

Xavier was about to protest but Arvirdi jumped in. "There are plenty of ships at the coast of the isle you could take. Plus you'd avoid sailing through Clamerates territory."

Xavier sighed and relented. "Alright alright, but this isn't going to become some island-hopping adventure. I want to get you home so we can stop these Shades once and for all."

Xavier and Rose waved goodbye to Arvirdi and approached the stone. They both placed their hands on the rock and suddenly their bodies evaporated and they were warped across the archipelago.