Chapter 24: The past that never forgets(part-4)

The sun raised to the skies as its gentle rays illuminated the skies. The clouds showed a beautiful golden color as the tree radiated a colorful green.

Today was Kimi(4th) of Sak(11) of the fifth Haab(year) in Birka it was considered one of the most auspicious days. It was the day the Birkans celebrated and made offerings to the Sun God Nika.

Birkans did a ritual that required sacrifice from one of their race. It was believed that years ago the Moon God fought and harmed the Sun God Nika during the age of Gods. The Sun God in his rage banished the Moon God.

The Birkans consider themselves to be of the same race as Moon God and consider that they too are cursed. So today when the sun is at its highest and brightest moment, Birkans perform a ritual and sacrifice one of their kind to wash off the curse laid by the Sun God.

The person chosen is generally of the female gender and is considered to be offered after the child has passed sixteen Haab(Years) because Birakns tend to think of that age to be pure.

Men too are offered such sacrificial rituals but they are offered only when the female offering is not in perfect conditions. The girl who is to be sacrificed is generally chosen five Haabs(Years) after birth.

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"So...captain...don't wanna be rude here but...where exactly are we going we already passed through the pirate island..." Otto asked as he approached Sanemi who was staring towards the vast ocean.

"You know Otto...when I said we are going to reach for the skies I meant it," Sanemi said as he glanced towards the log pose in his hand.

"What do mean..." Otto muttered as saw bubbles started to gather around the ship in a circular radius.

"Captain..." Rosita said as she too noticed Otto's gaze.

"Yes and yes" Sanemi replied as a large stream of water appeared from below the ship as Black Pearl sailed to the skies.

"Captain you bastard!!!" Otto yelled as loud as he could the ship continued to sail higher.

"We are going to die!"

"Huh, what's happening? I just woke up"

"Wait a minute who is the moss head?"

"What did you call me shit face!!"

The whole crew went in total chaos as the stream continued to lift the boat towards the skies. The Black Pearl passed through some clouds the moment the ship continued to keep it flying.

"Don't tell...that is why you installed that wing-like extension on the ship!" Otto yelled as he held on to a barrel for support.

"Raahahhahahhah! Sometimes you have to enjoy life too you know" Sanemi said with a large grin as he held the bowsprit.

"Not when you are constantly trying to take it! what next you are going to make us go underwater!?!" Otto yelled out loud.

"Don't give him more ideas frostbite" Anne yelled.

"This is...rubble from the victims of the knock-out stream!" Otto yelled as he noticed a lot of rubble of broken ships falling down towards them.

"Spread the sails now! we are going to ride the wind current!" Sanemi yelled as the crew members started their job.

The air current produced by the geothermal heat and steam explosion caused the ships to slowly start floating as the ships then started to fly towards the skies!

The Black Pearl along with the other ships penetrated through the dark storm clouds as they all entered the 'sky sea'. The ships landed on the clouds and to everyone's amazement stayed afloat.

"Welcome to the 'Heaven's Gate. You must pay 1 billion extol per person if you wish to enter" The old lade on heaven's gate said.

"Extol? never heard of it...captain what should we do" Rosita asked as she turned towards Sanemi.

"Anne, contact 'The Carrige' and tell them to offer the seven boxes of the materials I told them to prepare," Sanemi said as Anne nodded her head.

"You know what an Extol is? you truly do know everything huh?" Otto said as he let out a sigh of relief.

"The air pressure is quite high up here...its good that our lungs adapted to it so quickly," one of the crew members said as he picked up a cargo box and approached the deck.

"It was mainly due to Sanemi-sama's breathing techniques he truly knows about everything" another one replied as he too pushed the cargo forwards.

"I have quite some 'Vāsu' here I heard that it was quite valued...Three kg of Vāsu should be enough for all of us right?" Sanemi said out loud as he presented the cargos.

"Indeed it would be more than enough...welcome to Skypia travelers" The woman at the heavens door yelled as she accepted the three cargos.

Suddenly giant red lobsters appeared below the ships grabbed thier 'wings' and started to guide them towards the long path.

"Captain this is?" Rosita said in an alarmed state as she noticed the lobsters carrying them.

"No need to worry Rosita they are friendly as long as we pay," Sanemi said as the rest of the crew calmed down to catch a breath.

The lobsters then guided them through the cloudy river as they approached Skipia island.

"They all have wings...amazing" Otto muttered as along with the whole crew looked towards Skypia.

"The main group will collect supplies and anything of need. Use 'Vāsu' If needed its just dirt for us anyways. Group two and three can take breaks on exploring, Division leader with me. Group two and three don't stray too far from the ship." Sanemi commanded as he along with Rosita, Otto and Anne jumped from the boat towards the island.

"Man I wanted to have some fun too..." One of the crew members complained.

"Guess we will have to just wait here...many are still injured from the battle against Shirohige we must take note of thier needs" another replied.

"I guess you are right..."

-----

"Welcome citizens of the grand line! I am Rudolf generally we do not have people from below. Today the Biraka is celebrating a festival! You can join there as tourists but do not interrupt as it can cause people to riot against you!" Rudolf said as he introduced himself.

"The Ritual starts in about an hour and the festival begins after the ritual ends feel free to roam around till then! Also here is a guide of all the Skypian laws break one and we will break your bones!" Rudolf said as he made his way.

"That was...interesting..." Sanemi muttered as he went through the laws of Skypia.

"Everyone here looks so beautiful," Anne said as her eyes wandered around the whole place.

"I wanna attend the festival anyone wanna join?" Sanemi asked.

"I wish to see how the Skypians celebrate as well," Anne said as she joined Sanemi.

"I want to go around and buy stuff so I will pass," Otto said as he held his hands up.

"I guess I will join the captain in that case," Rosita said as she held Sanemi's arm and all three of them went towards Birka.

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"Everyone seems to be dressed so uniquely..." Anne said as she, Rosita, and Sanemi roamed around Birka and went towards the Raised platform to see the ritual.

"It seems quite an auspicious festival for them...I guess we need to stay quiet for the ritual" Sanemi said as Rosita and Anne nodded in agreement.

The 'priest' climbed the raised platform as he began chanting a few prayers. Some of the Brikans too joined in the chant. After chanting about six different prayers the 'priest' then ordered a few men to bring out the offerings.

First a plate filled with fruits was presented. The plate was beautifully decorated with peeled and unpeeled fruits. The second plate was presented with multiple different kinds of dry fruits and nuts. On the third plate, there was a roll of sweet-smelling incense along with some cooed food.

The three plates were then settled in three different directions as flames were lit in the center. The priest then began to perform a dance and sang along with it.

After the end of the dance and singing priest called out for the final offering.

"Lord Gode!! The last offering...is missing!! we have looed everywhere!!!" The one who was supposed the bring the offering yelled in panic.

"What!! For one to even think of dismissing such an important role and mock the Birkan culture! Capture 'it' and bring 'it' here as soon as possible! if the time gets past noon the Sun God will no longer accept the sacrifice!!" Gode yelled.

"To think that 'she' would do something like that"

"I even let my son play with 'her'! to think she was such two-faced!"

"People seem to refer to the offering as a girl but the priest seemed to refer to the offering as an object...seems like a Birkan girl was chosen for it," Sanemi said in a low voice.

"so it seems...truly disgusting," Rosita said with pure disgust on her face.

"We should leave now...the crew must have enjoyed thier time here for now...we should not get involved with the Skypiens ti could end badly for them," Sanemi said as he along with Anne and Rosita stood up and leave.

-----

"We are back how did everything went," Sanemi asked as he approached the ships.

"We are ready captain! The ship was been stocked with dials and many other things you have to see!" One of the cremates yelled.

"Alright then! It seems that Skypia is going to face problems soon...we are going to leave soon, so make final preparations!" Sanemi announced as he boarded the ship.

"So..what happened captain?" Otto asked as he approached them.

"Seems like that the 'Offering' in the ritual went missing although no one seemed to notice her disappearance. We are going to leave here soon I am not in a mood to destroy such a beautiful city" Sanemi replied as they all went towards thier quarters.

Sanemi opened the door of his room as his observation haki picked up something.

'what a coincidence' Sanemi thought to himself as he opened the Barrale where he usually stored his sake. In the barrel, there was a girl with long blonde hair, crimson eyes, and a pair of pure white wings.

As soon as the barrel opened the girl's facial expression became terrified as she covered her head with her palm. Tears gathered in her eyes as little sobbing noises came from her mouth.

"plwese *sob* don't hand me over," The girl asked in a terrified voice as she tried to become a ball. Her knees hugged her chest as she tried to appear as small as she could.

"good grief," Sanemi said as he put his hands in the barrel and scooped the girl out, and placed her on his bed.

The girl retreated towards the corner of the bed as her sobs became louder.

"Alright alright, stop crying I won't hand you over," Sanemi said as he tried to approach the girl.

"here look at this" Sanemi called out as he pulled out crystallized flames made from his geo-vision. The crystal had a soft red glow as it floated above Sanemi's hand.

The girl stopped crying as her eyes curiously looked towards the crystal. She held out her hand as Sanemi passed her the crystal.

"I have decided you are going to be my new crewmate!" Sanemi said as he patted the girl's head. The girl covered a little under Sanemi's huge palm.

"So what's your name little one," Sanemi asked with a smile.

"I...don't want to be known by that one...can you give one to me please?" The girl asked as she pulled a puppy dog face to Sanemi.

'I never knew this would so effective' Sanemi thought to himself as he began to think about the name.

"Very well then...from now on you will be Afriel...and you will shine just like an Angel," Sanemi said with a soft smile as he rubbed Afriel's head.

Afriel's eyes began to tear up as she let out even louder sobs and tightly hugged Sanemi's neck. Sanemi too put his hand behind her back and lightly rubbed it.

"there...there no one will harm you in my presence"