The Legend Of The Four Kings Archipelago

Dave let out an exasperated sigh, his gaze shifting to two scared teenagers clinging to each of his arms. Instinctively, he drew them closer. Fixated on the old woman, his eyes scrutinized every move she made.

"If everyone left, then what is she doing near the village?" 

Jack gestured towards the old woman. "She's on her way to retrieve a sacred chest, but she slipped and fell." However, it wasn't enough to convince Dave. He exchanged a dubious glance with Toji and commented dryly, "How convenient."

Sensing this, Waya shifted uncomfortably in her seat and turned to Jack, explaining in more detail.

"It's, uhh, ancient. Passed down through generations of shamans and never left the village shrine. Today, she received a warning of a looming calamity from their gods. You see, the chest is despised by the sea and all that dwells within it, so it must never come into contact with the sea. Their village consists of stilted huts. Waya is scared that the chest could be swept away by the storm." 

The room fell silent as the air seemed to thicken with the scent of salt, and the distant howls of the wind sounded louder.

"What's inside it?" 

Dave's question cut through the air. Although his expression remained unreadable, Ann had known him long enough to notice the calculating glint in his eyes. Waya hesitated, and after a moment, she blurted out the answer to Jack. 

"Nobody knows. It's forbidden to open the chest."

Jack rose from his seat and hopped onto a low table, ignoring the collective eye-roll from the group. They all knew what he intended to do next. With an exaggerated clearing of his throat, he began.

"Have you ever heard the legend of the Four Kings Archipelago, where a woman came across seven eggs, and four of them hatched to become the kings of the four main islands of the Archipelago? The other three became a ghost, a woman, and a stone. Well, their tribe tells a different story."

His hands traced the arc of the story through the air. "A long time ago, their ancestors dwelled in a far-off land, ruled by four mighty kings. It was a harsh and unforgiving place. The ocean was infested with giant sea monsters, and the islands were teeming with strange and dangerous creatures." 

"Then, one fateful day, a colossal vortex sucked the entire archipelago into the depths of the ocean, bringing them here! That's why they call this place the Four Kings Archipelago."

Dave interrupted with a frustrated scowl crossing his face. "That doesn't explain the chest." Jack shook his head, pacing theatrically. "I'm getting there. Don't disrupt the flow."

He pressed on with a touch of suspense. "After several hundred years, a young warrior from the village named Gab set out on a fishing trip and disappeared." Jack's voice lowered, drawing everyone in. "The villagers mourned him, believing him lost to the ocean. However, against all odds, Gab defied death itself and reemerged after four decades."

"He had changed into a man of astonishing power. Legend has it that a single stroke of his blade could split the sky in half!" His hand sliced through the air to mimic the legendary blade.

"Gab led them to victory in battles against their enemies. On his deathbed," The room hung on his every word. Savoring the dramatic pause, Jack's gaze swept across the room, catching the subtle signs of annoyance on everyone's faces.

"Gab entrusted the villagers with a box!"

For a second he looked confused, "Not a box. A chest! A chest that must never be opened, as he spoke of an evil residing within it. Those who dared to unlock its secrets would be cursed to sink into the abyss of the ocean, forever."

Ann crossed her arms. "Can't you guys wait until the storm clears out?" She poked Dave on his chest. "And you! Since when do you suddenly have a bleeding heart? You won't even help an old woman who falls on the road!"

Dave feigned a hurt expression. "I'm trying to be a better person." Placing a hand on his heart, he proudly declared, "I am a man. There is a time when I must stand my ground and cannot back down." Ann was not having any of it. She narrowed her eyes, trying to stare Dave down into submission.

"The storm is picking up, the chest could be swept away. We ate their food and sheltered under their home. The least we can do is bring the chest back to her." Toji put on his windbreaker. "I'll make sure he doesn't screw us up. Come on, Dave."

"Wait! Waya is offering to craft a–," Jack's face scrunched in thought as he searched for the right words. "A protective charm for us. To ward off evil spirits."

They gathered around, eyes fixed on the shaman as she mixed colorful powders into an inky black paste. The hut was filled with the guttural sounds of high and low notes as she muttered incantations, weaving an ancient spell into the concoction.

Once the paste was ready, Waya dipped her gnarled fingers into the dark mixture and began to trace four narrow black rings around their wrists, tightly nestled side by side. In the dimly lit room, the ink seemed to take on a subtle golden hue. An ethereal connection was formed between them and the mysterious world of the shaman.

Once more, they were left behind with the old woman. Jack and the shaman exchanged words in a deep conversation, occasional bursts of laughter breaking the silence. Ann's gaze continued to linger on them. She stayed away as far as this small hut would allow. Jack raised an eyebrow and beckoned her to join them. Ann's face stiffened, and he gave up.

Outside, the rain gradually waned, but the unrelenting wind persisted in its ceaseless howling. Bored, Ann's eyes locked on the mesmeric dance of shadows playing out on the wall. The rhythmic play of light and darkness seemed almost hypnotic. Then, in an abrupt and unsettling moment, her eyes widened in horror. A chilling realization dawned on her.

Waya has no shadow!

"Fuck."

The hair at the back of her neck stood at attention, and Ann's body trembled involuntarily. It wasn't merely the absence of a shadow; it was also the eerie stillness of her chest.

For once, Toji was completely wrong.

A deafening silence hung in the air until she abruptly jumped and forcefully yanked Jack outside the hut. He stumbled to keep up, falling on his knees on the slippery, rotting wooden plank bridge. The wind howled around them, blasting their faces with cold stinging rain.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!"

"Let's find Dave and Toji!" Her hoarse voice strained against the howling wind as she shouted to be heard. "They've been gone for far too long!"

"What do you mean? They left, like, 15 minutes ago!"

She shot him 'that look,' and he recognized it immediately. Even in the dark and the sting of salt spray making it hard to open his eyes. 'That look,' reserved for moments when her intuition was unwaveringly on point. Glancing back at the hut, he nodded and took the lead across the narrow, shaky plank bridge into the darkness of the night.