#5 OVERTIME

A lone figure could be seen, on a makeshift raft, paddling his way through. With a skull by his side, the figure was arguing over which way he should be paddling. Frustrated, the long figure kicks the skull and sits back down... only to dive in moments later to retrieve the skull.

With no living or hidden creatures within the basin known as the Silent sea, the lone figure managed to grab the skull, when however his managed to reach the surface of the sea, the ripples caused by entrance had managed to cause the makeshift raft float meters away. Annoyed with himself, the lone figure could be seen swimming towards the raft, skull in hand, he repeatedly slapped the skull against the water when he moved his arms. Gloating internally, the lone figure was not as upset as before.

---

Ash pulled himself onto the beach. He had reached the southeastern kingdom of Anatolia. Stepping onto the sandy beach, he went on both knees- internally crying that he had reached dry land. The beach itself was wide, stretching across the sea; to Ash's surprise, there were children playing in the sands not too far away.

Scrambling, kicking sand in the air, Ash had approached the children.

"Excuse me, but where am I"

One of the two children, a girl, looked up at Ash. A high pitch sound followed.

"Mommy"

A figure dashed, a blur- Ash had noticed and jumped back... a knife slashing the area where he used to be. His eyes widened, he might have stumbled onto something worse than the Silent sea.

"StoOOP" Ash was alarmed, as soon as he moved away the blur dashed towards him, giving no time to rest or relax. He sighed, he could clearly see the movements, just that no matter how far he moved, the blur followed; no matter how many times he asked to stop. Ash landed a few meters away from the blur, seeing it dash towards him again, Ash planted his feet firmly on the ground, his twisted his hips and followed with his fist- placing enough power to put this thing down.

His fist connected, maybe too hard. A silent shock-wave was felt, the blur coming into contact with the fist was sent flying back. The children, a young boy and girl, rushed over to the blur. Ash cautiously walked over too.

'I really didn't think I put that much power into that, maybe I haven't used mana in so long... wait, did I even use mana for that punch?'

Ash approached the former blur, it was woman, mid twenties- blonde hair and green eyes. Furious green eyes; baring animosity and hostility towards Ash, the woman had regained her strength and formed a defensive stance to protect the children.

Ash saw this, the corner of his lips twitching ever so slightly. He raised his hands, showing he had no weapons and no intent to continue fighting.

The young woman, stared. "Who are you? Why're you here, No one should be here."

"Why shouldn't anyone be here?"

"It's the start of the Fall, a shared break for everyone for the start of the season."

'Oh, that mean's I've been gone for nearly a year- I had started the journey with the party last Sommar but ventured out on my own during Frost- I've been on my own since then, so technically more than a year if I include my time with the party..'

"Well, I apologize to have frightened the children, but it does not give you the right to attack me without proper introductions or cause."

The green eyed woman stared blankly. "Do you not know who these children are?"

"Why should I, look lady, I've been on my own for the better part of a year- I just traveled across the sea to go home, so just let me get on my way." Ash dismissed the presence of the children and the guardian taking the whole situation too bothersome.

He put his hands down and walked away... so much for no trouble past the sea. The lady however, didn't take too kindly to the stranger who had managed to beat her down and then walk away. She pulled out a small handheld tube like device, completely cylindrical in shape and completely harmless to the naked eye; she then pointed it towards the lone figure walking over to pick up a skull. Imbuing mana into the device, an intricate set of patterns slowly appeared all over the device and an wave of mana pulsed outwards from it. Aiming it right towards Ash.

Since Ash wasn't guarded with mana, he was struck with the mana pulse- electrocuting him in the process; stuck rigid like a old corpse, he collapsed gripping the skull tightly before he lost consciousness.

The green eyed lady watched the figure seize from the shock and collapse. A small smile threatening to appear on her lips. She felt the children's hands grip on her clothes, looking over to see their frightened faces. She sighed.

"Aunty Helena, what happened?" The young boy asked, his eyes shining with curiosity, the young girl however couldn't find any words for support her brother. Helena looked at the children for a while before turning back to the lone figure, laying in the sand with a skull in his hand.

"I guess the holiday is over, let's go back." Helena's tube device still in hand, she raised it to then send a message to the Royal police.

"Sir, something seems to have come from the Silent sea, permission to return to the Capital and continue further investigation."

A short while later. A voice crackled through.

"Permission granted."