[The Myth?]

Although the testimonies alone were not sufficient to determine Axel's origin, the record blatantly stated he, Axel, originated from Eastern Land (in which most Eastern Land opposed, suggesting Axel was from Western Land instead).

Based on the records, people theorized Axel was from Byxantrus, but Byxantrus, not wanting to get involved with such a myth, declined the theory blatantly, saying there was no record of anyone named Axel Skyfall (or close) there.

The record itself gave little to no information about Axel's origin. It only stated that Axel was from Eastern Land. It was, however, possible that Axel might have originated from an unknown village there. And if that was the case, then it's now impossible to know which village since the villages held no record of birth, death, or migration of their people.

While Axel’s possible biological parents were unknown, The Holy Kingdom of Xatican, through Pope Innocentius of Xatican, concluded that Axel was a product of an unholy union between the devil and a dog.

'Was Axel Skyfall a mere legend? Was he based on a real person? Was he born from the devil? Was he the Antichrist?' The questions scholars and historians asked many centuries later, trying to find and prove the existence of such a person.

*****

Eastern Land was a rather peaceful continent dominated by small villages. Tall forests, swamps, rivers, and vast grasslands covered most of the land. The residents there either worked as carpenters or fishermen for their living, but some didn't work at all because they lived by exploiting their environment to the fullest.

There were two famous landmarks there. The first being a maritime kingdom far from the villages called the Byxantrus Kingdom, which was in a constant war against Sultan Rashid's armies who sought to conquer Byxantrus.

The second being Port Xamos, a port in Eastern Land well-known by many as the gathering spots for both fishermen and sailors. ‘The Port that Never Sleeps’ was the nickname given to the port because people would always flood the streets and bars all day and night. The harbor itself was always full of ships, ranging from a small boat to an enormous luxury ship.

On the street around the harbor, a 17-year-old boy was pacing around like an idiot. He was 5.57 ft tall with a slim body. He had warm ivory skin, dark-brown eyes, and a pointed nose. He had short spiky black and reddish hair with long bangs.

He is our young and naïve protagonist, Axelon Caste Skyfall, or called Axel Skyfall in short. He recently left his home village to reach Western Land.

Axel wore a dusty brown coat, ragged clothing and pants, one sling bag, and one big backpack (I mean, enormous), brown goggles on his head, and an old pair of leather shoes (Those items were all bequeathed by his grandfather).

He lived in poverty with his (adoptive) grandfather, the famous (and only) blacksmith there. To reach the port, he had traveled for weeks, relying on the direction told by his grandfather and the village's natives.

The sky was clear with no cloud; the sun was glaring; the smell of salt (and fish) was very strong there. People flooded the street, ranging from adults to children. Some traders were trading and selling their items to passersby and fellow traders; many children were playing and running along the street; families waiting for their father to return from a long trip.

“Whoah…” Axel thought as he felt butterflies in his stomach by seeing the magnificent docked ships. His eyes were glimmering like a child being given new toys by their parents; he couldn’t wait to be inside one of those ships and sail to Western Land already.

He ran to the closest ship and opened his pocket in a hurry, almost dropping the coins. He opened a small pouch and poured all the contents on his hand.

Axel only found 10 silver coins and 5 bronze coins (the standard used in transactions is silver coins, 1 bronze coins = 0,1 silver, 1 silver coins = 1 silver coins, 1 gold coins = 10 silver coins. Axel only has 10,5 coins in value). Axel stared at the coins in silence as the excitement left his soul.

“Eh… What?!” His mouth opened agape. “Only this much—?! The cheapest price is 15!”

Axel felt discouraged for a while as he looked at the giant ships, but he stayed adamant. He just needed to find a smaller and cheapest ship, right? With that in mind, Axel asked from here and there, but none accepted because of Axel's shortage of coins. He asked for hours and finally got tired.

He entered the closest bar near the docked ships and took a seat near the entrance. Axel stared at the sailing ships with a long, disappointed face.

“Alas! I am too poor!” he thought. “If only I had enough…”

A young waitress, a woman in her early 20s, approached Axel, preparing to write Axel's order, but Axel was spacing out with his eyes fixated on the ships.

“Your order, sir—?” she asked out of the blue.

Axel jumped a bit out of surprise, not expecting the waitress to come.

“A-Ah! N-Nothing at the moment,” he replied with a big, awkward smile.

“Oh. All right.”

She left Axel and went to serve other customers.

Axel dropped his face on the table and ruffled his hair.

“Should…” Axel thought with a weary face. “Should I just give up?”

He closed his eyes, trying to remember what his grandfather wished many years before Axel left to be a blacksmith.

***

[Flashback: Axel's Promise]

In a small hut, Axel's unnamed home village, Axel's foster grandfather, a frail tall man in his early 60s, was tidying his blacksmith equipment along with the young Axel.

Axel's grandfather had a whitening and balding black long straight hair with a full beard. He had a pointed nose, blue eyes, and beige skin. He wore a dusty white cotton tunic with an old leather brown blacksmith apron.

Axel wore a clean white cotton tunic complete with the same apron for his size. He had his goggles, the same goggles he wore in the present.

Feeling tired, his grandfather sat down on his old wooden bed, leaving Axel to do the rest. With a smile, he looked at Axel and thought.

“That boy… He had the potential.”

Axel finished tidying the tools and sat next to his grandfather.

“Ah!” Axel said as he lied his body on the bad, holding a chunk of iron about the size of a fist on his palm. “What a tiring day…”

“That was just from one customer, Axel. You’re tired already?”

“But gramps rested first.”

“Because I am too old, Axel. You’re still young. You have more energy than I do.”

“That’s just an excuse, isn’t it?” Axel pouted as he sat.

The grandfather smirked and pinched Axel’s nose.

“Ouch! Graamps—!” Axel huffed as he looked away.

Both stayed silent for a while. Axel was admiring the shiny chunk he held while the grandfather was sinking into his thoughts.

“Maybe… It’s the time,” the grandfather muttered.

“Time for what?”

“For you to do me a favor.”

“What is it?” Axel looked at his grandfather with his innocent eyes. “Don't tell me... Is it another boring lecture, isn’t it—?!”

The grandfather pulled Axel’s nose, peeved.

“Not that, and how dare you to say my essential lessons boring.”

“Ouch! Graamps!” Axel pouted and looked away with his nose red. “So... What is it then?”

The grandfather took a deep breath and smiled.

“When you are older…” His grandfather stared at his old blacksmith equipment. “I want you to resume my work as my successor. Will you do it for me?”

Axel looked on the ground with a sad and concerned face.

“What is it?” the grandfather asked. “Is it… too much for you?”

“It’s…” Axel didn’t finish his words.

His grandfather patted Axel’s back.

“It’s fine,” his grandfather said. “You don’t have to accept it if—”

“I want to do it, gramps. But… I can't even fix a small knife. How could I be a good blacksmith? The last time I tried to make a hunting dagger, I accidentally broke the blade. I don’t think I’m talented enough…”

His grandfather held the chunk of iron held by Axel and stood. He opened a cabinet, taking a wooden hilt and with the chunk. Axel stood, wanting to see his grandfather’s working.

“With the right material,” he said as he polished the rough chunk. “You can make everything you desire.”

He shaped and sharpened the chunk.

“Like this iron chunk,” he added. “It requires a process. Even if you fail, you can always retry. Even if you are talented, without trials and errors, it's futile.”

The grandfather handed the rough dagger to Axel and patted Axel’s hair.

“Just like your skills, Axel. You must shape it. And I will teach you you everything you need. So… will you fulfill my request?”

Axel nodded and looked at his grandfather's eyes with a convincing determined face.

“I will!” he stated aloud as he clenched his fists in excitement, causing his grandfather to smile. “It's my duty to continue your work after all! I'll keep your techniques alive for generations!”

“Thank you, Axel. But I will ask you for more.”

“More?”

His grandfather took a map from an old shelf next to the bed. They both sat down, and the grandfather opened the map, pointing at a continent west from Eastern Land.

“This is Western Land,” he explained. “It's the land of revolution and advanced technologies.”

“What is the connection between this and me being your successor?”

“I want you to be a good blacksmith there,” he replied as he closed the map. “No, the best blacksmith in Western Land in my place.”

*****

Axel opened his eyes and shook his head; he made his resolve straight and clear. He could not just give up as he had a dream and promise to keep. When there's a will, there's a way!

As Axel was thinking, he overheard conversations with two men talking near him. They both wore unbuttoned sleeveless doublet like a traditional pirate, meaning they were one.

“Ye hear that?!” the first spoke to his comrade with a raspy voice. “We are goin' to Western Land!”

“Wait? F-For real?!” the second asked. “I thought the captain disliked Westerners!”

“Ha! As long as our bounty is there, we will be there! Nothing is more important than coins!”

Their captain soon entered the bar and sat next to two men. The captain was a man in his early 40s wearing a traditional pirate hat with a cut on its tip and golden-black-colored headband. He wore an unbuttoned white doublet and a black coat with red lines on the edge, black breeches, and black leather shoes with a cutlass sheathed on his belt.

He had a black curtain haircut with a full beard. He had a tall and muscular body with beige skin. He had blue-colored eyes with the right one covered with an eye patch and a Grecian nose. He had many scars on his face, on his right eye, and a horizontal scar on his left cheek.

“Ahoy Captain! There ye are!” the first greeted as he bowed.

“Ahoy! Are we goin' to Western Land for real?!” the second asked.

“Ahoy—Ahem…! Matey!” The captain sat with his men. His voice was dry as he tried to clear his throat. “Ahem…! Wait, I need rums!”

Moments later, the rest of the crew; 17 persons entered the bar.

“Ah! There you boys are!” the captain said aloud as he raised his right arm, calling them. “Come on in! We're goin' to drink!”

The rest filled the empty seats available around the captain and ordered alcoholic beverages.

"Well, yes—Ahem! We are goin' there," the captain confirmed. "I could smell some loose bounties there!"

“Smell?” the second said. “Literally or not—?”

With a sour face, the captain flicked the second’s forehead.

"Not literally ya numb-nuts! Let's just see if there are some bounties and chances for us!"

From the seat, Axel wondered.

“They are talking about going to Western Land. Maybe I can join them? But—!” Axel shook his head, trying to shake away the doubt in his mind. “Ah! No, no more hesitation! This is one and the only way for you to go!”

Axel gathered his courage to stand, approaching the captain directly. He looked at the captain’s eyes and spoke.

“Excuse me, Sir. I heard you were talking about going to Western Land.”

“Correct. And?” he replied with little to no care as he drank his rum.

“Can you take me there?” Axel asked blatantly, making the captain choke on his drink.

“Bloody hell!” he thought as he tried to calm himself.

The captain shook his head, trying to explain to Axel as politely as he could.

“So—Ahem! Sorry to disappoint you, young lad.” He put down the mug. “I only take my men. Besides, bringin' ye don't benefit us.”

The captain looked away, hoping for Axel to leave him alone, but Axel didn't want to lose his chance. Axel persisted, trying to reason with him.

“I-I can pay you!”

“Sigh! What a brat…” the captain thought as he looked at Axel.

“Then why are ye asking me to take ya if you have money?” the captain asked. “Go rent a ship!”

“I-It’s…“

“I don’t want to say it,” Axel thought. “But—!”

“Because of what?!” the captain asked.

“I… I don’t have enough coins.”

“Seriously mate?!” he asked as he raised one eyebrow. “That's yer excuse?! Bah, pathetic! Get a job to earn coins and get lost, lad!”

“Please!” Axel clenched his fists as his hands went cold. “I'll do anything!”

“Then work to earn some coins, won't ya?! Or just beg to those wealthy bastards on the street there!”

“Please—” Axel tugged the captain's right-sleeve with his arms, begging like a desperate child. “Let me—!”

The captain brushed Axel off who held the captain's right sleeve, causing him to tear the sleeve, revealing a tattoo of an octopus holding seven cutlasses and a skull hidden beneath the sleeve. The moment Axel looked at the tattoo, Axel knew they were pirates.

“A-A real pirate?!” Axel muttered as his eyes and mouth opened agape

“So what?!” the captain shouted with a rough voice. “Ahem! Yes, we are all pirates, lad! Got any problem with that?!”

“My! I never thought they really are a pirate! I thought they looked like badly dressed sailors or sort! This has escalated quickly, but I won't back down as this is the only and the quickest way!” Axel thought. “I could be dead but...! Gah! I should stop overthinking!”

“Then,” Axel asked. “Could I join your crew?”

The question surprised them all, including the customers who were minding their own business there; their eyes were wide open from hearing such a stupid, risky request.

The rest of his men stood ready to throw Axel away, but their captain ordered them to stay still with a hand sign. He stood, approached Axel casually, and pulled Axel's collar out of the blue, staring deep into Axel's eyes.

"List'n here—Ahem…! Damned lad! A landlubber like ye can do but naught to us and even y'rself!! The sea is cruel'r than ya can ev'r think! Lotsa people died there and ye would be one of them! From your looks, you can't even defend yerself, und'rstand?!"

The captain released his grip and pushed Axel back, hoping the boy would listen, but Axel clenched his fists, still eager even though he was nervous, but he tried to stay positive.

“Wrong!” he replied as he stared back with resolute eyes. “I can defend myself! I'm trained in close combat—!”

“Trained? Ha! Don't make me laugh!” he commented, unconvinced. “Ye look like a p'rson that will die first in combat!”

“I might look like an untrained person but... My words alone prove naught!” Axel thought as he clenched his right fist.

“I can prove it!” he insisted eagerly. “It's true. You can test me and see my skills for yourself.”

The captain rolled his eyes out of doubt.

"Ye are talkin' nonsense and ye are just wastin' my time."

The captain stood and turned as he gave his men a hand sign, signaling them to leave the bar.

“Let's leave this crazy lad alone! I have he'rd enough! Let's go back!”

But before the captain took a step forward, Axel held his shoulder.

“Are you scared?” Axel taunted boldly, like a brat. “How could you turn down a challenge from an inexperienced lad?”

The captain tried not to get involved with such a matter, but Axel gave him no other chance, especially when Axel taunted him. The captain clenched his fists and bit his lip.

"This lad...!" the captain thought, agitated.

For the captain, this was the matter of pride for him as a man and as a captain of his crew. Turning back to the challenge meant admitting he’s afraid.

“Bold of ye to assume I'm afraid of ye!” he said aloud as he removed Axel's hand from his shoulder and turned back, facing him.

“Send one of your men to fight me!” Axel requested as he took a step back. “I'll show you my skills!”

“Ye have guts for a nobody, lad! I appr'ciate yer stupidity and foolishness—”

“Send one of your men already!”

“Hmph! Fine.”

One of his men walked over and whispered to his captain.

“Let me take him down—”

“No,” the captain declined, “I've got my way to deal with a lad like this.”

The man understood and moved back to the crowd of people.

“What's taking you so long? Give me an opponent already!” Axel asked as he drew a small rock dagger in a reverse grip.

The captain drew his cutlass and pointed it at Axel.

“I'm yer opponent—Ahem… Lad!”

Axel's eyes widened as he froze in a heartbeat; he wasn’t thinking the captain would challenge Axel himself.

“A-Ah, fine!”

“Hey!” the captain shouted to his men as he looked at Axel's weapon. “Give this lad a proper weapon to fight!”

One of his men threw a suspicious cutlass right in front of Axel.

“I already have my own,” Axel refused as he swung the dagger.

“Put that pathetic butt'r knife into yer pocket, lad!” the captain said aloud. “We'll be usin' proper weapons in this fight! And to show ye my kindness, I even prepared you a cutlass so I can beat ye up fair and square! Any objection?!”

Axel put his dagger inside his sling bag and lifted the suspicious-looking cutlass.

“No problem. I shall play by your rules.”

Everyone cleared the place for them to fight. The challenge soon became the center of attention in the bar, with every other sailor and bounty hunter focused their attention on them.

A man in his early thirties, a bounty hunter who sat next to them, looked at bounty pictures and portraits while smoking a cigar. It was a tall and slightly muscular man. He had dark brown medium messy hair with a Van Dyke beard. He had black eyes, ivory skin, and a pointed nose. He wore a brown-colored trench coat and damaged fedora with a rapier sheathed on his waist.

“Ah, a fight!” he thought. “It's common nowadays, but they're making a mess here! I want to rest and enjoy my food.” He looked at the captain and a thought of turning him in crossed into his mind. “Eh, Wait up. He said he is a pirate or sort! I'd better check how much his head cost…”

The man searched for information regarding the captain within bounty papers but found nothing. He sighed and scratched his forehead.

“Wait! It seems his name or pictures aren't here. It's strange! I thought I got the latest lists!”

He looked once again at the captain and realized the tattoo on his arm. His eyes widened as he recognized the symbol.

“Wait… Ah! I remember that tattoo!” he thought. “It's the Abyss Walker. No wonder why there's nothing about him here!”

The bar owner, an old frail man in his early 50s, saw what's happening in his bar. Fearing what might happen next, he approached them both.

“Excuse me, my kind, sir!” he said as politely as he could to calm the situation. “But please, I allow no fighting in this bar—!”

“Oh, for!” The captain pointed his cutlass at the bar owner's neck, scaring him and some other spectators. “Shut up! I'm having a business here!”

The bar owner knelt on the ground, begging for mercy to his life and his bar. He was trembling out of fear as sweat poured from his body.

“I beg you pardon my kind, sir!” he cried. “I barely have enough money to run this place! If you damage any property, how can I repair it? I have a family to take care of!”

“How could you... You heartless!” Axel scolded the captain as he frowned, detesting his action. “How dare you treat an old man that way!”

The captain's face went sour as he clenched his fists, irritated by the situation. He wasn’t in the mood for negotiating because of the taunt, but now everyone thought the captain was a bad person there. He lowered his cutlass and stared at the bar owner with a resentful look.

“Fine, Fine! Any damage to yer prop'rty goes to my bill, understood?! Now, stick yer foot somewhere else before I change my mind!”

The bar owner backed away and began praying in the corner. His body was trembling and his eyes were teary, wishing for mercy for his bar.

“How about ye, lad?“ The captain turned, facing Axel. “Ready to meet yer maker?”

Axel lifted the cutlass and started swinging it a bit to prepare himself for the combat. As Axel was swinging the cutlass, he then noticed something suspicious about it. It was lighter than a normal sword would weight.

“Wait, what in the?!” he thought as he looked at his weapon. “It's unusually light for a sword! Well, whatever.”

Axel stopped swinging the cutlass and stared at the captain with full determination.

“I'm ready.”

“V'ry well!” The captain smirked, ready to defeat Axel for foolishly taunting him.

The captain stood facing Axel. He tightened his right grip as he paced around the bar and announced the rule.

“The rule is simple! Ye make me bleed, ye win. Ye give up, ye lose. Understood?”

Axel stood firm, holding the cutlass with both hands.

“Understood.”

“All right!” The captain moved a few steps away from Axel. He turned back and looked at him. “Let the battle begin—!”

Without further instruction, Axel charged with the cutlass pointing right at the captain's chest, but the captain moved his cutlass and their cutlass clashed.

“Attackin' recklessly?!” The captain shook his head, disappointed. “Ye would be dead in an actual battle, lad!”

The captain then was about to kick Axel right on his stomach, but Axel blocked it with his left forehand first. The kick pushed Axel a few steps away from the captain. Axel felt the tingling sensation spreading from his left forehand to his entire left arm.

“I'm lucky to block it. It was a close call!” Axel thought as he wagged his left hand out of pain.

“I am being merciful just for today, Lad!” the captain shouted as he pointed his cutlass to Axel. “So, I will not send ye to Davy Jones' Locker, yet!”

“Because you wouldn't win either!” the captain thought with a smug smirk.

Axel held the cutlass firmly and dashed at the captain.

“Hmph! This lad doesn't learn!”

Their cutlass clashed again, but this time, the captain put all the strength of his right hand to push Axel back. the captain prevailed, pushing Axel back. the captain rushed and swung his cutlass horizontally, aiming at Axel's chest.

But Axel was waiting for that very moment to dodge by dropping himself down below the cutlass. Now, Axel was right in front of the captain's defenseless legs. The captain was astonished; he was not expecting that to happen.

“Blimey son of a biscuit eat’r!” the captain thought as his limbs went cold. “This lad outsmarted me!”

Axel readied his cutlass, aiming to pierce the captain.

“I win!” Axel thought.