It was a quiet night in the region of Siracusan, with many of its residents sleeping peacefully. A small ferry was making its way to an island that was supposedly haunted by spirits. The people who were on the ferry were wearing protective gear and exploration equipment. Only one person on the boat was different from everyone. This man went by the name Dragon, and while everyone else was nervous, he looked calm. 

Dragon: It's a calm and quiet night. It's the perfect way to travel at night for me. Now then, let's see if this island is haunted.

???: What? Do you believe in those stupid rumors?

Dragon: I don't fully believe them. But, there must be a bit of truth in them if people like us are heading there.

???: What do you mean by people like us? 

Dragon: People who are here to see if they can find something valuable to sell like the people around us. Or in the case of the two of us, people who are here for the excitement of the unknown. Am I wrong, Miss?

???: First of all, don't call me Miss. My name is Asbestos. Second of all, you're right about me being here for the excitement. An island that was cut off Siracusan for unknown reasons, it's enough to get me curious about the island. What about you, "Mr"? Is it just the excitement that brought out here tonight, or was it something else?

Asbestos grew a smug smile with a hint of curiosity behind and waited to hear Dragon's reason. After a minute of silence between the two, Dragon grew a small smile and started to speak again.

Dragon: First of all, don't call me Mr. The name is Dragon, remember that. As for why I'm here, I was walking around the port when I heard about a haunted island. So, I decided to take a small detour on my travels. Besides, there are plenty of reasons to believe there might be something behind the rumors.

Asbestos's smug smile went away, and her expression was filled with curiosity about Dragon's reasons for the island. She leaned on the railings of the ferry and asked about Dragon's reasons.

Asbestos: What makes you think something is going on the island? Okay, getting stab marks and burns makes sense even without ghosts being involved. But, do you think that ghosts haunt the island? It just sounds like bullshit to me, Dragon.

Dragon: I can't deny that ghosts might haunt the island. I know a woman who could make large golems out of rocks and chunks of originium with her arts. There could be someone on the island who can make something similar to ghosts with their arts. Also, why is this ferry the only one in the region that makes trips to and from the island in the middle of the night? 

Asbestos: 'Hmm, that is odd. Why is it only just this ferry going to the island? Moreover, why is this ferry carrying so much food? Shouldn't the people there already have enough food to last for months?'

Asbestos's train of thought was interrupted when she felt as if someone was staring at her. At first, she thought it was one of the other people on the ferry looking at her in disgust due to her being infected with oripathy. However, she realized the stare came from Dragon. Before she said anything to him, she noticed that the stare is more at her tail than herself.

Asbestos: Why are you staring at my tail, Dragon? Do you have a tail fetish or something?

All Dragon could do was to look away from Asbestos's tail with an embarrassed look on his face. 

Dragon: Sorry about that, I didn't mean to stare at your tail. It just reminded me of my tail. 

Asbestos: Now that I think about it, you're a lung right? I wasn't sure until I saw your horns on your head. Most lungs I've seen have a long tail, but I don't see your tail at all.

The moment she asked about Dragon's tail, his happy smile went away and was replaced with a sad smile. He then pulled out a fancy pipe from inside his robe and started to smoke.

Dragon: When you're at the wrong place at the wrong time in Ursus, you end up in their mines. The next day, in the mines, a guard comes up from behind you when you're not looking. The last you feel is a hot blade. 

Asbestos: Huh? Ohhhhh. Shit, I heard the guards in Ursus were the worst, but I didn't hear anything like that happening. Sorry, I asked about the tail Dragon.

All Dragon did was waved it off and said that it was no problem. The conversation ended there and the atmosphere between the two became awkward. The silence between the two ended when heard someone yelling. It turns out it was the captain of the ferry, yelling to getting everyone's attention.

Captain: We are approaching the island now. Get all your shit together and get off in 5 minutes. If those wishing to return after their time on the island will need to wait until the next night at midnight at the docks.

Asbestos moved away from the railing and grabbed her shield which is a broad door mounted with intense lights. While Dragon followed behind her with his pipe and a well-kept wooden sword.  

When everyone got off the ferry, all that was in front of them was a massive mansion that looked well kept. When everyone got close to the gate of the mansion, they all turned around to see the ferry already leave after barely a minute passed. 

Dragon: Still don't think there's something wrong with this place, Asbestos?

Dragon started to walk toward the mansion as everyone else had already moved ahead. Asbestos simply walks and stuck to Dragon's side rather than going further ahead.

Asbestos: Shut your mouth, Dragon. I don't want to hear it. Either way, it's just you and me now Dragon.

Dragon: Why do you want to explore with just me Asbestos? You could just leave me alone and join up with the rest of the treasure hunters.

Asbestos: It's like you said on the ferry, those guys don't like the infected. I'm pretty sure if I stuck with them, they might try to kill me in my sleep or something. Besides, both of us are only here for fun, not for finding treasure or something like that. People like us have to stick together don't you think, Dragon?

Dragon: Sure, why not? I think what happens on this island will be interesting, Asbestos. Let's have a good time exploring this haunted island.

As Dragon and Asbestos got closer to the mansion, they gave each other a fist bump as a sign of becoming friends as they looked forward to what they find on this island. While the treasure hunters look uncertain and a bit scared about being on the island, Dragon, and Asbestos had looks of excitement on their faces. Ready to discover something new and interesting, even if their lives are at risk.

Hello everyone it's me the PaledKing. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of The Sword Saint. I'm sorry if it's a bit heavy on dialogue, but I wanted to establish a friendship with Dragon and Asbestos before we get started. Hopefully, I did well with trying to write Asbestos's personality since I don't have her in the game. With my rant out of the way, let's move on.

Also, for the next chapter, do you want me to write the second part of The Haunted Island, or do you want me to write voice lines for Dragon when he joins up with Rhoad Island? Please let me know in the comments.

If you have any other questions, please let me know in the comments. If you liked what you read, please leave a vote if you want to. Thank you for ready this chapter and I hope you all stick around for the next one. Have a good day, afternoon, or night wherever you are. This is the PaledKing, running fast than the wind! Stay safe and healthy everyone.

(This is Asbestos by the way. I do not own this image.)