Chapter 57: Haredas
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As they neared the heart of the island, the man turned to Jack. "Here we are," he said, motioning towards a large, intricately designed building. "Our most skilled artisans work here. They create Dials unlike any other."
Aria tugged at Jack's shirt, her little finger pointing at the building. "Is this where we find the Dials, Daddy?" Her innocent question carried the weight of their journey, the reason that had led them to the doorstep of this mysterious sky island.
"Yes, Princess. Let's go in," Jack replied, his tone unchanging despite the heightened curiosity radiating from his daughters.
Pushing open the intricately carved doors, they stepped into the vast expanse of the artisan's workshop. It was a sprawling, open space, filled with desks cluttered with various tools and half-finished Dials. A strong smell of cloud-dust hung in the air, mingling with the fainter scents of oil and lacquer.
At the center of the room, under a beam of sunlight piercing through the window, an elderly man was hunched over a workbench. He had a long, white beard that fell to his chest and long, straight hair of the same color that reached his back. He was dressed in a robe that gave off a wizard-like aura, its blue hue a perfect match for his pointed hat. Despite his age, there was a lively sparkle in his eyes, mirroring the vibrant vitality of the Sky Island itself.
"Haredas?" Jack queried, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet room.
The man slowly raised his head, his shining eyes meeting Jack's cold, calm ones. "That's me," he replied with a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, making him look more inviting than intimidating.
"We are looking for unique Dials," Jack announced, his calm gaze unwavering.
Haredas looked at Jack, his usual lively eyes filled with sorrow, an expression one wouldn't associate with the joyful Birkan elder. "I'm afraid that might be impossible, young man," he said, sadness evident in his voice.
Jack's gaze turned cool, like a clear Sky Island morning, watching Haredas intently. "Why?"
The elder looked away from him, his eyes lost in the far-off clouds outside the window. "You see, I'm currently in pursuit of a rumor. A rumor that I've been chasing for years, yet I'm still no closer to finding."
A silence spread in the room, a pause stretching on as Aria and Robin watched the conversation unfold, their eyes wide with curiosity. "And what rumor might that be?" Jack asked, breaking the silence.
With a sigh, Haredas turned back to him. "The Rumble Rumble Fruit. One of the strongest devil fruits," he said, the weight of the years he'd spent in search of it apparent in his tone.
Jack, maintaining his calm composure, raised an eyebrow. The news was unexpected but not unwelcome. "The Goro Goro no Mi...I see."
"Oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi," Haredas repeated, a habit of his that, despite the repetition, never seemed to lose its charm. The sight brought a giggle from Robin and a smile to Aria's face. "It's a daunting quest, young man."
Jack's eyes turned a calm cerulean, a stark contrast to the lively sparkle in Haredas' gaze. "We all have our quests, Haredas. Some may appear more daunting than others, but we follow them all the same."
With a nod, Haredas chuckled softly, the sound like a comforting melody playing amidst the hustle of the workshop. "Oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, you're right, young man," he said, his voice echoing in the large room. "It's the pursuit that matters, not the destination."
"Daddy..." Aria's voice called out softly, her small hand reaching for Jack's. He turned to her, his calm gaze meeting her curious eyes. "Does that mean we won't get the Dials?"
The corner of Jack's mouth twitched slightly, a silent sigh escaping his lips. His gaze shifted to Robin, who was mirroring her sister's questioning look. "Princess," he began, a rare tenderness seeping into his voice. "Sometimes, even when we don't find what we're looking for, we find something else equally valuable."
Robin's small voice echoed her sister's earlier words, "Dials..."
Jack's eyes shimmered like two brilliant sapphires as he scanned the pages sprawled across the table. Parchments, filled with foreign symbols and indecipherable text, were proof of the elusive mystery Haredas had spent years chasing – the Rumble Rumble Fruit. Although the words were as foreign to him as they were to Haredas, Jack was unfazed. A thin smirk tugged at his lips as he shifted his gaze towards the elderly Birkan.
"Haredas," he started, the calm in his voice echoing around the room, "What if I search for the fruit in your stead and you forge Dials for me?"
The old man snorted, an incredulous chuckle reverberating off the workshop walls. His face contorted into a playful grin as he addressed the younger man. "Oh, a brave soul, huh? But listen here, young man, it's not as easy as it sounds. I've devoted years of my life to this fruitless endeavor, and you think you can just waltz in and find it?"
Haredas laughed heartily, his cheerful voice cutting through the tension. "You're a fool if you believe in such fairy tales." But then his tone turned more serious as he added, "The language on these scrolls is older than time itself. I've spent countless hours trying to decode it and only managed to scratch the surface. What makes you think you can do better?"
The response only served to broaden Jack's smirk. Without uttering a word, he produced a blank piece of paper and began to copy the inscriptions from the original documents. His hand moved swiftly yet gracefully, ensuring not a single symbol was left out. After fifteen minutes of tireless effort, Jack rose from his seat, leaving behind a near perfect replica of the original.
Before exiting the workshop, he turned towards Haredas, his eyes sparkling with determination, "Get my Dials ready."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Aria tugged at his shirt, her small eyes round with curiosity. "Daddy...what did you do?"
Jack turned his attention to his little princess. The innocence in her voice tugged at his heartstrings. "I made a deal, Princess."
"Daddy...deal?" Robin echoed, her small voice full of fascination.
"Yes, Robin," Jack responded, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "A deal."
"And if you don't find the fruit?" Aria questioned, her gaze unwavering. Even at the tender age of five, her spirit was as fiery as the bluest of flames.
"We have something that old man doesn't have," Jack laughed dryly, before he and his two little princesses vanished, reappearing in Bead's space. The familiar sight of their family home and its lush surroundings met his gaze. Amelia, Liana, Luna, Sophie, Isabella, Titi, and Ponis were seated on the lawn in front of the mansion, engrossed in light conversation. The appearance of the trio brought smiles on their faces.
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