Chapter 18: Chapter 17: Dreams & Lazing
Jaxon lay sprawled out on the grassy hill, a blade of grass dangling lazily from his mouth. The sun was beginning its slow descent, casting a warm, golden glow over the landscape. He watched Hajrudin, who was swinging his sword with relentless intensity, each swing sending small gusts of wind rippling through the grass. The scene was almost serene, a perfect blend of relaxation and raw energy.
"Hey, Hajrudin, what do you want to do in life?" Jaxon called out, his voice relaxed but curious.
Hajrudin, focused on his sword practice, didn't respond immediately. He continued to swing his sword, each movement precise and powerful. After a long pause, he finally stopped and rested the blade on his shoulder, lost in thought.
"You still with us, Hajrudin? Or did you decide to take a nap standing up?" Jaxon teased, a smirk playing on his lips. "Because if you start swinging that sword in your sleep, we're all in trouble."
Hajrudin remained silent, gazing deeply at his sword. The intensity of his thoughts was almost palpable. Jaxon raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching with amusement. "Seriously, if you keep staring at that sword any longer, it's going to start charging you rent."
Finally, Hajrudin snapped out of his reverie. "I... I want to be the strongest giant!" he declared, his voice brimming with newfound determination. "I want to become the king of giants!"
Jaxon was stunned for a moment, almost thinking that Hajrudin sounded like the protagonist of an anime. It reminded him of his past life when he had declared he wanted to be the king of the octagon. He couldn't help but snicker. "Wow, Hajrudin, you sure you haven't been reading too many bedtime stories? Next thing you know, you'll be slaying dragons and rescuing princesses."
Hajrudin's serious expression didn't waver. "I'm serious, Jaxon."
Jaxon quickly sobered up, realizing that Hajrudin wasn't joking. He could see the fire in his friend's eyes, the same fire that burned in his own when he thought about his dreams. "Hmm... well, it will be hard," Jaxon replied thoughtfully. Then, with a smirk on his face, he added, "Actually, that will be impossible, Hajrudin."
Hajrudin's eyes narrowed, his grip on the sword tightening. "And why is that?"
"Because," Jaxon said, standing up and brushing off his pants, "with me here, the strongest giant seems like a distant dream for you. You may want to be the king of giants, but with my strength, your dream's nothing more than a fairy tale."
Hajrudin grinned, the competitive fire burning even brighter in his eyes. "Then I'll just have to become strong enough to beat you, won't I?"
Jaxon chuckled, his own resolve strengthening. "We'll see about that."
Jaxon went back to lazing around, watching the sunset. There were rare days like this when he didn't want to do anything and just laze around. It felt really good. He believed rest was also part of training—well, mental training. He took a deep breath and let out a relieved sigh.
Later, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the land, Jaxon turned to Hajrudin, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Hajrudin, I want to create my own pirate crew. Will you join me as my first mate?"
This time, it was Hajrudin who was stunned. He lowered his sword, his mind racing. "I want to revive the Giant Warrior Pirates. Why don't you join me in doing so, Jaxon?"
Jaxon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He knew things that Hajrudin didn't, things about the legendary Dorry and Brogy. They were still out there, locked in their eternal duel. But that wasn't what he wanted to focus on. He had his own dreams, and reviving the Giant Warrior Pirates wasn't part of them.
"Look, Hajrudin," Jaxon began, his tone dismissive, "the Giant Warrior Pirates were great and all, but that's ancient history. I don't want to bring back some old legacy. I want to create something new, something that's ours."
Hajrudin frowned, clearly torn. "But reviving them would bring honor to our people."
Jaxon sighed again, giving Hajrudin time to think. He watched his friend grapple with the idea, feeling a bit like he was failing to deliver a convincing speech. "Guess I don't have the talk-no-jutsu in me," he muttered to himself, half-jokingly reevaluating if he was really worthy to be the protagonist of this story.
Jaxon sighed, "I get it. They were legends. But living in the shadow of the past isn't for me. I want to build a crew from the ground up, one that stands out on its own. Reviving the Giant Warrior Pirates is just... not my thing."
Hajrudin's grip on his sword tightened, a look of determination in his eyes. "But why can't we do both? We could bring back the glory of the Giant Warrior Pirates and make it even greater."
Jaxon looked Hajrudin in the eyes, his voice firm. "No, Hajrudin. I want to build something from scratch, with my own hands. I want our adventures, our battles, and our legacy. Now, tell me your choice. Will you join me?"
Hajrudin was silent, his eyes searching Jaxon's face. The silence stretched between them. Jaxon could see that Hajrudin wasn't convinced, but he decided to give his friend some space to think it over.
"Think about it, Hajrudin. You don't have to decide now," Jaxon said, standing up and brushing off his pants. "I'll be around."
With that, Jaxon turned and walked away, leaving Hajrudin to his thoughts. He hoped that, in time, his friend would see the potential in forging their own path, rather than reviving an old one. For now, he would give Hajrudin the space he needed to make his own decision.
As Jaxon walked home, he felt an uneasy sensation, like something was off. Everything seemed normal, but he had a nagging feeling. His instincts were on high alert. He quickened his pace, hurrying back to his home. The peaceful evening was suddenly overshadowed by a sense of dread.
When he reached his house, he was met with an alarming scene. His mother, Bjorn, and several other neighbors were gathered, their faces etched with concern. The usually warm and welcoming atmosphere was replaced with a grim seriousness. His mother was crying, her shoulders shaking with each sob. Jaxon's heart pounded as he took in the sight.
"What is it? What happened, Mom? What's going on?" Jaxon asked, his voice thick with worry as he rushed to his mother's side.
His mother looked up, her eyes red and puffy. "Jaxon... it's... it's your father. There's been an accident."
Jaxon's blood ran cold. "An accident? What do you mean? Is he...?"
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