Satisfied with Drakons actions , the elder than looked at him with a concern and asked to favors from him. Elder Akane's expression turned serious as she approached Drakon, her eyes locked onto his. "Drakon, I must ask a favor of you," she said, her voice measured. "While you're in the Grand Line, I want you to seek out a young lady in Elegia."
Drakon's curiosity was piqued. " Who is that if i may ask?" he asked, his interest evident. Elder Akane's gaze seemed to bore into Drakon's soul. "Uta, she possesses a certain... gift," she said, her words carefully chosen. "One that could prove crucial to your journey and the balance of power in the Grand Line. I want you to find her and... assess her abilities."
Drakon nodded, committing the name to memory. "I'll find her, Elder Akane. What's the second favor you wish to ask of me?"
"I want you to take the twins to sea with you. I tried by all means to give them a proper life, but I'm at the limit of my abilities."
"I don't follow." He responded
"Follow me. And I'll show you." After they exit the cave, the once so beautiful island now looked dreadful, the houses where in ruin and the people who looked lovely where all bones.
"What is going on here?" Drakon asked with confusion.
"This is the real nature of Kokoro island. It's been like this for 50 years now. I'm last real surviver of this island." Said the Elder. Drakon's eyes widened in horror as he took in the desolate landscape. The once-thriving island was now a barren wasteland, the houses in ruins, and the people nothing but skeletal remains. The air was thick with an eerie silence, and the only sound was the wind rustling through the debris.
What happened here?" Drakon asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He felt a chill run down his spine as he gazed upon the devastation.
Elder Akane's eyes clouded over, and her voice cracked with emotion. "It's a long story, Drakon. One that I'm not sure I'm ready to share. But know this: Kokoro Island was once a paradise, a place of beauty and wonder. But something happened, something that changed everything. And now, I'm the last one left."
Drakon's gaze swept across the island, taking in the scale of the destruction. He couldn't imagine what could have caused such devastation. As he looked at Elder Akane, he saw the weight of her years bearing down on her.
"When Léon and Ella's parents ship landed here, their mother was near death door. She told me of the evil Shupeal. Apparently their father IA a retired marine, and Shupeal had a score to settle with him. When he found them on a family vacation, he didn't hesitate to fire at will. After torturing him over and over, he manged to escape and free his family. But, the other was already at death door. Till this day I still say it's a miracle that she manged to survive for a week on those waters with those injuries." Drakon looked at her with no emotion on his face.
"Now, you're probably wondering what it has to do with Kokoro Island. When they arrived at the beach, I was doing my daily walk. There I found a traumatized Léon and Ella. Their mother bagged for me to apply first aid to them first and after that I tried to apply it to her but it was too late. With nowhere to go and I decided to take the kids in. And I used my power as the last Kairoi to cast an illusion to make the island as beautiful the holy land we once used to live on. But after many years, I've finally reached my limit. "
Drakon's expression remained unreadable as he processed the information. "You used your power to create an illusion to protect the children," he stated, his voice flat. Elder Akane nodded, a hint of weariness creeping into her voice. "Yes, I maintained the illusion for as long as I could, but it's become increasingly difficult. The weight of sustaining it has taken its toll on me, and I'm afraid I'm no longer able to keep it up."
Drakon's gaze drifted back to the desolate landscape, his eyes scanning the ruins. "And now, you're passing the responsibility to me," he said, his tone neutral. Elder Akane's eyes locked onto Drakon's, a deep sadness and determination reflected in them. "I'm not just passing the responsibility to you, Drakon. I'm entrusting you with the twins' lives."
"You do know I'm technically viewd as a pirate in the eyes of the navy? So if they go to sea with me, they could be branded as part of my crew." Drakon said
"I know that. But all I want is for them to go see life beyond the illusion and should they choose to stay by your side then I Don't have any problem with that. Sometimes being a pirate doesn't mean your a bad person, similar to how being a marine doesn't always mean your a good person as well." Said the elder
"Well, whether or not they follow me is up to them. I think you should tell them the truth though."
"They already know, well starting from now that is." Just as the elder finished talking Ella and Léon are spotted at the back with the roc bird Balloon and Ann as they all stand there in silence and tears pouring out of their eyes. The twins, Ella and Léon, stood frozen in shock, their eyes fixed on the desolate landscape before them. The illusion that had shielded them from the harsh reality of Kokoro Island's true state had finally lifted, and they were faced with the devastating truth. Tears streamed down their faces as they took in the ruins of the island, the skeletal remains of what once was, and the eerie silence that hung in the air.
Balloon, stood beside them, its eyes fixed on the twins with a deep sense of understanding. Ann stood silently, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and compassion. Drakon, Elder Akane, and the twins locked eyes, the air thick with unspoken emotions. The weight of the moment hung heavy, as the twins struggled to come to terms with the truth about their home and the life they had known.
Elder Akane took a step forward, her eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry, children," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know this is a lot to take in, but I had to protect you. I had to keep you safe."
Léon's expression softened as he looked at Elder Akane. "We understand, Elder Akane," he said, his voice filled with empathy. "You did what you thought was best for us. You gave us a childhood, a sense of normalcy. We won't hold it against you."
Ann nodded in agreement, her eyes shining with understanding. "It's clear that you did what you thought was right, Elder Akane. You sacrificed a lot to care for these two."
Ella stepped forward, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. "We're grateful for everything you've done for us, Elder Akane. We'll always be thankful for the life you gave us, even if it wasn't the real one."
Elder Akane's face crumpled, relief and gratitude washing over her. "Thank you, children," she said, her voice shaking. "I'm just glad I could prepare you for the world outside these shores." Drakon watched the exchange, his expression unreadable. He seemed to be sizing up the twins, assessing their strength and resilience in the face of this new reality.