[h1][center][color=f26522][i]Eliza Rebargo[/i][/color][/center][/h1]
[hr][i][center]Windward Island,[/center]
[center]The Docks[/center][/i][hr]
Not even a day had passed since Eliza had arrived on the small Windward Island - located in the Southern Seas of Aruth. Eliza hadn't set foot on the island before, yet she'd always had a vague interest in it. And the reason for such an interest was simple - what manner of lost artifacts from the old world laid in wait, cloaked by the deep blue veil of the seas? The very possibility of such things intrigued Eliza Rebargo.

Eliza stared longingly at the sea ahead of her, her mind still on the treasures the sea could hold. She did spy dark clouds looking overhead in the distance, but they didn't really hold her attention... at first. What did catch her attention, though, was a rather loud noise ringing through the island that was quickly followed by powerful gusts of wind. [color=f26522]"W-whoa?! What's this all about?!"[/color] Eliza yelled out in utter surprise, having been caught off-guard, quickly drawing her shield from her back. But by that time, the unusual event had ceased. [color=f26522]"I've seen storms, but nothing like that...! That was... a mega storm or something...!"[/color]

But at that time, a young voice rung out from behind Eliza. "That's the rock... Gullspire Rock. It's been like that for a while..."

Eliza turned to face the source of the voice - a young boy with jet black hair, and a bandage on his arm. [color=f26522]"Hold on, little guy! You alright? That was a pretty scary storm and all!"[/color] She questioned, quickly crouching down to meet the boy's height. [color=f26522]"If it happens again, just stand behind me! Nothing gets by my mighty shield!"[/color]

"I'm not a wuss, you know," The boy scoffed. "I'm not scared of it... it's happened a lot of times already. They're calling out divers to stop it... somehow." He added as he glanced over at the rock - and the storm clouds above in the distance.

[color=f26522]"Wait, for real...? I didn't hear anything about this. What a time to drop by this place, huh?"[/color] Eliza laughed - it was quite the coincidence. [color=f26522]"That'd explain all the diver-looking guys I saw, though... since I'm here, though, I should probably help out. It'd be wrong not to... I wouldn't be able to call myself a diver if I just ignored something like that."[/color]

The boy looked up at Eliza with a neutral expression, then reached into his pockets. A few moments passed as he sorted through various things, only to eventually pull out a small note. Taking steps towards Eliza, the boy reached out and passed the note to Eliza, who accepted it and began to read it.

Eliza's eyes darted over the text. [i]An odd storm has appeared near Windward Island. It is unnatural and may be caused by some ancient device. Windward Island hereby requests any divers brave enough to travel to Gullspire Rock and to end this unnatural storm. Payment: 500 shelma, plus any artifacts found...[/i] It was a rather interesting note, though certain things piqued her interest more than others - in particular, the artifacts... yet that was nothing compared to the 'ancient device' mentioned.

It was an interesting explanation for these storms, which'd apparently been racking Windward Island as of late. They didn't seem to be any ordinary storms, at least to Eliza. She'd never experienced a storm so powerful that it caused such powerful wind gusts and even quaked the earth... so, what if the source were that of an ancient device, capable of causing such things? 

[color=f26522][i]'It's only a possibility, but it's an intriguing one...[/i][/color] Eliza thought to herself, pressing a finger to her chin. [i][color=f26522]'A device that's causing these storms... could the ancient people make something like that? That'd be pretty advanced... but that just adds the question of why they'd make something like that. I can't just let this go unfound. I was already planning to tag into this diver thing, and now? There's nothing in Aruth that'll get my mind off this! I need to know the truth behind these storms, now!'[/color][/i]

"Uh... I'm still here." The black-haired boy spoke. "Why're you just staring off into space?"

Eliza smiled. [color=f26522]"Well, I was just thinking about these storms and all..."[/color] Eliza paused. [color=f26522]"Anyways, thanks for that note - I didn't have a clue that stuff like that was going on here. It's some pretty neato stuff, so I'm gonna have to give it a peep. That's my duty as a diver, after all."[/color]

"You're a diver? I've always wanted to be a diver, but... I'm not a good swimmer." The boy explained, tilting his head downwards - as if ashamed. "Can't be a diver if I can't swim, right? I just wish I could."

[color=f26522]"'You just wish you could?'"[/color] Eliza repeated, looking at the young boy. [color=f26522]"Y'know, you don't have to wish - if you put your mind to it, then you can definitely do it. That's what I reckon, and I reckon I'm right. So you go out there - and work towards becoming a diver! Sure, you mightn't be able to swim, but neither did I - and here I am now. So, you go out and train yourself... and you'll be a diver sooner than you'll think!"[/color]

Looking up, the boy nodded. "I'll... I'll try my best."

[color=f26522]"Rightio - that's the spirit!"[/color] Eliza replied, and made a thumbs up gesture with her right hand. [color=f26522]"Anyways... I'd better be off, if I want to help out with this storm problem. You'd better remember what I said, too! You'll become a diver in no time if you listen to it - I'm sure of it!"[/color] And with that, Eliza headed off at a somewhat slow, relaxed pace, hoping that she'd inspired the boy in his endeavors to become a diver.

Eliza's travels eventually led to the docks of the island, which were positively buzzing with activity. Numerous divers from all across the world had set foot onto Windward Island, no doubt seeking to be the ones who solved the whole situation with the storm. Some looked a little fresher to the whole diving business, while others seemed quite a bit more experienced, to say the least.

[i][color=f26522]'Dang... this storm stuff is interesting, though. I'm just dying to know if some device is causing it... because if that's the case, then I'll have to snag it before anyone else!'[/color][/i]