PREVIOUSLY.
["And finally," Tyfo added, striding toward the door to throw it wide open, "personally oversee the instruction of our Suaza soldiers and artisans. I want every Suaza settler in this archipelago to learn to speak the local tongues. I care little for accents or grammatical perfection; I want them to know how to communicate, to understand a warning of danger, and to be able to negotiate a price for themselves."
Kusi executed a flawless martial salute, his eyes gleaming with the same ferocity as his captain's.
Tyfo looked out once more toward the bustling street of Discovery Town, where voices in Cebuano and Suaza blended into a single murmur beneath the fading dusk.]
----
Two months later.
Year 13 of the SuaChie Calendar, Second Month (April 1495).
Dakbayan hong Butuan (Butuan, Philippines), Butuan Kingdom, Mai Archipelago.
The constant murmur of the mighty Agusan River drifted through the wide, woven-bamboo windows, carrying a thick, moisture-laden breeze. Tyfo dipped the tip of his quill into the inkwell and traced a new line in his logbook.
Exactly two months had passed since he left Kusi, the brilliant young Suaza scholar, in command of Discovery Town. Two months in which the captain had been deeply immersed in the heart of local power: the opulent city of Butuan.
Tyfo set the quill aside and rubbed his tired eyes. His stay in the capital of the Rajahnate had begun as a simple diplomatic mission for little Siawi's fifth birthday.
The celebration had been an overwhelming display that stretched for over a continuous day and night—a whirlwind of dances, chants, endless feasts, and ostentation. In a kingdom where gold flowed almost as naturally as water, adorning everything from dagger hilts to the nobles' teeth, Tyfo had feared his gifts might seem insignificant.
However, the thick, exotic pelts brought from the distant North Quyca, transported through the Great River City on his native continent, caused genuine fascination among the local datus, who had never felt such a dense and warm texture.
Following the festivities, diplomacy transformed into cultural immersion.
Tyfo was escorted up the Agusan River to visit the inland settlements. The captain had meticulously noted the similarities between the river engineering of Butuan and that of the Suaza Kingdom; both peoples respected the current, but here, the dependence was absolute. The river was not merely a route; it was the lifeblood of the nation's political and vital system.
Then came the stories. The elders and shamans of the court invited him to study the intricate oral histories of their ancestors, the genealogies of historical Rajahs, and the ancient commercial ties they maintained with the majestic cultures of the Asian continent. As a linguist and a scholar, Tyfo was enthralled. But as the captain of an isolated colony, paranoia was beginning to eat away at him.
They are holding me captive, Tyfo thought, shutting his journal with a sharp thud.
He had never been mistreated; in fact, he received the honors and reverence due to a high-ranking datu. He could walk freely through the markets and regularly received the reports Kusi sent via the swift ships of Discovery Town. He knew his people were thriving, but the court's insistence that he prolong his stay week after week reeked of a hidden agenda.
Soft knocks on the carved wooden door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Captain Tyfo," announced a Butuan officer, leaning in with a deep bow. "The great Rajah Kalaga requests your presence at the main estate."
Tyfo nodded, adjusted his Suaza military tunic to ensure he looked impeccable, and followed the guide through the elevated corridors of the city.
The Rajah's main house was a marvel of tropical architecture. Spacious, breezy, and adorned with wooden carvings that narrated maritime epics, the throne room dispensed with rigid chairs in favor of sumptuous silk cushions and woven rugs.
Kalaga, a man with a piercing gaze and an indomitable bearing, welcomed him with a warm smile, gesturing for him to take a seat across from him. Trays of fresh fruits and palm wine were arranged between them.
For the first half hour, the conversation flowed over gentle waters.
They spoke of the weather, the recent tides, and the excellent quality of the tools that Discovery Town continued to send to the shipyards of Butuan. Kalaga praised the skill of the Suaza artisans with a disarming naturalness.
But then, the Rajah set his wine glass on the table and his expression sharpened.
"Tyfo, my friend," Kalaga began, resting his elbows on his knees. "I have heard stories about the day you arrived on our shores. Stories of wooden mountains that defied the waves… Tell me of these great ships."
Tyfo's heart skipped a beat. Tension seized his muscles for a fraction of a second.
It was the first time the leader of Butuan had directly addressed the subject of his origins and naval might. Technically, they were foreign settlers who had established themselves without royal permission on the peripheral domains of a local superpower. A less tolerant monarch would have executed them for invasion.
Tyfo took a deep breath, forcing his shoulders to relax. He decided to play the card of honesty wrapped in mysticism.
"Those ships, my lord, belong to the armada of my leader, the Ruler of the Suaza Kingdom," Tyfo explained, keeping his voice steady and serene. "We come from very far away. We come from the exact place where the sun is born each morning."
Tyfo clenched his jaw, bracing for the order of arrest or a demand for tribute.
But Kalaga's reaction completely disarmed him. The Rajah showed neither indignation nor territorial suspicion; his eyes widened, lit by a spark of genuine, feverish excitement.
"Where the sun is born?" Kalaga whispered, leaning forward. "But... what lies beyond the endless waters? We always believed the eastern ocean had no end, that it was the edge of the world where only water spirits dwelled."
"The ocean is immense, brutal, and treacherous, Great Rajah," Tyfo replied, gesturing with his hands to illustrate the vastness. "But it is not infinite. On the other side of that immensity, there is land. There are entire continents. That is where my home lies."
Kalaga drank in the information like a thirsty man. His brilliant mind seemed to be redrawing the maps of the world in that very instant.
"And those other people who live among you..." the Rajah asked, narrowing his eyes. "Those men with skin as white as salt and beards of fire. Do they come from the same place as your people?"
A mysterious, diplomatic smile curled on the lips of the Suaza captain.
"They are our allies in this expedition, my lord. But no, they do not come from my land. They hail from kingdoms that lie even further beyond my own home."
The next two hours were a relentless bombardment.
Kalaga wanted to know everything: how they sailed against the wind, what they ate on the high seas, how their armies were organized. Tyfo answered carefully, revealing the majesty of his world without surrendering tactical weaknesses.
Finally, as the sun began to set and the torches in the hall were lit, Tyfo decided it was his turn to go on the offensive.
"My lord Kalaga, you have been generous and hospitable," Tyfo said, subtly hardening his tone. "But I am a captain far from his post. Why have you kept me in this city for two months?"
The Rajah blinked, taken aback by the bluntness. Then, an apologetic smile, heavy with fatigue, softened his face.
"I ask for your forgiveness, Tyfo. It was not my intention to hold you captive, but to observe you," Kalaga confessed, pouring himself a little more wine. "When a group of foreigners with gigantic ships and superior iron tools settles on your doorstep, a leader must be cautious. I wanted to investigate who you were, to understand your temperament and your honor before asking the important questions. I didn't want to offend you and lose the lucrative trade that has begun to flourish between us."
The Rajah paused, and his gaze darkened, turning as heavy as lead.
"The truth, Captain Tyfo, is that I care not if you are settlers or gods of the dawn. What I care about is the war brewing in the west. The Brunei Empire is expanding its shadow, devouring islands and trade routes with a ruthless ferocity. I have kept you here because I needed to know just one thing: Do your kingdom and those giant ships have the power to help us protect Butuan against the advance of Brunei?"
Tyfo sat petrified for a moment.
The pieces of the colossal puzzle spun in his mind and clicked into place with a deafening roar. The invitations, the gifts, the tales of the ancestors, the insistence on showing him their river network... it wasn't mere hospitality.
Kalaga was evaluating whether the Suaza Kingdom was a worthy military ally to halt a devouring empire. Everything made sense now.
Several months later.
Year 13 of the SuaChie Calendar, Seventh Month (September 1495).
Discovery Town (Surigao, Philippines), Mai Archipelago.
The scent of fresh resin and polished stone filled Tyfo's office. Months ago, that space had been nothing more than a rudimentary wooden house that groaned with every gust of wind. Now, the captain stood in his new official residence, the Chief's House, an imposing structure that dominated the landscape of Discovery Town.
To build it, he had masterfully utilized the precious construction materials and master beams that Admiral Umzye had left behind, fusing the sturdy Suaza architecture with the breezy aesthetic of Butuan's palaces.
All around him, the entire town reflected that same transformation: the fragile huts had been replaced by robust dwellings of stone masonry and hardened wood, proudly withstanding the tropical humidity.
Tyfo ran his fingertips over the surface of his desk, carved by local artisans, and sighed. The settlement was no longer a survival camp; it was a burgeoning city. The population had exploded, reaching six hundred inhabitants.
The intermingling he had so feared at the beginning was now the very amalgam that sustained his community. Nearly half of the Suaza settlers had married local women, the vast majority hailing from the Butuan Kingdom.
Those blood alliances, coupled with the trade agreements, had forged an ironclad pact with Rajah Kalaga. Butuan was now an unconditional ally, and its leaders scanned the western horizon with the same desperation as Tyfo, waiting for the fleet that would tip the scales against Brunei.
Yet, that fleet had not arrived.
Eleven agonizing months had passed since the main expedition had set sail for home, and an entire year since Tyfo's boots had first touched the sands of the Mai Archipelago.
Though Tyfo repeated to himself every night, with an almost religious faith, that his brothers would return, worry gnawed at his gut. Discovery Town was strong, yes, but the Suaza Kingdom was its soul.
Tyfo dipped his quill into the inkwell. On the table, an intricate map marked with red ink the recent and aggressive naval movements of the Brunei Empire. They were closing off the northern routes. Time was running out.
Suddenly, the air vibrated.
A deep, guttural sound, like the roar of a bronze beast, shook the foundations of the house. It was the great gong of the watchtower. The first deafening strike was followed by three rapid, sharp, frantic blows.
The signal.
Tyfo dropped the quill. The ink blotted the map of Brunei, but he didn't care. His heart leapt in his chest, pumping pure adrenaline. He sprang to his feet, knocking his chair backward, and bolted toward the wide balcony that overlooked the bay.
The briny wind whipped his face as his eyes narrowed to focus on the horizon. There they were. Piercing the ocean mist, majestic and silent, rose the imposing square sails of the Suaza armada. But this was no simple rescue flotilla.
Tyfo gripped the carved wooden railing in disbelief.
There were three colossal Tequendama II-class ships, veritable floating fortresses that cast shadows over the waters in their wake, escorted by five agile Tequendama I vessels. And, leading the formation, cutting through the waves with a sharp, predatory silhouette that Tyfo never thought he would see in these latitudes, sailed a Yaguar. That ultralight, hyper-cutting vessel was an exclusive legend of the turbulent seas of the Dawn Ocean. To see it at the western edge of the world was a tactical miracle.
A wave of profound, intoxicating calm washed over his body. The knot that had suffocated his throat for a year unraveled in a single sigh of relief. The cavalry had arrived.
…
An hour later, the port of Discovery Town was a boiling cauldron of cheers, drums, and tears. Tyfo, dressed in his dress uniform, waited on the stone pier. From one of the modified Barangay that the town used as landing barges, a man with broad shoulders and a shrewd gaze stepped down, adorned with high-command insignia.
"Captain Tyfo," spoke the newcomer, stopping before him and executing a flawless martial salute. "I am Bachuaga, commander of the Suaza Kingdom's first solo expedition."
"Commander Bachuaga," Tyfo replied, returning the salute with equal stiffness, though his eyes shone with emotion.
Bachuaga broke protocol and offered a warm smile, extending his hand to grasp Tyfo's forearm in the Suaza style.
"I've seen the settlement from the deck. Stone houses, shipyards, cultivated fields... It's a miracle. I commend you on the progress of this town, Captain. And above all, I offer my most sincere apologies on behalf of the kingdom for the delay. We know we've kept you waiting far too long."
The words struck Tyfo unexpectedly. A cold knot settled in the pit of his stomach, replacing the initial joy. The commander's formal apology indicated that something in the original plan had fractured.
"I only did what I was ordered, sir. Survive and prepare the ground," Tyfo replied, lowering his voice so the euphoric settlers wouldn't hear. "Please, accompany me to the Chief's House. You need to rest and we have much to discuss."
As they walked through the smooth, packed-dirt streets, flanked by the cheers of the Suaza and the curious stares of the Butuanos, Tyfo could not contain his need for information.
"How are things in the kingdom? Is Leader Chuta well?"
"The kingdom prospers, Tyfo, more than you can imagine," Bachuaga remarked, marveling at the solid, hardened-wood constructions. "At the beginning of the year, our Leader Chuta married the three chosen maidens. There were celebrations for weeks in Dawn City."
Tyfo nodded, comforted by the political stability of his homeland. "And the rumors regarding the western kingdoms... how are they progressing?"
Bachuaga let out a small laugh, dodging a group of local children running by in celebration.
"Palace intrigues fly fast. It is said that, by this time, it is highly likely the leader has accepted the betrothal to the English princess."
Tyfo stopped dead in his tracks for a fraction of a second, his eyebrows rising in genuine surprise. A marriage to the English crown would change global geopolitics forever.
"Is that true? Is he really betrothed? That is immense joy for the kingdom!"
"Patience, Captain," Bachuaga calmed him, resuming his pace. "There are no official edicts yet. They are only theories circulating among the admirals and diplomats. But I bring you news that is absolute certainty."
Bachuaga stopped at the foot of the steps to the Chief's House, looking at Tyfo with a triumphant gleam in his eyes.
"Do you remember the islands the leader predicted in the center of the Sunset Ocean? They exist. I myself made landfall on the island known by the locals as Kauai. We have established a direct route and a settlement… That resupply point makes this voyage, and all future ones, immensely faster and safer. The storms will no longer slow us down."
Tyfo blinked, processing the information. His analytical mind, sharpened by a year of political and military survival, began to cross-reference the data. If they had the Yaguar, the best ships in the fleet, and a resupply point that drastically reduced the time and danger of the journey... the math simply didn't add up.
The Suaza captain fixed his gaze on Commander Bachuaga, his expression losing all trace of celebration. He tilted his head slightly and, with a subtlety that failed to conceal the tension in his question, murmured:
"Commander... if the route is now so safe, and the journey is so much faster... why did you take so long to arrive?"
The tension in the air could be cut with a knife, but Bachuaga's weathered expression showed not the slightest hint of indignation at the pointed question.
Like a veteran who knew the weight of isolation, the commander perfectly understood the mental state of a man who had held the edge of the world on his shoulders for over a year.
Bachuaga let out a slow sigh and nodded.
"You have every right to ask, Tyfo. And the answer is not a failure in our ships, but the weight of diplomacy and logistics," the commander explained, clasping his hands behind his back. "The joint expedition was a massive beast. They had to make prolonged strategic pauses in Ryukyu and Cipango to cement relations, in addition to multiple supply stops on the western coasts of North Quyca before even drawing near to Sunset Edge City again."
Tyfo pressed his lips together, nodding slowly. His mind, ever calculating, had already mapped out those scenarios during his sleepless nights. It wasn't abandonment; it was the bureaucracy of an expanding empire compounded by distances far greater than what they were accustomed to.
"However," Bachuaga continued, raising a hand to emphasize his words, "I want to make something perfectly clear to you: the very instant our men touched the docks of Dawn City, Leader Chuta ordered the formation and immediate departure of this new expedition. Not a single resource was spared to reach you."
That confirmation dissolved the final remnants of bitterness in Tyfo's chest. The Kingdom had not forgotten them. Regaining his usual composure, he straightened his back and adopted his most formal military posture.
"I understand, Commander, and I appreciate it. Tell me then, what orders do you bring from the central government for this camp?"
Bachuaga offered a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.
"I bring the confirmation of your official promotion, of course."
Tyfo let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding. A weight of years lifted from his soul.
"Finally... an official Captain," he murmured, almost to himself, savoring the title he had 'usurped' out of necessity and which now became legitimate.
"I'm afraid you are mistaken," Bachuaga interrupted him, shaking his head. Tyfo frowned, confused. "The rank you have been granted is that of Major."
Tyfo took a step back, genuinely astonished. Such a leap in the hierarchy was unprecedented in his career.
"Major? But..."
"Admiral Umzye spoke personally on your behalf before High Command," Bachuaga explained solemnly. "He stipulated that, if this settlement managed to survive and grow as he hoped, you must have absolute authority to command all ground forces in the region. And that is not all. Your civil title has been elevated. From this moment forth, you are the Mayor in charge of the newly named Discovery City."
The succession of news fell upon Tyfo like an avalanche.
Major. Mayor. Discovery City.
He was no longer just an officer in charge of a handful of 'castaways'; he was the regent of his civilization's westernmost city. He tried to articulate a response, but the magnitude of his new reality left him momentarily speechless.
"Is there... is there anything else regarding this that I should know, Commander?" he managed to ask, his voice sounding strangely hoarse.
"Yes. Being such a remote island territory, it has been decided that in the future a Rear Admiral will be sent to manage the fleet of the archipelago," Bachuaga added, lowering his tone slightly. "It is supposed to be Tequa… Yes, the brother-in-arms of Sogeking."
Tyfo's eyes widened. Both were legendary names, absolute pillars in the army and armada of the Suaza Kingdom. To send someone of that caliber meant the Mai Archipelago wasn't merely an outpost; it was the empire's new front of expansion.
…
A few hours later, the bustle of the landing continued to shake the streets, but inside the Chief's House—which now bore the official title of City Hall—a relative calm reigned.
Tyfo, visibly more relaxed after having bathed and changed his worn tunic for a clean one, sat behind his carved wooden desk. Though the tension of survival had vanished, a new, heavy seriousness framed his face, defining the responsibility of his new posts.
"Commander Bachuaga," Tyfo began, pouring two cups of aged palm wine, "if Discovery City is going to operate as a true extension of the Kingdom, I am short on hands. I need scholars, accountants, logistics officers... People to fill administrative roles that my soldiers simply cannot cover."
Bachuaga took his cup and nodded, appreciating the aroma of the local wine. "You need not worry, Mayor. In the ships that just docked, we bring seven hundred and fifty permanent settlers. Primarily adults with specialized trades, along with some children. They possess key knowledge in agriculture, administration, and construction. I hope you have prepared to receive them."
Tyfo processed the number. It was more than double the current population of the settlement.
"I did not expect so many people, I must admit," he replied, making a quick mental calculation of the sawmills and basalt stone reserves. "But we have stockpiled materials. In a matter of weeks, I will have solid homes of hardened wood and stone for everyone. And as for supplies? Did you bring tools?"
"We brought everything," Bachuaga assured with a satisfied smile. "Seeds, textiles, medicines... and even the materials and blueprints to build smelting furnaces of the same caliber as those in the Kingdom."
Tyfo's heart leaped. The rudimentary clay kilns he had kept hidden from the spies of Butuan and Brunei would no longer be necessary. With genuine Suaza forges, steel would flow like water.
"Leader Chuta was clear," Bachuaga added. "Supply shipments will continue uninterrupted until the city is completely self-sustaining and you are able to start paying for every good that arrives from Dawn City."
A slow, almost predatory smile spread across Tyfo's face. The burden of the last year suddenly transformed into his greatest triumph.
"Commander," Tyfo said, rising from his chair, "I believe we can already pay for everything."
Tyfo walked to a dark corner of the office, dragged out a heavy, ornate mahogany chest, and lifted it with both hands until setting it upon the desk with a dull thud. He unlocked the iron padlock and threw open the lid.
A yellow glare flooded the room.
It was filled to the brim with artisanal ingots, necklaces, bracelets, and pure gold dust. It was the incalculable wealth amassed after a full year of monopolizing the naval and tool trade with the Butuan kingdom.
Bachuaga choked on his wine. He set the cup on the table with a trembling hand, staring at the gold with wide eyes, unable to articulate a single word. He had expected to find a town barely surviving; instead, he stood before the coffers of a merchant principality.
Tyfo relished his superior's silence for a long moment before shutting the chest with a sharp crack.
"Let's talk about defense, Commander," Tyfo said, resting his hands flat on the wood. "How many of these majestic ships will remain at my docks this time, and for how long?"
Bachuaga blinked several times, tearing his gaze away from the chest to focus on the new Major. He cleared his throat, regaining his military composure.
"We will leave a permanent deterrent force: one Tequendama II and two Tequendama I vessels will remain anchored here, under your logistical jurisdiction," the commander replied, his voice recovering its firmness. "As for me, I will depart for Cipango in two weeks with another Tequendama II and a pair of escort ships to secure the northern routes. The rest of the expedition and the heavy escorts will remain in Discovery City for three more months, right around the time we expect the next Suaza wave to cross the ocean."
Tyfo nodded, looking out the window at the colossal masts rising in his bay. With that firepower, the incoming steel, and coffers overflowing with gold, the Brunei Empire would have to think twice before looking east.
Survival was over; the era of Suaza-style expansion had begun.
.
----
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
Thank you all for your support.
First, I hope you're enjoying the recent chapters. There will only be one more section, but unlike the previous two, this one will be shorter.
Second, I wanted to mention that while writing these chapters and researching East and Southeast Asian cultures online, ideas for a version of the saga set in one of these kingdoms came back to me.
The plot for this version would be very different from Vinland, as it has many powerful and influential cultures nearby, and it would also present a similar storyline to colonization if it were set in a similar era.
---
Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future (Chapter 91) (ON HOLD)
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis (Chapter 34) (ON HOLD)
#The Walking Dead: Patient 0 - Lyra File (Chapter 14) (ON HOLD)
You can find them on my profile.]