The Vengeful Tide-Ch. 23 (Patreon)

Hello again everyone!

Here is Chapter 23 of The Vengeful Tide. Massive thanks to Ilfenis again for helping me with the editing. It's been a great experience! It's also been great having so many of you enjoy this novel as well as other things!

Anyway, enjoy!

WttW

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As if I’d woken up from a dream, the mud formed a copy of myself that stared at me. When I looked at it through An’raie’s eyes, I noticed that it was indeed a perfect replica of me. It had my clothes and my hair. There wasn’t a single piece of it that was out of line with anything else. The only thing it didn’t have were my eyes, my mouth, and my voice.

“The Children of Ỗxa indeed,” I thought to myself.

I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised: The Alchemist had studied the Taker of Voices in his desire for knowledge, and for the secrets to unraveling the realms of eternity. I doubted even Liara knew how long Ỗxa’d roamed the lands of D’orn. It’s not a being even gods and spirits  dared mess with casually. If fortune continued to stay with me, I hoped I would find that journal again. How insane was the Alchemist to study in a dreaded environment like that to produce such creatures?

Eager to not find the answer to that question, I expended my mana once again to cast a spell that let me transfer my thoughts to my crew. “Alright, ya slags. Keep your eyes closed. When you feel the air get cold that’ll be the key to start moving, but do it quietly!” I hissed at them.

I grabbed my rapier and slowly dipped it into the hot, bubbling mud. My balance slipped and my eyes grew blurry for a moment. The loss of such mana made me dizzy as the ice magic from my blade froze the surface of the mud from one corner to the next. It was probably only because of An’raie’s own reserves that I could even freeze a few feet below that. Our mud copies made not a sound as they were frozen like they’d been encased in ice.

I pulled my rapier out of the mud and took a few minutes to catch my breath. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed the luxury of more rest. The ice magic of an imperfect frost weapon wouldn’t hold against such an environment for long. Then, once the ice thawed we’d be in a lot of fucking trouble.

“‘Tis quite the understatement, Drakclaw,” An’raie replied before I nudged Aesteal’s shoulder. We all continued moving.

“Sir, can we open our eyes now?” Aesteal asked.

“Aye, in a moment. However, don’t speak further. Let me conserve what mana I can,” I replied back.

Our line continued for a time before we finally made it to the wide platform. Never had I been more thankful for an abundance of ground than right now. “Alright, you can open your eyes. If you must speak, do it quietly!” I stressed.

Once I was sure everyone got the point, I guided them to the other side of the platform. The stairs embedded into the pillars that housed the upper floors, got bigger the closer we got. “What the fuck kind of devilry be this? Is that us?” someone asked quietly.

“‘Tis the work of the vilest evils, friend! We tread the grounds that not even Zeus would dare strike his mighty bolt!” another responded.

We all walked up the steps. It wasn’t hard to do. Thankfully, the alchemist didn’t use those fancy stones from the second island that weighed on a person with every step. We were already pressed for time as it was. A part of me wondered if I should just cut our time to find treasure down to two days. Aye there was much to explore, but not enough time to do it in. The longer I took, the longer I feared for Liara succumbing to the Alchemist on the fifth island. However, I also promised my crew boundless treasures. This was not a journey to be made for such half-hearted attempts.

As soon as we reached the top of the stone pillar, I quickly noticed the thin bridge which led to the other side of the cavernous dome. Just below the middle of that bridge was the third platform which housed the sapphire flower. Its light was like a tiny flame in a dark tunnel. It drew every eye to it.

“Watch your step. If you fall, I’d recommend biting your tongue and choking on the blood. It’s better than what’ll happen to you if you don’t,” I warned. Everyone agreed and I quickly spoke to my mother, Ellen, and Aesteal.

“Take them across the bridge. We’re heading to the other tunnels. I’m going to grab the flowers. Once I’ve gotten them, get out of the room. We’re the fucking visitors and the homeowners ain’t gonna be too pleased with us stealing their shit,” I answered.

The three agreed and Aesteal took the lead in front of everyone to guide them. While the bridge might’ve seemed thin from below, it was actually rather spacious. It fit a good number of my men across its length as they journeyed to the other side.

“Man-spawn, thou shouldest make haste. The surface of the mud bubbles once again. ‘Twill not be easy should the rest of it unthaw with thy current mana,” An’raie stated to me.

Well, who was I to argue with a powerful witch?

While everyone crossed the bridge, I grabbed a hold of its ledge and flung myself off. Hot and cold air blew against my face and body. Unfortunately, my landing was a bit uneasy. I crashed down onto the lower platform with the flowers and nearly fell off. Sharp stones were set loose from my landing and fell into the mud. Unease moved through me when I heard the rocks sizzle in the hot mud.

I turned my head to watch the mud clothes that had been produced by the Children of Ỗxa. When I looked at where we left them, they were still there. They stood as unmoving as always. However, I couldn’t shake this sense of pressure placed upon me. I could feel something watching me, studying me, observing me. It reminded me of that time back in the Sea of Greed. Hell, it reminded me of that time back when my crew and I faced the Father and Son spirits back in the last trial.

“Make haste! I feel it as well. The Eye of Mud be upon thee. Should the ice crack, they shall awaken and flourish once more,” An’raie said.

I needed no greater motivation than that. Dealing with Ỗxa was hard enough. Not even I could tangle with such a creature. I wasn’t about to find out what else these mud dwellers could do that might be different from my own past. “Aye,” I replied.

So, I walked over to the flowers. I marveled at their dazzling color for only a moment. There were many bright and beautiful petals just waiting to be plucked from their roots.

That said, I would have to be careful. If I did this wrong, then the magic would disperse. All I’d have is a pretty flower that was only good for being put in a vase.

I grabbed a knife and sliced the flowers from their roots. The roots were long, flowing all the way down into the mud. I wished I could see their base, but I dared not go swimming. Instead, I placed the flowers in a glass jar. I also grabbed some of the roots. I was sure I could make something special from them.

Once everything was collected, I stood up. That proved to be a mistake.

I groaned when I felt mud-formed hands grab my throat. The grip was monstrously strong, enough to crush my throat if given the chance. Thankfully, An’raie sprang to action. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched her spirit fly through the air.

My body trembled with pain as a trail of blood spilled from my lip. The pain and pressure from my mana veins was similar to what I felt when I first sealed An’raie inside me. “Bhauhil,” The Lonely Wail said.

Suddenly, I could breathe again as I dropped to my knees. She then linked her soul with mine and I saw what she saw. On the platform with me was a large pile of mud that quickly began to take shape once again. Off to the side I noticed over twenty mud clones scaling the walls of the pillar, each of them leaving a trail wherever they went. How had one snuck up on me so quickly?

“‘Tis likely the effect of magic. Mine senses pick up a magic identical to thine own,” An’raie answered as a silent curse flew through my lips. It made a bit more sense now.

As if my fortune couldn’t get any shittier, the mud from below quickly exploded. There was no creature screaming, but I could see over thirty spider-like limbs crawl through the air. Just like their fucking progenitor, they all seemed laden with the bones and corpses of those that they’d devoured. Their long limbs creaked and cracked, as if angry for what I had done. I could already see them, high in the air, making their way towards me. If one of them touched me, it would be my end.

Despite the situation, I chuckled. Once again I was utterly surrounded by death on all sides, a lone platform my standing spot. Aye, there was something about the inevitability of death and the mortal desire to overcome it that stirred my salty heart. This was where no man dared to tread. This was where the greatest of legends walked, the realm of madness.

I reached into my coat and threw a scroll into the air. Then, it was struck by an arrow, it’s tip laced with fire. My very aura sung with praises as there was only one woman in my crew who could perform such a shot in such unfavorable circumstances.

The dome then lit up as if it had been touched by the sun. A myriad of fire blasts exploded in all directions. Some crashed into the ceiling, making it rumble like a mighty beast. Others crashed into the mud and made it so hot the bubbles began making waves against the walls. Massive stones and pillars of rock crashed down against each other.

The dwellers beneath the mud finally screamed as fire and rock fell down upon us all. Not even I was exempt as sharp, fiery boulders threatened to crush me beneath their weight. I groaned as smaller pebbles struck my back or crashed against my shoulders. My mud clone was unperturbed, continuing to stare at me just waiting to attack again. I was sure it felt different when a fireball collided with its face.

With the flowers and roots in my possession I quickly took the opportunity to run. Having so little mana between An’raie and myself, I decided to put my legs to their best use. I jumped over my reshaping mud clone and ran towards the edge of the platform. Using the momentum, I jumped as hard as I could to the other side of the dome, everything exploding around me as I did so.

Unfortunately, without mana, I couldn’t jump very far. My reach was much shorter than I could have hoped for. The base platform to the other pillar was far from reach as I landed in the hot mud.

Let me tell you, hot mud in a burning and collapsing dome… wasn’t great. Hell, I could feel my boots beginning to melt. Additionally, the mud seemed to be alive itself, crawling up my boots and around my legs, ready to overwhelm me if given the chance.

While stuck in this plight, I had to constantly watch my head as more stones of fire and sealed magic detonated around the room. An errant stone crashed against my shoulder and I hissed in pain. I was helpless against the relentless barrage of exploding rock. Some of these strikes were harder than the others. One even hit me above my eye, and soon blood ran down my face.

As I tried to trudge through the mud, I suddenly felt something grab my leg. It’s grip was strong and I noticed the other limbs closing in on me like hungry jaws. Thankfully, the mud clones couldn’t come closer. They constantly got bombarded by the fire spells sealed within the scroll. Though that was good fortune for me, it wasn’t good that the thing which grabbed my leg still wouldn’t let go. As it kept me in place, the mud continued to overtake the lower half of my body and the claws of the Children of Ỗxa. I was being dragged down and I had not the strength to free myself.

“Ya might have to latch your soul to someone else should I not make it,” I groaned as I tried to move, hacking at the mud futilely trying to free myself from my predicament.

I noticed An’raie was rather silent. I found it rather odd. I thought she’d be overjoyed to be apart from a man since she claimed to hate them so much. “Is this one of the miraculous plans of Eric Drakclaw?” she asked.

I grunted again. “Well, I did have a plan, fair lass! However, that plan didn’t involve me getting strangled by meself!” I exclaimed. I then heard something I thought impossible. I heard laughter in my head.

“Thou art the biggest fool I’ve ever seen.”

As soon as those words from An’raie finished, the dome was then filled with the sound of gunfire and hailing arrows. I then bore witness to a sight I thought I’d never see. I saw Ellen running across the bridge, firing her guns at anything that moved. She dodged out of the way of the falling fire spells and crashing stones. The bridge nearly collapsed from each impact of mana and rubble.

Unfortunately, the bridge could only take so many blows. I wasn’t sure which one made it crumble to pieces. In my ears, all I heard was the sound of gunshots and magic spells. The bones and remains of the creatures started falling into the mud as I watched the bridge fall apart. My eyes observed Ellen as she jumped off and landed on the platform I was on previously. Unfortunately that too started to crumble away.

That said, despite these unfortunate circumstances, Ellen didn’t seem particularly overwhelmed. She quickly fired at one claw that got too close. The others were fired upon by my mouth and Aesteal. Sothshore then took a grappling hook and threw it at another part of the wall. She then swung off the platform and sank into the mud next to me. I tell you, if not for our predicament, I would have tried to fuck her right now. The look of pure fire in her eyes turned me on so damn much. If she could talk, I was sure she’d be threatening me with all manner of unsavory acts.

I grabbed a hold of her and pulled us through the mud. The thing on my leg still didn’t let go, but it’s grip loosened with each fall of flaming debris. A large boulder crashed behind us and suddenly I was free. I pulled us to the other side of the dome and we climbed out of the mud. We silently caught our breath for a few moments and even that seemed too long of a privilege.

The Children of Ỗxa became irate. The boiling mud exploded. Ellen and I stared at over twenty limbs wiggling in the air. On the tips of each, I noticed magic arrays. Then came the magic blasts.

The disembodied limbs fired magic from their fingertips that crashed into almost every surface of the dome. Aesteal, my mother, and the others of my crew pushed themselves down their tunnel before massive stones caved them in. They were effectively locked to whatever direction that tunnel led them down.

I didn’t even have time to worry about them. I just grabbed Ellen’s hand and we ran down a separate tunnel from them. The ground cracked beneath our feet. Wild and arcane energies swirled around us from the Children of Ỗxa. Each limb fired off volley after volley of magic. I could only count us lucky when one of their blasts crashed into the tunnel's entrance and sealed off the entrance.

As the rocks crashed on top of each other, Ellen and I heard the piercing wail of the burrowers. The underground labyrinth shook like it’d been dealt a blow by Yrmindle. We both heard the sounds of intense burrowing for the next two minutes.

Then, there was nothing.

We slowly backed away from the caved in entrance. The distant booms of the earth caused dust and dirt to fall on top of our heads. We waited, probably expecting something to come busting through the sealed up hole that we’d run into. Fortunately, we were both disappointed and I was allowed to breathe easy.

That didn’t last for too long because I doubled over in pain when Ellen buried her fist in my stomach. My knees buckled and I fell to the floor, clutching my stomach and writhing in agony.

“You are the stupidest piece of shit I’ve ever fucking seen sometimes! I had half a fucking mind to bury my fist up your dregskith ass until all I could fucking see is my full of shit elbow! I must be fucking insane to sail under you! You be more cursed than this island of spirits, monsters, and magic!” She exclaimed.

I uttered something between a laugh and a groan. “Ya didn’t complain when ya saw the piles of gold coins,” I wheezed out, trying to catch my breath. I then heard Ellen scoff.

“Aye, and a fucking deer won’t hesitate to drink from a fucking river if its thirsty enough. Why does everything involving you have to turn into shit?” Sothshore asked.

Once the pain subsided. I fell on my ass and leaned against the wall. I chuckled to myself. I oddly felt like I couldn’t deny that question. So much of my life seemed to have turned to shit these days. Perhaps that was the life I chose to live. That was the life of piracy, adventure, and shit.

“If it makes you feel any better, I did have a plan to get back on the bridge, but I wasn’t expecting to have mud hands around my neck,” I replied.

“Glad to see even your best laid plans ain’t worth the salt sprinkled on them,” she answered before she finally sighed and sat with me. “Didn’t I already tell you? I’ll riddle your damn corpse with bullets if you die and leave me in the middle of all this shit. Don’t think I won’t.”

I smiled. “It would be quite the ‘holy’ burial for me should a monk discover me then,” I joked. I wasn’t sure, but my ears picked up on a tiny bit of concern in Ellen’s voice. If this was the case, then for her pride, I decided not to point it out. Couldn’t let all those fuckers working under her know she was going soft.

I heard Ellen grumble as she spat some mud out of her mouth. “Fuck, we smell like shit. High-grade bearyvern shit,” she grumbled, holding her beautiful blonde hair in her hands.

“It be better to be bathed in shit than to become it,” I replied.

Sothshore scowled. “At least if I were dead then I wouldn’t have to smell it,” she said as we sat in peace for a little while. I worried for my mother and Aesteal, but I kept my nerve. Though I was drained of mana, I could still feel the latter’s aura with mine. At the very least she was alive. If Aesteal was fine then I knew she’d make sure my mother was as well.

“So what now?” Ellen asked.

I quickly reached into one of my inner pockets and pulled out the jar of the sapphire flowers.I quickly opened it and we inhaled their rich, pleasant aroma. I broke one of the petals off the flower and handed it to my beautiful, if muddy, Quartermaster. She snatched it from me, staring at it as it glowed against her palm.

“So this is what we risked life and fucking limb for?” she asked.

I smiled. “Trust me. You’ll be happy we did,” I told her.

She glanced at me and sucked her teeth before she put the petal in her mouth. She chewed it and then swallowed it. “Tastes like shit, but that’s probably because of the mud,” she grumbled while I ate my own piece as well. Well, with this, Ellen could conduct whatever business deal she desired without fear of poison. I then put the jar back in my pocket.

Well, we got cut off from everyone else. Once my mana returns, I’ll contact Aesteal. Though it's far away, the tunnels are connected to the same areas,” I replied.

“And what areas are those?”

“Consider them to be neutral zones. Whether the Alchemist intended for it to happen or not, there are special parts of the island where the creatures don’t fight or kill each other. One might as well call it a safe haven. We were heading to the one I knew before Fortune decided to fuck us in the ass,” I answered.

Ellen snorted as she threw a stone at the wall. “Some more than others,” she grumbled before I kissed her cheek. She stilled.

“Why the fuck would you kiss me now when I’m covered in fucking dirt and mud?!” my Quartermaster yelled as I stood to my feet.

“Even dirty, I’ll always kiss you, Ellen. You’re a beautiful lass after all,” I admitted while she looked at me evenly. It was hard to tell since the caves were dark.

She stood up with me. “Have I mentioned how much I hate you?” she asked.

“Aye, you’ve mentioned it a few times. It still doesn’t change the fact that the waves of your hair, and the fires of your temper move me,” I replied as I walked off. I soon heard Ellen’s boots behind me.

So began the journey of a betrayed captain and his quartermaster. Ellen followed behind me through the incredibly long tunnel. She thought to light a torch, but I told her not to. The explosions from before no doubt sent creatures, much stronger than the Taker of Voices’ bastard children to their location. If we didn’t get far enough away, I worried that instead of piles of gold coin, we’d be buried beneath piles of rock and rubble.

Thankfully, the tunnel’s path wasn’t disjointed. With so little reserves of mana, there was no way to make an alternate path. We could only go forward. Of course, that held its own dangers. Going forward was our only hope. We could only pray that nothing decided to travel through this same tunnel.

As we walked, I noticed An’raie was much quieter, not that we spoke much to each other anyway. I wondered if she was doing it to conserve what little mana we had left. Of course, I noticed the lack of Uerantite in the walls. If we stayed here, I was sure I could recover my mana in time, but I dared not stay in the Belly of Beasts for too long. Ellen and I could hear the monsters roaring in the distance, hunting or devouring their unlucky prey.

I remembered the time I first walked through the third island. I remembered this odd sense of paranoia from the way the monsters roared within the caves. Even now, when I heard them, a shiver ran through my spine. The echoes of their cries made them seem closer than they were.

“Hey, pull out that jar of flowers you had before,” Ellen said before I turned around and smacked her ass, or what I assumed was her ass. I think my strike landed true because she jumped.

“Care to repeat that, fair lass?” I asked.

I heard another snarl in the darkness. “Please pull out the jar of flowers, Sir!” she replied. Since it was dark, I couldn’t see her very well. I could only imagine her shaking fists and grinding teeth.

“Better,” I answered as I faced her and pulled out the jar of sapphire flowers once again. They provided a brief amount of light for us as I watched Ellen hold up her pistols. I understood what she needed the light for when she sat down and started reloading her pistols. While I doubted their efficiency in dealing with our current problems, they were better than nothing.

I found myself a little intrigued as I watched her work. She took out a powder horn and poured it down the muzzle. Her eyes looked so focused that I almost didn’t want to interrupt her. When I looked at her, I did not see that mighty woman who dealt in the underground businesses of Draegnar. I just saw a woman with a gun, ready to make use of it whenever the need presented itself.

As I sat myself next to her, I found myself impressed. I didn’t know too many bastards that could keep their focus in such an environment. She worked without a care.

“Come to think of it, this be the first time I’ve seen her like this. Usually, she’s behind a desk,” I thought to myself.

My mouth opened. “Who taught you the way of firearms, Ellen?” I asked.

As expected of my quartermaster, she didn’t stop working. “Do you really need a teacher to learn how to point a damn pistol and pull a trigger?” she asked.

I wasn’t entirely sure if she was expecting an answer to that question or not so I didn’t answer. She finished her reloads and checked her guns. “Watched fuckers shoot each other when I was five. Ducked my head down when taverns had shootouts when I was seven. Taught myself what it all meant when I was fifteen and bought my own gun. Started on bottles, then worked…  what the hell are you doing?” she asked when I moved myself behind her.

I felt her shiver against me when I wrapped my arms around her while my chin laid on her shoulder. “Getting myself comfortable. Continue,” I replied.

Sothshore sucked in her teeth, but continued her inspection. “Worked up to birds and rats when I figured out the recoil. After the rats, I started on the men who got in my way. It was the only way for me to survive,” she answered.

“Did your parents not help you?”

She scoffed. “The only good thing the dead can teach you is what they did wrong so you won’t follow the same damn road. That’s how I’ve managed to stay alive for so long,” she replied.

“If only you knew,” I thought to myself as I found my arms wrapping around her even tighter.

“And this be the road that led to you opening your own tavern?” I asked.

Ellen grunted. “Who the fuck knows. It was good money and money was what I wanted. I should at least commend you for it. You played on my damn weakness for coin and I fell for it and handed everything I fucking own over to you. Fucking irony if ever I’ve seen it. Can’t say it’s been too bad though. You’ve come a long way for a wayward runt,” she answered.

I noticed her gaze. It seemed so far away. “And what do you need so much money for that you’d become a mighty woman feared through the underground of empires and kingdoms?” I questioned.

“To survive. If you don’t got money, you don’t got nothin’! You either drive the people around you or you let them drive you. Fuckers like to claim you don’t need coin to be happy, but one can’t deny they're happier with it than without it. The one who survives the longest is the one with the largest fortune and I’ll make sure I survive longer than anyone because that will prove that I deserve what I’m owed! The one who learns of the world the most lives the longest. Isn’t that why you’re doing this? You want to amass a fortune grander than anyone else? You want to live longer than anyone else?” Ellen asked.

“No.”

Sothshore must have been shocked at my answer as I chuckled. “Make no mistake, Ellen, I’d like nothing more than to sail the seas until time itself turns to dust, but as I said before the goal of a pirate ain’t a long life. What we desire be a life filled with adventure, one after the other. When our time is done, we hide the treasure away and let someone else young and stupid have their turn. Ain’t no one got the time nor patience to live forever. I bet even the gods weep that they can’t die like mortals can,” I replied.

Sothshore then frowned. “You sound like a fucking old man when you say something like that,” she answered.

I laughed. “Aye, that I do,” I returned as I stood to my feet. Ellen stood to hers as well.

We then walked off. Even though it was dark, I could feel her eyes on me the entire time.

Since the dark distorted my perception of time, I wasn’t sure how long we walked for. However, our walk through the tunnels finally bore some fruit. The walls got wider and there was a notable draft of pleasant wind blowing through them. It was a cold breeze which felt like a mighty fine reward from the intense heat of mud we’d been wallowing through for so long.

I pulled Ellen close to me. Before she could utter a sound, I made a gentle shushing noise and leaned us against the wall. We crouched down, the sound of stones being disturbed by our bodies.

I reached out my hand slowly, feeling the ground and anything in front of me. I would use the jar of flowers for some light, but I grew fearful of what laid in the darkness waiting for us. The light drew many unsavory things to it.

When my hand reached out far enough, it slipped off of what I can only describe as some kind of cliff. The small rocks that fell down from my disturbance clattered on the ground after only a second or two. This led me to believe that we were on some type of upper platform that would lead down to not steep lower levels.

“Thou hast nothing to fear. There is nothing within these halls for now,” An’raie said to me.

Comforted by those words, I leaned back and sighed. “Seems we’re fine for now,” I said.

“Your definition of ‘fine’ needs a lot of fucking work. Anyway, how far until this zone of yours?” she wondered.

I chuckled. “What, you don’t enjoy crawling through tunnels fraught with danger and buried treasure?”

I heard Sothshore grumble again behind me before I quickly jumped off the ledge and landed on the lower floors. I helped Ellen down. When she landed, we noticed how quiet it was.

“What’s the room like?” I asked the Lonely Wail.

“Four tunnels lie in front of thee and thy companion. It has been some time since I’ve been here. I am unsure of how the creatures which reside here have changed these tunnels. If it has not changed, the third tunnel shall lead thee where thou desires. ‘Twould be beneficial if I scout ahead, but with such reserves of mana I cannot travel very far,” she said.

I agreed. “Aye, then go as faer as you can! I’ll try and gaet you as close as possible,” I said before I grabbed Ellen’s hand. I then guided her towards the third tunnel with some directions from An’raie.

Once we were there, I felt An’raie soul detach from my own. I wished I could see better so that I might feast my eyes on her form, but such a luxury was not allowed to me right now. “Where are we going?” Ellen asked.

“We’re in a room with multiple tunnels. One of them should lead to a safe area where we can replenish our mana. Once we do, I’ll…” I stopped talking.

I quickly pulled Ellen close to me. The ground beneath our feet rumbled. The intensity of the shaking got stronger and louder the closer it got. We pressed against the wall, perhaps praying that whatever was coming would think us not worth its time.

The steps got closer and closer until there was no doubt left in my mind that a massive beast was in the same room as us. I actually felt Ellen shiver in my arms. I couldn’t even hold enough pride to say that I didn’t either. Though I couldn’t see the beast, I didn’t need to. The surge of dense mana and the heavy steps which sounded like drums of war let me know that this was no simple creature.

I noticed the stench of blood and a pitter-patter sound, similiar to rain hitting the ground. Along with it was the sound of a deep growl. The growl reminded me of a wolf, or some kind of bear, but my mind drew a blank on what it could be. Not even An’raie’s memories helped me. There were many creatures that could make this kind of noise and smell this putrid down here.

Because it was dark, I couldn’t see the creature that shared this room with us. I thought to take us into the third tunnel, but I decided not to test my luck. Admittedly, I’d be more confident to face… whatever this beast was had I the mana, water abilities, or even a few members of my crew to draw its attention. Unfortunately, all I had was my lovely Quartermaster in my embrace. I dared not risk her safety. Ellen had only just begun the basics of gun magic from the second island. Her pistols would not aid her here and I dared not see her die even earlier than her past life.

Thankfully, the creature moved on its way down the fourth tunnel. I assumed it was the fourth because it’s horrid stench moved from one side of the room to the next. Its loud, thundering steps shook the ground next to us. This caused dust, dirt, and small rocks to fall over our heads while it lumbered away from the area we were in. I felt a blast of cold air hit my face from something swishing next to me. I assumed it was a tail or a flapped wing of sorts.

Soon, the creature was gone. We couldn’t even hear its boisterous steps anymore. We eased ourselves against the wall. The roars in the distance constantly reminded us that our safety was not assured. We decided to catch our breath while I waited for An’raie to return. During that entire time, Ellen never stopped shivering. I kept her close to me.

“I’ve surveyed as much as I could of the area. Thou art free to continue thine journey. The tunnel shall lead to an upward slope. Take thee care of the debris and in time thou shalt arrive upon the safe area,” An’raie answered when she returned to me.

I slowly nodded, the lack of mana making me rather tired, but I forced myself to stay awake. Once the Lonely Wail took residence in my body again, I stood to my feet. “Come on, Ellen. Best we not stay here,” I told her.

She spoke not a word but followed after me as we entered the Third Tunnel.

The walk was relatively quiet. I noticed we weren’t alone in the tunnels. There were a few deadly creatures that I could see when I was close enough. However, they didn’t attack us. So long as we kept our distance from them, they didn’t bother us and we didn’t bother them. Just like us, their mana had been thoroughly drained by the Uerantite laced into the walls.

Soon the upward slope came and we climbed up it. There was some effort to this since it was a little slippery, but we managed to reach the top. As soon as we did, I felt a pleasant feeling all around me. I think Ellen did as well because she sighed as if relieved. I grabbed her hand. “Come on,” I said.

“Here’s fucking hoping nothing else gets in our way,” she said as we continued forward.

I don’t know how much time passed, but we were rewarded with a beautiful, violet light in the distance. Finally, I was allowed to take in my surroundings. Ellen and I… weren’t as kept together as I thought we were. Our clothes were torn to pieces, our faces and bodies were lined with cuts and mud. Both of us were thoroughly exhausted as we stepped through the cavern entrance and into the safe area. When she gazed upon it, Sothshore managed only a single word.

“Shit,” she said, awestruck by the beauty before us.

From our exit of the harsh lands, we came upon a wide underground forest. However, it was not like any forest that one might see on the surface. The trees were filled with wonderful violet leaves. Each leaf gave off a wondrous light that together illuminated the entire place for miles. If you could see it, you would not have thought it to be underground. You would have thought you’d be seeing numerous creatures along a beautiful lake as clear as crystal. The waters flowed from one part of the tunnels to the next.

Just like the Alchemist’s troll’s domain, this environment seemed to defy all common sense. The creatures, some horrific, and others beautiful, all drank together or ate the fruits that grew along the trees. If it weren’t for their appearance, one might take this for heaven itself. It seemed impossible, but there were even mountain ranges as far as the eye could see. The violet glow of the trees provided a wonderful view into the distance. I even saw some of the animals sleeping amongst their would-be predators.

“What the-”

I heard Ellen gasp as I turned my head. I noticed a creature with the head of three serpents, large eagle wings, and body of a snail pass us. One of the heads hissed in our direction before the body crawled past us.

“I’ve dealt with numerous magical items and materials from nearly every corner of this fucking world, but I’ve never seen shit like this,” Ellen said in astonishment as we stared over the peaceful environment that seemed almost too relaxed for what we’d been through.

“Come on. We won’t get attacked here,” I said as I dropped down from the ledge. Ellen followed after me.

“So we’re basically entrusting our fucking fate to shiny, glowing trees and the beauty of motherfucking nature?” she asked.

I smiled.

“Aye.”

Despite her protests, Ellen came after me and we entered into the fields of rich, soothing grass and beautiful shrubs. The other creatures around us grazed on vibrant green grass by themselves or ate plentifully from the violet treetops. Some of them even feasted on the bark from the trees. Yet, there was no fighting amongst them all. Not even the one’s taller than the trees themselves attempted combat with those lower than them.

“Hard to believe one of us was dragged off these damn things and another was close to dying from his guts getting ingested with shit-eating worms. Now here they are eating everything except each other and themselves. Why?” Ellen asked.

“Why fight when there’s plenty to share?”

“Because it’s all mine and I don’t fucking share!”

If not for the mud on my life, I’d have kissed Sothshore for those words. For such a woman who has never known the life of a pirate, she sure behaves like one. A greedy bitch down to the very last gold coin.

“Aye, but we’ll have to curb our pride for now. We ain’t got the strength to fight all these fuckers at the same time. Truth be told, even if I did have all my mana, I’d rather not fuck with them,” I returned. I could feel An’raie hesitancy as well. I knew that there were creatures here that even she and Liara together would have trouble with. Unfortunately, those would just have to die when the island sank. Perhaps I could collect their corpses when I returned to the ship, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Ellen and I left the grassy plains and entered the forests. Exhausted, we cared not where we fell. All I knew was that we rested our heads against a tree and fell asleep, too tired to even keep our eyes open. Her head laid on my shoulder as our weary bodies found solace in the quiet of the moving leaves and trees.

When I woke up again, I felt like I’d been asleep for a hundred years. My body felt like a surge of strength like I’d never felt before. It recognized it as the feeling of my mana having returned to me. Of course, with my and An’raie’s larger than normal stores, we wouldn’t be full for some time. However, there was more than enough me to perform some magic,

“Aesteal? Mother? Where are you?” I asked, my mind reaching out to them both. Thankfully, I got a reply.

“Thank… the spirits… you’re alive, Sir!”

I heard Aesteal’s voice, but relief did not fill me. She sounded tired, ragged, and hurt. I didn’t know how long I’d slept for and I didn’t want to wake Ellen just yet. “Where are you?”

“I’m not sure. It’s too dark to tell. At the moment we’re all safe, but there… are many… voices around us. A spirit of unease moves through the group. Some have thought about splitting off instead of waiting for death. I… do what I can, but I am… very… tired,” she answered.

I cursed and stood to my feet, gently placing Ellen against the tree while I rolled my shoulders. “Aesteal, stay with me! I need you to focus your aura with mine!” I said.

Now that I had the mana, attempting to locate Aesteal wasn’t hard. “I’ll try, Sir,” she replied tiredly.

She didn’t respond to me after that. I quickly closed my eyes and sought out her aura with my own. It wasn’t exactly hard to do. Her aura was like that of a gentle flower amidst a burning sea of fire. It was small, but I quickly connected with it. As usual, there was a certain type of peace that entered my soul when she mixed her aura with mine. However, it was fleeting. It felt like I was barely holding her hand to keep her from plummeting down a steep cliff.

I worked quickly. I drew some blood from my fingertips and drew a teleportation circle on the ground. “An’raie, can yuo locate Aesteal?” I asked.

“Indeed. ‘Tis best to make haste however. Should they all fall asleep, I fear that they shall not awaken,” She answered.

I was about to ask for her to act, but it seemed I didn’t need to. Her lovely form detached from mine and she touched the ground with her hand. “Wiezrahẻ: Cartalium Dacorakc,” she said, casting a spell upon the grass.

Mana left my body and I watched a tiny rupture of the ground at my feet. A creature, it’s body made of bones, stood in front of me. It was a bipedal creature, with a slightly dented skull and cracked jaw. Its movements were a little stiff, but it waited for An’raie’s orders.

The female spirit placed her hand on its head, giving it instructions. The creature then burrowed beneath the ground. “Aesteal, I’m sending a creature to you. If you manage to see it, don’t kill it,” I said.

I felt dread within me when I received no reply.

“Aesteal?”  I called.

Again, I received no answer. I could only hope that creature was fast enough to get to them before something went wrong.

I don’t know how much time passed, but An’raie spoke, “‘Tis done. The array hath been crafted. I suggest thee to make haste. They do not seem to fare well.”

I didn’t need any further words of encouragement. I quickly touched the seal I had crafted. “Qjn,” I chanted and suddenly I was teleported to the array that the creature had drawn in the dirt.

I was quickly brought to a tunnel of never-ending darkness. I could already feel my mana being sucked away so I made haste. I wouldn’t normally do this, but since the teleportation array was right at my feet, I casted a light orb to illuminate the darkness. When I was granted sight, I counted my blessings that I moved as quickly as I could.

I saw my entire group unconscious on the ground, flesh-eating worms slowly unburrowing themselves just ready to devour them. I even looked on the ceiling and noticed a few Ṅweố on the ceiling. They screeched to themselves just waiting to drop down and consume the men I’d gathered.

My mother and Aesteal were leaned against the wall, laden with bruises. I wondered what attacked them? They hadn’t received these bruises from the tunnel with the Children of Ỗxa.

I bent over. I pulled my mother and Aesteal to me. Both were cold, shivering cold. I decided to waste no more time. I dragged them to the magic array that An’raie’s creature made. I then began the long, arduous process of grabbing everyone else. I grabbed the members of Raven’s Shadow, and anyone else from my voyage that was still alive. Thankfully, that was everyone in this group at the moment.

Unfortunately, some of these fuckers were heavier than others. I thought the sea had a way of trimming the fat from fuckers thanks to their daily workload. Clearly, this crew ate more heartily than I’d given them credit for.

Once everyone was piled together, I touched the teleportation array. “Qjn,” I chanted again.

Since there were more people, the mana needed for the spell was much heavier. I was drained of all the mana I’d restored in my rest, but I soon felt the grass at my fingertips. I dropped to my knees and sighed. “I’m taking someone’s fucking cut for this! Someone on this damn ship best lay off the sharp skins,” I grumbled to myself.

I then began the arduous task of dragging everyone into the trees where the creatures wouldn’t bother them. While I doubted the beasts would kill them, injury was another fucking story. I was busy dragging one of the heavier men from the fields and into the forests when I felt An’raie stir within me.

“Thine nature does not seem akin to that of a pirate,” she said as I struggled, sweat pouring from my brow.

“And what the fcuk’s that supposed to mean?” I asked as I pulled the man to a tree and walked on the others.

“Thou could have left them. Aside from thine mother-kin and the elf, I have not seen much interaction between thou and these men and women. Shouldest thou not cast them down to hell that thou might enjoy knowledge and treasures alone?” she asked.

I placed another man on my shoulders and trudged through the rough stones. “Every man’s got his own code of honor, An’raie. Every man lives by his own standards. I ain’t some saint that will give a gold coin to every pleading child I see. I also ain’t some evil bastard that enjoys slaughtering in a vacuum. I be just a man, free to sail where his eyes cast him. I promised these shits gold, coin, treasure, and fine gems. If I can’t even keep such a small promise, then I be unfit to even keep the promises I make to myself. If they stand at my side, I shall give them what I promised. If they try to stab me in the back, then I shall leave their corpse to the abyss below. However, it is the responsibility of a free man to honor the promises he makes for he is not bound by the will of others. When those promises are not kept, he shall be bound by their weight. Besides, treasures and gold, those dry up eventually, but adventures be endless!” I claimed as I finally finished my task.

I noticed An’raie was silent, but I thought nothing of it. Perhaps she just got bored talking to me. Perhaps I gave her an answer she didn’t like. I didn’t know and I didn’t quite have the mental strength to think about it. What I did have was the physical strength to carry my ass, my mother and Aesteal in my arms, to the tree where Ellen rested. My legs buckled and I fell back against the stump. I couldn’t even enjoy the feeling of three beautiful lasses on me before I passed out again.

While I slept, I kept feeling this odd sensation of a hand caressing my face. I thought I imagined it as just another dream.

The next time I woke up, it was because of a pain in my wrist. When I opened my eyes, I noticed the Xanghul that I had summoned yesterday wrapped around my wrist. I inhaled. I could feel Liara’s mana moving through my body. It seemed that she indeed thought highly of me if a Xanghul thought we were worth feeding on. With this, I’d at least know she was safe from the Alchemist… for now.

I leaned up and groaned to myself. “How long have I been asleep?” I asked.

“‘Tis a minimum of four sun skips, I believe,” An’raie replied.

I feel like I was lucky An’raie was connected to my soul. I wouldn’t have fucking known what that meant otherwise. “Four hours, huh?” I thought before I leaned up. The sounds of the neutral zone littered my ears.

I noticed everyone still sleeping. My mother and Aesteal still laid on my shoulder and lap. They felt significantly warmer than the last time I held them.

Curious on how Ellen was doing, I turned my head to my other shoulder. That was when I noticed I was down one quartermaster. I looked around the forests, but I noticed she was nowhere to be seen.

Though I was worried, I took a deep breath and eased my concerns. Ellen wasn’t stupid. She wasn’t the type to just wander around aimlessly, especially not in an environment she knew nothing about. She must have had her own reasons. Additionally, I was sure An’raie would alert me if she was in any real danger.

Since I was awake, I decided not to fall asleep again. I wanted to, but I didn’t need to be woken up by a screaming piece of shit startling all the creatures around us. I also didn’t need people attacking them like ravaged beasts. I dealt with that once. I swore to never deal with such a fallout ever again.

Seeing as I had nothing better to do, I decided to settle on some magic practice. I tried to make some conversation with An’raie, but she was oddly silent. I decided not to push her for conversation. Despite our working relationship, I doubted she thought highly of me anyway.

I practiced magic for about an hour and a half, working through Liara’s memories of how many times she’d performed certain spells. I performed a fireball spell and tried controlling it, weaving it through the trees with my fingers. I then tried doing that while also performing a water spell to mimic the same exercise. I only stopped my exercise when I felt a stir on my shoulder.

When I stopped my spells, I turned my head and noticed Aesteal open her lovely eyes to me. “Sir?” she asked.

“How fortunate you find yourself in the land of the living, Aesteal,” I said.

When she looked at her surroundings, she quickly took notice of the many, admittedly, terrifying creatures. She jumped up and drew her bow, but I quickly stopped her. “Stay your bow, Aesteal. We’re alright,” I said.

Confused and cautious, Aesteal looked at me before she looked at the creatures around us. Each of them was more horrifying than the last, but they all munched on the grass, the trees, or the fruits in the trees. All of them paid each other no mind.

I pulled Aesteal’s arm and drew her back to me. She looked at me. “I don’t understand. What is this? Weren’t we separated?” she asked.

I nodded. “Aye. Ellen and I got here first. It took some time for my mana to restore, but when it did I quickly located you lot, gathered you up, and teleported you here. Also remind me to fucking tell Ellen to curb the diet of some of these fuckers. They be too heavy for their own good,” I grumbled before she leaned on my shoulder.

“I thank the spirits you’re safe. I was worried when we got cut off,” she replied.

Moved by the sincerity in her voice, I placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to me. One of her hands rested on my chest. “You should be careful. I could have just as easily left you,” I said.

I wasn’t sure why I spoke like this. I think in some ways, a saltwater-filled heart like mine, wasn’t used to such an upfront sincerity. “Would that be my grade of assessment for this trial period?” she asked.

I snorted, but didn’t respond. I wondered when Aesteal started to get so damn cheeky with me. I think she could smell the bullshit coming from my lips when I said those words. At this point, I could say that I’ve definitely grown attached to her.

During the two hours that passed, I detailed Aesteal about this zone. I also fed her the same sapphire flower that Ellen and I had eaten. I told her we would be safe here to restore our mana. Once we were fully rested, and collected an abundance of the zone’s materials, we would continue on our way.

While I explained our plans to her, people began to wake up one after the other. Naturally, we had to stop them from firing their bullets and elemental scrolls like batshit crazy idiots. I even had to knock one of them out because he thought I was an illusion conjured up by a beast.

When my mother awakened, I greeted her warmly. Even though she had this powerful body, her mana levels weren’t that impressive. Just like everyone else, it took her some time to get organized. I’ll admit the sight of her tripping over herself and then throwing up into the grass was a hilarious sight.

Once everyone was done offering their thanks for their own survival, I noticed two people who didn’t wake up. When Aesteal checked them, she shook her head. They died from the mana loss.

I bit my lip, but sighed with a nod.  Though it wasn’t much, I tasked the surviving group with their burial. Of the list that Ellen gave me, I don’t believe they had any family. So I gave them their riches and buried it with them for they were owed that.

“O na me! Hal me ‘o famil reo! Sauel fver’ae tamil!

I e him fhuil dahame! Ruthvaloria bane Sauel gurad mashnrae!

Ghim reo hal me! Fael vcricarima qriesche va!

Oh sey! Oh sey!

Mah hiar! Oh maeh hair! Sauel dveil ore methe!

Oh maehr! Oh fahdr! Mae juol requier vien thunme!

Meņ de faethre! Hehme Faegahar! Waetre thanereme!

Me phayre utu Devion. Me phayre utu Urion! Sauel gurad fem!

Oh sey! Oh sey te’ ramme.”

We were all silent as we saw Aesteal kneel before the two graves. At the same time, she sang and she prayed for my fallen crew members. I wondered if she’d done this for all the others who had perished upon my ship. Perhaps she did this when she was alone. Either way, her voice, though melancholy, was very beautiful to listen to. My mother stood next to me, her head on my shoulder as we all listened.

Sometimes, I feel I’ve forgotten that Aesteal is indeed an elf. Her kind do not take the hand of death lightly. None of us were in a rush so we immersed ourselves in her song.

Someone gasped and pointed behind us. We all turned around and we noticed a few creatures took interest in our spectacle. They made no move to assault us. Instead, they just listened. Music soothes the beast, is that it?

“Treat this one kindly, Drakclaw. Thou shalt find many doors open shouldest thou do so,” An’raie said, which told me that she too was listening.

When Aesteal finished her song, she grabbed her bow and fired an arrow into the trees. The purple leaves fell down around us. She grabbed two and she placed them on both graves. She then clapped her hands thus ending her elven eulogy. This wasn’t the full ritual, but I assumed she did what she could for their deceased souls.

With that, she stood up and turned back to all of us. The creatures behind us began to teeter off while I gathered everyone together. My mother lined up the remaining members of my group and I stood before them all.

“Alright, you lot! I’ll make this short and simple! I care not your reasons, I care not your desires, and I care not your fucking excuses. Do not strike, hunt, or wound any creature here. Like I told you before, there are many neutral havens on this island; places where the creatures coexist peacefully. As we are, we can’t tangle with any of them. The most dangerous, most vile, and most vicious of them gather with the most benevolent… if you can even call them that. So long as you don’t start shit, you won’t get turned into shit! We will stay here for two or three days to recover. Then, we’ll continue on. It will only get harder from here on out so take rest where you can,” I said.

“What about the land, Captain? Can we take from it?” someone asked.

“Aye, that you can. Take whatever you like. It be full of valuable treasures that should sell for fine coin. Just make sure you’re at this spot in two or three days. I’ll decide which route we shall take from there,” I ordered.

“Aye, Captain!” everyone said while I nodded.

I then began organizing everyone into groups. My mother and Aesteal went about their business. With them gone, I decided to take the time to track down my wayward quartermaster.

I walked through the beautiful, underground forests. The trees gave me a little bit of light that made the area seem so mystifying I thought I wasn’t in a labyrinth of dangerous creatures that could tear me to pieces. Even when one of them growled at me and moved back to its grazing. I watched it open its mouth. A long, oozing black tongue wrapped around a tree and ripped it from the ground. It munched on the bark like a dog would knaw on a bone.

The creature seemed irritated by my presence, so I left it alone. I grabbed a branch and hoisted myself into the canopies. I saw a few flying beasts, but they paid me no mind. I continued on my path upwards and when I pierced through the top of the violet tree shrubs, I was given a view of the entire forest valley. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find Ellen.

I slipped back through the leaves, but not before I grabbed a jar and started plucking them from the branches. These leaves would go to making quality mana potions that I could sell. In fact, I remembered one of my former crewmates making quite the haul in the market of potions when brought these leaves to his buyer. I’d smack my younger self for the stupid idea to let them go. The money he got from that scheme allowed him to build his own home in some far off kingdom with high end living. Unfortunately, it ain’t easy for a commoner to integrate into the life of nobles. Last I heard of him, he’d been found dead in the middle of the busy roads.

Once I was satisfied with the amount I’d collected, I returned in my search for Ellen. Thankfully, it wasn’t hard to do when I heard the sounds of a barely audible gunshot in the far distance. A group of flying beasts moved through the air in a bit of a panic.

Worried, I rushed in the direction of the noise. I cared not for the supplies and the beautiful things I passed. I just ran in the direction of the noise wondering what my stubborn quartermaster had gotten herself into.

Finally, I made it to the source of the noise. Now I saw why the gunshot’s noise was muffled so heavily that I barely heard it. The sound of loud, rushing water from a waterfall certainly cleared up that particular mystery for me.

“FUCK!”

I heard Ellen’s voice and I turned my head down to see her panting. The coat she wore was thrown lazily to the side. Her body was covered in smoke, dirt, and sweat. Her hair was a mangled mess. Hell, even her eyepatch looked dingy.

I was prepared to greet her, but I paused in my steps. I saw her stand back up. I noticed the burn marks on her hand. When she stood up and pointed her gun forward, I started to understand what she was doing. I felt the mana around her swirl as a green magic array appeared in front of her. She fired a bullet and the array broke into pieces. However, she gasped as an explosion blasted her away from where she was standing.

“Ellen Sothshore, practicing the art of magic. Never thought I’d see the day,” I thought to myself.

I carefully observed my quartermaster. I watched her create magic arrays as she tried her hand at gun magic. Despite how many times she tried, she failed. Naturally, gun magic wasn’t the easiest art to learn. From what I know from Liara’s memories, the idea is that the shooter creates the elemental array. When the bullet fires, the array shatters and the shooter mixes their mana with the bullet thus allowing the bullet to release a flurry of spells made from the array. However, one had to be in control or the spell would blow up right in their face.

That was what was happening with Ellen. She’d been out here for maybe five hours practicing her hand at gun magic, failing at every turn. I knew I had taught her and my mother the first basics of magic back on the second island. However, it only seemed to be a passing interest to my mother. I never expected the owner of the Dead Tales to put in so much effort for something that I assume she’d use sparingly.

With every failure, I felt Ellen grow angrier and angrier. She silently chuckled. She was never the patient type. However, that attracted me to her endlessly. Every time she was pushed back, dropped to the ground, covered in dirt and dust, she got angry, but she still got up. I wondered what drove her to act so desperately. Never in this life, or my other, had I seen her act like this.

“Her mind is muddled. The ways of the mystic arts art meant for the refined. Even that thee can practice magic lies within the Grand Witch’s memories of countless years of refining nature. She is better without such worthless distractions. They are but a hindrance to the mind and the soul,” An’raie said while I watched Ellen experience another failure. In her frustration, she threw her pistols at the tree next to me.

It clattered to the ground and I stared at her. I closed my eyes and stood to my feet. “I don’t know about that. I think I be a pretty powerful distraction,” I responded as I stood to my feet and made my presence known.

I grabbed Ellen’s pistol. The sound of me disturbing the shrubs alerted her and she quickly turned around to face me.

“So this is where you were,” I said while she turned her head away, incredibly agitated.

“What do you want?” She asked, her voice filled with anger and frustration.

Despite her disrespect, I didn’t reprimand her. Instead, I looked back at her gun and handed it back to her. “Do it again,” I said.

She looked at her pistol and scowled. “You were watching me?” she asked.

I smirked. “Aye, you be too beautiful not to watch,” I said.

Ellen growled and smacked the gun out of my hands. It skidded across the fields of grass. “Don’t fucking patronize me! You think that just because you compliment me and give me treasure that I’ll blush like a fair maiden cunt, fall into your arms, and let you fuck me whenever you want?!” she asked.

I tried not to laugh. I attempted to imagine Ellen like a fair maiden. I imagined her in some frilly garment of white speaking the proper etiquette and dialect of nobles. Believe me, that was hard to create in my head.

Rather than yell back for her outburst, I pulled out my single-barreled flintlock and pointed it at the waterfall’s rock ledge.

Ellen watched me without a word, but her gaze tightened when I summoned a brown magic array. I then pulled the trigger. The blast from my flintlock cracked the array and the bullet launched into the rock. The stone wall then rumbled as Sothshore and I saw three stone spikes as large as tree trunks jut out from the wall.

I then walked over to her pistol and picked it up. I returned to her and handed it to her. “Your captain gave you an order, Ellen. Do it again,” I uttered.

Ellen looked at her pistol. “I don’t need your help. I’ve dealt with magic shit before. I’ll get it down eventually. It’s just another means of survival,” she said.

I frowned. “It ain’t something you ‘get down’, Ellen. You’re trying to conquer the trials of a treasure pile when there’s another road that leads you right to it,” I said.

Sothshore snorted. “And when did you fucking become a scholar? Should I open a fucking magic institute for you?” she asked as she turned around.

“Why the hell do you even want me? In fact, what about me even makes you think me a good fit on your ship? I deal in business, not in monsters, mages, and ghosts. I’m not gonna be another collection piece in your list of sluts pining for your cock. I ain’t looking for the next grand adventure. I just want to collect coin and treasure to get the things I want. No more, no less,” she said while I frowned.

I thought to remind her of our bet, but I figured that would only make her angry. Instead, I think I got where she was coming from.

Ellen was scared.

I suppose it was no surprise why. Out of everyone on my crew, she was the most… normal of all of us. Ellen didn’t have the powerful body that I’d sculpted for my mother. She didn’t have Diane's firm desire for combat. She didn’t have the prowess of Aesteal nor Maeloson. She didn’t have Liara’s boundless wisdom. As for me, well, I knew there were many things I had that she didn’t.

However…

I stood in front of Ellen and stared into her single, unpatched eye. She glared back at me, watching my every move. I reached out my hand. She flinched, but she didn’t resist when I took her hand in mine. I opened her palm and placed her flintlock in it. Our eyes never separated until I turned her around, her body in mine. She wiggled against me, but I refused to let her move.

We pointed her gun at the water. “Have you not noticed? Maeloson and Aesteal begged to join me. Liara and I have done this as an arrangement. My mother would have joined no matter the course I took. Diane merely follows for the sake of her master. All the others were here hoping just to make a coin pouch or two. Out of everyone aboard my ship, you were… are the only one I’ve truly asked to join me. Why do you think that is?” I asked.

Ellen didn’t answer me, but I didn’t expect her to. Instead, I smirked. “Follow my mana,” I instructed.

“I said I don’t need-”

“Shhhh.”

My words silenced her protests. I heard her suck in her teeth, but it wasn’t long before I could feel her mana surging as it followed mine around the gun. In front of her gun, we watched a large blue array appear. My finger guided hers to the trigger and then I let go.

“There be things you can do that I can’t, Ellen. I told you to keep me honest. I asked that of no one other than you. People like you and I, we know what we are and what we can become. I would argue that out of everyone, I need you the most,” I said with all the honesty a pirate like me could convey.

Sothshore pulled the trigger and the bullet cracked the array into pieces. Her bullet flew into the water and instantly a large spout of swirling water appeared in front of us. It reached so high I thought everyone could see it. In fact, I thought it was about to hit the ceiling. Instead, it dispersed and countless raindrops appeared over us.

“You can only survive when you’re the best, Ellen. That is what I enjoy about you. No matter what, you’ll always strive and settle for the fucking best,” I said as her gaze looked upwards.

Once the rain stopped, she looked back at me. The light rain shower had messed up her hair. It stuck to her like wet clothes in a rainstorm. However, I brushed some of her blond hair from the side of her face and caressed her cheek. She looked at me.

“I fucking hate you so much,” she said, her eyes not exactly matching her words. Wisely, I kept that comment to myself.

“Aye, that I know,” I said as I kissed her sweat-stained lips.

Her eyes closed while she tossed her gun away. Her wonderful voice released itself when we kissed. Her tongue moved against mine, her arms around my neck with my hands at her waist. The way her body eased into mine seemed so natural. Her stomach against mine, her pelvis against my crotch, it was a wonderful feeling. The coolness of the rain only seemed to make me more aware of this heat between us.

“Mmmmmmhn!” Ellen sighed into my mouth. She nibbled on my lips, her fingers moving through my hair. One of her legs bumped against my hardened cock. She massaged it a few times, making me shiver in pleasure.

When we pulled back, Sothshore and I panted. Our faces were so close together that we could see the sweat fall down our foreheads. I then heard her speak.

“Please, fuck me, Sir!” she said in such a quiet voice that made me doubt I even heard her.

I spoke not a word. Instead, I undressed myself until I was naked. I then undressed her. I didn’t playfully disrobe her. There was no hint of subtleness to this encounter. I merely took off her clothes like this was a regular day to change attire.

Once we were both naked, I grabbed her hand. “Not here,” I said.

I brought her over to the waterfall. I stepped inside the pond beneath and she followed suit. I started splashing water on her face. I washed some of her hair. I watched the dust and dirt from her practice run away in the crystal waters. When she was clean, I smirked. “That’s better,” I said.

“Shut up,” she replied before we kissed again. In the middle of the pond with the waterfall around us, we kissed as lovers. Her hands on my cheek, she sighed blissfully. My hands roamed down her body. I pulled her closer to me, her lower regions against mine. I groaned when she sucked on my tongue. Her fingernails trailed over my young arms.

When we took a breath for air, we quickly kissed again. I wonder why I never tire of kissing Ellen. I enjoy her lips so much. For a woman whose services I was under for the majority of my young life, I still wonder what made me desire her so adamantly. Still, I was helpless to resist her charms.

When we separated again, I closed my eyes and sighed when I felt her fingers touch my cock. Her hand was a wonderful contrast of heat from the warm water. She bit her lip while her palm rotated over the crown of my dick. That said, I chose not to remain idle. Instead, I bent my head down and suckled on her breasts.

“Oooooh fuck! Yeah, suck my tits!” she urged. I swiftly moved to her request. Her hands moved faster and so did my tongue. I alternated between each of them, my tongue licking one and my hand massaging the other. Her other hand laid on my head, pushing me further and further in. My teeth gently pinched and pulled at her right nipple. She hissed from the pleasant pain and rubbed her finger between the open folds of my penis.

Reluctantly, I detached myself from her beautiful teats. I then kissed her again as we moved through the water to the pond’s edge. She never stopped stroking me the entire time.

Once we were there, she stopped and I hoisted her out of the water. Her body was entirely soaked. Since the water wasn’t very deep, I managed to get down on my knees and quickly latch onto her pussy.

“Ooooooh! Ooooh fuck! You motherfucker! Yessss!” she hissed as I licked her long, beautiful legs. Her hand rested on my head as I kissed and licked all around her. I then licked her precious mound. The juices flowed from her no differently than the waters that flowed from the waterfall.

“Ahhhhh! Yessss! Nhhhnngh! Fuck! Eat that fucking cunt!” she said, her hips rocking against my face while my tongue scratched and scraped through her. Her pussy walls clung to my tongue, resistant to the idea that it might leave from inside her. My thumb worked over her clit, her body becoming a writhing mess as I sought to reassure that indeed I loved her just like the others.

Sothshore moaned and panted. She leaned back and her legs wrapped around my neck. “Yesss! Ooooh fuck yes! Mmmmmmmn! I’m gonna cum! Oooooooh shit! I’m gonna cum!” she wailed as I moved to orally please her harder. My tongue struck her clit while I inserted two fingers into her waiting snatch. Like a firm piston, I moved them in and out. Her body kept undulating, but I tried to keep her under control.

That didn’t last for very long, however.

“Hnnnnnnngh!” Ellen screamed and clenched before my face was assaulted by a myriad of orgasmic juices that titillated my throat’s palate. I slurped what I could while her fine nectar slithered down my chin and chest into the pond.

When Sothshore calmed down, she leaned up and looked at me like her mind was in the clouds. I felt my own ego swell when I saw the slight bit of drool hanging off the side of her lips. Clearly, she had enjoyed my ministrations.

When she looked at me, I showed her the sticky residue she left on my fingers. To my surprise, she leaned up and grabbed them. She then licked the sweet honey off them. My cock twitched in the water with the way her tongue glossed over me until my fingers were clean.

After that, Ellen slid her feet into the water and I sighed when I felt her toes brush up against my cock. She smiled at me, a hint of smugness on her lips. Nevertheless, she kept stroking me with one foot as my cock bobbed up and down from her touch.

I threw my head back, relaxing and feeling the flames of lust for every inch of her body surrounding me. Her toes wrapped around my skin and pumped it. She sighed and moaned, touching and pleasing herself as she observed. She shoved a finger into her cunt while she twisted her nipples. Her foot got even faster and I squirmed where I stood, my knees weakening.

Before I could lose my mind, she stopped. She slipped her foot out of the water and walked over to the waterfall’s edge. She placed one of her hands on the wall. The other, she used it to spread her pussy before me. I saw it dripping furiously with need. “If you’re gonna cum, Sir, it’d better be either in here or on me,” she said sultrily.

Logic left my mind. I quickly bursted out of the water and soon found myself lodged into another type of liquid. My cock speared through Ellen’s body as I felt her cunt clench around me. “Mmmmm, I could fuck you forever!” I said.

“Don’t tease me with a good time,” she returned before she leaned her head back and kissed me fervently. My hips and her rocked together, performing that ancient dance that created the very first mortals. Her tongue struck mine.

“Mmmmmm! oooooooOh! Fuck, your cock feel so damn good! Yessssss! Nnnnngh!’ she said as I leaned forward and grabbed her globes in my hands. The pleasant friction between her pussy and my cock sent countless jolts of pleasure through my body and into my brain. Her sleek walls clenched me like a firm, velvety glove. My balls smacked against her lower lips, her moans driving me forward.

My hips locked for a moment as we grinded ourselves to each other. Ellen caressed my cheek. Her hot breaths on the hair of my upper lip, she hummed. “Fuuuuck, your cock feels good” she sighed.

“Aye, that it does. Though not as good as you do,” I returned, nibbling on her ear. Her cunt tightened around me each time I did so. My hands never stopped groping her chest. Her puffy nipples, jabbed against the tips of my fingers. Her loud urgings for me continued as she raised one of her legs and stepped on a stone, allowing me to shove my cock deeper into her.

“Nhhhngh! Yessss! Fucking shit! Oooooooh yes! Bury that damn cock inside me, Sir!” she wailed.

I could feel the muscles inside my legs burning, but the feeling of the waterfall’s cooling liquid helped me keep my pace. It definitely helped that I enjoyed the way Ellen’s ass shook in front of me. The amazing sex between the both of us stimulated the very ends of our nerves. It wasn’t long before she was cumming again, flooding my cock more than the waterfall did to the pond next to us.

As she panted, her hands over mine against her breasts, I felt the heat of her lips washing over my knuckles. I slowed down the speed of my thrusts, but I didn’t stop. Her pussy continued to caress me while I pierced her.

After a few thrusts, I slipped out of her and faced her to me. Her visible eye looked absolutely dazed. She tried to look like she hadn’t just orgasmed, but I wasn’t sure who she was trying to look tough for. Instead, I smirked as I picked her up. She gasped and grabbed my neck “What the fuck are yooooooooooou…” she groaned as I lodged my cock back inside her.

“Hnnnnnnnngh! F-Fucking goooooood!” she groaned as I held her up in my arms, her legs helplessly against my waist as I smacked my crotch to hers. She stared into my eyes, the smile on my face matching hers. She pulled my head to hers and we kissed once again.

While I fucked her in this position, I could tell she was a bit unnerved by it. Her nervousness made her cunt clench me in a way I never felt before. It felt like it was trying to give me a chokehold. However, the feeling was utterly divine. I closed my eyes so tight I could see spots of light within them.

“Mmmmmnh! Hnnnnnmnh! Oooooonh! Mwaaaah!” Ellen grunted before we fell back into the grass. She lost no rhythm and began pouncing on my cock like a fine bitch in heart.

When I looked at her, I smirked. What a fine lass Ellen Sothshore was. I’ll admit that I still hated my former crew with every fiber of my being. My rage against them burned no lesser from then to now. However, for as much as I hate them, I must thank them as well. I would not know the fierce satisfaction, desire, and need within myself that came from Ellen’s touch had it not been for them. I would not see her grinning at me, enjoying herself with her body against mine had it not been for them.

“Mmmmn, fuck. You ride all your men like this?” I asked. I groaned when she pinched my nipples.

“Only those I… fucking… hnnnn… hate,” she replied before she shoved her hips down, driving my cock in and out of her again. I could see my cock appear and disappear, sleek and slathered with her juice. Her warmth and her ass against my balls nearly made me cum so many times. Unfortunately, it seemed she started to learn which movements pleased me after our times together. She’d keep me on the edge of my own sanity for so long.

It got to such a point that I grabbed the back of her head and pulled her down to me. “What do you think you’re doing?” I asked.

“Making you fucking lose your shit? Is it working?” she asked.

I think she received her answer when I grabbed her ass and buried my cock deep inside her. Ellen’s body spasmed, but I quickly started thrusting upwards. I made sure her cunt would not forget the feeling of having toyed with me.

“Ooooooooh! Nnnnnnnnngh! Fuck! Yeah! Fuck me! Fucking fuck me you son of a bitch! Fuck me hard! Ohhhhhh! Huuuaaaaa!” she said.

I let her go and soon we began to move in sync. Sothshore threw her head back, her blond hair moving from her face. We could feel my cock hardening. The cum leaving my testicles and sailing through the tube within me.

I think Ellen could feel it as well because her hips got even faster. Her hands in mine, our fingers clenched. My cock stiffened and I lost all feeling in my legs. Ellen lifted her cunt off my cock. I threw my head back against the grass. “UGH!” I groaned, the cum from my dick firing into the air and landing on her stomach, her pelvis and my crotch.

We panted heavily, delirious and energized from the rush of the sex we’d just had. Sothshore scooped up a piece of the cum and snorted. “Shit, this is enough to get over a dozen cunts filled with little bastards,” she said before I watched her lick her finger clean.

“And I’d take responsibility for each of the little fuckers,” I chuckled out tiredly while Ellen looked at me. We rested and she laid on top of me.

“I’ll keep you fucking honest, you bastard. I’ll keep you so fucking honest you’ll be more honest that a damn monestary priest!” she claimed while I laughed. I then nodded.

“Aye, that’s what I need,” I replied to her. We settled into a small silence.

“Thanks.”

Oh, do my ears betray me? I was sure I just heard a word of gratitude from a woman more stubborn than a Halmim Mule. ‘Twas indeed a joyful day to never be forgotten.

“Th… ank… s!”

Ellen and I stiffened when we heard something speak. We opened our eyes and peered at the pond. We heard something splash, like it had been caught, but we couldn’t see what it was. Soon, the sound of the waterfall was all we heard. We laid there, looking at each other, wondering if we somehow imagined the whole thing.