The Vengeful Tide-Ch. 32 (Patreon)

Greetings everyone,

As promised, chapter 32 is finished. Eric finishes up some small business on Draegnar and prepares to honor his agreement with Alteria Balamar, sailing forward to thrust himself into the middle of a coming war. I hope you enjoy.

WttW

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…or so one would fucking think!

The two continued to stare at each other, the tiny row boat drifting in the waters of Draegnar. A few on the spectator’s vessel murmured to each other, wondering why neither had seen fit to draw their blades yet. However, somewhere deep down, I knew the reason. It made me roll my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. Fucking Sairanians.

The Sairan warrior turned towards the diligent soldiers of Hæňgaram. Though it was still too dark to see his face, none could mistake the anger in his voice. “Empire of Ash and Crystals, you would dare shame the honor of my blade and my strength?! Produce forth a mighty warrior for I shall not soak my blade in the flesh of a woman! Send this one back and bring forth another or shall my dignity be dragged through the mud further by your people?!” the man questioned with anger so great I could practically hear the sounds of his gritting teeth.

The woman that was his opponent spoke not a word in defense of herself despite the slights thrown her way. I couldn’t tell if Hæňgaram deliberately sent her out knowing full well the culture of the Sairan people. To them, the place of a lass ain’t on the battlefield, much less to be the wielder of a blade. I thought of Leera, wondering where my former navigator and friend might be right now since my devastation of C’ula. How I’d love to see her again at some point. No doubt her path was laden with steel, blood, and fire. If I could find her again, and she’s experienced her life to turn her to the Leera that I needed, I bet that Diane would enjoy fighting her. Though Leera doesn’t much enjoy fighting nor the spilling of blood without purpose, the fire in her soul was not one that could be quenched by passivity. Simply put, a place like Sairan was too weak to contain someone like her.

People turned to Hæňgaram while I took notice of the disapproving looks on Diane, Aesteal, and my mother’s faces. Aye, I bet the three of them would be more than overjoyed at the thought of kicking the bastard’s balls through his mouth. “I’ll be sure to bury the bastard in an honor blanket if we see him again,” Diane grumbled while I laughed.

“I doubt that’ll keep the fucker warm,” I replied. She smiled at my comment, continuing to keep her attention on the match.

Everyone jumped when another gunshot was fired into the air courtesy of Ellen. All eyes were drawn to her. “Travel the seas for long and see where your honor gets you. It ain’t worth a rat’s grim-studded ass here. If you don’t fight, then the prize goes to the bastards in white spread over. If you’ve got a problem with my methods, then you can issue any complaints right in front of my gun barrel. Either stuff your pride and fight, or get the fuck off my row boat and off my island before I make the lot of you bastards a meal for the sharks!” she shouted.

The area was silent around us for a long while. “Xu!” someone from the Sairan ship shouted, drawing all eyes to the red vessel. I noticed a man take off his helmet, his hair tied in a ponytail. His eyes were sharp and his face stern. The man nodded to the one named Xu, his eyes all but ordering him to set aside his honor for this battle. The one named Xu clenched the handle of his blade, shaking and trembling with untold anger. It was no surprise why. There was no fuckimng way they’d want to pass up on the Frost Troll’s corpse. Not only was it a ticket to vast alliances and opportunities, but the bastard’s body would turn the kingdom into a mythical nation of progress. It mattered not to me who got it, but it would drag those bastards in the dark out to where I could find them. I’d find all those fuckers who turned my crew against me and send them to the same hell as the others.

Once the two seemed ready to fight, Ellen took a step back and growled. “Fucking bastards, every last one of them. Can’t none of them make my life easy!” she said before I appeared behind her and grabbed her arms.

“You’re sexy when you’re angry,” I said as I leaned my chin on her shoulder. She snorted and huffed.

“Shut up,” she replied, though I saw a smile threaten to break her lips.

With the Sairan drama behind everyone, we all continued to observe again. With the sun slowly showing its face over the horizon, Xu grabbed the handle of his blade and unsheathed it, the glimmering light of Sairanian steel and craftsmanship shining forth. “For Sairan, I faceth mine enemy!” he hollered, his side of the boat rippling as his sword became imbued with magical essence.

Ancient Sairan runes illuminated the length of his blade. With the Mark of Hoɖ, I saw the spirits within the runes working together, each of them speaking to each other in perfect unison before the blade was covered in the essence of fire. Its flames were so bright they pierced the dwindling darkness around the row boat. While imbuing a weapon with magic wasn’t something new, the soldiers of Sairan were particular masters of the art. Many noble families would send their sons to Sairan for knowledge in the way of the sword and other bladed weapons. For as… uncompromising as they were, Sairan was diligent to its own principles.

Xu slowly walked towards the woman, his feet careful and measured. The boat hardly shifted from his steps despite his heavy armor. And yet, the woman wasn’t concerned. Her expression was a mystery. Her crimson eyes gave nothing away. She merely stood on her side of the boat, the last fleeting shadows of the night’s darkness covering her. However, one by one, they were torn away, ripped apart by the sun’s glory.

As soon as the shadows were completely destroyed, I saw her move. She grabbed two daggers and charged at the Sairan warrior, taking him off guard. For such a small piece of a battlefield, she was quick. Xu screamed and grunted, surprised when his fiery blade clashed with her daggers. A streak of light and a clash of metal moved through the eyes and ears of those around the sea.

With every swing from Xu’s blade, an arc of fire exploded outward over the air. He roared over the Draegnar sea like an ape after an intruder. The woman ducked, danced, and jumped out of the way. Her agile body jumped over his armored head. She landed on the other side of the boat. He turned and swung his sword. The harsh clash of metal rang through again as the flaming sword met the short dagger. The woman then lowered her body and thrust her leg upwards. The Sairan warrior was forced to take a step back lest a dagger strike right through his chin and out his head.

However, the assault of the mysterious elven woman continued after that. She released a barrage of attacks at him, a regular flurry of streaks like lightning. The bastard did all he could just to parry each and every strike from her. I wondered where her aggression suddenly came from so quickly. “I believe Hæňgaram will be the victor, Sir,” Aesteal said while Maeloson narrowed his eyes.

“She is a very ruthless individual, especially given her rather peaceful entrance,” he said right after her.

I quickly started to understand what they meant as the woman’s pace quickly got even faster. Mages of the Mage Association murmured to each other, everyone feeling the vast ripples of magic exploding out of her body. She swung and swung, her crimson eyes focused and her purplish skin beaming in the rising sun. Xu blocked what he could, stepping back and parrying strike after strike. She jumped over his head and he tried for another swing, but she was too fast for him. In such a confined space, she made use of her smaller form to dance and prance around him like a mouse. Many might not see it, but I saw the tiny chips she got in here and there.

Little by little, her daggers sliced away at the warrior’s armor. Bits and pieces fell into the sea. Xu staggered back before the cloth of his torso was slashed apart. He jumped back, rocking the boat between them both. Nevertheless, the woman continued her rampage. If not for her clothing and choice of weapon, I’d almost assume she was a brawler like Diane instead of an assassin. I wondered why those of Hæňgaram opted for such a woman to a warrior head on like this, even if it seemed to be working out.

Unexpectedly, I got my answer when Diane spoke. “It’s odd. Even if she were a warrior like him, it shouldn’t be so easy to dominate a bastard like that with his build. His blocks are also lacking in great strength, every blow his fucking arms shiver,” she said.

I eyed her for a moment before I turned back to the battle. The Sairan warrior just barely managed to dodge the woman’s blade, his chest bleeding from a thin wound. He scowled angrily and charged the woman again. With renewed vigor he clashed his blade with hers, but there was no strength to be found in his swing.

“He’s getting slower. The flames on his blade slowly wither away,” Maeloson said as the woman landed on the tip of the boat. Even with her face mask covering her face, I could practically see the smirk on her face. Her eyes reflected those of a great lion staring upon a helpless calf.

Using the Mark of Hoɖ, I surveyed the battle again. I frowned when I saw the winds of great magic swirling around the Sairan warrior, fueling both him and his flame blade with great power, slowly being sucked away into the woman’s body. When her blade crashed into his, the entire seabed rumbled, shaking even the ships around us.

“She’s sucking away his magic like a damn sponge,” I said as the others looked at me.

Aesteal hummed. “So that’s why the flames around his sword are growing dimmer. Their being strangled of their magic,” she responded as the man, Xu, stood helplessly against the woman’s great speed. With his stores of magic fueling her, she got even faster than before. To the untrained eye, or one not enhanced with magic, she might as well have been a blur to many of the spectators.

Of course, to those of my crew, she might have been moving slowly for them. Given that I’d spent days and weeks pouring alchemy into their new bodies, I’d be ashamed if they couldn’t keep track of her. That said, I had to admire her sense of balance. Despite the rocking of the boat and the rather small space, she continued to circle around him without missing a single step. Even the waters beneath the boat started to churn away, swirling in a circular motion with her.

Over and over she slashed at the man’s body, his chest and arms were laid bare. He could do nothing except cover his face with his arms and guard the rest of his body as best he could. Every cut made him bleed a little more, every slash weakened his mighty defenses. His face, his back, his arms, his legs, his chest, his stomach, no place was safe from the woman’s relentless onslaught.

However, true to form, the Sairan warrior didn’t go down easily. He screamed and swung his barely aflamed blade. A moon of fire exploded from every corner around his body. The assassin was forced to stop her assault, jumping back before she threw five smaller daggers at him. With whatever strength he had left, he parried all of them, shaking and huffing while trying to keep on his feet.

The female assassin landed on the other side of the boat. Once she landed, the flames in the Sairan warrior’s blade died away. He glared at her with anger and contempt. Blood continued to seep out of the openings in his wounds. His armor had been effectively dismantled by the woman’s blades, each of them spilling small drops of his blood onto the boat. While such cuts were many, I noticed the gaze of this… Xu. He barely seemed to be looking at the woman, his pupils nearly caked in darkness.

“Poison,” my mother murmured, summing up the thoughts of me and the others.

We heard a crash on the boat. The Sairan warrior, Xu, fell forward as he succumbed to his injuries. No one said a word further. Ellen concluded the battle by awarding Hæňgaram with Ỳrmïndle’s remains. The soldiers paid for the scroll and the transaction was finished. While the deal went off, the men of Sairan sailed out to collect their comrade. Clearly, they weren’t pleased with the outcome. Nevertheless they dragged their unconscious companion away. I briefly wondered what fate might befall the poor fucker since Sairan was nation known for its harsh punishments for failure. Previous soldiers from Sairan who failed in their duties quickly deserted their nation. It was rumored that the dishonor was worth not going through the punishments before the emperor of Sairan.

I quickly turned my attention back to find the cloaked elven woman, but she was already gone from the boat. Instead, she was back on her own ship, standing before Zevmar Lightfeather. It didn’t take him long to spot me, his eyes narrowing. I returned his greeting with my own. I wondered how he’d react if he knew that this was the third time I’d met him face to face. To him, this might have only been the second. After all, he ought to only remember me from Hilvir.

The others noticed him and Naala frowned. “Why isn’t the bastard attacking us? He has to know it’s us from Hilvir,” she said while Diane laughed.

“Fucker probably doesn’t wanna sully his hands on some pirate scum, even with our captain considerable bounty now. Besides, you guys might not know it, but you’re radiating some terrifying mana right now, courtesy of all that alchemy. Not even those bastards of the Mage Association have taken their eyes off us. I saw a few of them nosing around near the ship while you were tending to the shop. I wanted to tell you about it, but you always seemed busy,” she said to me as I brushed my hand through my hair.

“Leave them. The lot ain’t a concern. So long as they stay out of my way, they can observe all they like. Besides, now that we’ve finished our objective here, we’ll be preparing to leave,” I replied.

“Thank the fucking gods. Less than a month back on this damned island, and I’m reminded of why I wanted to leave,” Naala answered as she swung her legs over the railing and walked back towards us. Her words got a laugh out of everyone while Ellen secured our payment, dismissing the auction and ending it for a long while.

As we continued to file out, I stared at Zevmar and that crimson-eyed woman until he turned his attention away from me. I continued to stare, not at my adversary, but at the woman next to him. Despite her victory and her great onslaught on the Sairan warrior, something told me that wasn’t the full extent of her might. The way the darkness clung to her form as she moved toward the boat made me ponder her abilities further. I just knew there was more to her than what I’d seen. While her ability to absorb mana was impressive, I sensed something greater within her.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t ponder further because she walked away. Her fellow companions continued to stare at her like she was a plague on their ship. I turned around and hopped off the boat. During our walk back, Ellen reminded me that before we left I’d need to sort out the payment for all the workers that contributed to the auction. I tried not suck my teeth, aware that this was what I’d signed up for when I made my bet with my Quartermaster.

We made it back to the ship, but I wasn’t privileged to stay there long. As Ellen said, I’d need to pay the workers. With that being the case, I grabbed Nei, who’d woken up, and Ellen. Lei was still asleep with her other sisters as we made our way back to the Dead Tales. There, Ellen and I spent most of the day paying the wonderful and loyal fuckheads of the tavern and the underground market.

By the seas, I was thankful it didn’t take as long as we thought it might. We finished just before the evening of the day. Ellen got up and made for the door. “And where be you going?” I asked.

She opened the door. “To bash a damn tankard against the side of my head!” she exclaimed before she slammed the door closed. I laughed while Nei tilted her head curiously. I rolled my shoulders and sighed, happy to have the last of this tedious work finished.

I stood up and took out a brush from my pocket. I knelt on the floor of Ellen’s office and began drawing the runes for a teleportation arrayl. With this, she’d be able to perform her duties to the ship and to the Dead Tales no matter where we were. This took me a few minutes, especially with supplying the array with enough mana to keep it powered for at least ten years. I made sure to keep it behind her desk, that way I wouldn’t have to deal with anyone mistakenly using it. I’d also need to make one inside her new quarters lest she used the array and be teleported into the middle of the void itself.

Once I was done, Naala and I journeyed back to the ship. She continued to observe the poor, rich, and all in the middle, on our way there. I’d kept her hidden from all of them given that a lot of people kept their eyes on me. I assumed this to be for my bounty as C’ula made sure that my face would be sent to every nation. In fact, I even sensed three groups of five tailing me.

Feeling rather playful, I deviated from my course and exited the island’s great city. My pursuers continued to walk after me, mimicking the movements of traveling merchants or carriagemen. I let them follow me as I walked through the ravenous, steep woods with dangerous inclines and rocky slopes. I needed to find Nz’ia and let him know that we’d be leaving soon.

I began to notice something amusingly peculiar the higher I climbed up the hills. The further I went up, the more animal bones I saw. Draegnar deer, boar, birds, and other assortments of creatures. I kicked some of them away and snorted. “Nz’ia! Come! Come! Me! You!” I said, hoping for simple words in my tongue since neither of us spoke the other’s language at all. Well, at least not without me having my hand on his head.

True to form, I heard a deep, man-like roar that moved through the hills of Draegnar. With a mighty landing, the great Xhaluter appeared before me, his towering form as imposing as always. I noticed he’d crafted a bone necklace for himself, his bone spear still gripped tightly in his hands. His face was ripe with blood and the smell of the wild. Clearly, I must have interrupted him on a new hunt. “Ium! Bun ta goluk fal toridor!” he said as I blinked.

“Your way of tongue still eludes me. Come here,” I said as I touched his forehead. Nei popped her head out of my pouch.

“Cease your hunting soon. We’ll be leaving for the lands of Hæňgaram soon. Since Callamum and Hæňgaram seem to be in communication with one another, it’s possible we’ll find information about what happened to your people. I want you to be prepared for that time. Finish what you must here lest we leave you,” I said.

The mighty man of fine bronze glared down at me, the trials of Delverhold tempering his body to make him even more menacing than before. “Do not worry. I shall be prepared for that encounter. My hunts within these mountains have also slowly come to an end. None of the beasts here dare challenge me. I shall seek stronger prizes for their flesh makes me weak. Why have you also led this prey to me?” he asked as I laughed.

“Aye, that ain’t for you. It be for me. I just wanted to tell you. Besides, even if I did leave you hear, I imagine you’d soon rule the island as your own,” I replied.

The Xhaluter scowled. “To rule such weakness would be a great insult to my people. Even greater is the dangers of this water that surrounds us. I would sooner leave this place than not. Why also toy with your prey? Deal with it quickly and let it return to the soil that it might foster new worth,” he said.

I tried not to laugh and sigh. “Worry not, the ground and maggots will eat good tonight,” I said as I took my hand from his head. He quickly jumped away, Nei laughing and slapping my shoulder happily trying to mimic his motion. As she became more aware of the magic around her, I knew she’d fashion legs for herself at some point. Then again, I quite enjoyed her half-fairy, half-mermaid body. Can’t say I ever had the honor of getting close to such a lass before.

Just like Aesteal, I seemed more in tune with Nei’s aura now that she’d bonded with me. I hate to think that she took some of my mannerisms since our time together. She took an interest in my money, rubbing up against some of my bronze, silver, and gold coins. I remembered when she tossed one of them into her makeshift home of a bowl. She described it as ‘a wonderfully shiny thing.’

I wondered if I should take the time to teach her to read as well. Though she was an inquisitive woman, clearly she lacked for a proper education. Teaching her might make her stronger and help in delving more into just what kind of creature she was that the Alchemist had made. Surely the bastard didn’t create her and the others just to live in a pond all their lives.

As I continued down the slopes and back into the plains of Draegnar, my lips curved upwards. I wondered if it was a coincidence that I always seemed to get attacked when I was in a large field. I looked up and saw a large fireball sailing towards me.

“Ashiana: Roran!” someone shouted as a barrier of ice magic appeared around me and contained me in its cold grip.

“Fulrimir: Daishran,” another person shouted as runes crawled up the length of the ice barrier, slowly beginning to drain my mana away. Well, slowly for me anyway. I had a lot of mana these days and for such a mana draining spell of this level, it’d take at least a week to run through it all.

Still, I had to give my pursuers credit. At least they weren’t idiots like the last lot, though they’d certainly die all the same.

As the fireball came closer to me, I quickly solidified the water in the air. The spell crashed into the wall of water, breaking apart into five other fireballs that crashed into the ground around me. Nei leapt into my pocket, amused by the battle.

“Draaak! Your idiots! You told me that his mana was restricted! How did you botch the fire spell?” someone asked as I spotted the fifteen bounty hunters around me.

“Fuck you! Look at him! Obviously, he’s still trapped! He might have planned for the fire spell but not for the others! He’s just a fucking brat after all! Probably got lucky planting a few bombs around the C’ula nation and managed to skirt away with his cock up his ass!” another fired back.

“Cock… ass!” Nei screamed in my mind as I shook my head. Well, that sure as hell wasn’t good. I didn’t need her learning words like that just yet. Then again, what more could I expect of an impressionable woman surrounded by a bunch of pirates.

With my capture, the fifteen hunters jumped out of the trees. A variety of men and women, some with scars a plenty, and others with lone mage cloaks and hoods. A few carried bloodied knives, and others licked their swords with their lips.

“Heh, well it be the easiest coin we’ll ever make! Still, he must be doing something right if even Ellen Sothshore’s listening to him.”

“Keh! Probably got some fucking blackmail on her, is all. What say we cut off his tongue and present the head to the C’ula Council? Bet they’ll be more than happy to see that,” a woman with a long, double-tipped staff said.

“First, we gotta decide who actually gets the little bastard. Besides, I heard that crew of his came across a fucking fortune in treasure. That’ll more than triple our worth should we take him with us. Besides, they didn’t say when we had to bring him to them,” a man with steel arm and legs guards said with a wide grin on his face.

His grin didn’t last for too long when I condensed the water in his head and exploded it outwards, beheading him instantly. The others stood in shock as his body slumped to the ground.

No one else got the chance to scream or even speak before I ripped their bodies apart. When I focused on the water in their upper torso to the left, and the lower torso to the right, they were all helplessly torn apart before they could even chant another spell. Nei watched, hissing at the corpses as I freed myself from the third-tier spells that had bound me. I wiped off some of the ice from my shoulders and shrugged.

“Would you be willing to speak to me more if I offered these bastards to your army?” I asked to the Lonely Wail. After a moment, the back of my mind stirred as An’raie appeared in front of me. She looked over the souls of those who’d soon be taken to the afterlife.

“‘Tis hardly proper material. However, thine company is better than any trash further presented to me. Thou art within mine good graces once again. Take heed to not ruin it!”

An’raie then floated over to corpses, siphoning away their souls into her body to be used as she saw fit. Once they were gone, no chance of them entering paradise, she flew over to me. “As I am in a rather forgiving mood for thee, I shall impart some words about thine quarry. ‘Twould do thee well to not underestimate the manspawn nor his female warrior from the morn of the sun. I sense the work of great spirits within her.”

The Lonely Wail left me with that, merging her soul with mine again. I thought to ask for more information, but An’raie already told me she didn’t wish to be disturbed further. Knowing better than to press the mighty witch of the dead, I left her alone.

Nei seemed pleased by my victory, jumping up and down while her fairy wings flapped a little. “Aye, ya liked that did ya?” I asked. She grinned at me with a playful wink before we made our way back into the city.

I arrived at my ship and saw the men and women of Hilvir training dutifully. About fifty or so other men and women from Draegnar were on my ship from Callamum, working menial tasks in preparation for the next voyage. A great number of the people from my first voyage returned to my ship, eager to place their bets on me again. Notably, one of them was Daven Wolfkiss, the bastard who woke me up when I was high on lust in the crow’s nest. We still needed to go get that fucking drink together. He seemed keen to remind me of that.

When I came into my room I saw the other fairmaids enjoying, pleasuring each other greatly before Nei announced her presence. She slipped off my shoulder and eagerly joined her sister. As expected of the one who bonded herself to me, she established herself as the lead amongst them. She grabbed Lei’s hair and kissed her eagerly while I sat down, leaving the five to their passions.

As I sat down, I inhaled and exhaled tiredly. I suppose I should have assumed many would greedily come for my bounty. In fact, Draegnar was rather tame despite the weight of gold on my head at the moment. I imagined that was because I was associated with Ellen. No one fucked with her people and lived too long to tell about it. Still, that clearly hadn’t dissuaded everyone. I was sure I’d meet more of them as I continued to sail and my bounty continued to rise.

I tried to remain focused despite the surge of lust being absorbed into my body from Nei and the others. I wondered if I be a bad influence on them. Clearly, they hadn’t enjoyed such passions when they were back on Delverhold before meeting me. Then again, I imagined they too felt the full weight of Vilinlith’s essence as well. No wonder the bastard alchemist put it behind such a guarded door. Such a thing was liable to destroy the world from the numerous wars over it.

I reached into my drawer and pulled out the list of all my crewmates at the time of my death. I stared at each name, the top of it reserved for my cunt of a future-to-be wife Leah. Her name and my death still rang through the bleeding echoes of my mind. However, I was in control of myself just enough to keep Draegnar from experiencing a heavy sea storm. Plus, I didn’t want to interrupt the bonding of the lustful sisters on my bed.

Instead, I got up with my list and walked back outside. I gently closed my door and traveled the deck of my newest ship. I leaned over the railing at my first vessel. The warriors under Aesteal and Maeloson seemed to be meditating. I felt the steady rise and fall of their mana. Given their studious dispositions, it was hard to think that they’d been the same group that were getting their lives toyed with by a deadly mountain bandit.

“Aesteal, Maeloson!” I called.

The two opened their eyes and looked at me. “Make ready a room for the group. I’ll be over there soon,” I said. The two nodded, leaving the group to do as I instructed while I used a piece of the sea to transport me over to the ship. I landed in front of my warriors.

“All of you, up! Follow me,” I said.

“Yes, Captain!” A woman said before she whistled to the others. They all stood up and followed me through the back of the ship. It didn’t take me long to find Maeloson and Aesteal. The two of them cleaned up a room and I shuffled everyone inside. It was a little cramped. A few had to stand outside, but it would do.

I leaned against the wall and stared at them all. “Aesteal and Maeloson continue to inform me of your progress. Good work to all of you. You continue to prove that Aesteal’s judgment was right. You’ve all worked incredibly hard. Thank you,” I said.

The group seemed surprised at my words, looking at each other with uncertainty. “Our captain’s been possessed by vile magic!” Someone in the far back exclaimed which got a ripple of laughter through some of those present.

I allowed them their jest for a moment or two. “Keep laughing and I’ll send the lot of ya to the brig! Now, you’ve spent weeks and months aboard my ship, practicing and training away. Now, I wanna see what you’ll achieve off my ship. Maeloson, Aesteal, and I will set you up in groups of three. From there I’ll be assigning you to any part of this fucking rock that I wish. As for what your assignment is, it be this,” I said, revealing the list of my former crew mates.

Aesteal narrowed her eyes. She had seen the list before on our trip to Delverhold. “Travel far, travel wide, experience battles, experience losses, you’ll go out and locate these people for me. Where they live, you shall live. Where they go, so shall you,” I said.

“Captain… Sir, how are we to find these names? There could be hundreds of thousands of people with names like these,” a man in the room asked from on top of one of the beds.

I wasn’t sure what look was on my face, but it made them all shirk back. “I’ll give you the knowledge of their faces and their habits! When you find them, simply observe. Your hands will not be marked with their blood. Mine will,” I claimed.

The group fell silent before I turned around. “When you see them, I know you will have doubts. You lot were not raised as soldiers or warriors. No matter how much training, Aesteal and Maeloson grant you, the lot of ya be simpler farmers, housewives, and hunters at best. The people on this list won’t appear as Saviara appeared, some of them might be nice, funny, or even well-managed. However, know that my hatred for them all runs deep and burns hard. However, if your heart does waver then speak now. Aesteal and Maeloson have grown to care for you a lot, and I feel great pride in all of you, but no one will stand in the way of my vengeance. No one!” I stressed, making sure they all clung into every word.

As expected, I saw the resolution in all of their eyes. Being as low on trust as I was, I wasn’t sure how best to handle their gaze, but there wasn’t much I could do. It would be much easier to track down this list of bastards and bitches with them than without.

Nevertheless, I was left stunned when I saw the men and women drop to one knee. “We are the great warriors for Fäēgahar. We sail beneath the flag of Eric Drakclaw,” they all said while I gazed upon them.

…I’d probably never admit it, but I was rather happy that I’d chosen to save them all as well. However, I turned to Aesteal and Maeloson accusingly. All this fucking Poseidon and Spirt of the Water shit was more than enough to drive a man mad. “This be your doing?” I asked.

“Well, your abilities over the realm of water are unparalleled, Sir,” Aesteal replied while Maeloson, oddly enough, smirked.

“Is it not the hearts of men to always reach the realm of the divine? We simply hasten your ascension.”

…I had a feeling I was being messed with. However, I decided to let it go and asked for the warriors to rise. “Sail beneath my flag and all your enemies shall be my enemies, all your desires shall be met, and the world will tremble when it hears your name. Gather whatever supplies you need. This will be your ship from now on, sailing wherever you go or drop each other off. Be ready to leave in three days.”

“AYE, Captain!” they all chorused together.

I released them all from the room and they continued about their business. “How do you think they’ll do?” I asked when the last of them left.

“Hard to say. Aesteal and I were trained in the elven ways for years, her even greater than I was. They have only done this for a few months. You planted the seed, we watered it, now we must wait for it to grow,” Maeloson answered.

Aesteal grabbed her bow. “There are lessons to be learned when faced with the harshness of the world, the spirits will guide and teach them accordingly. If they should ever feel unsure, we shall guide them as best we can. That is, if you would permit us,” she said, facing me with a smile that easily said I would allow it.

The two elves left as well. I watched them go and returned to my quarters. It wasn’t a very pleasant experience since I continued to do more rune sewing for those of my warriors leaving on my first ship. It was a lot of work and I got a headache more than once.

The next day, I spent most of the morning sleeping. In the evening, I sat down with Maeloson and Aesteal, making up the groups of three that would journey out and to where. Surprisingly, they volunteered a group of five to head the entire efforts of all the teams.

Two women, Nya and Fiehra, and three men, Gadid, Ralem, and Akva.

After that, I began dividing funds amongst them all. Each of the teams received 8,000 gold coins, more than enough to not only travel far, but also purchase anything they needed. If they received or took minor work, then that was also accepted. Luckily for them, they’d also collected a fair share of items from Delverhold and were paid for them. That would establish them all as well in any piece of land that they settled in. I could only hope for their success in this venture.

Pretty soon, they were all gathered on my first ship and they sailed away. I made sure to add a teleportation circle to their vessel in case they would need me for incredibly urgent matters. It would bring them right onto my current ship. Of course, this was only meant to be used as a last resort. In case all other options had been exhausted.

On their last day, Aesteal and Maeloson made a little elven ceremony for their students, elevating those worthy to higher status, honor, and responsibility. I didn’t particularly care one way or the other, but they made me join in since it would strengthen the unity of a captain and his crew. So I had to spend a bit of time marking each of their foreheads with a drop of deer’s blood while Ellen recited some elven scripture. The blood burned into their foreheads slowly creating beautiful elven runes across their faces. Maeloson blessed each and every one of them with the honor of the spirits.

Once it was done, we watched them sail off until there was nothing more to see. Aesteal laughed at my side. “I wonder if this is how my woad mother felt when I received my own rites. I admit that I’m feeling a little sentimental,” she said while Maeloson stood at her side.

“Then stay alive. Continue to live so that you might see the full end result of all you’ve done,” he said before he walked away. I watched him for a moment as he raised his hand and rubbed his face, never turning around to see anymore of the sailing ship. He walked below deck and Aesteal kissed my cheek. She grabbed her bow and left me as well. I stared back into the sea and sighed.

I stepped back and entered my room. There I stayed until the very last day that we would spend on Draegnar. I crafted a larger environment for Nei and her sisters to live in. Thankfully, they only used the Essence of Vilinlith to change their size. Should they want, they could easily reach the length of a normal man. However, they seemed content with their small figures. I imagined it was because that was how they were born. I reinforced one of the large barrels in my room and enchanted the waters within it. The fairmaids would have room to do what they pleased without interfering in my work.

A few more men and women from my first voyage asked to become a part of my crew officially. I warned them that the seas I sailed weren’t for the faint of heart, but they brushed off my concerns. “For Greater Fame and Glory!” some of them said, throwing my words back in my face.

Though this was nice, I knew not everyone on the previous voyage would return. They’d come for what they came for. They got their gold, treasure, and jewels, seeing fit to call it quits and live out the rest of their dreams as they wished. I had no qualms with that. In fact, I thought it more of a strength than anything else, the ability to know when to hang up the sail.

As the last day came upon me, my eyes narrowed in anger as I walked behind my mother and Ellen back to the ship. Once again, I’d been reduced to a fucking pack mule as I carried the ladies’ wardrobe back to my vessel. Expectedly, they enjoyed my gaze of indignation. “Take care we don’t leave you, Captain!” my mother said while I snorted.

“Bastard can boast some strength, but he can’t carry a few pieces of cloth,” Ellen retorted next.

I noticed a puddle to our left and my lips curved upwards. However, I didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. Oh, fucking believe me I would have if not for the boisterous laughter of my mother and Ellen. Seas, I never thought I’d see the day where these two lasses would be laughing together. I thought to remind them that they were supposed to hate each other’s fucking guts, but I just didn’t have the heart. Besides, what better way to make a sexy lass owe you than some hard labor?

We arrived on the ship and I dropped their clothes in their rooms. As I rolled my shoulders, my mother kissed my cheek. “Glad to see your time as captain hasn’t made you forget who had to take care of your ass for nineteen sun years. Thank you, Eric!” my mother said before she began sorting her clothes.

I watched her smile widely, comforted by her words before I left her room. I noticed Ellen leaning against the door, looking irritated. “Yeah, thanks,” she said as she slugged me in my shoulder.

Aye, the fierce lass as ever.

I tried not to smile when she kissed my cheek next, albeit a bit reluctantly. I supposed a woman like Ellen would never be comfortable as the affectionate type. The old Ellen would have just punched me and walked off. It was then that I remembered that succubus’ words on Delverhold. Ellen, for all her bravado, did love me in some manner. She never admitted it and I wondered if she ever would.

With my manual labor finished, I entered Draegnar again. Ever since I’d disposed of that last group of bounty hunters, it seemed most of the island got the idea that my bounty was well-deserved. Of course, that didn’t stop a few hopefuls from trying, but I quickly sent them to their own deaths without much worry.

“Off on yer next journey, brat?”

I turned my head and noticed Pete sitting in his stall, his extremely rancid wares still on his oddly broken table. “I’d welcome you aboard if you got rid of that shit,” I said while Pete laughed, slapping his thigh while he did so.

“Don’t kid yerself, son! Your ship be lucky to have such legendary extravagance aboard it. The beasts would never leave ya alone. Besides, ya can’t afford me! Ain’t seen that lovely goddess of the store behind me lately. Where’d ya hide her?” he asked.

I shook my head and shrugged. “Hell if I know, you old shit. Who knows what she’s up to,” I said as I made for the door.

“Hagagaagagagagahaaga! Ain’t that the truth! Don’t no man know the thoughts of a woman and that secret hath been lost to the very ages of time itself!” he replied, laughing out puffs of smoke while I grabbed the door handle. However, I stopped when he pointed his cigar at me.

“Let me give ya some advice boy. From one famous pirate to tadfoot. We rarely become what we thought we’d be at the start of our journey. Best make sure you do or you’re gonna be in for a rough time, son. Can’t no one conquer the great seas or rule the world if he can’t even conquer himself. Ya got plenty of time now. Be sure to not waste it,” he said, his eyes staring into my own.

“And are you what you wanted to be?” I asked.

He grinned. “I imagine I’ll find that out for meself, dear boy! Now, get outta here! The days be upon you soon. Don’t go drowning in the Flaming River of Blood,” he said, waving to me as I entered Liara’s shop, tuning out the last of his ramblings. I knew not any river of blood within D’orn. Well, aside from using Kavtha’s Urn, but I didn’t dwell on the words anymore.

Instead, I opened the shop door and was greeted by Goron and Diane. “Please tell me it’s time to go. Where’s that fucker Nz’ia? I really need to punch something!” Diane exclaimed as she got up from behind the counter.

I nodded, affirming her wish. Her eyes lit up and she groaned. “Finally! I’m heading back to the ship!” she said as she walked past me and slammed the door closed. I watched her go for a moment before Goron came up behind me.

“The few customers who came in today were particularly trying. As always a few of them came to ask for Lady Liara’s hand, bringing extravagant gifts and items of world renown,” he said.

I hummed. “Oh? And how did Diane respond to that?”

“Why ask when you already got the idea? She hasn’t lost her skill with a firearm despite the battles she’s endured on Delverhold. Apparently, Lady Liara’s already got a ‘dog’ to tend to her needs,” he answered back to me.

I walked through the back of the store. “Must be a rowdy fucking mutt to tangle with such a mighty lass. Fucking reckless one at that too,” I responded as Goron followed me out the front store and into the back one. He opened the door for me and we walked through the vastness of the halls.

“How have they been doing?” I asked, our steps echoing through the impossibly massive walls of the inside of the second shop.

“Well, they are alive. A stubborn adventuring group if I can say so. Many would have died by now, but they seem to hold on longer than most thanks to the work you’ve put into them. Though they’ve definitely lost more battles than they’ve won from the beasts they’ve encountered. It makes them very strong,” he said.

“Good. They’ll need to be,” I answered before we came in front of the door in question.

I grabbed the handle and opened it, peering inside at the large cavern walls and dark atmosphere. I motioned for Goron to recall them. He chanted a weird language for the realm and instantly all seven members of Raven’s Shadow dropped to the ground on top of each other. They groaned and rolled off each other, huffing and panting. Their faces were riddled with gravel, dust, and dirt. Claw marks littered their faces and their clothes were stained by their blood.

“Nice timing! W-W-We were just getting to the good part,” Truon said, his voice raspy and dry.

“You lot ain’t the most convincing when you gasp like you swam the entire way to Delverhold and back.

“If I could, I’d fucking shoot you!” Racaell threatened while I stood over her.

“Greater lasses than you have tried. Though I’ll welcome the attempt. Still, you ought to feel proud. You sure ain’t got the feel of a C-rank adventurer’s team. The density in your aura would almost lead anyone to believe you were different people,” I said, allowing them all to catch their breaths for a few minutes.

The first to lean up was Brant. “It was tougher than anything we’d faced before, aside from the troll on Delverhold. I’m ashamed of just how much we had to retreat just from one enemy. It was equally an enlightening experience,” he said, his eyes reflecting a deep strength which only those who’d been through countless suffering could obtain.

“Never before had my faith been tested in such a fierce capacity. Captain, I thank you for the opportunity,” Gurok said as he tended to his wounds.

However, out of the entire group, I noticed that it was the girls who changed the most. The mana within each of them was greater than anyone on Draegnar at this moment, save for a few of the high mages left over from Ellen’s auction. Rieth had improved the most. While I still didn’t know exactly what a forsaken priest was, her eyes were changed just like Brants and the rest of her group. There was a fire of passion deep within the woman’s normally mirthless face.

“There is no greater teacher of man than the lessons of defeat,” Daen said next as he stared at his weaponry, seemingly recalling something in his wizened eyes.

Even Hannath looked at her bow with renewed vigor. All of them seemed changed in one way or the other. Yet, I still saw the burning flames of the original Raven’s Shadow from before. A group that enjoyed adventuring together and testing their fucking mettle against anything the world could throw at them.

“One thing’s for sure, Hannath you best not wield a sword again,” Truon said while the archer glared at him. That got a chuckle out of everyone while Goron and I remained confused.

Racaell patted her teammate on the shoulder. “Everyone’s got something they’re good at, Hannath. Clearly, you weren’t meant to learn the path of the sword and neither was I. At least you know, the bastards over there can’t hold a bow or gun worth a damn.”

Despite these odd insults being thrown back and forth, I saw nothing but admiration within their eyes. I also detected, and absorbed, a few embers of lust radiating from the seven. Clearly, the stress of their training made them find comfort in each other quite a few times. Well, Truon aside at least. He’d probably find comfort in that lass he bonded with on Delverhold.

Once Raven Shadow caught its breath, its members got up and stood before me. “Captain, in a few years, send us back there! We’ll conquer that realm and remember this great shame inflicted upon all of us!” Brant said. The others nodded, agreeing with his judgment.

“You lot are gluttons for punishment, but I won’t deny ya. In fact, you won’t need to worry. You’ll be allowed to go back sooner than ya think. We’ll be sailing out to honor Lady Knight’s deal tomorrow. You need to be registered with Ellen to become her personal adventuring group. Once the debts with Hæňgaram are resolved, you’ll be doing all the adventuring until the agreement with the Dead Tales,” I answered as they glanced at each other.

Brant quickly agreed, struggling to keep his bashed up armor together. “Yes, there was talk of that, and we agreed. This benefit alone was worth the investment. Are you sure it’s acceptable for us to take the majority of the spoils we received from the dungeons?” he asked.

“I need not many materials from those already established. It is the ones that have yet to be discovered where I’ll be casting my net,” I said as I walked out, the others following me until we reached the outside.

“Damn, I never thought I’d be so happy to smell the rancid stench of Draegnar’s streets. It’s almost like a paradise!” Racaell said as she stretched her ample bosom.

I took a step forward and noticed the people walking past us, some of them eyeing me as they did so. It was impossible not to see the great greed in their eyes. I actually worried if I’d have to cull the entire population of Draegnar in order to be left alone. Delverhold becoming my treasure island was certainly a possibility. Fortunately for the island, I loved its greedy and backstabbing ways. It was a proper way to keep any bastard or bitch on their toes.

“Head back to the ship and speak with Ellen after you’ve had your fill of food. Worry not about your armor or weapons, you’ll more than likely have a chance to buy more when we reach the outer provinces of Hæňgaram. Unlike the main empire, the provinces are more than willing to trade and bargain with riff raff scum like us,” I said.

“And what makes us riffraff scum? We’re not pirates!” Truon argued while my lips curved upwards.

“You work for one. That be enough. If you wish to not work for me anymore, then I’ll wipe your minds of all you’ve learned and set you on your way,”  I suggested, enjoying the nervousness on everyone’s faces.

“That won’t be necessary, Captain!” Hannath said as the group wisely walked away while Goron and I turned back to the shops.

“Is it ready?” I asked.

“Indeed. The shop shall be in a confined realm through a magic matrix aboard your ship. It will be confined to that realm and linked with all the others as usual until my lady returns from her path. I must say that your vast knowledge continues to impress, astound, and terrify me. A young kid such as you having such knowledge. Who are you really? No poor boy of the island could have such a wealth of information in the arts to draw from,” Goron accused as I continued to stare at the shop.

I was aware that we weren’t alone. Pete seemed interested as well, probably thinking that I had forgotten he was there. I rubbed my shoulders and shook my head. “I’m a bastard who’s probably pissed off every deity in the realms,” I said before I turned around and walked back to the ship.

The rest of the day went by without incident. Ellen officially signed the Raven Shadow group as her personal adventurers. Goron moved the shop into one of Liara’s stored realms and the access to it was planted in one of the rooms aboard my ship. For the rest of the day, I continued my work as the curious fairmaids observed. Finally, I rested with my mother, Aesteal, and Ellen. Soon, the promised day was upon me.

I sought to meet with Anastasia one more time before my ship set sail early in the morning. I was greeted with a beautiful sight of her body when I tapped on the window. It was a shame she was married, even if she was a cheater of a limp cock. I wouldn’t have minded seeing her efforts for myself.

“Must you come so early in the morning?” she asked.

“If I didn’t show my face now, I’d show it months later. I’ll be leaving soon and I thought it best that I see such a thorned rose once more before I leave.” I said as I stepped inside.

The wife of Falvor tightened her robe and slid over to her chair. I followed after her. “You have become quite the fortune teller. It was as you predicted. House Solunaris was visited by House Lightfeather. They will also be visiting us later today,” she said while I chuckled.

“Aye, the bastard would make a fine businessman if he journeyed down the route. I doubt he thought he’d get the noble houses of Draegnar, but since I gave the auction he probably figured to nab what he could,” I said as I leaned into the soft chair.

“He goes to usurp the Hæňgaram Emperor. He would need as many allies as he can grab. My husband is inclined to go along with this new rising power, yet I understand that going against you is a foolhardy vision,” she answered back as she grabbed a jewel-encrusted cup with water from her table.

I stood up and found my eyes wandering her quarters. “That it is, especially since I’ve decided that Hæňgaram will remain as it always has. That is also why I tasked you with supplying the Hæňgaram forces secretly. They will not forget the debts they owe, even to a house such as yours.”

Anastasia looked at me evenly, slowly moving one sensual leg over the other. “While I admire your confidence, you make it sound as if you’ve already defeated your opponent. There is a reason many fear the Lightfeather House,” she said, taking a sip from her glass.

I smiled. “Should I go into this thinking that I’ve already lost? Naturally, I can’t predict which way the tides will turn, but I’ll make sure I’m on the right side of them regardless. Should they turn in our favor, there will be great benefits for your house to reap.”

Anastasia leaned back. “All to be taken by my husband. Of that I have no doubt,” she replied evenly.

I noticed the displeasure in her voice before I made her shiver when I stood in front of her. I leaned forward and grabbed the arms of her chair. She stared at me with wide eyes. Never had I known this human succubus to shrink back from such unexpected contact. Nevertheless, I must have been pleasing to her gaze because brief hints of lust were given to me from her body.

“Dare you think less of me, lass? If this was to benefit your husband, I would have made my dealings with him, not you. After all, this was your house first, was it not? So long as you keep your ambitions in check, and don’t try me too severely, I’ll raise the Lindengar Estate higher than Draegnar,” I said, smiling as she continued to look at me.

Anastasia took a moment to collect herself, and sighed. “And why would you be in the business of helping me? You gain nothing out of it. Clearly, your desires lay not with me specifically. What is this trouble for?” she asked suspiciously.

I leaned up and stepped back. “Naturally, you work for me now. I might be a bastard, but I ain’t unfair. I realize the difficult position I’ve put you in and this be as much to my benefit as it be to yours. Besides, you’re a smart lass, my glorious return should have convinced you enough. Besides, you’ve lived on Draegnar most of your life. You know the consequences of betrayal,” I said, my eyes hard and threatening.

“O-Of course,” she replied, a hint of a stutter in her voice.

“Good. Besides, I trust your senses more than those of your husband. Now then, prepare yourself for a message from me in the coming weeks. You will travel to Hæňgaram soon, and your husband will not protest it. Great glory shall await you,” I said as I turned toward the window.

“And what should I do until then?” she asked.

“As you’ve always done, keeping track of my phoenix feather. I have great need of it. Also, inform me if your husband makes contact with Thynia. I’d like to see just what he uses to bargain for it,” I said.

I felt her gaze on me as I opened the window. “And how shall I make contact with you?” she asked.

“Worry not about it for now. You’ll know,” I said before I jumped out the window and left the noblewoman alone to her own devices. I landed on top of the rough waters of Draegnar before I weaved the tides to carry me back to the sandy shores.

Since it was so early in the morning, there weren’t too many people still out of their homes. I swung around the island without much distraction or disturbance until I saw my ship on the other side of the island. I quickly climbed aboard and saw a great many men and women working. One by one, some of them brought carts and crates onto the ship while Ellen directed them this way and that. I noticed one of the fairmaids on her shoulder.

When she noticed me, she turned to me. “How’s the noble cunt doing?” she asked.

I smirked. “Well, the lass ain’t no morning person. Is the ship ready? I wanna get out of here before Zevmar sticks his cock where it doesn’t belong,” I returned, watching some of the workers disappear below the deck of the ship.

“Yeah. We’re almost done. Good thing you upgraded our ship. Now there’s space aplenty for anything we take, in addition to the larger rooms. Since most of the crew is made up of the old one, I’ve had a lot of fuckers asking for old bedding arrangements,” she said as I patted her shoulder.

“At least you’ll be further away from the noise this time,” I said.

“I’ll fucking jump for joy before I blow my brains out then. We should be done within the hour,” she said.

I nodded and slowly walked away. I traversed the ship, helping Ellen by prioritizing which crates went where. In that time, I spotted my mother moving most of the crew that joined today into their new rooms. Naala gave some others a lesson on the cannons of Callamum. Aesteal and Maeloson set up their room, this one a little more mystifying and enchanting than the last one. Diane and Goron moved their things into their rooms and the latter refined the runes on the floor in one of the unused rooms that housed Liara’s shop. Honestly, without her knowledge, I wouldn’t have dreamed of moving her shop easily. With the Mark of Hoɖ, I saw just how much magical essence there was around the shop. Trying to disconnect even one from the other was enough to make me go mad. Even I wasn’t sure where to begin trying to untangle all of it. All I could do was anchor it all together, allowing it to rest in harmony with the matrix Goron and I had set up.

Thankfully, between Goron and myself, we finished these rather quickly. Once we were done, I left him alone to finish up the last details. I returned to my room and sat in my chair for a few moments. I stared out at the slowly rising sun and thought of Hæňgaram. In spite of myself, I felt a bit of a thrill. I’d not gotten involved in the war before so this was something new to me. I wondered what would be waiting for me once I met with Lady Knight once again.

Then came a loud bang on my door. “Don’t tell me you went back to bed! It’s your job to begin our voyage, Captain!”

I heard Ellen’s voice cry out to me as a smile appeared on my face. I stood back up and grabbed my coat. Before I could walk out, the other fairmaids joined me, taking residence in the pockets. Nei remained on my shoulder, rubbing her face against mine. I’d noticed an increase in her welcome affections since our time in that pond. “Mate. mine!” she said, her voice filling my mind while I rubbed her face. Her tiny fairy wings flapped softly.

When I got outside, I saw at least a hundred men and women waiting for me. Some sitting on barrels and others leaning on the railings. My mother, Ellen, the elves, Naala, Diane, Goron, and everyone else stood in front of me. I stared at them all. “I don’t know whether some of you be loyal or stupid that you’d come back aboard my ship, asking that I accept your asses officially. Let it be clear that you wouldn’t be if I didn’t think you could handle it. However, don’t think every voyage is gonna be some grand payout like Delverhold, but stick with me and I’ll show you more riches than your fucking pockets can fill. If you lot trust me, then shout it so that even Zeus might hear it!” I yelled into the morning air.

“ARRRR! ARRRR! ARRRRRRRR!”

“We sail for greater fame and glory!”

“WE SAIL FOR GREATER FAME AND GLORY!”

“Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen mast! We sail northeast! We sail for a destiny not walked by ordinary men! We sail for adventure!” I claimed.

“Aye, aye, Captain!” they shouted before they each ran to their positions. A group pulled up the anchor and others released the sails of my captured Callamum ship.

“The winds be with us, Captain! Where be our destination?” the helmsman asked as the grin on my face widened.

“We sail for the Lands of Vanverden, the lands of the Hæňgaram Empire,” I said. The helmsman nodded and steered the ship away from Draegnar. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and noticed my mother staring back at our home island. The ship maneuvered through the treacherous seas, jagged rocks, and wrecked ships too weak to survive here. She clenched my arm as her auburn hair flew in the breeze.

She then turned to me and grinned. “Our lives are in your hands again, Captain!” she said while I faced her.

“And I shall make sure they aren’t squandered, mother,” I said before she lightly punched my arm. She then made herself busy along with everyone else.

Ellen came up to me. “The Vanderden Lands are very far away. If not for you’d it take us at least a month or two of sailing to get there. You sure aren’t making this fucking trip lightly, are you?” she asked.

“We’ll be heading into a war for a kingdom that’s known to hate our king. Indeed it’s not a matter I would have done jovially. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of shit there to rile up,” I replied while Ellen laughed.

“Good. I get bored easily,” she answered as she pushed herself off the upper deck railing and returned to her duties as well.

As Draegnar got smaller and smaller, I decided to stay on deck for a while to see how the crew adjusted to a much bigger vessel. As expected, Ellen didn’t seem perturbed. I imagined she’d been on a few Callamum vessels when she made deals and rubbed shoulders with various clients.

She barked orders and they followed them without question. That said, there wasn’t much for the crew to do at the moment. Most seemed content to just stare off the side of the boat at the crashing waves against the hull of the ship.

Meanwhile, Aesteal and Maeloson had long since climbed the ratlines and entered the crow’s nest. Clearly my effects at alchemy had born fruit because the two didn’t even need spyglass to stare out into the distance. If I focused, even I could stare out further than the average human.

As the sun rose in the sky, and the might of helios warmed our bodies and our sails. With Ellen’s duties lightened, I gathered her and my mother to my room. I felt a little insulted when they kept looking between my bed and me, almost expecting me to assault them like some great beast. Just who did they take me for?

“You two can relax. Lest you think otherwise, there be more in my head than fucking you both. Though that be a wonderful intimate activity of mine. No, for the rest of this voyage, you two will be learning more magic under my watchful eye. You two above all need to properly learn to defend yourselves,” I said.

“I can fucking defend myself just fine!” Ellen said a little defensively before I turned to face her. “Oh? So if you met someone with the same abilities as me, then you’d be guaranteed to cave their fucking skull in? Would you like to test that out then?” I asked.

Ellen glared at me before she held her head down. My mother bit her lip before I slowly exhaled. I stood in front of them both and made them look at me. “There ain’t enough riches in all of D’orn to replace either of you. As you just saw in C’ula and Delverhold, I will make many enemies, some of them insignificant and some of them mightier than the Divine Realm. Should you sail with me, they shall be your enemies as well. Delverhold has taught me that there might be times where even I shall be unreliable,” I said, touching my chest as that lesson remained fresh in my mind.

I kissed my mother first. Her lips pursed and she kissed me back.

We broke apart and then I kissed Ellen. Hers was a little firmer, but with no less tenderness in it.

They stared at me as I held their cheeks in my palms. “I will not make you the sufferers of my folly again,” I said before I pulled away from them both.

Neither spoke as I took a seat on the floor. They sat with me, their eyes resolute.

So, I began my lessons with them once again as the ship continued to sail. As expected, Ellen grew frustrated a great number of times. It was hard for her to understand the feeling of magic and the use of mana. My mother handled it a little easier, but the two soldiered on, running themselves into exhaustion.

I would have taken them into one of the realms inside Liara’s shop, but it wouldn’t do well for the Captain, First Mate, and Quartermaster to not be on the ship in case of emergency.

A total of four days at sea passed as I continued to train my mother and Ellen. I also decided to have them work on their physical combat. In that regard, I enlisted Diane and Nz’ia. That ended a lot of days in pain for the two of them and they cursed me out more than once. However, I’d never forget waking up in the middle of the night to see them both fighting each other when no one else was on the deck.

Another few days passed us by. I was busy working on my rapier again, reading through some of the notes on fire magic leftover from the Alchemist. Unfortunately, more than a few of these notes were filled with failed attempts and a lot of nonsense I couldn’t understand. Another day passed as the sun became filled with the moon.

My mother and Ellen continued to practice their own lessons in silence, and at least one of them seemed to be showing some progress. I felt the mana flowing from my mother’s body as she bounced a ball of fire from one hand to the next, a content smile on her face.

Unfortunately, opposite of her, I saw Ellen with barely a flicker of a flame despite her hardest efforts. She didn’t seem to be taking her failure with grace either. I sensed a lot of anger and frustration welling up inside her just ready to explode. Any problems I had in dealing with my rapier slowly seemed to flow away as I stared at my Quartermaster.

“Aye, alright you two. That be enough. You’ve improved a lot, mother. You’ve earned a few days of rest. Go. I’ll see you soon,” I said calmly.

My mother stood up and stretched. “Right. I’ll make good use of them, preferably when you aren’t too busy on our voyage,” she said as she turned and walked away, offering me an unashamed view of her rear. I’d never tire of such a beautiful gaze.

Once the door closed, that left me alone with my Quartermaster. Ellen stared at the floor angrily, almost like she wished it would explode in flames. She seemed to be ready for a reprimand from me, but I didn’t offer one.

Instead, I stood up and grabbed a scroll from my pouch. From the scroll, I unsealed a large wooden basin for bathing. I quickly filled it with pure water and made it hot with a firestone.

Upon seeing it, the fairmaids grew excited. They all but flew into it, splashing around happily and swimming its boiling depths as far as they could. In the meantime, I started to get undressed. “What the hell are you doing?” Ellen asked irritably.

“Taking my bath, my beautiful quartermaster,” I said as I stood naked before her. Her eyes immediately shifted down to my cock. The rest of Nei and her siblings eyes my male appendage as well, each of them licking their lips.

I rolled my shoulders and stepped into the bath. I sighed blissfully and leaned my back against the wood. The water was fucking amazing. Clearly, water in the water crystals of Kavtha wasn’t to be underestimated.

I shivered when I saw Nei and her sisters swim close to me, each of them touching and marveling at different parts of my body. As for the former, she swam next to me and kissed my cheek. I brushed her face with my finger and she licked me again.

“And how long am I supposed to sit here while you’re being lavished by your tiny sluts?” Ellen asked while I turned to her. She seemed increasingly agitated, burning a hole through my head.

I smiled at her and poured some water on my face. “I never said you had to sit there. Come and join me,” I said, holding out a wet hand for her to take.

She looked at my offer and snorted. “I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back from punching a row of your teeth out if I do,” she said as I leaned back again. I dropped the smile from my face.

“Ellen, come here,” I ordered without much fire in my voice, leaving no room for arguments.

As I waited, my eyes closed to enjoy the feeling of the bath. I heard a snarl and then a curse. Next, there was a shuffling of clothes. The waters in the basin then moved and I felt Ellen lean her back into my chest. I opened my eyes and saw her leaning against me with her clothes scattered along with mine.

She inhaled and exhaled slowly, the waters watching her frustrations away. We all sat in the water, enjoying the feeling of its warm embrace. I reached my arms around Ellen and pulled her to me. “Ya need to learn to relax, Ellen. You’re too tense. Everyone learns the ways of the mystic arts in their own time.,” I said softly as I rubbed her arms, pouring hot water on them.

She remained silent as I leaned my head on her neck.

“Well, I’ve had a lot of tense shit to deal with as of late. Ain’t had much time to relax. Besides, I don’t need you to coddle me. Just say I ain’t got the talent for this shit and move on. I’ve always been humiliated enough these past few days,” she said.

This gave me pause and I recounted just how much work I’d pushed on Ellen while I spent a lot of my time either rune-sewing for my crew or blowing up my room with alchemy. Clearly, I’d relied on her more than I should have.

The two of us sat in the hot bath for a time, wiping ourselves clean of the day. I watched her wash her hair and scrub her body with a cloth. I hummed.

“Is that what you think?,” I asked as I touched her face and turned it to me. She stilled when I kissed her. Her body trembled greatly for a moment before she soon started to kiss me back. Her thighs brushed up against my growing erection. One of her wet hands touched my chest while her other grabbed my arm.

I wasted no time proving those words, feasting on her tongue while her teeth pulled at mine. We separated for a moment and she looked at me. I brushed some of her wet hair away. I cupped her chin. “Indeed you have done so much and I’d not recognized it,” I said as I grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the bath.

Drenched, I pulled a towel from one of my chairs. I dried Ellen off first, paying close attention to her breasts and her luscious womanly figure. I dried her legs and her thighs, watching her squirm and wiggle against me. “Aye, you have done much work for me. Now let me relieve you that you might not grow so angry with your training,” I said as I stood up.

“The fuck are you…”

“Lay down on the bed,” I ordered.

“Why?” Ellen asked before I slapped her ass.

“Don’t talk back to me. Just do as I say, you sexy lass.”

I then walked over to one of my closets. I grabbed a small box and went back to my desk. I saw Ellen sitting on the bed. I swirled my finger at her and she sucked her teeth, rolling her eye at me before she laid down fully across my mattress. I grabbed about three or four vials before I noticed her laying face down.

When I took the time to observe her, I was once again a captive to Ellen’s beauty. Perhaps it was because I’d gotten used to seeing her every day, but I was reminded of just how many men sought to bed her. Yet, I was the only one privileged with the treasure. Of course, how I’d obtained that treasure was rather unfair, but the results seemed to speak for themselves.

Again, I was reminded of the words of the Succubus. Though I knew better than to take a demon at their word, Ellen’s reaction seemed to all but spell the truth to me. As for myself, I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to say. I’d had love once. Even that seemed like a ridiculous scourge upon the seas of my chest. Does a pirate even dare know what type of shit love is?

It was that sickening feeling that made me fall from my throne.

…or was it my pride?

“There be no greater poison of man than his own pride and self-arrogance,” I thought as I shook my head. I climbed on the bed and opened a red vial.

“Allow your captain to relieve you of your woes, Ellen Sothshore,” I said as I poured the vial’s contents into my hands. I threw the bottle to the side of the bed, my hands covered in warm, sea oil. I touched Ellen’s neck and she groaned, shivering in place. I leaned forward.

“You…”

“Shhhhh. Just relax, fair lass. I shall ease your weariness,” I said in her ear, licking it and nibbling it with my lips. She shivered at my touch as I massaged the warm oils across her shoulders.

“N-Nnnnngh! Ooooh!’ she moaned as I rubbed up and down her neck, pressing against her shoulder blades and moving down her arms. She wiggled a little, but I continued onwards.

“Mmmmmm, not bad,” she whispered as I leaned my body on her. She noticed me and I smirked.

“It’ll feel even better soon. While this wasn’t the purpose I’d intended for the oil, it be worth it to see such a relaxed expression on your face,” I replied as I kissed her again. This time, there wasn’t any stiffness. She pushed her lips against mine and I even felt her lift her butt against my crotch, rubbing my cock between her cheeks.

Our lips gently smacked apart and she bit mine. “Don’t get used to it. I still hate your ass,” she said as my smile widened.

“Then hopefully, this’ll make you hate me a little less,” I said as I started rubbing her shoulders. I pressed my thumbs against her back and she honored me with her sweet voice. She groaned and moaned, the oil working itself into her silky skin. I noticed that every time I got a sensitive part of her skin, she’d arch her butt up to caress my cock.

Her lust was strong, slowly rising across my room. My body naturally started to absorb its potent aura as my breath became shorter. Nevertheless, I kept my focus and massaged her sides. My fingers clung to her shape, digging into her crevices. “Mmmmmmmngh, yeah! Fuck, I could have hired your ass as a damn afterwork massage. Sea gods know I could have… hnnnnnnmmm… used it,” she said as I laughed.

“You’d have riddled me with fucking holes if it were this type,” I answered back before I leaned forward and licked the back of her neck.

“Nnnnnngh! Mmmmmmmmgh! Oh my god!” she wailed as my hands moved from her hips and down to her legs. Whether she knew it or not, her ass wiggled in my face. It seemed to be telling me to focus my efforts there, but I didn’t do so. Though the offer was greatly enticing to me, I had other plans.

I wanted to relieve Ellen of her woes in every corner of her body. I moved from her hips and down to her beautiful legs. I loved Ellen’s legs, just as I did with any of the other ladies in my charge. It’d even been the same with Leah. Her legs were one of the sexiest things I liked about it. Clearly, that was one thing they all shared.

I rubbed Ellen’s legs, getting a brief chuckle out of her before I pushed my elbow into her thigh. “Nnnnnnngh… haaaaa… ooooooooh damn! MmMmMMMngh!” she cried as she buried her head in my sheets.

I lifted one of her legs, taking note of how aroused she was becoming. Fresh womanly fluids began to slide down her other legs, but she made no comment. I didn’t either. I just rubbed her long, toned legs with the warm oil. I finished by caressing her calves, paying all the attention to her that I should as my quartermaster, the woman who kept my ship running smoothly.

“Alright, now turn around that I might…” I never got to finish my words.

Before I could pull my hands away, Ellen reached back and grabbed them. When I looked at her, I saw her barely staring back at me. Her face was sweaty. Tiny drops glistened down the side of her cheek, some of it staining her eyepatch. Her face was flushed, yet she looked at me sternly. “You ain’t done,” she panted, her chest huffing like she was short of breath.

She guided my hands up her legs before she settled them on her ass. “If you’re gonna make m-me suffer through this shit, then you’d better fucking do it right… Sir,” she said before she faced forward again.

Slightly taken aback by her words, my hands didn’t move over her voluptuous lower mountains for a moment or two. She just continued to lean forward, gently rubbing her ass against my palms. I leaned forward and turned her back to me. “Very well then. However, best you not complain later,” I said as I grabbed a handful of her bountiful cheeks.

I rubbed and massaged them, my fingers digging into them like soft pillows of clouds. “Mmmmmm… fuck! Yeah! Fuck that feels good! So damn good!” she said as I kneaded and stretched her flesh this way and that. Her voice rolled through my quarters like a siren’s vast song over the seas.

When I took the time to observe, even the fairmaids were silently enthused by our act. Nei and her sisters stared in wonder on the edge of the bath basin. I noticed Lei reaching for one of her sister’s breasts, massaging it in a manner similar to mine. Her sister moaned happily while Lei licked her cheek.

Amused, I turned back to my work. I parted Ellen’s ass and stared at her puckered rosebud. “Nnnnngh… what the fuck are you doing back there?” she asked while I slid a finger up and down her moistened slit.

“Aye, a beautiful treasure lies before my eyes. Yet its lock is quite difficult to open forth its vast riches. I be doing what any pirate worth his salt would do, you sexy slut. This be for your benefit, I’ll open your pores and relax your mana veins that you might meld with your mana more easily,” I said as I slipped my middle finger into her waiting cunt. Her walls clung to my finger before I used my forefinger to pierce into her ass.

“Mmmmmmmmmmnnnnghghgh! Oooooooooh shit! You fucking b-b-bastard! Hnnnnnnnnnngh goood!” Ellen cried as the confines of her lower body bumped and undulated around my two limbs. Nevertheless, I drove them deep into her, scratching and tickling her insides. Her legs trapped my hand, but she needn’t worry. I had no desire to leave.

Instead, I continued to piston my fingers. Her voice grew louder, unconcerned with the crowd watching. She angled up her ass to allow me further access. I rubbed her swollen clit with my thumb and assaulted her open thighs with my tongue. While the oil had a strange taste, it wasn’t unpleasant. Besides, with a mixture of saliva, it would be absorbed into Ellen’s body even faster.

With this assault, it didn’t take long for Ellen to cum. She stained my bed with a bountiful flood. She panted as I pulled out my two fingers. They were saturated in her lust juice and my arousal became all the more prevalent.

I quickly grabbed Ellen’s arm and pulled her to me. I sat on my bed and she sat on my lap, her pussy lips brushed vicariously close over my cock. Just a few inches of correction, I’d be inside her like a sword in its sheath.

Ellen quickly turned to me and kissed me. As our tongues intertwined, my hands pushed through her shoulders and grabbed her breasts. The oil and her juice still stained my fingers, I rolled and fondled her bountiful globes. “Gnnnnngh… haaaaa… ooooofffmh!” Ellen moaned in my mouth while she started to rock her hips, pushing her slit over the length of my erection. I groaned in her mouth, her sleek juices warming my cock like a blanket.

My fingers rolled through her nipples and her pussy quivered in response. Her kisses slowly became fierce. She pulled my tongue with her teeth and her lips nibbled on mine. One of her hands caressed my scruffy cheek, tickling the fingers of my barely grown beard. When her eye stared into mine, our kiss stopped.

“It pisses me off how much i fucking enjoy you now. Never would have thought I’d care to be so close to a piece of shit without putting a bullet between his eyes. Nnnnnnnngh… give it to me! I want your cock inside me now! Fuck me with that big… hard… cock of my Captain,” she whispered tantilizingly as she kissed and licked my cheek.

“Aye? This cock? You want this cock of a bastard you hate so much?” I asked, rubbing her cunt. Her legs clenched together, trying to trap my cock but it was already too slippery. All she received was my warmed rod heating up her wonderful thighs.

“Hell yeah, I do,” she replied as her hands grasped mine while mine clawed at her tits. She kissed me fervently, one of her hands going down and grasping my cock. Her smooth, lithe fingers clawed up and down my girth.

She pulled my cock up and quickly engulfed it in her snatch. “Oooooooh fuck yes! D-Dammit, why does your cock always feel so good? Mmmmmmmmm, I’d almost give up fucking gold for this damn thing!” she said as she gently pushed me down to the bed while she gripped my cock with the vice of her warm hole, shuffling her tight body back and forth.

Her walls moved with my cock, grinding and rubbing it with every bump and curve imaginable. The lust poured out of her body and into mine. There was a great confidence upon her visage as she clawed at my chest, tickling and pinching one of my nipples. “Ngghhh! Yeah, I fucking needed this cock ever since we landed on Draegnar. Gnnnnngh… just feeling it stuff my cunt is amazing,” she said before she fully faced me with both hands on my chest.

She drew my cock out of her pussy and slammed her hips back down. “And what got you in such a great mood?” I asked as she continued to slam her hips down, her vibrating pussy doing wonders for me as I stared at her bouncing tits.

“I fucking wonder,” she said before she leaned down and kissed me again. I held her close to me and she threw her arms around my neck. Our loud, slapping motions moved together. She took my cock further into her body while her voice sang a song in my ears.

“Oh fuck! Oh fuck! Fuck… fuck… nnnnnnngh… fuck! Yes! Fuck me harder! Shove the damn thing inside me! Mess me the hell up!” she squealed as she leaned up and fondled her breasts. I grabbed her hips and replaced her slams with my thrusts. The room grew louder with harsh, yet pleasant sounds of sex.

The essence of Vilinlith must have been rolling off my body faster than I thought because Ellen and I began to hear the sounds of moaning aboard my ship. “I might be in charge of bastards and bitches, but I ain’t about to be in charge of brats. Remember that with your… t-thick… s-strong cock!” she said as I continued to fuck her.

“Who can tell what the future holds, Ellen? Perhaps you might one day,” I said as I caressed her cheek. For once, I saw Ellen stare at me in shock before she snorted.

“Please, I pity the fucker who comes outta me,” she said before I leaned up and stared at her.

“I wouldn’t.”

Before Ellen could properly register those words, I quickly turned us over and lodged my cock back in her pussy. “Hnnnnnnnnnnngh! F-Fuck, wait… you… nnnnnnnnngh! Oh god! Oh shiiiiiiit! Goddammit!’ she cried as she grabbed her legs and slammed into her hard enough for the floorboards beneath my bed to creak.

“You shall be a great mother one day. A powerful lass fit to rule the seas with a boundless wealth of treasures at her disposal, fit to share them with whomever you would desire,” I said as I leaned over her and stared into her eyes.

Before she could even speak, I held her close as my cock blasted a thick rope of cum into her body. If there was one fucking thing I had to curse Liara for, it was that I sure as hell couldn’t get Ellen and the others to carry my descendants while the Mark of Hoɖ persisted upon my soul and spirit. However, that didn’t stop me from visualizing that inevitable future.

My muscles burned and my hips hurt, but still I pressured on as Ellen wrapped her legs around my waist. She pulled me down and bit into my shoulder while her nails painfully gripped my back. “Yes! Yes! Yes! Fuck me hard, you bastard! Oh shiiit, I’m gonna cum! I’m gonna cum over your powerful cock!” she proclaimed and her words soon rang true as her slithering tunnels clamped over my pistol and drenched it in steamy fluids.

Next, I was granted a wonderful view of Sothshore’s snatch as she had her legs wide up with my legs supporting her hands from behind. She slammed her hips down on my cum-soaked mast, sweat rolling off the side of her face while her nipples jutted up into the air. “Hmmmmmm! Hnnnnnngh! Nnnnngh! Fuck! I could ride this damn thing all day,” she said as I grinned.

“We’ll have to fucking see if you’re as much a liar as you think you are one day,” I replied while she licked her lips.

“I’ll hold you to that, Sir!” she said before she felt my cock harden inside her. Her rockings got even faster and it wasn’t long before I fired another pent up load of man cream deep inside her hungry, devouring pussy.

“Mmmmmmmmmmmngh!” she said in content before she stilled when my cock rose inside her. Her confident grin wavered a moment.

“As good as that fucking feels, I admit it’s pretty damn creepy,” she said.

I didn’t answer. Instead, I placed her hands on the wall and drove my cock into her from behind. Ellen shook like she’d been struck by a bolt of lightning. One of her hands grabbed my sacks filled with cum and fondled them while the other clawed at the walls. She came again and so did I, the powerful aura of Vilinlith working through us and connecting our bodies. What she felt, I felt and so on.

I could already feel Ellen’s mana veins growing stronger as I held her hips while she bounced on my cock with her hands on my chest. “F-FUUUUUCK!” she cried as she came for the last time. Her snake-like honeycomb strangled the very life out of my cock, taking all my cum with it. I even felt a tingle in my balls, the ropes of my load driving upwards into her waiting body. I panted with my eyes in my head and my head in the clouds.

We fell back to my bed and gasped for air, her head on my chest. “Not the type of massage I thought I’d get, but I ain’t about to complain,” she said with a smile while I grasped her hands.

“Glad you approve,” I answered back as we looked at the bath. Nei and the others had long since fallen asleep, exhausted from their sexual escapadees. Nei seemed to be licking the last vestiges of her sister’s pussy juice while massaging her tits.

“...you didn’t need to give me a damn pick-me-up. I know I’m about as talented as a wharf rat’s ass when it comes to all this magic and mana bullshit. Studied it only to get the next bag of coin from the next piece of shit. You can just tell me if I ain’t good. I don’t fucking need any pity. I’ve gotten far along without it,” Ellen said, making me turn my head to her.

I then chuckled. “Aye, a strong lass like you? I’d pity the bastard who tried to pity you. I ain’t a man to pity much of anyone, Ellen. If there be one person I ever pitied, it was my mother who was robbed of her joy of life by an accursed disease. Now she shines bright and her smile is a treasure of which not even the greatest gold might buy from me. ‘Tis the same for you. I swore that I would make you a fearsome queen upon the ship of Eric Drakclaw. Besides, even if you can’t wield magic, I shall not discard you. By the Divine Realm or by the depths of Haganthar, I will make you a great lass, greater than any noble cunt in all the lands of D’orn. Never again shall I make you regret sailing beneath me.”

I spoke with great conviction as my chest burned from the single lung within it. The pain had become more bearable as of late, yet a feeling of discomfort almost never seemed to leave. Some days were worse than others. I couldn’t recount the times my lung burned when I exploded something in my quarters. Every sting brought me back to that time as I held Ellen in my arms.

She turned away from me and scowled. “I already told you I ain’t good with all this magic shit. I just sold the stuff for the highest coin. The massage was fucking nice. I probably needed it, but I don’t need you to feel sorry for me. I’ve managed my own path up until I met you. I can still do so,” she said before I turned around with her and brushed her hair.

“I desired you long before I thought you might be good in the ways of the arcane, Ellen. I shall keep my word of blood to you. I shall make your name greater. Greater than any that shall come before or after you. You will not need to hide behind shady deals nor fear the powerful empires that might seek to halt your activities. They shall bend before you and you will reap the greatest rewards they produce. I swore that to you,” I said as I rubbed her arms.

“Yeah, yeah. You tell it to me more often than I dare count, and yet I find myself usually believing any of the bullshit that you come up with,” she said as she stretched herself out before she slowly fell asleep. I pulled the covers over her and slipped out of bed.

Quietly, I picked up the fairmaids, each of them exhausted from their own fun. Nei was the only one who was aware, exchanging the embers of Vilinlith’s essence with me. The only thing this seemed to do was help us diminish the powerful aura so that we both wouldn’t be consumed by it. I held her up to me. “Think we’d both please the Mother of all Succubi if she were to see us now?” I asked.

She replied with a bright smile, her vibrant black hair shining in the light of my candle. “Aye, pleased! Pleased!” she replied within my mind as I brushed her hair with my finger.

When she spoke to me, I thought that now might be a good time to teach the fairmaids proper speaking. Nei seemed to understand a little from having contracted with me, as had Aesteal’s fairmaid with her. However, I’d never seen the same for Lei and the other two. I could have Maeloson and Aesteal teach the three while I took over Nei and Lei. The elves certainly seemed rather melancholy with the lack of willing students.

As expected, the elves were a race built on unity, and those willing to learn from the ones who came before. They were a race that enjoyed teaching and passing down wisdom or knowledge. I especially noticed the way Maeloson would stare off into the vastness of the ocean. To those who didn’t know him, his face might not be much different, but he cared about what happened to those Hilvir men and women.

Now that I was aware of it, I’d never exactly asked about the circumstances surrounding the elves and their capture. While I doubted I had much of an excuse to pry, especially when I had fucking secrets of my own I’m hesistant to tell, I would wish to know if only to wonder what could make a life of piracy the most preferable choice. There were many more respectable occupations that would be fucking honored to have elves in their forces. Why would they settle for such an alienating one?

I must have thought for longer than I thought because when I became aware of myself, I was standing in the middle of my room. Nei and her sisters had long since fallen asleep. I placed them back in their enchanted water barrel. They slowly sank to the bottom, their natural mermaid physiology making sure they wouldn’t drown.

I then walked over to my desk and blew out the candles.

I returned to my bed and laid there, but sleep wouldn’t claim me. Thoughts of my former crew and Leah kept me awake for reasons I didn’t know. As the sounds of sex slowly died down, I decided to retreat into the depths of my mind.

I stood in the black void of nothingness, no way of knowing in front of me, behind me, or to the sides of me. I decided to assemble the memories of Liara in ways my mind could comprehend. Vast walls of ancient stone pierced through the darkness, taking shape and form into that of a grand library estate. Books of spells, memories, history, realms, and other shit were placed before me.

I searched through the library’s grand vastness, hoping to find a book that would aid me in making Ellen’s body more sensitive to the magical realm. As Delverhold taught me, I’d best stuff my fucking pride if I didn’t want to stuff the ground with my crew and my lovers. I didn’t know what I was facing. I didn’t even know where those other three were, but I’d make myself as ready as possible.

I pulled out a book on the Empire of Crystalized Ash. It detailed the history of the empire as well as the rise and fall of many of its provinces. A few pages were left blank. No doubt due to containing something Liara’s felt I wasn’t ready for. Still, I found a few references for materials I could either buy, or plunder for myself that could help Ellen’s magic lessons go smoother.

As I studied, I suddenly felt a tiny flame of lust fly into my body. Had I not been so fucking bored out of my mind with reading, I might not have noticed it. Unfortunately, that small one was replaced by a myriad of others. While they did little more than keep me awake, I wondered as to their origin.

I stood up from a table I’d been using and walked through the vastness of the library, the fleeing trail of lust providing me with a direction to venture to.

The more I searched and the more I ventured, the more the library my mind had constructed of Liara’s memories turned dark, decrepit, and filled with death. Beautiful walls were replaced with macabre stone. It didn’t take me long to notice that this was the realm of An’raie. Apparently, she’d crafted this for herself via her vast magical essence, a place to separate her soul from mine despite our merger. Though, it seemed I had no trouble traversing here.

Her walls were lined with numerous guards, perhaps in case we’d ever be attacked by a mind spell, but none of them attacked me. Granted, I wasn’t looked at favorably in their grotesque eyes. They just seemed to tolerate me.

The further I walked the halls, the stronger the lust got.

“N-Ngh! Accursed man-spawn, thy flames are hot and of the greatest desire! Why must my body burn as if set aflame by the touch of the sun? M-Mmmmmngh… haaaa… haaa… h-hnnggh! And this i-insufferable form, I am unable to relieve these mighty temptations. Hast my great disappointment not reached the highest highs and my pride the lowest lows that I would… d-desire… nnnnnngh!”

I found myself in front of a descending staircase, confused as to the nature of this structure. Nevertheless, I made my way down the stairs as the Lonely Wail’s agonizing groans got stronger. By the time I was down, I saw her kneeling on the floor. Her white robes sprawled out over the corrupted stone with her back turned to me. The trembling in her voice got stronger.

“Wail, what be the matter with you?” I asked, having a bit of an idea when I felt the great surges of lust being directed at me. However, when she turned to me, I took a step back in awe of the Lonely Wail’s fury and power. Never had I seen her face so wrapped in anger.

She suddenly screeched and charged at me. Though her eyes were blindfolded, her head elongated firing over to me before the rest of her body could. “Thee hath felled this great misdeed upon me! I wring thine neck from thine rugged shoulders would be a blessing upon my immortal spirit! Why must thee makest me suffer with such pleasure and satisfaction? I should takest thine soul and torture thee until the time of the Gawlinpr,” she cursed at me as her beautiful, if ghostly, hair stared to become like a den of vipers.

“What are you talking about, woman? I’ve done as we agreed! You be angry that I’m granting you some measure of satisfaction since the multitude of centuries that you’ve been held captive by that fucking bastard on Delverhold. If ya wanted to kill me, then you could at least come up with a better reason,” I replied as she grew angrier. Her vast stores of necromantic mana started to roll off her body.

“Watch thine tongue, man-spawn! I have allowed the thine life on the p-preference that the bones of the Betrayer are… mmmmmmm… delivered to me. If thee cannot… haaaa… then I have no use for thee that I must suffer this embarrassment to my pride!” she fired back while I noticed a few of her minions begin to answer her call. It seemed her power over the dead could be used in nearly any realm, even the mind.

“And without this soulbond, the only thing you’ll be getting is a fucking lifetime of watching fish pass you by beneath the depths of the Delverhold seas. What trespass have I made against you?” I asked before I felt a wave of mana push me away.

“Thine presence is thine own trespass! M-My body trembles with anger and rage at the sight of thee. It must be! There shall be no other answer available to me other than that I must suffer this… nnnngh… disgrace for the sake of my great vengeance. My very soul burns! O-Out of my sight, man-spawn! Do not set thine appearance before mine eyes again lest I curse thine spirit to serve me until the end of days!’ she hissed as she turned her back towards me, trembling greatly.

Unwilling to allow this, I bravely stepped forward. However, despite my bravery, I couldn’t help shaking against the vast stores of mana within the body of An’raie. Despite my achievements in alchemy and magic, still I wasn’t worth much in her eyes. I wondered what painstaking years she must have poured into her body as she plundered the spiritual fruits of the Alchemist’s labor.

“I might be a fucking bastard, and word of my mouth ain’t equal to the sweat of my brow, but if you be angry that I have somehow wronged you, then make it clear to me! What have I done wrong?” I asked, my temper flaring at this indignation placed upon me by a fucking lass judging my actions by those of her past.

“I SAY TO THEE, OUT!”

An’raie screamed and, to my surprise, I was indeed cast out of my mind and back to my ship. My eyes opened in shock as I stared at the ceiling of my bed. Ellen’s peaceful breaths and the gentle rush of the waves beneath my ship moved through my ears. She turned around and laid her hand on my chest, a warm smile on her face.

Unknown to her, I was still recovering from the fact that I’d been forced out of my own mind by the Lonely Wail. Though I felt her presence, it was barely there as before. In fact, it almost seemed like a shadow of its former self. She didn’t wish to speak with me. I tried to prod her to meet with me, but I received nothing. I was left with only my thoughts and concerns as to the change that befell An’raie. Aye, though I knew she didn’t like me, I had not thought our relationship would degrade so much without a justifiable cause.

I pondered this problem for a very long time before I finally fell asleep, the mental exhaustion taking its toll on me. Soon, the rest of my ship followed.