Chapter 4
"Here's the [Traveler's Badge], make sure to carry it with you all the time. Some of the transporatation in the south will give you a free ride if you show it to them. It will be helpful for you travel"
Said uncle, as he handed the badge to me. The badge was made from polish steel, had a golden sphere in the middle, with a bronze color at its center, and was placed on a thin wooden plate, and it can be closed and opened, painted with a charcoal coat, and gold carvings at the plate's edges. With this, we can get a lift from any transforation free, mostly, as some private or exclusive rides needs payments than badges. Aunt then came over, and gave me a warmth hug
"Just don't be foolish, okay? If the enemy you confront is something you can't handle, run, don't you dare fight it. If you ever came back with bruises, I will knock you off, you hear"
As my aunt spoke worriedly at me. I then smiled and replied
"Don't worry auntie, I won't. I have Sheryl, and Natsumi behind me, so don't worry"
I said, as to give reassurance to my aunt. She then look at me like a mother would, and gave me kissed in my cheeks
After that, she then wiped her misty eyes and went over to where uncle was and wraped her left arm to uncle. Isabelle then came over and stared at me, before giving me a deep kissed as she wrap herself on me. She then turns around, and walk, she just gave me a simple message of "good luck" and "be careful".
(Author's POV)
They then ride the big ship behind them. A deep dark brown paint coated the ships hull, and a grayish white below. It had three long masts, as he wasn't an expert on ships, he could only pinpoint the main mast, which was painted and polish with a brownish-orange paint. The ship has 7 cannons from each side, that was placed on the gunport, which had a white-yellow coat. It had a thick beak, and a long bowsprit, painted with a rich, light brown, and a dark brown with reddish-orange on its chain, or rail. It had a beam of 20 meters wide (66ft).
The size of the ship could go for a 106 meters tall (350ft), and a 21 meters width (70ft). He have heard the ship that they are riding is a cargo-passenger type, [Naval Valchiriei] (note: can be read as valkyrie's ride). It said it could fit atleast 350 passengers or more, a first class ship here in the [City of Palawan].
He then showed the badge he have to the person in-charge for the passengers. He then nodded and let him through. After they have aboarded the ship, a deep brown floor then greeted them. It truly did amaze them on how spacious, and beautiful it was. The quarter deck which is located at his left, and the place where the crew sleep at his right, which is something he don't know what is called. He took a deep breathe, and smell the scent of the ships scent, as the aroma of a new adventure, behold itself upon them
It will take 3 days to get to the port of the [Kingdom of Entel] from here. The world they live in is called [Pangea], a floating big island. Divided from north, south, east, and west, they are located between the east and south. North is where the winter slumber, home of the snow beast. The east was a place of the rising sun, place of will and heart, while the west is the den of beast and monsters, where the strong survive and the weak perish. And the south is the region of desert, which where they're heading.
(Creeper's POV)
I told Sheryl and Natsumi to look for our room below, while I took a stroll around the ship's deck. I then touch the rails edge, sliding my fingers on it, like I was brushing or patting it. Even though I'm an adventurer, I'm really quite fond of sailing ship and airships. A transportation which I inspired to own one day
Sigh
I could only sigh in disappointment. Right now, I need to get to the south, finish the task uncle asked me too, and see to it if we could procure some [Storage Gem], in one of the south's mining dungeon, the [Miner's Dug].
[Miner's Dug] is a dungeon exclusive for mining only. The south region had a lot of it, as it was the home of precious metals, ore, jewels, and minerals. And most [Miner's Dug] was owned by the empire, but the kingdom might have some, so maybe we could ask a thing or two after the quest, or if we are lucky, we could find an abondoned one.
I then went to the ship's front, where the bowsprit was, which is atop of where the crew sleep. I then placed both of my hands inside my pockets, and stood there as I closed my eyes, and let the raging wave and scent of the sea brush me. It was such a calming experience
"Heads up!"
"Woah!"
Out of nowhere, someone just called me. As when I was about to turn around and see who was calling, out of sudden, a glass of drink was then thrown at me. It almost went pass at me. As I look at the glass of drink in my hand, I was baffled
"A….beer?"
It was a glass of beer, half-full. I then look up and see where it came from
"Drinking beer while watching the sea is every sailor's dream lad, try!"
The voice came from the mast, infront of the main mast. It had a warm, deep voice, much different that my uncle's serious tone. It seated at the top of the mast. As my vision isn't that wide, I could only clearly see some blurry figure atop. I then look back to the front, and stared at the beer I was holding. I'm already at the age to drink one, but a beer in the morning? That's quite something I'm not culturized about.
The last time I drank was when I made Sheryl and Natsumi sat on the bedroom until afternoon, when both couldn't even move their numb legs. All my memory was blurry or forgotten, to be precise, I can't remember anything. I then took a sip of the beer I was holding, and watch the whole sea before me
"Not bad"
I said, as I praised the uncle's word of advice.
.....
It was almost at noon as I went down to the cabin, to the passenger's quarter. As I had a [Traveler's Badge], we were then placed at the 2nd class quarter, which is in the middle. The hallway had a yellowish-white paint on the floor, a reddish-orange on each room exterior, and a deep dark brown coat on each door, with silver doorknob and plate, that was placed on the door top, indicating what class it was: bronze for 3rd class, silver for 2nd class, and gold for 1st class. I then went through to the 10th room, which was told by Sheryl an hour ago.
The room we had had 3 bedrooms, which had the exact same size, coated with deep charcoal brown. The headboard and footboard slat was dyed in orange-red paint. The bed's rail had a light golden color, with a spiral wave carve. The cushion or mattress was soft and comfy, truly a well-made bed. At the right corner of the room had a desk, a meter long one, with a yellowish-white coat. There's no window and the like, it had a small chandelier in the ceiling.
Sheryl was napping on the center bed, with Natsumi beside her. It's truly bizarre how these two could sleep like this, when they fight like a rival gang. I just left them as is, and took a nap to the bed at the right.
.....
Ting Ting
As the sound of a bell, echoed the cabin's hall. The sound indicates the time you were on the ship: once for morning, twice for noon, thrice for evening, and four-fold for midnight, and right now its noon as the bell rang twice. And as I was about to woke up
"Hmm?"
For some peculiar reason, Sheryl and Natsumi were both sleeping beside me, holding me in their embrace. I just smiled give them a sweet peck before I slowly moved. They struggle a bit, before they released me from their grasp. I then went to the Galley.
The ship we had has its own kitchen, and dining area. You can personally request a dish you wanted to cook, of course you need to pay. Half if the ingredients were yours, and full if it's from the ship. The full payment varies from the rank of the monster that you wanted to be cooked: silver rank goes for 10 big silver coins, gold rank goes for 1 gold coin, and platinum rank goes for 10 gold coins. Sometimes they have an exclusive rank monster which goes for 1 big gold coin, an emerald rank one. And because I'm broke, I could only order a silver rank dish
"1 [Roosted Crooster], and 3 [Rainbow-Berry Crespe] for the 2nd class cabin, in the room 10. That would be for 20 big silver coins, anything else?"
I then answered as I shoke my head, quite pricey for a silver rank dish. {Crooster} is a large 4-legged white bird, a 2 meters and a half tall monster. Usually they are used for poultry farming for their delicious eggs, and an early silver rank monster.
After that, I then went to the upper deck, if I remember, it was called the [Promenade Deck], where the passengers take a stroll or something. As I'm not yet an expert, I could hardly remember, nor knew each ships part. As I made my leisure walk around the deck, I then saw a tall tanned guy, with a darkish-blue wavy long hair, that reaches till his back blade. Tattoos that covered his shoulder till waist and arm's elbow, and topless as he stood on the deck's edge, and jump
Splash
"...?"
The water splash resounded at his jump. I can't clearly see his face, but I could tell it's an uncle, and for unknown reason jump off. A couple of minutes pass, the man didn't came back
"Did he just…..died?"
I asked, but as it was almost time for the dish I had ordered to finish, I just went back and didn't care about that uncle. I already meet a lot of peculiar men, and his one of those many
...
"Welcome back"
Said Natsumi, as she greeted me as I opened the door. I then saw Sheryl preparing our meal. The table she used was taken on the corner of the room, that was placed in a vertical manner in the wall, inside the wall, for easy use and wouldn't take much space. The chair was also placed near the table. Both were dyed in rich-light brown. After she has placed them and the ordered dish, we then took our meal.
....
After we have taken our meal, I then took the book that I didn't finish reading, and sat on the bed on my right. Sheryl took my left side while Natsumi was on my right, napping. I was just killing some time.
...
As it was almost supper, I already ordered another silver rank dish, a [Grilled Boar Steak with Mushroom Sauce], and an [Oralon Sundae] which costed me 15 big silvers.
The money I have left from shopping was 15 big silver coins, and 13 silver coins, which then I used to purchased our meal for lunch. So I have 5 big silver coins, and 13 silver coins left. Thanks to aunt and uncle as they gave us 2 gold coins, and 20 big silver coins allowance for this trip, or 75 big silver coins, so we have a total of 65 big silver coins, and 13 silver coins (note: 80-15=65), for a 3 days trip to the kingdom's port.
>———————<
It was already midnight, as the bell rang four-fold. Everyone was already asleep, deep in their slumber they went. The rest of crew took thier rest, as the ship continues its sailing, as the midnight sky had fallen.
The ship was covered with a protective barrier, with its cannons aimed and ready. Then from the deep, a person appeared. A jewel of unknown was resting in his hand he holds. Took his time and climbed, pass the barrier, that none could have done.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
>———————<
It was already morning when the bell rang its first. The 2nd day of our voyage came.
As I woke from such a deep sleep, Sheryl and Nastumi were clinging on me, naked. Both totally didn't care where we are, and went wild last night. Thankfully I took my aunt's advice, and casted [Sound Proof], and made these two not hold back their lustful moans.
After I sober myself up, even a little, I then slowly get up. It's still quite early, so most passengers will still be asleep. I then stretched a little bit before I head up. A good stroll in the morning is quite luxurious if you are in the ship. As I arrived in the upper deck, I then took my morning walk.
I leisurely took my sweet time, feeling the freshness of the tides that splash and hit the ship's side. As the {Sea-Gales} sings their songs, and the drums of the water waves, was like an orchestrated orchestra. Such melody and tone resounds the morning stroll
"Hmm?"
As I was enjoying my sweet time walking, unexpectedly, the uncle I saw last time, who jump down from the ship, was now humming, as he sat down near the ship's bowsprit. Taking his good morning time, holding his fishing rod
"From thy love and bounds
As treasure sunk
Beneath the ocean wave, it shone
From the jewels of time, to the gold of old
Within the water tides, may this hand of mine holds"
In a poetic tone, the uncle spoke as he took hold of his fishing rod. I think I may or may not know what it means. As he stared in the sea, humming, I then tried slowly closed the distance between us.
"Taking a morning stroll lad?"
As he asked me, in soft kindred word
"The tide is calm, and the wave is at peace. Its great day for a beautiful stroll, isn't it lad?"
"Maybe, just stretching my legs a little bit"
I respond. As I get closer to him, I could totally tell that this person infront of me isn't simple. A deep blue eyes, like the deep of the ocean floor. His darkish-blue wavy hair, had a bluish-white at the top of his forehead right. A well-shaved beard, a bulky like sailor chest, and muscular toned body.
The tattoo that was drawn on his body had design after designs, some were wave, island like, or treasure. Wearing a navy-blue pants as he hold the fishing rod. He gave an aura of splendor, and king like presence. I stared a bit of him before I went to the edge, and see what fish this uncle might get
"30 silvers"
"?"
"Let's bet 30 silvers"
I then turned around and looked at him
"What you say, lad? 30 silvers bet, for what rank of monster I might hook"
As the uncle look at me, and made a look of "so what now?". He also made another mocking gaze, which for some reason, made me riled up
"40, a mid silver rank, {Golden Horn}"
I then out of nowhere raised the bet, and blunders a horned Fish. I by no mean a gambler, I don't play a game where I lost, but for some reason, he made me do so
"Oh~, 50, early gold rank, {Frater Fish}"
{Golden Horn} follows its name, a golden fish monster with a horn on its head. {Frater Fish} is a deep sea monster, live beneath the ground floor of the water. A long jaw that could fit a 2 years old child whole, with an enormous length of 4 meters, coated with a grayish white to bluish green. This monster holds the frontal tank position, as its head, skull to be precise, was made from a hard ore like metal. It's not impossible to hook one but
"It's a nocturnal type monster"
"Is that so….. 60 then"
I intentionally spoke his disadvantage, but the uncle didn't care, as he just raised the bet even more. He didn't look at me as he smiled, confidently. I didn't raise the bet, and just waited for this uncle to showcase his catch.
.....
A couple of minutes has pass, but the uncle didn't yet catch any, but it doesn't mean I won. There were no time limit, no limited tricks, he just need to show his catch, and the game is on. The fishing rod that was on his hand was now placed between his legs, and the bottom tip was locked by his butt, I don't know if that is some sort of fishing technique, as he crossed his arms, and stared at the sea. I already ordered another dish that I order from a passing crew for our meal today, a [Golden grilled-skewered], from a {Golden Horn} for 23 big silver coins
"Quite rich, ey laddy"
He spoke with his arms crossed, without turning around
"Give me 20, I'll hook a good one for you"
"Thanks, I'll think of that offer"
He said proudly, and jokingly. We then waited a couple more. After half an hour passed, I then noticed a bubbling sound just a distance from us, and looked. I then sighed
"You win, I lost"
I said. The uncle then smirk as I placed the 60 silvers bet we agreed on. You might asking, why did I give up that easily? Simple, to know if your boat is being attack by a {Frater Fish}, dozens of {Cry-er} will show up. It's a small fish, an inch tall, and an early copper rank. And just now, the bubbling sound was created by those fish, and one by one those small little fishes showed up
"To rail a fish is like a sailor, don't sail it, let it sail"
'....okay'
I then went back to my cabin, as I wave the uncle behind me.
.....
As I went back, I was still in deep thought on how did he do it? Catching a {Frater Fish} isn't an impossible job, but this fish is nocturnal creature, and catching one in the daylight is 50 to 1, so how? I pound on how the heck I lost 60 silvers (note: 1 big silver coin, and 25 silver coins) in one play, gambling isn't really a thing for me
"Sigh"
"What's the long face for, darling?"
Nastumi asked, worriedly, as she stared at me. We just finished eating our breakfast, so I was now laying in the bed, looking at the ceiling, and thinking on how that uncle made such a catch, which made Natsumi worried as she lay down beside me
"It's nothing, I just….thinking about something"
I answered, as I pat Natsumi's head. She then gave a huge smile and like a kitten, she purr. As I was about to take a nap
Knock Knock
"Yes?"
Sheryl asked, as a sudden knock then came outside our room
"....."
It didn't respond, as the silence fall. For a couple of minutes, no words responded to Sheryl's question. As we were about to ignore it
Knock Knock
"Who is it?"
Sheryl asked again, as the knock came back, but the knocker didn't even respond this time too. The 3 of us was now on guard, knocking not just once but twice, and yet didn't even respond? Made us question its intention
Knock Knock
"Excuse me, what is it?"
This time Sheryl asked, a bit irritated, as the knock came again, but the knocker didn't answer neither whisper, only silent befall us. The 3 of us then stared to each other. Natsumi got up and released her embrace from mine. As the 3 of us stared at the door in front
Knock Knock
"What the fuck do you want!?"
Sheryl screamed, angerly, as the knock came again, but this time
"Hiiiiiiiii!!.... Sh... ip.....unk...Pas...s...e...er...Mas...a..c....re"
"@##@@&#&&#&%&%#"
It answered us, in a high pitch shriek like a metal scrap, brushed on a mirror surface, and a deep broken tone, that were followed by words that we can't interpret. This time the 3 of us went on our battle stance, ready. And whoever is playing prank on us, should know that if that door opens, they be lying in the floor, cold
"..."
A long silence camed, the knock stopped, and the strange voice disappeared, vanished. The 3 of us looked at each other before nodding. I then went over, Sheryl took my right, while Natsumi took my left, the two were ready and set. I then opened the door
"..."
I frowned and in question, as I saw no one in front of us, in front of our room. I then looked around and see, if the other passengers have experience the same as us, but only silence came. The room next door and the next didn't made a doubtful voices, murmurs, or tried going out and ask, ask what the hell was that? Which made this scene amiss. I then turn around and told the 2
"Gear up, be on guard. Stay beside me and don't leave"
As I ordered them in simple, and no questioned needed order. The 3 then used each of their respective blessings
"Bless me, [Araneae]"
"Bless me, [Slyph]"
After that, we then headed straight to the upper deck. We don't need to see the other passenger's room to room, as I told Natsumi to use her [Gales Embrace], and see the other passengers situation
"Darling, some of them were….. dead"
Natsumi told us about her findings as we ran. There were no struggle, neither screams nor a sound of a battle, but some of the passengers were dead? There might be wall that separated us from each other's room, but those can't block sound, mostly, even tearful cry of child will echo through each room. So for them to die like that silently
"The two of you, be ready"
I told them as I was anxious, worried, and right now puzzle, this event is truly was a curve shot on us. As we ran straight to the upper deck, we then
"Took you long enough lad, having fun?"
We were then greeted by the uncle I meet, twice. He was standing, facing in front, crossed arms, and was staring to the entity before us
"A…..ship?"
I asked, as the thing that was in front of us was a large ship, smaller than the ship we are riding. Covered in deep darkish green-blue, it's a wide and huge ship. A dark-yellowish hull which had a boulder size hole, a dark green mast, one of them were broken and the other one was rip, a dark shade of green-cyan aura was oozing from the ship. A half-broken bowsprit, rails that were uneven and shattered, and a huge crack at the ship's middle, made it look like an abondoned shipwreck
"It's a retournship, a heavenly-armed merchant ship, [Batavia], the [Graveyard Ship]"
As the uncle spoke and told us about the ship's name. If I remember, merchant ship is a ship that carries mostly goods, from products to weaponry. It also ship passengers
"Lad, I suggest the 3 of you to step back a bit, and don't move"
The 3 of us then look down, after the uncle gave us an advice of sort, a warning would be appropriate. As we look down, we then saw a large magic circle placed on the deck's floor. It has 4 sphere surrounding a triangle diagram, with a 5 edges star on its center. 3 medium size circle was outside the main rune, with a 5 edges star symbol at its middle. The uncle stood at the center of the main magic circle, crossed arms, and made a stern look, and smiled, like a seavoyager who was greeted by storming sea. We then step back and stared at the ship that was before us
"Is that a…."
"A Ghost ship? Maybe. Ghost doesn't exist, but their will of resentfulness is, its much better to call them, [Will o' Wisp]. Some of them are rather peculiar one, most of them were….succumb to revenge, and became like this. Only folks in the mainland would call them a ghost ship, rather than [Wisp Ship]"
The uncle explained Sheryl's question.
<><><><><>
[Will o' Wisp] is a phatom of light that hover the sea, or ground, ghost for those who doesn't venture the sea, or spirit for others. [Wisp Ship] is a ship where this said phatom reside, ghost ship if you refer, and [Graveyard Ship] is a nickname of [Batavia], for a reason.
<><><><><>
Right now, dozens of [Will o' Wisp] floats around the ship [Batavia], as light after light of the passenger's soul were sucken inside the ship. Faces of terror, and fear succumb the night. There were 365 passengers in this ship, excluding the crew and the captain, and some of them were silently killed, in just one night
"Darling, 189 passengers were dead. I extended my [Gales Embrace] till below, 6 meters only. And I could only scan from our area to the 1st class, but I could affirm that…. there's more than those number"
Nastumi reported. Right now, already half the passengers were dead, if we include what's Natsumi's [Gales Embrace] can't reach, that would add more count of dead body inside the ship
"Dammit"
I exclaimed, because right now I'm useless. I have by no means a skill to save them, neither to restore or revive them, and we don't know what rank of monster does a [Wisp Ship] belonged to, so right now, we could only watch how those passenger die one by one.
"What's the long face, lad? Didn't have enough fun last night? Just step back and watch. I will let you have your fun afterwards"
The uncle then spoke, in a joking tone and confidence. He then turns his head and look at us
"60 silvers"
"....what?"
"Huh?"
The two made a puzzled look, as the uncle stated an unsual words. I just smiled on his remark
"What do you think lad?"
"80 if you save those peeps. I'll add 40 if you can bring those people back"
I said on an impossible request. Bringing those people back alive is truly an impossible feat, no potion yet was discovered, neither artifact, or skill, but rather than complaining, the uncle smiled and look in front
"140 is it then"
"....what?"
Sheryl was baffled, as she tried counting the bet I just made, and look at me with a questionable look. I just pat her head and look infront, looking forward to what this uncle would show. Right now, I'm betting 4 big silver coins for this moment, cheap for the lives of these people, but what can I do? I'm poor
"Then get my money ready, lad"
He then stomp his right foot on the magic circle. The magic circle that he was standing shoned, glowed a deep ocean blue. His hair then waves as if air sprung out from the magic circle. The tattoo on his body moved, moved like a ragging tide, circling. A faint deep blue then glow from his right arm. He then stomp his right foot into the magic circle, then
"...."
A light bluish barrier then slowly appeared from the magic circle he was standing. It then circled as it grew, and covered the whole ship. He then took a deep breathe, closed his eyes, and then another barrier was erected. In just a mere seconds, two barriers was constructed, protecting the whole ship
"A sailor's voyage is a ballroom dance for the noble. The tide of wave is our music, and the ship is our parceiro de danca" (note: dance partner)
@#@&#%&&#&!!!
@#@&@&&&@@%!!
Scream of loud trills echoed, like a brushing a fork on a plate, as hundreths of [Will o' Wisp] shout in disappear and agony. In displeased they attack the ship we are boarding. They tried to bombard the ship with strong magic. From [Rocket Flare] to [Phatom Barage] were all repelled, blocked by the barrier. The uncle just stood there unfazed, and then one by one, a group of wisps then went and pass through the barrier. One by one like a folded paper they changed, altered from a simple like sphere of light, it then turned to
"People?"
"The passengers...? It can't, be"
Sheryl and Natsumi was then both astonished, and in dismay, as the wisp turns its shape to a moving, living person, and one by one went down to the cabin. I was just there, standing, staring, to how did the man, the uncle before me did it
"They aren't dead, just about to. We call that [The Will of Wisp]. Their soul or whatever you might call it, where being enchanted by those wisp, letting them feel their most concealed truth, and desire. Letting them touch the puriest dream of their own in their very hand. People with strong will and fulfilled dreams aren't excluded, but rather hard to tame. You just need to cut the connection between them and the wisp, and then they will be back like nothing happens. So lad…."
He then turns his head, and look at me
"That would be 140"
And smiled at me. I could only stares at him before chuckling. This man is truly a peculiar one. After an hour has passed, the sky that was covered with dark grayish-white clouds, vanish, showcasing the sun above it. And the ship that was in front, slowly vanish
"Are they-"
"No, they aren't dead. [Wisp Ship] isn't that easily to be sunk. I just shoo them out. But don't worry, I added another barrier to protect this ship. So until it reaches the port, the barrier will still cover the ship, and protect it from those wisps"
He stated, replying to Natsumi's words, before she could even ask. He then continued explaining as he crossed his arms
"[Wisp Ship] is a peak emerald rank entity, to mid diamond rank. And the one we just encountered is mostly at early stage rank of emerald. So for now, consider yourself lucky"
He then stare at us, and smiled
"And pay me"
I just chuckled, as the afternoon sun shined on us
(note: I add the 15th to 19th century ships to the modern ships, so please don't be confused why there's a name that shouldn't be there. And this is a fantasy world, I could do such)