[https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/b8928b4c-7c8c-4a12-b93e-10926162437e/dfn8oq8-1b71acb9-4df5-4faf-9b7a-1cbd94d7a8a2.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2I4OTI4YjRjLTdjOGMtNGExMi1iOTNlLTEwOTI2MTYyNDM3ZVwvZGZuOG9xOC0xYjcxYWNiOS00ZGY1LTRmYWYtOWI3YS0xY2JkOTRkN2E4YTIucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.N67wKza_LVwkjJ2qplqA1M2BlSzzStXTnA3mmg1nL5I]
Chapter 21: Dawn Sea
“Oi, let's see that ham grow over!” Lush yelled with his raspy voice across the long table, which was a collection of a dozen small tables with a table cover as concealment.
“That one wasn't cheap, yes, at least enjoy it . . .” Hale expertly cut off a clean slice and tossed it over to Lush.
The crew had firm rules about eating. Everyone ate together. Some old tradition from the dead founder or something. The morning sun and the still cool salt wind provided a mixed atmosphere. Mood-wise, things were looking up. The fight at Pele's was now a week ago.
Tonight we would reach the Dawn Sea. I had heard many stories about it but had never been there myself. Like a box, the waters were secluded from the rest of the ocean and supposedly as dangerous as beautiful, and well, people called it the most beautiful place in the world.
While I was biting off my bread with my share of the ham, Brenda, who was sitting next to me, nudged me. I almost choked. She could pass for a tree if she didn't open her mouth now and then.
“Oh, sorry Hercu.”
Brenda looked more like a woman in her thirties with wrinkles stressed on her forehead. But she was only 24. Coincidentally, she was a former maid from Coast Bay's famous 'Sea Inn' and had come to Pele's only around six months before me. She didn't want to tell me more than that it had been for family reasons.
So I just guessed. Her many siblings took advantage of her kind and reserved nature to satisfy their Jade Mint cravings. And which job would better suit that than a worker in a factory of such?
She didn’t integrate well. Sadly, I didn't have much time due to training and tinkering. I had made up my mind to repair and upgrade my pistol before we’d explore uncertain territory. Most of the time, she hung out with Hale, who was doing his best, but she just needed more time.
“What's up, Brenda?”
“Could you pass me the cheese, please? Meat isn't really my thing.” She pointed to a wooden platter further down the table.
“Sure, no problem.” I smiled.
“Yo, Gale! Buddy! Slide that cheese plate over here!” I shouted.
He looked at me grimly but then did as I asked. Another rule of eating together was that every request to hand over food had to be fulfilled unconditionally. It should somehow strengthen the teamwork or something, but it functioned much better as a tool to annoy people like Gale with it.
“Here you go.” I handed Brenda her cheese.
“Thank you.” She smiled in her timid way.
I glanced over to Lisa, James, and Darrick. They still wore the orphanage’s attire, which somewhat suited them, but I was just too used to seeing them in roughed-up clothes. The three of them had a great time joking around and seemed to enjoy the atmosphere here as much as I did. In our old crew, it was a real struggle to get any food at all, and it was common for me to sneak out at night to steal some for us. Admittedly, there were advantages that I had been forced to thief stuff.
I stared at the cloudless sky and sipped my Grog, the equivalent of a nice cup of coffee, and let the sweetness wake me more.
For the past few days, I've been waking up with dried tears on my cheeks. My dream, which I usually forget, occurred more often and clearly. And I was sure it had to do with my visit to the orphanage. I just couldn't point my finger at what exactly it was.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
“Okay, guys. Clean up and get to work!” Captain Reysan, at the head of the table, called out. He and a few others had spent the last few days intensely studying the Mint Map we had stolen to find the best way to get Under The Dawn Sea.
I blinked over at Miru, but his face, with its strange blindfold, told me nothing. I liked my blindfold too, but you could overdo wearing it. Well, to be honest, I didn't care. I just wanted to know what his eyes looked like. That's why I always carefully aimed at his head during training.
“Hopefully, I'll get a refill of his Jade Mint today, my hand is starting to itch, and I still owe Lush.”
After we all cleared the table and put it away, everyone got on with their usual activities, which for me meant training.
“Oh, hey! Are you guys getting your asses kicked now too?” I called over to the others.
Lisa, James, Darrick, and even Brenda were facing Hale on the other side of the deck with wooden sticks.
“Hah, three on one, we won't lose!” Darrick said snootily, pointing his stick at me.
“That's right, next time you won't have to worry about us if we get into a fight!” James grinned and flailed his stick around.
“Huh?!” I blushed. “Who said I was worried?” I cleared my throat, my voice giving out a little too high. “I mean—I don't care . . .” I waved my hand dismissively.
The two boys, and especially Lisa, gave me a dirty grin.
I clicked my tongue and turned away. “Let's get started, Miru.”
—
I slipped under Miru's kick, pushed off the first step that led up to the steering wheel, and catapulted myself right behind him. My fist whizzed toward the back of his head. He dodged it without looking. Then he pivoted and yanked my legs away. I fell sideways and rolled off to get right back on my feet.
I closed the distance, went for a series of punches, and mixed in some elbows in Miru’s style. I increased my speed with steady feet and flowing motion to increase my striking power. While Miru mainly dodged most of the time, he now started to redirect my arms instead.
As I feinted a knee thrust, I waited for the moment when he would try to sweep my other leg again. He loved to see me fall. I jumped, spun on my axes, and snapped my leg out to carry my momentum into a kick. Directly aimed at the back of his head.
Instead of dodging or redirecting, for the first time, he properly blocked one of my attacks. He countered with a fast straight at my stomach that I blocked with my knee, sending me a solid few meters back.
“Are you wearing that blindfold to hide your eyes in the back of your head or what?” I asked, panting for air.
“Yes,” he said as if it was the most natural thing in the world, but his minimal smile revealed his mean lie.
“I don't need to see anything at all to anticipate your blows. After all, you almost only aim for the head. There's no art to it.”
I scoffed.
“If your goal is to unmask me, maybe you'd better distract me or limit me first before you dream of achieving your goal.”
I grunted and screwed up my face. “Such a show-off.”
“Next time, I'll hit it!” I lifted my fists back up.
“If you'd stick more to what I teach you, you'd at least have a realistic chance.”
I raced toward him. And, of course, I didn’t hit again.
The suns continued to wander down while Miru gave me more lectures on fighting techniques. After we reviewed the basics again, he showed me which mistakes I still made. My execution still lacked because I relied too much on weapons and tools in real fights, so we still only practiced hand-to-hand combat.
All I wanted to do was learn how to do cool Jade Mint stuff . . .
“We're here!” Someone called out.
Entirely concentrated on fighting, I had completely blanked out my surroundings. Only now did I notice how bright it had become behind me.
I turned around just in time to witness how we passed through an almost invisible wall. The fabric of the world reflected a gossamer thin chromatic veil. It seemed smooth at first, but it was rather intricately vaulted.
Not even magic could explain the sight in front. The First Sun floated like a great guardian over her little siblings. With two of them at her side, they made the youngest sun on the horizon shine in brilliant colors. From top to bottom, the sea of clouds reflected deep orange to radiant, almost white, yellow. Countless sunbeams stabbed in every possible direction, forming a vivid sphere as a pulsing arched shockwave about the youngest. The water only remained of shades of light.
My eyes watered, and not because it was so bright. The light didn’t sting at all; quite the contrary, it felt like a continuous warm, soft blink. No words came out of me. Such a sight could not be conveyed with words anyway. One simply had to behold it. And enjoy.