Valicar strolled along the eastern beach, sweat beading on her brow. The weather was considerably warmer than what the twins were accustomed to. They were dressed for the crisp air of the north where they had grown up.
"God, this place is beautiful. It kind of reminds me of that cruise we took after graduating high school. Especially with how clear the water is. You would think we were in the Caribbean again," Sophia exclaimed in delight.
"Haha! That trip was amazing. But you know the best thing about us dying? I don't have to pay back the credit card I put the trip on," Mike joked morbidly, reminiscing about the past.
"Still, that was probably the best week of my life, Mike. The sights, food, and people were all such amazing experiences. I hope we can explore more of this world that way. Oh, I know we should get a boat!" Sophia suggested enthusiastically.
"You know that's why we're even going to this village right now," Mike reminded her.
"Well, yeah, but I mean, like, our ship to sail around the world. Not just some ferry to take us back to land, but a proper ship," Sophia elaborated, her excitement evident.
"What are you, a pirate now?" Mike teased. "Besides, we don't know the first thing about... um, boating."
"Sailing, Mike. It's called sailing, and we can always learn," Sophia replied, a hint of condescension in her voice.
"Yeah, yeah. So what are the chances we can get a ship to the capital to find Alexandra?" Mike asked.
"I don't think the capital has a port. We'll probably have to pass through House Landon's and House Norail's lands to get there once we dock, though," Sophia explained.
"So, what? Should we call on our dear old family, maybe get some support for once?" Mike suggested.
"And tell them what? 'Hey, I have our family's most precious treasure. Can we bum some money and smokes? Oh, and by the way, I'm also a witch being hunted by the same church you still pay tithes to because you're scared of the Inquisition,'" Sophia replied sarcastically.
"Fair point, family is overrated anyway... but I have to admit I feel bad about how long it's been for Alexandra," Mike admitted.
"Me too, Mike, me too," Sophia echoed his sentiment.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, they finally reached the outskirts of the village. True to James's description, the settlement was small, comprised of simple wooden shacks with a tropical vibe. It seemed the village made do with the limited resources available on the island. Half of the structures were built over the water, supported by wooden decks and stilts that stretched down to the bay floor. The port, if it could even be called that, was pitiful, with space for only two ships. Fortunately, there appeared to be a single vessel docked there at the moment.
"Well, there's our ride out of here. First step: let's find the captain. But where would he be?" Mike pondered aloud.
"It's not the kind of ship I had in mind, but I guess it will work. And why do you assume the captain is a he, Mike?" Sophia asked accusingly.
"Don't start with that shit again, Soph. I've already been humbled by the fact I can't take a piss standing up anymore," Mike said, sounding defeated.
"Now who's touchy?" Sophia teased, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Shut up! When I get my own body back, you better be damn sure that's gonna be the first thing I do. I'm so tired of squatting in the woods," Mike grumbled.
"If you think that's bad, just wait for what comes in a few years, Mike. Anyway, let's head to the ship. If the captain isn't there, they're probably at the tavern," Sophia replied.
Valicar walked through the village, drawing looks from the people around her. She was a strange little girl with long, multi-colored hair flowing freely down her back, and a sword, too large for her frame, strapped securely to her back. The locals, with their darker complexions likely from many years of living under the sun, wore minimal clothing made mostly from animal hides. As Valicar made her way down the wooden pier towards the docked ship, people quickly moved out of her path, casting wary glances at the unusual sight.
"Something feels off here, Mike," Sophia said anxiously, her eyes scanning their surroundings.
"No shit. It could be our appearance, but this seems different," Mike replied, his gaze sharp as he assessed the situation. "And Blue Dawn is sheathed, so all they can see is a gold handle... Oh." He swiftly tore off a piece of their cloak and wrapped it around the sword's handle.
"Hopefully none of these people are stupid enough to try and rob us," Mike muttered, his years of working for Taylor and Jack putting him on edge as he scanned the area for any signs of an ambush.
There were no immediate signs of danger, so Mike kept moving, scanning the area as they walked down the pier. The wooden planks groaned beneath their feet, and the air smelled of salt and decay. The village seemed empty as they approached the battered ship, its name "The Salty Dog" barely visible on its side. The sails were torn and patched, and the wood looked weathered and rotting in places. Despite its sorry state, it was their only way out of the deserted village.
"Definitely not the ship I had in mind, but it's our only way out of here," Sophia remarked, eyeing the ship with a mixture of uncertainty and resignation.
"Hello!" Mike called out to the seemingly abandoned ship, his voice echoing across the quiet pier. There was no response, only the sound of the gentle lapping of waves against the ship's hull.
"HELLO, IS THERE ANYONE ON THIS FLOATING TURD!" he bellowed even louder, breaking the silence with his booming voice. But still, no one emerged from the ship, and the surrounding village remained eerily quiet, as if the locals had vanished into thin air.
"Who dares to insult The Salty Dog!" A gruff voice thundered from below deck, echoing across the pier.
"I did. Now get up here before I come to you!" Mike's voice cut through the salty air, firm and resolute. With his command, the hatch swung open, revealing a figure emerging from the darkness below. The man was thin and wiry, his body covered in a labyrinth of scars that seemed to tell a story of battles fought and lost. His toothless grin sent a shiver down Sophia's spine, and the pungent odor of saltwater mixed with something more foul assaulted their senses.
"Who the fuck are you, kid?" he growled, eyeing them suspiciously.
Valicar stepped forward, her gaze steady and unwavering as Mike spoke. "The name's Val. Now, where's your captain? I have no time for lackeys."
"Ah, you have business with the Captain, do you? Bahaha." The man's laughter echoed across the pier, a sound that grated on Sophia's nerves like sandpaper.
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Not one to waste time, Sophia channeled her magic, casting a Strength spell. "Ignis," she murmured, empowering Mike to leap over the railing of the ship and seize the man. "Ow, watch the ribs, Mike. I haven't fully healed us yet," she winced, feeling the strain on their still-recovering body. With a quick incantation, she followed up with a Truthteller spell. "Al lucoriam," she intoned, easily breaking through the man's willpower before posing their questions.
"What is your ship's business on this island, and where is your captain?" Mike demanded, his tone commanding.
"We are picking up cargo to bring back to the central continent, but we cannot depart until tonight due to the risk of pirates and the royal navy," the man explained, his voice tinged with caution. "The captain is in the tavern down the peer to the right a few houses down."
"Why are you avoiding the navy?" Mike inquired, his tone skeptical.
"What we carry isn't exactly legal," the man admitted reluctantly.
"Great, so you're smugglers. What's the cargo?" Sophia pressed, her expression hardening.
"Vix mostly and some local girls," the man confessed, his gaze shifting uncomfortably.
"So you're slavers too, scum to fit the ship it seems," Mike spat, his disgust evident in his voice.
With a swift kick to the man's face, he was knocked unconscious, his remaining teeth hitting the deck in a splatter of blood. Valicar quickly searched the man and found a key before descending below deck. There, they found girls, all older than Valicar but still young, trapped in the dimly lit hold. Freeing them, the twins were greeted with tearful thanks in a language neither recognized. As they helped the girls out, they were met with more cheers from the locals who seemed to forget their prior fears. The commotion drew a growing crowd, prompting the twins to decide it was time to move to the tavern before the slavers caught on to their presence.
"What are we gonna do, Mike? We did the right thing freeing those girls, but these guys aren't gonna be eager to help us, you know," Sophia voiced her concern.
"Trust me, Soph, by the time I'm done with them, they will," Mike reassured her with quiet confidence.
"You know I hate how gruesome you can be, Mike, but do what you have to. These slaver scum don't deserve my sympathy," Sophia agreed, her tone firm.
As Valicar made her way down the pier, the crowd parted before her, their numbers swelling as they followed her to the tavern. The noise emanating from the establishment confirmed Mike's suspicions—they had indeed found the right place. Drunken cheers and boisterous merriment filled the air, undoubtedly at the expense of the locals.
The tavern stood larger than the surrounding buildings, yet it shared the same weathered wood construction. Above the entrance, an old sign depicted a faded picture of a shark, its image worn by the passage of time.
"Sounds like they're having a party. Let's crash it like old times, sis," Mike suggested, his voice carrying a hint of excitement.
"Just don't overdo it, our ribs are still healing, and while I was able to regenerate some mana on our walk, I don't have enough for Blue Dawn's flames," Sophia cautioned, her tone laced with concern.
"I won't need it. Just keep my strength up, and I'll handle the rest," Mike replied confidently as he kicked open the door.
To his surprise, the men inside didn't immediately notice him. They were too engrossed in their feast and drinks to appoint a doorman or lookout. Despite Taylor's treachery, Mike had to admit he knew how to run a criminal enterprise compared to these amateurs. The group of men, numbering roughly twenty, were gathered around a central figure. Dressed far better than the rest, he was groping a rather uncomfortable-looking waitress with one hand while drinking a pint with the other.
"How much you wanna bet that's our captain?" Mike queried, a wry grin on his face.
"What gave it away, was it the pirate hat?" Sophia replied, her tone equally sardonic.
"I'm a master of context clues, sis. Now, time to get their attention," Mike shot back with a chuckle.
With the might of arcane energy fueling Valicar's limbs, Mike drew Blue Dawn and leaped 20 feet, landing squarely on the man's table. Drinks were spilled, and food went flying in all directions at the abrupt movement. Panic cries rang out as the men around the table jumped back, drawing their steel. Looks of alarm were pointed in Valicar's direction as the room fell silent, waiting for Mike's next move.
"Good evening, gentlemen! You seem to be having quite the party at these good people's expense," Mike's voice boomed across the room, commanding attention. "Now, I'm not here to play hero, but you have something I need, and I can't stand slavers. So, this gives me the moral authority to do whatever the fuck I want to make you help me. How about we head back to your ship before heads start rolling?"
The room erupted with various reactions to Mike's bold speech—mostly looks of confusion and amusement—but one man stood out among the crowd. The captain, seated before Valicar, wore a serious expression as he listened intently. Murmurs rippled through the tavern as some noticed the unusual sight of a little girl standing defiantly among them, her vibrant hair a striking blend of red and blue, cascading down her back like a colorful waterfall. Whispers of "mage" and "witch" fluttered among the patrons, adding an air of mystery to the already tense atmosphere.
"I don't know where you came from, kid, but I'm a businessman," the captain retorted, a smirk creeping onto his face as he spoke. "So how about a counteroffer? For spilling our drinks, I would say you owe us a new round to start."
"I was already on the Salty Dog, I think you and your men have enough rum for the trip, so I'm gonna have to stick to my original offer," Mike declared, his voice steady as he brought Blue Dawn, its flames extinguished, to the man's throat in one swift motion.
The man's smirk persisted, unfazed by the blade pressed against his skin. "Oh, and how do you think that's going to go once I'm dead on the floor and you're surrounded by my loyal sailors?" he retorted, his tone mocking.
Ignoring the man's bravado, Mike pressed on. "How many men do you need to sail the ship?" he questioned, his gaze unwavering.
"A skilled captain such as myself could do it with half these men, but that doesn't change anything, kid. Now, how about you hand over that pretty blade you have..." The man's head dropped to the floor.
"I only need 10 of you to volunteer to drop your weapons, otherwise your life is mine," Mike declared, his voice cutting through the tension in the room like a knife.
All hell broke loose as almost every man charged at once, their steel glinting menacingly. Despite his smaller stature, Mike wielded Blue Dawn as a greatsword with his small frame. Yet, this didn't slow him down; instead, he moved with supernatural speed, weaving between the men with effortless grace.
His sword lashed out, a blur of deadly precision, taking limbs, heads, and even gouging out eyes in one man's case. The men, taken aback by Mike's ferocity and skill, found themselves unable to match his agility. Their attacks were slow and clumsy, easy for Mike to dodge or parry.
Never once did he unleash Blue Dawn's flames, yet the blade still sliced through the men like a hot knife through butter. After seven men lay dead or dying, the rest halted their attacks, their faces twisted with fear as they attempted to regroup.
"Seriously? I thought he was full shit about the loyal crew part, but y'all went the extra mile by dying like that. So, any takers now?" Mike's voice echoed across the silent room, his sarcasm cutting through the tension.
The sailors formed a half-circle around Valicar, their murmurs growing louder as they deliberated amongst themselves. Finally, one of them spoke up, his voice tinged with fear and disbelief. "Who the hell are you? Some kind of monster?"
Valicar flashed a confident smile. "I'm a witch—one who has fought a high templar and lived." Her words hung in the air, commanding attention and respect from the men around her.
The terror in the men's faces was palpable. While they may not have been devout churchgoers, every child of the empire knew the stories of the Magi and the supernatural powers they commanded. To hear this "monster" claim to have fought a high templar, a figure known to take out armies single-handedly, was the final straw. With fear gripping their hearts, they threw down their weapons and fell to one knee, their voices trembling as they cried out, "MY CAPTAIN!"
"Now that we've established who's in charge, I suppose I need a second... Hmm, what's your name? Ah, never mind. From now on, you're Bitch Boy," Mike declared, his tone firm and commanding. The man who had spoken earlier flinched at the name but was too terrified to contest his new title.
"Bitch boy, get the ship ready to sail. We're heading to the mainland," Mike commanded, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. Surprisingly, Bitch Boy began to give orders to the survivors, including the newly blinded man. Together, they picked themselves up and headed down the pier, their movements purposeful and urgent. The group of locals had fled when heads started rolling, but Valicar could sense their lingering gazes from the safety of their homes.
After assigning a few more nicknames and directing the men around, they left port within the hour, sailing due north.
"You had to name him Bitch Boy, Mike?" Sophia said incredulously, her voice tinged with disapproval.
"It was between that or Fuck Face, but hey, you seem a lot less squeamish this time, Soph. Congrats," Mike retorted a hint of amusement in his voice.
"That was pretty hard to watch, Mike, but you got it done. Thank you, bro but lets not do that again. Let's go save Alex now," Sophia said, her tone softening with gratitude.
"Yeah, it's been too long. So, the capital it is," Mike agreed, determination coloring his words.