Hello there Sea sailing folks. Are you, a young attractive powerful person, embarking on a trip to the dangerous uncharted seas? The seas that have killed thousands and are inhabited by ferocious and blood-hungry monsters. The very seas where legends say a being of incomprehensible power and structure lies asleep down in the abyss.
If so, then why not come and buy our newest and bestest product. The Return® Stone. With just one small chant, you can instantly return to the very precious city of Alcool doux.
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I stood in the middle of a well-lit room. I was a little dazed from the teleportation and the posh scholarly room certainly did not help.
"Good evening ma'am. Are you in need of any medical... Physical, and physiological assistance?"
I was greeted by a receptionist with a well-tailored suit. He spoke slowly with his eyes staying glued to his book the whole time the conversation occurred.
[There's no need. I'm as fine as a pickled cucumber.]
"Would you care to give a rating out of 5 stars ma'am?"
[Maybe next time. Anyway which district is this?]
"District number 4... Red-axe to be precise."
[I see... Well bye I guess.]
I quickly rushed out of the room and entered the streets of District 4. District 4 was a location filled with dangers at every step. And by dangers, I mean pointy blades. With so many swords and axes and all of those murder weapons, my feet would just pass through a blade at any misstep.
And this place seemed to have only increased tenfolds in danger since my last visit.
Honestly, this place wasn't to my liking. Maybe I am too musically inclined but I could never see myself wielding a weapon that can't produce wonderful tunes. That's why most of my guitars are equipped with hidden blades. Not only are they catchy, but they also cut through flesh like jello.
"Buy one axe get four axes free!"
"Get fresh and savory swords here!"
"Do any of you savages want a talking dagger that speaks like your mother? Buy one here!"
This place was loud and full of lively salesmen trying to sell below-average merchandise. Honestly, none of this deserved any of my time. The only good thing here is that I can see all of these young dreamings musicians.
They had faces full of admiration, dreams, and a desire to perform. They gather and buy protection right here in this District. Too bad most of them perish out in the seas. It's a tough life out here. The ocean takes its toll on these people's sanity. Sooner or later, these faces will come back here in the city with a face of despair.
But at the same time, any human face was a delight for me. I rarely see them after all so I wouldn't mind seeing suicidal faces from time to time.
With quick feet and a hungry stomach, I moved out of this barbaric place and onto the next District. District 3, the place of entertainment and a nice day off plan.
Full of band performances, parks, and shops. This place is for those with broken hearts and jubilant children. But let's stop wasting time. I walked inside the nearest tavern. It was a small room with two tables, each with four seats.
There was a counter on the right side of the room which was occupied by a person wearing a black kimono and a jousting helmet.
[Hello...] I approached the person who stood still like a statue. [Where's the menu?]
From behind the counter, they imitated a person walking down the stairs but since I was directly in front of the counter, I could see them crouch on the ground and grab a worn-out paper off the ground. They scribbled something on it and then sprung up from the ground.
"Here you go, Miss." They spoke with a voice devoid of any human emotion. "Decide fast."
I grabbed the paper and read the single massive word in the middle. [Oyster.] I flipped the paper and placed it on the counter. [Give me the oyster.]
"Good choice Miss, now go wait." They pointed at one of the tables before entering through a door behind them. I sat down on a chair and took a deep breath. It was time to make a plan.
The main goal is securing a boat so I can perform and earn money. But as of now, I barely have any money. Because I wanted to move past my past, I didn't take any gold from the ship which, now that I think about it, was kinda stupid. Some sub-goals would be to obtain food, supplies, and a guitar for a trip out in the seas.
And no. I'm not using this guitar...
Okay, this is a good enough plan. Now all I need is money.
*Ting*
The person placed down a metal plate filled with steamed oysters and butter. They then sat down on the chair opposite me.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
[Do you need something?]
The person placed their arms on the table and grabbed an oyster off my plate. "I'm a big fan, Miss. Meeting you has given me so much joy and excitement." They said, still devoid of human emotion and with minimal body movements.
[Yes!] I brushed my hair with my hands and put on my greatest smile. [Yeah I know I'm quite cool. Hey, it must be so shocking for you, to see me just enter your shop. Do you want an autograph?]
They grabbed the oyster's flesh with their hand and pushed it into their helmet. The flesh squished and fell onto the ground. "No, I'm just curious why you're here."
[Hey, even massive celebrities like me eat out in unknown places. Plus isn't this good for your store, I can even sign your door or something."]
"Are you eating here alone because they left?"
[Huh? Can you repeat that?]
"Your bandmates. They all left because of you. It was because of your dangerous and reckless stunt."
[Leave...]
"I'm not really trying to pry. I just want to see them, my favorite is Grim. It's just so sad since you four were so great."
[Shut up!] I jumped onto the table and grabbed them by the neck and pushed them onto the ground. We both fell to the ground. I quickly pinned them and adjusted myself to be seating on top
This creature is dangerous. They must be some sort of demon or monster. A being that wants to ridicule me about my past. I tightened the grip of my left arm as they tried to fight back but they were too weak. I grabbed the guitar on my back and tried to flip a level.
But there was no level. This wasn't my obsidian guitar. This was just a normal guitar made from regular materials. A normal guitar with 4 signatures. I let go of the person's neck and got off them.
They rolled away and coughed violently.
This wasn't the sea. This was a tavern and I was a rowdy violent customer about to kill its owner. [I'm sorry.] I idled next to them, watching them slowly get up.
"It seems you didn't know."
[Know what?]
"You're bandmates announced their retirement the other day."
[Ah...]
They really did mean it.
[Sorry about that.]
"Anyway if you're sorry then you owe me."
[Eh?]
They put their hand on my shoulder and, from what I assumed, made direct eye contact with me. "Work for me."
I was stunned by this sudden job proposal. Me, a big-time famous guitarist working for some dinky old tavern. Absolutely unbelievable. I flicked their hand off and turned around.
[No thanks. I'll be taking my oysters to go now and leaving this place.] I stood up from my chair and began stuffing my food into my pockets.
"I have a boat."
[Is that so?] It seems I misunderstood their earlier offer. I wasn't being scouted to help out in this small cafe but instead was being offered a true job. A voyage to the sea accompanied by music and monstrously demonic fans.
[What's the split?]
"Here's the contract." They grabbed something dark and blue from under their right sleeve. It was a glowing parchment marked with blood as its ink.
> Conta Contract
>
> The worker will go to sea with Oria and earn money by performing or through other means. The worker will follow almost all of Orio's orders and commands when out in the sea. The worker may reject to follow any commands that are of inhuman or unprofessional motives. The worker will not earn any money for themselves until they pay off all their debt against Orio. The worker will work for Orio until they pay off the debt or until Orio fires them. Payment of the debt destroys this contract. If the worker earns enough money to pay off their debts then they can borrow Orio's boat whenever. The worker attacking Orio with intent to kill or killing Orio will result in the worker's death. Abandonment and ignorant of Orio which results in their death will result in the worker's death. Breaking or deserting the contract without payment of the debt will result in both parties' death unless the worker is laid off by Orio.
"Sorry, all I have is this cursed contract of doom."
[This seems rather extreme...] I placed down the contract and glanced at Orio. [And what is this debt?]
"The oysters cost you 17 BP and you also broke this amulet of mine. That's an additional two hundred forty se-
[How much is the boat?]
"1,000,000 BP."
[Deal accepted!] I signed the contract and the paper erupted in flames. This was a good deal for me. I can easily pay off the debt and that boat will help me earn enough money to buy me a ship. Easiest deal in my life.
Orio nodded their head at me and did a celebratory pose. With their monotone voice, they spoke. "The total debt is-
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"247 million BP." Said the fat bearded worker. But too bad for him I wasn't listening to a single thing he said. My eyes gazed right past him and into the abyss. "This necklace of yours is broken so the price is around 2-3 million BP but when fixed it's 240 million BP minimum.
"Here you go ma'am and, uh, helmeted individual." He handed the necklace to me which I didn't bother to receive. Orio grabbed the necklace and tied it around their neck and under their kimono.
"Let's go, Scarlet." They pulled my arm and, just like a mindless corpse, I walked and followed them. [Two hundred million BP...]
Two hundred forty-seven million... Two hundred forty-seven million... And 17 BP for the oysters...
This is insane. That amount of money is equivalent to selling my old ship and all of the BP, gold, and artifacts inside. That's gonna take me ages to earn again. Without my bandmates, it's gonna be 3 times longer. 12 years of servitude with this helmeted freak.
[Grah!] I grabbed Orio by the shoulders and shook them repeatedly. [Why do you keep that precious thing hanging on your neck!] I shook them back and forth. [That's 250 million BP! Keep that buried somewhere inside a safe or sell it!]
[With that kind of money, you can retire early! and... Live a life of boredom.] I let go of their shoulders and lowered my head. [Sorry about that. It's not like me to be hypocritical.]
"Scarlet... You might hate me now but," they lifted my head up and gawked directly at it. "We're a team now and we need to work together. We need to use our minds together." They then slammed their head onto mine.
I staggered and almost lost my balance from the sudden strike. I massaged my head and tried to ease the pain from the impact. My head might have been hard and my skull was quite thick but it was still no match against metal.
[Is that so Orio?]
"Yes, Scarlet." They responded with their usual icy monotone voice. "Teamwork makes the dream work af-
I sucker-punched Orio in the stomach. They let out a small grunt and fell to the ground. [Does it make a 250 million BP dream work?]
"It..." They raised their hand towards me and I helped them up. They then placed their left hand on my right shoulder and their right hand on my left shoulder. "It sure does." I wasn't able to see their face but deep down I knew Orio was being sincere. And that sincerity touched me deeply.
I couldn't help but smile and raised Orio into the sky. [Hahahaha.] I spun them around like a proud parent spinning their graduating child. "Hahahaha." Orio laughed along with me. Their laughter sounded really bored and tired.
*Bonk*
With one heavy downward headbutt, my face was smashed and filled with metal. Of course, using my wonderful talented hands, I was able to retaliate with a heavy jab at their stomach