A Human wasn’t worth most of their attention.

I was happy to educate them before they died.

This ship looked like it was all Elf, which was good. I wouldn’t have to worry about racial abilities like a Gorgon’s petrification, a Dragon’s breath, or a Siren’s song. Elves were also easier to fight because their eyes let you know what power they had. White were powerless. Red, silver, blue, and brown were the four elements of fire, air, water, and earth. Gold had magic. So did black, but those had demon magic, and were usually killed on sight, so they were rarely seen.

This ship looked like it was almost all powerless Elves.

I danced out of the way of a sword and grabbed the arm of the Elf behind me that was trying to get on our ship. I pulled the Elf into the path of the other Elf’s sword, then pulled out my own sword, slashing the first Elf’s throat.

The other pirates stopped trying to get over the front of the ship and started to form a ring around me. I started counting, got to ten and decided a lot was the answer.

I pointed my sword at them. “Anyone who drops their weapon, gets on their knees, and puts their hands behind their heads won’t be killed.”

Every one of them started laughing. I had expected that would be the response, but it was still worth it to give them the option.

I shrugged. “Suit yourselves, but the offer won’t expire.” I took a step back. “Who wants to die first?”

“You’ll be dy…”

The first Elf to charge on my left found the blade of my sword in his throat before he could finish. I shook my head. I wrestled with a Camadt. Compared to my brother, these opponents were moving almost in slow motion.

I took his sword out of his hand and used it to block a slash from behind, then pivoted on my left foot so I could block an attack on my right. I kept turning and took off that Elf’s hand with the sword in my left, dropped down on my right knees to go under another slash, stabbed him in the chest with my right blade, then kicked out with my right foot, to knock the body into his friends.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I flipped back onto my feet and took an arrow in my right arm. I dropped the sword in my left hand so I could snap off the shaft, then I glared at the Elf that was holding the offending bow as I pulled the part still attached to the tip out.

Swords I could deal with, but a bow was a different story. I started running at the Elf as he notched another arrow. I was able to block a couple slashes, but I got stabbed in my left thigh and was cut twice on my back as I ran through the crowd.

The archer wasn’t expecting me to keep coming, so he didn’t start backing up until I was through. The arrow he fired was wildly off and easy to dodge. For me at least. I heard a scream behind me and knew he’d hit one of his shipmates.

I chased him up to the wheel, where I was able to grab his left shoulder and spin him enough that I could punch him in the face with my swordhand. As he staggered, I pinned him against the wheel where everyone could see us and pushed with my ability.

The wounds on my back, leg, thigh, and arm all began to heal as the same wounds appeared on the pirate. Once I’d transferred my wounds to him, I stabbed him in the chest, then let him fall to my side.

The other pirates looked up at me, stunned at what they’d just seen. Two of them dropped their swords and hit their knees, putting their hands behind their head.

One of the ones on the stairs to my left found his voice and pointed at me.

“SINEATER!”

The rest of the crew snapped out of their paralysis and screamed, charging at the upper deck. I sighed. I’d hoped for more than two to drop out when I did that. Plus that wasn’t sineating, that was singiving, but I could do both and singiving was the harder of the two.

I grabbed the charging Elf’s wrist, stabbed him in the chest and took his sword. I turned and threw it into the one in front that had come up the stairs to my right, then turned back to stab the next one on my left.

I pulled my sword back as he hit his knees and put his hands behind his head. I hoped more of them would surrender, but the Elf behind him stabbed him in the back.

“TRAITOR!” The Elf screamed as he pulled out his blade.

“He was out of the fight!” I picked up the dead Elf’s sword, parried with my left then stabbed the treacherous Elf with the dead Elf’s blade. “We don’t kill non-combatants!”

I let the sword stay in the dishonorable Elf and kicked his sword away. Using it just felt wrong.

“WHERE IS THE SINEATER!?”

The pirates all began to back away from the upper deck and started pointing at me.

The two Elves that had surrendered stood up, but the blue Elf in almost new pants and shirt shot an icicle through both of their chests.

“We. Don’t. Surrender!” The captain turned to glare at me with his golden eyes.

I sighed. Mages just made everything more complicated.