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Tales from the Sea
Chapter Four: A Tale of the Sea Turtle

Chapter Four: A Tale of the Sea Turtle

Arthur soon began to read the next section of letters, this time, less tears swelled in his eyes as he had a new found sting of hope. As his grandchildren may be still alive.

Father, now you know there are seven seas that surround us. The Sea of Eternal Mist, home to islands such as Black Heart and Dark Vale. The Sea of Blood, one of the more dangerous seas, notorious for pirate raids. Sea of Ice, a sea consisting of a layer of thin ice, ice we had to break through to make progress in our journey around the world. Sea of Monsters, this was the sea that we were heading into when I sent Ruin to live with her father. A sea known for its continuous monster attacks. Verdant Sea is a sea filled with lush green islands, home to plenty of natives. Sea of Dreams, a sea that could have effects on one's dreams as they slept. Lastly, there is the Forbidden Sea. The Sea that wasn’t meant to travel in. I, however, set my course to reach the end of that sea, and we made it through.

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“How are the sails?” Isabella asked her second mate, Hank, a fire genasi.

“Looking sharp!” Hank shouted down from the masts.

“Great!” Isabella shouted up. “Everything else?” Isabella asked her first mate, Rangard, a tortoise-like creature.

“The wheel, the sides, all good Captain!” Rangard spoke as he turned the wheel ever so slightly.

“Prepare for anything boys, Forbidden Sea is dangerous.” Isabella spoke, reminding her crew to keep vigilante.

“Captain!” Boris shouted as he sauntered up to her. He let out a huff as he prepared to deliver his news.

“What is it Boris?” Isabella spoke as she looked down at him with worry in her eyes.

“We have approached the Forbidden Sea.”

“And?” Isabella asked him with a questionable stair.

“Are we going for it?” Boris asked.

“Yes. Our goal is to get to the other end of the sea. And make it through in one piece.” Isabella responded.

“Eye.” Boris spoke in turn and ran back to his position.

“Full speed ahead!” Isabella spoke as she directed her crew.

This trip alone took two weeks to fully get through the Forbidden Sea. Why it was named that, Isabella would never understand. The sea was oddly calm and less creatures were around it than most.

We did come across a few wrecked ships. Ships that we raided and took any items that we thought were valuable. If it was up to Boris we would have taken any and all bread crumbs.

“But it’s valuable!” Boris cried out as Rangard and Hank pulled him away from a single copper piece. Copper pieces did have value but weren't worth risking our lives for.

“It’s just a cent.” Rangard told Boris.

“Leave it.” Hank retorted soon after.

“But it has value…” Boris tried to protest once more but the other two mates weren't having it. Rangard picked up Boris and carried him over his shoulder.

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“We got him Captain.” Rangard spoke as he managed to get Boris topside of the ship we were raiding.

“Thank you Randgard and Hank. Now we can safely cast this ship ablaze.” Isabella responded to them as they began to walk back towards the Golden Lure.

Once safely back on their ship and all crew was accounted for, Isabella tapped her staff against the wooden planks of her ship and a large fireball shot from her staff and hit the sunken ship. Causing it’s top half to be casted a blaze.

This was the third ship they had come across. The third ship they had set a blaze. This was Isabella’s way to show respect to those who had passed, giving them a proper burial at sea.

By the time we had reached the other side of the Forbidden Sea, the side that touched The Sea of Monsters, Isabella and her crew had set a blaze and raided thirty ships in total. Thirty pirate ships that had been sunk by something. Something that they were soon to come across.

“Ahead!” Boris spoke as he shouted from the top deck.

“What is it?” Isabella spoke.

“A beast! The size of the ship!” Boris explained as he hurried down to his Captain who was on the top deck. “What do we do?” He asked.

“Prepare for a fight.” Isabella spoke. “A creature that can take down thirty ships, will be a tough fight to face.”

“Eye!” Boris spoke as he went and took his stance. The other crew overhearing begin their prep work.

“Now what are you?” Isabella questioned as she took out her telescope and peered at the direction the creature was located.

A creature appeared in her vision about two hundred feet away. It appeared to be a massive turtle, one roughly the size of a ship. The coloration of the turtle was green and had big brown eyes. The shell, provided it coverage as it granted the turtle extra protection against attacks.

“When to attack captain?” Hank asked as all the crew was in their positions at this time.

“After my attack.” Isabella spoke as she watched the turtle creep slowly towards their ship. “One fifty…” Isabella whispered. “One hundred…” She whispered as she counted the turtle's movement. “Fifty.” Isabella tapped her staff and murmured the word, “Πόνος” and utilized the spell that created a wave of pain at the creature, causing it to be stunned in its place. “Now and fast!” Isabella shouted to her crew allowing all of them to fire the cannons and their bows.

Most of the hits targeted at the turtle hit and when it got back to Isabella’s turn she saw that the turtle was struggling. It was fighting her spell. Trying to break the stun that she originally put on it.

“I got you where I want you…” She murmured as she utilized the disintegrate spell. To her surprise the spell took effect, however the turtle still remained.

“Again!” She shouted as she ordered her crew to attack once more.

However, less was fired as the canons needed to be reloaded. Less damage was done, but damage was still done to the creature.

“I got you now…” Isabella murmured as she utilized the spell one more time. Her last time casting such a spell for the day. She just had to hope that the spell took. With a murmur of the wod “Πόνος” the spell escaped her staff and a wave of magic released from her staff.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips as the turtle’s eyes went wide… the turtle was dead. “Eye!” The crew shouted with joy.

However, Isabella didn’t feel joy. She knew the turtle was responsible for the deaths of the other pirates that rested at the bottom of the sea. Something she hoped that they had stopped.

“Captain?” Boris asked as he approached her, “What is it?”

“It’s nothing Boris. Let’s celebrate the victory.” Isabella spoke as she walked from the edge of her ship and down into the mess hall to have a drink with her crew.

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Not every fight was deemed to be victorious. The turtle caused so many deaths before my crew and I took it out. And when I did the final attack of the turtle, I felt a wave of emotions. Emotions of joy and triumph. Also sadness of the loss. But I dared not to talk about that with my crew. As every victory is worth celebrating. And they needed this.

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Arthur smiled as he finished this entry. “My daughter may have been a pirate but she was a pirate with a heart of gold.” Arthur knew after reading this that he raised her right. His daughter may have seen more violence and death than most of his soldiers ever did but she still kept her heart pure.

“After just reading a few of these Isabella, I am proud to call you my daughter. Forever and always I am proud of you.” He said with pride.