As Isol and others finished off the last pirate, they finally had time to relax. The pirates were formidable foes if it were not for Isol, it would be questionable if the wizards would be able to kill them even with their numbers advantage.

Cutting off the hooks attached to the ship, most of the wizards boarded the pirate's ship while leaving a few to stay behind.

As they got inside the interior of the zeppelin, they noticed some cages. Inside those cages were naked wizards, probably victims of the pirate's attack.

The wizards were naked and attached to devices that shackled them. These devices were constantly shredding the wizards' flesh as just leaving wizards inside a cage wasn't going to stop them from escaping.

"Which power are you guys under?"

As Isol watched the wizards question the prisoners, he couldn't be bothered with them. Although he felt sympathy for them he also understood that because they were weak they were captured.

Instead of worrying about others, he was more worried about himself, searching the ship for any valuables.

As pirates, they must have robbed some good loot he just needed to find it. As his eyes glowed yellow he was able to locate the place where they stored treasures. It was inside a hidden compartment that one would not notice if they weren't paying special attention.

Flipping the lever that opened the door, when he walked inside the room, his previous excitement vanished as what he saw inside disappointed him.

Besides the essence rocks that he needed, the rest of the items were just common treasures that he could buy from someone. It did make sense, why would they keep valuable loot inside here instead of using it for themselves?

His expectation was a little too high expecting to find some valuable treasure that would allow him to soar through the sky.

As Isol scavenged through the pile of items his eyes landed on a tattered sheet of paper. Grabbing a hold of it he read the sheet.

Volume I of the Piper

The piper happily jogged to the town of Midshire.

While touring the town he met a group of residents, the residents were complaining about a rat infestation that was plaguing the town.

The piper happily told the residents that he would help with the infestation as long as he was paid.

The piper never specified what his payment would be, but the residents happily agreed.

So on a late and black night, all the residents heard a melody that soothed one's soul. The melody played throughout the night travelling further away from the town.

The residents walked out into the streets and saw a long line of rats traveling toward the melody.

They were happily surprised that the Piper was able to keep his promise of helping with the rat infestation, as they went back to their residence they happily slumbered under the soothing melody.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

As they woke up the next morning, they saw Piper smiling as he lay near a well.

The residents asked what he would like as payment and the Piper just waved his hand telling them not to worry.

He told the residents his payment would come towards him the following night as they shouldn't worry too much about it.

The residents highly skeptical about what he meant still felt happy that they didn't have to pay him for his work.

As the town partied into the night they heard the soothing melody again.

The melody woke them out of their drunken stupor as countless doors of residents opened throughout the night.

Children of the residents followed the soothing melody in a zombie-like manner as even the screaming and begging of the parents were not able to wake them up.

Tried as they must the parents were not able to stop them.

The children had awoken with strength that overpowered the strongest soldiers of the town.

The residents were not in deep regret, they should have never asked for help from the Piper.

Their problem was dealt with but their children were being taken away, they should have been more skeptical about the payment he never specified.

Following the line of children, the residents saw the piper under the full moon.

As he danced under the full moon, the rats beside him were playing the flute.

The residents had now realized, that the rats were probably under control by the Piper, he was the reason why they had been suffering.

As they furiously marched towards him, they demanded why he was doing this.

He simply told them, "The moon goddess demands another sacrifice and as a follower, I naturally would not fail the expectations of my god."

"You have only yourself to blame, I naturally followed the agreement you asked of me."

"It is none of my fault to take my payment as agreed upon."

"Flee while you can as you shall not last upon the gaze of the god."

Hearing the cryptic words the residents were even more furious as they charged at him.

A bell's chime was heard.

Those near the Piper fainted while those further away were dazed from the sound.

Scared by the power of the Piper they could only helplessly watch their children circle the Piper in a ritual-like manner.

The sounds of singing and dancing echoed throughout the night.

As the residents stayed awake and watched the ceremony they saw the Piper start to pray and chant, mysterious syllables escaped his mouth.

None of them knew what he was saying but following the chant, the moon in the sky seemed to have awakened.

Multiple #@!(#! awoken as its *@&!!* took the children.

The residents that were awake to see the God's!&#@!!# were horrified.

Upon looking at God they underwent sporadic mutations that molded them in inhuman ways.

Their fingers started to shape into branches, roots grew from their lower body, and extra appendages appeared.

When the mutations had finally stopped the residents or what was of them were now beautiful trees.

The residents who were knocked out by the bell woke up the next morning to the sight of the children and Piper was gone as a forest surrounded them.

Confused they could only tread back towards their town, inside the forest they swore they heard familiar screams.

Making it back into town, the residents questioned why they all went into the forest.

Getting no clear answers they all continued their life happily.

End of Volume I

Finished reading the paper Isol had no idea what awoken and what took the children as those were simply incomprehensible words that were more like doodles.

He had more questions than answers as he wondered if this tale was true or just made up.

Why was it even inside this pirate's ship? Taking the paper with him he could only helplessly exit the room with a bag of essence rocks and a creepy sheet of paper.

He told the other wizards about the location of the treasure room and they all happily thanked him and rushed towards it. The prisoners were now free, those who had good backgrounds would probably be released while those with poor backgrounds would probably have a new master.