“That can’t be…” Cira took the news in stride. Was her soul fractured? That much she believed. Would her aura ever reform? That was up for debate. “Surely there’s a way to fix it.”

“Not without reforging your soul.” The soul-studied woman replied, “It is a lost art of my people. I am sorry, but there is no hope.”

The room went quiet, and she saw her pirates wearing long faces, “You guys sure give up quick.”

This started Jimbo, “What do you mean? Kuja knows what she’s talking about…”

James leaned in and his expression softened, “C-Cirina… I know it’s hard, but—”

“Don’t even start with that!” Kuja reeled back as Cira shouted at her crew, “I’m sure there’s a book on it in the archive. My father was quite knowledgeable on the subject.”

I doubt soul remedy would work. I could revert it to an earlier state, but the cracks would still remain. Shit…

“You claim to know my people’s lost secrets?” The woman looked at her with unfounded doubt.

“Are you talking about that creepy cult?” Jimbo asked, “I don’t think we have them on this island.”

“No, the archive is on my ship. You know any geomancers? We should get started right away.” The sorcerer insisted.

Now Kuja was looking at her with a sad expression, like consoling a child who doesn’t understand death, “Poor girl… If it is as you say, have Mr. Sticks bring you to me, but I wish you the best. Now, I must take my leave.” She got up and gave Larry a short bow before walking back out the door.

“Well, this sucks.” Cira said to the silent room. “I’m serious about the archive, though.”

Jimbo shook his head and found a bottle somewhere, “You got the right attitude, at least. But if you’re that sure of it, you have time to rest. Don’t need you fallin’ off the edge.”

“But I want to go hooooome.” Cira whined.

“Too bad.” Larry said curtly, “You were just in a coma for three weeks. That said, you should get some exercise. If nothing worsens today, you can try to walk around town later.”

She gave him a half-hearted glare before sighing, “Fine… I’ll rest.” As obstinate as she was, her father’s spirit would frown if she didn’t listen to the man treating her.

“Good girl.” He rummaged through his pocket and shoved a small glass into her hand. Cira accepted it but was stunned in confusion as he filled it up with a liquor that reeked of spices. “You earned this.”

“What is it…? She stared into the honeyed brown liquid, “Are you sure I should be drinking?”

“It’s restin’ juice, now drink up.” She pursed her lips, but Jimbo only laughed.

“That’s our queue. I’ll go look for a rock mage.” Jimbo waved as he walked through the door, “We’ll see you tonight.”

“Alright then… Thanks for the help, Doc.” She tipped her head back and nearly choked on the fiery liquor, “A bit much, isn’t it?”

The doctor laughed in her face and refilled the glass, “Have another. I’m goin’ to bed. Wake me up if you start dyin’.”

She was left alone in the room with nothing to do and nowhere to go.

___

Cira was the most bored she had ever been by the time sunset came around, but it was a nice change of pace. She accepted the boredom and let herself have a day off, trying not to think about the matter of her soul when she couldn’t help it.

The sunset hour stained Lost Cloud’s veil a brilliant orange blush and Cira had the perfect view of it through a window. She eventually drank the second cup of resting juice earlier, but it didn’t do much, nor was she in the mood to drink. Her crossbows had made it to the corner of the room at some point and she played with the idea of target practice, but without mana that was strictly an outdoors activity.

She also had to keep waking Larry up for water, and he eventually just brought her a giant pitcher with a ladle. Since she could conjure water equivalent to that of a spring whenever she usually wanted, she picked up the habit of drinking water constantly. ‘A hydrated body makes a healthy mind, and a healthy mind makes a happy sorcerer.’ My dad had the weirdest quotes.

“Knock knock, princess.” Jimbo walked through the curtain separating rooms, “I hope you’re in the mood to drink.”

“Oh…” Cira wouldn’t be under any obligation to drink a lot, assuming nobody challenged her to a duel, so she couldn’t say she was averse to another night with the crew. “Help me put on my leg, I guess.”

Cira picked it up off a side table and Jimbo slapped it away, “Don’t be stupid. You’re still healing. Ol’ Larry has a crutch for ya, and we got Skips the Boy on standby.”

“Tch… fine then…” she put the peg back down, “I can’t really drink that much though. I sobered myself up with magic to beat Don.”

“Pffff, that’s the best thing I heard all day! I wouldn’t talk about it in town though. Or you’ll have ‘em lined up.”

Larry walked in with a shoddy loaner crutch and handed it to Cira. She accepted it with reluctant gratitude and hobbled off the bed, following Jimbo out to the dock.

“It’s the captain!”

“Yeahhhh!” They cheered.

“I’ll be damned!”

Shirtless Joe and the rest of their group caused a commotion when they saw her, and even her old friend Baum was there with the latter two goons from Milty’s.

“Well, if it isn’t my cartographer,” she gave Baum a nod, “I guess the whole crew’s here tonight.”

“Damn right. It’s time you fess up about Fount Salt.” Jimbo chuckled.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Geez, that’s what this is about, huh?” For once, she didn’t mind the attention. They were all friendly faces waiting to hear her tales. “We’ll have to grab a barrel so I can tell you without so many prying ears. I’m picturing something like Milty’s.”

“You’ll like this one. It’s called the Flyin’ Dutchess. The little lass bought it from Milty when she moved down the Noose.”

“Tally ho, then, Jimbo, lead the way.” Cira beckoned him on, and they all moved down the docks. It was a wholly different atmosphere at night. The clouds didn’t let the moon through so easily, and it was quite dark with countless lanterns hung on the railing around the entire bay, top to bottom. It was reminiscent of the sight from above Uru, but the lights were much warmer and there was laughter in the air.

The people here seemed to flip a switch at nightfall. When they walked through during the day they got droves of weird looks, but now people walked up to Jimbo slapping him on the shoulder and greeting him like their cousin.

“You know, now that you’re up and about, you won’t really be able to hide your identity. People have been talkin’ the last few weeks.” Jimbo explained quietly, “Hope you’re ready for that.”

“It was bound to happen. My agility has surely taken a hit, but I don’t think I’d do too bad in a fight. I’d rather not find out today though…”

Jimbo laughed again, “Don’t worry, nobody should mess with us. Your crew’s gotten a little bigger since you slept. You’re captain to the Far Shore Pirates now too, by the way. I don’t really like the guys, but they love you.”

“I doubt I would enjoy it if you explained, so I’ll let the truth come naturally.” It felt good to get her muscles moving again. They felt unbelievably stiff, and she only just realized it. The light burn in her muscles made her feel alive again.

After a fulfilling and arduous trip to the lowest dock, they found themselves in front of a weathered wooden sign that read, “The Flying Dutchess.”

Walking through the door, Cira realized it was a single wall and inside was a stepped cliff ledge. On each level there were tables full of slurring pirates and barrels strewn about. A handful of young barmaidens bounced between them handing out drinks and food. Cira followed Jimbo to a table not far from the edge where they could see the last dredges of sunset disappearing along the cloudy horizon.

“What a view…” Cira said, “Uru seems like a downgrade.”

James shrugged his hands, “It’s safer to raise a kid there, which should tell you a lot about Lost Cloud.”

“You guys are so harsh,” Jimbo complained, “I was raised here, and I turned out great.”

Two girls around Peaches’ age appeared with hands full of bubbling mugs of golden ale. The smell wafted much like she remembered and Cirina groaned in her sleep. Just a glass or two should be fine. Even the doctor recommends it. Look at me now, Dad! I’m being responsible.

““Ooooooh”” The girls squealed in unison when they set Cira’s drink down.

“Is this your new girl, Jimbo?” The one with red pigtails tied up looked at her with doughy eyes.

“You even have opposite legs!” Then the other barmaiden with pink pigtails clasped her hands together and giggled at Cira.

“That’s so cuuuute!” The two looked at each other, lost in their fantasy world.

“That’s enough, girls.” Jimbo scolded, “This woman used to eat troublemakers like you on Leviathin Isle.”

“I did not!” Cira protested but received unwarranted support from a certain shirtless corner.

“That’s right, she only eats witches.”

“Thanks, Joe…” Cira took her first drink of the night and set it back down on the table. “What do you have to eat around here?”

The pink one giggled into her hand, “We have red tuna and sliced eel, but tonight we’re serving roast lamb, fresh off a merchant ship from Dolliver.”

“You guys get merchants here?” It sounded bizarre for a hidden island.

Jimbo stepped in to enlighten her, “Yeah, you’ll see them hit the docks full of pirates and a fresh haul pretty much every day.”

It’s stolen, because of course it is. Pirates. Right. “I think I’ll take the lamb. I have plenty of fish at home. No underworm up here I guess.” She sighed, taking another sip.

“No, they only have upperworm here.” Baum commented with a straight face.

“Really?” Cira got excited for a brief moment until he busted up and Jimbo looked at her with grin.

“He’s messin’ with you.”

The girls giggle and scurried off, “We’ll be right back!”

When they did, the meat was tender and melted in her mouth. It was roasted with herbs and thinly sliced, served with potatoes on the side. She inhaled it with reckless abandon and ordered another when their next round came out. Evidently here, the ale just arrived intermittently.

“Hey, you’re not callin’ yourselves the Black Scourge anymore, are you?” Cira leaned back holding her belly in.

“’Course not.” Jimbo spat to the side, “We’re the Stick Brigade now. First fleet of the Dreadheart Armada.”

“Oh?” She gazed wistfully off the torchlit hillside, “Is it an armada now?”

“Well, we can’t call it the first fleet of the Dreadheart fleet. It don’t make any sense. I think that’s how it works.”

Cira squinted at him, “I guess you’re right.” And she took another drink, now looking over the cliff's edge. There was a line of torches so nobody fell off, but their table was shockingly close. It wasn’t unrealistic in her mind for a drunkard to stumble ten feet laterally—she’d even seen it once or twice. The wounded sorcerer would just fall flat on her face though.

“They don’t teach ya that stuff on Leviathin Isle?” He quipped.

“Never been.” Cira shrugged.

“Huh?” They all looked at her funny.

“I’ve a confession to make…” Cira set her glass down, “I was never a real pirate. Just some sorcerer who took a job too big for her britches.”

“Impossible! You’re not a pirate?!” Shirtless Joe was flabbergasted, along with James and the goons.

“You… You were lying to us this whole time?” James was legitimately offended.

Cira could only hold out her hands in defeat, “Sorry boys. I’ve recently learned lying to friends is bad.”

“Psshhh, I’m real touched, Dreadheart.” Jimbo gave her an exaggerated look and placed a hand over his heart, “You basically told us that when we got back to Uru. Am I the only one who remembers that?” He looked around to blank stares around the table, “Seriously…? What’d they call you the Hidden Witch? I think I like Saint of the Seven Suns better.”

“The hell did you just call me?!” Cira’s jaw dropped.

“You ain’t heard that one yet?” He slapped the table and laughed, “Oh boy… The legends speak of a salty saint, bringer of light and one who controls the nymphs.”

“The whole city watched me curse a witch, and they still call me a saint?” Unbelievable.

“Like… a real curse?” Jimbo asked cautiously.

“Is there any other kind?”

“How should I know?” He took another swig, “What’s important is that you’re a pirate now. No two ways to look at it, Cap’n.”

“Huh… When you put it like that…”

“Where’s your little friend anyway? She was watching you sleep for a couple days then she disappeared.”

“Good question…” Cira cast Spatial Sight—wait, no she didn’t. “Dammit… Ninaaaaaaa! Are you around, girl?”

The cliffside was loud so nobody thought much of her wailing. Cira started to pout for a few minutes until a tiny head poked up from the ground. She timidly looked around before floating up behind Cira and resting on her shoulder.

Cira turned her head, “Exploring the island?”

“…”

“I see, I see.” Cira replied. “Hope you’re having fun.”

“Whoa…” Baum looked at her with wide eyes, “It really is a nymph. I thought that part was just me drinkin’ too much.”

“Ain’t she a cutey?” Cira held out a finger and the nymph hopped over to sit down.

“I didn’t know they left Fount Salt.” Jimbo noted.

“Me neither. I guess she wanted to move onto brighter pastures. I couldn’t have made it out of there without her, really.” Cira pet her on the head with one finger, “Sorry you don’t get a hat for a little while. No… maybe I’ll make you a real one.”

James cut in now, “So when are you going to tell us what the hell happened down there?”

“Right…” Cira sighed, “We should probably see if they sell barrels.”

“And right on time.” Jimbo declared, “There’s Boy Skipper now.”

“Huh?” Cira looked over to see the familiar young pirate with another in tow. A middle-aged fellow with dark stubble and a thin frame. He wore leather armor that looked tailored to fit and didn’t carry the air of a drunkard about him. “Who’s that guy?”

“You don’t remember Skips?!”

“No, the other guy.”

“Oh…” Taking another drink, Jimbo chuckled, “That’s your rock mage.”

She looked at him appraisingly for a moment only to realize she didn’t have the power to size him up whatsoever, “I hope he’s a metal mage too.”

Jimbo works fast. I’m glad I made him my second in command of the imaginary armada. It should be much easier to break into the archive with all that orichalcum out of the way, too.