Accompanied by Daisy, one of Samantha's trusted maids, Melissa went to the stable in search of Mercedes, the stallion that her father brought from one of his travels. Together, they set off towards the ferry that would take Melissa to the port alone. Despite Daisy's fidelity to Samantha, Melissa found it particularly easy to be by her side, after all, both didn't like to chat for nothing. The girl was no more than 15 years old, even if the serious countenance aged some. Her hairs were black and thick and the skin tanned and blushed. Melissa liked to watch her helping with her homework, after all, the girl didn't take more than a foot and a half. However, Melissa had to admit that the little girl knew how to tame a horse, not that Mercedes was rude at some point to her, on the contrary, the two had a beautiful synergy together, but when they met, the fierce look on Daisy's doll face made it clear that she was a lovely opponent.
The wind was blowing hard when the two girls hit the ferry, Daisy didn't even get out of Mercedes, just handed the bag to Melissa and waved gently, leaving for the world of chores that Samantha would crash on her in Melissa's absence. The ferry, already open for boarding, was empty when the girl arrived, floating tied to two wooden poles, one on each side of the road, keeping it as immobile as possible for the horses that boarded, confused and suspicious. Anchored to the side of the raft, Melissa watched the water fluttering under the metal, immersed in her thoughts.
The trip had only lasted a short time to the Port of Iliona, where the number of boats scared the girl a little, who had no idea which would take her to the Black Market. Walking, however, the young woman came across a narrow shop, the entrance covered with various tapestries, maps, necklaces and trinkets that Melissa didn't even could name it. Curiously, the girl entered the store, discovering her bright interior. On the ceiling, fabrics in dark shades of purple and blue coated with details, studded with gold and pearls hung, the walls covered with a multitude of colors and textures, maps of places that Melissa could not even read the name, because all the details were in ancient Ilion, exposed. When she took a deep breath, trying to absorb that charm, Melissa came across a low man, a long beard and long wild hair, the rebellious tips for cutting. Black eyes fixed on her, questioners.
"Hi! I'm sorry to invade like this, I need a map." – She said, her cheeks blushing under the hard eye in front of him.
"I don't sell maps." – The man replied, a smile in the corner of his lips.
"So, what do you sell? All there is here are maps and fabrics."
"I'm a tailor, who sells information, stupid girl." – said, turning her back on Melissa returning to her activities.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, I need to go to the Black Market of Mosei Kimanti, can you help me?" - she said, the loud and sure tone of herself, better than she expected. The trader turning in her direction almost immediately.
"This information will cost a price, young lady, a very high." – He said, his eyes strolling through the girl, who, uncomfortable, staggered and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Hi!" – A voice behind Melissa screamed, drawing the attention of the merchant, who looked away from her immediately. " Kuriz, here it is." – A paper in hand, stretching his arm in the direction of the bearded.
"Captain Yariss, came back early, how were things in Almajid?" – Kuriz said, shaking the young man's hand and handing him a bag of gold then.
"Almajid?" - Melissa whispered, paying attention to the two.
"Hot as usual, what's for me this week?" – he asked, ignoring the presence of Melissa, who was trying to sneak out, when Kuriz turned to her:
"The young lady over there wants to go to Kimanti, do you believe it? She came here to buy a map, as if she could get there alone."
Both laughed at the sloppy decision of the girl, who took a deep breath and turned to the exit.
"Hey!" - the young Captain called her. "My name is Marrish Yariss, I make the trips to Almajid."
"And why should I know that?" – She said, the tone still irritated by old Kuriz's joke, her eyes strolling through Marrish, his long hair, intimidating green eyes and black and red leather clothes.
"Because, as you don't seem to know it yet, Mosei Kimanti's Black Market is in Almajid, your stupid little girl." – he said, leaving the store in stride, leaving her behind.
Quickly, Melissa ran towards him, grabbing the small bag she brought.
"Wait, Marrish!" She screams, reaching for him with a touch on his shoulder.
Marrish grabbed her by the wrist, looking her seriously from above, her lips closed in a thin line.
"Don't touch me." - he said, letting go of ger wrist.
"I know it's in Almajid, I just got distracted. Can you take me there?" - She asked, trying to express in her face as much as she could of sympathy.
"The entrance is 450 Izos*, I leave at sunset." – said, leaving before Melissa responded, towards a boat whose black hull was worn and in need of a painting.
Melissa followed him along the way and boat ed, swerved from the sailors who worked non-stop, several patches of charcoal on the sun's brunette skin, the bandanas fastened to belts or tied like bracelets, indicating the color of his Captain, accompanied by gold bracelets and paraphernalia from his hometown. Melissa watched the tied candles, as black as the leather on Marrish's clothes in contrast to the blue sky. The hull wood, worn, but strong and clean. Melissa smiled, the wind pushing her long blonde hair over her shoulder, the smell of sea breeze penetrating her nostrils.
Marrish, like a ghost, appeared beside her, his long dark hair tied in a wide coking, his green eyes sweeping the horizon.
"So, you come?" - He asked, the kindest tone of voice before.
"I have to go" - said the girl, straightening the column and the bag she carried attached to you.
"Come with me." - Marrish spoke, heading toward a door adorned on the deque.
Following him carefully not to slip into a sailor's cleaning, Melissa passed through the door stop. At first, her vision needed to adapt to the low luminosity of the room, but when it did, she swallowed dry. A large bed was arranged in the middle of the room, surrounded by a long table, where Marrish had opened several maps, books and writing notes, which spread even across the floor. On the walls, bookshelves full of maps and books caught the attention of the girl, whose eyes shone when she saw so many titles that she still did not read yet.
"Do you like to read?" - Marrish asked her, offering a glass of wine.
"Yes, but I didn't think you were that kind of guy." - She replied, taking the cup carefully.
With a laugh, he replied:
"That kind of guy?"
"You understood." – Retorted the girl, a smile sprouting in the corner of her lips, as the curious fingers passed over the hardcover of each volume on the shelf.
"Feel free to read them, they haven't been out of these old shelves for a long time." – he said, sitting and sidrinking from the full glass in his hands. "What's a girl like you going to do in Almajid?"
"I'm going to get something for my stepmother." - She said, still immersed in the book's synopsis.
"What?" asked Marrish, a glimmer of curiosity and adventure appearing in her eyes.
"I don't know exactly, I just have the address." - he replied, without hesitation.
"That's insane, you don't know that place. They would destroy a little girl like you as soon as you step on their land." – Marrish spoke, the calm tone, her eyes wandering between her notes on the table.
"Well, I have nothing left to lose anyway." - Melissa whispered, drinking a sip of red wine.
Marrish watched her from head to toe, his prying eyes wondering what had happened before she got there.
Melissa took a navigation book and looked at Marrish, sitting cross-legged on the bed, immersed in papers.
"You can sit on the bed, Melissa, I won't bite you." – The captain spoke in a playful tone, without taking his eyes off a document.
Bland, the girl sat on the opposite side of the captain and both immersed themselves in their tasks, stealing each other's eyes from time to time.
As the ship left the port, Melissa left Marrish's cabin, bumping into the sunset. Behind her, on the helm of the ship, Marrish chatted excitedly with a neat man, wearing leather robes like his. Melissa had never met anyone as volatile as Marrish, she felt like approaching him, but with one look he could make her feel like a sloppy little girl. However, he had such a nice smile… The afternoons passed quickly when they engaged in some conversation about their homelands and family. Mel had discovered that he had a lost sister and a strict mother, she could feel his love as he laughed as he told her of the two twins' little shenanigans as a child.
Lying on Marrish's bed while he talked to his sailors on the screaming debut, Melissa decided to dive among some of the young captain's books before the trip was over and she missed the precious opportunity to get her hands on copies like those. Passing her fingers over the books, Melissa focused on the ship's light swing, feeling the textures under her skin, feeling the sea shake under her feet as her heart accelerated. Far away, a female voice humming, the tone soft, welcoming and familiar. With two knocks on the thick wooden door, Marrish stuck her head through a small crack and said:
"Melissa, is everything okay out there?" – the voice worried about the girl, who, rubbing her eyes, answered sweetly:
"Yes, it's okay, I'm just a little dizzy. – She grabbed the book in which her fingers passed last and threw herself into the huge bed, the shoes loosening from her feets and falling soon after, the playful look stuck to Marrish.
"Loose." said Marrish when he saw her like that – "What are you reading? " – he spoke, closing the bedroom door behind him, going towards the girl with slow steps.
Melissa looked away from the captain to the cover of the book, surprising her because she hadn't noticed the title before.
"Known magical artifacts and their antics." – answered him calmly, opening the book in the first cataloged artifact: The Magic Pit of Zehan Grymwar.