**THUNDER**
**CRACKLE**
**TTHHUUMMM**
The sea got violent and the winds are too strong.
"Your...highness the sails have been destroyed!!" a woman shouted while the rain poured heavily on them
Earlier they were caught in a storm, the waves got bigger and bigger as they went further inside the eye of the storm. The ship got creaked and now the sails are torn.
The princess gritted her teeth while using her magic to protect the ship from heavy rains and winds but she was not strong enough.
**CRACKLE**
**THUNDER**
"Your highness, the ship can't take anymore. It will sink any time" the woman shouted while holding onto the edge of the ship
It was swaying very badly and all their things fell overboard.
"Tell them to cast their magic we need to protect the ship we are almost at the edge of the storm" The princess shouted as she swayed with the ship
The woman nodded and shouted below. The ship was covered with a pale green color. As the waves hit hard on the ship it shook and sway as they pushed through.
**CRACKLE**
Slowly the water began to calm down, the princess groaned as she sat limply on the ship.
"Is everyone alright?" she asked breathing heavily
"Yes, your highness, everyone's alright" the woman replied
The princess sighed in relief, they were all wet so they dried their clothes with wind magic.
Then they checked the food left sadly it got thrown overboard when they were at the storm and the sails were torn into pieces.
The woman all stitched the torn sails with extra pieces of their clothes.
"YOUR HIGHNESS, THERE'S A SHIP IN THE DISTANCE" the woman shouted worriedly
The princess immediately stood up "What kind of ship? What is their flag?" she asked hurriedly
"I don't know your highness, I have never seen any ship like this and I also don't recognize the flag" the woman replied
The princess walked near her and then took the telescope in her hand, she looked through it and saw a magnificent ship sailing in their direction.
She looked at the flag and didn't recognize it, it looked like a bird with red color and black background. This is the first she saw a ship like this.
"What should we do your highness?" the woman asked scared
The princess put down the telescope "We can only hope they are not pirates or any noble, we can't fight them like this if they were" she said coldly her hands gripping the telescope
"If something is wrong escape immediately okay," she said to the women they all nodded seriously
-----
"MASTER, THERE'S A SHIP IN THE DISTANCE!!" the lookout shouted from below
"What kind of ship?" Lu Xie asked
"It's not a merchant or a nobles ship master, it looks old and seems to be creaked and the sails are torn" the lookout answered
"I see, then let's just go on our way" Lu Xie shrugged she has no interest in dealing with other people's business, then she resumed playing the zither
As the ship got nearer and nearer on the small ship, the crew didn't care and was focused on their way.
"Please excuse me!!" A woman shouted from the below
Lu Xie heard it and stop her fingersin the zither, the ship also stopped and looked at Ilna. Ilna understood and nodded, she went near the edge of the ship and look down.
"Why did you stop my master's ship," Ilna asked coldly
"Please forgive us for stopping you, but we need your help," the woman said
Ilna looked at her and looked at her master, Lu Xie tilt her head and nodded.
"My master agrees to help you but first our companion will see you first," Ilna said seriously
"Thank you" the woman bowed
**SPLASH**
"Well well well, what do we have here" a woman suddenly sounded beside the broken ship
All the women on the ship looked at the source of the voice and saw a beautiful mermaid.
She looked at them as if looking through their souls, the women all gulped and were feeling very nervous.
"Is this really okay"
"I'm not too sure about this"
"What is she doing?"
"I'm nervous"
The mermaid then smiled as if amused "Axie, it's okay you can help them" she shouted then swim back to the ship before jumping out of the ship and sitting on a shade infront of the ship.
Lu Xie nodded and continue to play the zither. Ilna saw her master agree she stepped into the edge of the ship and clapped her hand, a circle of light green shot toward the boat, and slowly the water rose with the ship.
All the women on the ship held on until they reached the deck, the princess was the first to get down and followed by the others.
After all of them are on board the creak ship was put down the water.
"Thank you" the princess bowed
"Master, what shall we do?" Ilna asked while looking at her master
All the women looked at the person who the woman called a master, they saw a young man sitting in front of the ship, and on his lap was a strange thing. But one thing they noticed is that his eyes were covered.
Lu Xie was playing the zither releasing a calming melody "Go get them some clothes to change and give them food for now" she said lightly
"Yes master, please follow me," Ilna said then walk first all the women followed her
The women all looked at the crew on the ship and they are very good-looking, when they looked at them they just nodded and then look away.
No one in the crew looked at them lustfully or wickedly, so they sight in relief.
Ilna opened the door, near the back of the ship "This is where you will change and my soldier will come with your food later" she said coldly
"Thank you," The Princess said gratefully
"Don't thank me I'm not the one who saved you" Ilna shook her head
"Can I ask the name of your master?" The princess asked boldly
"My master's name is Lu Xie," Ilna said before leaving
"Lu Xie" the princess whispered the name of that man
"Your highness, please change your clothes now," a woman said softly
The princess nodded, and all of them changed their clothes before the food got delivered and ate it.
After they all got comfortable, they stepped out of the room. All the crew was doing their business silently while listening to that soft beautiful melody.
The Princess approached the man sitting at the front of the ship and bowed "Thank you for helping us Mr. Lu Xie" she said gratefully
Then suddenly the melody stopped, and silence enveloped the ship.
The princess suddenly sweat thinking she said something wrong.
"What did you call me?" Lu Xie asked
"M...Mr. Lu Xie" she repeated
"Eeehh, but I'm not a man," Lu Xie said shocked
This also shocked Calis and the other women who just joined them.
"What? Your not a man or your lying" Calis asked stunned
"Where did you see I'm a man, I'm just clearly wearing a man's clothes because it's a hustle wearing women's clothes" Lu Xie raised her eyebrow
"I...I'm sorry I thought you were a boy" the princess apologized
"*sigh* It's fine, by the way, what's your name?" Lu Xie asked back
"My name is Mana," Mana said respectfully
"I see, well you go rest for now. We'll talk later" Lu Xie said before playing with the zither again
Mana nodded and went to her group.
Lu Xie continues to play the zither.
One of the women was looking at Ilna earlier until they stepped out of the room.
[Host, someone seems to have an eye for your soldier] Ali reported
Lu Xie looked at Ilna and saw a woman staring at her with a blushing face.
"Holy semi, I can't believe this" Lu Xie giggled
[Me too, a cold Ilna has caught someone's attention] Ali laughed too
One should know that Ilna was like a cold lotus flower that has a strong face and cold aura. So she's quite popular in the army but also has a lot of admirers, yet no one dared to look at her like that.
"Well she's quite cute, I think Ilna has a thing for cuteness" Lu Xie chuckle
[Hehehe I can't wait to see if this cute girl can succeed]
"Yeah me too"
Ilna felt a shiver run down her spine she frowned confused then ignore it.