We started through the Columbu Shore, sailing through the Mildred Sea, and only a night passed since we departed from the Forbidden Mountains.
Throughout the night; I spent my time training and meditating, while Bakunawa sailed on the cold ocean of the Mildred Sea. On the other hand, Ynez chose to spend her time sleeping inside Bakunawa's body; she doesn't seem to like the water or the salty smell of the sea.
So currently, I sat here alone on top of Bakunawa's head and under the burning sun; I meditated and exercised on top of Bakunawa's head as I let the heat roast my skin, and my skin glowed a radiant sunkiss.
But I didn't mind. What's important for me was to become disciplined. Only with this would I be able to control my urges and impulsive behaviours. This is what Bakunawa advised me, so that once I differentiated to an alpha; I could control the changes happening to this body.
And I followed the serpent's instructions. After all, I'm tired of feeling powerless. While I'm busy meditating, Bakunawa suddenly spoke to my head.
[Oh no, mortal, you have to get back inside my body, hurry…]
My brows furrowed as I kept my eyes closed, feeling bewildered in my heart. "What's the matter?" I asked.
[Look in front of you, pirates are coming!] Bakunawa warned, sounding urgent and anxious.
I spread the lids of my eyes open. And they widened even more as I stared ahead of me. A huge black ship is advancing at a fast speed in our direction. The crossed sword and wooden cane behind the skull drawn on the white flag is swaying with the flow of the wind.
I don't know who these pirates are, but I know that pirates are inherently trouble. I swallowed nervously, standing up.
[Hide inside my body, so I could dive deeper to the ocean, hurry!] Bakunawa transmitted in an urgent tone, opening her large mouth.
I nodded as I hurriedly climbed down on Bakunawa's mouth. However, since I'm in a hurry, I didn't fix the position of my foothold. As I descended down, my balance became unsteady.
[Mortal, it's too late, they're here!] Bakunawa transmitted, closing her mouth as she made a U-turn.
"What?!" I gasped, glancing behind me.
The huge black ship collided against Bakunawa's side. And my left hand grabbing on Bakunawa's dark blue scales slid down from the unbalanced posture, making me let go of my grip, and I fell down to the sea.
My eyes widened as I gasped. "Crap…"
[Mortal!]
The salty water entered my mouth.
[Mortal, they got me. I can't help you right now, can you come back up and help me?] Bakunawa transmitted over my head.
I didn't respond as more salty water went inside my mouth and nose.
[Mortal? Why aren't you answering?] Bakunawa transmitted again worriedly.
I remained silent as I felt suffocated.
[Mortal, don't tell me you can't swim?!] Bakunawa transmitted over, sounding shocked.
Bubbles came out of my mouth as I choked, feeling the air escape my lungs bit by bit.
[Hold on, I'll ask them to look for you, mortal. Don't give up!] Bakunawa transmitted hurriedly.
However, I couldn't answer since I can't swim, and now, I'm drowning deeper into the ocean.
'How to swim?' I asked in my head as the salty water entered my nose, choking me. Well, even in my original world, I also don't know how to swim, so is this the end for me?
I could feel that I'm slowly losing oxygen, and I think this is going to be my end…or not. Because someone suddenly pulled me up to the surface of the sea.
As soon as my head came out of the surface of the ocean; I greedily breathed, panting hard.
"Haah, haah, tha…thank you, my saviour…" I mumbled with a little difficulty as I panted for air.
"No worries, beauty." A bright feminine voice resounded, coming from the person next to me.
I glanced at the person, holding my waist, so I could remain up on the surface.
The moment I laid my eyes upon my saviour, my eyes instantly widened. She had a red bandana wrapped around her forehead, and her ears were wolf-like. While her skin is a little dark in colour; a mix blend of almond and chestnut brown.
If I remember correctly, according to the book I read inside Bakunawa's body, this girl should be part of the Beastfolk race. A race that was biologically human with animal-like features. It was stated in the book that their race came into hiding for over five hundred years. And they never showed up among other races again; just like the dwarven race.
While my thought process became busy.
The girl next to me grinned, showing her canines and dimples on display. I felt her legs under the ocean moving, swimming steadily.
"The name is Sylvia Dimacuha, beauty," the dark skinned girl said, winking at me.
Her long grey hair and gold eyes glowed brightly under the light of the sun.
"Oh, I'm Nasrin Urduja, thank you my saviour," I replied, smiling back gratefully.
"It's my pleasure to meet you, beauty, and if you don't mind me asking. How old are you?" Sylvia asked, wetting her lips with her tongue.
"Uhh…I'm sixteen," I replied, feeling confused with the out of the blue question.
"Oooh, I'm only nineteen years old, don't you feel like destiny is pushing us together?" Sylvia whispered, holding my waist closer to her.
"Err…" I replied, smiling wryly as I searched for Bakunawa on my peripheral vision.
I found Bakunawa's humanoid form, standing on the ship with huge handcuffs on her hand. And in front of Bakunawa stands another girl who looks to be the same age as me.
Her long hair is brown, and her chocolate brown eyes stare at me and Sylvia. She appeared, looking calm and stern.
"First mate Sylvia! Stop flirting and get back here already!" The brown haired girl yelled. "Just how many times must you tell everyone that you're only nineteen years old, we both know that you've stayed the same 19 for over 500 years!"
"Boo, you're no fun second mate Jack!" Sylvia shouted back.
My mouth hangs open as I glance at Sylvia. "Eh?"
Sylvia glanced at me then she grinned. "Well, let's go to the ship, beauty," Sylvia said, pulling me along as she swam towards the black ship.
"Eh?" I replied, flabbergasted.
Afterwards, I stood next to Bakunawa with huge stone cuffs on our wrist.
Meanwhile, four girls stood in front of us, staring at me and Bakunawa.
The first girl on the right is Sylvia with grey hair and golden eyes. She is the tallest person among everyone in the ship. Her seven foot tall figure is wrapped in a red fabric that seems to appear like a tribal cloth.
The second girl is the brown haired person who was called Jack. She had the same height as me, but her body is more slim and flat-chested. And among everyone, she is the only one who seems normal and ordinary. Because her body is adorned with the same villager clothes as me.
The third girl has long dark green hair, and her droopy eyes are amber like the colour of earth. And she had the most sturdy body among us, she is also the second tallest person on the ship. She also appears to be a real pirate because of her clothing.
On the other hand, the fourth one has red eyes and long pink hair. And she has a petite figure. She also appears like royalty or someone from a noble family because of her dress.
I glance at Bakunawa, and she seems to be nervous; she bit her lower lip, looking troubled. A black fabric hangs on her shoulder, covering her naked body.
"Ahem." Sylvia cleared her throat, breaking the silence in the air. "This one next to me is…"
"My name is Jacquelyn, the second mate under Captain Blank, just call me Jack, the builder of this ship," said Jack, interrupting Sylvia.
Sylvia twitches her mouth, glancing at Jack. "Aish, you're really not cute…"
Jack rolled her eyes at Sylvia.
The fourth girl with the pink hair and red eyes started laughing, then she stared at me and said, "I'm the third mate Sofia Ablaze, the thief and the strategist, just call me Fia," she said as her red lips arcs cunningly.
The third girl with dark green hair and amber eyes yawned. "And I'm Captain Blank, just call me Blank if you want," Blank said lazily, raising only one corner of her lips, making her smile appear like a smirk.
"Now, it's your turn to introduce yourself," Sofia said, only pointing to me.
My inner eyebrows pulled up together, feeling something is weird with the situation. "Uhm, my name is Nasrin Urduja," I said.
Sofia then leaned to Captain Blank's ears, whispering something I couldn't hear.
Captain Blank nodded, then she stared at Bakunawa. "Oi Bakunawa," she called as her eyes narrowed.
I glanced at Bakunawa, and I saw her swallowing hard.
"It's been like what? More than three years have already passed, when do you plan on introducing the first and the second lightbringer to us, huh?" Captain Blank asked in a calm tone, but I could sense anger in her tone.
My brows furrowed as I glanced at Bakunawa. "Do you know them?" I asked, puzzled.
Bakunawa didn't respond; she stared at Captain Blank as they communicated through telepathy.
After a while, Captain Blank nodded as her amber eyes glanced at me probingly. "So this is the Lady Moonlight?"
Bakunawa face-palm hearing what Captain Blank said.
"So beauty is Lady Moonlight, eh?" Sylvia mumbled with a flirty smile.
Jack nodded in approval at me as she grinned. "This girly ain't bad compared to the idiot Sylvia…"
My eyes widened as I looked back and forth at Bakunawa and the four pirates.
A mischievous cunning laugh resounded to my ears. "Welcome aboard to the ship…" Sofia stated then she twisted her lips slyly as she continued, "...Lady Moonlight."
I tilted my head in pure confusion. "Huh?"