5 hours prior, 12:00
Midnight
Aleksander CrosSpear POV:
I finish writing the letter to my wife and attach it to the talons of our local Riffiant, a Medium sized bird trained in delivering messages that's large enough to defend itself and take long journeys but make incredible time. Despite their large stature, they hate any conflict or violence.
I send the bird off, giving a breadcrumb, and hope she has been doing well over the last two months. We both agreed that for her safety and the rising pirate presence, it would be better if she spends the last couple of months at the capital, and I will focus on raising Articius right now.
The boy coming on eight years old, always seems focused on more than his own issues, is always trying to absorb everything, and is quick to catch on and learn.
I believe the capital will see his growth eventually and want him to train under their special scholars. Regardless I will ensure he is ready for any path he wants to take.
I began to shut down everything and check on Art before bed, and he passed out, snoring as loud as ever, looking in deep thought even as he slept. I shut the door and head to put out the fire in the main room when I hear a loud Clang Clang Clang in the distance, and my heart drops, thinking the worse.
I grabbed my vest and put my boots on hear the Clang Clang Clang louder this time, followed by the town elder sending a voice message throughout the entire area carried by his wind. PIRATES ARE ATTACKING!! EVERYABLE BODY TO THE COAST! ALEK LEAD THE WAY!! 10 PIRATE SHIPS ARE ROBBING THE COAST!! DEFEND AT ALL COST!!
I finish dressing, rush out the wooden door, and see Cliff heading to the coast, and I call him to watch over the house instead!
He looks back, confused as to why he should watch the house when the coast is in need. I simply respond. I read a report about pirates hiring bounty hunters lately and need the house protected. They could have put a hit on my wife, and even though she is not here, no one knows that right now and could target Articius as a secondary.
Also, I have Samoht arriving soon. So once he arrives, just meet me at the coast! Why so late? He constantly shows up late. Do not worry about it. Get help from the book nerd, also. She can read Articius a story if he wakes up! With that, I rush down the dirt road and gather 6-8 additional men specializing in water energy to deal with direct fire damage.
We arrive at the coastline with 3-4 of our fine ships already on fire, with pirates robbing crates of random goods and 40-50 Pirates attacking the coast troops assigned with defending the common town folks. Bodies litter the sandy beach with pirates and kingdom troops alike.
I assign all the water Reathers to focus their energy on the fire, and I will deal with the pirates on land right now. The leader of this brazen group must be among them.
Take him down, and the rest of the heads will roll, I think to myself. " HEAVENS DIVINE WATER GAUNTLET!" Sharp water, nearly boiling and gleaming with light, forms around my arms, and everyone stops and watches in either horror or praise! In most of those attacks, the guardsmen stop, and all focus on me.
Five pirates hastened towards me with Scabers in hand, all trying to strike me down, but they were all inexperienced, and their cheaply made swords snapped from striking against my forearms and back. Summoning a barrier around myself in my own energy is a rare feat among Soul Feathers. It is basically invisible armor that can help hand-to-hand fighters deal with strong elemental users.
This fight dragged out 1-2 hours, dealing with at least a hundred pirates before finally facing a tall, skinny man wearing a red cap.
He pierces his blade through a Capital Soldier frying him. I threw myself in his direction, catching the man impaled by the thin sword, and found his entire face hot to the touch with electric marks all across his face.
Closing his eyes and laying him on the ground, I apologize for being too late and ask the man in the fancy getup who he is. He gives a devilish grin and states that he is the leader of the Rising Pirate Guild, who will take over the entire kingdom.
I laugh back, saying he is foolishly over his head! How dare you kill innocent people and rob what is not yours. That is where you are mistaken, you brute; I do what is needed and take what I desire. With the help of our new friends, nothing is out of my reach! Taking you down will be the first step in conquering the coastline! The man dash's toward me at a flashing speed thrusting his sword toward my chest.
I catch it with ease and pull him towards me, and before I go to throw a counter punch, he unleashes his Spirit energy and a large Lighting vortex from his sword encompasses us both.
He laughs, saying im the perfect counter for a brute obsessed with water! After I finish frying you like a fis--- I cut him off, snapping his sword, and mock him saying his lighting couldn't even light a smoke for me, grabbing him by the color and slamming my knee into his chest, sending him flying into a burning ship.
He crashes into a bunch of barrels and is knocked out with multiple bruises and wounds. He cry's out for the help of a random girl sitting in a chair. I didn't even notice her, but her skin shined a Dark purple that blended in with the dark.
She got up and scuffed at the man, saying he should not need her help, and walked over to his destroyed body, bent over, and said oh no. You look like you got hit pretty hard. Now where is the evil brute that did this to you? He sheepishly raises his hand towards me, and she responds, "Oh, him. I was looking forward to playing with him anyways, with an evil smile forming.