{ Port town of Azura }
In the peaceful port, the numerous ships in their own variety of visuals and sizes. The sailors buzzed about the enormous ship that towers every other vessel.
In their mouths was the name of the captain of the massive ship that carries the tale of both impressive and dangerous feats.
However in the wide docking port of Azura, one pirate ship dreaded the news of the Pirate King's presence in the same area as them.
Especially with a treasure that they sought, coincidentally landing in the hands of the man himself. Someone whom they were wary of creating bad blood with.
" Ye sure that strumpet be in that ship?"
He asked for confirmation.
His blue eyes pierced the messenger's figure. And if looks could kill, the young pirate would have been dead hundreds of times.
" Aye, captain. I saw the wench meself."
He nodded, desperate to get the trust of his captain.
Although quivering as he answered, he swallowed the fear in his voice-trying not to shrink under his blue horrendous eyes.
The man with ginger hair and blue eyes, who spoke in harsh and dominant orders was known as the Flare Mercenaries' captain in the pirate world.
Feared by many peers, as his treacherous reputation had opted him into the position worthy to be called as one of the Pirate Lords.
However in his career in illegal trade and other dangerous business, he had never encountered such a dilemma before.
No failures had ever put shame into his name and crew. He was known as a successful illegal guild. Never would he imagine he will one day have to face the alleged Pirate King under this kind of circumstance.
The situation that pushed him into the uncertainty of his future positions. Clearly, this dire situation that evidently came from his lacking as a consequence made him somewhat desperate and angrily hopeless.
The feared man had never looked so distraught, at the same time still carrying the dagger in his cold gaze-even if he only had his right eye.
He still looked as scary as ever, despite
" I saw her meself, captain. In the Mad Treasure, the wench seems to have stowed away."
The young pirate once again repeated what he saw in the port.
He couldn't be mistaken, he knew what he saw. Even at the poor effort of her disguise, the young pirate knew the jade necklace he saw in her neck and the owner of it.
" She has the jade necklace."
The captain's eyes widened at the new information. His mind is trying to process the words of his crew.
Suddenly, he can see the end of the dilemma- as if he found out right away the exit of the dangerous area he accidentally went into. His scowl finally leaves his face, as his eye brightens so does the sinister smirk in his lips widens.
" If it mighty that wench in that ship, I will guarantee yer future in me ship. But if ye be wastin' me time, I 'ave ye walk the plank t' the locker, savvy!"
His rough hand grasped the shivering pirate's shoulders.
He clung to the young pirate as if seeking reassurance, though everyone knew he was only feeding his fears
"Aye captain." He said in a mere tone, avoiding the eyes of his captain.
" Now, call upon the quartermaster! I shall have you and other men with him, spy on the pirate king and try to take her back!"
His thunderous voice echoed through the space he walked through.
Coming out of his office and walking straight to the deck, announcing the next move they must take-a risk if he is to call it.
"Avast, ye scallywags o' the Flare Mercenaries! We be weighin' anchor from this island posthaste 'n changin' our course! Send for the quartermaster, we be settin' our sights 'n followin' the pirate king's trail! Let Chris handle the matters ashore Ter! We must fetch 'er!"
Whispers immediately erupted in the deck when they heard their captain's sudden orders.
However no one dared to question it, instead they all started to carry out the task of weighing the anchor as immediate as they can be.
...
{ At the Mad Treasure }
The ship had finally gone back to being noisy. The crew started to return gradually after surveying the place. The pirates started to set the black sails of the ship, the navigator giving them strict instructions and wanting nothing but intricate details.
Some started hauling and carrying some bundles that had been stopped at the foot of the port. Dozens of boxes and sacks, inside are herbs and medicine, some are even containing potions and magical objects. The other heavy cargo that made every crew whine as they loaded it on the ship, are the gunmaster's trades from the armory.
He did not bother to show up of course, wanted nothing but to roam the island and have his men carry it back to the ship.
Below the ship's ladder was a young pirate, whose green hair was as dark as the forest. Eyes brighter like the sun rays, looked defeated while he took the job of manhandling the hauls.
Tyke felt older than his age, with the heavy boxes and sacks he forced himself to carry.
"Take it like a man, lad!"
One of the crew laughed at him, breezing past with hauls they didn't seem to struggle with. Some of the men behind him laughed at his misery as he handled the quartermaster's purchases.
" I am writing a complaint." Tyke grumbled.
" And whom are you sending it to, aye?" The laughter only got louder, while his actions slowly halted.
Complaints from the crew were not new. There were indeed some dissatisfactions of roles and chores designations in the ship, especially whenever some of the higher ranked men were caught lazing off.
These complaints were all the duty of being handled by none other than the quartermaster. And so, Tyke felt hopeless and carried on his job when all he wanted was to get back to the casino he was pulled out of by Hakim earlier.
But if there was someone that has been whining at the top of lungs and had already regretted his life, it was the boatswain of the ship.
Throughout the time, he would throw a certain doctor a menacing glare as he helped the other men carry his shopping entries.
" What the fuck are dilly—dallying over there, fucking move!"
Draco scowled, as he almost bumped into Tyke. The boatswain's hurried actions could have created a stampede as Tyke struggled to balance himself and not fall towards the other men.
" Draco watch where you're going for fuck sake!" Tyke did not even hesitate on calling him out.
"Can't fucking do that, can we when Zeki's being a pain!"
He bought all those dozens of boxes, even with the help of other men it felt as it its endless.
Draco contemplated whether he should use his own experience in battling and swing at Zeki. Considering Zeki could and will treat him afterwards anyway so it wasn't so much of a risk, or maybe he could just also write a complaint.
He did none of those anyways, instead he carried on with the awful job.
Being Zeki's bitch.
"Around you whining too much?" The doctor taunted.
"And Tyke, if you're done with Elijah's errand help the boatswain. I still have a lot of cargos here."
The doctor himself was standing at the top of the gangway ladder. He instructed the men who were carrying his precious herbs and threatened everyone who would drop it.
"We fucking get it! Stop threatening us!"
Draco arrived at the main deck with the boxes in his arms. Immediately, he began counting all the boxes while helping everyone who were nearly collapsing under the weight.
"I have some divine premonition that these are nowhere enough."
Zeki complained about how they had not gotten enough supplies, which made Draco want to punch the elder.
" Thirty six boxes ain't enough?"
He exclaimed, hoping he would not be the one being taken to accompany him.
"Please, at this point you're goin' t' 'ave a sanatorium, doc."
Tyke came about and overheard their conversation. His eyes widened when the doctor raised his eyebrow challengingly.
The doctor won't back down that easily, if he said it's not enough it is not enough.
" You have no sense of your spending. Your doubloons ain't limited." Said Draco, complaining about the habit of Zeki.
"Don't overspend, and don't do it all at once. You need help, this is an addiction. "
He continued his voice getting higher as the man in front of him did not bother to consider it.
No one really dares to speak about the doctor's knack of overspending, that on every island he was always the one spending too much.
Yes, perhaps an addiction.
"Draco, me sweet young heartie." Zeki beamed. "You don't understand the beauty of all of these herbs and medical fields, they call me." He declared, his hands are everywhere as if singing in an opera house as he looked upon the horizon with the proudest look he has.
" Addiction, it is." Draco shot back after a moment of silence. Draco smacked the doctor's head in an attempt to wake him up from his delusion, while Tyke silently nodded his head vigorously, agreeing to Draco's statement.
All while, Axel saw the interaction from the quarterdeck. He watched with amusement even though he didn't hear anything.
An amused gasp left his mouth as he snickered all by himself when he saw Draco smack the doctor that he himself never dared to touch in that way.
Zeki is scary as an angry man. He shook his head as the two started running around the deck, the doctor wanting nothing but to also smack the living daylights out of the boatswain life. A smile formed in his mouth as he watched upon everyone in the ship, a hope in his heart.
Wanting this scene to be forever, as the fear of not fulfilling what he had set sail upon won't be a guarantee.
The noise in the ship, carving in with the sound of the winds, the sound of the sea, every voice, the laughter, the whine and groan of those who tried to voice out their complaints.
The enthusiastic crew who did their job with finesse. All were heard by the captain himself who never looked at anything at that moment wanting to capture what he had been leading.
In contrast to everyone's expectations, and the whispers of rumors and myths, the pirate king's crew is not one of those enormous people who knows nothing but to kill.
The crew was like one big family who knew nothing but treasures and dreams. However they could be as barbaric as they get, just like how the rumors suggested.
Silence suddenly interrupted what was happening above the ship. The loud voices halted, the boxes were unloaded, some stopped in their tracks, some wandered loud enough for everyone.
The figures who stepped in unannounced made everyone quiet, everyone's eyes focused on one, one person.
Elijah vaulted to the deck with precision, all while carrying an unconscious woman in his arms. Behind him was the combatant who was in his usual quietness, however there was darkness around him that made everyone felt cautious.
"Axel, we might need to weigh the anchor as soon as possible!"
Curiosity was loud in the deck, not anyone dared to speak. The captain walks with questions in his steps towards the, his eyes looking at the woman who resembles someone.
"What happened?" Axel asked seriously.
"Some motherfuckers out there are looking for some trouble. Argus and Hakim are on the way, it's just a matter of time before those maniacs try something."
Elijah said urgently, conveying the importance of the situation.
" How about him?" Axel glanced behind Elijah, motioning to the combatant whose eyes did not stray from the woman.
He noticed how Calev seemed so detached, as if something had triggered the combatant to be so rigid and on guard. The familiar ominous feeling around him made Axel feel alarmed.
"I'm sane." Calev managed to coax.
Although his deep voice was heard by everyone, an assurance that none of their fear might subdue them for this afternoon. None of them couldn't help but take proper caution and stepped back further from any frightening possibilities.
"We would have been in a more dire situation if he hadn't calmed down."
Elijah whispered with honesty and worry, not wanting to alarm anyone any further.
" He's alright now, but her."
He continued, glancing over the woman in his arms.
"Who is she, quartermaster?" Tyke found himself asking from where he stood.
The woman, peacefully unconscious in her light dress that almost matches her skin but not quite. Her long black hair danced with the wind, while Elijah held her close. There were tear marks in her cheeks, cheeks were red.
Axel then saw it, the necklace rested in her chest. The jade oval stone, shining through the sunlight.
[ The stowaway. ]
"You took too long, you all know I need the hands for these."
Zeki said, scolding everyone including the quartermaster. He was not bothered by the presence of someone on the ship.
While most of the men were in their notions of concluding the most possible answer for the identification of this woman. Be it Elijah's beau or a woman that their captain might have ordered to be captured—Zeki couldn't care less.
He was unconcerned about who they bring in, even women. Hakim had brought too many prostitutes on the ship anyways, and he had seen everything from all these lustful mates he had. He is just thankful that they are respectful enough anyways.
But that wasn't the reason for his indifference. He already has an idea who she is.
"Eli, take her to the sickbay. I will deal with her later."
He commanded, looking over at Axel for permission. Granted by the captain, Elijah began to leave when he was stopped by Calev. His eyes were burning with intensity, looking at the woman in Elijah's arms aggressively.
"I will take her." He declared.
Calev's voice had become heavy, the roughness of his tone scared almost all of them. The men felt like there was no longer air for them to breathe. All that they await is for their captain to tame the one that spoke.
"You go to the brig until I say so."
Axel imperiously said through gritted teeth. He had already too much to think, there were so many things going on. And a combatant who was losing his demeanor to his demon was not something he would like to deal with.
"Get Felix and have him lock up this bastard!" Axel ordered with haste when he saw Calev's eyes turning black.
"Captain, I am sane."
Calev fought back, his voice dangerously low and defined. From everyone's point of view, the combatant had slowly started to lose it, and they were aware that the woman in Elijah's arms was the reason.
"Calev."
Axel warned, the timber of his voice matching the one that was spoken by the combatant's mouth. The two of them stared at each other, with Axel intimidation that slowly conquered the combatant's unexplainable fury-just like how he always did.
Taming that beast of him.
Felix arrived from the stern deck at the same time Argus and Hakim finally reached the ship. Without any further questions, Felix brutally dragged Calev, aware of what was going on with the man he ought to be left alone in the brig for a while.
The two explained what happened at the tavern, identifying the pirate as unknown due to their lack of information. One thing that was certain, he was trying to provoke them. It was clear he was aware of whose pirate crew they belonged to, and that bastard was just trying to stir some trouble. His creepy demeanor that was also vexingly annoying made Hakim almost draw his first shot at him, this would have troubled the whole crew and sabotage their mission.
"I guess she's alright. That prick was overly obsessed with her, creepy."
Argus cringed, remembering how that man won't stop bothering Elijah about who was the woman with them.
With the absence of the dangerous combatant, and the quartermaster taking the stowaway to the sickbay, the crew went back to what they were earlier. Their thoughts still lingered with questions despite that. While Felix returned from successfully detaining the greater issue they would have faced, he started to give his instructions to sail.
"But who was that woman?"
Tyke asked one of his crewmates, the question garnered everyone's attention.