The salty air ruffled his hair in a playful dance as he stepped through the Gate.
He took a deep breath, savoring the fresh, salty scent and observing the azure sea sparkling under the sun. The sound of waves crashing on the dikes filled his ears next, raising the excitation surging through his soul.
A smile stretched his lips as the mage approached him to check his identification.
He paid the man for the Gate’s utilisation tax, showing his student card as proof, and took determined steps towards the nearby port.
On his way, he saw the fluttering sails filling the horizons like human-made clouds. Below them, the thick masts and the ropes dangling in intricate networks caused his heart to pound against his chest.
"I’m finally alone for a real adventure!"
He raised his clenched fist above his head, the weight of his past journeys crashing onto him like the sea.
Each time, Julius, Nova, or one of the summoned always showed up, forcing a part of his mind to care for them, not to mention Selene’s or Moira’s pressure. But not this time!
’I’ll do whatever I want on this journey! It’s me, me, and me alone!’
He chuckled, reaching a booth filled with veteran sailors and a man seated above a world map.
He noticed the middle-aged man’s brows raise in surprise, probably because of his age, but offered him a polite smile.
"I want to board a ship to travel. Money is not a problem."
"Oho? Tell me where. I’ll recommend you the best captains. We even have some ships guarded by genuine acolytes!"
The man’s sparkling eyes and the greedy smile tugging at his lips registered in his eyes as he stiffed the laugh threatening to burst out.
With a cough to clear his throat, he fished ten shiny gold coins and placed them on the map.
"I want to go to Skullcove."
The man’s amiable expression twitched, and the veteran sailors froze in their activities at the island’s mention.
A tense silence engulfed the place as he shrugged and shattered it.
"Can you recommend me someone? I’m offering much more than the usual price."
"Do you know what you’re talking about?"
The coins clinked against each other as the man slammed the table with all his might.
"That’s the outlaws’ island. You’ll only find pirates, bandits and death-sentenced criminals who escaped! You’ll die without knowing how with your flashy attire and that noble air you shove onto our faces."
However, he tilted his head to the side emotionlessly. He had seen those men last year, and they were... charming so long as he taught them not to mess with him. Still, now that he thought about it, asking a legal ship to set sail for Skullcove might not work.
"I’ll change my request, then."
He picked up eight gold coins, pushing the last two with his fingers.
"They’re yours if you can recommend an illegal ship."
The man’s eyes drifted between the shine of easy money and the youths’ eyes. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead, and hesitation danced on his quivering fingers.
Yet, he chose the coins in the end.
"I warned you, boy! Don’t come to haunt me if you die like a dog because of your pride."
A disgruntled snort echoed as the man’s fist closed on the coins before he shoved them into his pouch. Then, he pointed to the west.
"You can find a pirate ship hidden seven kilometers west. I don’t know if they’ll rob you, kill you, or both. Meet them if you don’t value your life."
With a satisfied nod to the man, he turned and waved his hand as he left.
Five minutes later, he stepped onto a coast’s sand, noticing the ship anchored behind a cliff and the dirty men drinking around a campfire.
The captain struck him as the man chugged from a bottle, letting the intense alcohol soak his beard and stain his shirt.
As he approached, disgust scrunching his nose, the muffled noise of his footsteps alerted them.
"Ey, captain. A brat is coming our way. What should we do? He looks rich!"
"Hahaha. Do you need to ask?"
The captain’s eyes glinted with malice as they locked onto him like prey.
"Show him the ocean’s depth. It’s a bit cold, but I’m sure he’ll like the resting place we’re offering him."
He rolled his eyes at the captain.
’What a fool. Ask me why I’m here, at least.’
He huffed his frustration and raised his hand high for everyone to see, his movements deliberate.
The tranquil coast’s atmosphere shifted with his movements as the pirates understood their mistake in a painful heartbeat.
Furious gales whipped their clothes and doused the campfire as thunder rumbled above their heads in a discordant cacophony of certain doom.
Violet lightning arcs danced at the corner of his eyes and around his limbs like lethal snakes, adding to the dread gripping their bodies.
Everything vanished as if it were a mere illusion once he closed his palm.
"Now that you know who you’re dealing with, take me to Skullcove. I have a meeting on the Crimson Tempest and with Flintwaters!"
He noticed the captain’s eyes enlarge at the mention of the pirate he had met last year. He didn’t seem like an important figure, though.
"THE Flintwaters? The one so wealthy that he could buy a vice-count title in any kingdom?"
The man’s voice echoed with gravitas, and his pupils constricted even more than when he displayed his magical prowess.
"Why does it matter? Embark and set sail this instant! By the way, I’m the temporary captain, so leave me your quarters and find somewhere else to sleep."
An awkward silence enveloped the coast for a moment, none among the pirates knowing how to react to the ridiculous demands.
However, the captain’s voice thundered a second later.
"You heard him bilge rats! Unfurl the sails and pray for the Tide Caller’s protection!"
They all turned to their captain, disbelief painting their faces pale before the man confirmed his command.
"Move now! He is the captain for three days!"
Meanwhile, he laughed, uncaring about the crew’s chattering legs as he walked to them and fished the eight gold coins from earlier before shoving them in the captain’s hands.
He shrugged and blurred on the ship, waiting for them to join him with their barque.