Episode Five - Helpless (Part 1)

Chapter Song Suggestion "Dancing on Air by Julie Cooper"

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THE PAST | Florian

Why had his father brought him here? The few soldiers trudging about the dilapidated campsite shot them fierce and wary glances. This unwelcoming atmosphere brought forth a visceral fear and he knew something was off. They arrived outside a heavily guarded tent, where a soldier halted them. "Only military personnel are allowed."

"Stand down, soldier!" his father commanded, chest expanding with outrage. "I am Councilman Denari, here to see Captain Strauss."

"Let him in," a muted voice rasped from inside.

Obediently, the soldier swept aside the flap, allowing them entry.

"I wasn't expecting you so soon, councilman."

He zeroed in on the glowing ember of a smoking pipe, the rich scent of tobacco filling the air. Though shadows obscured the man, there was an unmistakable air of vigilance cloaking him. One wrong move, and he and his father would be dead.

His father shoved him forward. "This is my youngest son. Take him. Once you accept him, the Denari family's debts shall be cleared."

He gasped in horror, whirling around. "Father! What is the meaning of this?"

Unfolding from his reclining posture, the stranger emerged into the light — tall and intimidating. Icy blue eyes flashed. "He means boy, that you are now the property of Ataxia."

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PRESENT DAY

"This feels amazing!" Eira laughed wholeheartedly, arms widespread as the wind kissed her face. Leaning over starboard, she basked under the sun. "I've never been on a ship before!" And what an impressive ship it was – modern, sleek, and streamlined in design. It was a far cry from the wooden sail ships she had seen in old era drawings and paintings.

"I can tell," Florian remarked wryly, unable to believe a nautical virgin like her existed. "Why haven't you travelled on a ship before?"

"I had no reason to. And Central Skocia was far from the ocean." Her answer was that simple. "It's also my first time at sea."

"You've never been to Craole?"

"Vi. No. I've only been to Eileris and Ustrana." She turned to him, cheeks ruddy from the heat. "What's Craole like? Is it as beautiful as the pictures depict? I heard it's paradise on Earth."

Florian reeled in his sharp tongue, feeling nothing but contempt towards his nation. If Craole was paradise, then its people were the serpents of the island. "I suppose to an outsider Craole is breath-taking but, for me it holds nothing but bad memories."

"You're not alone," she confessed, melancholy robbing her smile. "Skocia is where I lost my family but also gained love. It's a savage nation but, I find it beautiful despite everything. The land isn't at fault, but the people living on it. Don't you agree?"

Oddly, he did. "I've never thought about it that way. I guess when a person is filled with hatred, it's natural to reject anything associated with the source of your pain and discomfort."

"If you don't mind me asking…, why do you dislike your birth nation?" Eira faced him. "You mentioned before that you're a living collateral." She tilted her head in puzzlement. "What does that mean?"

"My family is part of the Craolean council. In Craole, that's equivalent to being royalty. The Denali family is one of the five founding families of Craole and I am their youngest son." His tone as bitter as the darkest coffee. "Many years ago, my father became indebted to the government. I don't know the details, but to repay his debt, he sold me to the Ataxian kill force, and I've been here ever since. My family doesn't care if I'm dead or alive."

"How heartless of them!" Fury boiled through her in a violent wave. "I don't understand how anyone can treat their children so callously. I would never do that to a child!"

Florian shrugged. "It's the way of Craolean society. Every human is worth a price, and some are bought for service. The governing laws are complicated." A faint smile touched his lips. "But I am touched to see you worried on my behalf, although it was a long time ago."

"Were you close with your family?" she asked hesitantly.

He snorted. "Hardly. From the time I was born until the moment I was sold; I only saw my parents less than ten times. Sometimes I wouldn't even see them for a year."

Florian's upbringing was so different from hers. The Qeath tribe embodied togetherness and she and her siblings were raised strictly but also with love. Their parents never voluntarily left their side and Eira had many people to rely on. Had Florian been lonely?

"If that's how they treat people, no wonder you're not eager to return." Eira visibly shuddered. "But I hope you'll take this opportunity to make new memories — with me." She perked up, brilliant eyes lighting up. "I've got an idea! Why don't this time, you try to see Craole through my eyes? Forget the past and just enjoy the sights like a tourist for the first time. Besides, you haven't been home in years. Maybe things have changed." Her excitement was a burst of warm energy seeping under Florian's skin. "What do you say?"

It occurred to him that Eira wasn't doing this for her sake. While she was vibrating with childlike passion, he realized she was thinking on his behalf. It made him uncomfortable and a tad suspicious. No one had ever been considerate of his emotions – not without a purpose. "Are you doing this to make me feel at ease about our mission?"

She blinked mechanically, a little bewildered. "Vi. No. That never crossed my mind. I just want you to be happy." Then she sneakily added, "And I'd like for us to get to know each other better. As friends." Eira suddenly looked like she swallowed a bug. "Did you think I had bad intentions? We've already established that I'm not interested in you."

The authenticity of her distaste made him believe her. And he would be lying to say his pride wasn't wounded. He had never received a more blatant rejection from a beautiful lady. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "My apologies for assuming. No one's ever attempted to make me happy. Every stranger who has approached me usually did so with ulterior motives, and not always for passion."

She coloured lightly. Was he that sore about her rejection? "Nienh? Why not?"

"Why even bother?" he countered inanely. The idea of a stranger trying to make him happy was ludicrous. The cynic in him didn't buy it.

Florian's inner battle reflected in his eyes. It made her wonder if his philandering habit was a cry to save him from his loneliness. Had she jumped the gun too soon? Something inside her shifted, an unmistakable softening. "Well, Vice-Captain. You're going to realize that being friends with an Ulva is for life. Fun fact, my family name means wolf. And the wolves of the old era are extremely loyal animals – until the day we die."

Her jovial attempt to lighten the mood worked when Florian flashed an appreciative grin. His gut feeling about her wasn't wrong. She was indeed special.

A bell chimed throughout the ship, startling Eira. "Are we under attack?"

A bark of laughter escaped him. "No, that's just the lunch bell. Come on." He motioned for her to follow him. "I bet you're famished. And this ship isn't as fast as phantom, so we'll have to spend the night onboard. You can take your time to explore, and after that I can teach you how to fish."

This news fuelled her adventurous spirit. "Will you? I'd love to try it out."

He winked. "Wait until you see our cabins."

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Eira was rudely thrown out of bed when the ship tilted sideways, creaking ominously. "Ouch!" she winced when her head hit the floorboards. Her eyelids groggily cracked open. What the hell was going on outside? Was it storming heavily?

Heavy footsteps and frantic voices rushed by her door, alerting her that it wasn't a storm. Fully awake now, she quickly changed and grabbed her reaper. Running out, she bumped into Florian at the end of the passageway, somewhat relieved to see him. "What's happening?"

He was about to respond when the ship lurched, sending them crashing into the wall. Eira braced her weight on her arms, steadying herself. "Are we under attack?"

"It could be an ocean predator." Florian took a wild guess. "Let's hurry."

Together, they rushed up to the poop deck. It was utter chaos. Broken crates littered the deck and sailors dashed from end to end, trying to clear the space and helping their injured comrades. One of the riggings had broken and fallen off, hanging precariously in the wind.

Florian strode towards the ship's captain. "Captain, what's the situation?"

"Ahhh!" they heard a man scream and then silence.

"Captain!" a sailor came running, his face and clothes streaked with blood. "We're under attack! Something's took Grigory!"