New Company

Doing their best to hold Thia up, Evelyn and Darla made their way through the city in route to the ship. "I thought the potion would have worked," Darla said.

 "Well, we did activate it while she was still on the brink of death," Evelyn said, panting as they struggle to keep her up.

 "Are we there yet," Thia whined. "If I ran, I bet we'll get there faster." Thia was still wounded, and her eyes were heavy.

 "So you're saying her new natural state is the brink of death?" Darla asked. "And Thia, you don't even know where we're going."

 "I'll figure it out!" She said lazily and groggy.

 "Oh, don't get your undergarments in a twist, Darla. I have an idea," Evelyn said as they made it to the ship and crawled up on deck.

 "Jokes on you," Darla said, "I'm not wearing undergarments."

 Wasabi, Taco, and Jackson were the only ones on deck to see them and Wasabi said, "There you are! You know I went on a wild goose chase in the mountains looking for you?"

 "We were there," Evelyn said. "The dragon is a friendly, not a threat."

 "WHAT!" Wasabi yelled. "Captain said-"

 "The dragon's a friendly," Evelyn repeated. "We're alive, aren't we?"

 The boys were wide eyed as Taco addressed the elephant in the room, "So who's that?"

 "Oh, this," Evelyn motioned to This who was now passed out in their arms. Still alive by seeing her health bar in her system. "When we got back to the city, we did a raffle at a tavern, and I won her."

 "You what?" Taco let out an uncertain laugh.

 "Oh, shut your mouth," Darla clicked at her. "She's a friend and just needs a place to rest so we're going to Evelyn's room."

 "She looks ill. Are you sure I shouldn't exami-"

 "She's fine," Evelyn cut him off as they made their way below deck. "Jackson, come with," Evelyn ordered as he began to follow.

 In Evelyn's room, Evelyn and Darla placed Thia in her bed and Evelyn locked the door once Jackson was in.

 "So what's this about you wanting to join my crew out of the blue? I hadn't even asked you yet!" She questioned Jackson.

 "How did you- no- I didn't even- What?" Jackson fumbled over his words and thoughts.

 "Evelyn," Darla said, "Only you can know about it. There is no way he knows."

 "Oh, right," Evelyn admitted. "Sit down, handsome." She said as she pushed him onto the chair in her room. She bends down to his level and says, "I apologize that you're about to lose your mind in a second, but you'll understand soon enough!"

[Current loyal comrades: 3]

[Darla Blume: Active] – [Human] – [First Mate]

[Thia Riddick: Active] – [Siren: Spartning] – [Rank: Unassigned]

[Jackson Fleur de Liqueur: Requires Permission to activate]

[Activate Jackson Fleur de Liqueur]

[Yes] [No]

"Yes," Evelyn said.

[Jackson Fleur de Liqueur system activated]

[Name: Jackson Fleur de Liqueur]

[Age: 21]

[Level: 15]

[Current exp: 0/900]

[Species: Human – Dark Arts Master]

[Title: Technician] [All Stats: +3]

[Stats:]

[Strength: 20] [+3]

[Vitality: 27] [+3] – [HP – 300]

[Defense: 16] [+3]

[Agility: 23] [+3]

[Magic: 27] [+3] – [MP – 600]

"Son of a bitch," Evelyn said. "Apparently I'm getting the shit end of the stick for this this crew," Evelyn exclaimed. "I mean I guess it's expected that you were already at level 15. You've been training since you were a kid."

 "I don't know," Darla laughed looking at Jackson's stats too. "We were in a rush, and you never checked Thia's stats yet."

[Thia Riddick system activated]

[Name: Thia Riddick]

[Age: 24]

[Level: 11]

[Current exp: 0/500]

[Species: Siren: Spartning]

[Title: None]

[Stats:]

[Strength: 11]

[Vitality: 12] – [HP – 120]

[Defense: 10]

[Agility: 25]

[Magic: 20] – [MP – 400]

Evelyn sighed and said, "Well her agility and magic is high but that's expected from the Siren of speed. Powers awaken at 18 so she's been honing it for the past six years.

 "What the hell am I looking at?' Jackson said slowly moving his head around and realizing everything he was seeing was following his field of vision around. "What did you do to me?"

 Evelyn and Darla exchanged a look and then started laughing. "You officially joined the crew," Darla said.

 "Welcome aboard," Evelyn added. "What you're seeing is a heads-up display. Screens and such. It's called a system. Since I have one and accepted you as part of my crew, now you have one too."

 "Is there a way I would lose this?" Jackson asks.

 "Die," Darla says.

 "DARLA!" Evelyn gasps.

 "What?" She laughs. "Am I wrong?"

 "Well no," Evelyn admits. "But this is my Jackson! I want to marry him someday."

 "I'm more concerned with what the hell this is than I am putting a ring on your finger," Jackson says.

[Mission: Marry the Volgma Siren]

[Reward: Evolution and Bonuses]

"What!" Evelyn and Darla exclaim in unison.

 "So now he has to marry you?" Darla laughed.

 "I'm more confused about the reward," Evelyn admitted that was partly a lie. "I mean I just said it out loud. I'd like to marry Jackson someday." She thought.

 Starting again, she says, "So, I'm well past Level 15, so I guess now is the time. Even better having Thia and Jackson. I can get answers to some of my questions soon."

 "So what is this special thing about level 15?" Darla asked. "This brick I should be shitting?"

 "With that type of attitude I sure wish I could make that happen too," Evelyn sneered in her thoughts.

 Evelyn gave a Darla a look and said, "We get to see Neptune." Darla's mouth was ajar as Evelyn closed her eyes, her Siren Mark began to glow, as did Thia's on her leg. Evelyn then opened her eyes to be glowing and instantly, so did Darla and Jackson's eyes do the same.

Opening their eyes, they stayed open. Evelyn, Darla, Jackson, and Thia stood at the edge of the astral space of Neptunes Temple. "Where the hell are we?" Darla asked.

 Thia didn't care as her arms were around Evelyn as soon as they arrived, "Thank you so much for saving me! I thought I was going to die and never see you again!"

 "It's fine Thia. I would never let that happen to you. Jackson, are you okay?" Jackson was silent as he was still in shock. "I'll take that as a no." Thia finally pulled off of Evelyn and looked down the hall where they could see a light ad hear voices. Addressing Darla's question, Evelyn said, "We're at Neptune's Temple in an astral space. You said you don't believe in him. Well, seeing is believing. And since Thia is still recovering, coming here heals her body back in where our bodies are. Still on the ship and in my room." Starting to walk down the hall, she gestures them to follow her.

 Approaching the light, Evelyn hears Freya yelling, "Oh my holiness! I can't believe you're here! It's been so long!"

 "Oh Freya, I've missed you too! It's so good to see you again," an unfamiliar voice to Evelyn replied.

 Arriving, they could see Neptune, in all his godly glory, sitting on his throne with a smile and Freya and a woman with a fair complexion, white hair and white iris, smiling.

 "Well, welcome Evelyn and crew," Neptune said to them.

 Freya ran up and gave Evelyn a big hug, "Oh I'm so happy you're here! It's a good day! A good day for sure!"

 Smiling, Evelyn replied, "I've missed you too, Freya."

 "Looks like we have some newcomers," Neptune smiles at the rest of Evelyn's group. "I am King Neptune, God of Neptune. And you three are Darla Blume, granddaughter of the previous Clerical Eve,Nature and Healing Siren, Daisy Blume. Jackson Fleur de Liqueur, fortunately the second greatest Technician on the planet. And last but not least, our current Spartning, Speed Siren, Thia Riddick."

Darla points at Neptune as she looks at Evelyn and exclaims, "HE'S REAL?! HE'S REALLY REAL!"

 Thia curtsies. "Nice to meet you, your holiness."

 "I told you," Evelyn said to Darla.

 "Doubted me, did you?" Neptune laughed. "Thought the intimidation of Tempest would have been enough."

 "No. No," Darla said in an uneasy tone, "This- th- This is enough."

 "You guys met Tempest?" The new girl smiled.

 Evelyn looked at her and said, "Yeah. But who are you?"

 "She, is my favorite feature I implemented in the system when I made it. There was no way to test it out until you recruited a Siren."

 In the blink of an eye, the woman is three feet away from Evelyn and says, "When you recruit a Siren, the original Siren of that power returns here. Nice to meet you all," The original siren says so them as she curtsies in her beautiful white dress similar to Freya's red dress, "My name is Madison, and I am the original Spartning Siren. The Siren of Speed."

 "Wow," Thia said. "So, you're me, or I'm you?" She asked.

 "No," Madison answered with a laugh. She appeared next to This in an instant and said. "Just my Siren power."

 "I DON'T GET ANY OF THIS!" Jackson interrupted with a yell.

 "How much of this did you tell him?" Neptune asked Evelyn.

 "None," Evelyn said. "I assumed this would explain it to him."

 "Evelyn," Freya laughed, "That's irresponsible."

 "I'm only 19, what do you expect?" She says.

 "You'll be 20 soon though," Thia said. "And so will-" Thia stopped.

 "Rio," Evelyn sighed with a frown. She looked at Neptune and asked, "Thia's sister is an unawakened Siren. Her 18th birthday conveniently falls on mine, a few days from now." She looks at Thia and continues, "When we found Thia, she had a sword impaled into her chest and Rio was nowhere to be found."

 "You said that she's, her sister? Correct?" Evelyn nodded to Madison's question. "That must be the Lithund Siren. Among all of us, she was closest to me, like an actual sister. It's probably our bond that keeps her and I power together. Also, without her awakened, the Spartning power isn't fully awakened."

"She was taken," Thia finally said. "The King, or the Pirate who removed the last king to take his spot, is collecting children under the age of 18. He plans to give them powers and then brainwash them to grow his army."

 "That could complicate things," Neptune says.

 "Why's that?" Evelyn asks.

 "Sirens can't get powers after they've awakened, but they can before they do. But when they finally do awaken, the awakening process is so powerful that expelling the power they had, that it could kill them," Neptune says.

 "So that would mean we have to go rescue her?" Darla finally adds into the conversation.

 "You believe in me now," Neptune asks.

 "I've had time to wrap my head around it. Seeing is believing so here we are. I don't need to get on my knees and pray to you, do I?" Darla asked.

 "No, this isn't Earth," Neptune answered.

 "What's Earth?" Thia asked.

 "Hell if I know," Neptune answered.

 "My home planet," King Triton says walking into the hall. "Sorry I've been gone but I'm back. How are you dudes?" He spots Jackson and says, "Woah! There's another dude! How are you, my dude?"

 Triton holds out his gigantic fist to Jackson and Jackson mindlessly fist bumps him. "I think I need to sit down." Neptune summoned a chair for him and even though Jackson was losing his mind at the sudden summon, he just sat down.

 "Dude," Triton addresses Evelyn, "You didn't tell the dude about us dudes? Like, dude!"

 "Sorry, Dude," Evelyn mocks.

 Looking at Jackson and feeling sorry for him right now, but also proud she's ahead of him. She enters back the conversation and asks Thia, "Who's the Pirate that has taken over Sharsen then?"

 "Captain Bardrick of the Barbarian Pirates," Thia answers.

 "Oh," Darla smiles. She looks at Evelyn and says, "We're not exactly fucked, but fucked."

 Evelyn gives a slow turn to Neptune and before she can ask, he says, "Swearing in my presence is fine. I do it from time to time too. Like for my cousin's son's sake and things like that."

 "Sorry for being a pirate," Darla said.

 "But you underestimate the power of a Siren and the system. And being part of it as well. The way you train and level up is the way humans do without a system in a year or more." Neptune said. "Increasing your strength by 10 in only level up would take most humans a lifetime. Not to mention that, also, many humans can't even increase their magic power because they don't have any. You and Jackson are lucky to have magic power."

 "But my magic power is not from power stones," Jackson interrupts.

 "Did his technician mode just activate?" Evelyn thought at his sudden outburst. "Gods, he's so hot when he goes into soldier mode." Evelyn caught herself smiling at the thought and composed her expression.

 "A technician's magic power is not a power stone. It's an art. A power of oneself imbues with iron," Jackson added.

 "That is true," Neptune said. "Though scarce and hidden within the shadows, technicians have been around way before power stones."

 "And like you mentioned a siren obtaining a power and then awakening, a technician too cannot mix themself with a power stone. Unlike so, if we imbue with one after already becoming a technician, after the pain and anguish has finished overcoming us, we crystalize within our iron and die once the crystallization has turned us into a monolith." Jackson said sternly as he turns his gaze to King Neptune.

 "My boy," Neptune sighs, "I created so much on the Planet Neptune, as it is my domain. All things outside of my domain I do not have power over. That being Orcs, among other beings, and the evidence of power stones. They are not natural creations by myself as they came from one of my brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, roommates, past tenant domains on other planets. If they enter my domain and are of my creation, I cannot alter or remove it, or else I would have by now."

 "Wow. That kind of torture of your body transforming to kill you sounds like torture. Jackson's reaction to this is clear that he has seen it first-hand. I don't think I'd wish that kind of fate on my worst enemy," Evelyn thought. "You know, what. Maybe Roxanne and the Councilwomen from the island, excluding Fawn. Maybe I would wish that fate on them."

 Jackson takes a deep sigh and says, "I still have no idea what's going on here but from what I did here I think our objective seems clear." He looks at the girls and says, "I heard from a shop keeper in town that the so called 'king', or the Pirate who took over the continent is attacking districts and kidnapping children. I thought it sounded heartless, and this girl, Thia, if a victim of that attack they've been doing. Not only, that, but taken your sister." He sighs again and looks at Evelyn and says, "You've already made your mind, haven't you?"

 Evelyn nods and says, "We have to save her, Jackson."

 Sighing and laughing, Jackson said, "Oh for the length of the world I will travel to in the name of love. Dammit, I'm in."

 "Then it's settled!" Neptune bellows in a tone of excitement. "I will put it in your system that your next level you can come here is 25."

 "Why can't I just come whenever I want?" Evelyn asked quickly.

 "If you could, do you think you would abuse that privilege how often you'd visit?" Neptune asked.

 After a few moments of silence, Evelyn answered, "Maybe."

 Madison laughed and said, "Oh my goodness! I love her!"

 "I think it might be time to go," Darla said.

 Evelyn looked over at Jackson, then to Neptune. Then again at Jackson and back at Neptune. "Wait a damn minute. What's an Evolution?"

 "Evolution?" Neptune questioned. "Well, I don't know. You tell me."

 "I would ask if I knew," Evelyn said. "When Jackson's system activated, he got a quest and the reward is Evolution."

 Neptune looked at Freya and she said, "Don't look at me. I know I helped you but we both know the system has a mind of its own."

 "So we just have get married to figure that out?" Evelyn.

 "Oh shit, Evelyn. You're engaged?" Thia asked.

 "MOZEL TOV!" King Triton bellowed.

 "What- No- It's the quest! The quest he got!" Evelyn corrected the confusion.

 "Well, whatever it is, I still think it's time to go," Darla said again.

 "Yeah, yeah," Evelyn waved her off. She looks at the Gods and Freya and Madison and said, "Well it's been fun! See you all at level 25!" And Evelyn and her crew disappeared in the blink of an eye.

 They all heard footsteps from down the fall once they disappeared and King Neptune said, "Well this is a surprise. What has I been since you were last here? 500 years?"

 "200," The woman said coming into view. She was around five feet and 10 inches tall. She wore all black. Boots, trousers, short sleeve crop top, short sleeveless jacket, and black gloves. She had a flawless light complexion and black hair put into a ponytail.

 "Abagail!" Freya yelled in astonishment.

 The Original Siren of Darkness looks over at Freya and with a wide grin says, "Hey babe!"