•I Was Just On My Way To Vilaseine, Why Am I Suddenly On A Pirate Ship?

The Palace gates remained lock and guarded even on the safest days of the year. Armed guards roamed every crevice of the place, wherever Catrice would look, it seemed to be always infested with people. But why is he, crown prince of the Empire, of all people, complaining about well security within the palace walls?

It seems wherever he went he could spot a palace guard from a mile away. By now the clocks hands had struck past three in the morning.

"Stop it! I'm so scared right now!"

A palace guard cried as he clutched his spear in his fists. Laughter erupted from the device on his wrist, the device used by palace guards to communicate through a distance. "You're such a scaredy cat! Ghosts don't exist, you fool."

Palace guard 1 didn't seem to take those words lightly, yet made no attempt to rebute the account. Catrice lingered around the corner. The single small gate leading to the forest was the only exit not so heavily guarded. Just then, a flutter caught Catrice eye as a blanket flew against the wind. Then an idea clicked.

"This isn't funny, you know. And this is all your fault! Had you not convinced the captain to change the shifts, I wouldn't be stuck here!" Palace guard 1 screamed viciously through the device as more laughter erupted. Pissed, Palace Guard 1 was going to give him a piece of his mind when the sound of twig snapping made him freeze. His head turned to the source of the sound, only to be left surprised at the man-shaped cloth rapidly approaching him with heavy loud steps. The face carved on the white sheet made for a menacing look that made the palace guard's heart drop.

"G-g-g-g-ghost!"

The palace guard collapsed on the ground with a loud thump in a second. Like a tree cut down. Slow and heavy. Catrice stopped in his tracks, unveiling the sheet off his head. He hadn't expected to scare the poor man into fainting. The best outcome he thought of was was a mere distraction for him to jump over the gate. But this could also work, he guessed. Catrice threw the blanket over the poor man on the ground. At the very least, as an apology, he wouldn't cold when he wakes up.

Seagulls were often sign of a good day for sailors. If not, then it was the huge batch of gold discretely handed to them for illegal transport. That's what merchant Selt enjoyed the most. A short, stubby man like Selt believed this was the only way to make fast money. Eat the rich, they say. Then you become what you eat!

As he greedily accepted the pouch full of gold coins, he openly welcomed those cloaked nobles. How did he know they were nobles? That was easy. They could try and hide underwear a piece of cloth all they want but they could never hide away the stench of wealth. Regardless of their business. Selt could care less. They were all here for unspoken reasons. Who was he to judge in the face of gold?

As he counted the gold coins in the pouch, he felt a wave of satisfaction as he moved his lollipop to the other side of his lips. This was better earnings than yesterday's gold! With this, he could finally take the rest of the day off.

"Last call for Vilaseine! All aboard Vilaseine!" Selt exclaimed, when he saw no one else in sight, he began to board the ship when one more cloaked man approached him.

"Excuse me, are there any ships here sailing to Gerevous?" A strange voice asked. Selt barely spared the man a glance before he shoo'd him away. "There aren't any, kid. The seas stenched with sirens this time of the year. Try waiting for a few months. You'll be lucky enough if the sirens decide to lay low way before the Celestial Bond Ritual. Now scram."

Catrice, hidden underneath a dark cloak, furrowed his brows in worry. Until the Ritual? He can't wait that long! Just as Selt began to climb back in the ship, Catrice stopped him once more in desperate. "Wait! Is there any other way to get there? I'll pay. I'll pay!"

Those two words seemed to interest Selt, and he finally took a proper look at Catrice. Those dark eyes hidden behind leather skin ignited with new found interest. One glance was all it took for Selt to make an impression out of Catrice. He may not know of Catrice's background but he did radiate a stench of wealth. Perhaps even more than all the nobles in his ship combined!

But he couldn't make a rash decision just based on one person. Even the greedy should know their limits, else they lose everything. A something over everything? Selt wouldn't trust chance so easily.

"Look...kid," Selt eyed Catrice from head to toe, "Even if I can help you get a ride to Gerevous... I. Can't!" Catrice stepped back in surprise when Selt spat those words at his face. "The oceans around Gerevous is crawling with sirens. No damned Sailor is willing to push through those waters, all hell be damned if they do."

Catrice had no idea of Sirens. He's parred with monstrous creatures before but as far as his knowledge spanned, creatures of the seas has never been his expertise. He has read them in books, for sure. Catrice just hasn't understood the full extent of those sea creatures threat. But what other choice did he have?

"Please take me to Gerevous," Catrice finally decided. "I'll pay double- No, triple the fair of your costs. Just take me to Gerevous."

To show desperation was one of a sketchy merchant's favourite snack. Triple, he says. That was enough to send Selt soaring through the skies. Oh what luck! The heavens must have took pity on him. Triple of his earnings could have him set for a month's vacation! How could he turn this opportunity down?

"Well, the sailors were exaggerating about sirens, you know? They're greedy and old. Unlike me. Just put on a few earplugs and we'll be fine!" Selt pushed the confused and hesitant Catrice aboard, and the plank was retrieved as the ship began to sail. For some reason, Catrice felt as if he had just made a grave mistake.

"By the way, what business are you running?" The crown prince asked, curiously.

Selt froze, in a moment of hesitation, he made up a random answer. "Transport. I transport under a company."

That answer seemed to satisfy the curious young man, and Selt breathed a sigh of relief when he asked no further questions. "Then, we'll set out for Vilaseine. After that, I'll take you to Gerevous. Quadruple the cost, you say?"

"Triple. I said triple." Catrice said.

"That's good enough. Onward the sail, we go!"

The ship sailed no less than half an through the ocean before Catrice felt sick out of his mind. Who knew riding a ship could be this much of a struggle? He had expected he would hold up find until they'd arrive to Vilaseine but to think he was prone to sea sickness, Catrice was not prepared. His hand held weakly on to the rails of the ship as he hunched above the waters, feeling the ship sway back and forth. If this keeps up, he could throw up his brains in a minute.

"Haha! Must be your first time on a ship, huh? Still a long way to go before we get to Gerevous, try not to faint by then! Or do, you'd be better off passed out till we get there!" Selt gave him a hard smack on the back for comfort, and comfort was it not. That had been the last remaining push Catrice needed before he began to release his breakfast, lunch and dinner from yesterday's feast into the ocean.

"How much longer until Vilaseine?" Catrice asked no one in particular.

"Not another hour, young man." A noble man replied as he took a seat on a barrel. At the spund of that, Catrice let out a defeated sigh. Perhaps he should get some rest, he had been awake all night, barely getting any sleep as he prepared for this long journey. Pushing himself up, he planned to head inside the cabins when all of the sudden, a loud horn from above the crow's nest blew in warning.

"Pirates incoming!" The man above exclaimed. The people around spared no second the moment they heard the horn. Sailors ran to fetch their gears as nobles hurried inside for safety and to secure their luxuries.

Selt, on the other hand, took out his binoculars as he eyed the fast approaching ship. It's blue shade seemed to camouflage into the ocean but no one could ever mistake that symbol on the flag.

The Senfleur Voyage Pirates.

Confused, Catrice watched with worry as everyone scurried around the ship. They had no where else to go. They were stranded on a ship, and now pirates were heading their way?

Catrice approached the noble man from before yet found that he had already fled the scene to secure his precious banks. Everyone else he approached also slipped past him as if they had not noticed him. Up on the helm, Catrice spotted Selt actively turning the ship to steer away from the pirates to no avail. With haste, Catrice ran to his side.

"What's going on?" The blonde man asked with urgency.

"It's the Senfleur Voyage. We need to get away fast!" Selt replied. Senfleur Voyage? Catrice has yet to hear of that name before but if everyone was scrambling to safety then he could only assume these voyagers were up to no good. Without hesitation, Catrice grabbed the sword around Selt's belt before throwing it with much force towards the ship's pole, successful tearing down the sails. Wimd immediately picked up and the ship began to turn it's course quickly much to Selt's relief.

Catrice too, breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the ship turn the other way.

But who were these Senfleur Voyagers?

"Good job, kid! They'll never catch us with this distance." Selt said as he continued to steer the wheel.

"If I may ask, who are these Senfleur Voyagers?" Catrice had no clue. He couldn't recall every reading about them anywhere either. Selt grumbled at the very thought of those pirates.

"The Senfleur Voyage is what they like to call themselves. They're quite new, only existing a few months back but their crew's been sailing for quite a while under a different name. Many of us sca- uhm... Merchant business owners face the tragedy of running into them all the time just to have all our hardwork stolen. I specifically hate their Captain. Their all just a bunch of criminals." Selt began to ramble on about this Senfleur Captain, and not in a good way.

"Good thing we got away just in time, else we'll be-" Selt couldn't get the last words out when suddenly, a huge force caused the ahip to shake.

The ship swayed vigorously from side to side as the Senfleur Voyage drew nearer and nearer to Selt's ship, causing the old man to cuss out loud for all to hear. The sides of both ships nearly crashed into one another, barely making it by a breath as screams of terror echoed through the salty air. The nobles, shocked and panicked as they were, began to run amok to get to safety.

A pirate infiltration was happening. How lucky could they get to be targetted by pirates! Catrice held on to the side of the ship tightly.

"What's happening now?" Catrice asked to whoever was willing to answer. Yet everyone seemed to ignore him, all too busy trying to fend for themselves. Selt and his sailors began to grab swords and gears, adding much to the passengers anxiety, as they raised all defense. Selt, who was nearby did him the honor of answering his question as he secured his banks.

"We'll be fighting pirates. I don't know how they caught up to us so quickly but we have to hold them back." He answered in a hush tone, one filled rage as he grabbed hold of his pistol once his bag of money had been tightly secured to his side. Even if they lose all possessions to these pirates, Selt was not going to lose everything. He will make sure of that.

"We're gonna fight these pirates?" Catrice echoed in confusions.

"What do you expect we do? They'll infiltrate ships and steal everything they see fit in their eyes, leaving you with nothing but your dignity if you let them! They're henious and downright criminal, I dare say! Run you dry from your hard-work and they don't do squat!" Selt complained loudly.

"Don't do squat, you say?"

The two men jumped in suprise at the uninvited voice. High up the ship pole, a young man's shadowed figure hovered above them in ominous fashion. The light from day made it hard for them to see his features but Selt knew all too well of this menacing presence's owner, and he screamed. Not in anger but in fear. Catrice tried to get a glance of this mysterious figure. The sun blinded him too much to give him a sight.

More pirates began to hop into the ship as they rounded up all the fear-stricken nobles.

Everyone who has sailed more than once knew of all the pirates sailing through seas. Ones you knew you should stay away from. Ones who could help you. And ones, if you were running illegal operations, who you should never ever meet.

The moment they saw that crest on the flag, they knew they would all soon be doomed.

Some tried to flee, and some even jumped into the waters, only to be then caught by the pirates waiting for them below in their boats.

The moment Selt heard that voice, he cursed under his breath. Grubby hands clutched around the bag of gold coins before he pushed Catrice aside, "Move!"

The man ran as fast as his short legs could go but really, just how far can someone escape to in the middle of the ocean?

The mysterious man laughed, "Selty, do you really think you can escape me?" In a blink of an eye, Catrice watched as this strange man moved in a blur, like a shadow, moving fast as he held on to a rope, switfly gliding across the ship and catching up to poor Selt. Knocking him from the back with his boot, he sent Selt down to the floor with a muffled thug as the gold coins dropped from his hands, causing them to scatter on the floorboards. Selt watched with horror as they slipped through cracks and rolled away, the string of profanities hanging on his lips now getting louder and louder by the second as he scrambled to salvage whatever gold coins he could grab. Each coin he grabbed, he counted with fever. One, two...four, six. Out on the corner of his eye he spotted seven and immediately went for it. As soon as his palm fell upon the gold coin, a boot stepped on his hand, keeping him in place as a figure loomed over his pathetic state.

A nervous laugh slipped through cracked lips as Selt slowly stared at the Senfleur Captain in the eye, "Captain Elijah, good to see you in this fine day. You know I didn't mean anything I said, right?"

Elijah smirked, a face full of youthful mischief as he returned Selt's gaze, "Good to see you too. I see you're still transporting illegal businesses?"

Catrice froze from where he stood. Illegal businesses? Transport? Has he been boarding a criminal's ship this entire time?!

"Illegal transportation?" The crown prince echoed in disbelief.

"Yes. Not just one too. Let me see if I remember correctly, do tell if I'm mistaken. Supplying illegal drugs and weaponry, boarding wanted criminals, unauthorized replication of dangerous and forbidden incantation sheets— I think there was more but I can't seem to remember." Elijah shrugged in a carefree manner as he removed his foot off of Selt's hand, apprehending the short man as he forced his arms behind his back.

"Of course, I could just turn a blind eye on these things. But they require a mean price, if not, I guess the Vilaseine guards can deal with you." Elijah spoke. Selt couldn't see the expression he wore but he could already hear the cunning smile on cherry lips.

"Fine, fine! I'll pay the fine! Just please let us go!" Selt cried until eventually, the hands tying him down finally let him go. Why did they have to run into him of all pirates? On the day Selt landed on a gold mine too.

Catrice still stayed in place, frozen in shock and confusion as the rest of the pirates gathered the nobles.

"Here, you can take this!" With quick hands, Selt untied the bulky bag of gold coins on his side. Frustrated and in disbelief, he tossed it by the young pirates feet. "Now Please let us pass."

Elijah took one look at the bag. Hands taking hold of it, he could already tell so much gold coins resided within it. The menacing smile on his lips grew even more prominent that Catrice thought he would burst into singing next. The second Elijah mentioned the illegal business Selt had been running, Catrice had a minor clarification of the situation he was currently in, and began to have some belief that this pirate was some kind of crime fighting citizen in the form of the seas most notorious supervillain. But as honey brown eyes fixatedly followed Elijah's actions, all assumptions were immediately shut down as the blue eyed stranger accepted the bag of bribery with no hesitation.

"You have yourself a deal." Elijah graciously took the bag and tossed it behind him. The bag flew far and landed on a treasure chest along with the rest of the treasures the Senfleur crew had been gathering on the ship. In his frigid state, Selt had failed to notice the Senfleur crew transfer all the wealth in his ship to theirs. Knowing he couldn't do anything about it, Selt threw a hissy tantrum on the ground, short legs kicking, arms raised and grabbing his hair, Selt's blood boiled as he glared at that cunning smile. Catrice had never seen a grown man crash out like this in his entire life but now he had something to cross out on his bucket list.

Now his work here was done, Elijah found nothing else of importance to do. He left the scene with much satisfaction.

"So you're just as bad as they are," Elijah stopped in his tracks to find the owner of the voice. Catrice stared down at the man before him, and Elijah shrugged him off. This man was nothing more than another corrupt noble. If anything, anyone on this ship has definitely done something bad even once in their life.

"Who? Me?" Elijah asked, his hand to his chest as he feigned hurt. Yet as Catrice stared into sapphire blue eyes, he could see the glint of mischief in Elijah's unapologetic presence. "I'm just someone fighting criminals and making sure they change, what's so wrong with that?"

What's wrong with that would be the bag in his hands.

"So you terrorise people and take their money. I believe by law that's called robbery." Catrice stood his ground.

Elijah scoffed in disbelief. Who was this guy? Honestly. "Oh, so if the Imperial Guard do it, it's Justice. But when I do it, I'm a vigilante?"

"Who said anything about Vigilantes, you're just a criminal!" Catrice corrected the pirate who only laughed at his words, "Yeah, I am."

Catrice had more to say to this infuriating man. But as fate would not allow, he was interrupted by another voice voice below them. The last of the treasures had just been boarded into the Senfleur Voyage, and now all that was left was for Captain to cut the chit chat and leave already.

"Captain, the last batch has been boarded!" A man called from the plank before he too boarded the ship.

"As much as I would love to stay and talk, I believe it is time for me to leave," Taking off his hat, he bowed in courtesy before running off to the edge of the ship, leaving Catrice mortified and stunned as he watched the man jump off the edge.

The crown prince tried to run after him, peering through edge to find no splash of water down below.

"Looking for me?" Elijah asked, he had not fallen into the ocean as Catrice had suspected. He stood upon the Senfleur Voyages edge as the sails rolled down. Slowly, the Senfleur Voyage began to move away from the ship.

Catrice couldn't let them leave just like that. His brown eyes scanned the ship for anything he could use to get to the other side. To his luck, he had found nothing of significance. Until an idea came to mind. He didn't seem to have any other choice after that. He sighed, reluctance and sanity fighting to win the battle in his mind. In the end, he couldn't think of another way to get inside the Senfleur Voyage. Before they could get far away from Selt's ship, Catrice took multiple steps away from the edge.

"Alright, Catrice. You've fought monsters before. On to the count of three. One..." The Senfleur ship began to blow it's horns.

"Two..." The people on Selt's ship ran up to the edge, crying and reaching out for the treasures they had stolen, which were now stolen from them too, never to be returned.

"Three!" With a leap of faith, Catrice ran to the edge and jumped off the ship. As his body began to free fall towards the ice cold waters, only one thing came to mind. Stupid. This was a stupid idea! He thought, his hands grabbing onto whatever he could grab to save himself. Those hands found an uneven board to grab on, fortunately. But now he was hanging 4 stories off the pirate ship! Hell be damned if he died on the spit here. With what strength he had left, he pulled himself up and began to climb the side of the ship.

With great force, he had barely managed to pull himself up the ship. Lying on a pirate ship as he tried to catch his breath, Catrice groaned in pain and exhaustion.

"Look what we have here," A voice spoke as a figure loomed over his aching body. Catrice could just faintly see his outline through the light of the sun. Distinctively, he could see the eye patch over this tall man's face, his dark hair curled around his sharp, tanned face. Underneath his cloak, his toned body riddled with white scars. And those sharp, thick brows continued to furrow at him in intimidation.

"Another sqwak for the flock?" Forceful hands pulled him up from the floor before they were pinned behind his back, immobilizing him on the spot. The archer held him in place.

The eyepatch man gave him an unimpressed look. "Sqwak for the flock?"

"I sound cool, don't I? Fin thinks I sound cool." The archer boasted.

"No, he doesn't." Someone, as Catrice would assume to be Fin, replied. "But what do you suppose we do with him now that he's come aboard?"

All three now focused on Catrice as sweat began to trickle down his face. What were they going to do with him? Dispose of him? Kill him now that they found no use of him?

He had jumped here with no plan at all. Now he was regretting it.

"Are you hungry?" The Archer asked. Taking him aback. Catrice stared with ice cold look. They must be planning to feed him something vicious. "Do you like sticky rice?"

What?

"Pardon?" Catrice turned his head towards the archer behind him, still holding his arms.

"Ooh, Pardon. He speaks fancy!" The archer said. Even Fin seemed somewhat reluctant the moment he heard those words come out of the archer's mouth. What was he doing inviting an intruder to dinner?! Could this fool be more stupid?

"I say we take him to the Captain, see what he has to say." The eyepatch man spoke, his voice hush and deep.

The Captain?

A flash of blue eyes came to the blonde's mind almost immediately. Could it be him?