The sky was clear that day. The blue looked so sharp and the clouds looked almost fake, to perfect to be true. The clouds made way for the beating sun that never let up on the small desert island. The Beauty from above starkly contrasted with the ugly sea.
The waters were hideos. A deep endless pit of pure darkness, appearing to have the consistency of sludge. Nobody knew what lurked within its depths, and few cared to find out. It provided a cruel sort of protection for the inhabitants. The black waters formed rapids and whirlpools all around, except at one point of the island. Only the most ambitious of sailors stayed around to find the port.
And those sailors were rewarded. Such as the captain of this ship in particular. He had passed by the island on many occasions, and each time he made an attempt to find an opening. And finally after seven long years he made it.
And his reward? Countless rare items, some he'd never even seen… and a child.
Now to be fair it wasn't a child, it was in fact a young man. But this particular man was small in stature and build, his skin looked sickly and weak, the last person you'd want on a voyage.
As the ship set it's sales once again the captain lead the man below deck.
"What's your name kid?" He asked even if he really didn't care. This was just one of those throw away crew members.
"Robin sir- ah Captain!" The white haired man answered clumsily, he almost fell at his own mix up. His excitement didn't leave though, in fact he became more invigorated.
"Right right, so tell me why did your father practically throw you at me? What are your talents, and do you mind sharing a sleeping quarters? That last one isn't really a choice but I'd rather not have more fights break out than usual." He stopped right outside a door and grimace.
Robin spared the door a curious glance, he wondered what was behind that caused the captain discomfort. "Well my father promised to let me off that island, so I tricked him into a bet and won. I don't know why he was so eager to let me go though, he usually keeps me in all day. I-I've read up a lot of things on ships, I think if you keep me out of the kitchen I'll be adequest at most tasks. And I find I get along with most people, so sharing a room won't be a bother."
The captain nodded as he pushed open the door. "Well settle in, the young man in there will show you the ropes. Just don't caused any trouble, okay?"
"Certainly!" Robin nodded but the captain didn't stay for an answer. He paid no mind to it, being ignored was something he'd grown accustomed to. His excitemt was now drawn to the young man in the room.
But when he stepped the room was empty. There was a bunk on one side, the top blankets strewn about. He assumed his roommate had claimed that spot already. There was a large desk collecting dust under the window, which was wide open and had a murder of crows perched on the sill. The other half of the room had a few empty crates and a white sheet spread around a corner. Robin assumed it was a makeshift dressing curtain.
In fact, the closer he stared at the curtain, the more suspicious he got. There was a shadow behind it, it may have very well have been a pile of clothes and what not, but he felt otherwise.
Taking careful steps towards the curtains he quickly pulled them back tro reveal the culprit. Nothing… Now Robin was just stumped.
"Nyaha, that was a good guess I gotta admit! Most people check under the bed first!" The voice came from behind him, from the chest beside the bunk. He heard a series of clicks and the lid popped open revealing a young man around his age.
Shockingly the man had white hair much like his own, and his skin a few shades darker. Likely from the continuous exposure to sun, Robin had lived most of his life behind walls. The man wore a black cape with golden accents, and a purple inner lining. The cape collar flared out with golden eye accents, a lot like the eyes on the sleeves of Robin's coat.
The man smiled as he crawled out of the box in a manner Robin could only describe as gruesome, no human body should move like that. The close eyed grin never leaving his face he snaked around Robin, inspecting him.
The man nodded at nothing in particular and laughed. "Nyahaha, you aren't gonna last a day outhere! But don't you worry, Henry, that's me, will show newbie the ropes." His dramatically threw his arms out and the perched crows screeched in agreement. This only amused Henry and he was swept in a conversation with them.
Blinking owlishly Robin wondered what kind of person he had ben roomed with. He was off, gave off an almost sinister aura, yet kept an innocent air around him. A true enigma and Robin would crack it.
"Well Henry, It's nice to meet you. I'm Robin." This broke Henry's conversation, but it seemed to have bothered the crows more.
Henry on the other hand was ridiculously pleased by this bit of information. "Robin! Like a bird, crows are birds too ya know? I love birds, you're not exactly a bird but… I guess I'll let you into my flock!" He excitedly grabbed Robin's hand but quickly dropped it.
Robin flinched back, just as surprised at Henry, more so even. It was magic, not that magic was new to him. Plenty of people on the island had magic, dark magic specifically. He did as well, but he was never fond of it. Feeling magic around you was the norm for a mage, but Robin always felt like the outlier. But Henry's magic...well it was familiar.
Robin laughed awkwardly brushing off the tingling sensation still in his hand, "You're a mage as well?"
"Why nyes, we seem to have a bit in common." He snickered grabbing Robin's arm again and dragging him off. Robin was only left with a few moments to toss his bag to the floor.
.
.
"Plegia?" Henry repeated inquisitively. He looked at Robin almost as if he had been insulted.
Robin cocked his head curiously. He had been explaining what the desert island he called home was like, of all things the name was the least worst things about it. "Yeah Plegia, why?"
Henry shrugged, the crow on his shoulder unperturbed by the movement. Funnily enough they both sat in the crowsnest, and Henry's crows all perched around the ring.
Robin had gotten used to life at sea in the past two three. At first he found the crew members barbaric, the work far too arduous, and Henry an absolute nightmare. Safe to say he'd grown some muscle in the past years, nothing impressive but he could lift a bit of a load now. His father would have been disgusted with Robin letting loose and adopting some 'barbaric' habits too. He'd blame his father for that as well, the man did unknowingly hand him off to pirates.
And Henry, well Robin adjusted fastest to him. Henry was worse than his initial assumptions. Henry's love for blood and death didn't help him sleep at night, but Henry was surprisingly well behaved. Only killing when allowed to, and when he was Henry didn't hold back.
Which was perfect because the amount of battles they had faced was plentiful. They fought other pirates for the most part, and thanks to Robin's tactical genius they had a nice winning streak. But on occasion they'd come across a deep sea beast that Robin had only read about in books. No amount of reading could ever compare to seeing it in real life, some were absolutely massive and horrific.
But on a few rare chances they'd come across a mer. Information on them was scarce, suspiciously so. Robin initially thought that this was due to the isolation of the island, but as he grew older he was beginning to wonder who was behind it.
His books spoke sparsely of the different types of mer, but focussed mostly on their beauty and danger. Their alluring voices that made sailors mad and jump overboard. They were either painted as beautiful muses of mischief or complete monsters.
But the books never talked about their viciousness. Because whenever one was accidently caught in their nets, they would claw and fight frantically. He'd seen some of his crew mates ripped by the bare hands at the scaled hands of a mer. Their battle roars more terrifying than even the largest beasts.
It was basically law to kill them on sight. Kill or killed by the enemy, as everyone always said. Were it any other threat he didn't mind too much, but he always felt a pang of guilt when he slaughtered a mer. And it seemed Henry related to this because even he was less enthusiastic about it.
"Hey you brats gonna actually look out for stuff or what? You have all day to have a girl talk!" The captain yelled from the wheel.
"Boring!" Henry sang falled back. A few crows were ruffled but quickly readjusted. "Robin, use your third eye will ya?" He mocked, nudging the other with the heel of his foot.
Said man groaned as he stood up, so much for a team job. Truthfully this was easily a one man task, but Robin and Henry were two-in-one deal at this point.
Brushing aside some crows he leaned forward with his telescope for a better look. Sweeping left, nothing but water. Sweeping right, more water. "Looks good for now!"
"Laaaame!" Henry whined before snatching the telescope to see for himself. He swept all around not even actually inspecting the area. "Lame, lame, lame. This suck, where's the blood money!"
"That's not what blood money is Henry,and you're not going to see anything with your eyes closed either."
Henry ignored the last part and kept turning in circles. "Well I think it should be. I'd pay people in blood, I'd be rich by now too! Nyahah!"
Snickering Robin grabbed the man to stop the continued turn around. "Oh of course, I wouldn't doubt that. But let's continue on that later, time to switch shifts. Oh and don't-"
Before he could finish Henry had already thrown himself off the edge. "Meet you at the bottom nya!"
"For Grima's sake Henry!"