Chapter 1: Request
"I'm gonna room with Russell." I conclude with a smile, while the said man spluttered out nonsense in surprise. I began to snicker when I saw his face. It was priceless!
"That's done! Russell, take care of her." Captain concluded the results of who I was going to room with. I grinned and did a cheer in my head.
I chose Russell because I thought I can get to know him better. Judging from the way he acts when I first met him and right now, he was just like Eli. It was strange; they were both two-sword fencers and almost the same personality, but Eli is a mixture of Russell and Nathan's personality. I think I can get along with him just fine once we get to know each other!
Another reason is that I admire two-sword fencers. That meant you were ambidextrous, and that was a big advantage in battle. It also reminded me of…
"What? Why do I have to room with this kid?!" Russell groaned, giving me a glare. I just sent him a smile while waving at him. He scoffed and looked at Captain.
"He said to choose anyone, didn't he?" I laugh seeing the irritated look on his face. He kept complaining about being my roommate, while I just stood there with a crooked grin on my face. I was used to this bickering.
"It isn't a big deal, it's done and over with. Shoosh." Eduardo said in a calm matter, while I silently agreed with him.
"Then why don't you take her Eduardo?"
"Heck no."
"Thomas? Nate?"
"It's Captain's orders. Get over it."
"…Crud! Whatever. Hey kid!" he shouted, calling me kid. Just as I thought, he wasn't calling me by my name or nickname just yet. I'm sure he'll warm up to me soon.
"Yeah Russ?" I say it with a serious face, but inside, I was dying with laughter. Just thinking about his expression when I call him that is making me laugh. He glared at me and blushed slightly.
"D-Don't call me that! Follow me, I'll show ya my room." he began to walk without another room while I ran behind him and walked with him to a room. There was obviously only one bed in the room, so I tapped Russell on the shoulder.
"Yeah?" he turned around and looked down at me. He was towering over me, with me only a 5'00".
"Can I talk to Nathan?" I ask, cracking my knuckles. It was a habit of mine, which Eli always told me not to do because I would get arthritis when I get older, but I still do it.
"Why?" his eyes widened slightly at my question. He was definitely surprised by this.
I knew he was going to be surprised, but I couldn't just steal his bed like that. It was his room, he could do what he wanted. I didn't want to be a spoiled brat who will beg for it until I get what I wanted. I never want to end up like any of those kids. Plus, I was used to this anyway. I didn't need a bed. Actually, I didn't need any shelter from them.
"I wanted to see if he could lend me two empty potato sacks. Y'know, for sleeping?" Russell raised an eyebrow at my explanation.
"Why not use a blanket or pillow?"
"More comfortable with it. Being a thief and all."
"Right…" I didn't need to say another word as I followed him to the kitchen. "Hey Nate!" Nathan was peeling some potatoes, probably for lunch.
"Hi! Can I use some potato sacks to sleep on tonight?" I ask him. He looked at me coldly and tossed two potato sacks at Russell.
"Take those to yer room. You'll help me make lunch." Russell groaned and walked out of the kitchen to put the potato sacks in his room.
"Yessir! What do I do first?" I gave him a salute and stood up straight and firmly, just like I do when Eli orders me around. I felt slightly nostalgic, now that I'm going to help Nathan make lunch. Eli and I always made lunch for the orphans and the poor, and they appreciated it though we weren't very good chefs.
Nathan looked slightly surprised at my excited exclamation and said, "Cut the vegetables. After that, peel and slice the potatoes." He left his station of peeling the potatoes and began to make something else. Just how much do these guys eat?
I obliged and cut the vegetables, quickly to make this faster and careful not to stab my finger. I was already cutting the onions, second to last of the vegetables I had to cut. I was almost on the verge of crying from the smell. I wiped my eyes with my sleeve and finished chopping the onions. I began cutting the carrots, and I was soon done. I placed them all neatly in bowls, and washed the knife.
I walked over to the potatoes and began to peel them. After I was done, I chopped them and placed them in bowls as well. I winced when I cut my finger and put the knife down quietly, sucking on my index finger. I grabbed the knife and washed my cut and hands first before washing the knife. I chopped the last potato, careful not to place my index finger on the potato while chopping it.
I walked up to Nathan, who just finished making some steak. I tapped his shoulder and pointed at my work.
"I finished." Nathan looked at my work and then my finger pointing, sighing. He grabbed my arm and dragged me somewhere. I was slightly surprised, but didn't protest.
"Doc, treat her cut." he said to Christopher, holding up my hand. Christopher walked over and looked at my finger that began bleeding again. I washed my hands again and he put some alcohol on my wound before putting a bandage on my cut.
I winced with pain from the alcohol. Eli and I never got this kind of easy treatment, so we didn't know what it felt like. We always just washed our wounds and covered it with a cloth.
"Really, there's no need to. I get cuts all the time." I try to tell them, but Nathan gave me a glare.
"Go to the dining room. Lunch's almost ready." he said before walking away. I shivered from his glare; I'm usually not afraid of things like this, but I don't even know why I'm shaking. Christopher patted my head gently and smiled. I looked up at him in surprise. The only person who pats my head is Eli, but rarely.
"Don't worry about Nathan, he'll warm up to you eventually. He's like that. Now let's get going to the dining room." Christopher assured me, seeing that I was afraid of them not liking me. I nodded and followed him to a room, where I saw Thomas placing plates of food on the table. I sat on a random chair and Christopher sat next to me. Soon, everyone came and Russell took the spot on my right.
Lunch looked delicious! People were piling their favorite food on their plate while I just choose randomly. I began to eat, and my eyes sparkled. It was really delicious, even more than the food those rich people eat! I once stole food from a rich lady's house, I have to admit it was pretty good, but this was way better. I kept my composure and ate calmly. If I didn't do that, I would've gobbled up everything quickly and get more.
"That's surprising." Christopher commented, making everyone looked at him.
"What is?" Thomas questioned curiously.
"Elle, for a little girl who doesn't even eat full meals everyday and works hard, I thought you would've finished everything on your plate by now." Christopher told me, and I looked down at my plate. It was at least half finished. I looked at my body; I was skinny, but I still had the muscle to help me fight.
"Meh." I shrug and continue eating. A silence fell over us and Thomas, who didn't seem comfortable with it, began a conversation with me.
"Miss Elle, you said you were a thief, right? Are you like Robin Hood?" Thomas asks me, drinking some water. I nod and swallow some water. The cold liquid made me shiver slightly as it went down my throat.
"Yeah, my brother Eli and I stole for some orphans and poor people. It was our lifestyle now; steal things, get in fights, and train." I stated, feeling a bit uncomfortable talking about it. Our life was hard and I'd rather not talk about it. Thomas quickly noticed that and changed the conversation topic.
After we finished eating lunch, I helped at least everyone in the crew with something. I wanted to be useful. Soon, night came. Tomorrow night will be a full moon, so we're going to party until dawn…
I walk down the stairs and bump into someone. I fell down on my bottom and rubbed my eyes, looking up at someone.
"Sorry Miss Elle, let me help you!" I saw Thomas holding out his hand to help me up, and I gladly accept his offer.
"Please don't call me that. Just call me Elle. You're older than me." I sigh and shake my head while smiling. It was kind of cute to call someone younger than you with an honorific…
"If you say so Elle…" he mumbled, looking down at the floor. He looked up and down at my appearance and I felt nervous; was there someone weird about my outfit?
I was wearing some black, ripped and dirtied trousers and a black button up shirt. Some of the buttons were unbuttoned, showing some of my chest, but I had it bandaged because I got injured there. The bandages had a red hue. My boots were worn out and some of the material began to peel. The sleeves of my shirt were rolled to my elbows, showing my cuts and bruises.
Looking at the glass of a picture frame, my eyes widened slightly. I never noticed how dirty I looked. Sticks and leaves stuck out of my hair and my face was mixed with my sweat and dirt. My cheek was bandaged from a cut I recently got.
"Elle, you need to take a shower! I'll lead ya to there." Thomas said in a concerned tone, hurriedly dragging me to the bathroom. He began to clean it up and soon, he was done.
"Who will I borrow the clothes from?" I ask him slowly. These were the only clothes I have ever used since I had my growth spurt.
"You can borrow some of mine, I'm closest to your height. You can hand me your clothes to wash." Thomas explained to me, and I nodded slowly.
He walked out of the room and I stripped down to only having a towel around me. I opened the door with a crack and put my hand out that held my clothes. Thomas took them and I closed the door. I began to take a shower, using my time wisely. Unfortunately, I was on a ship. Water was precious. I was finished after six minutes while my usual showers, if you could call them showers, were three.
I put on the clothes Thomas put out for me after I bandaged a few parts of my body that were injured. I walked to the kitchen to help Nathan with the dinner and ate. I walked with Russell to the bedroom to get some shut-eye.
"Hey, why did you choose to room with me out of everyone else?" Russell asked me as he sat on his bed. I smiled sadly and lied down on the potato sacks with my back facing him.
"My big bro Eli was a two-sword fencer, and his personality is similar to yours. I figured that I'd be more comfortable around you because of that. I heard that my father was a great two-sword fencer too." I answer him, smiling at the memories of Eli and I. We would always argue and fight, but we still love each other anyways.
"Heard?" In the dark, I could imagine him raising an eyebrow at what I said.
"He's dead." I could feel myself tear up saying that, but I quickly blinked a few times for the tears to disappear. I never cry. Never, I can't. It would make me look weak.
"Oh… Sorry to hear that…" Russell mumbled to me, not knowing what else to say. He lied down on the bed when I turned off the lights.
"Hey, Russell?" I decide to ask him. I've been wanting to ask him this ever since I saw him fighting in the bar. I can get to know him better too when he accepts my request. I'm sure he will, I think I know him well enough to say that.
"Yeah?" I could hear him turning around to look at me in the dark room. I took a deep breath and requested it.
"Can you take over Eli's place as my teacher? He was teaching me how to be a two-sword fencer."
"What?"
"I'll let you think about it. Good night!" I smiled before closing my eyes, the events of what happened today flashing through my head quickly before I fell into a deep sleep.
