After the necessary introductions, I chose Zarevok and Barbarus to accompany me on the journey to the tower of the sorceress. Our route crossed the mighty seas that surrounded the land. Apparently the waters themselves were treacherous. Tales of sea serpents gobbling men and women whole and ships being battered by massive waves did nothing to ease my nerves. The only ship we could even get hold of was an old wooden one where the masts were falling apart and it needed new sails. There was no way I was going in that boat.
Barbarus then pointed out a much more seaworthy vessel with a small group stood nearby. Nodding to him, I went over and could see there were two women and a man. One of the women was clothed in a hooded scarlet cape and wore a mask that covered her face. The other carried a massive sword and was wearing form-fitting leather armour. The man with them also wore leather armour, but he had whitish-silver hair and a mask over his nose and mouth. His eyes seemed to pierce right through me.
"Are you the owners of this vessel?" I stood tall and firm while Barbarus took a step back. The woman in leather armour stepped forward and seemed to give me a once-over, inspecting my armour, my equipment and my face. She nodded lightly.
"I own the vessel. You can call me Luz." A smile seemed to cross her lips. "And you are...?"
"Little Meister, though I prefer just to be called Meister. And this..." I gestured to my companion. "...is Barbarus. Zarevok will also be accompanying me, though he's busy sorting a few things out." My gaze happened to catch sight of a book in the caped woman's hands... and it was a copy of 50 Shades of Demi Points. Luz frowned slightly.
"What do you need to borrow my vessel for?" I explained that I needed to get to the Land of Mist to seek out an elven sorceress that lived in a tall tower, and that I needed a seaworthy vessel to take me there. Luz's frown turned upside down. "Ah... I was going that way myself to hunt the sea serpents."
If my jaw could have hit the ground, it would have. "Those things can swallow a warrior whole. Can you honestly-"
Luz shushed me. "I can tell you're a far lower level, Meister. They always tell horror stories to stop the lower level warriors from going out there. How do you feel about killing monsters?"
"I eat Cronus burgers for breakfast." Maybe that was stretching the truth a little since my last encounter with Cronus got me beaten up, but hydra steak burgers were a delicacy in Valeria.
"Then you've got nothing to worry about." Luz turned and headed to the boat just as I felt a tap on the shoulder. I turned to see that Zarevok was trying to get my attention. Giving him an update on what was happening, we boarded Luz's boat though I did wonder who her companions were...
We set out shortly afterward, a good wind in our sails and a fresh sea breeze washing over us. Aside from the sea serpents this sounded like a pleasant trip. Standing out on deck, I watched the buildings of the Land of Fire disappear into the distance before a tap on my shoulder made me jump. Turning around, it was the masked, caped woman.
"I suggest you don't get in our way, Meister. You're lucky that Luz is letting you use her boat, but if I was in charge, I'd have you and your two lugs thrown overboard."
My blood ran cold and I could only stare. "… I don't plan to." I got the feeling she was smirking beneath her mask but I couldn't tell.
"Good." She turned and walked away, leaving me jittery with nerves. How does Luz put up with her? Deciding not to question it further, I climbed up the main mast and looked out for any sea serpents. The sky was getting darker overhead and I could hear thunder booming. We must be getting closer.
Just on the edge of the horizon, I could see giant waves coming towards us. Climbing down from the mast, Luz was waiting for me. "Meister, good timing. We've got sight of the Ancient Sea Serpent and it's coming straight for us. Annika will keep watch while Kaiser and I prepare to deal it some damage."
"Guessing Annika and Kaiser are your companions."
Luz nodded. "Annika appears cold but she's a capable fighter, and Kaiser has a good idea on where to hit a monster to deal it some serious damage." I nodded in approval but she put her hand on my shoulder. "So what about Barbarus and Zarevok? What can they do?"
"Barbarus can really launch attacks and send monsters flying while Zarevok can turn even a tiny dagger into a mighty weapon of destruction."
"Well then... let's get everyone together because-" She didn't finish before a huge wave crashed over the starboard side of the ship that knocked me down to the deck with surprising force, a loud roar filling the air. "The sea serpent!"
I got up and muttered a few swear words under my breath before drawing my sword. Zarevok was already ready, swinging his mighty blade at the creature before it could snap its teeth at me. The creature roared and swung its tail at us, and a sickening smack followed by a grunt told me that the serpent had knocked someone down.
"Kaiser! Now!" Luz's shout from behind made me turn just in time for the serpent to knock me down with its head. I grunted as I hit the ground but the serpent's pained roar told me that Kaiser had dealt it a nasty blow. Quickly getting up, I turned my attention back to the serpent, its teeth crunching against the wood of the ship as it tried to bite Kaiser. I watched him leap out of the way, narrowly missing those wicked jaws as I was pushed aside, only to see Luz leaping up at the creature, slashing her sword downwards. It cut through the serpent's thick hide like a hot knife through butter. Getting myself upright again I could see she was about to swing again but the serpent thrashed in the water, sending her hurtling back onto the ship. I heard a sickening crack and I winced.
"Luz! Luz, are you alright?!" I rushed over to the source of the sound and noticed that Luz was sprawled over the deck, blood seeping from a wound in her head. Without thinking I tore out some of the material lining my armour and used it as a makeshift bandage to try and staunch the bleeding. From the looks of it, she'd been knocked unconscious.
"Meister." I turned my head to see Annika standing over me, her eyes seeming to pierce my soul although she seemed a lot less fear-inducing than before. "As noble as it is of you to make sure my mistress is well, the sea serpent needs to be killed before it capsizes the ship." I was about to protest but she silenced me. "Go!" I didn't need any further prompting. Turning my atterntion to the serpent, it lashed out with its long tail but I saw Barbarus bash it aside with his huge sword before it even got close to me.
The serpent hissed and I glared at it. "I'll make you pay for knocking Luz out..." Rushing forward, I leapt over the side of the ship and stabbed my sword into the serpent's slippery body, causing it to roar and thrash. It managed to fling me off and I fell onto the deck, landing roughly but I was still conscious (just about). As I was about to get up a huge wave of cold salt water crashed over the deck and knocked me flat, which caused me to unleash a wave of mindless, senseless profanity that smacked into the serpent. I got up quickly and raised my blade. "YOU SON OF A- MOTHER SEA SERPENT!" Eyes narrowed, I sprinted and launched myself at it, swinging my blade right at its neck. I felt a crunch as metal shattered bone and sheared flesh, my wild swing decapitating it with ease. The sea serpent's headless body thrashed about for a few moments before it settled and began to sink to the bottom with me still on it.
"Hang on Meister!" I looked up to see Zarevok toss a rope over to me and I grabbed hold of it, finding that I was being pulled out of the water. Strong hands pulled me on deck and I spluttered, pulling off my armour and shaking myself out. "Are you alright?"
"I needed a bath anyway." Shaking my head, I went to see how Annika and Luz were doing. It looked like she'd come around but she seemed oddly distant.
"Give her time." Annika bowed her head slightly. "But thanks to you, our journey to the sorceress' tower will be a lot safer." I smiled a little and went back to Barbarus and Zarevok. The warrior with the massive thighs was holding up the severed head of the sea serpent, which was still dripping blood onto the planks of the deck.
"You could hang this on your wall, Meister."
I tilted my head. "I could, but what use would I have for a sea serpent's head?" Shrugging lightly, I looked over at Annika and Luz. My new acquaintance looked better than before but she was still out of it. Hopefully she'd be better by the time we reached our destination...
