Tonight it was quiet on the open seas as the clouds were aglow from an effervescent moonlight. A ship was adrift on a crystal clear water as not a gust of wind could ripple and change the wake. A full moon glared down like a lantern of blessed light as a ship of a hundred and forty strong took a nap under starlight. The regal galleon laid dormant at midnight yet a firelight was aglow from the captain's cabin below. The glitter of candlelight dancing off the water attracts fish to chase the orbs of warmth just below the surface. Inside the cabin was adorned with yellow embossed floral print walls papered overtop of planked wood. A bed, desk and library fit within the tight space decorated with many treasures found both above and below from the forbidden oasis. The lantern light was about to be snuffed out, as the captain laid over their cluttered desk. A head of blonde interlocked braids formed a pillow for their head on stacks of mismatched paper.
The room was peaceful, as even the large red feather macaw sat on their perch, wings folded and head tucked in tight for a restful night. A soft coo of a whale sounded underneath the ship, and the boat finally swayed as the massive creature passed by underneath. The captain rose from their slumber, and reacted out to catch a tilting jar of ink before it could spill over recent receipts. The first one under their cheek reading "Sincerely Your Fearless Captain Edward" stuck to their face. They peeled it off, smearing the charcoal around their sapphire eyes itchy from sleep. The Captain corked the bottle and tucked it away before a disaster could bring dismay. Rising from the desk to stretch their slender limbs darkly tanned from many days under burning sunlight. The Capitan walked past the sleeping bird running their fingers over its fluffed head before heading to bed. Edward climbed into the satin covered futon suspended on chains and swayed with the tilt of the ship. A massive feline was already curled up, making biscuits as the Captain laid down their head. Not a moment later, once they were curled up with arms around the feline, did the ship list to starboard.
Nothing fell out of place, other than an apple loose on the deck now bouncing around freely about while the ship tilted back in place. The whale below swam in circles, chasing the schools of fish attracted by the twinkling lights now finally snuffed out as the captain snapped their fingers. The early signs that dawn soon to break as the first risers of the crew relieved the crew on duty. At least 20 standing at the ready armed with swords and staves alike. Yet the morning crew were not adorn in protective leather and armour. They wore lite tunics and slim slacks, bringing with them ropes to set up the masts and wineskins instead of swords. Among these sailors was a warrior with ginger hair like a cloud similar to the landscape behind them basking in the sun's first light. A monk dressed in soft knits wrapped around a lithe frame of slender muscle. Their ears were long points, pierced with enough rings to pay for a royal king's funeral procession dangling from their lobes.
"Good Morning Illia." The elf turned at the sound of their name. The Capitan appeared out of the silence behind them, giving the warrior a jolt of fright. Edward's face was gloomy their early in the morning but only in looks. Sunken eyes could be ignored within the brilliance of powerful voice.
"Edward!… hmpf. I mean good morning Captain." Illia said, calming down before their freckled nose coloured red and could give way their emotional state. The Capitan was not so lucky, suffering from sleepless nights by their own faults.
"Make ready the sails and take us to the Golden Reef, Mother should be expecting us before winters break." Edward said proudly, buttoning up the collar of a billowed sleeve tunic that once was white but now stained yellow with salt and sweat.
"No chance of a wind this day Captain, the winds blow to no one but themselves." Illia said sternly and crossed their arms with eyes on the horizon. Edward rolled their eyes and leaned against the mast, out of breath, far too tired to be up this early. Illia noticed the look of exhaustion immediately and stepped up to scoop them up before falling over. Edward leaned into them happily, like a drunkard after a binge and snuggled into their firm embrace. The warrior sighed, expecting this affection as then dragged them over to the wheelhouse. The Captain wrapping an arm around the first mate and following along trying to convince them it was all an act.
"How long were you up last night? For the lady's sake, tell me you were not…" Illia huffed as Edward jolted up the stairs full of energy once again. To vault up the wooden steps felt like scaling a ladder just to get into the ship's command deck. While Illia stood below relaxed in stance, studying the captain's expression which was knitted in overworked delight.
"Oh no, as I said before. No one my type is on board, sugar." Edward said with a wink before Illia started to chuckle in annoyance.
"I won't have drinks with you, you know that ya?" Illia stated sternly though their smirk, Unable to hide their smile from this playful banter on such a gorgeous morning.
"Oi I know! The status of the mind is like sacred crystal clear water. One must be still to see the treasures hidden below." Edward sauntered up to the wheel and polished the worn down wood with their bare finger. A crack along the spindle raised concern as Edward's eyebrows were furrowed in concern as Illia climbed up into the wheelhouse to join them.
The bunkie was decorated with the shells of various sea creatures caught in a net of shells and knick knacks discovered in the deep. Within the mess of nets were vines of seaweed growing from a pool of water in the centre of the roof and suspended against gravity by some magic that lingered in the room. Sleeping on the water's surface was a glowing ball of blue giving the room its soft light. As Edward crossed to the back of the room and sat down in a plush loveseat built on a storage unit. The tiny creature awoke and the light grew brighter as the small creature started to float across the room towards the drowsy human. As slow as a firefly, it buzzed towards a small dish placed on the armrest of the love seat. Edward pulled a small pouch from their sleeve and produced a handful of raspberries on the plate. The little creature landed after Edward pulled away to feast on the offerings of fruit. Illia leaned against the wheel to wordlessly alleviate Edwards concern. Their ship might be beaten, but it was study even as Edward stared continuously through them in concern. The little creature's light went out as Illia opened the blinds to reveal the sun's orange light over the horizon.
The small creature, now revealed to be a blue fairy was wearing what looked like a dress made with dandelion wisps sewn together with grass. The sweet thing carefully ate each berry, careful not to stain the delicate white dress, which complimented their periwinkle complexion. The fairy smiled at Edward and waved to them with bashful innocence.
"You got too much on your plate if you're staying up past midnight every night." Illia commented as they could now see the crew having readied the ship to sail, yet no winds caught the sails and they were dead in the water. Each one of the crew finding a moment to look upon the sunrise to appreciate the beauty of a gorgeous sun illuminating the Sea. The surface of the water reflected the colour of the sky across a glorious mountain range peppered in white snow just out of reach.
"Why not take a break, it has been awhile since you went fishing." Illia suggested as Edward scoffed at the idea.
"That's the strikers job!" Edward groaned and slapped their face in frustration. "Ugh! I forgot we don't have one." The Captain said with a load of sarcasm heaped on top. The two shared a long awkward pause before a third figure entered the small space. They were goliath sized with ashy skin, white hair and broken dragon horns cracking through their forehead and left eye. Once hazel, the eye was now white and blinded by the injury. They wore little, except for fitted slacks and a halter red top binding their chest.
"Good Morning Honey." Edward said as they joined the captain on the love seat and dropped an arm behind them.
"Listen Boss, I gotta be honest. I kinda need a day for myself. Do you think I could borrow some coins? I kinda lost a game last night during King's Goblet." Honey said without addressing their hello nor returning their morning greeting. The Captain sighed and placed another small bag in their palm and waved the lumbering warrior away.
"Go ahead, it looks like it's a day off for us all. Oh Glory!" Edward did not have any enthusiasm for their voice and surrendered the coin to the navigator who stood up as fast as they sat down. Their heavy steps shook the deck as the fairy ditched breakfast and flew away spooked by the Goliath who did not see them. Edward grasped the tattoo of a peacock across their chest with heart wracked worry, watching the fairy flurry back to their nest and sighed in relief as they disappeared into a conch shell where their little light shuddered inside. Honey jumped down the ladder to the deck below and this ship list to their weight, making Illia chuckle with delight. Edward stood and collected the scattered berries and tidied them up for the little fairy for later. Illia waited patiently, as the Captain was too wound up to even think of taking a break.
"Listen, A quick nap is all it will take before I can restore my energy to get us back on track. For now, keep everyone on deck and just wait… until after lunch but that's it. We have a deadline or else we will miss the festival of twilight." Edward was too tired to be angry, as their yawn interrupted their orders. Edward was unsuccessful to hold any more authority in this state. Let alone express their disappointment in the ever exhausting days when the gods of the wind denied them a joyful ride looking out from the crows nest.
"What ever you say Captain, however. I think a days rest at the next dock is required before you spontaneously combust." Illia walked up to the conch shell and stepped on the near by counter to peak inside. Their soft words echoed through the wisps as the angelic song-like whisper reached the fairies ears and alleviated its tearful fright. Edward slowly making their way out of the wheelhouse, and turned just in time to see the fairy wave good-bye and signed a thank you with their hands. That made the captain smile. They returned the gesture with a polite goodbye, before leaving the room as Illia inspected the same spindle that gave Edward cause of concern. The fairy resumed to their breakfast as Illia took note of the repair on a piece of parchment rolled tight in a holster next to a blowdart on their hip.
Illia turned to leave the wheel house, when something on the horizon caught their eye. Smoke in the distance billowing from a distance only a keen eye could see. Illia climbed down from the wheelhouse and headed for the main deck while Edward opened the heavy door to go below. The smoke was a cause of concern the captain should have known about, yet Illia decided it was a problem for later. Illia watched while Edward disappeared into the officers deck as the crew looked to Illia for direction.
"Kady!" Illia shouted and a little person wearing a protective carpenter's apron appeared next to them. They had brunette hair with a collar so large it shrouded their face except for their hazel eyes. The carpenter walked out of the crowd on the deck as if it was a magic trick. The crew unmoved as most of them kept lounging in the ropes waiting patiently as the ship bobbed on still water.
"What can I do for you Illia." Kady said softly as Illia stood, staring in the distance for an uneasy amount of time. The horrible rumble of whispered rumors grew between the sailors. Their voices hummed under the silence as they wondered what it was their comrade could see in the distance.
"Call for a cask of punch for the crew. We have the morning to take it easy… have some breakfast." Illia said calmly as a collected sigh of relief spread through the crowd. They leapt up from their perches to head below deck, following Kady through the heavy doors. A handful of sailors remained on deck, staring at Illia with concern. Kady led the bulk of the crew below to inform the cook of the incoming crowd.
"Do you think it's trouble?" One of the sailors who remained on deck was an elf wearing a large hood. Their face shielded from the sun by their hood which was custom made for their ears to be protected as well as they were so long they needed to have special slots cut out to allow them to wear such a hood. They looked out across the water with a pair of binoculars in hand suspicious of the horizon.
"It's not our concern Lucien." Illia stated strongly as the cloaked warrior turned around to face them.
"Frankly, that is not your call to make Illia. It's the Captain's." Lucien replied back and puffed out their chest. Their iridescently pale face revealed in the shadows of their hood as he smoothed out the outgrown black forktail on their chin.
"Hey, fancy pants. I'm in charge not you. You want to play Hero there is a longboard on starboard you can have. Go ahead." Illia firmly stated and pointed to the busted up boat stored on the deck. The remnants of the last scuffle it was a part of obvious as the charred wood had been used to doodle crude drawings across the hull.
Lucien wrinkled their nose at the sight of one particular portrait with monstrous features and a silly expression. Brashly he tucked the binoculars away before heading off without another word. Illia licked their teeth they stared out once again.
"Are you going to doubt me as well." Illia asked as a teen in blue leaned against the bannister next to them. Their black hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail as they postured close to the warrior. Taller than most, with little pointed ears naked from any marks or jewelry.
"Of course not. You are wise to keep your distance, they will come to us sooner or later." The teen replied with giddy confidence.
"You're not going to run off with your Father and collect more indentured servants? Or I'm sorry, crippling indebted crewman." Illia asked rather bluntly.
"That's not fair." They replied softly and stood back up, eyes nearly watering at the harsh words.
"What's not fair, is that we have too many mouths to feed and Minerva can only make the food run for so long. We are down to the last barrel of apples, and there was a worm in one. Now Lady Raine. Go eat your breakfast while you still can and leave the ship to me." Illia replied sternly.
The young Rayne left in a flurry of huffs as they stormed after their father who went below deck with the others. Illia was left alone on deck as they ventured up to the bow. A canopy draped over the rigging as Illia threw off the flap to reveal a significant amount of damage had been caused to the mermaid carved statue with the name plate of the ship. The beautiful figure had long violet hair holding up the hull with their sultry curves plated in armour. Illia took a bucket of paints and fine woodworking tools with them to continue the repairs needed to restore the damaged mermaid warrior starting with sculpting new elvhan ears blown off with shrapnel. The placard of the ship letters were still faintly legible despite the debris reading. "The Hateful Barnacle."