Chapter 84: Pirates, and Shit Talking the Captain

The dreaded region proved to be a tranquil passage. No kraken emerged from the inky depths, no monstrous sea serpents coiled around our hull. The elves, initially tense with anticipation, now seemed almost...disappointed. Their reactions fueled my suspicions. Had they hoped the mythical beasts would make short work of me, eliminating the need for messy confrontations? Perhaps I was being overly paranoid, but after Celeestia's machinations, I trusted no one.

Days turned into weeks, and the uneventful journey continued. Just when boredom threatened to consume me entirely, a genuine threat materialized on the horizon – not in the form of fantastical creatures, but something far more tangible: pirates!

A ship bearing a black flag materialized from the morning mist, its ragged sails billowing ominously. The Elven crew snapped into action. "Pirates!" the lookout yelled, his voice ringing with alarm. "Prepare for battle!"