บท 21: Where Was Jack Sparrow When You Needed Him?
My eyes bulged at the sight of the huge, black ship anchored on the port. It is truly... archaic. I've seen my fair share of ships in Country Z. Passenger ships, cargo ships, and even a tanker. I've only ever seen this kind of sailing ship in movies. I gotta say, the real thing hits differently.
But why does this particular full-rigged galleon ship kinda remind me of Jack Sparrow's beloved ship, the Black Pearl? I mean it looks similar to it. Maybe just a bit bigger. Grander. And less gloomy. Oh and it doesn't have a flag with a skull on it. It did have one with a bear insignia though. Must be the emblem of the merchant company.
I twiddled my thumbs as I waited for mister coachman. He went to talk with the captain for things. Probably my grandpa's arrangement again. I mean I could do without the pampering but I'm not stupid to turn it down as well. Still, I feel like I've bled Old Man Hal dry with all this. Ancient artifacts, three of them and a whole bunch of other dealings that I'm pretty sure wouldn't be possible if he weren't a magi.
By the way, I look starkly different now. I wore black trousers and tucked in a white silk long sleeves paired with brown leather calf boots. I pulled my long wavy hair which was now as black as onyx into a high ponytail. The ancient artifacts along with my spatial ring doubled as my accessories. The silver butterfly mask was put into emphasis though due to my hairstyle but it was also fine that way. After all, its ability to mask my presence would be helpful in the long run.
That aside, now I was back into looking valiant and heroic. I think. It's kinda hard doing that with this height though. Meh. At least I tried.
"Miss, everything is set now. I've managed to secure you the best room they have. As for your meals, a crew would send it to your quarters every mealtime. You can come aboard now." Mister Coachman came running and talked as he tried to stabilize his breathing.
"Uncle Coachman, you didn't have to run just to tell me this. Look at you, you're trying so hard to catch your breath." I said and shook my head in disapproval. The latter just scratch the back of his head sheepishly.
"I dare not make you wait long, Miss." He answered while waving his head in a fluster. Seriously, this uncle needs to chill.
"You're too kind, Uncle." Smiling a little, I turned to him and gestured for him to lead the way.
I could have flown to the deck since I also have strands of natural air laws. A short distance flight is doable. I even made a spell for it. Wind Steps. Uh-huh. This magical world is starting to unravel my chunni tendencies.
I was drifting off again.
Anyway, I wanted the full experience so I chose to walk aboard the ship. My experimentation with Wind Steps could wait. I don't wanna be embarrassed lest I suddenly plunged down mid-spell. That... is what an unbecoming lady truly is.
I took in every sight like a curious cat. The sails flapped slightly amid the towering masts. The figurehead at the bow of the ship was quite eye-catching. It was a full figure of a woman holding a bear cub. Predictable. The owner of this ship stands true to his insignia that he even made sure that the figurehead held it. It's either that or he's obsessed with bears.
"Hey, uncle, what's the name of this ship?" I asked. If my assumption is correct it would still be related to bears. Maybe even the captain would be bear-like. I snickered to myself. That ought to be an interesting sight.
Mister Coachman smiled at me and held his hand out to assist me in my footing. "This ship belongs to the Ursa Company. They are the top mercantile company in Syracuse. As far as I know, they own about four galleon ships. This one is called 'La Miel'."
Miel?
Honey?
See, I was spot on. It still was related to bears. Honey, a bear's ultimate loot and treasure. How fitting. Still, I have my misgivings. My dream of being able to go on board the Black Pearl is just that strong. Where was Jack Sparrow when you needed him?
Well, that's just me and my delusions. Actually, even their company name directly translates to bear. I shouldn't have expected otherwise and just feel happy with the sweet, sweet name of La Miel. It's not even my ship to begin with. How dare I be so audacious?
"I see. I didn't know Grandpa was acquainted with any merchant companies. Perhaps I've been paying too little attention." I muttered to myself indistinctly while my mind drifted to ships and pirates. Right. Pirates? What would an actual pirate look like? Do they really wear that big, ol' hat all the time?
Yep. I was drifting off again.
Thankfully, my dangerous reverie teeming with firing cannons, and pirate fighting was directly cut off when a tall, slender woman in brown trousers and red gypsy long sleeves appeared in front of us. She was sporting a straight short bob, something rarely seen in women back at the capital. Truthfully, she looked so cool and elegant. Even more so when she smirked at our direction, her almond brown eyes twinkled in the sunshine along with her freckles.
"Hello there. You must be the young lady Mr. Hal mentioned in the letter. Please follow me to the quarterdeck. The Captain would like to see you. I'm Riley, by the way. First Mate of the galleon ship, La Miel." She introduced herself when she reached our side.
So, she was the first mate. Damn, that's awesome. I was liking this company even more. I could see that they weren't as prejudiced and superstitious against women working in a ship. I nodded lightly in acknowledgement and followed her to where the captain was.
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