The Borealis Shipwreck, 3 days after leaving Savaria, Noon
~William’s Perspective~
“Oi Pax,” I say, shaking him awake. He groans as he opens his eyes groggily. “We’re here.”
He bolts up, accidentally head butting me in the process.
“OW!” I yell. “What the fuck man?”
“Sorry!” Pax apologizes.
“Shit.” I rub the spot where he hit me. “I just had a head injury 5 days ago man.”
I hate having to wake Pax up, but he volunteered to control the ship at night, so he was tired. At least he had some sleep.
“C’mon,” I say. “Get ready.” I run over to the steering wheel and begin to steer the ship towards the dock.
“Holy shit,” Pax murmurs. “It’s huge.”
“No shit,” I respond, awe in my voice.
The shipwreck is huge. The books about it don’t do it any justice.
We move towards the dockyard and park our ship in one of the side spots so we don’t have to go through the ordeal of rowing back out. Pax grabs and uses the gangplank to connect the ship to the dock.
We walk down the plank and across the dockyard into the shipwreck.
“This used to be a real ship from before the Arcane Government,” I tell Pax. “250 years ago, the One Shot Pirates attacked and defeated the ship, which was floating above a sandbank. Today, it’s a place where all kinds of people hang around. The One Shot Pirates used the stolen wealth to build a superpower in the 3rd Sea. It’s destruction contributed to the need for a government, and 50 years later, the AG formed.”
“Wait,” Pax says. “One Shot Pirates? I thought there were only 3 big organizations.”
I realize what he means. I laugh.
“Yeah, I can see why you would think that. When people mention the big 3 pirate organizations, they’re referring to the 3 big ones based in the 2nd Sea. There are technically 3 more in the entire Seven Seas.”
I count using my finger as I list out the other 3.
“The Quake Pirates, the largest one with a hold in the 4th and 5th Sea. They were decimated by the Mantle Pirates 25 years before when they attempted to get a hold in the 2nd Sea and were the ones who wiped out the Patch Pirates. They’re a shell of what they once were. The One Shot Pirates, rulers of the 3rd Sea. Most pirates that aren’t within their ranks don’t consider them pirates but as power hungry rulers. And the Grand Fire Pirates, ruled by Rupin. They’re just insane, and rumor has it that Rupin was responsible for the destruction of the Old Sea.”
“The Old Sea?”
“Oh yeah, about that. There were 2 Sea clusters, as they called it. The smaller of the 2 was known as the Old Sea. When the Seven Seas were discovered about 300 years ago, people slowly started to move there, but it was a dangerous journey across the Dark Sea. Then, around 100 or so years ago, people started flooding in. The old AG collapsed and the new one we know today formed after winning a war against Morock Creed and the largest army to oppose the AG ever 50 years later. The flow of refugees happened over the course of a month. Among them was Rupin. He took refuge in the 6th Sea when Trigno went hunting for him.”
“Damn,” says Pax.
“Well,” I say. “C’mon. We don’t want to keep Theos waiting.”
“Thank you for your consideration but I have been waiting patiently,” says someone behind us.
Me and Pax both jump before turning around to see the War Phoenix standing before us.
“T-theos,” Pax stammers. “You scared me.”
“I apologize,” he responds. “I was enjoying this young man’s explanation.”
“H-hello,” I stammer.
“You must be William,” says Theos.
“Yeah,” I respond. “That’s me.”
“Stop being so fucking nervous,” Pax says, hitting me in the head. He looks at Theos. “What did you want to talk to us about?”
Theos smiles kindly.
“Let’s go inside,” he says.
End of Chapter I