The Flying Leaf sailed into Silverhold’s vast port. The sailboat was quick on the water and painted green as per Angel’s likes. Angel Galleon had been asked to come to Silverhold for a meeting, what for she could only guess. Once docked as per the portsmen’s instructions she hopped off the sailboat, grabbed a rope with one of her green gloves and tied the ship in place. She kept her straw hat tipped down and one hand on her katana. It made people uneasy when they couldn’t see her eyes. Her green hair was tied back in a ponytail to make it easier to fight if it came to that. She had a great dislike of magic ever since childhood.
A Grand Navy soldier came to meet her at the port. News of who docked traveled quickly on this island. “Angel right?” he said, out of breath.
Angel sighed. “Yes, have you come to escort me to my meeting?”
“Oh, yes, follow me.” The soldier walked off. Angel took a second to look over him and see any threats he might pose. Only thing of note was the flintlock at his waist.
Angel followed silently, taking in everything around her. She had visited before but new things were always being built. It was very organized, people were yelling orders around and there was a general hubbub of life. She decided to ask the soldier his name, as was common courtesy from her homeland, “So, what’s your name and why did you decide to work with the Grand Navy?”
“Oh, ummm. I’m Michael. I joined the Grand Navy so I could get stronger, I’m not a magic user but I still want to protect those I love,” Michael responded. He seemed young, probably only into his 15th or 16th year. What was the world coming to?
“It’s good to hear you care for someone.” She was silent for a second, lost in thought, “I haven’t done that in a long time,” The tone in her voice told Michael that she didn’t want to talk anymore.
Eventually they reached the main compound. Entering through the doors was like entering the maw of a monster. Michael brought her down a hallway she had never been down before on her previous visits. They stopped shortly. “I can’t go any further, it’s restricted past this point for me, just continue on your own.”
Angel looked ahead, Why am I being let into a restricted area? she couldn’t help but wonder, tipping her straw hat to Michael she continued down the way Michael pointed.
It was a couple seconds later when Angel ran into two guards at a door. “Halt! Who are you and why are you here?” the first guard said, lifting his rifle towards her. Their armor looked different than normal, Angel ignored it.
“My name is Angel Galleon, I was requested to come here by the Vice Admiral of the Grand Navy.” Angel said, removing her straw hat.
The guard looked at her skeptically. The second guard pulled out a device and spoke into it. It was a few seconds before a voice spoke back from the device. The guards looked up at her, “Right this way then, follow me,” the second guard said before opening the well oiled metal door and heading down the passage. Angel followed silently.
The passage led into a spiral staircase that went down. The guard’s metal boots clanged on the stairs as they headed down the stairs. Angel was starting to worry how deep this went when they finally reached the bottom. She kept a gloved hand on her katana just in case of any surprises. The guard held his hand up telling her to stop. She looked around, there were three passages leading away from the stairs they just descended. One passage had 4 guards
guarding it with one having scars on his face, and a permanently sour look from the scars.
“What’s down that passage?” Angel couldn’t help but asking.
The guard looked at her, “That information is confidential. The Vice Admiral will be here soon.”
Angel sighed, Guards are no fun. A minute later the Vice Admiral arrived, Angel disliked him because of his curse but had to deal with it. “So what did you call me here for?”
“I summoned you because of your many exploits, throughout the seas, few would challenge you to a duel.” The Vice Admiral said. “This matter is of great importance to the collection of curses. Follow me.” The Vice Admiral turned and headed back down the way he had came, his blue cloak and hair waving in the air though there was no wind in these corridors.
Angel followed, hearing the guard head back up the stairs. “So what was down that heavily guarded corridor?”
“A Prisoner,” His voice was flat, he did not wish to encroach on that topic.
Angel shut up and followed occasionally fidgeting with her gloves. She missed the familiar weight of her hammer but she had left it on the Flying Leaf. They quickly arrived at a huge room, explosive blasts could be heard from the magic users practicing. For some reason their hair was bleached of color but their magic definitely seemed more potent. “What is all of this?” she inquired.
“You know how the seas have turned creatures into stronger versions of their original forms,” The Vice Admiral said, “We have begun experimenting with the irradiated sea salts. The first few tests ended poorly, but the most recent ones,” He waved a hand at the magic users, “have been successful. Their power greatly amplified. This is not only to protect the sea curses we have but to defeat great threats, like the Apocalypse.”
“So, why ask me here?” Angel said sarcastically, “To see how powerful magic users are going to be compared to everyone else?”
“No,” The Vice admiral walked through a pair of metal doors into a large room, in the middle was a chamber with multiple electronic devices attached to it, “We would like you to be the first non-magic user we attempt to make stronger.” He gestured towards the chamber.
Angel paused looking at the chamber. She turned her head back hearing the magic blasts from the amplified magic users. The magic users will become stronger, I need to as well, to stand a chance against them in this new world. I was nearly beaten by smugglers of all people. What’s the worst that could happen? Releasing a huge sigh, she took off her gloves, unsheathed her swords, removed her hat and walked towards the open chamber, “Then let’s begin.”
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