8 A New Era (1/2)
Whoosh!
Howling wind accompanied a downpour. The three-mast sailboat was tossed around by the crests and troughs of the incoming waves, as if it was being toyed by a giant.
The crimson glow in Alger Wilson's eyes faded. He found himself still remaining on the deck and nothing appeared to have changed.
Almost immediately, the quirky-shaped glass bottle in his palm shattered and the frost within melted into the rain. In seconds, there were no longer any traces left that suggested the existence of the wondrous antique.
A hexagonal crystal-like snowflake emerged on Alger's palm. It then faded rapidly until it was seemingly absorbed by the flesh, vanishing completely in the process. Alger nodded his head in a hardly noticeable manner, as if he was thinking about something. He remained still and silent for a full five minutes.
He turned around and headed for the cabin. As he was about to enter, a man who wore a similar robe embroidered with lightning patterns emerged from inside.
This man, who had soft blond hair, paused and looked at Alger. He held his right fist to his chest and said, ”May the Storm be with you.”
Alger replied with the same words and gesture. There were no emotions on his rough face which had a well-defined structure.
Alger entered the cabin after the greeting and proceeded to the captain's cabin situated at the far end of the corridor.
Surprisingly, he did not encounter any sailors on the way. The whole place was as quiet as a graveyard.
Behind the door to the captain's cabin, a soft brown carpet overlaid the floor. A bookshelf and a wine rack took the opposite side walls of the room. The books with their yellowish covers and wine bottles with their dark red color looked peculiar under the flickering candlelight.
On the desk with the candle, there was a bottle of ink, a quill, a pair of black metallic telescope, and a sextant made of brass.
Behind the desk sat a pale middle-aged man wearing a captain's hat which had a skull on it. As Alger approached him, he said menacingly, ”I will not give in!”
”I believe you can do it,” Alger said calmly, so calm that it felt like he was commenting on the weather.
”You...” The man seemed to be stunned by the unexpected answer.
At this very moment, Alger leaned forward slightly and suddenly dashed across the room until they were only separated by the desk.
Pa!
Alger tightened his shoulder and reached out his right hand to choke the man.
Illusory fish scales appeared on the back of his hand as he crazily mustered more strength to choke the man, giving him no time to respond.
Crack!
Amid the crisp cracking sound, the man's eyes widened as his body was lifted up.
His legs twitched furiously before they soon became motionless. His pupils began to widen as he stared aimlessly. There was a stench from between his legs as his pants gradually turned moist.
While lifting the man, Alger lowered his back and strode toward the wall.
Bang! He used the man as a shield and smashed forward at the wall. His extremely muscular arm was monstrous.
A hole cracked open in the wooden wall, and rain poured in, accompanied by the scent of the ocean.
Alger flung the man out of the cabin, straight into the giant waves that resembled mountains.
The wind continued to howl in the dark as almighty nature devoured everything.
Alger took out a white handkerchief and wiped his right hand carefully before throwing it into the sea as well.
He stepped back and waited patiently for company.
In less than ten seconds, the blond man from before rushed in and asked, ”What happened?”
”The 'captain' has escaped,” Alger answered in an annoyed manner as he panted. ”I didn't know he still had some of his Beyonder powers.”
”Damn it!” the blond man cursed softly.
He went up to the opening and stared into the distance. However, nothing was visible except for the waves and the rain.
”Forget it, he was just extra loot,” the blond man said, waving his arm, ”We will still be rewarded for finding this ghost ship from the Tudor Era.”
Even if he was a Keeper of the Sea, he would not have hastily dived into the sea under this weather condition.
”The 'captain' will not be able to survive much longer if the storm continues.” Alger said, as he nodded in approval. The wooden wall was repairing itself at a discernible rate.
He gazed at the wall and turned his head subconsciously towards the rudder and the sail.
He was perfectly aware of what was going on behind all the wooden planks.
The chief mate, the second mate, the crew, and the sailors were not present. There was no living person on board!
Amidst all the emptiness, the rudder and the sail moved eerily by themselves.
Alger again pictured ”The Fool” who was covered in grayish-white fog and sighed.
He turned back and looked outside at the mighty waves and spoke as though in a reverie while filled with anticipation and awe, ”A new era has begun...”
...
Empress Borough, Backlund, capital of the Loen Kingdom.
Audrey Hall pinched her cheeks in disbelief of her encounter a while ago.
On the dressing table in front of her, the old bronze mirror had shattered into pieces.
Audrey cast her gaze downwards and saw the swirling ”crimson” on the back of her hand; it was like a tattoo depicting a star.
The ”crimson” gradually faded and disappeared into her skin.
Only at this point in time was Audrey certain that it was not a dream.
Her eyes twinkled as she grinned. She could not help but stand up before bending down to lift up the hem of her dress.
She curtseyed towards thin air and started dancing lively. It was the ”Ancient Elf Dance, ”the most popular dance among royalty at the moment.
She had a bright smile on her face as she moved about gracefully.
Knock! Knock! Someone suddenly knocked at her bedroom door.
”Who is it?” Audrey immediately stopped her dance and asked as she tidied her dress to look more elegant.
”My Lady, may I come in? You should start to prepare for the ceremony,” Audrey's maidservant asked from outside the door.
Audrey looked into a mirror on the dressing table and quickly wiped the smile from her face, leaving only a tiny hint of a smile.
She responded gently after she had ensured everything was presentable, ”Come in.”
The doorknob turned and Annie, her maidservant, pushed in.
”Oh, it cracked...” Annie said as she instantly saw the outcome of the old bronze mirror.
Audrey blinked and said slowly, ”Erm, Yes! Susie was here just now. I am sure you know she likes to wreak havoc!”
Susie was a golden retriever that was not so much of a purebred. It was a gift given to her father, Count Hall, when he bought a foxhound. Nevertheless, Audrey adored it.
”You should train it well,” Annie said, as she picked up the pieces of the bronze mirror adeptly and with care, lest it hurt her mistress.