The docks of Elbaf were colossal in size, covering an area of about four to six kilometers square. To an average human standing at one point of the docks and staring to the side, it felt like it stretched out to eternity
Gigantic long ships ranging over a hundred meters long held at a place of heavy steel anchors as huge as a modern day truck.
Amidst the anchored giant's ship was a tiny spec floating on the sea. But coming closer it turned out to be a canoe buried under the massive heights of the ships beside it.
Laying inside the canoe was a young man, his known blood red hair and a scar running from the top of his left cheek all the way to his jaw. He had a build of a warrior which was the result of his relentless years of training in the land of giants.
He laid there, eyes shut and humming a lullaby. A smile plastered on his face. After ten years of training today he finally becomes a full fledged pirate.
Kael stopped humming, having noticed a group of people coming at the shores, he sat upright as an albino monkey jumped on him and began rubbing its face against his. Appy, he found him some years back while training in the forest, after some time of feeding him and taking care of him they became inseparable
"You're all packed up and ready to go?" Ripley, Gaban's lover, asked , looking at the empty boat.
"Hmm" Kael replied enthusiastically with a nod.
The edge of Ripley's mouth curved downwards. She placed her hands on her waist. "You know we could've built you a ship. A large one at that for you and your–"
"Thanks Aunt Ripley but…you all have done more than enough for me and there are some things I want to experience for myself." Kael stopped and rubbed the monkey's forehead. For some time now Ripley as well as the giants shipwrights have been telling him about making a ship for him. Not just any ship but a mother ship, one that can sail all the seas, withstand any form of physical damage, it's wood straight from the Adams tree and the builders, the Giant nomads. That kind of offer was one no normal Pirate nor Navy could reject. However…
"One of those stories Old man Gaban used to tell me there was one he told me about. The story when the Oro Jackson was completed. He said he was so happy he cried"
"But Tiny Big bro. Pops cries sometimes, I think that's how he is" Colon said. Almost sounded a lot like Kael. The years they spent together felt like he was a bad influence on Colo.
"Yeah, apart from that I want to experience that kind of feeling too. That joy"
"Tiny Kael is right. We should let him be, this is his journey" one of the giants added making Ripley shrug in defeat
Kael looked around the shore, like he was tracking someone "Speaking of Old man Gaban where is he?" He asked
"I don't know he was with us a while back" Ripley replied
"Knowing who he is he might be crying somewhere–"
"This old man cries for the likes of you?!" Gaban, an old muscular man with full long grey hair and beards crawled out from Colon's hair
"You take me lightly kid" He forked out a tiny pebble, squeezed it in-between his index and thumb and launched it at Kael.
Kael quickly brought out a knife, placed it in front of him and calmly blocked the projectile changing its direction to the sea. It lunged into the sea kicking up a big wave of water, if that had made contact with Kael there's no telling if he will even survive the impact
"What" Kael gasped for air, he moved his gaze from the water to the old man "You almost killed me!!"
"Hmph, that was just a test, now get out from here before I really want to kill you" Gaban turned his back at him.
Looking at Gaban's reaction he smiled that was more of what he'd expected. All through the years Gaban was always tough on him especially during training, but he knew Gaban had a really soft heart for some even if he never really showed or accepted it.
Kael sat on the bench of the canoe and began rowing the boat as the giants bid him farewell
"Who in their right senses sails the sea on a boat, that's suicide" Gaban mumbled to himself while on Colon hair
"Pops, are you crying?" Colon asked
"I'm not crying Colon can't you see it's raining"
Colon moved his eyes up to the scorching sun and wondered what his father was talking about
***
Appy laid at the edge of the boat staring into the sea and hoping that something came into sight for him to grab it with his tiny hands.
A week had passed since they set out to the sea and they hadn't seen anybody, made contact with any lifeform at the other side of their den den mushi and worse of all they hadn't eaten anything.
They were at a limit, even Kael had begun to show signs of emaciation.
His cheek bones were now more visible and his eyes had sunk deep into his sockets. He held a makeshift fishing rod waiting for something – anything to fall for the bait.
Appy on the other hand jumped down from the edge of the boat and laid lifeless on the bench with his stomach facing the clouds. He was exhausted and hungry.
Minutes passed and Appy hadn't moved an inch even Kael had noticed. He wondered if Appy had lost to the hunger and passed on to the other side.
"Hey Appy, you still there?"
He called out and got no response not even a tiny move of a muscle
"Appy?"
Kael kicked the bench, and yet no response. He looked at Appy's lifeless body and for a moment an aroma glided past his nose, he wondered ever since did Appy smell so delicious and before he knew it he was already drooling at the sight of his presumed dead friend.
Kael dropped the makeshift fishing rod and slowly walked up to Appy. Before he knew what was happening next he was already covered in his own saliva and about to consume his friend.
Luckily for Appy he opened his eyes at the nick of time to see his trusted buddy drooling at the sight of him. He hurried up to his tiny feet and waved his hand at Kael probably signalling
"See it's me Appy, I'm not a food"
But Kael wasn't understanding any of it. All he saw was a full course, well garnished meat in front of him
Appy's options and time were running out. His eyes bulged open as he saw an island just a mile ahead of them.
Definitely where the aroma was coming from
He glanced at Kael, attempting to get his attention but all his efforts went unnoticed. Just then, Kael lunged at him. However Appy was quick and his movements were swift. He jumped escaping Kael's grasp and fell on the floor of the canoe, he made another jump at Kael's face and slapped his cheek so hard he left a print of his hand on it
Kael fell on the floor of the boat, holding his flushed cheek tightly.
"What was that for?!" He barked like he wasn't about to eat his friend just now.
Appy pointed to the island just a few miles away from them. It was large and from the looks of it, was a fishing port town
Kael and Appy exchanged eye contact, a wide smile slowly appearing on their faces
"We did it, Appy, you did it. Yes!!!" Kael clenched the paddle and drove it through the water, each stroke bringing them closer to the calm shores of the first island they would set foot on as true pirates