Sea Calendar Year 1520 – Maris, Age 17
The early morning sun stretched over the docks of Foosha Village, casting long shadows across the wooden planks and the gentle waves lapping at the harbour. Maris had been awake since dawn, her bright blue eyes scanning the small harbour from atop a stack of crates. She had spent the last few weeks honing her bounty hunting skills, carefully observing the patterns of low- to mid-tier pirates, learning their habits, their arrogance, and their mistakes.
Today was different. She wasn't hunting ordinary bandits or wandering ruffians. A new target had been whispered about in the taverns and marketplaces of nearby towns: a small pirate crew known for ambushing trade ships, but cunning enough to evade Marine patrols. This was the kind of challenge that made her pulse quicken. It was not only about bounty; it was about testing herself, measuring her abilities against someone skilled and dangerous.
Maris crouched behind a stack of barrels near the edge of the dock. Her small hands brushed against a coil of rope, her fingers instinctively feeling its weight and texture. A few steps ahead, a merchant ship rocked gently against the waves, its sails furled and cargo stacked neatly on deck. The pirates had been spotted earlier, slinking along the opposite pier, eyes darting, searching for opportunity.
She didn't need to call anyone. Her senses, honed on Lunaris Island, picked up subtle vibrations: the creak of boards, the whisper of wind against sails, the faint scent of sea spray mixed with sweat and fear. Maris's lips curved into a small, confident smile. She stepped lightly, vines coiling subtly along her arms, ready to respond to her thoughts. The pirates wouldn't know what hit them.
But as she prepared to strike, a familiar shadow moved beside her.
"You're getting reckless again," Rei's calm voice murmured, just enough for Maris to hear. She turned, and Rei's sharp, violet-highlighted eyes scanned the scene, twin cutlasses held at the ready. "Don't forget, you're still learning control. Power without awareness will get you killed."
Maris tilted her head, grinning. "I'm aware! Just… really eager to see what they do."
Rei's lips curved in the faintest of smiles. "Eager, yes. Smart? We'll see."
Together, they approached the pirates. Maris moved first, vines springing from her fingers to trip the first two attackers, tossing them off balance. Rei followed seamlessly, her cutlasses flashing as she disarmed another pirate before he could bring his club down. There was no need for words; the rhythm was natural now, forged in the shared battles of the past week.
The remaining pirates lunged, desperation fueling them. Maris ducked under a wild swing, vines wrapping around a crate to lift it, blocking an attack, then flicking a pirate into the water with a sudden surge. Rei leapt through the air, cutting a rope to bring a cargo net down on another. In moments, the skirmish was over—the pirates bound or scrambling, the merchants unharmed.
Breathing lightly, Maris looked at Rei with excitement. "We work well together!"
Rei's expression softened, though still cautious. "You're learning fast. Too fast sometimes. But… yes. We make a good team."
They walked back along the pier, the warm sun casting golden light across the waves. For the first time, Maris felt the stirrings of something she hadn't expected: admiration and trust for someone who could match her skill, someone she could learn from. And Rei, though reserved, found herself observing Maris with a new curiosity—a recognition of raw talent that could one day rival her own.
As they reached the outskirts of the village, Maris paused, glancing down at the small notebook she kept tucked in her belt. It contained her plans for the ship she would one day own—a vessel that could travel the seas, carry her crew, and support her bounty hunting. Lines sketched carefully showed hull shapes, storage layouts, mast placements, and even a small cabin where the crew could rest. She had been refining the design for months, taking into account every experience and lesson she had learned from observing ships in the East Blue.
"I've been thinking," she said softly, showing Rei a page with the hull and deck layouts. "If I ever get enough money from bounties, I can start building it. But… I'll need help. People who can handle different jobs: navigation, maintenance, combat…"
Rei studied the drawings. "Ambitious," she said, her tone neutral but not dismissive. "Most people your age wouldn't even think about planning a ship before they've left port."
Maris shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I want to be ready. I don't want to wait until I have a ship and crew and then realise I don't know what I'm doing."
Rei's eyes softened for a brief moment. "That… makes sense. You plan. You've got a good mind for strategy, little wolf."
Maris laughed. "Little wolf?"
"You'll understand later," Rei said, smirking.
The conversation paused as a sudden shout rang out from the market square. Pirates—different from the ones they had just faced—were causing chaos, snatching valuables and threatening civilians. Without hesitation, Maris sprinted toward the commotion, Rei right beside her. The two moved with the synchronicity of experience and instinct, clearing a path through the panicked villagers and confronting the marauders head-on.
Vines and roots leapt to entangle the attackers, while Maris' movements guided the surrounding environment subtly but effectively. Rei danced through the fray with lethal precision, her twin cutlasses slicing ropes, disarming, and defending civilians. The pirates quickly realised they were no match, retreating toward the docks and abandoning their plunder.
Once the chaos had settled, Maris and Rei stood among the villagers, dusting off. Maris's blue eyes sparkled with exhilaration. "We did it!" she exclaimed, laughing with joy. "Did you see that? We were amazing!"
Rei shook her head, her expression unreadable, though the faintest edge of pride showed. "You're getting better. Stronger. But remember, raw power isn't everything. Control is what will keep you alive."
Maris nodded seriously, absorbing the lesson. She realised that every encounter, every fight, wasn't just about defeating pirates—it was a chance to learn, to refine her instincts, to strengthen her bond with someone she could trust. And in Rei, she had found a potential partner, someone who could guide her, challenge her, and one day, perhaps, join her crew.
Later that evening, as the harbour quieted and the sun dipped below the horizon, Maris and Rei sat on a hill overlooking the calm waves. The air was warm, carrying the faint scent of salt and smoke from the village fires.
"I've been thinking," Maris began cautiously. "About the ship… and the crew I'll need. I don't have the money yet, but I want to start planning. And… I think you could help. When the time comes."
Rei regarded her quietly, the violet highlights in her hair catching the fading light. "When the time comes, huh?" she said slowly. "We'll see. I don't make commitments lightly."
"I know," Maris replied, smiling softly. "I just… I wanted you to know. I trust you. I want you with me when we're ready."
Rei's sharp eyes softened ever so slightly. "We'll see, little wolf," she said again, echoing her earlier nickname. "For now… keep learning. Keep getting stronger. And when the day comes, maybe I'll consider it."
Maris nodded, content. This was a beginning, a promise made silently through shared experience and trust. It wasn't a recruitment yet—it was something far more important: a bond forged in action, in respect, and in the thrill of testing their limits together.
As darkness settled over the East Blue, Maris sketched additional notes for her ship, refining the design, adjusting layouts, and imagining the possibilities. Each plan was a step closer to her dream, each battle a lesson, each moment with Rei a thread weaving the foundation of her future crew.
Tomorrow would bring more challenges, more pirates, more opportunities to grow. And one day, when the time was right, the Black Fang herself might decide to sail beside her. Until then, Maris would continue learning, growing, and preparing for the life she was determined to carve out on the seas of the East Blue.
The stars reflected in her eyes as she gazed at the horizon. The world beyond the small harbour was vast, full of danger, mystery, and adventure. And Maris D. Luna, still only seventeen, was ready to meet it—step by step, plan by plan, and with allies she had yet to formally recruit by her side.
The adventure continued, quietly building toward something greater.