Jackson Magemind had his own secrets to hide. He always wanted to experience the world. Being raised in Reglar in the underground bunkers he had the comfort of a large community of his people. They still had to live underground for fear of their safety which made it a life of isolation. Close knit communities knew everything about everyone. And everyone knew about him. Especially when his childhood sweetheart married his best friend. And when said best friend slowly convinced his father that he didnt deserve the crown, forcing Jackson from the community. And look how that turned out.

Although he was happy to enjoy new entertainments and experiences, he had only stayed in the village for a couple weeks before the raid came through. He had been staying at the local inn tasting their ales and maidens for those weeks until the town was stormed and he was taken. They kept him for his strength. They killed the woman in his bed after they finished her. Mary was her name. She had been the town beauty despite her cropped ears. Before they were done, that was. All he could do was struggle, restrained as they beat him unconscious. The town had been thriving for 20 years and now it would be a ghost town. Leaving the bunker was wreckless. It was time to go home and reclaim his honor.

Jackson was going to give the alleged Manablood Savior another hour before he went looking for George. Her status had changed at least 3 times since he met her but he couldn't ignore it. Maybe it was a test. The Manablood Saviors had been missing for 400 years. Could they really have returned? He walked down to the water to clean his gear before his rescue mission. He hoped they were both okay.

***

Jamie Lycor opened the cabin door after a long day or torture to a beautiful woman. Giant aquamarine eyes with blue black lashes. She smiled up at him and he felt something poke his chest. He grabbed it, threw it and pulled her towards him.he wrestled himself on top of her on the steps as Mellie desperately pushed and pulled with her magics on the higher level target. Mellie reached back, punched his head and tried again.

"Test of wills" she forced onto the man and as he finally dissappeared, Mellie got a pack of razors. Score! Oh how she missed smoothe legs. She packed up her new supply and shifted to the first cabin to her right. She slowly creeked thr door open surprising Joe Diggity Bandit lvl 13 from his steak and ale. And after a quick poke with her wand, she got set about finishing her supply list, her bag growing heavier until she just made them all ham sandwiches. Well, some wound up as turkey or egg and it looked like there was a pastrami one too. As she finished up the last bandit, a couple of grenades dropped in her hands. She took a deep breath and opened the slave quarter doors.

Behind the bars must have been well over 100 people. They were dirty and tired, weak and confused. Before they could question her, Mellie grabbed her manablood key and popped the lock. "George? George are you there?" Mellie yelled. "I'M HERE. I'm here Mellie. Oh thank the gods I'm here." George exhaled.

"Does anyone in here know how to get this ship underway? I want to get us all out of here but we will need a crew."

Jackson and Linda set off to town, sneaking from street to street until they got to the docks. He planned on checking the passenger ships to make sure he wasnt just leaving them behind. He knew he should trust the man. He should probably even trust Mellie, but after hardening his heart, it was hard to accept friendship and love. Especially from someone like Mellie.

Mellie was cool as a summer breeze. The little lip curl she did when she was amused lit up the day. Her figure could bring any straight man to attention. And those kind of women fuck your best friend. Jackson rubbed his temples.

"Its okay we'll find them." Linda reassured him. "See, theres only three ships in the docks!" And thats when Jackson saw his favorite gleam of blue black hair from the deck of the Creeky Dodger. "There she is" Jackson pointed. They slowly snuck their way through the streets and onto the busy ship.

Mellie turned into Captain Mellie in order to get the hell out of there. The captured people told her that the other slave ahips in the harbor were consolidated a few hours ago, and this ship was supplied to take them to Northern Talah. The other ships were running on skeleton crews, which Millie willed into clothes for the captives. She started willing bulk packs of shirts and pants. A level 25 slaver she caught turned into a man size box of sweatpants, which boggled her mind but everyone got new pants, so yay! Rhiannah was tasked with distribution of supplies and the families went about tidying up traveling spaces for themselves.

After Mellie cleared the crews from the other ships, her crew of liberated slaves set sail. Mellie shadowalked to the other two boats dropping grenades, and quickly returned to the ship to watch the explosions paint the sky orange and yellow and the town begin to move like ants on a disturbed hill. A few cannons shot towards them as the pulled away from the shore, but it was too late. Freedom was at the other end of this ocean.

The captives came up to the deck to watch that terrible towns' lights recede in the distance. Some laughed, some cried some were just scared they would catch us, not ready to embrace the sudden reprieve from weeks with a lot of beatings and little food. Mellie's smile warmed. She did it. She got them out of there. Jackson looked over at Mellie's hair blowing in the wind, and pushed her hair out of her face. Mellie blushed and looked at her feet. "Cute" Jackson said, suprising her, and abruptly walking off. Mellie stared at an ass you could bounce a quarter off of. "It's been a while" she thought, biting her lip, watching him go.

The various families took seperate cabins, the singles just opting for what space they could find. Mellie got the captains quarters. This was supposed to be a boon for her. Rhiannah snuck in behind her. "Yeah he was a pig, in every way." Rhiannah explained. Mellie comforted her. "Hes gone now. He cant hurt you anymore." Rhiannah gave her a soft smile "Thanks. Do you want some help?" She offered. Mellie smiled. "I might just chuck it all overboard! All his nasty junk. Gross." She used her mana stick to start moving his gross underwear overboard when she got an idea. "Hold on Rhiannah" she stopped the girl. "Wait outside a minute" she shoved her out the door.

She test of willed the underpants to be a ham sandwich and they turned into a tuna sandwich. One mans trash is another mans treasure. Mellie went around the room creating non-perishables and improving the furniture. She wasnt sure how she was going to explain the crazy changes, like the 4 poster princess memory foam bed or the plush microfiber sofa... She was tired of hiding. She was ready to live her best life.

When she opened the door all her friends were waiting on the other side. As the door swung open their eyes widened in fear and suprise. "How did you. How?..." Rhiannah darted looks around the room. Jackson walked up to the tv and poked it. "Is this a weapon of some sort?" Jackson asked Mellie. "You have magic." Linda said. "And powerful magic." George continued.

Mellie, exhaled, "But lets just keep it between us, yes?"

George sank into the mattress and smiled. "Depends on how many of these you got!" George teased feeling the bounce. Linda walked over to the wardrobe and began fussing over herself and Mellie, pushing some fresh clothes in her hands, turning to change. The men did the same, all their backs to eachother, awkwardly. Mellie and Jackson caught eachother peeking and both turned away flushing, grinning.

They sat around in a circle eating sandwiches talking about their homes and goals, just like they did on their travels. Mellie had some floor mats to sit on and they sat up all night eating drinking and talking, enjoying the break from the mad chase they had just survived.