In five minutes' time, every fighter available was on the deck and armed to the teeth. Mithandra's family was quite capable.

Her father stood next to the tiller, a crossbow in one hand and a saber in the other. “We find ourselves glorious battle once again! I, Mathias Corvodas Lenas, shall lead you to victory!”

The men and women all cheered. Kynos looked around, there were many armed women as well, it seemed. Mithandra held a short bow, her mother held a buckler and had a rapier on her belt, both of her sisters held crossbows, and her brother seemed to be below, directing the cannons.

Aside from Axal's regular sailor's clothes and Kynos' frilly getup, everyone was now wearing leather, with a few wearing metal protectors over vital areas.

Kynos silently watched the pirate ship as it cut through the waters. According to Mathias, their goal was to ram the ship, then board it, rendering the superior amount of cannons worthless.

Chances are it would become a melee unless they could sink the pirates first. Sink...couldn't Axal do it? He was supposed to be a water mage, after all. Kynos moved towards Axal and whispered, “can you sink it?”

Axal trembled as he walked towards the starboard side. Kynos wished the best for his friend, but had the disquieting feeling Axal would fail. Magic required concentration and calm to form the image needed to manipulate mana into an effect. Axal was trembling already, and the magic Kynos felt from him was too weak to generate enough water pressure to drill a hole in the ship's heavy wooden hull.

On top of that, it was during the day. His prized shadow magic wasn't worth much on the backdrop of a glittering ocean, and in either case, he was too far to attach his own shadow to that cast by the other ship's sails. He considered his options as Axal's magic wavered and dissipated.

Kynos stepped forward and put a hand on his friend's shoulder. “It's alright, let me.”

Mathias looked on with no anticipation showing on his face. He knew the value of mages, but these were just children. He couldn't expect all children to be as capable as his youngest daughter.

Axal put his hand down and backed away, mortified. He had been bragging to the crew that in the sea, he was invincible.

Kynos imagined a giant ball of fire, flying towards the enemy ship, which was looking rather menacing now. A cannon volley boomed out from under him, and the ball of fire hovering above him disappeared like a dream. Mithandra glared at her father, but said nothing. She knew that the veteran sailors and marines on board weren't apt to rely on children.

The cannons all missed though.

Kynos steadied himself and took a deep breath. He would have to prove that he was strong. He couldn't have cared less about Mathias or his crew, but he needed to show Mith that he had improved. She was the one that allowed him to sharpen his image of magic, giving him various bits of hints and advice from books even his instructors haven't read. A good majority of all of his knowledge on other things were from her as well.

Steadying himself and shaking off the shame, Axal stepped up beside him. He wasn't about to let a friend fight alone.