A building at the edge of Morath broke out in dispute, the city in chaos outside of its windows. Inside, a round table rattled. A group of elegant-looking men and women occupying half the seats around it and behind each individual, a rugged group of pirates, watched them engage in discourse. An eyepatch wearing woman at the table snatched a rifle from one of her crewman and opened fire into the air, silencing the room and stealing its attention.

“How long do we plan to quarrel with the ‘who dun it’? This alliance has been a sinking ship since the beginning! You all know this as well as I do! We require focusing on the dilemma at its root!” She said, passing the rifle back to her subordinate. Raising a burning cigar from its ashtray and leading it to her lips, she lashed her finger at a man on the opposite side of the table. “Peque’s piss poor financing of the city’s exterior facilities is the reason this happened! We should have lined our gates with cannons for miles, but the good pirate king would have his pockets filled before securing our source of revenue.” The man bit his tongue as eyes settled on him. “You associated with that ludicrous leader of Carouser and his pipe dream of flying to The Crossing for what? Their transaction was finished and now we can’t get in contact with the guild. You sold them everything that could have been advantageous, condemning us to a consequence that could’ve been averted.” She puffed the cigar and blew smoke in Peque’s direction. “Tell us, was it the Elysian class Skyliner? Did you believe if you stashed enough money, that you could get your own?”

“How terribly pirate like. Recommend we stop with the finger pointing and blaming, then promptly point the finger. Well conducted, Captn’ Jess.” Peque ran his fingers think hair, scooping the remaining gel in his nail, and flicking it over his shoulder. “I’m not gonna spell out how many doors the Carouser guild opened up for our alliance. The fault lies with everyone else who neglected their obligation to secure an essential commerce port.” He swayed his hands, gesturing towards the masses, and started walking around the table. “The gate fell with meager resistance. Our so-called allies deserting before seeing the flash of a blade. From experience, you all should know us pirates are simply as loyal as our options. What are we to expect them to do against dragons? Any normal man would flee for his life, leaving behind everything so long as he keeps the skin on his back.”

“Then what do you propose, Captain Peque?” A man seated at the table asked. “As acting pirate king, it’s your decision if we fight for our lives or make a run for the ships. An emergency meeting while drakes tear through the city is nothing short of ridiculous.”

Peque stopped at the man’s chair, placing his hands on his shoulders, and spoke near his ear. “Sacrifice a few and allow the rest to escape. That would be the candid solution if these were standard wildlife creatures. Minions of a God, these are. A direct challenge to Astraea and her creations. We reach the ships, line up our guns and blow em’ all to hell!”

The door to the room burst open, men and women entering covered in purple cuts. “Drakes have gotten to the marketplace!”

“Looks like we’re running on less time than you think, Peque.” Jess said. “Someone undoubtedly organized this attack. With how fast the drakes could strike weak points in our defenses, there has to be. This is stratagem too cunning for beasts. Why not find their leader, or create a way to get their attention, then call for parley?”

“Parley!?” The room erupted in yelling. Opinions being thrown from one side of the room to another under the sound of shattering glass.

“We’re playin’ with the Goddess’ creations! We don’t stand a chance!”

“Parley?! We’re no cowards! Why not line the streets with explosives and set them off on them?!”

“Can dragons even speak common?”

Madness persisted with the panicking pirates, creating more of an uproar. Their audible apprehensions suppressing the of sparks flowing in Peque’s hand. “Enough!” His voiced boomed as his knuckles slammed on the table, releasing a current of electricity. “Retreat is our best option! None have said one of those damn lizards is the flying type. Get to the ships, then we give them a parting gift. Damn any who’re left behind!”

An electrical screech blared from the earpieces of several pirates, loud enough for the room to hear. “Damn it, Rylen… About time this worked. Peque, are you there?” A voice said through the earpiece. “I’d implore you to reconsider your cowardly plan.”

Peque jerked back, raising an eyebrow as he bit his lip. A bead of sweat collecting on the edge of his brow as he answered to the voice. “Leora, The Fixer Queen. Of all the times to contact us. You better have reason t-”

“Skip the titles and pleasantries, Peque. I heard every word of your plan and I’m here to tell you it won’t work. Whoever is behind this has already prepared for an escape by sea.”

Peque bolted to a near window, examining the departing ships far out at sea and another inching out of an adjacent warehouse. Before the ship could it lower its sails, a splash of water shot into the sky and the ship began sinking. Enraged and bewildered, Peque yelled. “Listen, bitch, tell me everything you know and why this is happening!?”

“Your guess on why this is happening is as good as mine. However…” Leora’s sharp sigh filled the room. “I know of a way to get all of us out of here alive and I know how selfish pirates can be, but I’m sure even you can see that the people of Morath have nothing to do with this.”

“Oh no! This is an every man for himself kind of situation! We’re not risking our lives for a bunch o’ landlubbers!” A spout of water blew into the sky again. A more distant ship now sank, mirroring the reaction in Peque’s stomach.

“Clock’s ticking, Peque. What’s more important? Your pride or your life?”

***

“Another one went down!” A pirate said. The ship he was on had just exited the dock moments before the one tailing them had sank. “Did they hit something in the water?”

“Something in the water wouldn’t make a spout like that!” another said. “Can the drakes swim?”

“Relax yourself, mates. We’re too far out at sea for anything without gills can catch. We’re free as birds!” A man said. He hanged on the ropes along the side of a ship. “Sure is a shame that the Captains won’t make it. They didn’t care about anyone but themselves, and today they’re getting what they deserve. We’re our own masters now! Right, lads!?” No one acknowledged the mans word, as the crew turned their attention skyward. He followed their lead. Seeing nothing and sweeping his head left to right. The oozing of blood dropped before him, revealing to him what they had been staring at.

A body hung above them on the mast, trickling red droplets that seeped through the cracks of the deck. Beside the body, a pair of amber eyes emerged. When the amber eyes vanished, the ship rocked, and a vast hole appeared in its center, spouting water. Hysteria ensued, every man and woman panicking as they scrambled for their lives. One by one, their screams silenced and a body hitting the floor and falling overboard. In less than a minute, everything was silent and the shuddering wood was the only sound left in the air.

From the distance, the crew of another ship watched as the ship sank. The man at the helm spun the wheel, in fear that the misfortune that found them would come searching for more prey. A thud on the deck turned their attention. A frail girl, dripping wet, touched down on the ship. She took a few steps to slow herself down, displaying her amber eyes to them as she scanned them. The woman closest to her backed off, intimidated by the frail girl’s labored gasps.

“None of you are him, and I will not let this ship leave. Under the jurisdiction of my lord. I, Fraym, Dragon Knight, swear… I’ll make your deaths painless.” She exhaled, a small flame leaving her lips and vanishing before it passed her nose. “Darn, brother wished for a spectacle, but it’s still too early.” She adjusted her posture and raised her hand by her side, walking toward the woman. A shift of the wind’s direction made her pause, spying green ether bouncing around the ship, disappearing behind the sail.

Natsumi appeared, firing two blasts of wind between Fraym and the woman. The gusts of wind blew the woman near her crew, while Fraym stood unfazed, observing Natsumi as she touched down. “I found the one sinking the ships, Leora! It’s some kid!”

“Kid!?” Fraym said. “Are you trying to insult me?!”

Natsumi flapped her hand. “I’m talking to someone! Could you not be so loud?” She placed her hand back on her ear. “Yeah, I don’t know about fighting her. Attacking kids has never been my thing.” In a flash, Fraym flew at her. Pulling her bare foot back and swinging it toward Natsumi. Natsumi blocked the attack, the scent of fish rushing to her nose. She deflected Fraym into the air, covering her nose. “Damn, you reek! Ever heard of a shower?!” She returned a hand to her ear. “Sorry about that, Leora. I’ll make an exception for this one. Maybe throw her in a tub of soap and water when I’m finished. I’ll call you back.”

Fraym landed on the edge of the ship. “Idiot! As if the likes of you could defeat a knight! Even without my armor, I’ll crush anyone in my way!”

“Are you always so loud?” Natsumi kept her eyes on Fraym, dragging the goggles on her collar to her eyes. “I hope you pirates can swim. No promise that I can save the ship. If you go now, I can give you some time to run, well, swim. Go to the bar, Infinity, when you reach land!” Without question, pirates started jumping ship. Natsumi caught movement of Fraym’s eyes shifting for the men and women as they jumped and moved to counter. Fraym darted, reaching out her hand for a man’s neck. Natsumi back stepped and caught her in time, seizing her by the wrist and kicking her into the air. She stomped her foot on the deck as Fraym flew, green ether whirling around it. “Headbanger!” Natsumi twist into the air, swinging her foot towards Fraym’s head, but Fraym blocked the attack and snagged her by the leg.

“Who do you think you are?!” Fraym asked, tossing her leg aside and jabbing her in the face. Natsumi staggered, Fraym maintaining her assault. She kicked her side, booted her chest, and pointed her hands behind her to flip herself in the air with fire. Now above Natsumi, she struck down and sent her through the ship. “Stand in the way of my duty and I will beat you down!” Fraym hovered above the ship, her fire balancing her in the air. Catching a spout of water, shooting out at her from the center of the ship. She withdrew, another stream coming from behind her. Six pillars of water circled Fraym, her eyes cycling between them. A ball of whirling water soared from one pillar, Fraym’s swift reflexes dispersing it with her feet. Several more came and she evaded each one, not realizing Natsumi had appeared above her.

“Eat this!” Natsumi’s attack landed, following up with a flurry of blows that knocked her toward the water. She landed on her body, forcing her into the water with a torrent of wind, drawing ether into her palm and firing it towards the water. A gigantic orb of water swelled around Fraym, compressing tight as the air from within escaped. Natsumi’s legs, wrapped in a storming wind, held her in the air. She whistled and scratched her head. Sheesh! Whacking her with wild wind is way easier than concentrated wind! She won’t stand a chance if I mix of my attacks. I doubt I’d be able to win with just wild wind. A flash of red lit from within the sphere as the water evaporated into vapor and the air consumed by fire. Fraym’s cry echoed through the air, the fire spreading around the area and on the sea.

Flames rushed from Fraym’s mouth, folding around her body and gathering on her back, creating wings that lifted her from the water. “Exciting! Three months since hatching, and I’ve already found a worthy opponent! Brother would be so jealous!” She looked up at Natsumi, her eyes now colorless. “The duty can wait! If fighting you will accelerate my growth, then so be it! I, Fraym, Dragon Knight, challenge you!