Somewhere Between the Sea and the Sky.

Episode 0: Chapter 10

Absolute darkness, that was the only thing Jongho noticed around him. He didn't listen to Hongjoong, he didn't listen to the woman in that store, he didn't listen to anything. Was he alone?

Unlike pirates and adventurers, the blacksmith didn't encounter magic often, yet he knew how to recognize it.

He remembered the old stories people told him, but he couldn't think what species could use their magic to move people around. He was too calm for someone who had just been kidnapped, yeah, but he wasn't easy to scare because of the amount of business he did with pirates in the armory.

Finally he heard something: footsteps.

He guessed that they were the footsteps of his captors, as they were somewhat far from him.

"It is very impolite to bring me here without taking me to dinner earlier." The blacksmith said, laughing a little.

He wanted an answer, he wanted to know if the culprits were really out there. In a short time the light began to invade the place, torches lighting up the width of a cave. The first thing Jongho saw were bars in front of him, although not in very good condition. They had locked him up, obviously.

But what interested him was that beyond the bars. The cave appeared to be some kind of warehouse, perhaps filled with stolen merchandise.

Nor was he interested. At last he looked at the people there, the people who had ignored his comment.

If they worked a little, they could look human, they would only have to hide the different black feathers that adorned parts of their bodies. Harpies? No, they didn't have that kind of magic as far as he knew.

There were a couple of them facing the bars, clearly watching him, while another seemed to care for an exhausted companion. She must be the magic user, she was resting from the spell that brought the blacksmith there.

"What do you want from me, birds?" He asked, looking at those in charge of watching him.

Finally one of them smiled, making it clear that he had an advantage in that situation. The blacksmith didn't think the same, but preferred to find out what happened before doing anything.

"It is not personal, but you are expensive pirates." He said at last.

"Expensive. I just got on this boat." He paused, trying to understand the other's intentions. "My companions are famous but they are only minor pirates."

Minor pirates. These were the majority of pirates, all those who failed to rank among the great pirates or war lords. Despite that being the White Army classification, every sailor used it.

The cell guard went to answer but then realized someone was missing. The most valuable of their targets didn't fall into the spell.

"Fuck!" He screamed in frustration. "Where's your captain?!"

"You really are useless."

Once again Jongho laughed after saying that and stepped back a bit, ready to sit and wait. He wanted to get some information out of them before trying to leave, he wasn't going to face them alone when they had magic on their side.

However, he collided with something as he backed away and nearly fell. There was someone else in that cell. How many pirates did they catch?

He looked down and saw the other kidnapped man lying with his back to him. Was he asleep? Had he really gone to sleep in that situation?

He sat next to him and then he saw his face.

His eyes were open. He was not asleep, he was gagged. Jongho hadn't even been tied up, what kind of scandal had the other made?