"The Pain I Will Learn To Tolerate" | Witch x Human |

10- Helping the Sea Squirt

My hands happily held on the wooden railings of the ship, with the wind catching on to my face and dancing with my hair as if they were moving along to a slow music. My eyes fixated on the strangely beautiful scenery, feeling a sense of calm and quiet peace.

"Oi, mate!" A deep, croaked voice called out from behind, disturbing my little moment, with heavy and loud foot steps getting a little bit louder. I felt my face frown with boredom. His brown and blue eyes looked at me up and down as if deciding, and his grassy hair fought with the wind.

Curious, I turned around, and my hair flicked in my direction. "Wassup, Salty?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Help the little sea squirt, won't ya?" I looked strangely at the brownish, short girl.

"Sure, but -" Before I could finish, he was already off to the others, with his footsteps getting quieter. "Guess I won't get an extra." I slumped back with the new information.

I turned to the short girl. Actually, I noticed she wasn't too short. Just a few inches off. She was unique with round ears and no similarities of a witch or demon. Human..?

"So, uh," She sputtered out and sheepishly looked down, then back at me, blushing, trying to make small conversation. "Where do I start? Name's Luz, by the way." She pulled her hand out to me. "I've never met another human before." She awed at me.

I looked at her hand with color for a solid moment and then shook it, replying nonchalantly with a "Mariah." I let go of her and motioned her to follow me, "C'mon, we're on cleaning duty, I'll teach you everything." I smiled nonchalantly. "And I've also never met a brave human before." I winked at her.

A whistle blows out, and the other mates lining up.

"All hands!" Salty announced with his ragged voice. "All right, crew. The Selkidomus has been ravaging the coastline," He started walking back in forth, eyeing us with determination that he could shape us, "It was last seen in the Simmering Shoals." He stopped in the middle, just a few feet away, "You know the drill, "Snag the quarry," He dropped a bag of snails, "get the money galore-y""

"We all do the work. We all get a cut!" He marveled happily, raising one hand up, as every one of us cheers. "I have many debts to pay off!" A dolphin guy with yellowish skinny happily announced, like his debts just magically disappeared.

"Till then, keep everything shipshape,"
He slowly went up to Luz and lowered himself to her height. There wasn't much difference, to be honest. "This ain't no pleasure cruise," he tossed Luz a broom, "Don't be a burden, squirt." He then stood properly.

"Oh, don't worry about me." Luz reassured with a grin, but in a more challenging tone.

I started walking to the storage room. My hand made contact with the broom, wrapping my fingers around it, closed the door, and started sweeping away.

I parted my lips, letting out a heavy, tired sigh. My head was starting to have an ache. "I sweep the up, and you sweep the down floor," I turned to her, feeling the need for confirmation. She nodded to me, smiling, and started sweeping.

She was sweeping fast for someone her age. Not like I thought she was old or anything, but other kids her age would be slow and less enthusiastic, but she was different, a good different. It's like she's been hiding, and now that she was out, she was making the most of it.

Good for her, I guess.

★☆★☆★

Luz gave me a small piece of paper with some symbol, I pressed it gently with closed eyes, when suddenly, my feet didn't feel the floor, and something not-so-tight wrapped around my waist. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Luz beside me, with vines wrapped around our waist hanging us to the side of the boat.