Siren's Kiss

57: Of All That Has Passed Part Nine

After much deliberation, Drake concluded that he needed to meet the Amazon Queen—his mother—in this timeline. She had helped him and Ciel unlock the entrance to the Lost Isle, which meant she was tied to events from the past that still influenced the present.

It was also intriguing to note that the Amazon Queen and Aurelius Stormwarden shared certain traits.

They dream...

Just like Ciel.

After agreeing to Drake's request, Garrick and Aurelius escorted them to his ship docked at the harbor. Drake observed that this border wasn't heavily influenced by the templars, though a fort stood near the plaza. In the present, the templars had little control over the western islands due to their proximity to the Stormy Seas. Even Thalassara had closed off parts of its territories near the border to protect its people from the constant threats of the massive creatures lurking beneath the sea.

Being on his father's ship stirred a different kind of nostalgia in Drake. It wasn't the same feeling he had as a child when his father would drag him along, exposing him to the dangers of pirate life. The ship itself was also much different from how it had been when he officially became part of the crew.

As Drake stepped onto the deck, the familiar scent of salt and wood filled the air, instantly taking him back to his childhood. The ship creaked beneath his feet, though it felt smaller now, less imposing than he remembered. It had been years since he last stood here, yet everything seemed eerily unchanged.

The crew, lively with their duties, barely gave him a glance—he was unrecognizable in his saurian skin. But Drake recognized them. He saw the familiar faces of men who had once loomed large in his memory. There was Olric, the ship's navigator, his once-dark hair now graying at the edges, still chewing on the same cigar stub as he had when Drake was a child. Farther down, Marlowe, the boisterous quartermaster, barked orders in his gruff voice, his peg leg thumping on the deck with each step.

As a boy, he had feared and admired these men in equal measure. Back then, they had been giants, fearless warriors of the sea. Now, they seemed mortal—strong, but flawed. Drake's stomach twisted with a mixture of fondness and bitterness as he remembered how his father had thrown him into this world without hesitation, teaching him to survive among pirates long before he should have had to.

No one paid him much mind now, but deep down, part of him wondered if they would recognize the boy who once scurried between them, dodging danger at every turn.

"Who's the lad?" Sassa, his father's first mate, asked with his usual no-nonsense tone. A seasoned pirate, Sassa had always stood out in Drake's childhood memories, his name as unique as the distant land he hailed from. He wasn't like the others—there was something striking about him that made him memorable.

"This 'ere be a Saurian, mate," Garrick introduced casually.

Sassa frowned. "Aye, I know he's a Saurian. I ain't blind. What I'm askin' is, who be he?"

Before Drake could respond, Olric strode up, grinning at Aurelius. "Oi, Au! Ye comin' with us today, or ye plannin' on stayin' here lookin' pretty?" he called, completely ignoring Drake. "Ye ready to show us yer pirate moves, Au? Or ye still dancin' like a landlubber?" The crew burst into laughter, making Drake smile inwardly. Despite everything, it felt good to be back on his father's ship, even if none of them were really there anymore.

Garrick cleared his throat, trying again. "Lads, this be... what was yer name again, mate?" He leaned in closer, having clearly forgotten.

Drake, on the other hand, couldn't even recall if he or Ciel had introduced themselves properly, not even to Aurelius.