Chaos and Order - A Multiverse Fanfic

0145 Mutiny on Actaea - A Storm Arrives!

Twilight, 16th Day

Narrow Sea

Actaea glided over the uncharacteristically calm sea, shining golden under the vanishing might of the distant sun.

The wind had turned to a cool, light breeze, dancing with the black Jolly Roger of the White Serpent Pirates. However, it felt like the wind could go out anytime like the sudden extinguishing of a candle flame. The sky was a clear sheet of dark blue and gray, darkening as the ship kept closing on the east, and one star was already twinkling just over the horizon to the southeast, heralding a starlit night.

Kai's predictions were late by one entire day to come true.

The pursuers must have caught up to them by this time yesterday, according to what Kai had told Meg. Yet, there was no sign of them in any direction.

Was it a good sign or a bad one? Or did it have another meaning? Kai did not know. He was too busy with other things to even consider those questions.

First of those things was the Prophecy. It was the blurriest Blood Prophecy they had so far.

Waves crashing against the ship, the color of the sea — a deep red, and loud, hissing sounds. A roaring thunder and a chill that could freeze the bones topped this strange picture. Someone was shouting, bellowing out their lungs, and a thrashing of a blue tail.

Meg did not know if that tail had belonged to Golduck-Kai or not, as she had failed to comprehend the size differences in the blood world accurately. The prophecy had ended with a bang that jolted her brains out of the trance, her HP bar flashing red, warning of impending death. One thing was obvious to them, despite the nonsensical scenes.

They would face a near-death threat before reaching the Pentos.

The nature of the second thing was more realistic but equally bloody.

Actaea had just tasted blood for the first time.

When Kai had stolen the ship from the harbor, he had taken the captain hostage using the longsword stolen from some guard. The crew had retaliated, what with him being not old enough to be called a proper man and his pretty face. Kai had proved himself as bold and merciless by breaking limbs and snapping bones as the crew of Black Betha had been talking about him for the last week. The Abnormality Limiter Bar had dropped as low as 40% then.

Nevertheless, Kai had never used the strength that one couldn't expect from a trained knight.

As he continued to use that strength, his Abnormality Limiter gradually returned to the max, stating that the crew had finally accepted the fact he indeed had skills and abilities suited to someone more than just a seaman.

That's what Kai, Petyr, and Meg had planned; to present Kai as some runaway lordling, and an heir to a fallen Noble House, to the crew, and not only a nobody ship's boy shadowed by gruesome tales.

Why the trouble?

I need the crew, Kai had reasoned, speaking to Meg and Petyr. I knew something about sailing, and now I know it better. But I have no clue or confidence in sailing a ship across the narrow sea. No true knowledge of navigation, as I was too busy getting the Ability, and I have no way to man the ship by myself. So, yes. I need the crew and men who know how to handle them, too.

So, even after presenting himself as a merciless, but still honorable boy, Kai had killed no one and had instead focused on lighting the harbor afire and sailing the cog into the sea as soon as possible.

The ship demanded blood, though. It seemed to have taken a liking to the Captain and his name, Red. His dark thoughts and darker intentions must have influenced it besides, for not even two days had passed, and the crew carried out a mutiny.