Chapter 5 - Abandon Ship!

The Pirate Igor had a terrible feeling in the deepest pit of his gut like that time he ate the mystery purple bean paste in the ship gallery. Something horrible was about to happen, so horrible that he might as well lit the night patrol torch with his flatulence and sound the morning reveille with his belch.

Of course, like any pirate with a good sense of danger other than the unavoidable painfully slow agonizing death, he ignore the feeling of utter dread. As long as his condemnation rune did not glow red, he felt that it was safe to proceed with as planned. He considered pillaging his patriotic duty. Without pirates, all Federation's extra navy personnel would be out of a job.

He also ignored the massive brewing storm cloud and the quickly tossing sea coming towards him.

With the cruise ship Costa Hellenia in sight, he proceeded to steer his ship toward the vessel under the full moon.

"Of all the &#%!" muttered Bernadette angrily. She continued to pull from her colorful academy days when she used to show her seniors exactly how painful it was to mess with an Egan.

The by passers who happened to hear it all stiffen into rocks. People with plate of food dropped their plate. Guests with drinks dropped their glasses. The guards made way for her, wincing as she passed. People everywhere stare at this drop-dead gorgeous woman uttering some of the most obscene curses they had ever heard. Many of them dropped their jaws in shock.

Back at the scene of the crime, Tir helped Gremio up to his feet.

"It's okay, Gremio," encouraged Tir even as he grimace at the ear blistering remarks. Islander men must be incredibly courageous if all Islander women were like her. "There are plenty of other fish out in the sea."

Gremio suppressed the urge to bawl his eyes out in despair. The woman of his dream had just tore out his heart, threw it on the ground and mashed it into soy sauce. If people looked hard enough, the floating heart balloons around his head all popped. He finally settled for liquidly eyes.

"Wow, that was a milder reaction than I thought," said Sai, his facial expression rather blank in face of the entire episode. It was one of the many things that convinced Tir that this child was not Luc.

Still, Sai casually tossed a thunder rune up and down like a child with a new ball. "I guess I didn't need this."

"You!" Gremio almost exploded as he saw Sai. "You put me up to this!"

"You're blaming me?" Sai's tone was indignant. "Do you know how much planning it took to get Auntie to dress like that and agree to attend this event? You owe me!"

"You set me up!"

Sai gave a deep penetrating look. "No I did not. I set Auntie up. Tir is the one who set you up."

"Hey, Hey, Hey! Don't drag me into this. It was YOUR idea in the first place," Tir tried to defend himself. It was not so rare to have a good deed return as a disaster, but he thought that maybe he could escape unscathed with match-making. "I did as I was directed."

"My idea? You told me we need to get them together! All I did was give the route."

The three began a heated argument, trying to determine whose fault it was for the disaster with Bernadette. Eventually though, the discussion became rather witty and the vocabulary used became increasingly cumbersome. At that point, Gremio, with his poor heart in pieces, left the brat and Young Master to dual out the verbal spar; the lowly man servant needed to go sulk in peace.

Sometime later, Gremio found himself in the quiet pool area near the balconies of the Royal Suite. Scatter all along the pool were potted exotic Island bouquets and colorful changing plants. During the day time, daring ladies and shameless men who had no negative qualm about exposing their perfect bodies would sun themselves on the many lounge chairs. People here were on vacation, and many on the mission to find love.

The pool was closed during night time, however; providing Gremio the perfect isolated area to convince himself that he was having a stupid little crush. He looked up only to see the full moon high above and the gray clouds scattered like lumps of dough. The wind was a continuous zephyr.

The atmosphere only made Gremio even feel even more dejected from the flat rejection from the woman of his dreams. With a great sigh, he plopped heavily onto a wooden lounge chair.

He broke the chair as one would crush a cracker.

With the unexpected hard deck hitting his bottom, Gremio grimaced and even cursed as he felt the unpleasant toothpick sized splinters sticking to his buttocks.

An unexpected bell-like laughter accompanied his expected misfortune.

Up on the balcony overlooking the pool area was Bernadette, sitting on the handle of the decorative balustrade, hiding her laughing face behind a hand.

Gremio could only stare at the woman. With the full moon, he could fully make out her features, especially her long slender legs, exposed so scandalously exposed by that same dress she wore to the ball. Then he made out thin silvery shapes strapped to her full thigh...were those throwing knives?

"Sorry," Bernadette finally bit out once she settled down though her shoulders still shook with mirth. Apparently, she thought falling through a chair was very funny. "But that probably means you need to lose some weight."

Gremio scowled, an expression he was not sure if she could see. Either way would had suited him. He had given up gaining some positive attention from the luscious lady. Love at first sight be damned!

"How about you stop laughing," Gremio said. "And at least help me up."

"You're willing to let the woman who wanted you thrown off the ship anywhere near your crotch," Bernadette reminded, her voice took on a slight coolness.

"It wouldn't be the first stupid thing that I've done," the blonde man servant admitted. Nothing can be more foolishly idiotic than being brought back to life and endure this debacle.

The woman seemed to considered the idea for a mere second before hopping down from her balcony.

Gremio blinked once. It seems that Ms. Bernadette was much more robust then he first imagined.

Walking gracefully toward him, Bernadette put on her coolest demeanor. She still had yet to forgive him for peeking at her panties and caused that awful ruckus in front of the Cerum. There would be no doubt that she would hear quite some rumors once she returned home and she was not about to let the perpetrator off easily.

With a firm grip, Bernadette helped Gremio off the ground. Gremio took the time to pat off the splinters and dust. He kept his eyes down, some out of shame and a bit to stare at her legs revealed by the high cut of her dress..

By the Runes! She had some legs!

"Sorry," Bernadette bit out unwillingly. "I've over reacted."

"I'm sorry too," said Gremio. "For that thing back at the ball room." He so wished he knew that it was her that he was going to dance with. That way, he could sweep her off her feet like a knight in shining armor. But no, he had to stutter and trip like some silly little boy with his first love. "I didn't know. I just never...met a woman as beautiful as you."

Bernadette blinked and stepped back. "What?"

Gremio stepped back too, not sure if her response was favorable or not. Well, it was now or never. "Truly, Lady Bernadette. When I first saw you, I could not say a thing...I," Mentally, Gremio felt like kicking himself. Once again, he was left speechless under her gaze. This was so not the way he thought he would talk to a lady of his own desire. He was suppose to be romancing her! He was a war hero with a cool scar whom maidens would swoon and fall over themselves at his mere presence! "I wanted to ask your name, but couldn't. I wanted to say sorry about the entire affair with Sai but I couldn't. So I made a stew instead. And..."

The look on Bernadette's face was more comical than anything. She seemed shock, and almost angry, as if she was about to spit fire and demand blood. She opened her mouth and Gremio cringed.

A horrible sound of cannons and explosion rocked the ship.

Bernadette pitched forward, falling on Gremio. Her body was supple and soft against him.

Gremio would had spent an hour cheering his good fortune.

"We're under attack!" shouted a sentry. "It's the Pirate Igor! He's attacking our ship!"

"First hull compartment breached! It's a full assault!" announced another.

Like frenzied ants, guards and sentries all flooded the upper deck and cannons were set to combat the invading pirate.

Both of them watch in surprise as nearly two dozen ships seemed to materialize out of the misty cloudy afternoon.

"Sai!" Bernadette cried as if remembering something. She struggled to her feet, ready to bolt.

"Wait!" Gremio grabbed her upper arm,

"What's wrong?"

"Sai. I need to find Sai, now!" Bernadette said urgently, trying to get away.

"He'll be alright," said Gremio, wanting to mitigate her worry. "Tir is with him." Young Master did survive a war, after all. Gremio had no doubt that Tir could take care of a little troubling Luc-look-alike.

"You don't get it!" Bernadette was obviously distressed. "Sai can't swim! If he falls overboard or sinks or if he's anywhere close to water, he'll drown! Sai is my nephew! I can't bear the idea of anything happening to him!"

"We got find him then!"

When the cannon ball rocked the ship and the entire vessel suddenly rocked left, everyone in the ballroom either tipped, fell, or held on to something to gain balance.

"What was that?" asked Tir after trying to steady his footing.

Sai, being not as agile, actually slid quite a bit and only stopped when he hit the wall. His head smacked hard against a column on the way and he writhed for a few moments in pain.

Few moments later, another cannon ball rocked the ship, this time, the solid black metal ball crashed through the room. Immediately, the unfortunate few died on contact. One this act reduced the entire hall full of people into outright screaming and panic.

Tir struggled to stand, trying to get his bearing. At a time like this, he wished for all his old friends from the Liberation Army to be here. Flik and Viktor would know exactly what to do.

A second cannon ball flew through the hall, but the physics was unnatural. As if slowed by a vertically mounted trampoline, the cannon ball was cushioned to a stop, and dropped harmlessly to the ground.

Tir only frowned as he saw Sai, eyes closed, his entire being glowed as he chanted rapidly. It seemed that his right hand glowed the a strange rune marking that Tir had never seen previously. However, what was different was that the glow seemed the strongest around Sai's heart.

Another cannon ball crashed through the walls and into the massive room. This time, it destroyed several supporting columns, causing massive overhead beams to come crashing down.

Tir had only moments to react. He ran as fast as he could and rammed Sai out of the path of a falling beam.

"What did you do that for!" Sai demanded once he recovered himself.

Tir was about to scream at the boy. "I just saved you!"

"Auntie already told you that I'm extremely talented with runes," said Sai, pointing at the beam. "I know how to focus."

Sure enough, the beam was still floating in the air just high enough for people to get out of the way. Once people cleared the way, the beam dropped ponderously.

"Whatever," Tir said dismissively. His instinctive reaction wanting to drag this boy out of the danger zone first. He grabbed Sai by the arm. "We have to get out of here!"

"No. You're breaking my concentration!"

Another cannon ball shot through the halls, this time hitting a collection of balustrades and tables. The force of the cannon ball scattered all loose furniture, sending stakes flying in all directions. The cacophony of all the people screaming and destruction momentarily overwhelmed the hero of Toran. He only knew to duck behind some rolling serving carts.

BY the time they were granted a moment of respite, several people were already injured and some had already died.

"Ouch!" Sai exclaimed as he felt a strong impact on his lower body. At some point, he was caught by a falling column, catching him on the legs.

Sai fell immediately.

"Sai!" Tir yelled, caught off guard.

"I'll be alright." Sai place a hand on the column and focused again, instantly shattering the column into dust. There were obvious darken spots where blood had seeped through the clothing and trickling down his leg. Again, a hand at the thighs for a moment. There were some sparkling light and he stood up again. This time, looking a little more shaken than usual. He cursed his flesh. "But I don't think I can do this forever."

Tir had no time to argue with Sai about the finer points of being a healing magician. He wordlessly grabbed Sai by the arm and dragged the child outside.

Once outside, they were treated with a war zone. Small dinghies from pirate ship rowed steadily toward them. Each of them wearing the ragged clothes of a regular thug. Some were already boarding the ship, swords and runes ready. Cannon balls flung toward them like hungry oversize mosquitoes toward blood. Some of the balls were sacks with nails, designed more to kill people than sink the ship. Tir narrowly dodged them as they ran for cover. He hardly had the time to register the hundreds of the spell Clay Guardian covering nearly all passengers and deck hands. He only had time to pull Sai out of an obvious misstep into the sea.

They ran for cover from the shrapnel and cannons. Tir's only thought was to find Gremio, some weapons and find someway to run escape the attack. He supposed that he could turn his Rune upon them all, but his conscience would suffer.

"Please, slow down," said Sai, resisting the pull. He was sweating and his eyes were distant looking. "I can't run that fast."

Tir dragged the whining boy along anyways without heed to his protests.

Then they met their first pirates.

They were three scruffy looking men in their mid-forties. One of them had a peg leg, the other two seemed able-bodied. All had thunder runes, rapiers, and unkempt beards.

"Going somewhere, runt?" crackled the peg legged pirate, waving the blade menacingly.

"Hey, he looked like the one that the captain said to kill."

"Yes. I noticed that too. Yer name's Sasarai?"

Sai stepped back, not even uttering a sound.

Tir only frowned. Now where had he heard that name from?

"Come on, let's just kill em already. Storm's brewin' har'" groused one of the pirates, itching for some action. "Capt Igor's gonna re..."

He never finished the sentence, a thrown dagger had already pierced through his spine, heart and sternum.

By the time the pirates reacted, another dagger was thrown. This time, the blade pierced the eyes, drove itself into soft gray matter and out the skull. The third once did not even have time to utter surprise then a circle of icicle spikes pierced him.

Tir was ready to face some pseudo God of Death at that point.

"Sai!" cried Bernadette, bursting out from behind the pirates toward her nephew.

Behind the woman was Gremio. The man servant finished another pirate with a make shift hatchet he found somewhere and making his way back to the group.

Bernadette's face was marred with concern. She immediately dropped to her knees as she came within inches of Sai, hugging him tight. "Are you alright?"

Sai shook his head. His eyes barely in focus. "I've over estimated my skills," he admitted in a whisper. He looked unnaturally paler than before and his body obviously trembled. "My stamina can't keep up with the number of people on this ship."

"Not to mention that we're at sea!" Bernadette scolded angrily. "You know that you have no land anchor from which to draw from and you are not at an age where your body can accumulate enough stored power to do this! They've at least taught you that in mage school, didn't they?"

"Hehe. I'm touched by your concern, Bernadette," Sai spoke wistfully. "Almost as if you really are my aunt."

"Never mind that!" Bernadette snapped. "If you don't stop this useless exercise, I will stop it for you."

"You think you have the power to overcome me?" Sai challenged her as if he was her equal. "You think you can bear the lives that would be lost without me?"

Tir was completely confused. Gremio dispatched another oncoming pirate.

"What are you talking about?" Tir asked. Completely thrown by the conversation. He was missing something obvious.

Bernadette only glared as her head turned to the side to look at him. "If you haven't noticed that thin yellowish glow about you by now..."

The president of Toran suddenly stumbled upon a surprising realization. Sai had been trying to save everyone on this sinking boat. The basic protection of the earth to prevent blows and soften cuts had been with them this whole time.

Bernadette's attention was back on Sai now. Sai had lost his balance and fallen into Bernadette's arms. "Please. You need to stop!" There was a desperation in her voice. "You'll only hurt yourself!"

Sai shook his head stubbornly. "I'm almost done." The glow about him was suddenly bright. "I'll be a useless priest if I can't protect everyone!"

For once, Tir was taken back again. He had rarely encountered such a raw magic poured out so freely without any malice. With his experience of the suffering that all True Rune and powerful runes had wrought upon their bearers, Tir thought nearly everyone with a powerful rune had a corner of their soul twisted, wanting nothing but destruction.

Just like Luc.

But Sai, the mirror image of Luc, was different. There was that mischievousness, common to both, yes. However, Sai seemed untouched by the corrupting nature of power, the warping effect of runes. In fact, Sai seemed to thrive in magic.

Tir had no more time to contemplate the unique situation as another cannon ball was shot at them. The ball exploded, throwing shrapnel in all direction. Tir and Gremio moved quickly behind some opened wooden doors.

Bernadette was not so lucky. Too caught up by trying to break Sai out of a spell and protect him that she didn't move until it was too late. Shrapnel showered her vulnerable bare back as she held Sai close to her, using her body as a shield for him.

"Bernadette!" Gremio shouted as he saw red.

Sai closed his eyes, waiting for smoke to clear. He kept on chanting to keep up the spell. However, when he felt thick warm liquid on his face, the spelled wavered. "Auntie?"

"See...told you..I'll..make..you stop..." Bernadette whispered, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth before slumping over.

"Auntie!" Sai shouted as he finally noticed her mangled back.

Someone he cared about was hurt, even dying, because of him.

The realization made his heart pounded, the sound of blood rushing through veins roared in his ears. Despite witnessing the many political ploys that ended in disappearances or red smears, with him often in the middle, none of it had ever caused his heart to race or his mind to freeze. That freeze only lasted seconds before his logical and demanding side took over.

He reached for her right hand, feeling the power of the flow rune underneath the skin. "You can't leave me!" He said with an uncharacteristic commanding voice. "Not this easily!" He grabbed her right hand with his left and touched his right hand to his heart. His body glowed yellow and even the entire sea seemed to sake. "The True Earth will not allow you to do so!"

Another cannon ball was shot, destroying the deck they were on and each of them fell into the sea.