Days passed peacefully and Aylin had begun to call me by name now. Our meetings were filled with theories about the Aeons and mythological beings of this world. She shared the same burning curiosity for this world as I.
The stories told to her were by her mother, and we had grown up with very similar circumstances. We were both orphans so-called strays, but she would never mention how she became a stray. People like us do not want to reawaken such painful memories, so I understood why she wouldn't say anything.
But she did tell me how she managed to get to this brothel. Apparently, the old hag whose name was Ellie was actually a sailor back in her prime. She was on board a ship called the Serenade Mary. The captain of this vessel was none other than the infamous whale hunter Sekito Sakaranai. But it was no ordinary whale she hunted, it was the Pallid whale. For decades the captain had dedicated her life towards the whale.
Most of the sailors onboard were paid generously but the fruitless searching for countless years made them quit. One of the loyalists to the captain was none other than the old hag, and they grew pretty close during their voyages together.
One day, Sekito docked in the coastal city of Nautilus and she found a stray wandering the streets of Nautilus. Aylin said it was mere luck that Sekito picked her out of the thousands of strays.
She recounted the day when it all happened in crystal clear recollection. How the waves crashed against the docks, how the seagulls flew over her head, how the fishmongers were bargaining in the busy streets. The sound of an anchor dropping into the water made her look up at the gigantic ship. It was an absolute spectacle to observe, wooden boards made out of red mahogany and coated with resin. Canons lining the sides of the massive ship. The ropes were flapping in the wind and the sails were struck down.
Aylin was sitting by the docks observing the still water, swinging her feet when the captain disembarked from the Serenade Mary. The captain put her hand over her nose as she set foot into the city of Nautilus.
"This reeks of an ol crewmate's mackerel entrails leftovas."
The Captain was fully clad in a dark green leather coat with multiple medals over her chest and thick black rubber boots. On her head was the iconic captain's hat, the peak cap which only certified military generals could wear. Sekito was no ordinary sailor, she had served in the royal navy and earned the highest rank, but left shortly after.
When Aylin locked eyes with the Captain for the first time, Sekito's eyes weren't full of disgust like other people's. Her presence alone made Aylin's nerves calm, she recognised Sekito, knew the incredible powers that she had yet she felt no fear at all. There was something completely different about the Captain. Her silver eyes were as calming as the moon and her long silver hair was like glittering treasure.
Sekito's men disembarked the ship to gather supplies and Aylin felt how the wharf she was sitting on started to shake as the weight of hundreds of men ran. The captain took out a flyer and hammered it into a wooden pole. She then put her hands into her pockets and stared out into the horizon.
Aylin and the captain made eye contact again but this time Aylin reacted and sat up to leave. This was no place for a stray to be, she felt like she didn't deserve to be in the presence of someone of high status like Sekito. But as she was leaving she saw the poster the Captain had put up.
"Sailors wanted! Compensation will be 25000 livis per month."
Aylin stood there with her mouth completely wide open. 25000 livis?!? That could pay for like 5 years' worth of food. Sekito took out her pipe and blew smoke. That's when something came over Aylin, life as a stray had completely corroded something inside her. The freedom that her mom had told her to search for, the freedom which the Aeons represented had almost been forgotten by her.
This was her opportunity to feel human again… not to be treated like garbage by everyone, hunted by the authorities like wild rabid dogs.
She ripped the flier off the pole and with it in her hand, she approached the Captain holding it up in front of Sekito.
The captain took out the pipe from her mouth and blew the smoke to the side before asking if Aylin was afraid of the seas.
Aylin shook her head frantically and countered by saying that she loved the ocean.
Sekito continued interviewing Aylin asking if she easily gets seasick, Aylin shook her head and said that she loved the breeze. Then finally Sekito asked if Aylin had any loved ones who would be waiting for her back home.
Aylin's gaze fell to the wooden boards, she looked between the gaps in the wood and saw the waters crashing.
The Captain was done with her questioning and took Aylin's poster from her hands and pointed towards the Serene Mary.
"You are on board kiddo," she put the pipe back into her mouth and took careful steps up the stairs onto the deck.
Aylin was still in her own little world, in a daze. She had not yet been aware that the Captain had allowed her to become a sailor. She was still shocked when the crewmen came running with supplies. In the chaos, the Captain's voice came through like roaring thunder, everyone heard her, everyone respected her.
"GET THE KID ON BOARD!"
In a matter of seconds, Aylin was grabbed by 2 women and carried onto the ship. The sound of chains thrashing onboard alerted Aylin. The sails unfurled as someone let go of the rope and the sound of the fabric catching the wind made her completely aware of what was actually happening.
The Captain looked behind her looking at the kid who had yet to see the vast world and smiled a bit before walking away.
Aylin put her hands on the wooden railing as she saw how the city of Nautilus slowly grew smaller and smaller until it was just the sea that she could see.
The wind made her pink hair dance in the wind and it was as if her soul was being caressed by the gentle breeze.
The sea was glittering like silver and the smell of salt entered her nostrils. The sound of chatter amongst the crewmen made her look around on deck. She could explore the infamous Serenade Mary! A ship that many in the world would pay thousands for. The whale-hunting Mary was adorned with silver. Embroidered on every crewman's shirt was the silver emblem of Serenity.
The little Aylin explored the massive ship, from a dining hall that was the size of a community centre. To the docks that were filled with happy crewmates chatting and playing card games. To the canons on the second floors that lined up like artillery and smelled like gunpowder. There were hundreds of sleeping rooms on the ship and she didn't know which room she had even been assigned. Everyone was so cheerful and no one judged her for her past, because everyone here had their own reason for becoming a sailor. Once you had become a sailor, you put your past behind you and live your life as if now.
Night drew close and the ship got even louder than during the day. The smell of alcohol reeked everywhere onboard and the sound of drums and laughter made Aylin feel a bit overwhelmed. She was sitting by some barrels watching the adults have fun and party and that's when a girl her age sat next to her, complaining about how lousy the adults were. Her eyes were blue and her hair was as deep blue as the ocean. She was wearing the sailor outfit assigned to everyone here. Everyone here had modified their sailor outfit to express themselves but this girl had the original one without any changes.
She looked at Aylin with conflicted and annoyed eyes and then saw that she had yet to put on the signature uniform.
"You are new here?" The blue-haired girl asked.
Aylin gave little nods.
The girl introduced herself as Emily and she was the one who helped Aylin adapt to life on board the Serenade Mary. They would quickly form a bond so inseparable that all the crewmen would call them, the unsinkable merry.
Aylin turned a bit pale recounting her memories, before stopping her story there. She then told me that after a certain incident, Ellie the old hag had to retire and that's when the Captain forced Aylin to go with her. Basically kicking Aylin out of the crew but for what reason she didn't tell.