A short story I made for class-
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The Tides
By insert real name lol-
Eight years old, that was the age the Central Authority, the so-called keepers of order of the Etrean Luminant, would Enlist children around the world. For many it was an honor to serve for the Central Authority even as a simple chore boy aboard a ship, some saw it as an opportunity to soon rise up the ranks and become a full fledged Peacekeeper, maybe even a Captain.
"Be Careful with those crates, they're worth more than your sorry lives!" The voice of our Captain boomed, echoing across the deck.
But for those at the bottom of the barrel with no lick of talent for a weapon or attunement of any kind they would be stuck hauling crates from one ship to another, it was only natural for those who couldn't even last a second the field to be treated like garbage. But even so, I grit my teeth ignoring my bleeding palms from the amount of crates I've carried, all being either twice or thrice my weight and size.
"Psst, Yusuf hurry it up."
I heard Devin, a Peacekeeper like me, whispering from behind his voice laced with worry as he constantly looked at our so-called Captain, Devin was only Fourteen years old he wasn't even trained for proper combat but standard Guarding and Patrolling . I pitied the boy, at least he had some knowledge with basic swordsmanship. If you could call swinging a saber around like a damn fool swordsmanship.
"Just keep your head down," I whispered back, my voice barely audible. "It's better to go slow than accidentally drop these."
Every month a shipment of crates from the Summer Company, a Faction that relied on the import and export of goods to thrive, would arrive in an undisclosed location only our captain knew of. It was simple. They provided the Central Authority either weapons like Rifle spears or crates filled with ridiculous amounts of Gunpowder, and the Central Authority would provide not only payment but also men to guard their ships from pirates, for a Faction that had the most advanced weapons in all the luminants they lacked numbers.
"We're Peacekeepers, we should be out there fighting with the others…"
I could understand Devin's annoyance, I've been with the Central Authority for Nine years. I was Enlisted a bit older than the others. Instead of Eight I began my service when I was twelve, I trained to the point of bones breaking and fought in many dangerous missions to become a Peacekeeper, a rank that I believed would give me the sense of accomplishment was utterly disappointing as the difference between me and a chore boy was that I could hold a sword.
"We trained to become warriors, not chore boys in pretty armor." Devin added, his voice tinged with bitterness.
"Keep it down Devin." I shot him a warning glance.
"You two!, stop blabbering and keep hauling these crates into the ship. I don't wanna spend another second in this wretched place..."
I shot a glare at our Captain, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. Yet, deep down, I couldn't deny the truth in his words, this place was far from safe, I didn't know what he was thinking when he made the pick up zone a small island in the middle of the void sea. The very place monsters and other creatures of the depths rise down from below.
We've already lost two men today thanks to ambushes from Lions fishes, large creatures that had teeth sharp enough to pierce through even the toughest of ships and the speed to catch up to anything that isn't an Ironclad.
As we kept hauling more of the crates into the cargo hold of the ship, eventually we finished earlier than any of us expected. The sun in the sky was still a few hours from setting, what I would give to buy one of those watches from the Ignition Union.
"Alright boys, let's get moving, the Warden Is expecting us!"
Ah, I've almost forgotten, we were too far from the Central Luminant if we sailed towards our main base right now we would most likely get ambushed at night by creatures more than just Lion fishes. The closest Central Authority base near us was Fort Merit, a Fort that was not only used as a base of operation in the Eastern Luminant but also a prison that held Brutus, one of the strongest Khan's of the Hundred Legions.
"Thank the celestial's, let's hope Elijah can cook something good tonight."Devin's voice was filled with anticipation.
"I'm sorry to break it to you, Devin, but Elijah was one of the men we lost today."
"So we have no cook!?" Devin exclaimed, his shock evident.
I sighed at his reaction. Death was a common occurrence within the ranks of the Central Authority. The life expectancy of a Peacekeeper varied depending on their age and experience, with the lowest being a mere two weeks.
Reacting to the death of a friend not with sorrow but annoyance was something unnatural yet strangely accepted within the Central Authority. To brush off a comrade's death was a skill highly praised among our ranks, as our superiors desired soulless killers who would follow any order without hesitation.
Yet here we were as they settled for the likes of us.
"So I'm guessing it's nothing but dried fish tonight..."
"Unfortunately, yes," I replied, sighing.
The thought of another night with only dried fish for dinner hung heavily in the air, but it was a small price to pay for survival—one we were all too familiar with. I would rather eat stale moldy fish than die and succumb to the pull of the depths below, If only dying was simple.
As my boots creaked on the floor of the poorly made board we used to get aboard the ship, I couldn't help but think back to our Drill Sergeant's words back in the academy. It was only natural for us Peacekeepers to be well informed with how the world works. Death was something that was both permanent and temporary. Dying was akin to having your very being pulled from your ever living corpse as you're pulled to the first of the nine layers of the depths.
It was a grim fate, being stuck in perpetual torture as your soul was toyed by creatures that could only come from nightmares as your body keeps still being barely called alive never rotting until your very soul disappears from existence.
"Yusuf, snap out of it!" I heard Devin's voice behind me, urging me back to reality as my fellow Peacekeepers stood impatiently behind him.
I continued walking until I eventually reached the mast. It was unfortunately my turn to keep watch for tonight after dinner. Even if the ship was heading to Fort Merit quite early the Void Sea was something peculiar as monster's not only come from the first layer of the depths but the whole sea is covered with a denser fog that only gets denser as you get further in. I've heard rumors that you could apparently suffocate from the fog if you were too far in the Void Sea.
But those were just rumors, I had nothing to worry about.
As I climbed up the mast onto the crow's nest, I couldn't help but look down at the crew who had just boarded. They all had a tired expression. I could clearly see it even if most of them were wearing their helmets, everyone on this blasted ship was tired not just physically but mentally. I suppose that's what a month of sailing would do a normal person.
Yet here I was on board this ship doing my 'proud' duties for the so-called great cause of the authority.
As I stood on the crows nest I could see everything more clearly, from Devin going with the rest of the crew to eat their meal to the captain planning our course with the first mate. I took my spyglass and looked around, I could barely see anything with the fog but I could see enough to see shadows or figures in the distance if they were to appear.
I placed my spyglass back at my belt before leaning on the mast on the cold oak wood of the crows nest, thankfully the captain was complacent enough to allow me to bring my personal belongings on top of here as he understood how maddening standing on top of a moving ship was.
The crows nest despite being small and cramped had enough space for me to place a few books on it, it barely rained in these parts of the Luminant so I didn't have to worry about them being ruined. One book contained information about the basics of controlling ones Ether to strengthen your physical prowess while another one was just a small compact song book of sea shanties.
"Another uneventful night…" I muttered while looking upon our surroundings, it was only a few moments before we would set sail for Fort Merit and I didn't want to fill myself up with fish that I would eventually just end up puking out.
As I leaned on the mass I couldn't help but close my eyes, I was sure no one would blame me as I had done my job and hauled dozens of heavy crates that a normal person could barely carry. But I knew if our Captain were to find out I was sleeping on the job I would be stuck on deck duty for a week but thankfully no one could see me clearly up here on the crows nest.
As I closed my eyes allowing myself to relax after hours of working, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief despite my stomach begging me to eat something I knew I couldn't as with the way the waves were rocking the ship it would be pointless. But as I leaned on the mass my footing suddenly shifted as I had to grab onto the railings to stop myself from falling off the crows nest.
"What in the celestial's name was that!?" I exclaimed before grabbing my spy glass and looking around the ship.
And for a brief moment I saw it, a black scaled tip of something large within the water. I wasn't the only one who felt the impact of whatever it was as everyone on board went from eating too grabbing their Rifle Spears and helmet's while the chore boys started to load the cannons.
I started to think of what could've possibly caused the ship too rock that much to the point that some of the cannons came off their tightenings, it couldn't possibly be a lionfish as those creature's prefer to target beast of either their size or smaller and threshers could barely swim off the islands they were in.
And Brood skipper's were more humanoid hulking figures without any tails to show off, I didn't stop looking through the spyglass as I kept trying to find a better glimpse of what hit us.
Suddenly in the corner of my eye I caught another glimpse of a blur and within seconds the mast that not only supported the main sails but held the crows nest I was on was smacked by the final of whatever was in the waters.
"Damn it-!"
The impact caused me to fall of the crows nest only barely catching myself by grabbing one of the railings, but now I was hanging on as I heard the mass creak as the impact caused cracks to form on its base.
I swung my legs around, trying to find a foothold on the rigging as I dangled from the crows nest. The ship rocked again as I heard a deep groan echoing through the wood as the mast threatened to snap. The crew below shouted in panic, but their voices were drowned out by the sound of something massive splashing against the hull.
"Yusuf, hold on!" I barely heard Devin's voice over the chaos but there was nothing he could do. I had to get myself out of this.
I gritted my teeth pulling myself up as the fog around the ship thickened, swallowing everything making I could barely see anything. Just as I grabbed onto a more stable part of the rigging something came out of the water and bit the left side of the ship killing a few of the men.
It was an enormous serpent, with blue scales and black hairy outlines gleaming with a malevolent sheen as the light of our lanterns illuminated it, its body twisting and coiling as it rose from the sea. Its eyes, glowing with a sickly yellow hue locked onto the ship. For a moment, everything seemed to stop. The world held its breath.
Then, it struck.
The serpent's tail came crashing down on the deck, splintering wood and sending men flying. Screams filled the air as Peacekeepers and chore boys scrambled, firing their rifles, loading cannons, doing anything they could to fend off the beast. But their efforts seemed pitiful in the face of such overwhelming power.
"What the hell is that thing!?"
I managed to pull myself back into the crows nest just in time to witness the serpent coil around the ship, tightening its grip. The vessel creaked under the pressure, the wood groaning as if the ship itself were crying out in agony.
"Cannons! Fire the cannons!" The captain's voice rang out, his usual arrogance replaced with a frantic edge I've never seen him so worried for his men.
A volley of cannon fire erupted, the deafening booms momentarily cutting through the chaos. Some of the shots hit the serpent, but all it did was anger the beast as none of the cannon balls could even pierce its scales, The beast barely even flinched.
"We're not going to make it," Devin's voice reached me again, filled with despair. I looked down to see him staring up at me, his eyes wide with fear.
I didn't want to believe him, but deep down, I knew he was right. This wasn't a fight we could win. The serpent was too powerful, and we were just another ship caught in the merciless grip of the Void Sea.
But I wasn't ready to die, not like this.
Suddenly, the ship lurched again, and the serpent's coils loosened, its attention shifting. For a brief moment, I saw something—a light, faint and distant, cutting through the fog. It was coming from the direction of Fort Merit.
"Devin!" I shouted down, pointing toward the light. "We just need to get onto the Highway!"
The highway was a part of the sea that held waves so strong they could propel a frigate at speeds so fast any fish on its path would be killed.
His eyes followed my finger, hope flickering across his face. "We have to hold on! Just a little longer!"
The captain must've seen it too, because he barked new orders rallying the men to keep fighting. The cannons roared again, and this time, the serpent recoiled, clearly injured.
"We're close! Keep firing!" I yelled, my voice joining the captain's as the crew poured everything they had into this final stand.
The ship surged forward the serpent thrashing violently in its death throes as the cannons found their mark. And just as the fog seemed ready to swallow us whole, the ship was propelled so fast that I had almost fallen.
With one last guttural roar everything around us seemed to get colder before the serpent released a breath of cold ice and in a second our hope was gone as its breath froze half the ship.
The icy breath of the serpent had frozen everything in its path including Devin, his lifeless frozen figure standing as a cruel monument to the chaos that had erupted on board. The ship half encased in ice, groaned under the pressure. I barely had time to think, let alone react.
"Devin!" I screamed, but my voice was drowned out by the crashing of waves and the creaking of the ship's rigging. But he was gone in an instant and there was nothing I could do.
The serpent wasn't finished as Its massive form loomed over the ship, dark and menacing, as if savoring its victory. The crew was in chaos, The captain layed somewhere in the chaos, either dead or dying, while the remaining Peacekeepers fought a losing battle while Choreboys cried for their mothers. I gripped the rail of the crows nest with trembling hands, trying to steady myself, trying to make sense of what was happening.
Then, the serpent struck again.
This time, it aimed at the heart of the ship. I felt the impact before I saw the entire vessel shudder violently as the serpent's tail crashed into the hull. The force of the blow was too much. The ship began to split apart the ice cracking and shattering as the wooden beams snapped like twigs.
I was thrown from the crows nest falling towards the deck below. I had hit the railing hard pain exploding in my left arm as I landed in a heap among the shattered remains of the ship. I screamed, clutching my arm, but it was already too late. The bone was shattered, the limb useless. I could even see tips of the bone piercing through my flesh.
Blood poured from the wound, but I couldn't stop. I had to move. I had to survive. I had to come back home, I had promised my mother. I didn't want to break my promise I've already done enough.
The ship was sinking fast, pulled down by the serpent's relentless assault. Around me, men screamed, some frozen in place, others desperately clinging to the wreckage. But there was no saving them now. The sea was claiming us all.
I crawled towards the nearest piece of debris, my vision blurring as the pain in my arm intensified. Every breath felt like fire in my lungs, every movement was agony. But I refused to die here. Not so pathetically.
With one final surge of strength, I pulled myself onto a floating piece of the deck. The serpent loomed over me, satisfied with its destruction, sunk back into the depths, leaving the remains of our ship to the mercy of the Void Sea.
I drifted for what felt like hours, maybe even days. Time lost all meaning in the endless expanse of fog and water. My arm throbbed with unbearable pain, the wound festering. The smell of salt and blood filled the air as I slipped in and out of consciousness, the weight of everything crashing down on me.
I don't remember when I washed ashore. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks was the first thing I heard when I woke up. My body was heavy, my vision blurred. I forced myself to sit up, gritting my teeth against the pain that shot through my arm or what was left of it.
It was gone.
I stared down at the stump, the jagged remains of my left arm just being my tattered sleeve. The sight of it made me nauseous, but I couldn't afford to be weak now.
The island I found myself on was small it barely more than a rocky outcrop in the middle of the Void Sea. There was no sign of life, no food, no shelter. Just the endless waves crashing against the shore.
I looked down at the Rifle Spears lying beside me and the only weapon I had left. My armor was still intact, though it was battered and dented from the battle I tried to stand, but my legs gave out beneath me, and I collapsed back onto the sand.
This was it. Marooned on a desolate island with no supplies, no way to signal for help. The Central Authority wouldn't send anyone to look for me. They wouldn't even know I was missing. To them, I was just another casualty another nameless Peacekeeper lost to the sea.
The sky darkened as the fog thickened, wrapping the island in a cold, suffocating embrace. I shivered, pulling my tattered cloak tighter around my shoulders. My mind wandered to Devin frozen, trapped in that moment of terror. My captain, my crew was gone, all of them swallowed by the depths.
I should have died with them. Maybe that would've been better. But I hadn't. Somehow like a cruel joke from the celestial's above and the drowned gods below I had survived.
I looked down at the rifle spear again, the only thing keeping me connected to what I once was, a Peacekeeper of the Central Authority. Now, it was just a tool. A reminder that survival wasn't a reward but a curse. With a single bullet waiting for me to end it all.
The Void Sea stretched out before me, endless and unforgiving. I gripped the bas of the rifle spear tightly, my one good arm shaking from the cold and exhaustion. The wind howled, carrying with it the cries of the creatures lurking beneath the waves.
And as the darkness of the Void Sea closed in around me, I realized that I wasn't truly alone.
The sea would come for me, just as it had for the others. It was only a matter of time.
I stared out at the horizon waiting for the inevitable. There would be no rescue, no salvation. Only the cold embrace of the sea.
And so, I waited. Alone.
With nothing but a Rifle Spear mocking me with an easy death and a useless arm.