Escape Under the Moonlight

On the deck of the 'Crimson Serpent,' Marine found herself locked in a precarious standoff with the patrol that had discovered her presence. The captain of the patrol, a grizzled and weather-beaten officer, eyed her with a mixture of frustration and annoyance.

"You must be the worst pirate I've ever seen," he remarked with a condescending smirk, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Marine couldn't help but chuckle softly in response. "Well," she replied, her voice laced with defiance, "I'm still here, aren't I?"

The soldiers by the captain's side exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to proceed. The captain, however, remained steadfast, reminding her that she couldn't sail the ship on her own, and that shooting him would only alert the entire army.

As Marine braced herself to respond to the patrol's threats, fate intervened, hurling their predicament into a new realm of unpredictability. 

Above, in the inky blackness of the night, a series of sharp thuds and the distinct sound of splashes reverberated through the air. 

The patrol's collective attention swiftly shifted upward, their torchlight stabbing the darkness and revealing an astonishing sight. 

Descending from the heavens like avenging spirits, the crew members of the 'Crimson Serpent' descended upon the scene.

In the frigid waters below, the liberated crew wasted no time in striking out toward their ship, the 'Crimson Serpent,' like a beacon of salvation in the tumultuous night. Ropes were swiftly cast down from the deck, offering a lifeline to their comrades. 

The crew members, fueled by desperation and an unwavering resolve, ascended the sides of the ship with remarkable speed and coordination.

Amid the commotion, the two soldiers who had been harassing Marine found themselves utterly flabbergasted. 

One of them, his voice tinged with disbelief, couldn't help but remark, "Marine's got to be the best pirate I've ever seen."

The captain, his patience wearing thin and his authority seemingly slipping through his fingers, muttered in begrudging acknowledgment, "So it would seem."

Yet, before the captain could raise the alarm, his voice poised to summon the entire military harbor to their aid, a flash of movement struck like a bolt of lightning. 

Marine, quick as a viper's strike, swung the butt of her pistol with deadly precision, rendering the captain unconscious.

Startled and terror-stricken, the two remaining soldiers made a hasty retreat, fleeing from the unexpected chaos that had engulfed the military harbor. 

But it was too late to stop the inevitable. The fires of alert rang out, their echoes resounding through the harbor as soldiers scrambled to arm themselves and prepare for a confrontation.

With the last of her crew safely aboard, the 'Crimson Serpent' was primed and ready to embark on their daring escape. 

Marine's unwavering resolve shone through as she barked orders to her crew, who moved with practiced efficiency. 

The sails billowed, and the ship surged forward, leaving the chaos and confusion of the military harbor in its turbulent wake.

The night was alive with the flickering light of torches and the cacophony of soldiers preparing for the impending clash. 

But the pirates had a head start, and the wind filled their sails, propelling the ship forward, They sailed toward the open sea, leaving behind the city and its dangers. 

In the distance, the moon cast its pale, reassuring glow over the horizon, illuminating a path to freedom and the promise of new adventures on the vast, uncharted seas.

As the 'Crimson Serpent' sailed away from the military harbor, a sense of exhilaration and relief coursed through the crew. 

Their escape was underway, but the city's relentless grip still loomed in the form of pursuing warships. The moon's pale light bathed the waters, and the night air was filled with tension.

Marine stood at the helm, her eyes scanning the dark expanse ahead. Her voice was a firm command as she directed her crew, "Prepare to catch the wind, but stay ready for any pursuit. We've got a head start, but they won't let us go without a fight."

I, my owl form perched on a mast, kept a vigilant watch, my keen eyes scanning for signs of approaching warships.

It wasn't long before the ominous silhouette of a warship emerged from the darkness, its sails unfurled and its cannons gleaming in the moonlight. Shouts from the pursuing army reached our ears as the warship's crew sprang into action.

A voice carried across the water, a captain's voice filled with fury and determination, "Prepare to fire! We can't let those pirates escape!"

Cannonballs whistled through the air, crashing into the water with explosive splashes just behind the 'Crimson Serpent.' The crew scrambled to adjust the ship's course, narrowly avoiding the deadly projectiles.

Marine's voice rang out, her orders sharp and clear, "Return fire! Show them we won't go down without a fight!"

The pirates hastily loaded their cannons and returned fire, the resounding booms echoing through the night. Explosions illuminated the scene as cannonballs found their marks, damaging the pursuing warship's sails and hull. The enemy captain's shouts grew increasingly frantic as their ship sustained damage.

Amidst the chaos, the war harbor's other ships joined the pursuit, forming a formidable blockade. Cannons roared, their fiery maws spitting destruction, as the pirates fought desperately to maintain their course and evade the relentless assault.

Marine, her knuckles white as she gripped the helm, shouted commands to her crew, "Keep her steady! We need to make it through their line!"

The 'Crimson Serpent' surged forward, her crew working in unison to navigate the treacherous waters and evade the relentless barrage. It was a tense and perilous journey, but the pirates were determined to break free.

As they approached the blockade's edge, I gave the signal, and the crew shifted the sails to catch a sudden gust of wind. The ship surged forward with renewed speed, narrowly slipping through a gap in the enemy formation.

Cheers erupted from the crew as they broke free from the clutches of the military harbor, their ship now racing toward the open sea. Marine's voice was triumphant as she called out, "We've done it! We're free!"

The pursuing warships, their cannons still firing but growing distant, were left in the 'Crimson Serpent's' wake. The pirates had outmaneuvered their pursuers, and the open sea stretched out before them, an endless expanse of freedom and possibility.

As the moon hung high in the night sky, the 'Crimson Serpent' sailed onward, its crew united by the thrill of their daring escape and the promise of new adventures on the high seas.

Marine approached me, holding a small envelope sealed with a wax insignia in her hand. Her fiery red hair seemed to dance in the moonlight as she stepped closer, a determined look in her heterochromatic eyes.

"Mumei," she began, her voice carrying a note of respect, "I owe you a debt of gratitude for your help in rescuing my crew and reclaiming the 'Crimson Serpent'. You've proven yourself a formidable ally."

I nodded in acknowledgment, the wind tousling my hair. "I'm glad I could assist. Now, about the information on Kaela Kovalskia-"

Marine handed me the sealed envelope. "Inside, you'll find everything you need to know about the blacksmith you're searching for. I've also taken the liberty of arranging a recommendation for you to join the raid party against Astaha."

I took the envelope, feeling a mixture of gratitude and anticipation. "Thank you, Marine. Your help means a lot to me."

Marine's smile was fierce and determined. "We pirates have a saying: 'To those who help us, we offer our loyalty.' Consider us allies in your quest, Mumei."

With that, I knew it was time to leave the ship. I backed up to the edge of the deck, feeling the magic within me stir. As I concentrated on my transformation, my body shifted and reshaped itself until I became an elegant owl with feathers as dark as the night.

With a powerful flap of my wings, I took flight, circling above the Crimson Serpent one last time. Marine and her crew watched in awe as I soared through the night sky, my destination clear: Azurith Port.

I would return to the city, armed with the information I needed and a recommendation to join the raid party. The mysteries surrounding Astaha and the impending Dragon Raid were waiting to be unraveled, and I was determined to uncover the truth.