Chapter 8 : Pirate attack

"...captain, we are in line with others."

My heart raced like a horse seeing Geric on the lookout, using a far eye to look at the other merchant ships. I am scored while looking down 2 floors but this kid is hanging from the lookout where birdies fly..

Well, after Geric's daring request, he got in the vision of Captain Berek. 

In his words, "Just based on that move, I can say that Geric is better than the other kids. Geric is smart or lucky, it doesn't matter. The result is positive, that means he is a talent. In seafaring, luck and smarts are equal in weighing of scale. The only thing he needs is an outstanding warrior's body. If he can kill, even better."

SLOSH SLOSH

The water splashed as our ship merged into the vast fleet of merchants, guarded by Essosi mercenaries and the noble fleets of Westeros. A sense of security washed over us.

The sheer number of the ships acts as a good deterrent against the pirates of the Stepstones. Though it is a smart move, the vast majority of ships can 't easily do it. Because their background is not enough.

The endorsement from the Citadel played a crucial role in our inclusion in this fleet. While the social order placed nobles and knights above maesters, the Citadel's prestigious standing in the world, ranking in the top 10.

Just for your info, the one at the top is House of Black and White, recognized for its sheer danger but also the least powerful comprehensively among the top 10.

The second one is Red Keep. Well, it commands an entire continent, but also the most powerful comprehensively.

FART 

"AWW,"

"Fucking you, asshole. Can't your ass close for a second? I am suffocating."

BANG

I slammed the door shut, no longer intending to listen to the full power of a sailor's mouth.

I joked to the rest of the kids, "I sometimes wonder if that foul mouth summons the dangers in the sea."

A sailor apprentice shouted up, "Most likely. Especially Kipie and his group."

SNORT

"Remember that storm near Oldtown?" Walder snorted as he recounted the harrowing experience. "I thought we were done for, but here we are, already halfway across the known world," Walder exclaimed as he recounted the harrowing experience.

Smallfoot nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Aye, that storm was no joke. But it takes more than a bit of rain to scare us off, right?"

""'"AYE AYE."""

A common way for the sailors to remind themselves they can stay brave. They are quite brave. I spent the entire time of the Storm in my room, not willing to go out. 

CLANG CLANG

POOSH

WHOOSH

SLASH

The wide variety of noise broke off the lighthearted conversation. Straining myself, I could hear shouts echoing through the ship, accompanied by the unmistakable scent of blood lingering in the air.

The sudden shift in the atmosphere sent a jolt of adrenaline coursing through my veins, and I exchanged worried glances with Walder and Smallfoot.

"What in the name of Seven is going on?" Walder exclaimed, his voice tinged with concern and clear panic.

The shouts that became clear as they approached us shattered the peaceful atmosphere of our shared room. Each of them echoed through the ship.

"Pirates."

"Ugh!"

"Where's the gold bitch?"

"In your mommy's Pussy."

Without hesitation, Walder and Geric scrambled to arm themselves. Meanwhile, the younger apprentices scrambled to find makeshift weapons, their eyes wide with fear as they braced themselves for the unknown.

TEAR 

CLANG

THUd

Among the sounds of tearing clothes and broken bottles which were turned into weapons, I ran to my bed and got under it.

I wasted no time in pulling my chest and retrieving my recent purchase from the Street of Steel—a crossbow.

PLUCK

With trembling hands, I loaded it quickly. The weight of the weapon was quite comforting in the face of danger. Stepping into an obscure corner away from the door's line of sight, I waited, heart pounding in anticipation of the impending clash.

"Smallfoot, get under the bunk, keep your hand in front ready to strike, stay silent."

Walder's voice cut through the chaos, his commands ringing out with authority as he directed the younger kids to take cover under the bunks and beds, each armed with a knife or makeshift broken glass for defence.

The metallic tang of blood replaced the salty scent of the ocean, mingling with the queasy sound of flesh tearing—a grim reminder of the violence that awaited us.

BANG

In the blink of an eye, someone forcefully slammed open the door, causing my heart to leap into my throat because of the suddenness of the violent entry.

A pirate, his features unmistakably Valyrian, lunged at Walder with a sword, the blade aimed at his boyish frame.

"AHHHH" Geric lunged forward to strike, but the pirate countered with a brutal kick that propelled him across the room.

BAM

KATA KATA KATA KATA

Time seemed to slow as multiple pirates flooded into the room, their eyes glinting with malice as they advanced on us. With a steady hand, I aimed my crossbow at the first attacker, my finger tightening on the trigger.

TWANG

PUCHUK

The bolt found its mark with deadly accuracy, easily striking true because of the confined space of the room.

As the chaos unfolded around us from my arrow, I hastened to reload the crossbow, each passing second filled with fear and nervousness.

PLUCK

CLANG CLANG CLANG

The sailors, their shouts and cries mingling with the clash of steel held at bay by the pirates as the fight spilt back onto the deck. A distracting thought told me I didn't even realize the entry of the Sailors.

The battle raged on; the room becoming a battleground littered with injured and fallen bodies, pools of blood staining the wooden floor.

"K, Now."

Understanding the call, I released the second arrow just as Walder ducked.

TWANG

THUD

"Good job, little guy."

Perhaps the friend of the dead guy, One pirate, took it hard, "Bitch, how dare you? I will sell to you the pits of Yunkai."

WHOOSH

A just spat on his eyes and used the diversion to stab him in the neck, "In your dream, trash."

" GA, GA, You, Ga."

THUD

------------------------------------------------------------

The fight was over almost as quickly as it had begun, the combat spilling out onto the deck, leaving behind a scene of death in its wake. Injured and dead bodies littered the room, with pools of blood staining the wooden floor—welcoming me to the violence of Planetos.

Among the carnage, my gaze fell upon Geric lying motionless on the ground, a deep slash marring his face. Without hesitation, I rushed to his side, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and determination.

"Someone, get me my supplies. They are in my chest."

With the aid of my AI, I assessed his injuries, relying on it to guide me in the absence of modern equipment. Though far from ideal, it was the best I could do given the circumstances.

GROAN

"Stay with me, Geric," I murmured, my voice filled with the urgency that I felt. I worked swiftly to stabilize him. The moonweed paste provided some relief from the pain, allowing me to focus on the task at hand.

[Processing info from Host senses: Vision.

Observing the wounds, swellings and response of the patient.

Report: 

Injuries to the ribs, minor fractures to the femur and Radius.

Optic nerve damage resulted in the loss of the right eye from the slash to the face. ]

As I examined the wound, the AI report flashed before my eyes, confirming my probable diagnosis. My heart sank as I realized the extent of the damage—the optic nerve severed, the risk of infection looming large.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck...", cursing under my breath, I steeled myself for the grim task ahead. With a scalpel in hand and alcohol at the ready, I began the delicate process of removing the damaged eye, a necessary measure to save his life.

It is that or an infection of the Brain.

SLASH

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH, NOOO,"

The room fell silent as I worked, the only sound the rhythmic swish of the scalpel slicing through flesh. Of course, the screams of Geric are ever-present.

Each movement was as precise as I could manage. It is tough to work through the delicate anatomy of the eye, my hands steady despite the horror of the task.

I am never more thankful for my teacher's decision to expose me to emergencies. Modern education failed me in that regard, but the teacher didn't.

-

-

-

-

"It's done."

I breathed a sigh of relief, the worst of it now behind us. Geric's breathing steadied, his pulse growing stronger beneath my touch—a minor victory in the face of overwhelming adversity.

With the makeshift surgery complete, I set about cleaning and dressing the wound, doing everything in my power to ensure his recovery. The road ahead would be long and arduous, without an eye, but I was determined to help him through it, no matter the cost.

This is the basic courtesy of a healer. Especially since the patient is a brave kid who defended us.

--===After the bloodbath===---

As the first light of dawn pierced through the lingering darkness, I emerged onto the deck, taking in the aftermath of the chaotic night. The air was thick with exhaustion and tension, the remnants of the fierce battle that had raged just hours before. 

The crew moved about with a sense of weariness, their movements slow and deliberate as they tended to the wounded and cleared away the debris left in the attack's wake. Whispers floated through the air, murmurs of relief mingled with tales of past skirmishes. 

"That was a close call," one of them remarked, casting a glance towards the horizon where the sun was rising.

"Aye, but we've faced worse," another replied, his voice tinged with a hint of pride.

He got multiple nods of agreement from other sailors.

"It seems the worst is behind us,"

"Indeed," came the response from the normally noisy Kipie, accompanied by a weary smile. "But we must remain vigilant. The seas are unforgiving, and danger lurks around every corner."

Each of them is coping in their own manner. Good. If they were normal, I would have been scared.

I approached a group of sailors, their faces drawn with fatigue but their spirits unbroken. As the crew continued their work, I felt close to them because of the shared trauma that had carried us through the night.

I made my way across the deck, drawn by the sight of Captain Derek and Teacher engaged in a conversation.

The captain, his rugged features etched with exhaustion, gestured animatedly as he recounted the events of the attack.

Teacher, his master robes stained with blood and bearing the marks of battle, listened intently, his expression grave.

"The terrain worked to their advantage," Captain Derek explained, his voice low but firm, despite the many dead. "Hidden coves and bends allowed them to approach undetected."

I watched as the Teacher nodded solemnly, his brow furrowed in concentration. "And the initial attacks?" he inquired, his tone measured.

The captain sighed heavily, his gaze distant as he recalled the events of the night. "Pirate groups swam across silently, taking out the ships in the periphery and sowing chaos among the fleet," he recounted. "Then the bulk of the attack began."

I listened intently as Captain Derek painted a vivid picture of the onslaught, his words echoing with the weight of experience. "The ships on the edges endured the assault," he continued, his voice tinged with regret. "Small-scale merchants, their vessels ill-equipped for such a fight, were plundered mercilessly."

I glanced around at the sombre faces of the crew, each one bearing the scars of the night's battle.

As the day wore on, the ship hastily set sail, leaving behind the bloody waters.

PLOP PLOP

Bodies were cast into the sea, their former status forgotten with the prayers recited.

"OH, My sea, we are the sons of sea..."

During it all, a group of sailors sang, their voices rising above the waves. The chants of the Sons of the Sea filled the air, their haunting melody a bittersweet reminder of the camaraderie that bound them together in the face of adversity.

And so, as the ship sailed on into the waters of the Stepstones. This acts as a prologue to the weeks of the journey in these pirate-infested waters.

ARGH ARGHH ARGHHH

I sighed while seeing the vomiting of Smallfoot and Walder. If it wasn't for my dealing with death as a healer, I might do the same. Still, I wonder if I am becoming crueller for killing the pirates.

====

Captain Berek's journal entry: The prelude to true bloodbath

Our ship found safety among a vast fleet, guarded by Essosi mercenaries and Westerosi noble fleets, deterring Stepstones pirates. All because of the Citadel's endorsement.

It is laughable how just the fact we have a parchment from the Citadel; we were allowed entry. I wish I knew sooner, then I would have searched for connections like this much sooner. Much sooner.

After all, who didn't want to have such fewer causalities when sailing? 

Captain's log: The short crew of a hundred lost a dozen lives and left a few more crippled for life on this trip.