01 29 - Upcoming Ocean Trouble

Walking to the docks, there were many people like usual. The players were only obvious because some of them had the most extravagant items that really pops against the others. By that I mean they were bright and had darker or brighter colors that the normal and usual equipment of others. It could also just mean these people were the rich ones.

"How much is the 1st class?"

The girl beside me asked while we stood at the docks, she was the one looking for whichever boat we'd go on, I didn't even know where we'd be going. Well I knew it was to the magic tower, but not the directions. Yet 1st class? Why am I surrounded by rich kids?

"How would I know, I haven't ever been in a boat."

Even in real life I've never been on a boat, I don't think there was ever a moment I went on a boat or even a plane. I just stared here, in Seoul.

"Well, I have enough money, we just need to find a ship that goes through Central Sea."

She said it so casually yet there was still an eerie feeling from what she said.

"I'll go ask around and you do the same."

We nodded in agreement before splitting up, she went to the left, I went to the right, there were guards or crew members at the boarding area of their ship, and I would ask each of them the same question.

"Does the ship go through Central Sea?"

Each time they'd give me a weird look, either of confusion of what I meant, or as if I was someone who did something international level mistake. They just ignored me whenever I asked.

"Okay then,,"

I mumbled and moved to the next spot. The fancier looking boats denied it all, they said they would never take that route. At that point I knew that the way we wanted to go was going to be dangerous. I was beginning to feel that we wouldn't be able to find a ship that'll bring us to our destination, until that is,

"Hey kid, you need to go to Central Sea?"

I man with a deep voice called me over, he had a bit of a scruff and was smoking a pipe. He didn't even look like someone who managed a ship, but I was pretty desperate since I didn't want to disappoint Hare, and I also needed to go since it was for my quest.

"Can you take us there? Seems like everyone else is scared."

I spoke while walking closer to him, he looked half homeless I won't even lie, but let's what he has to offer.

"I'll give you a discount of 3 gold coins, even if I'm desperate for work, that route is still deadly, so what about it?"

I looked at him, before holding a finger up.

"i'll be right back, I'll see if my fr- sister haven't found anyone."

I turned around and went to the left side to look for Hare, which didn't take long since I could hear her voice bickering with someone.

"What do you mean there's no more space! That ship is clearly big enough!"

I walked closer to see she was bickering with a crew member of a huge fancy looking ship.

"I told you, a child like you can come in, plus you're just a commoner, even if you were older you can't come on."

She looked annoyed, she was probably used to high treatment and treated as an adult since she was the adventure guild's master after all, but she's supposed to be in disguise right now, she might end up showing who she is by accident, I need to stop her. I grabbed her shoulder with a awkward smile towards the crew member.

"forgive my sister, she's always dreamt of going to a big ship like that, we'll leave you alone."

I gave the man a quick bow before quickly pulling the girl away before she could say anything else. Seems like the only option is to go to that man.

"That was the only ship that went through there, for gods sake why did you stop me?!"

She huffed angrily before I let out a small sigh, this was really like being with a younger sister.

"It's not worth it fighting people, I thought you had to stay discreate?"

She suddenly went quiet, seems like she did forget she wasn't the guild master right now, but just a young girl on a trip with her older brother.

"Plus, I found a ship that's probably a lot cheaper than that place okay?"

We went ahead going across all the way to the right end of the docks to that old looking man, and the moment the captain saw me, he looked happier to know I came back.

"Alright, ready to go? we can't risk going in high tide."

He suddenly stopped, then looked down at the girl beside me, looking a bit concerned.

"I don't think it's safe enough for a kid to be going too."

Ah, how am I supposed to per sway him? I though to myself, but that problem was fixed right away when Hare pulled out a small back of gold coins that clearly had more than 3 gold coins.

"I-I can manage to keep you safe don't even worry."

He grinned to himself before walking forward.

"Let me show you my lovely ship, this is Rockster."

He smiled and moved away, and the view was a medium looking ship but compared to the other ships? It was clearly much smaller than the rest. I looked over to the other person, and she clearly wasn't amused, but even she knew we had no other choices, beggars can't be choosers.

We followed him inside, and even though the outside looks a bit, old, the inside was pretty well managed and looks nice.

"well, as long as you guys have everything, we'll start heading off. Are you guy's going to the other country through the Central?"

Captain looked at me before I just looked over at Hare, waiting for her to answer.

"We're going to the middle, right on the sea."

He looked confused, but just decided it would be better to just not ask questions. He nodded and headed off to the captain's deck, but before fully entering he turned around to tell us something.

"Once the sea turns dark blue and purple, that mean's were entering Central Sea, don't spend too much time on deck."

He waved before slamming the door of the captains deck. The man that looked like he gave up on the world was looking a bit better now.

"we'll, what do we do now?"

I looked over at the other girl who just gave a little shrug, then we both jumped by the engine suddenly starting, there was a honk, then steam began to rise from the back side of the ship, and we began to start the journey.

I only saw steam ships in movies, the feeling of seeing something that probably doesn't exist in the real world normally anymore was amazing. This game was beginning to feel more and more real. I went to the back of the ship while Hare went off to look around the inside of the ship, I could see Stella Urns slowly become smaller and smaller in the distance.

"Wow."

The water rushing through the back as the other ships at the dock that looked so huge, now beginning to get smaller felt really cool to me. The only problem was how loud the steam engine was, but then I remembered something that was in the back of my mind, why did everyone seem to dislike or look scared when the topic of Central Sea was brought up.

I went back to the front trying to look for Hare, but I couldn't find her so I decided to go visit the captain in the captain's deck. Going inside the man was smoking his pipe again while sitting near the window, the wheel was left alone since we only had to go straight without trouble.

"Ah, Hey kid."

I gave him a wave while looking around.

"So uh, I got a question."

He looked back at me with a little gesture of his hand indicating I can go ahead and ask.

"Well, is there something wrong with Central Sea or something?"

I asked while he looked at me looking confused.

"You were asking around to go through the sea without even knowing about it?"

I nodded as he let out a laugh.

"Well, not only is it the most dangerous route to go anywhere, with the large waves and unpredictable weather, there's rumors of huge beasts residing within that part of the ocean, so many ships never reached their destination going through there."

He gave a small shrug as if what he said was nothing.

"Then, why are you willing to help us?"

He took a puff of his pipe before looking back to the ocean.

"Well I have nothing to lose and I'm desperate for money. Even if I died, as a captain, I'd like the ocean as my burial place."

That felt sad, but also how could he easily say there was a chance they'd die to his customers? Though again, I should have known it was going to be dangerous.

"we'll here's the thing, this trip will take around 2 days, so I'm gonna take a nap while we have it easy."

As he said that he began to push me out of the deck.

"See ya."

He waved before slamming the door, and I just stood there. We'll considering it'll take a while, I should probably log off for a bit, but first to find where the hell Hare went off too.

Who knew, that this was the last peaceful moment in sea. What waits ahead in that vast sea, was something I wouldn't have ever imagined.

To be continued...