-Callia-

  When I first started the voyage, I was uneasy, keeping a careful eye on the ocean below, trying to see what was hidden below. It wasn’t just stories of the monsters below but the very real truth that the apex monsters in the forest kept clear of the ocean. It was in fact very unlike the forest. Our ship was unhindered by the smaller denizens of the ocean, and the rocking of our ship gave no indication of danger.

  The secret was the ship itself. Unlike any means of land travel, a ship is large, and it doesn’t have nearly as many moving parts. For fish the wake of our movement is similar to that of a high-level fish monster. Low-level fish fled, and our intended prey would be drawn, targeting us. Sometimes bigger fish attacked, but that was uncommon and exactly how Dad lost his arms.

  On some level I had been expecting to suffer from seasickness like I had in my previous life. In fact, it was entirely possible, but it only existed in children before their bodies had been strengthened with vitality.

  This let me properly enjoy the feeling of the wind rushing past and the spray of salt that seamen famously love. It may have felt a step less than the feeling of piloting Callen’s gliders, but it scratched my itch for adventure. I might very well be becoming an addict to excitement, but it was a driving force for me, and nothing great has ever been accomplished with a lukewarm approach.

  To succeed, one needs to be bold, and boldness is how I ended up working part-time on the rigging. I spent too much time climbing around getting under the feet of the sailors, and eventually the captain had to sit me down to talk over a solution. I just told him how Mom had dealt with my energy, making me do strenuous tasks that I was suited for. For instance, she had me make running trips back and forth between the market and the orphanage until the cellar had been fully restocked, and that usually took upwards of six hours. The captain took this to mean that since I had a high level of skill in climbing, acrobatics, and even utilizing ropes, I was the perfect intern for the riggers.

  Like that, our fleet drifted in formation, waiting to catch sight of a suitable fish. Two weeks in I got my first sighting, but it was something else entirely. I noticed a shadow of what I had thought to be a mountain island in the distance, but that island slowly sank into the ocean.

  “Captain, do you see that out there?” I called attention to the site, and the response from below wasn’t what I expected.

  “All Hands! Deep Dweller is surfacing; brace for the wave!” The captain proceeded to call out a series of commands and warnings to the nearby ships. We adjusted course, and I saw the island fully sink into the ocean. However, a wave of water slowly crept over the horizon. The captain adjusted us to face the wave and closed all sails, slowing our speeds. It was now that I could see the tsunami-like waves rolling towards us. The weather was clear, but everyone desperately moved about the ship, doing everything possible to keep us facing the waves and bracing for every impact.

  At first I thought we were screwed, but the waves weren’t crashing like those on a shore, and we didn’t have to compete with harsh storm winds. It had been ideal conditions to fight a wave over three times, and each new wave was smaller than the first. The captain had proven his ample experience in dealing with the conditions, and the fleet survived relatively unscathed except for one, which hadn’t climbed the wave perfectly and had been washed over by the wave, losing two people. There was no recovering overboard personnel, as it was likely we had been separated by miles.

  “Callia! That’s what we call a deep dweller. The biggest and some of the deadliest beasts in the sea. They come in all shapes, but the consistency is they are big, and even a visit to the surface is a disaster to all us smaller beings. Well, for most of us. There is a legend about someone who tamed the beast and built a city inside it, but I always thought my grandaunt was a bit crazy.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  With the disaster submerged, the captain took the time to share what he knew and some of the stories he had about past encounters. However, the educational moment was interrupted as a voice carried out from one of our neighboring ships.

  “Fish!”

  Our attention turned out and off the port side a massive tuna that looked twice the size of our ship moved beneath the water. The captain has no hesitation ordering his men to arm the harpoon and to bring us hard to port. Every ship in the fleet adjusted towards the unalarmed fish. The same voice from before called out again.

  “Now!”

  I wouldn’t say it was perfectly synchronized, but it was clearly well practiced, as the giant ballistas fired harpoons into the water both ahead of the fish. I will only say the aim was atrocious by my standards, but the captains were aiming a whole ship, not just a handheld bow. I watched the harpoons cut through the water, and the fish seemed to expect the incoming danger and rapidly adjusted its speed and course. It was too late, and while most missed it, our ship landed a hit. Our harpoon sank into the body, and another was unfortunate, striking into the tail of the fish.

  Our ship was pulled rapidly through the water as the fish's first instinct was to escape, and while we had no issue other than being thrown onto our asses, I saw the waving of the tail violently jerk the other ship side to side. The deck was cracking and the ship was taking on water, but someone triggered a release of the harpoon's rope, saving the ship from further damage. leaving our ship being pulled out alone, the crew got weapons ready, and the fish slowed down when it realized only our ship was left.

  It turned on us, and while I thought I would see something like anger or emotion in the eyes of the fish as it stared us down, I didn’t because fish are in fact very unexpressive. However, its inexpressiveness didn’t stop the fish from gaining speed, intent on ramming our ship.

  “Aim for her eyes! On my mark!”

  I already had my new bow in hand with one of the penetration arrows nocked. I took a deep breath and fed mana into my bow, raising my draw weight to the limit. Holding my breath briefly, lining up the perfect shot. Right as I was set on target, the captain's voice cried out.

  “Loose!”

  Mayoral adjustment procedures

  -Callen-

  Things seemed to only get more and more hectic. I thought after fixing the walls I would be able to peacefully fade back into my work as a rune master, but for some reason people all over town were seeking me out for the strangest problems. Marriage disputes, property lines, and the officiation of an Earthkin drinking contest. My time was becoming harder and harder to manage. When my troublesome sister left for her fishing trip, I thought the most irritating thing in my life was temporarily on vacation.

  It wasn’t until a confused Reesia came to me with a report on detained criminals that the mayor had passed off judgement to me that I truly realized who my enemy was. It hadn’t been Callia. She was always too busy with her training or with pranking me, and the pranks hadn’t been on her mind recently. No, my true enemy was the heart of my lost free time. The mayor had been secretly sending people my way that would normally have been his issue to deal with. I had somehow become the unpaid intern of the mayor.

  I snuck back to the city and into town hall. The guards on duty made no move to stop me, as visits were regular. I went up to his office and found it empty, and in front of his desk was a sign. It read, ‘Callen has been authorized to handle all issues in my stead. If you have an emergency, please speak with the guard outside.' Right as I finished reading, the mayor burst into the room and froze seeing me.

  It seems the years of pranking Callia would soon find a new recipient, and from the mayor's expression, I knew he understood. I walked slowly towards him and firmly grabbed his shoulder.

  “Mayor Hew, I think we need to speak about your delegation of authority.” The old man just looked desperately toward the door as if contemplating if it was too late to run. I tightened my grip, sending a clear message that yes, it was too late. I briefly looked out the door to the on-duty guard and forewarned him.

  “Mr. Nory I will be speaking to the mayor for some time, and it may require physical guidance. Please have someone notify Crescent to come and pick up her grandfather around sundown. He won’t be seeing any other visitors unless it's urgent.”

  The man just nodded resolutely like he had expected this a long time ago and, with professional skill, moved to inform the relevant parties. I shut the door behind me and crack my knuckles as I brace to begin a physical lecture.