Chapter Eighteen: Pirates, Pacts, and Probably Bad Ideas
They didn't get far.
Barely a day out from cult-infested Virella, the Hollow Dream drifted into a floating reef of jagged rocks and glowing jellyfish, the sea beneath them as still as glass.
Elliott eyed the horizon suspiciously. "Does anyone else feel… ominous foreshadowing in the air?"
Before anyone could answer, a loud, booming voice echoed across the waves.
"Ahoy, miserable landlubbers! Prepare to be boarded… politely, of course!"
A massive airship swooped down from the clouds. Painted crimson and gold, adorned with dangling lanterns and questionable taxidermy, it flew the unmistakable flag of the infamous Scarlet Corsairs—sky pirates known for outrageous heists, terrible singing, and surprisingly well-written ransom notes.
Meet Captain Indigo
A tall, flamboyantly dressed woman swung down onto the deck, tricorn hat askew, purple hair braided with silver charms.
"Captain Indigo Voss," she announced, sketching a dramatic bow. "Pirate. Opportunist. Occasional relationship coach. You must be the relic-hunters."
Seraphine raised an eyebrow. "You know about us?"
"Word travels fast in the sky," Indigo replied, flashing a grin full of gold teeth. "And so do bounties."
Elliott groaned. "Great. Let me guess. You're here to steal the relic."
Indigo's eyes sparkled. "Steal? Such a crass word. I prefer… 'strategic acquisition.' But no, darling. I'm here to make a deal."
The Pirate's Offer
Turns out, the Scarlet Corsairs weren't fans of the shadowy villain pulling strings behind the scenes—known ominously as The Hollow King.
"He's bad for business," Indigo explained, inspecting her nails. "Wants to plunge the world into darkness. You lot? You're the only ones making his life inconvenient."
"So you'll help us… for a price," Dorian guessed.
"Obviously."
"And that price is?"
Indigo smiled sweetly. "I get the final shard once you find it."
The group exchanged uneasy looks.
"That's… not happening," Elliott said firmly.
Indigo shrugged. "Worth asking."
Attack from the Depths
Before negotiations could get more awkward, the sea beneath them erupted.
A monstrous, tentacled beast—part squid, part smoke—rose from the waves, eyes glowing with eldritch fire.
"The Hollow King's pets," Indigo snarled, drawing twin cutlasses.
The creature lashed at both ships.
"Guess we're allies now," Marlow muttered, firing off spells.
"For now," Indigo corrected, winking.
A Glorious Mess of Tentacles and Teamwork
Chaos exploded.
Dorian leapt onto a tentacle, hacking with his sword.
Seraphine flipped daggers into the creature's eyes.
Elric, against better judgment, opened a portal that accidentally summoned… more jellyfish.
"Not helpful, Elric!" Marlow shouted, blasting lightning.
Elliott focused the relic, golden energy pulsing in his palms.
The voice returned—calm, ancient, dangerous:
"Let me help."
Elliott hesitated—then unleashed the relic's power.
A brilliant beam of light struck the beast, dissolving it into smoke and shadow.
The ocean fell silent.
Pirate Promises
After the battle, Indigo clapped Elliott on the back. "Nicely done, Relic-boy. I like you. So here's my promise."
She leaned in, grin widening.
"I'll be seeing you at the final shard. And when I do—well, let's hope we're still on the same side."
With that, the Scarlet Corsairs sailed off into the clouds.
Meanwhile… Trouble Brews
Far to the east, in the Hollow King's storm-wrapped fortress, the villain's eyes flared.
"They grow stronger," he hissed. "But soon… their greatest weakness will betray them."
His hand hovered over a crystal, showing a familiar face—one of the party.
A traitor in their midst.
End of Chapter Eighteen