Dawn Courser

Once a musician in the bustling city of Boston could have been described as a starving artist, but in Eugenia, they live as kings.

Ellian Santoza, the second of his bardic lineage to bravely work at the docks, comes to his first day of work. Dressed shabbily in a brown duster and a hat designed to keep rain and sea water from his bright eyes and strawberry blonde hair, he almost blended in with the dock workers. His patched and worn boots trudged through the fishy slime of the slaughter line as the trawling boats unloaded their catches from the night. Ellian's station was further down the docks into the section for mercantile ships, carrying goods and most of all gold. His contract was for a ship called ‘Dawn Courser’ and was supposed to be docked somewhere around here.

"Oi, toothpick! You the new music box?" A heavily tattooed orc shouts, waving a hand.
Ellian jumps, clamoring to ensure he doesn’t drop his violin box into the harbor. "I-I guess! Dawn Courser, right?" The tall yet slender bard waves, stepping up onto the boarding ramp, only to immediately have to stumble out of the way of two sailors carrying a rather large and ornate trunk.

"That we are. Come to the office, kid." The green man snorts, picking at his gold-capped tusk with a dirty fingernail. "Gots some briefing for ya's."

The orc walked with a heavy drag of a wooden leg against the floorboards of the ship, he swayed heavily with each step long red coat swinging behind him. A fresh gash marred the back of his tightly shaved head. He seemed oddly well-conformed for a lowly dock worker, clothes were clean and free of holes or visible dirt, however his hands displayed the evidence of real work. The door to a rather fine captain’s quarters swings open and the orc plops himself down in the captain’s chair with a heavy breath of relaxation.

"Are you a drinker, kid?" the orc asked as he poured himself a glass of scotch. From a sparkling crystal decanter.

"No sir," Ellian replied, watching as the orc took a sip from the fine cup. He found himself looking past the man, waiting for a more typical captain to appear, but all he had was this man.

"You will if you stay here long enough," the captain joked before introducing himself. "I'm Captain Morrose, but everyone on the ship just calls me Voss. Anyway, tell me of your time at sea."

"Well, this is actually my first contract," Ellian admitted, feeling a bit nervous.

The captain didn't seem fazed. "Ah, well then. Good trip to cut your teeth on, I suppose. Any questions you might have, what do you know about being a music box?"

"My father was a music box for a year, but I haven't been on a ship yet," Ellian explained.

"Aye, not so bad then. He still doing it?" the captain asked.

Ellian's expression fell. "Um... no. He died five months ago in a boating accident."

"Must not have been very good," the captain deadpanned.

"Oh no. Not sirens. Thrown overboard in a storm," Ellian clarified.

The captain nodded. "Ah, as bad as that is, at least it wasn't fucking fish. We, as you might have seen, are a banker ship. Our course is to bring gold from the East bank of Eugenia to the bank in Dorchester."

The captain stood and cleared off a map of the Boston harbor before outlining their route. "We’re going a roundabout way tonight; the fishing boats will be trawling through the harbor, so instead, we're taking the long route. The problem being, we’re headed right over the vent with a ship full of gold. We’re a siren magnet."

Ellian took off his hat and ran a gloved hand through his hair. "Any reason we’re going over the vent?"

"Are ye deaf, boy? Trawling boats get right of way. Can’t sail through the fishermen, so we get to go through siren central. You still up for it?" the captain asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I can still do it. Sorry, I guess I really don’t know much," Ellian replied.

"Right. Long story short, you hear singing at sea, you play that thing like hell and pray to god they leave us be," the captain instructed, pointing to the tattered violin case. "Got it?"

"Can do, captain," Ellian confirmed with a small salute of his fingers.

"We’re counting on you, kid. You mess up, we all end up drowned, ya hear?" the captain warned.

Ellian nods, feeling the weight of the responsibility settle on his shoulders. "I understand, Captain. I won't let you down," he says with determination. Voss gives him a nod of approval before rolling up the map and tucking it under his arm. "Good. Now, let's get you settled in. I'll show you to your quarters and introduce you to the crew." As they make their way down the narrow corridors of the ship, Ellian can feel his nerves starting to settle in. He's never been on a ship before, let alone faced sirens, but he's determined to do his best to make the spirit of his father proud.

Xxxxx

Ellian plops down in his chair, the violin case clacking against the wooden floor of the mess hall. He lets out a heavy sigh, his mind scattered from trying to remember all the names he’d just learned in the most rapid-fire manner. All the while doubled over on his table, trying to keep down lunch. The bard straightens with a heavy groan as a weight causes the bench he is on to creak.

“Hi!” A high-pitched chirp rings out from amongst the chaos of the dinner rush. As Ellian looks up, he finds an exquisite-looking bowl of beef stew loaded with carrots, potatoes, onions, and peas. Next to it, on a small saucer, rested a beautifully baked miniature loaf of split-top bread. Definitely not the seaworthy gruel the stories readied him for. As Ellian traces the voice, he sees a colorful plume of feathers as the bird woman digs into her own stew.

“Hey… Pepper?” Ellian questions.

“Yeah! Pepper! How ya doing? Looking a little sick,” Pepper continues, her raspy voice crunching through her beak as she peers at him. Pepper was the first mate, and the first of many faces he’d been introduced to in his walk-through. Her feathers coated her body in many colors of green, blue, and even flares of orange at just the tips of her wings. She was dressed in a way that could only be described as pirate-chic. It was like she was ripped from the pages of an adventure novel. Skirts of red and gold, a puffy white blouse, and a red bandana covering the longer plumage atop her head.

“Just getting used to the sea,” Ellian grumbles, picking off a bit of bread crust to nibble on. “Is the ocean usually this rough?”

“Um… this is actually calm. Full moon, pretty glassy honestly. Perfect night to sail,” she chirps. “Finish yer grub! It’s good!”

“I’m worried it’ll come back up.” With a sigh, Ellian manages to choke down another crumb of bread as Pepper digs around in one of her many pockets.

“Here, try this. Crystallized ginger,” Pepper slides over a small tin of tiny amber crystals. “It works pretty fast. Just use 'em like cough drops. Chef Joy will be pretty mad if you don’t polish off that stew.”

Ellian furrows his brow, glancing back through the crowd into the kitchen, taking note of the rather large and hulking figure of a chef. Ellian had never seen an ogre with his own eyes before, they’re even bigger than he could have imagined. Chef Joy’s face seemed permanently twisted into the most toothy of scowls. Chef Joy was in the process of gingerly cleaning out a soup pot large enough for a grown man to take a bath in, his sponge taking great care to clean out the residue of tonight's dinner..

“Joy?” He inquires.

“He suffers from resting bitch face. Not his fault!” Rolling her shoulders into a shrug. “Speaking of fault, oh my gosh, we’re going over the vent!” Pepper bounces, feathers furrowing like a giddy schoolgirl.

“Pepper… we’re a ship loaded down with gold, and we’re going over the vent… and you’re excited?” Ellian straightens as the ginger candy begins to work its magic, and his stew actually begins to look appetizing. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

"Oh no! That’s what you’re for! With a good musician, the vent is actually beautiful at night! The water is so clear you can see the magma glowing from over the side of the ship, if it’s calm enough! That's why the sirens are there after all!”

“Because they find the vent…pretty?” Ellian cocks an eyebrow at the Parrotlet, dipping his spoon back into his bowl and stirring around the glistening broth.

“Oh no, you seriously know nothing? They use the vents like a blacksmith’s crucible. It’s how they work the metal they steal.” Pepper chimes, feathers furrowing back down against her skin.

“So why gold? Isn’t iron or bronze better?” Ellian asks, perplexed. The idea of smelting metal underwater seemed ludicrous to him. How did they keep whatever they were crafting from quenching immediately?

“Well yeah iron or bronze is better… on land you dummy.” Pepper gently smacks Ellian in the forehead with her steel spoon. “But in salt water iron rusts and bronze tarnishes. Gold might not be the best metal, but it’s the one they can get their hands on and it holds up in the ocean. Hence the raiding!”

Ellian was about to say something but stopped short. “So… why does music make them leave us alone then?”

“ Good music makes them leave us alone. And no one is really sure. Some people think it tricks them into thinking we are also sirens, but I don’t think they’re that stupid. My theory is that they like good music so much that they won’t sink the ship in hopes of hearing that bard again later.” Pepper lifts her bowl slurping down the last bit of stew before crossing her legs on the wooden bench. “If that’s the case, you better hope and pray they like you.”

With just a blank stare, Ellian just nods. “Let’s just hope they like me enough to not kill everyone.”

There was a second of silence as Pepper stalls, before she’s right back to elbowing him in the ribs. “Hey, you know any sea shanty songs? The last bard was such a pompous bilge rat he wouldn’t play anything fun!”

“A pompous bard? Never heard of such a thing!” Ellian laughs working down the courage to slurp down the last of his stew. “Guessing he moved on to shinier ships?”

“Fish got him” The parrot grinds her beak giving a pointed glance in Ellian’s direction.

“Must not have been very good.” Ellain huffs, shaking his head before pulling his violin case up onto the table.

“Hey, he didn’t get drowned on our ship… he went on a damn suicide mission and got himself killed.” Pepper rests a hand on Ellian’s shoulder, flustering up her feathers as her tone dips.

“Oh, I’m not scared. A fish gets us all in the end. Just hoping I don’t get so much hubris as to get myself sunk to the bottom of the harbor before I die of old age.” With a nervous laugh, Ellian rosins up his bow, giving his strings an experimental stroke to test his pitch. “Any requests?”

“Oh-oh! Something uncouth!” Pepper claps her hands together with glee. “Something you’d hear in a bar.”

“Brothel songs it is then.” Ellian cheers, giving one last twist to one of the pegs bringing the violin perfectly in tune before starting off with the first of many to come upbeat notes.He only got about two lines in before the dining hall seems to light up with laughter and joy, mugs of ale raising to him as men began to sing along.

I went out drinking with my friends,
And we had a few too many amens,
We stumbled around and lost our way,
But we didn't care, we were here to stay.

We sang and we danced,
And we made a scene,
We were the life of the party,
And we felt like kings and queens.

Oh, the beer was flowing,
And the whiskey was too,
We drank until we were glowing,
And our faces turned blue.

Ellian laughs as he plays, putting his own flair of the music. Pepper stands twirling around and singing in her scratchy voice and letting her skirts fly in the wind as she kicks her legs in some half-skilled dance. The song only continues as mugs get filled across the ship, sloshing around with each gentle sway of the waves.

But then the morning came,
And our heads started to pound,
We looked at each other,
And we knew we had gone too far down.

So now we take it slow,
And we drink with care,
We've learned our lesson,
And we won't go there.

Oh, the beer is still flowing,
And the whiskey too,
But we won't go overboard,
And turn blue like a kangaroo.

The song came to a close with a stamp of the bard’s feet and the sounds of ale mugs smacking against tables. Murmurs about more raunchy requests circulated but suddenly the ship went silent.

Singing in the night.

It was an eerie melody echoing amongst the waves, a chorus of them, each one dipping and swelling in perfect unison. A language of beautiful nonsense that could make the strongest of seamen glassy eyed and weak kneed. The sound had Ellian’s heart leaping into his throat as he quickly made his way to the bow of the ship. Taking in a deep breath he peers over the front of the ship, as does half the crew who followed, frantically searching the waters.

“Are any of them red?” One man whispers as they frantically search the black sea. The ropes and pulleys to the life boats screeching as the men prepared for launch. Ellain nervously shuffles his way in, heart slamming against his ribs. Glancing back to the sea Ellian sees fins breaking the glass of the ocean’s surface before a woman surfaces. She was a captivatingly beautiful, dirty blonde with emerald fins jutting from her twitching ears. A few feet away another equally beautiful woman breaches the surface. Before he could blink there were easily eight of them, staring daggers at the bard, daring him as he rowed out toward them.

The sirens call out, their choir far out performed even the most prestigious human immidations. The singing of a siren was like listening to a god, so beautiful it both made people want to hear more and made a pit of fear form in their stomachs. Six sirens breach the surface around his boat, pulling themselves up the sides just awaiting his response. Ellain sucks in a breath of salty air before putting bow to string and intimidating their notes. When they swelled he did, when they dipped, he followed suit. Siren music was never as upbeat as a tavern shanty, but it did challenge any musician to mimic the notes by ear. One foul note was all it took. One misplay or error was enough to start a frenzy from the ravenous beasts.

Ellian had to avoid eye contact with the wolves of the sea. A redheaded woman with golden fins and frills pushed herself into his eyeline, taunting him. He could feel her eyes burning him, as if judging everything about him and looking for a reason to rip him apart. His teeth grit as he hears light splashing in the water around him, only hoping it wasn’t from positioning themselves to raid the ship.

He was playing for what felt like hours before noise from the Dawn Courser caught his attention. Screams? No. Cheers. Ellian lifts his eyes from his violin to notice the undisturbed sea. The sirens were gone, giving him a moment to let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. It took him a minute to finally take hold of the oars and begin the slow row back to Dawn Courser as the light amber glow showed through the waves.

The vent was the one stream of color below, everything else a deep black, only deepened by the plumes of smoke below the surface. Across the visible magma, the surface of the water bubbled occasionally as steam from the superheated volcanic fissure rose to the surface. The visibility over the vent was infamous for being perpetually limited to the point of ships going completely blind due to the warm fog bubbling up from the steam bubbles. Tonight was quite mild comparably, the worst of the veil laying flatter on the ocean’s surface and thinner due to the already clear weather and warm summer climate.

“I don’t see any sirens?” Ellian asks, turning to see pepper all but balancing over the side of the ship.
“You won’t see any. They’re too deep to see. You can only see the magma. But if you squint you might see one swim over for a moment. You alright, you look a little pale.” Pepper notes as Ellian stares over the side of the ship as the crew disperses back to finish their dinner and perhaps hit the bunks.

“I just had to play the violin in exchange for my life. How would you be?” The bard huffs. “And worse off, rather than concern for the situation, people were scrambling to figure out what color the sirens were. What was up with that?”

Pepper just stares at Ellian for a moment. “Yet again, you know nothing.” Pepper turns back around to lean against the wooden railing. “You’ve seriously never heard of the red siren?”

“Um… no.” The bard packs his violin away in the case and straightens. “Some kind of sea legend I guess?”

“Not a legend. He’s the real deal, He’s what killed our last bard.” Pepper groans, finding herself stuck explaining again. “He’s apparently the one siren that just cannot be satisfied. He has no pack, but has blown every ship he’s ever encountered out of the water by himself.”

“All this for gold?” Ellian inquired.
“No. He takes nothing and leaves everyone dead!” Pepper all but shouts. “A bunch of bards have apparently made it their magnum opus to play him a song he won’t hate, a pissing contest that the only prize so far has been death.”

“So your last bard took a ship out, picked that fight and unsurprisingly lost.” Ellian blinks. “You’re right, he really was pompous.”

Pepper squawks out a laugh “Exactly. We already run into enough trouble, why go looking for it? Anyway, I’m going to bed. Sea’s supposed to be a little rough tomorrow night so keep those ginger candies handy. Goodnight!” The parrot waves with a little crow-hop.

“Yeah, probably me too goodnight!” Ellian watches the first mate disappear below deck before staring out to the sea once more. The glowing vent catches his attention for just another moment before he retires to his bunk for the night.
xxxxxxxxxxxx

The next day was absolutely as rough as Pepper had predicted, throwing Ellian in all different directions and depositing him squarely on the floor as he tried to get out of bed. It took a few more tries before he ended up vertical again, only for the floor to suddenly tilt and his window to fly open. He found himself and his pajamas soaked to the bone with a combination of rain and seawater as he scrambled to shut the windows. The combination of rain and mist made visibility out of his window almost nonexistent, his hand getting lost in the fog almost as soon as it passed his windowsill.

Ellian’s walk up the stairs had him in a white-knuckle grip on the handrail and the other on his violin case. The deck was a madhouse, men pulling ropes and working posts with a vigorous fervor. Pepper squawked orders from her invisible perch at the top of the mast. "Pull up these sails! Too much wind. A quarter mast should be good!"

The bard froze for a moment, just trying to figure out what was going on. Just as he was about to find a station, a heavy hand clasped down on his shoulder. “Oi, you shouldn’t be up here,” Voss huffed, ducking as seawater splashed up over the side of the boat as a wave crashed into the broadside of the ship. “Can’t have ya getting swept away. Just take the day below deck, okay?”

Ellian blinked for a moment as water crashed down once again. He didn’t have to be told twice! Ellian stumbled down the stairs, earning a rough pat on the back as Voss continued his way upstairs, shouting orders to his crew to keep the boat afloat. The bard clamored his way into the kitchen, only to find Chef Joy lovingly chopping onions and carrots. It was early, yet here he was already preparing lunch.

“Hey. Need any help?” Ellian asked, cautiously creeping up to the scowling ogre, whose eyes only raised to stare daggers into the bard for a moment. Joy licked his fangs in thought for a moment before turning to another counter. When he returned, a small bowl with a cloth over it and a wooden cutting board were plopped in front of Ellian. Upon peeling back the damp cloth, Ellian realized it contained a mound of bread dough. “Making chicken and dumplings,” the ogre grumbled through his teeth that didn’t quite seem to fit in his mouth.

Chef Joy pinched off a bit of the dough, rolling it into a one-inch ball and setting it aside. “If you can do this until the dough is gone, that would be most helpful,” Joy huffed, going back to cutting his onions.

Ellian continued with the dough, careful to mimic the chef’s perfect dumpling as his eyes drifted to the onion chopping. Chef Joy’s knife work was so precise that the onion ended up more like liquid than chopped.

"You play violin good," the ogre suddenly announced, gently sliding off the semi-liquid onions into the awaiting pot with a shimmer.

"Oh! Thank you! You cook good," Ellian laughed before realizing the ball of dough he had just rolled was too big and needed some trimming.

"I try," Joy shrugged with a light roll of his massive shoulders before going back to peeling carrots and cutting them into perfectly consistent cubes. "Nasty storm out there. You got banished downstairs too?"

"Yeah. Voss didn't want me getting thrown overboard," Ellian hummed.

"That's fair. That's why I'm not allowed upstairs either," Joy choked out a laugh that sounded more like coughing.

"Wait, really?" Ellian paused his dumpling making for a second.

"Yeah, on my first day of work, I fell off the ship. That's when we found out I sink like a rock," Joy shifted, showing his rather large leather belt with a hook on the back of it. "Apparently, if you go overboard, you get a 'seatbelt'."

"A seatbelt?" Ellian gawked.

"Yeah. They tie a rope to me so they can either pull me up or use me as an anchor," Joy laughed, his knife continuing to dice carrots. "It was Cristobal's idea. Smart guy... even if he decided to chase that stupid siren."

Ellian supposed he meant the previous bard. "Yeah, Pepper tried to explain the whole red siren thing. I don't understand. Is it a bunch of sirens or just one?"

"Apparently, it's just one. And he's an ass," Joy's knife cuts hit the board harder as he moved on to cutting potatoes. "No ship makes it past him. He's killed every bard he's ever encountered, and anyone saying that they survived him is a damn liar."


"Why though? The sirens are supposed to leave us alone if the music is good enough," Ellian inquired.

"No one knows. All I know is someone needs to harpoon the bastard," Joy staked his knife down in his cutting board and dumped his potatoes into the pot before jerking down a dead chicken from its hanging rack and beginning to pluck the feathers from the bird. "How are those dumplings coming?"

Ellian looked up to realize about half of the dough was still left. "It's coming. Slowly."

The storm seemed to go silent in an instant, the waves continuing to batter the ship for only a moment more before the calm had both Joy and Ellian perking up. Through the sound of the distant storm, a voice rang out with sweet singing.

"Go upstairs," Joy pulled the tray of dough balls as Ellian leaped from his chair, violin case trailing behind him.

Voss and the other crew got the dinghy ready in a hurry as Ellian rushed up the stairs. He froze, glancing up to see the rainwater redirected and the waves crashing into some invisible wall and rolling out like they were on a beach over the glassy water. Anywhere past this dome was almost invisible from the fog and mist.

"Get in, boy!" Captain Voss called, pulling Ellian into the boat and tying off a rope to a large O-ring on the back of the dinghy to haul him back in later as the Bard was lowered into the water. The singing ramped up in volume as he could feel movement under him and a scraping noise on the wood under the ship. An emerald green sail surfaced and lightly tapped the side of the dinghy in a threat.

Ellian clung to the bench as his small boat rocked in response. More fins and sails surfaced as the sirens ventured closer before he mustered up the urge to bring his violin to his shoulder. Something about them circling his boat like sharks only served to unnerve him more than the group who chose to show themselves.

With a deep breath, Ellian played, his bow raking the strings in a light mimicry of the sirens' songs. His melody was accompanied by the occasional crack of thunder and crash of a wave against the siren's barrier. His boat still rocked from the light currents and the occasional brush of a fin, threatening to throw him off. Ellian dug in, straightening to stand as the group surfaced, glaring.

His heart leaped into his throat as their leader brought himself to the surface, green-finned and staring. His expression blank as he crossed his arms in impatience. Unimpressed at best and angry at worst. Panic overtook the bard as his bow slid slightly off-center, earning an off-note, but a moment of inspiration overtook him. Rather than cover the mistake, he chose to roll with it, morphing into a song to complement the sirens rather than mimic. Ellian watched the green siren's expression change from boredom to venom... then to a light smile.

The smile only served to ignite a similar grin on the Bard's face. With newfound courage, he stepped up to the side of the dinghy, embracing the proximity to danger. Matching his every move, the siren crept closer, the swirling of his pack slowing and the scrapes against the boat coming to a halt. The male siren inched nearer, placing his hands on the boat before suddenly sinking down and vanishing into the mysterious depths of the ocean.

Relief washed over Ellian, but it was short-lived as the held-back rainwater and crashing waves mercilessly slammed the dinghy back into the ship with a resounding crash. While the integrity of his vessel held, Ellian's fleeting bravery faltered. He clung desperately to the bench, his knuckles turning white as the relentless rocking persisted. Even as the crew began the task of hauling the dinghy back on board, Ellian found himself battling rising nausea, too preoccupied to reach for his ginger candy. Breakfast, if he had managed to eat any, would likely be strewn across the ship's floor. Finally, he was pulled back onto the Dawn Courser amidst a boisterous cheer that struggled to be heard over the rolling thunder.

"Good shit, boy!" Voss exclaimed, his hand landing heavily on Ellian's shoulder. "Go get dry, you look like a drowned rat. And have a drink. We'll reach the port by morning!" The captain's laughter echoed, his raised hand a gesture of camaraderie as the crew carried on with their duties.

XXXX
As night descended upon the Dawn Courser, an eerie stillness settled over the ship, casting a foreboding shadow on the once tranquil waters. The storm had unleashed its wrath earlier, but now a haunting silence hung in the air, causing unease to creep through the veins of the crew. Ellian, donned in his dry clothes, couldn't shake off the nagging sense of dread that seemed to intensify with every passing moment.

Reluctantly, Ellian made his way to the ship's railing, his heart pounding in his chest. The moon emerged from behind a veil of clouds, its pale light casting distorted shadows across the restless waves. A chill wind cut through the night, whispering eerie secrets that pricked at Ellian's senses.

On the horizon, a faint glow of civilization shimmered just at the edge of his vision, their destination ahead. However, with no wind to sail with and the crew exhausted, Voss had ordered the anchor thrown and everyone to get a full night's rest. Yet, here was Ellian, daunted by the still harbor. Not a soul was awake on board, save for himself. The only sound that caught his attention was the gentle lapping of undercurrents against the Dawn Courser's hull. Lost in the moonlight, a soft voice reached Ellian's ears—a melodic singing that seemed relentless, as if the Sirens refused to leave them be. He froze, expecting the ship to stir in response, but his crewmates remained fast asleep. The singing continued, almost demanding a response, its somber tones barely audible.

As Ellian struggled to regain his composure, his eyes locked with the crimson siren reclining lazily across the boat. The siren's vibrant red fins and hair, transitioning into deeper hues, mesmerized Ellian despite his fear. With a tight grip on his violin, he cautiously positioned himself on the opposite side of the vessel, creating as much distance as possible between himself and the enigmatic creature.

The siren's piercing gaze bore into Ellian's soul, its intensity causing a shiver to crawl up his spine. Elbow resting on the boat's siding and chin propped on his hand, the siren nonchalantly flicked his ear-fins, exuding an air of indifference. His fingers traced the surface of the wood, inadvertently revealing a venomous barb concealed within his fins. Ellian's mouth hung open, speechless, as his breath deserted him and his heart pounded in his chest, an eerie silence enveloping them both.

"What are you too afraid to play?" the siren grumbled, his voice a low rumble that resonated with a mix of disdain and curiosity. The siren continued to scratch at the boat's wood, the sound reverberating through the night. Ellian's mind raced, searching for a response, but fear held his tongue captive.

“I-I. You’re.”

The red siren visibly cringes as soon as the bard opens his mouth, shifting uncomfortably. “Yes, yes I know. Play me a song, music boy. I’m growing bored.” He inches closer, bioluminescent freckles on his cheekbones glimmering like stars on his pale cheeks as he settles in right across from Ellian. Ellian's hands trembled as he clutched the violin, his mind racing to comprehend the surreal encounter before him. The red siren's piercing gaze bore into his soul, demanding a performance. The bard's voice caught in his throat, struggling to find the words to respond.

Summoning his courage, Ellian closed his eyes, his fingers instinctively finding their place on the violin's strings. The haunting melody emerged, a fragile thread woven with fear and uncertainty. As the notes resonated through the still night, the siren's expression transformed, his boredom giving way to a twisted pleasure.

The music intensified, the bow dancing across the strings with fervor. Ellian poured his heart into the composition, the violin becoming an extension of his very being. The siren's reaction caught Ellian off guard, as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his eyes avoiding the bard's gaze. Ellian continued to play each note with precision, tailoring the music to the siren's desires or so he believed. The siren's fins undulated, creating swirling currents around him as his scowl deepened.

"You finished?" the siren asked abruptly, his voice tinged with a hint of pain that piqued Ellian's curiosity.

"Um... wait. Let me try something else," Ellian pleaded, tears welling in his eyes, his emotions pouring into the heartfelt plea. "But before I do... I just... Why?"

The red siren was taken aback for a moment, his features softening as he regarded the bard. "Why?" he echoed, a mix of intrigue and weariness in his voice.

"I know no matter how well I play, it doesn't matter," Ellian breathed, lowering his violin, much to the siren's disdain. "Why do you sink ships, even if the music is good?"

The siren choked back laughter, his voice ominously smooth even in amusement. "Good? I have yet to encounter a good bard. You know where bards originated, correct?" The siren scoffed, his tone laced with bitter irony. "Sirens taught humans how to make music. In my language, 'Barde' means 'fake siren'."

Ellian straightened, a spark of newfound courage emboldening him. "So you think I'm an imposter?"

"No. I think you're an insult," the siren bristled, his fins standing on end in agitation. "You people make me want to tear out my own ears on a nightly basis and call it good. Even the other sirens imitate your swill. Now play me something that won't make me miserable."

Ellian couldn't help but feel a mix of confusion and defiance in the face of the red siren's disdain. The siren's words cut deep, challenging the very essence of his identity as a bard. But within the depths of his being, a flicker of determination ignited, urging him to prove the siren wrong and reach for a melody that would touch the siren's heart in ways he never imagined.

The siren's expression remained unchanged, his crimson eyes reflecting a mix of disappointment and indifference. The music that echoed through the night seemed to pass through him, leaving no lasting impression. It was as if the siren's disdain had become an impenetrable barrier, deflecting any attempt to bridge the gap between their worlds.

Ellian's hands trembled, his once confident movements now faltering. The realization washed over him with a crushing weight—he had failed to please the red siren. His dreams of earning the siren's respect and finding a common ground shattered like shards of broken glass. The siren tensed, lowering himself back into the water, sinking below the depths, his departure a silent rejection.

"I'm sorry, Pepper," Ellian murmured, his voice filled with sorrow and regret. As he gazed at the fading ripples in the water, a sudden surge of power erupted from beneath, clawed hands reaching up and hauling him into the simmering hot water. The ocean embraced him with an unforgiving force, swallowing him whole, and he disappeared beneath the waves.The calm waters transformed into a churning tempest, as if nature itself reigned with the wrath of the siren.

A towering wall of water formed in the distance, growing in size and power with each passing moment. The crew, roused from their slumber by the siren's song and now consumed by panic, scrambled to secure themselves and brace for the impending disaster.

The tidal wave loomed closer, its sheer magnitude dwarfing the once-majestic vessel. The Dawn Courser, with its ornate sides and intricate craftsmanship, stood no chance against the overwhelming force of the sea. The ship groaned and protested as the colossal wave crashed against it, mercilessly testing its structural integrity.

Wood splintered and cracked under the immense pressure, while the ship's timbers strained and twisted. The crew members, their faces etched with terror, clung to whatever they could find, desperately seeking stability in the chaos. The sound of screaming mingled with the thunderous roar of the ocean, a symphony of fear and despair.

In a matter of seconds, the ship succumbed to the relentless assault. Its once-proud form disintegrated as if it were made of paper, fragments of its grandeur scattered amidst the tumultuous sea. The remains of the Dawn Courser were consumed by the voracious waters, disappearing beneath the surface with a final groan of defeat.

When the chaos subsided, only a lone lifeboat and a drifting violin remained amidst the calm waters.