It was the middle of the afternoon, and the sun was shining bright and beating down on both Darius and the rest of the crew. However, he enjoyed the heat, the harsh heat of the sun, because it was something he had gotten used to during his childhood days in...well.
In Desierto.
However, those hellish dunes were the last thing that the mage wanted to think about. Everything that he had to endure their during his childhood, if you could even call slavery something as innocent as that, was something that bore scars into Darius both physically and mentally. He took a deep breath, and walked towards the bow, seeing the large island and he put on a sly smirk. He was almost there.
Darius' pals in the mercenary company he was once in had told the young man that the West Fiore Trading Company not only pays good money for good work, but the organisation was well-befitting for someone so in love with the idea of adventure and being free. Darius chuckled, thinking, you geezers better not just punking me, I'll kick all of your stupid asses if you are.
"We're almost there, young master Darius." The captain informed.
Darius looked back, his shining, golden eyes glowing with anticipation, and acknowledging, "Thanks, captain."
"Anything for a friend of Marcel, by the way, where is that asshat?"
"If I know anything from experience, he's probably in the pub with the rest of the company." Darius chuckled, before seeing a gorgeous young woman whisper a few things to the captain, and adding, "Hey cap, who was that gorgeous young lady who was just speaking to you? If I may, I might ask for her n-"
"That's my daughter." The captain interrupted, unamused.
"Oh...so can I-"
"No."
"Okay."
The captain sighed, shaking his head, before muttering what sounded like threats to Darius, walking away from the white-haired mage. Darius simply snickered to himself and continued to look at the island, waiting to reach the next chapter of his life.
***
As the ship docked, the captain walked up to Darius, who had a duffel bag full of his things slung over his back. The captain offered his hand for a shake, and the mage accepted in, giving him a firm shake.
"Well, Darius, it's been an...experience, having you on my ship. Stay safe out there." The captain stated.
"Thanks captain. If you see Marcel, tell him I say hi. Oh, and about that daughter of yours..." He began.
"Get out of my ship, Al-Sayyid."
"Got it."
Darius exited the ship, taking one last look at it, before heading towards the main building. Darius pulled out a pipe from his bag, and sprinkled some herbs in before lighting it and inhaling it. The smoke tasted like a soothing mixture of apple and mint. He exhaled, allowing a puff of smoke to materialise. He began to walk towards the main building of the WFTC, duffel bag in one hand, and pipe in the other.
"Here we go..." Darius muttered under his breath, unaware of everything that was waiting for him once he joined.