Sea Snakes

In her hotel room, Kismet awoke. She had already completed her morning routine, which included practicing her martial arts, performing yoga, and eating a nutritious breakfast. She left her room, the hotel, and walked to the dock to meet with a guildy. It was her first work with a guildie, and she had no idea who she was going to meet. All she knew was that she was a powerful member of the guild and an Ace.

Because the work didn't appear to be simple, they most likely matched her with someone more experienced. The Sea Snakes, a notorious pirate fleet, needed assistance transporting one of their ships into Joya to deliver stolen cargo. The pirates allege that the Minstrel officials have blocked the canal leading to Joya and that they need help getting through the roadblock. They were supposed to board a small Minstrel navy ship and take its flag in order to sail through the naval checkpoint on their way to Joya. It was hoped that they would be able to get around the checkpoint this way.

Kismet would lean against a pillar near the Sea Snakes ship in the harbor, inhaling the sea air. They were currently flying a different flag and impersonating a commerce ship. She'd kick a crab off the deck as she pondered the various scenarios that could occur on the job. There would almost probably be a lot of fighting unless her guild mate was stealthy and possessed the necessary magic to avoid it. She prayed that wasn't the case; she'd recently been promoted to C rank and was eager to put her newfound skills to the test.

She smiled as she watched the shipmates went about their business. Kismet was the closest thing to a pirate she could think of. Her ambition in life was to become a great mage with a flying ship and the title of Queen of Thieves. She'd fly around robbing places, pursuing the noble elite before assisting the oppressed. One would mistake her for a Robin Hood-like figure, except that she had no qualms about killing if necessary to achieve her objectives. Even now she knew the ship they were going to remove the flag from was condemned to sink. A Dark Mage's life is like this.

Kismet would board the ship and introduce herself to the Captain, wondering if she had missed the woman named Medeia.

"Hello, there, cap. Kismet is my name. I've come to do the job you hired us to do. The one who will be joining me should be here soon, If she isn't already here, I feel we will be ready as soon as the other arrives."

Kismet wasn't expecting someone to just appear out of nowhere. She'd never seen somebody fly before with wings. She'd look at her with big eyes, envious. Her martial skills would prevent her from flying. Because of her special sort of magic, she didn't have nearly as much mana as she used to. Regardless, the woman who landed in front of her was even more stunning. Kismet had slept with several women in the past, but none were as lovely as she was. Here was a woman who was as lovely as she was and also preferred to dress in a revealing manner. As she posed as a formidable beauty, thoughts ran through her mind. Perhaps she'd have to either conquer her guildie one day or be conquered. It would be a fantastic experience in either case.

It was as simple as that. The seductive beauty would raise her ferocious eyes and address the captain. Kismet couldn't help but adore Medeia. She was quite a sight to witness. Kismet would smile with the same smile that had felled of so many others before her.

"Good day, Medeia. In this scenario, I believe the pleasure is entirely mine. I really like your clothing, and your eyes are stunning! Please accept my apologies. For a brief moment, I was taken aback. Yes, I'm Kismet. I'm excited to work with you on this."

The captain would shuffle out after being put in his post by Medeia, and they would set sail. It was amusing to see this rugged man, who smelled like cheap rum and fish, bend so swiftly to his guild mate's tone and stare. Kismet had fantasized about having such power, but knew that if she just kept working at it she'd get there.

Kismet would ultimately approach Medeia on the ship and speak up as they set sail for a bit, the dock and city eventually vanishing from sight.

"I'm sorry we didn't get together sooner. To be honest, I got a few low-rank jobs and left after receiving my guild mark. Since then, I haven't even returned to the guild hall. I was thinking of staying there after this trip and possibly getting a nice apartment down below the hall in the city. That way, I'd be able to get to know everyone better, and run amok whenever the urge hit."

If she was in the mood, Kismet would continue to converse with her guild mate. She'd ignore all the stares and men working nearby because they didn't pique her attention at the time. Besides, she had more refined tastes than a filthy pirate, despite the fact that she kind of was one herself in heart.

The ship they were on was a trimaran, which was designed for speed. The vessel was a multihull vessel with a main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls (or "floats"). This resulted in faster speeds and maneuvers. This would make catching up to the merchant ship, as well as flanking it for boarding and firing magic cannons through holes in the lower deck, much more easy.

It would take several hours, but they would ultimately see their target. It was time to get the party started as they got closer. In a circumstance like this, there was no sneaking on board. Kismet believed you had to just boarded and fight.

"If it's not too much trouble. I'll go in and take on those on top. Because I lack wings, would you be willing to fly up and take the flag? Don't worry, I'll take care of myself."

As the abs on her stomach began to flex and reveal their definition, Kismet would stretch a little and do a couple jumping jacks in preparation. Kismet would charge ahead as the plank landed, only to be met by a recruit with a gun levelled at her. As she ducked and triggered her technique Summersault, the magic bullet would go past her head. She'd leap forward at a faster pace, landing her right foot on the guy's knee and then completing a backflip somersault on him. As his skull broke backwards and blood splattered around from his mouth and nostrils, the attack was more than enough to kill him. She was emboldened as a benefit of her attack, and her future attacks would be more effective for a while.

She braced herself as she noticed more merchant fighters approaching.

Kismet had spent her entire life manipulating, seducing, and putting her social abilities to the test. Medeia knew she had her pegged correctly as someone with comparable interests when she wrapped her arms around her before soaring away. Even though Kismet didn't look at males the same way she did, she didn't seem to be wholly different. Even yet, the act was enough to light a fire under Kismet's belt and make him show off. That was until Medeia performed her own spell. Kismet completed the splits and punched a man in the groin while ducking his punch, only to be shocked by Medeia. Her magic was so powerful that it shook everyone's foundations, including Kismet's.

She was enraged, biting her lower lip. She was well aware that there were individuals stronger than her, yet she maintained the delusion that she could still defeat them. Medeia just made it plain and clear that she was entirely mistaken about that. Power could be overwhelming at times. Of course, she reasoned to herself. She aspired to be the Queen of Thieves, a position that no one could take or depose. To do that, you'll need a lot of power, enough that no one can take it away from you. How could she be so blind and arrogant at the same time. But she was stubborn and while the lesson was there, it only made Kismet want to try hider to prove she was right and could take on anything anyways.

Spinning onto her back, she would raise her arms, bend them back, and rest her hands on the ground near her head. She'd pull her legs up and kick out as she kipped up onto her feet, using her core. It was time to intimidate by raising a hand in the air and pointing at Medeia.

"You plebes, never forget and always remember me! You're up against the great Pirate Queen, who has complete authority over the angels! Fear her strength as much as you fear mine!"

Of course, it was an obvious deception designed to confuse and intimidate people in positions of lower power, such as basic ship mates. She hoped her guild mate would be fine with it. If she didn't, she'd have to discipline her later, which made Kismet blush a little. Pushing that thought aside she'd have to concentrate on the task at hand for the time being. Her bluff was successful, but not to the extent she desired. After feeling the magic that had just been used, the recruits on the deck were on the verge of passing out anyways. All Kismet did was give them the little push they needed to start to abandon ship on lifeboats.

Kismet almost felt sorry for them, so she let them flee. She didn't feel compelled to kill those who were running from her. At that moment, they were no longer entertaining. It wasn't until the door to the cabin burst open and an amazonian woman dressed as a captain walked out. She must have been 6'5" tall, with a broad physique and an ornate paddle oar. The woman would raise her eyes to Kismet and then lower them. Her proclamation had apparently been enough to irritate the captain, as she was hurried in by her. When the oar cracked on the side of her shoulder, she was carried into the air and to the side, nearly over the edge of the ship.

Kismet coughed up blood, having never experienced a strike as powerful as the one delivered by her master, Zangan before. She stood up and wiped the blood from her mouth with her deviant eyes. She raced in, one step forward, two steps back, then three steps forward, attacking the captain. She started off with a right jab, an uppercut, and a few additional attacks while using her Beat Rush. Kismet wouldn't stop there; she'd raise her leg in a flexible manner. As she used her Waterkick, water bubbles formed around her leg and trailed behind her. She'd finish her combo by bending her knees, jumping up, and giving a grand uppercut as a dolphin appeared with her assault, causing the captain to waddle backwards from the assault.

Despite her strikes, it appeared that they had done almost the same to each other. Kismet was up against someone who was bigger, more experienced, and had amassed enough wealth to become a ship's captain. The primary distinction was that Kismet was running out of stamina while the other had barely used any.

The sweat on Kismet's body was being kissed by the wind on the boat. As the hit to her body began to shake her, blood dripped down the side of her lip. She had waited a long time for this. Moving up, she'd place a foot on the side of the amazon's face, retaliating with a punch to the stomach, which pushed her back a little. The fact that she was taller, heavier, and had a longer reach than the other Kismet was giving her a run for her money. This added to the enjoyment of the event, but she was beginning to tire and the tell from her previous massive attack was evident. The skipper would elevate the oar and charge Kismet, which would send her flying once more.

It didn't soften the blow of the onslaught much, but knowing it was coming gave her time to prepare. In an acrobatic maneuver, she'd flip in the air and land sideways on the ship decks. As a result, she was able to return to the amazon like a torpedo in the air. She'd twirl and fling her leg at the captain as bubbles erupted in the air. She'd land after a Waterkick and perform an upcut with her Dolphin Blow. As the captain's head slammed back, she'd do a Summersault with one foot on her knee. To finish the combo, she'd twist and move behind her, pulling up the opponent in a vertical suplex stance and slamming her to the ground.

The sound of the waves, screaming, and cannons firing at lifeboats could all be heard, but the snap of the amazonian captain's neck as she landed from the suplex was audible above all else. The floorboards had been pierced by her head. Kismet sat on her knees, holding a bloodied and battered piece of her garment. Her gaze was drawn deviantly to the captain's body. Many, if not most, people would be unaware that she was completely unconscious. Kismet wasn't sure when it happened, but she had lost consciousness during the launch from the side of the boat after being hit by the second oar attack, but her fighting spirit carried her on.

She was reminded of her childhood and the first time she met Zangan while deep within her consciousness. He'd meet with her on a regular basis and subject her to rigorous physical training. He didn't teach her any actually combat arts for a year, and even then, only those that were appropriate for her frame. Because of her "tight muscles," he frequently declared that she had the potential to be the greatest one day. What happened to bring her to this point in her life? She was too weak to withstand a formidable foe's blows, so she was preoccupied with the past rather than the present during the most difficult battle of her life. She needed to learn how to take and throw punches. That is when she heard it, the witches laugh.

She found herself floating in a river of stars and dust, as if she were in space and water at the same time. She couldn't see anyone, but she heard a voice, and in her mind's eye, that voice conjured up a beautiful woman with flowing red hair, an ancient witch.

"You yearn for power while turning on your own blood. You, who have the Blood of the Witch, have given up your abilities in favor of skulduggery and brawling. You could have been a sophisticated woman of power and magic but now who is perplexed as to how you ended up here. I could keep you locked away in your thoughts for all eternity if I wanted to. I might release you. Perhaps I should release you but torture you in retaliation for slapping your foremothers in the face.

Do you realize how fortunate you are to have been born into such a family? You had actual power and were willing to give it up for nothing. You could have leveled a mountain with a single swipe of your hand."

The witch's voice would fade away, leaving Kismet to ponder and absorb her words. Her mother had instilled in her the Blood of the Witch, but she didn't seem to mind. What impact did it have on her as she grew older? It didn't make her all-powerful; she'd have to work hard on her own to achieve that.

"So you say, but how did you rise to such great power that your blood would be remembered throughout the ages? You battled for it, and now you have it. You reached out and grabbed one of the stars. Why are you allowed to do so while I am not? Like you, I believe I should be able to forge my own path. to rediscover my inner strength You should be praising it instead of criticizing it. We are, in some ways, the same person if your blood is mine. You live on through others, just as my future children may. In my family, your ancestors aren't extinct. Following in my footsteps is what you should do. Helping me to become stronger and learn something new."

Before the witch replied, Kismet floated for what felt like an age.

"Very well child. Your offer is accepted. I'll evolve for you, giving you the power you need for your style, your brand of so-called magic. I'll be defense now, where I was previously power. I'll take on the role of the shield you lack. You keep forging your strong path."

Kismet didn't know what she meant by her words but she'd have some time to think on it until she woke up again.

As she saw Medeia back away, Kismet's eyes would open. She was feeling better, and she could still feel her guild mate's power running through her, healing all of her wounds. The last thing she recalled was slamming the captain's head through the ship's deck planks, and now she was lying in a bed. The sounds of cannons could still be heard, indicating that the other ship was being sunk and survivors were being slaughtered, giving hint that not much time had gone by. She, on the other hand, felt as if she had been trapped in her own head for quite some time. She didn't feel like whatever the witch's blood inside her meant had taken effect, except from feeling all warm and fuzzy with Medeia there.

She was biting top of her lower lip. "When we get back to the guild, we should probably continue this. I believe I will require additional healing to aid in my recovery." After giving her a wink, Kismet would sit up. As much as she wanted to stay in the present, the atmosphere was that of a pirate, and his skivvies were destroying the moment for her as she saw them in her peripheral vision. She also wanted to create a better atmosphere and have more durable furniture if Medeia accepted her offer.

They'd be able to cruise into Joya's port without difficulty. The pirates had a few minutes of quiet anxiety when they passed the port authorities, but all was well when the flag was up. Now that the job was done, all that was left was to teleport back to the guild hall using the power of the guild tattoo. "It's probably time for a shower now so I'm going to teleport back to the guild. I worked up quite the sweat."

End