Realm Wars

Mother's Skull's Ship was privately owned by Skull, a pirate who roamed the nightmare seas carrying mercenaries who would try their luck on the scavenger hunt. Mercenaries who couldn't afford their ship or didn't hire by nobles.

Aboard, the cold wind glided smoothly across Ryu's face, and he savored the salty breeze. The night sky was darker in the ocean, and the three moons glowed even brighter and bigger than before.

This would be his first adventure outside of the Mortal Realm, and the sea was a whole new world to him. He was excited as well as concerned for their future.

Before, he never did once think of his future. But now.. . everything was changing. .. He didn't have a clear goal except to protect Cecily and be there for her. And it was the desire of his beast.

His human side, however, yearend for something. He couldn't quite put a finger to what exactly.

Ferris yawned and rubbed her eyes. They were on the deck, overlooking the ocean.

"You're sleepy lately," Ryu said, voice laced in concern.

"Agh. . ." Ferris groaned and closed her eyes. Her human body was dead in the first place. It would only take years before it would start deteriorating without its original soul.

Before that time came, she needed another body that could handle her powers. She was lucky to have found this human body. But if she didn't find one soon that was compatible with her. . .

"Is everything alright?"

Ferris waved a hand. "I'm fine." She then opened one eye. "Anyway, you can speak fluently now without stuttering."

"I'm getting used to it." Ryu looked over the seas before his attention was caught by Fifi, who was walking to them, a tray of food in hand.

"Want some?" Fifi's liquid face didn't know where to place her smile.

Ferris glared at her, and Fifi backed away a little, shrieking.

Ryu just took a whiff, and when he found that the food wasn't poison, he grabbed a piece of meat and munched it all down.

"There's a bar downstairs where you can buy all sorts of food and drinks." Fifi stayed at least a meter from Ferris while exchanging conversations with Ryu.

"Though they don't take kindly to servants," she murmured under her breath.

"What it's like to be floating and made up of water?" Ryu asked after he gulped his food. It was the first that he saw a sprite up close, and he was curious.

Fifi giggled an awkward laugh. "I'm not liquid per se. I'm made of concentrated elemental lightning."

"Hmm. . ." Ryu poked Fifi's arm. There was static before his finger made contact with his skin. "It's like air." He didn't felt anything except a sliver of electricity crawling through his veins.

Fifi pulled away from Ryu and her eyes watered. "You shouldn't touch a girl so easily."

"What does the Spirit Realm look like?" Ryu questioned, brushing off Fifi's protest.

"I. . ." Fifi's head lowered as her lips puckered. "I don't know since I mostly lived my life in a jar until I was sold and made a servant in the Ruk's household."

"I see. . ." Ryu's heart was twisting. It was the same for him. He didn't know what the Beast Realm looked like nor his parents, and he unknowingly patted Fifi's head.

"Uhm. . ." Fifi's cheeks were red, and Ferris slapped Ryu's hand and barged between the two of them.

"Anyway, what do you want?" Ferris growled at Fifi.

Fifi shrieked and flew a step back. "I-it's just. .. we're both servants, so I think. .. we should stick together."

The way Fifi's cheek puffed and her translucent golden skin glowed red was adorable that Ferris eyes turned to slit.

They were both the same height and the same build like a little girl, but Ferris felt inferior for some reason. Ferris's fangs itched, and before she yelled to get lost at Fifi, a shout resounded in the boat.

"You useless piece of lump! Didn't I tell you to bring me an Ale? What am I going to do with a juice?"

Ryu's eyes went to a man and a halfbreed boy. The boy was on the ground clutching her red cheek while his eyes were downcast. His fluffy ears were downcast, and his tail curled between his butt.

"I'm sorry, master. But servants aren't allowed to buy Ale," squeaked the boy.

The big man with hairy hands kicked the boy to the ground. "Useless! You can't fight, and you can't even do a simple task! What good are you?!"

Fifi curled to the side and her eyes dampened. Ferris just shook her head and sighed.

"Can't they take it somewhere private?" Ferris grumbled, and then her eyes widened when out of nowhere, Ryu appeared in front of the man and flung him to the side with a single slap.

Ferris took a second look at her side and doubled over at the scene just to make sure that her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. But it really was Ryu!

Ferris slapped her head and rolled her eyes in the sky.

"What the fuck?!" the man growled, and he looked over at Ryu towering above him. "What do you think you're doing, you damn servant?!"

The man got up and wiped the blood from his haggard face. He grinned and licked his lips. "Now you've done it! Don't you know that hurting a human is punishable by death?!"

Ryu's stoic face wavered a little, and his muscles loosened. Did he just get himself in trouble?

"Don't kid yourself."

Ryu and the man looked at the new arrival. Ryu thought it was Ferris, but it was the girl with golden pigtails with her pure beastman servant, much to his surprise.

The girl placed her hands beside her waist and extended her chest. "Those rules may apply in the Mortal Realm, but we are now in the Nightmare Seas! I can kill you, and everyone here wouldn't bat an eyelid."