Chapter Text
Chapter 1-Battling a young opponent Elias POV “If there’s a man among ye, ye’ll come up and fight like the man ye are to be!” ― Mary Read 5 years ago
I quickly sidestep as the boy's chubby fist comes at me once again. Despite his young age, he moves with a rough clumsiness that betrays his street upbringing. His punches lack precision and strength, more suited for a toddler than a ten-year-old. He sneers at me, trying to seem tough but I can see the fear in his eyes as he prepares for another weak attack.I smirked, a mix of amusement and pity swirling within me as I sidestepped another feeble swing. It was a common sight in the alleys of this destitute town, children fighting for scraps and survival.Even though we are the same age, I feel no sympathy for him. In the end, it's a matter of survival and one of us will have to come out on top. Devlin lunged at me again, his tattered clothes flapping around him like a makeshift flag of defiance. His dirty face contorted with rage and frustration as his punches missed their mark once more.
Dove-port, the city of decay. Now a desolate wasteland, the remnants of a once-thriving metropolis are scattered in ruins. The streets, once filled with merchants and aromas of delicious food, now reek of death and despair. Disease runs rampant through the decaying buildings, claiming lives without mercy. This is the cursed city of Dove-port, where hope has long since been forgotten and only devastation remains. A sickness swept through the town, leaving death and despair in its wake. In the span of just a few months, hundreds fell victim to its ruthless grasp. The majority were peasants, already struggling to survive each day, now left with insurmountable debts and misfortunes to pass on to their orphaned children. With each passing day, the town grew emptier as more and more succumbed to the illness. Eventually, it became nothing but a forgotten place, visited only by heartless pirates looking for easy targets to pillage and plunder. The streets once bustling with life now lay silent, haunted by memories of better days. The rooftops that once provided shelter now stood as crumbling reminders of the devastation that had befallen this forsaken town.
Out of nowhere, a hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me down to the ground. I cringed as a sharp pain radiates through my body, followed by a flurry of punches raining down on me. Brilliant, he brought friends. I reach around blindly trying to find something to use against them. Ignoring the red that clouds my vision I manage to grasp the end of what feels like a metal pole. Gripping it in my hand I swing it as hard as I can in front of me and feel it connect to one of the boy's jaws. Like a drove of squealing pigs the boys stumbled back. Devlin held his bleeding jaw, writhing in agony as he lay on the grimy ground of the alley. In the moment, his friend Charlie saw an opportunity and took off running. What a coward. As I stumbled back to my feet I let out a laugh. The stench of the alley hits my nose, a mixture of trash, urine, and decay. But now there is also the sharp tang of blood, metallic and unmistakable.* The stench of garbage and rotting filth fills my nose, a sharp contrast to the metallic tang of blood that now dominates my senses. I carefully step over Devlin's slumped body, my leg throbbing from the wound he gave me. I grit my teeth and shuffle towards my small sack of coins lying on the ground, desperate to retrieve them before anyone else notices.
Emerging from the alley I make my way over to the edge of the city, one of the only places you can find any food or goods. The docks are bustling with activity, sailors unloading their catches and merchants haggling over prices. The sun shines brightly overhead, casting rays of light onto the shimmering blue sea. My eyes scan the horizon, searching for a passing ship that may offer me some much-needed help.The bustling docks are a sea of activity, filled with sailors unloading their hauls and merchants hawking their wares. The sun beats down on the wooden planks, casting shadows and creating a hazy glare. Sailboats bob up and down on the dock, their flags fluttering in the breeze. My gaze scans the faces of the people around me, searching for any signs of compassion or kindness in their expressions. The sun glints off the ripples of the dock's water, reflecting a fiery glow in my eyes. Masts of ships jut into the sky, each one a towering giant in its own right. Seagulls soar overhead, swooping in to grab scraps of food from the bustling sailors. The chaotic movement of people and goods engulfs me as I make my way through the crowded dock.