PARAGON

The sun brightly shone from the eastern sky, its golden radiance dousing everything with a beautiful glow. Paragon raised her anchor as the sun fully rose above the horizon; the chain musically clinked as it rolled into its spool. Paragon glanced at the city of Kerbi before she raised the gangplank to make sure she didn't leave any willing Stellans behind.

As she slipped out of the dock, the liveship thought about the Stellan within her hull. Forty-two Stellans divided among nine families resided inside the white vessel. Paragon had never ferried that many people in one top before; it was an unfamiliar feeling, but one Paragon enjoyed.

After creating so many hammocks, pillows, and blankets, the liveship's depleted her magical reserves of textiles. She desperately craved fabric but knew that once she arrived in Havenous, she could reabsorb all the materials she used for the Stellans. Since Travis became her captain, she had avoided her salvaging tendencies. Paragon remembered how much he freaked out when he learned of it. Thankfully, until this point, she had barely touched that part of her magic.

If we pass by some driftwood, I'll snag that and try to eat it sneakily. Hopefully, it will somewhat sate my cravings. She knew it wouldn't.

Paragon paused as Travis approached and sat next to her with his legs dangling over the edge. "You ok? You feel a bit off through the bond."

"I'm fine," Paragon assured with a smile, "just making all the hammocks for the Stellans drained my magic a bit."

"It almost feels like hunger." Travis looked out to the seemingly endless ocean. "Are you sure you don't need anything? I'm your captain, you can tell me anything, and it's my job to worry about you, especially on a big mission. I know I'm new at this, but I'm trying to be a good captain."

Paragon blinked in surprise and smiles a bit. "You are doing an excellent job." She assured with a smile. "I've never had this many people on board before, I'm a bit nervous but fine."

Travis paused, "You are hungry, but you remember the I thought your palate was strange." He stroked the figurehead's head, a sensation she enjoyed. "It was a bit shocking at first, but if it's what you need to do for your happiness and well-being, then do it."

Paragon blinked in surprise, then relaxed. "Thank you, Travis." She smiled at him and used one of her arms to pull the human into a brief hug. "I promise I won't go out of the way for a piece of driftwood, but now that I have permission, I will snag anything we come across." She grinned in near-excitement and resisted wagging her tail, then released the hug.

Travis chucked and stroked Paragon's head again, then smiled as the figurehead purred slightly. "I'm glad I can help you relax, though feel free to talk to me. I'm a thought away."

Paragon chuckled, then blinked as she felt Myrellen climb the stairs to the forecastle's deck and approach. She turned her head and smiled at him. "Good morning, did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you." As the Stellan approached the pair, he looked out to the horizon and watched the last bit of his homeland disappeared behind the horizon. "I've never left Kerbi before."

"Leaving your home for the first time is a bit melancholy," Travis looked out to the gently rolling sea.

"I promise Draconia will be a safe place." Paragon smiled. "We should arrive in a few days."

"Is Draconia that close?" Finn blinks in surprise.

"It would take a normal ship over a week, but with my magic, it won't take as long. I'm the fastest ship on all the oceans." Paragon smiled; a gust of wind filled her sails and her bow effortlessly sliced through the blue water.

"So you don't spend much time between ports?" Myrllen blinked.

"No more than a week, usually. I can circumnavigate the world in less than three weeks if needed." Paragon inhaled some of the fresh ocean breezes. "Especially if the weather is this nice."

"Are you the mythical The White Phantom?" Myrllen's words caught Paragon's attention, and she could feel his internal struggle to determine just how much magic was within the liveship.

"I have never met a ship with that name," Paragon promised, "Though people have called me that before, and my magic is similar to the legend, based upon what I've heard. The mist, the serpent figurehead, and I do have a habit of rescuing people."

"By the stars, you are her," the Stellan looked up to the sky as the last star disappeared, outshone by the brightness of the oncoming day. "I knew The Black Reaper was real, but you..."

Paragon tried not to let the mention of the black pirate ship bring up her experiences with the black ship. However, a few memories rose to the surface of her thoughts. Thankfully, she withheld a flinch as her mind's eye visualized a cannonball crashing through her white hull and pirates attempting to forcefully turn her helm and steer her into a reef to beach her. She mentally shoved the memories aside and focused on the open ocean.

After a pause, Myrllen spoke without looking away from the orange sky. "Did you mean it when you offered me a position onboard? I'd be able to go home and stop working whenever I want?"

"Of course, and you can do whatever you want with the money you earn each week." Paragon smiled. "You'll have time to spend on land at each stop if you wish as long as you aren't needed to help with loading and unloading. And I promise I will do everything I can to protect you, on and offshore."

Myrllen paused. "I still don't know if I want to be in your crew; I'll have to talk to my family about it."

"Take your time," Paragon promised with a smile, "my offer will always stand, so if you decide to join in a few years, there will be a spot open for you."

Myrllen blinked in surprise and nodded, his mind swimming with thoughts. Paragon felt his temptation but also his hesitation.

Paragon smiled and nodded, then paused as she noticed a pair of ships on the horizon. She released a displeased hum as she spotted the blue and black flag with a white star.

"Paragon?" Travis followed her gaze, but his human eyes failed to see the ships in the same detail as the liveship, but he could feel her unease.

"Those ships adjusted their headings to try an intercept me." Paragon lashed her tail. "But they'll find that they misjudged my speed. All the charts onboard say I am in international waters; those Hoshian patrols have no right to catch me. The Hoshio coast isn't even visible from here."

The mention of Hoshio's navy made Myrllen nervous, but Paragon tried to calm his nerves. "They won't catch me." She grinned as if it was a challenge. I'm the fastest ship on all the oceans. They must be claiming more water as part of their country. I'll adjust the maps." She mentally fixed her sea charts as she corrected her course to be farther from the Hoshio coast.

"Could we go south instead of north?" Myrllen gripped the railing as he watched the distant ships with wide eyes.

"I could," Paragon agreed with a slight nod, "but there are many people on board that are uncomfortable here. We are in no danger; no Hoshio ship can catch me." She smiled in assurance as a strong breeze filled her sails.

Myrllen slowly nodded as he eyed the distant ships as they sailed toward Paragon, then slightly smiled as the liveship left them far behind. "Do you have encounters like this often?" He looked down to the figurehead.

"Occasionally," Paragon admitted, "but rarely do they get within firing range. I can easily protect everyone onboard from oncoming fire with a bit of magical fog, I can effortlessly escape. You are safe on board and will be in Draconia."

Myrllen slowly nodded as he looked out to the seemingly endless blue waters.