Steve suggested to Jake that it was time to pack up and leave as it would seem a storm was fast approaching. They knew not of the approaching storm, the sea was meant to be calm tonight. They planned to stay until midnight since the rarest fish of the autumn season only surfaced towards midnight. But Jake knew their boat couldn’t handle the storm. They swiftly reeled in and locked up the fish tanks, emptying and tying up the nets they lifted the anchor and prepared to set sail.
However, just as Steve got behind the wheel and engaged the aetherial motor of the boat he heard a shout from outside.
“STOP!”
Steve quickly cut the aether flow to the motor and stepped out to the deck.
“What’s up?”
He looked around, Jake stood at the portside staring intensely into the dark waters.
“See that? over there, but 9 yalms away!”
Steve approached the edge of the boat and looked, indeed he could see something in the water… an object that resembled a dress. Jake grabbed his rod and in a swift motion threw the hook in, grabbing onto the object which seemed to have been caught on a plank. Reeling it in slowly. As Jake reeled the object into the boat’s lights they could tell it was no mere dress caught on a plant, but a woman, clinging onto the plank for her dear life. But she was unconscious. Jake jumped overboard to pull her out. She was cold, who knows how long she was in the water for, but he could feel her breath, faint as it may be but she was alive.
“Thank the Twelve” Jake said as he pulled her put and climbed the ladder back to the boat. Steve helped him carry her inside.
As they carried her inside and turned on the aether heater next to her, taking her dress off and wrapping her in blankets, they couldn’t help but notice her rich-looking attire. Dress lined with gold and purple, clearly, she was of noble blood. Steve jokingly said.
“Mayhaps we’ll get some gil for rescuing this ‘ere lass, what you think, Jolly?”
But Jake just shrugged.
“Ahh, hush you youngling! First, we must get back!” He fired up the motor and they began their journey back.
The storm was catching up but fortunately, they managed to make it back to the pier before the waves got too big. Quickly docking and getting help from the workers at the pier they brought the mistress to the pier’s infirmary where Jake spent the entire night sitting by her side, praying that she would awaken soon. Healers took care of her hypothermia and suggested she’ll make a hasty recovery.
And thus the dawn came, and in the first rays of sunlight, Jake couldn’t help it but notice how beautiful the mistress was. She was, per his estimate in her 30s no older, but what a…. steve interrupted his thoughts as he walked through the door and loudly remarked
“What a fineeee lass! wouldn’t you agree Jake?” Jake grunted at him, and at that time they heard a soft moan. Both turned to look at the mistress who yawned quietly as she could before realizing the 2 men are now staring at her.
Jake rushed to her side.
“My! Thank the Twelve you’re awake and well!” he looked at her intently and smiled.
“Are you alright? need anything?”
Steve just tilted his head and spoke hastily
“Aye Aye, she’s all good. So, what family ya from missy? how much are they paying us for saving ye?”
Confused, she sat up in her bed and looked at Jake, squinting her eyes.
“Uhm… where am i? last I remember I was on the ‘Good Destiny’ merchant vessel with my cousin… and then a bright flash… what happened?”
Jake looked at Steve and gave him a ‘hush’ sign –
“Steve silence!” After hearing her story he nodded firmly.
“I am Jake, and this is my colleague Steve, we’re fishermen you see… We found you drifting at sea at night on nothing but a plank… it is truly fortunate we found you!”
She held her face in her hands – “wh…what happened… is roger alright? is the crew… alright?”
Jake shrugged.
“I’ve certainly not heard of any ship crashes in the area as of recently! so there’s a good chance they’re fine and you just got thrown overboard in the storm! In fact, yeah, I place my bets on that!”
Steve just smirked.
“Aye, so what’s yer name missy?”
She looked at him with fear in her eyes
“I… I’m… May Simons… Daughter of Paul Simons of Simon’s Trading Co.”
Steve rushed to her bedside, pushing Jake aside.
“Simon’s trading co!? WE HIT JACKPOT!!!” Frightened by his sudden approach she jumped off the bed and held the blanket against her.
“I… p-p-please don’t hurt me… I assure you father will pay you splendidly!! Way more than if you kidnapped me….”
Jake got up and grabbed Steve by the hair, pushing his head down and forcing him into a boy.
“Oi lass, ignore this young fool for all he thinks about is shiny gil. We mean you no harm.”
He smiled.
After a short while, a few guards came through the door, accompanying a healer who examined May and advised that she appears to be well enough to be let out. The guards wrote down her name and went to verify her identity and check on information regarding any potential shipwrecks as of yesterday. Jake and Steve left to let her get dressed in peace before reuniting with her outside. They ventured to the guard post to see if they found anything out about the vessel.
After a short wait at the guard post, they returned with good news. Guard captain spoke.
“The vessel by name ‘Good Destiny’ has been reported docked in the city of Ainzel, about a day’s travel from here. The crew and her cousin were all reported to be well, the ship suffered minor damage from a lightning strike”
She let out a sigh of relief.
“Oh thank the heavens. Thank you, guards! I’ll be sure you’re rewarded for your time appropriately! Please find me a vessel to take me there asap!!!”
Jake spoke softly.
“I… actually that is my home town. We switch which ports we sell our fish at every couple of days! We’ll be heading back there tomorrow, if.. you would let us take you there?”
May smiled warmly and hugged Jake.
“Absolutely! how could I ever say no to my heroes? Even if… 1 of you is a little…rude.”
She sneered at Steve who in turn just shrugged.
“But we ARE getting paid for this right?”
Jake just laughed and dismissed his question in its entirety.
Soon after they went to get some lunch and discuss their plans. The fish have been unloaded and the gil is waiting at the port. Jake suggested they do a quick round of fishing before heading back to Ainzel, meaning they’ll spend the rest of the afternoon and until past midnight fishing, return to the port, sleep the night here and then set sail for Aizel tomorrow morning. To which Steve objected.
“Oi oi oi! old man! This lass here is worth more than the shimmering finley you so desire!!!
But as soon as she heard the name May shouted.
“SHIMMERING FINLEY?? You can catch those!?? Ohh! please do! I don’t mind waiting!”
She looked at Steve angrily.
“You’ll have your gil you greedy boy… but, I need a shimmering finley! Jake, if you can catch me 1, I’ll do anything and pay however much you wish!”
Steve’s eyes glittered before he snapped back into reality and angrily mumbled to himself.
“I’m not a boy… I’m 24…. tsk… I’ll wait outside!” he said as he finished his tea and left.
Jake asked May about shimmering finley and why it was of such importance to her. Turns out, it is her father’s favorite delicacy and port of Ainzel is the only place where they can be bought, which is why she and her cousin set out on a trade run to Ainzel. Jake liked the idea of gifting her something as a parting gift, and while to some, a freshly caught fish might seem like an odd gift, to both of them it seemed like a great idea!
And thus the day of fishing went by. May had fun learning the ways of fishermen at sea as she helped Jake and Steve with their duties, although… Steve would argue that she was more of a hindrance, but Jake enjoyed her company, he felt warm and happy in her presence. They docked for the night and went to the inn when May asked Jake to go for a walk. They talked and laughed. She told him how she never had quite so much fun before! Jake felt it… that feeling he has long forgotten… pleasure of someone’s company. He smiled and laughed, enjoying the night and her company. He couldn’t help but catch himself thinking that he would like to enjoy her company a while longer…
As they sat down on a bench and talked some more, Jake spouted.
“May.. why don’t you stay with me awhile longer? Must you return so fast? Can’t we hand the shimmering finley to your cousin and you stay?”
But as she gasped and turned to look at him, something came crashing down into the bushes behind them! They both jumped from the bench and stared at the bushes…. from there they could hear squeals and snorts… Followed by an appearance of a rather small pig, emerging from the bushes, snorting and sniffing the air around.
The pig had big floppy ears and walked firmly towards Jake. As the pig approached Jake, Jake happily exclaimed.
“Sir Flap a lot!! How did you get here??? What a silly pig!!!”
He looked around, to no surprise, May stood there, staring at the pig in absolute shock. Jake patted sir Flapalot and smiled at May.
“This is Sir flapalot! he is my pet! I found him as a little piglet, alone in a crate at the port… Took him in and he grew up to be… this! He is a flying pig!”
He started laughing.
“Can you believe that? and he is exceptionally smart… well… sometimes! He flew here all the way from Ainzel.”
May raised her eyebrow in disbelief but approached the pig and patted it on the head nonetheless.
“Nice to meet you sir flapalot! What a fabulous name you have!”
The pig squealed happily at her and rubbed its snout on her hand, then flapped its massive ears and flew up into the air, doing a few flips before landing back down and striking a pose.
They soon went to the inn to sleep and the night passed uneventfully. The morning came and they readied to set sail. Sir Flapalot accompanied them on their journey back, he was a reassuring comrade! Or so Steve told May. She didn’t believe it, but to her surprise, Sir Flapalot actually helped with nets and sails!
Jake laughed.
“I told you he was exceptionally smart sometimes!”
But, soon after he said that Sir Flapalot jumped into the water after seeing a fish, trying to catch it, he utterly failed and got caught in the nets himself. The crew had a good laugh.
Hours passed and nothing changed. Light breeze, soft waves, sunny weather. It was a wonderful journey, one that May enjoyed a lot. Steve just swapped with Jake on steering so Jake went out to the deck to enjoy the sunshine, May stood beside him, and after a short while of awkward silence, she spoke.
“So jake… about last night…”
He groaned.
“Ah! don’t worry, I spoke out of line!”
But she hugged him gently and shook her head.
“No, I think it is a wonderful idea… I am considering it, but…”
Jake looked at the horizon.
“Of course there’s a but…”
She let go of him and leaned on the railing looking at the water.
“You know we of the aristocratic origin don’t have it easy… My father has a partner planned for me, he just turned 20, a son of a Count of the western province. I don’t get a say… he is a stupid spoiled child, actually… reminds me of that jerk behind the wheel!”
She looked over her shoulder angrily, Jake followed her gaze and laughed loudly.
“Ah… not the best partner then I reckon!”
Jake let out a long sigh.
“So… let’s run away!? I have my boat and sir Flapalot… it’ll be just you and me, build a house somewhere far away, on a beach, live quietly, enjoy the days as we enjoyed last night?”
He smiled.
“Ah, what a fool I am! Ignore me!”
But she snickered softly.
“Are you proposing to me on the 2nd day of knowing me? Don’t tell me you already planned how many kids we’ll have?”
She looked at him smiling slyly.
Jake scratched the back of his head and looked away shyly.
“I… no… uhm… I know not what’s gotten to me…”
She chuckled.
“Oh please! I think it’s really cute but… maybe not the best idea, I wouldn’t want you to make enemies of Simon’s trading co… father has connections with every large port and city.”
Jake smirked.
“And I know seas and winds! I know lands they never heard of! Uncharted islands!!!”
He exclaimed.
“I can build and provide for us! I… May… I…”
She smirked.
“I know Jake. But, let me think.”
He nodded and turned around.
“I.. I’ll go check on the containers!” as he walked off hastily.
Sir Flapalot fell from above onto the deck and squealed, holding a tiny fish in his mouth. He did a happy little dance for May and then handed her the fish. After that, hours passed by, the atmosphere on the boat seemed rather intense, and awkward but Steve knew better than to butt in when Jake was serious. Dawk came and within a few more hours they arrived at Ainzel’s port. They docked, and May instantly recognize her vessel in the port. Jake handed her the Shimmering finley he had caught.
She rushed excitedly off the boat to the ‘Good Destiny’ merchant vessel of her cousin’s. He awaited her at the deck and welcomed her, his excitement after seeing the shimmering finley couldn’t be described. He ordered his men to deliver 2 crates of the finest silks to Jake’s ship, and personally went to thank them for saving May. Rewarding them with no small amount of gil as well, and despite Jake’s refusal to take it, Simons family knew how to persuade!
Jake and Steve sold their fish, took their crates of silks, and headed home for the night. That night, Jake couldn’t stop thinking about May and barely got any sleep. Morning came, and despite having been awarded a hefty chunk and expensive materials, he knew not what else to do with his day, so he set out to his boat once more, after all, for Jake, fishing was his everything. What’s a fisherman to do if he can’t fish?
A couple of hours passed, and he finished his checks.
Steve was clearly not going to show up today.
“Darn youngling probably getting wasted at the pub… oh well”
He undocked and set sail. Few hours into his day, he heard Sir Flapalot squeal loudly at the empty crates in the back. As he opened it to check them, holding a knife in his hand, expecting a stowaway… well he wasn’t entirely wrong. There sat May, she smiled warmly upon him as he opened the crate.
“Ma…y??? what are you doing here?”
She lept out of the crate and hugged him.
“Jake… I decided to change it.. my fate, my life! Let’s do it… let’s run away! I figured Steve wouldn’t show up… I stole some dried meat and bread from my cousin’s ship at night, we should have enough to last us a week! Let’s go! travel and explore! let’s live to the fullest Jake!”
Jake smiled and hugged her back tightly, a tear ran down his cheek.
“I… I don’t believe this… but yes! Let us do just that! Let us live to the fullest how we want it, not how society and social statuses want us to!”
They embraced for a while as Sir Flapalot danced happily around them. Then Jake set sail to one of the uncharted islands… After reviewing it they decided to try some other islands, there were a lot after all. For 4 days and 4 nights, they traveled between various islands.
They finally found an island that seemed great. Its bank was high above the water. It had plenty of trees of various kinds, even a few fruit trees!
“A miracle! This island is perfect”
Jake exclaimed after walking around the island for a while, May agreed with him.
“We can build a small dock over there, a house in the forest! I’ll pick up gardening! It’ll be wonderful Jake! I love you!”
They kissed and everything seemed great until suddenly they heard the loudest squeal ever from Sir Flapalot!!!
They rushed through the small forest towards where the squeal came from and found Sir Flapalote… surrounded by 5 other pigs that look similar to him, almost identical!!!
“What…???”
Jake exclaimed. May looked at them closely.
“My…looks like this are his kin… What are the chances?”
Sir flapalot squealed happily and nuzzled his brethren.
Jake scratched his head.
“So… mayhaps some sailors landed on this island… found him as a piglet and stole him… indeed that would seem plausible… well! It’s decided, we’re settling here!”
May cheered.
“I agree! Sir Flapalot found his family and we… found our home”
Jake set out to build the dock for his boat, a house too which was no small effort. But to his surprise, Sir Flapalot and his family helped out tremendously with collecting materials and carrying them around. Everything seemed to be going well.
Almost a year has passed and life was great. Their garden was flourishing. Sir Flapalot had children at that time with Mrs Flapalot…
Life was great!
Until 1 fateful day when returning from his regular fishing routine, Jake’s boat was circled by Sir Flapalot who seemed in panic!!!
Jake could tell that something happened! He poured all his aether into the motor to get home as fast as he could! Cutting nets and throwing crates overboard to lighten the boat! He rushed! He panicked. Sir Flapalot accompanied him, squealing nonstop the entire way.
Jake could see the island in the distance… and next to it, a warship…
“No… no this can’t be happening!”
He cried out.
“No please gods don’t take her from me!!!”
He rushed.
As he arrived he jumped off the boat and sprinted through water towards his house, but before he could get close to it he was apprehended by 2 guardsmen who pinned him down!
“My wife! May! Let me see her!!!”
He shouted, but 3 guardsmen held him down.
“You mean your hostage? You are a kidnapper… Not going to happen! You’re coming with us!”
They lifted him up, shackled him and escorted him to the warship where Mr. Simons, the owner of Simon’s Co. was already waiting for them.
“Ah! Is this the filthy kidnapper? mmmhh..”
He looked at Jake up and down with disgust.
“Disgusting criminal! Throw him into a cell!!! The court will deal with him.”
As he was escorted, he could see May crying as she was held back by a guard.
“No! Please let go of him – FATHER! It was my own decision!”
To which Mr Simons angrily shouted.
“SILENCE YOU WENCH, BEFORE I DISOWN YOU! How dare you ruin my business plans!? You will wed the count’s son… albeit the wedding was delayed by a year!!”
Mr Simons bought out the court and there was nothing that could be done. Jake was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment for the abduction of May Simons…
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