The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion

Chapter 1: Bandits on the Ship

Vana's POV

Desperate call for desperate measure. The ocean waves splashed against the ship as it sails through the current. The sound of waves clashed against the ship’s exterior, humming in my ear. It was late in the morning when the ship neared the borders of Ashern, the island of Jasper far from my sight.

I let my hand sway beyond the deck railings, letting my magic drop and play on the water. I froze the splashes and drops of water from the waves, converting them into crystallized, ice dusts that looked like glitter in the air.

I rarely use my magic—I almost don’t use magic if not necessary. But out of boredom of being in the ship for the whole night, without any wink of sleep, I decided to amuse myself by using my magic. I don’t dislike magic. I dislike my magic—the kind of power my magic holds.

“Vana, escaping the academy is a very bad idea,” I said to myself, sighing as I thought of the consequences of my actions.

I had all night to think and realize how dumb my actions are and how worse it could get for me. As a student in Jasper Academy, leaving the school premises and the whole island without permission can get me expelled. I won’t even go through suspension.

It’s not like I wanted to be enrolled there in the first place. If I was given a choice, I’d choose to enter the same school my brother attended. Clove High. If only the school is located here at Auregon, and not in the Mortal World, I would have been permitted to enroll there.

To explain, there are three major worlds in our universe. The Mortal World, Auregon, and the Underworld. Crossing the portal between them have been highly restricted over the past years, and now, only a limited number of people can cross between worlds.

Which means one has to meet the requirements before being allowed to cross to the other worlds. It was due to the Dark War that broke out three years ago. The time when the legendary black wizard Shinki finally died.

I halted my hand from using my magic, remembering the many tragedies that people suffered that time. It was the first few days when I entered the academy, and I had to go back as soon as the war ended to see if my brother is still alive.

My brother grieved the death of his friend. I remembered how brother’s grief nearly destroyed the remaining emotions inside of him, and how it changed him for probably a little worse than he already is.

The loss of many innocent lives that day, and the sacrifices the war heroes made for the sake of the worlds.

“They were suffering while I was stuck inside academy, unable to do anything but watch,” I said to the wind, raising my eyes upon the horizon.

Sea stretched far across the horizon. It takes a day and a half to get to Ashern from Jasper Island. I gazed at the sea as my eyes mesmerize on the many hues of blue my eyes can see.

I took a sigh, massaging my temples as I erase the lingering thoughts in my head. As soon as they were gone, a different set of thoughts came hurdling in my mind. Why am I even doing this?

Nothing is going to change even if I’m expelled. Nothing is going to change in my social status. Master Sergis, the master of Green Serpent, the guild I belong to, would still want me to become a wizard like the rest of the guild’s members.

The reason I left the island is to not become a wizard, and an act of rebellion against the Master’s wishes. I thought that by leaving, I’ll be running away from it, be expelled, and be able to show Master Sergis my determination to not follow the footsteps of my father.

I dreamed to be a detective. Not a wizard who would have to be in the front lines and fight all the time. I don’t hate fighting, but I’d rather avoid it. I want mystery, puzzle, a battle of wits; not a battle of strength, magic, and combat.

“It’s not like I can freely chose to be what I want. I’m in surveillance up until now,” I mumbled, turning away from the railings as I enter the ship’s lounge.

I snuck out the other night from the academy dorms, managing to escape without anyone catching me. Ships don’t usually dock at the island, but an event was held at the academy days ago and the ship sailed the visitors for the said event.

The sound of music sang through my ears as I enter through the door, the lightest of sounds resounding in the air. I made my way to the nearest seat, sitting down on one of the single couches that are against the window.

I closed my eyes as I began to drift, trying to get a few hours of rest before arriving in mainland Ashern. It didn’t take long before my nap was interrupted, a loud bang blaring inside the room that created a series of screams across the hall.

I was startled, flinching up my seat. My head felt drowsy as I abruptly sit up from my seat, straightening my back as I grunted. I squinted my eyes as I tilt my head to where the blares came from, finding a bunch of men entering the lounge in a group.

The men wore pirate-like, bandit clothes, ripped shirt and pants, and bandanas that hang around their necks or their foreheads. I stood up from my seat, crouching down behind the seat as I try to avoid catching their attention.

“I have to get out of here,” I whispered to myself, my eyes searching for an exit.

I paused, halting from my steps as I was about to sneak to another row of seats. I can’t leave, not when these many people are in danger. Those bandits have guns in their hands. Weapons that are deadly. I’m not a coward to leave these people alone in danger.

The situation outside the lounge may not also be ideal. It could be teeming with more of them. Judging by how they showed up now with no sign of other ships around meant that they concealed and disguised themselves as regular people when they boarded.

I leaned back against the wall, giving up on escaping the lounge. Trying to escape would be foolish; we’re in the middle of the sea. No one can escape without either getting killed or drowning in the sea.

“All of you kneel down if you don’t wish to die!” one of the bandits shouted, pointing the gun on his hand at us.

The people screamed and cried, but their voices melted away as the bandit fired his gun multiple times. Luckily, it hit only the furniture. I cuffed my ears as the gunshot rang inside the lounge, deafening my ears. The cries and screams died out, transformed into silent weeps and gasping cries.

Fear and dread cowered inside the passengers within the lounge, falling into despair and fright in front of the bandits. I glanced at the direction where the bandits are, counting how many of the are inside.

“One… two… three… four…” I mumbled. “None of them seemed to be the leader either.”

The four bandits wore the same style of clothing. It looked like their uniforms, their bandanas being the center of their fashion. It made me believe that the one leading them might be in a different part of the ship. They’re either at the engine room, control room, or the lower lounge.

“Have you got everything under control?” a different voice asked, a tone of demanding evident doin the tone. The voice was serene yet eagerly rough. A woman’s voice.

I peeked through the side of the seat taking a peek at the person who spoke. More bandits filed up inside the room, shoving the ship’s crew inside the lounge. They lined them up next to the passengers, their hands tied behind their backs.

The woman came in after the bandits shove the crew inside, walking with her chin held high. The woman had blonde hair, with streaks of silver at the front. She wore a white polo wrapped with a corset; a mini, checkered, pleated skirt as her bottom.

“Yes, but we still have to tie them down,” the bandit answered.

“Then do it. Now!” the woman demanded, yelling with a glare in her eyes. “If my brother sees this, he’ll send you flying into the sea.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the bandits answered, followed by their feet marching to tie the wrists of every passenger in the lounge.

They hauled every passenger in the room, whether it be a child or old, tying their hands behind their backs as they demand them to huddle next to the left wall. They stripped them off their valuables, taking their belongings away from them.

I clicked my tongue as I pull my weapons out from my holster strap. There are now six bandits overall, excluding the others who are probably outside the room. If I were to show myself now and fight them, I would immediately be outnumbered and defeated.

On top of that, there are civilians who can get caught in the crossfire. I can’t let the passengers get hurt, since some of them are part of Ashern’s nobility. If I want to stop these bandits, I’ll have to assess them first.

I have no information about them so far, nor do I know their objective for being here. All I know is that they are in this ship, taking hostage of every person in aboard the ship. They were here since we were in Jasper Island.

The bandits haven’t caught me yet, but staying hidden won’t last long. My eyes landed on the drawer next to the wall, where the passengers are held, thinking of an idea. I darted an eye to check on the bandits, swiftly crossing across the hall to reach the drawer.

It was a drawer of necessities like tissues or plastic utensils. I skidded next to the drawer, hiding behind it as I slip my weapons on the lower drawer. I can’t let them know that I have weapons, specifically sickles. Even more, I cannot let them know that I can use weaponized magic.

“Hey you—” the bandit yelled, pointing a finger at my direction. “Where do you think you’re going?”