Pirate life

I'm living with pirates now. It's a very large crew on a huge ship. And I still don't know who's in charge of all of this.
They quickly accepted me as a real member. When I make an effort to help them, I will rise in popularity and will be allowed to leave sooner.

They must know that people who have a girlfriend would work harder to see them again. And I want to see her as soon as possible, so I try to work as hard as possible.
But there is something that'? more important to me than leaving. I want to become stronger, so I'm not as helpless as I'm right now anymore.
I have to be able to protect my girlfriend. I have to be able to protect myself.

My first tasks here are simple tasks like cleaning and washing. It's a bit monotonous, but since I'm doing a good job, I'm soon allowed to try different things.

As a real member I'm also taught how to fight.
I sit on a wooden bar and wait for my teacher.
After a while somone approaches me and I almost can't believe my eyes.

It's Frederik. He almost hasn't changed. He's just a little taller and has put on some weight. And he also seems pretty muscular now.

Oh, hi Frederik, it's you!

Frederik nods.

What are you doing here?"

So it's really you, Luka. I wasn't sure first. But besides of being a little dirty, you didn't change much.
I really did not expect to meet you here.

You also didn't change a lot. And I'm dirty because... that's a long story. I might tell you another time.

Yeah, no need to tell me everything. But I'm really glad to see you.

Frederik gives me a tight hug. He really is stronger now, he presses me so hard, I can't breathe properly.

So are you alone? Or is there anyone else I know on this ship?

No, it's just me.

Why did they pick you of all people?
Did Selia finally show interest in you?

They always pick guys having girlfriends at home after all, don't they?

You could say so, but that's not actually the case.
I kind of gave up on Selia.
But I spent a lot of time with Lena.
She was pretty sad, so...

I'm getting envious of him and regret, I didn't stay.
I probably sholud be happy. I made her sad and he helped her to feel better.
But what if...
I don't want to know any details.

So you've been pretty good friends now?

Not anymore. When I spent more time with Lena, I also spent more time with Selia. They're living at the same place after all.
And before I realized it we weren't just friends anymore.
But both of us might have neglected Lena afterwards.
Sorry about that.

Yeah, sounds sad. But I think it's fine.

I should be sad for her. But I'm mostly happy, she doesn't have have a real boyfriend yet.
Not sure why I still care. I wanted to live with Felina anyway.

However, some weeks ago the pirates came to us and threatened the girls. I wanted to protect them, I even attacked the pirates.
I already had experience with wooden swords after all.

I guess, it didn't work?

When I attacked them, they were kind of impressed and wanted me to join them.
Joining them sounded pretty intriguing and I gladly accepted their offer.
Besides that, they promised me, they wouldn't hurt the girls then.
And because of my skills, I quickly became a sword master.

Oh, cool. So are you going to be my trainer now?

You got it!

That's nice.

Yeah, let's start!

After entering the training room he gives me a wooden sword for practice.
He shows me important moves to attack, dodge and counter.
Despite him being still chubby, he moves very elegantly.
But in the end it feels just like playing with swords, when we were younger.

From now on I have to train daily, and try to internalize all the moves.
He is pretty impressed by my skills, and even other guys in the room seem to like my fighting style.

I sometimes also fight others, and even when I don't win, they admire my skills.

After some days I get a real saber, which I could use against enemies.
I also realize, I could use it against other crew members, but I don't think that would be a good idea, especially not on the ocean.

Only a few days later we meet an enemy ship.
It's time to show, what I have already learned.

Harpoons are fired at the enemy ship so that it can no longer sail away, and we quickly swing across using ropes. The opponents are mostly taken by surprise, but they still get out their weapons quickly enough, and immediately I'm practically surrounded.

I skillfully dodge the attacks and block targeted slashes. I even manage a counterattack, disarming an enemy and injuring his shoulder so that he can no longer fight.
But when suddenly a pirate comes from behind, I notice him too late and can't defend myself in time.
Frederik parries him and protects me from serious injuries. I probably would not have been killed, since that is considered dishonorable by most pirates, but it would still have been a serious wound.

When I want to continue fighting, the enemies already surrender.
That was fast.
We won!

We take most their stuff, at least what seems valuable.
We let them keep the most necessary things like their clothes, though.
We also take some of their members to become members of our crew.

Frederik later tells me how good I handled my first real fight.
He's sure I would win in a serious battle against him.

From now on we meet other ships more often. We're already close to the pirate island after all.
During the battles I quickly improve and slowly become better known and well respected by the crew members, even some higher ranked ones.

Soon we will finally reach the pirate island, the only place where many pirates meet without fighting each other. Until the arrival, however, I am still practicing.

I wonder if I'll be able to flee.