The amulet of magic

We're still on the way to the island where our treasure is meant to be.
We haven't encountered any other ships for a long time.
The waters here are getting stormier and soon I recognize our destination.

The island is surrounded by large rocks that are difficult to sail around with a ship, especially one as large as ours.
Moldero decides to wait for the storm to end, but it is difficult because it's a very strong storm.
As the storm gets stronger, the ship gets out of control and we hide below deck. The sky has darkened, at least what we can still see from the sky, and it started raining.

The ship seems to nearly topple over several times, frequently bumping into large, hard objects. The lights fail and the people start to freak out. I cling to some pole tightly and close my eyes. I stay like this for what feels like hours.
I have no idea what's going on. Everything is shaking.
But it probably just takes a few minutes, until the ship suddenly remains completely still in a tilted position.

It takes a little for the first crew members to get over their fear until they walk around normally again. I'm also not ready to get up again immediately.
But after a while I leave the ship like most others.
Now I notice how badly the ship has been damaged. It doesn't look like we're able to leave again.
At least everyone is now ashore without major injuries, and this might even be the right island.

For now we try to build some shelter partially using the ship.
We're basically creating a camp which includes building more places to sleep, making fire and finding food.
Everyone just does what they can, nobody complains. It's the only way to deal with such a situation.
In the evening everyone is really exhausted, and since there aren't any lights besides a few fires, there isn't much to do, so we fall asleep quickly.

The next morning, when we have rested and collected ourselves, we already split up to look for the treasure. Others also try to make the ship seaworthy again or look for other more promising ways to leave this place again.
Despite my work as an architect back then, I decide to look for the treasure. Nobody knows after all.

The island is quite overgrown. There are exotic plants everywhere and sometimes some dangerous animals come out of the bushes, but we notice them quickly enough and slash them to death.

We explore the whole island, and sometimes we change groups.
After a while I'm in a group together with Moldero and some others.
He starts to talk to me with a little distance to everyone else.

I see how much effort you put into all of this.
You're going to be a powerful pirate one day.
So that's why you're going to be her husband soon.
This also means, you're going to be my partner.
At least almost.

Did he really just offer me to marry his daughter?
Or rather demand it?

I'm not really keen on that, but I'm scared of declining.
Besides that, it might be a chance to get into a more powerful position, where I might be able to leave them again.

But it might also be even more difficult to leave the ship, when everyone cares about me. I have to find some excuse.

Isn't she a bit too old for me?

No, that's part of the reason I'm asking you.
All the guys I chose for her were way too old for her.
She told me, if I find a younger guy for her, she'd take him.
And that's obviously you.

Is this the reason why she's been to see me several times lately. I wonder if she only did that because of her father.

This sounds really promising. I... still have to think about it, though. It's a bit sudden.

I get that.
But don't think about it for too long.
Just accept it and everything will be fine, my boy!

He hits me at the shoulder, maybe a bit hard, before he starts walking ahead.

After a while I discover a suspiciously overgrown cave. I point it out to the others and we enter it.
We only walk for a few minutes, and we see some treasure.

Is this the treasure we're looking for?
There's lots of gold and jewelry. And among all the stuff, there also is an amulet.
It doesn't look any special but it catches my eye immediately.

Could it be?
Is this the magic amulet which is said to be in this treasure?
This must really be the treasure we were looking for.
I can already feel its powerful energy, but this might also just be imagination.

I'm not sure if the captain knows about the value of this amulet, but I now have the urge to have it at all costs.
While the others are admiring the great treasure, I take the amulet and look at it. It has a different color depending on the angle, but it's mostly yellow and orange colors.
I want to put it away, but Moldero stops me with his determined voice.

The treasure will be divided later. Don't take anything for yourself yet.

I cautiously nod and just keep the amulet in my hand for now.
I don't want to give it away anymore. The power of the amulet makes me feel so great, so mighty.

What should I do now? I don't think I can convince Moldero?

I promise, if I can keep it I'll marry...

He looks very skeptical at me.
He doesn't seem too happy about my offer.

Now he will hate me for that. It's basically a bribe.
And he only will get something he basically likes.
What can I do now?

In my panic, I decide to run away.
Before, I stab his leg with the saber he gave me, so he won't be able to follow me.
Then I just run.
Before the others understand what has happened, I already left the cave.

As I pass the ship, I look for Frederik.
He is making himself comfortable in a small tent made of huge leaves.
He comes out and I since nobody is around, I quickly tell him what I just did.

Are you crazy? Why are you doing this?

I already got a plan. Just trust me and follow me!

Suddenly Penina comes out of his tent as well.
Now I screwed up. When she tells anyone...

Okay, but let me come with you!

Uhm..., of course!

We take a small boat which is still intact from our ship and just row off.
As we're sitting in the boat, Frederik and Penina seem to get skeptical.

Wait, what's your plan now? Is this all you got? Rowing away? Father will get you. Just let me out again!

I also got this!

I show them the magic amulet.

Is this...?
How do you know? It doesn't look any special.

Penina tries to stop me from rowing on and wants us to go back. Moldero is already on the shore and gets into another boat.

Even if his boat is not in a good condition, the distance to him is getting shorter and shorter and we don't manage to speed up.
I can't let myself get caught. This won't end well. I really have to get this thing working.

Frederik? Please!

I have no idea how to use magic.

But you were the one who told me about them!

Yeah, it's just what I heard. Nothing more.

I try to think about the explanation I got in castle town.
I just push myself away from Moldero's boat, at least a little.
I concentrate and try to gather energy, when he is very close I start to release the energy. His boat is immediately pushed ashore and shatters into its pieces. The entire crew of the small boat now seems unconscious.

Our boat becomes so fast that it makes high jumps over the waves it creates. So we jump over a small rock we would have hit otherwise. Luckily, there are no more rocks in our direction.
Still, I am afraid that it will be crushed by the water pressure. The boat is still much faster than the wagon in the caves. Frederik is rigid with fear and Penina screams.

The speed soon decreases again and we drift a bit leisurely on the sea until we are gently slowed down by a sand dune. The boat looks like it can't be used much longer.

Penina looks at me angrily.

This....
You can't...

She is still snorting a lot and she fails to put her feelings into words.

Calm down first. We're fine so far.

A little later Penina starts again.

That was fun!
I didn't think the escape would succeed.
Now I'm finally free!

After all that, she's happy?
Interesting.

But I have to tell you something.
While I like you, I don't want to be your wife like my dad wanted.
I hope, you're fine with that.

It's okay. I prefer girls at my age, or maybe younger.
I think I'll go back to my original plan to go back to my home village. I really miss them.
If you want, you can accompany us.
More people around my age are living there.

That sounds promising. I'll be with you. But how are we going to leave this sand island?

I don't know yet.
But I'm sure I'll figure out something. Maybe that amulet can help us.