Searching For Andromeda

Jaxon Sparrows held the hilt of his rapier and had a battle posture often seen in fencing. Ephraim was an archaeologist, so he didn"t know how to describe Jaxon"s current battle stance. Jaxon"s leg was a step behind himself, and his hook was in his back as he held his rapier by his other hand.

The crew were looking at Ephraim—observant, and were waiting for their captain to strike. Ephraim tightened the grip on his sword. The sword had the same feel to it as before, except now it evoked too many memories that were flashing to him in such a painstakingly difficult time—memories that weren"t pleasant enough to aid him in the battlefield. Memories that held dried blood and lost lives.

The sword had fine golden lines on its blade—and in its pommel was a small, ball of crystal that was also golden in color, yet transparent at the same time. The sword could actually match the ones Ephraim saw in movies with its flashy colors and design. Ephraim focused the blade, remaining vigilant. At this time the best move would be . . .

"Haaah!"

To stay on defense!

Jaxon Sparrows went ahead to attack; unlike the ones Ephraim had seen in movies, or how he had seen Pelmon fight with his long sword, this one—this "pirate captain" fought with completely different moves. And Ephraim found out why sooner enough. Rapiers are weapons that are different from long swords such as what he has. Rapiers are thin and sharp that they were actually akin to needles; which made them suitable for thrusting—and so, they cannot be good weapons of choice for defense.

That was why Jaxon Sparrows could only go on offense. And choosing a rapier as his weapon of choice also shows his arrogance.

Ephraim continued to parry Jaxon"s attacks, but he still was watchful with his surroundings. Right now, he was only one amidst all the enemies. Five of the Borgh"s crew—and two of Jaxon Sparrow"s minions. Seven extra enemies in total. 

"Watch where you are looking, dungeon conqueror!" Jaxon thrust his blade straight to Ephraim"s face, which Ephraim barely averted by turning his head to the side; the rapier"s sharp end had cut a strand of his hair, which had gleamed against the sunset. 

"You"re good at defense," Jaxon exclaimed. "Averting, that is."

Ephraim ducked as Jaxon swung his rapier in one sweeping motion. 

Jaxon sighed. "This is no fun," he said. "You"re all going defensive, yadda yadda. I don"t think I can really have fun with you when you"re not even using your power . . . is it because you are . . ." 

Jaxon flashed a dark look. ". . . underestimating me?"

Ephraim didn"t answer him. Taunting this boy further would only give ugly results, and he doesn"t want that. Instead, Ephraim walked back, driving Borgh back as well. "Captain," Ephraim called Borgh, who raised his lowered head. 

"We still have six more people, right?"

It was true; they were the sailors who were Borgh"s companions from the start. They weren"t new hires, unlike the five who came to the ship because of Borgh"s rumors about the dungeon conqueror. A total of eleven crew members. 

Borgh slightly nodded. "Y-yes," he answered. "But I don"t know where they are . . ." 

Ephraim thought about it ever since the five "crew" turned to be Jaxon"s minions. There were still six more people that were potential comrades. If it"s like that, then hope isn"t lost. Besides—from the start, Ephraim knew that Borgh had quite a small crew; comprising only with five people; but then again Borgh Weasleton was a merchant from a small country, and this carrack was smaller than the one he had initially envisioned. It, after all, only had goods to transport. 

If Ephraim"s memory serves right from all the studies he had conducted back at his nautical archaeology cla.s.s—small carracks should at least have a gun deck (or for weaponry and canons)—but the ship, from the outside, didn"t seem to have naval artillery. However, the ship should have an Orlop deck, which is the lowest deck in a ship that is considered to be part of a deck where the cables are stowed, usually below the waterline. And lastly, the ship"s Hold, which carries the ship"s cargo is obviously in there, considering they were transporting goods.

Since they weren"t in the main deck, there is a good chance the six more other crew were on the two lower decks of the ship: the Orlop, or the Hold. 

"Can you find them?" Ephraim asked, whispering as inaudibly as possible.

"Find them?"

It was a gamble. Either those six would turn their back to them or they would help them. But right now, Ephraim and Borgh were at a huge disadvantage—so not taking the risk versus taking it would make a huge difference. Otherwise, their chance would dwindle lower and lower. 

"Ignoring me, huh? The nerve you have!" Jaxon thrust the rapier to Ephraim once more, which Ephraim had swung off once again.

Ephraim turned to Borgh. They were in the main deck of the ship, which is the upper surface of the Orlop, considering the gun deck doesn"t exist. Ephraim had enough knowledge about the ship because of his chats with Captain Borgh; although he isn"t an expert sailor, he had better visualization, thanks to the captain. 

They were under the mainsail earlier—which was the captain"s cabin; but now, when the enemies arrived, they were driven under the foresail. They were under the fore boom which was setting along the foot of a foresail and aft rigged sail that was the one that had greatly improved the control of the angle and shape of the sail—and under the fore boom, was the main deck—which served the largest area of the carrack"s surface.

The enemies arrived a distance away from the forecastle deck, which was the front of the ship—about the boundary that separated the forecastle deck and the main. 

Ephraim and Borgh came from the Captain"s Cabin, which was located at the back—and the enemies, who arrived at both back and front, trapped them both. 

But it seemed luck was also on their side.

This carrack"s design is mostly based on a ship from 1480 believed to have been used by Amerigo Vespucci. Typical of most carracks it is relatively high-sided and tubby compared to more modern sailing ships. It was probably around 75 feet on deck with a beam of about 28 feet—Ephraim had thought about this comparison when he was chatting with Borgh.

Ephraim with his quick thinking—started to envision the ship in a cross-sectional view.

They were in the main deck, which had a small hatch; and that hatch—an opening in the deck of the ship leading to the cabin or a lower level—was behind Borgh. The hatch was closed, but not locked. It was easy to slip right through it and find the missing crew members . . . IF they aren"t enemies as well. The hatch would lead to the lower decks, and would either help them or drag them to an inferno. It was a gamble, but it"s what Ephraim could muster to think for one minute.

"Can you do it?" Ephraim gestured as he looked at Borgh, and then to the hatch behind him. Borgh, noticing the signal, nodded. 

"Oi, oi, oi, I hate being ignored, you know!" Jaxon had sent multiple thrusts with his rapier, making Ephraim back away continuously. 

"That"s right, keep on doing it," Ephraim thought, parrying Jaxon"s attack "And . . . now!" The door of the hatch opened, and diving straight down unto it was captain Borgh. 

"Aah, so that"s what you were planning." Jaxon sighs. "How boring."

"After the fat guy," Jaxon commanded to his crew.

But then Ephraim stood firm to his ground in a defensive stance; safeguarding the hatch. 

"I won"t let you," 

Jaxon"s brows furrowed.

"Tch. You"re persistent." He says, and then glances to one of his crew and then tilted his head as if to point to something.

"Understood, Captain," said one of the crews. It was indeed weird to see a teenage boy governing these adult men. 

"I"m going to have the big fish; half of you get fatty," Jaxon exclaimed.

They were too calm—Ephraim thought. Too calm indeed. These people were obviously underestimating him; and that was fine. If they don"t see him as a threat, then . . .

The five fake Borgh crew came towards Ephraim, leaving Jaxon Sparrows with the other two minions he was with standing alongside his left and right side.

Advancing with an attack in an attempt to make Ephraim give way to the hatch, the five crew members went straight to unleash their cutla.s.s and swing it to Ephraim. But then instead of getting to make Ephraim back away from the hatch, he held his sword and swung it in a safeguarding standpoint—a swing rotation to make the perpetrators back away.

"I said I wanted the big fish; just get him outta the hatch!" Jaxon said impatiently. "

The five, bulky men who were wearing the same sailor outfit as Borgh"s six other missing crew continued to attack Ephraim.

"If you don"t see me as a threat," Ephraim said with another rotating swing, making the five sailors back away inevitably. "Then I can consider myself on luck!"

Ephraim exclaimed, and then he pointed his sword to the five—with his eyes looking at the one behind the sailors—to the pirate captain.

"I will not move from here," Ephraim firmly stated. "Pirate captain!"

**

Chain"s Corner:

AaaAAAaa I thought I would do more battle scenes but I realized I needed to construct more dialogue and visualization in this chapter. So I would be moving "Remarkable Swordsman" to the next chapter. OHHH and please, join my discord: to interact with me!!! It"s so silent there. 

The invite link is also on the synopsis.

Stay tuned!

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