PARAGON

Paragon nearly purred as the wind filled her sails. It's been a while since I had a full hull with items we bought ourselves. She felt as if a long-time itch had finally been soothed and she could finally think clearly.

She inwardly turned her focus. While Travis familiarized himself with the map in the captain's quarters, the woman paced within her room. If Paragon remembered correctly, she was from Ulvaria. Her fear and worry left an unsettled feeling in the liveship's hull. The Ulven's thoughts filled with the implications of her being alone with a human male.

I'd throw Travis overboard if he tried anything, but I know he won't harm her. After a pause, Paragon subtly influenced her emotions to calm her, and thankfully, it seemed to work.

Paragon focused on the open water pocketed with the occasional iceberg, the current was warm, but cooling thanks to the glacial proximity. In the winter, this part of the ocean froze over. Not that ice can stop me.

Paragon felt the favorable winds as they rushed along, aiding in her speed. A small storm brewed beyond the horizon, but Paragon wasn't worried. No puny storms scare this liveship.

However, she did not like pirate ships this close, especially the black ship. The thought of the Black Reaper almost sent a shiver down her timbers. Vile pirates and murderers, I beat them once I can do it again.

Paragon nearly snorted as she slightly increased her speed. One of these days, their "invincible ship" is going to sink, and they will never hurt anyone else.

Movement within her hull distracted her from her thoughts as Hibisca emerged from her room. After she briefly wandered the halls, she emerged on the empty deck. Though Paragon tried to soothe her nerves, uncertainty continued to creep through her mind as she walked toward the bow.

"A serpent is a strange choice for a figurehead," the Ulven murmured to herself as she held some of the riggings and looked out to the calm blue sea. "I struggle to comprehend that you can talk, even if you are magic."

Paragon hesitated for several seconds. Should I speak? She did come to me and tried to talk to me. Uncertainty floated in her mind like a coconut tumbling through a strong ocean current. Eventually, she decided to break the silence and spoke in a soft voice. "Why is it so difficult to believe? Surely you have seen magic more impressive than me."

Hibisca released a cry of surprise and released the rope in her shock. She stumbled a bit as she attempted to regain her balance, then accidentally teetered over the edge. She released a scream as she plummeted towards the deep blue waves.

Paragon swiftly jumped off the bowsprit and caught the screaming woman before she fell more than a few feet. "My apologies, I did not mean to startle you." Paragon hastily apologized as she dangled by her tail. Once Paragon placed the woman on her deck, the liveship swiftly returned to her proper place and froze. Just pretend that didn't happen, that didn't happen. Paragon tried to calm her nerves in silence, but they continued to boil in her mind.

Hibisca looked to the statuesque figurehead as her shock began to slowly fade. "You...." She breathed.

"Is everything, all right?" Travis quickly approached. "Paragon, are you ok? I sensed your panic, and you seem tense."

"I'm fine," Paragon bluntly replied, "I'm just stupid."

"Yes, I'm fine, I fell overboard." Hibisca looked at Travis, then glanced toward the silver figurehead. "The ship caught me, but I startled her when I fell, I didn't expect her to move or talk, and I was a bit too close to the edge." She smiled to Paragon, "Thank you for saving me, I'm sorry I panicked, Captain Travis did warn me that you talked." She hesitantly reached out and stroked the figurehead's neck. "You're beautiful, there's so much detail in every scale."

Paragon slowly moved, embarrassed. "Thank you, madam."

"No need for such formalities, I'm not part of the royal court, just a messenger." Hibisca smiled. "I have never seen an animation as powerful as you."

"You flatter me," Paragon would have blushed if her wooden form allowed it, "but I am just a ship."

"A magic ship," Hibisca smiled at the silver ship.

"You're very kind," Paragon nearly purred, then calmed as she looked out to the distance. "I'm sorry that I scared you so, I'm not used to people talking to me, I need to control my impulses better. No one expects me to talk back, it's hard not to after not having someone to talk to for so long."

"No, I'm glad you talked to me." Hibisca smiled at the liveship, then paused as processed Paragon's words. "Did no one talk to you for a while? Why?"

"I lacked a captain for longer than I remember," Paragon admitted, "Thankfully, I found Travis, and he is my captain now. It's difficult to trade and work as a ship when one is just a ship."

"I can see how that would be true...," the Ulven murmured to himself, "Especially with how many places are against magic." She smiled up to Paragon, "Ulvaria would happily trade with you, especially if you can bring us seeds, food, and building materials for magic items. Rein is open as well for the same trade items, but they could trade ejon in return."

"Dragin fur?" Paragon paused, "With all of Roahla and Ulveria freed from the darkness, trading is open, and no one has seen their goods in a while." Paragon nodded to Hibisca, "We will gladly return with the goods you suggest."

"Oh, thank you Paragon!" Hibisca hugged the liveship's serpentine neck.

Paragon's face froze in shock before the wooden figure purred and hugged back with her front limbs. "Helping people is my favorite thing to do."

"You truly are a paragon." Hibisca laughed slightly, then paused as a cloud blocked the sun. She blinked, then looked out to the quickly arriving rain. "This rainstorm appeared quickly."

More like we caught up with the storm. "You may go inside if you would like, but you won't get wet if you would like to stay on deck." Paragon smiled at the Ulven woman as the misty rain continued to get closer.

"How will we not get wet?" Hibisca looked to the figurehead in shock.

"It's invisible, but there's a barrier over the deck that keeps the elements out," Paragon smiled as she explained. "What sort of live ship would I be if I let my occupants get things like sunburns and let them get wet?"

"I guess not one as amazing as you," Hibisca gently laughed, then looked up to the misting rain as it fell.

Paragon blushed at the flattery, then paused and looked out to the rainy haze. They're too close and getting closer. Her magical sight allowed her to see the approaching black ship.

"Paragon? Are you ok?" Travis sensed the ship's unease.

The black shape continued to sail closer, and soon, even the humans could see it through the rain-caused haze.

"The Black Reaper," Paragon nearly growled as she opened a few of her gun ports, "I was hoping to avoid them, but looks like they chased me down for fun." The ship turned so her port cannons faced the black vessel. "This will let them know that I am in no mood for their games."

Hibisca gasped as Paragon fired two of her cannons at the distant black ship. "Do you try to sink ships often?" She fearfully grabbed the railing.

"Oh, gracious Lihania no, I rescue people, not cause their demise." Paragon's star sapphire eyes glared as she faced the looming black ship. "But that ship, that ship is The Black Reaper, destroyer of innocent ships. It sinks ships for sport." Paragon snorted a plume of the dense fog into the misty air as she opened the rest of her gun ports. "Those pirates know not to mess with me, but I will not engage with them. That shot was a warning." The dense magical mist began to seep through the hatches and slowly filled the air around the ship.

"A warning?" Travis blinked as he looked around at the thickening fog.

"I know they're here, and they know they can't hurt me. We are both invincible ships, but the pirates don't think I have a crew to injure. I'm fully capable of defending myself." Paragon swiftly turned away from the ship.

"Is The Black Reaper alive, as you are?" Hibisca squinted at the thickening fog, trying to pick out the slowly shrinking black shape.

"No," Paragon's voice was firm as she focused. "It's just wood forced to work dark deeds." Her claws dug into the wood of her bowsprit. "Agents of evil, those pirates." The figurehead took a deep breath and refocused. "They will not catch us; I shall avoid them. I apologize for the inconvenience, Hibisca, but this delays our arrival in Treeport by a few hours. Your safety is my priority."

The Ulven nodded as she watched the mist thicken and disguise their retreat as Paragon sailed away.

Author Notes!

We got a better look at The Black Reaper! It's quite ominous, isn't it?

I would love to hear your thoughts about the chapter in the comments!