She was silent for a long time. Rhett waited. This couldn't be rushed. The wind touched her hair. Her blue eyes flickered. She seemed to be struggling to find words.
Finally, she looked at him. Her voice was soft, but certain.
"Where you go, I go."
No grand words. No big dreams. Just simple, direct loyalty. Her whole world had shrunk to him.
Rhett was surprised.
"Hey, you need your own life."
She just looked at him, unwavering.
He poked her head. "If I die, you'd come with me?"
She nodded without hesitation.
"THWACK!"
She held her head, confused.
"If I die, who would avenge me?"
"Mm." She nodded.
Rhett sighed. "Do you even understand?"
"Mm." She nodded again.
"Fine. Whatever makes you happy." He laughed, a mix of joy and helplessness. "It's settled, Vice Captain."
He stood tall, facing the sea. He took a breath and shouted.
"I declare! The Blood Pirates are born!"
He turned to her, serious.
"I, Captain 'Mist Lord' Rhett, appoint you Vice Captain of the Blood Pirates!"
"This is a vow. Our crew has two members. Our journey is the whole sea!"
She looked up at him. She heard only "two of us."
She nodded.
A tiny smile, barely there, appeared on her lips.
Rhett saw it and waved a hand in front of her face. "What are you smiling about? The new crew?"
She snapped back to her blank expression, tilting her head.
He laughed. "Fine, fine. My vice captain can be whatever she wants."
---
The small ship sailed on, carrying the new, two-person crew.
Rhett knew the girl was his future vice captain. History had its own protection. He could be free with her, as long as she became his vice captain in the future.
So he could be reckless. He didn't know how long the life force he gave her would last. As long as he didn't recruit others, he wouldn't split.
One day, a rough ship with a strange flag approached. A big, ugly man stood at the bow. He looked at Rhett's new ship with contempt. A rookie with a pirate flag.
Then he saw the girl in Rhett's arms. His eyes turned greedy.
"Hey, kid!" He shouted. "Give me the girl! Maybe I'll let you live. I've been sailing ten years, not like you."
His crew laughed.
Rhett: Joy Boy wasn't the first pirate. He hasn't been sailing a year. You're a liar.
Rhett's eyes turned cold. He was about to destroy them.
A cool hand touched his chest.
The girl looked up. Her blue eyes were cold, not confused. She pointed to the deck.
Rhett put her down.
She walked to the rail. Cold flowed from her hands.
She didn't aim at the ship. She touched the sea.
"CRACK!"
The sea froze. Ice spread between the ships.
The laughter stopped.
The crew panicked.
But it wasn't over.
Ice roses grew from the frozen sea. They spread, sharp and fast, wrapping around the pirate ship.
In moments, the ship was a frozen sculpture.
She turned and tugged his sleeve, pointing at the frozen path ahead.
The obstacle was gone.