Chapter 4: Nycren

Celestiel stared in awe as the the first sea came into view. The wind had changed slightly too.

"Where would you like to visit first, Celestiel?", Sebastian asked, calmly.

"My mother was from Nycren...", Celestiel spoke gently, her attention still on the view of the first sea.

"Nycren it is"

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Nycren was a small part of the first sea. The town was directly atop the waters and it surprised Celestiel how it didn't seem to sink or flood. Despite its size, it was beautiful, decorated with different aquatic ornaments and tokens. The clear water around it only made it that much more beautiful. The only thing Celestiel knew about the seven seas was that the first sea was the only sea that haboured humans, mainly because it was the only sea that had land atop it. The humans who resided in it were either pirates or nomads. And for a land of pirates, there was peace. Celestiel had expected a rogue land, the 'eat or be eaten' atmosphere, but they didn't seem lawless at all like what Celestiel had been told, they looked...normal, just like the villagers in Icartha.

"This...is Nycren", Celestiel muttered as she took in the sight. It really was beautiful. The ship began to sway less and Celestiel realized they were coming to a stop.

"Let's go", Sebastian said. Celestiel nodded gently, allowing Sebastian lead her down. Once the ship was stable, Celestiel eagerly waited by the edge to get off as Sebastian spoke to the twins. She glanced at them curiously and saw a crazy, enthusiastic smile form on Leonore's lips as he spoke back to Sebastian. Their eyes met briefly and Celestiel quickly looked away, turning her attention back to the sea and the harbour of Nycren. There were ships around, all different yet akin to each other. They were just like Celestiel had imagined, it amused her.

"Celestiel", Celestiel looked behind her and saw Sebastian making his way towards her. She glanced behind him and saw that the twins were no longer were they previously were. Had Sebastian sent them on an errand?

"Are you done speaking to the twins? We can leave now?", Celestiel asked, her golden eyes going back to look at her husband.

"Yes, let's go", Sebastian nodded.

The king and princess stepped foot unto the soil of the island, walking around and feeding the princess' curiosity. Celestiel was fascinated with almost everything she saw and when she saw the bookshops, she couldn't hide her surprise.

"Pirates read?", She voiced out her thoughts, stunned.

Sebastian's brows rose, watching the princess go through one of the books. "Of course. How do you think we keep learned?"

Celestiel's ears reddened slightly and she kept the book back. "I guess I never pinned pirates the type to spend time going through paper"

"A common stereotype regarding pirates", Sebastian softly chuckled and once again, Celestiel found herself being lost in the sound. "But it is true. Not alot of pirates like to read. And alot rebelled against reading when it was first adopted. But not being learned was a weakness, an advantage to the rest of the world, so reading isn't particularly liked by pirates...but we do it anyway"

Celestiel nodded in understanding, she still had quite alot to learn about pirates if she wanted to make a good queen.

She went to take another book. It was the new edition of one of her favorite books and she had been looking for it for quite a while. Unfortunately, the new edition wasn't available in Icartha.

Sebastian walked towards her, noticing her eyeing the book with interest.

"Do you want this book, my lady? You've been looking at it for quite a while now"

"It's the new edition of 'The Horizon', the biography of the first pirate king, it explores his adventures and most famous treasure hunts. I couldn't get it in Icartha...my father isn't really a fan of my interest in the book", Celestiel answered, solemnly.

Sebastian moved to take the book out of her hand. And before Celestiel could wonder why, he moved towards the front of the shop, where the shopkeeper was. She watched as he handed the book to the shopkeeper, spoke to him and paid for it before recieving it back.

Sebastian returned to her and handed her the book. She received it, not knowing exactly how to express the gratitude she felt.

"Now you're the queen of the seas, queen of pirates, you need to learn as much as you can. Your interest will always be valid", Sebastian told her firmly.

Celestiel smiled, feeling her heart swell with happiness. "Thankyou, my lord"

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"Is that the shark lake?", Celestiel asked in awe as they passed by a river where her eyes had caught the fin of a shark poking out. She had heard of the pirates being able to domesticate some sharks but she hadn't really believed it...until now.

"Yes, it is", Sebastian nodded, his eye moving to glance at the sharks. They came up for a moment and he heard his wife gasp in surprise at their beauty. "Those are called Marlevs, a rare specie of sharks, extremely smart"

Celestiel turned her surprised eyes to Sebastian. "Those are Marlevs? I read about them in the second edition of 'The Horizon', I didn't think they actually existed"

"The world doesn't know, only pirates do. Marlevs are from the siren seas, they're rarely seen", Sebastian explained.

"Wow", Celestiel looked back at the sharks. "They're beautiful"

Sebastian's lips pulled up in a small smile but was quick to drop when he noticed faint markings start to form on his wife's neck. They were gold and very faint but they were there.

"The sharks are moving in this direction", Celestiel noticed and told her husband. Sebastian glanced at the sharks, narrowing his eye at the unusual behavior. Marlevs usually tended to stay away from shore but now, they were outrightly swimming in their direction, or rather, in his wife's direction. His black eye moved back to his wife's neck and noticed the markings were gone.

How interesting....

Looking away, Sebastian's black eye caught something...or more appropriately, someone. Leonore and Reagan had obviously not found this one yet. He could as well, have a little fun.

"Celestiel, go into that clothing store and wait for me", Sebastian told her. Celestiel looked at him, confused.

She wondered if she had the right to ask where he was going. She really wanted to know, but she knew it was only a day they had been married, he had been nothing but nice to her, she didn't want to push her boundaries.

Sebastian noticed her turmoil and smiled warmly. "I'll be there soon, I need to take care of something"

Celestiel breathed out in relief. He didn't tell where he was going. But she would still take it. She nodded obediently and made her way towards the shop Sebastian had told.

Once Sebastian was sure Celestiel had gone into the shop, he turned and began walking towards his target.

Celestiel walked into the shop and was immediately welcomed by a brown haired, petite woman. The woman was about her height with light brown, bright, curious eyes.

"Hello" she smiled. "Welcome"

"Hello", Celestiel politely greeted back. "Are you the attendant?"

"Yes, I am at your service" she smiled. "My name is Aletta"

"My name is Celestiel", Celestiel smiled, a bit overwhelmed with the woman's eccentric person. It kind of reminded her of Alora.

Aletta nodded. "You're our new queen, aren't you?"

Celestiel stared at Aletta. "Oh...I am"

Sensing Celestiel's wonder, Aletta chuckled gently. "I saw you standing with the king by the Shark lake...I assumed you were the princess he had married"

"Oh..."

"You intend to buy some clothes, your highness?", Aletta smiled gently. Celestiel nodded back.

"I don't think my dresses will suit my role anymore", she awkwardly told. "I would like some help choosing the clothes, I don't know what female pirates wear"

"It's alright, your highness, I have the perfect clothes for you", Aletta was enthusiastic. She had heard the princess the king had married was a spoiled, pampered one. But who Aletta was speaking to seemed to be different...very different. She was either a very good actress or she wasn't like the rumours told.

As Aletta took Celestiel's measurements, Celestiel couldn't help but ask the question that had been pestering her mind.

"Does the king come here often?"

Aletta shook her head. "Not often...but it isn't like he doesn't come around"

"Is that why you all in Nycren are so used to seeing him around?", She asked with a curious tilt of the head.

"I don't understand that question, your highness", Aletta laughed.

"I mean... back in Icartha, whenever my father went out to the villages or towns, they would prepare a feast. As he passed by, they would bow and offer greetings", Celestiel began and Aletta immediately understood her questions. "But here in Nycren, the king walks by and everyone goes about their business, not minding his presence"

"That's because the seas don't just see the king as a leader, we see him as our friend...a brother", Aletta explained.

Celestiel nodded in understanding. The world saw Sebastian as the pirate king he was. But his people didn't just see him as their king, they saw him as the pirate he was. A fellow pirate.

"Pirates are...so different from what I was told", Celestiel admitted. Icartha had taught her that pirates were nothing but no good liars and thieves. But from what Celestiel had witnessed, pirates seemed like better people than Icarthans. No Icarthan shopkeeper had ever welcomed Celestiel the way Aletta had... even as a princess, they hadn't. No Icarthan man had ever gifted Celestiel anything without asking for something in return...but Sebastian had.

It seemed Icarthans were the true liars.

"Ah yes", Aletta chuckled softly. "Icarthans aren't fans of pirates"

"You have no idea", Celestiel sighed.

"You seem to be different though, your highness", Aletta smiled. "Are you sure you're an Icarthan princess?"

Celestiel laughed. "Unfortunately, I am. But my mother was a pirate"

"I never heard of the king of Icartha having a pirate lover", Aletta spoke, surprised.

"My mother was a secret...bought by my father's family in order to conceive an heir. The queen was unable to at the time", Celestiel answered, her hand unconsciously moving to hold her locket.

"Icarthans", Aletta shook her head. "Is your mother still in Icartha?"

"No, she passed away a few years ago", Celestiel smiled sadly and Aletta paused.

"I'm sorry"

"It's quite alright", Celestiel took a deep, calming breath. "I would also like to see the boots you have"

Aletta nodded, smiling kindly. "I'll be right back, your highness"

Celestiel watched Aletta leave and when she was alone, she looked around the shop. It looked nothing like the Icarthan shops but somehow, Celestiel felt more comfortable here.

It had been barely five minutes that Aletta had left that Celestiel caught someone familiar outside.

It was Leonore.

She watched as he joked and laughed with someone behind him. And then Reagan came into Celestiel's view. He was holding a bloody, beaten, lanky man. He looked almost dead.

Celestiel's golden orbs widened when she saw Leonore hold a dagger to the man's neck. Was he going to kill him? And in public?

Fortunately, Leonore pulled the dagger away, laughing hysterically. He looked away from the man he was toying with and walked ahead. Celestiel's eyes followed them and right before they left her line of sight, Reagan's green eyes met hers.

Celestiel stilled instantly, afraid he would tell Leonore and they would come in and torture her too. But that didn't happen. Reagan merely turned away and went on listening to his brother's rambles while he held the almost dead man.

Still shaken by the sight, Celestiel rushed to the entrance of the shop and looked. She was just in time to see Leonore and Reagan meet Sebastian. They spoke for a moment before they all turned to look back at the shop. Celestiel backed away instantly.

Leonore and Reagan had tortured a man. And Sebastian had probably given the order.