Chapter Text
This is the tale of a traveling duo of bards, well actually, two lyricists and a performer because one of them is shy to sing in public; but they were friends since their parents joined the caravan in which they were born and raised. They head on their own journey of self-discovery and maybe get some gold for their families.
“There it is, Marc. The Saerith Empire! And it only took us seven days and I only passed out four times.”
“Yeah. We really need to find you a good cleric, Rose.”
Marc Anciel was in charge of keeping the Lavillant’s little Rose out of harms way. What her parents don’t know is that her wits, innocence, and pure darn luck were the reasons why are they still standing on their two feet to begin with: A tumble on a shady tavern? Rose got them all the barbarians singing and gave them the encouragement to follow their dreams. Some people hired bandits to kidnap her? Mishaps that she made by accident cause them to be exposed by sheriffs and guardsmen. Shady merchant selling cursed artifacts? The small lady persuaded the cursed beings to the point of salvation. Marc always knew that she was born on a lucky star, but he never understood HOW MUCH luck she has on her fingertips.
Their journey through the coast was exhilarating for Rose, unlike Marc who was low on the athletic department. But something in the ocean caught their attention.
“Pirates?!” Marc shouted.
“We have to do something! They’ll be done for if they try to ransack the Empire!”
“Wait… you’re worried about the pirates?” Marc shook his head. “Never mind that, how are we going to reach them before they land at the port?”
Marc looked around and saw Rose already sitting down on a rowboat waiting for him with her sweet smile.
“…of course, you found it out of nowhere. Give me the oars, we’ll get there as fast as possible.
The journey to the ship wasn’t long, more due to the fact that their rowboat crashed with some waves and broke. The pirates of The Liberty recued them, but at the cost of being their prisoners. So, to fight for their freedom, Marc elaborated an idea.
“A game?” Captain Anarka asked the androgynous man.
“A rose-picking game. Whoever picks the last rose, looses, players can pick form one to three roses at a time. If we win, you will visit the Saerith Empire as merchants and not robbers.”
“Please, we just worried about your safety.” Rose said while holding the only thing that was saved from their shipwreck: a bouquet of roses.
“Fine then, but if we win, you two shall become crewmates of the Liberty, and we will raid the Saerith Empire for their riches!” Anarka’s response made the crew shout in joy. “My daughter will be doing the challenge on my stead.” The captain snapped her fingers and a swashbuckler swung from the crow’s nest to the deck, impressing the two adventures.
“Juleka Couffaine.” The pirate bowed.
“Marc Anciel.” The man bowed in response.
“ROSE LAVILLANT!” The competitors turned their looks at the flower girl, who became beet red from blurring her name like that as she hid her face behind the rose bouquet. Marc leaned towards his friend and placed a flower on her head.
“Don’t worry, if I play the game right, all three of us are going to be winners.” Marc whispered to Rose, only to have small nods as a response.
The game began, the contenders were pulling and plucking roses form the bouquet as the rules. Roses were falling to the floorboards in waves of ones, twos, and threes. The bouquet was at its last three roses, and it was Marc’s turn. He pulled two roses.
“Well, the game is set, Lady Couffaine. Make your last draw.” Marc said with confidence.
“I will.” Juleka said with even more confidence. She moved her hand to the bouquet, but she wasn’t aiming at it. She reached for the flower girl’s face and caressed her cheek. “Apologies, Little Miss Lavillant.” The silence and dreamy stare she gave the pirate was confirmation of obligement she reached for the flower that was hanging in the girl’s hair and pulled it. She lifted the rose up high in victory.
Rose’s legs couldn’t take the emotion of intimacy form the swashbuckler and fainted. Marc picked her up so that her head wouldn’t hit the floor.
“Sorry, Mister Anciel.” Juleka said proudly. “Your rules state that all roses are accounted for.”
“Yeah… all roses…” Marc tone of defeat changed with a spark of confidence. “Including the Rose that I have in my arms!”
The pirates gasped, the captain and her son were surprised at the turn of events. Juleka was stubborn but accepted her defeat from the bards and pulled the last rose form the bouquet.
Captain Anarka clapped her hands in amazement on how a simple game turned into a teeth-clenching scenery. “Wonderful display of luck and wit, Mister Anciel. We will stay true with the bargain, and we will not raid the Empire. You know, our ship needs more people like yourself, the kind that are brave and witty when the wind is against us. The invitation is open for you and your friend.”
“Thanks, but I’ll pass for now. Although, I know someone who would enjoy being a crewmember with you.” Marc gave Rose to Juleka. The bravado she had left instantly when she saw how comfortable she got when she snuggled in her arms. “Take good care of her;” Marc said to Juleka. “she tends to faint like that a lot.”
A single rose was blown away by the sea breeze.
At the costal market, Rose was exhilarated that she became a pirate. Juleka was along her showing her the ropes and rules, as well as gazing at her when she did something cute or beautiful.
“How did you know that my sister fell instantly in love with your friend?” Luka asked Marc.
“I didn’t.” Marc responded. “I only knew that Rose fell in love with her, and she wanted to be with her.” The boys looked at the girls and how they were enjoying themselves. “Glad that she found a reason to live outside the caravan.”
“What about you? Did you still found a reason to live?” Luka asked.
“Not yet, but I’ll keep looking for it. It’s not like the reason will sweep me off my feet and take me away.”
And just like that, a dark bag was placed in Marc’s face and was taken away by some mysterious men. Luka stared in blank. He saw his mother with a bag of gold and jewelry.
“What was that?” Luka asked his mother.
“That was us, relaying our client's quest to him.”