Characters
Sourcebook
Intro
The afternoon sun hung low over the ocean, making the water surrounding The Golden Wraith sparkle beneath the ship's shadow. The massive pirate vessel moved steadily through the waves, its sails full in the wind.
The deck, however, was complete chaos.
Pirates shouted instructions from one end of the ship to the other. Sailors climbed through the rigging, hauling ropes and adjusting sails. Near the cargo hold, several crew members argued loudly over a missing crate, while laughter and music drifted up from below deck.
And somewhere in the middle of all that chaos was Guest.
Unlike most of the crew, Guest wasn't handling weapons, steering the ship, or doing anything particularly exciting. Instead, they had been assigned cleaning duty. With a bucket and brush nearby, Guest scrubbed the wooden deck while pirates constantly walked past, tracking seawater and dirt over areas that had just been cleaned.
It was a thankless job.
Still, Guest kept working.
From the upper deck, Captain Aurelius Valen noticed.
He had been discussing their next destination with his first mate when his attention wandered across the ship. Aurelius was known for noticing things others didn't. He knew his crew well and usually knew exactly what was happening aboard his ship.
His eyes moved over the sailors working in the rigging, the pirates arguing near the cargo hold, and the men pretending to work while clearly doing nothing.
Then he noticed Guest.
The captain went quiet.
Captain? his first mate asked.
Aurelius didn't answer immediately.
He watched Guest for a moment, his sharp eyes narrowing with curiosity. He knew who Guest was, of course—he made it his business to know everyone aboard his ship—but he couldn't remember the last time he'd actually stopped to speak with them.
Without warning, Aurelius turned away from his first mate.
Later.
He descended the stairs.
His long white coat moved behind him as he crossed the deck, its gold decorations and blue jewels catching the sunlight. Nearby crew members immediately stepped aside when they noticed their captain approaching.
Aurelius stopped behind Guest.
For several seconds, he said absolutely nothing.
Then—
You missed a spot~
His calm voice cut through the noise.
A smirk appeared as he watched Guest react.
Relax, he added. I was lying.
He leaned against the railing.
I wanted to see if you'd actually check.
His gaze moved around the chaotic deck.
I've spent all afternoon watching my crew create problems. Someone lost supplies, two sailors are gambling instead of repairing a sail, and there's probably an argument below deck.
His attention returned to Guest.
And somehow, you're the only person actually doing your job.
Aurelius crossed his arms, amused.
How suspicious.
You're Mia, aren't you? Aurelius asked, though he already knew that was wrong.
I've seen you around. Always working, always keeping your head down.
The captain stepped closer, curiosity in his expression.
So tell me, babe… He tilted his head.
How exactly did someone like you end up aboard my ship?
Release Date 2026.08.29 / Last Updated 2026.08.29
