Chapter 4.

An Unknown Enemy.

The sea breeze caressed Marcus's face as he gazed out at the horizon from the deck of The Shadow of Thunder. His mind, always alert and focused, was occupied by preparations for the upcoming battle against the Crimson Sea pirates. Marcus never left nothing to chance, and he knew Morgana would seek revenge for her latest defeat.

Captain, Iris called, approaching him. Our scouts report that Morgana's ships are mobilizing. It seems they are preparing for an imminent attack.

Marcus nodded, his thoughts turning to strategy. He expected nothing less from her. We must be ready for whatever comes.

As he reviewed the battle plans, Marcus couldn't help, but think of his motto: There is no place for magic at sea. It was a principle he had learned the hard way, in a distant time when he was still a young man of 18.

 He clearly remembered the day he had raided the mansion of a noble family that practiced magic. He had believed there were no survivors left after that bloody night.

Captain, Jax, the first officer, interrupted, bringing Marcus out of his thoughts. The crew is ready. We just await your orders.

Good, Marcus replied. Stay alert. Morgana will not stop until she takes back what she believes is hers.

What Marcus didn't know was that Morgana, the ruthless captain of the Crimson Fury, was the only survivor of that noble family. He didn't remember her, and to him, she was nothing more than a tenacious enemy. But to Morgana, Marcus was the man who had taken her mother from her and destroyed her home.

Morgana, meanwhile, was in her cabin, plotting a plan for revenge. She remembered every detail of that fateful night and the promise she had made to herself to avenge her family.

 She had sworn that Marcus would pay for his crimes, and that promise had led her to become the feared captain she was today.

Her hatred for Marcus intensified with each memory. The fury she felt was a fire that would not go out. This time, Marcus, you will not escape, Morgana muttered as she adjusted her sword. I will not rest until I see you fall.

In The Shadow of Thunder, Marcus continued his preparations, unaware of Morgana's deep hatred for him. To him, magic was a threat that must be eradicated from the sea. He had learned the brutal way that magic brought only deception and destruction.

As the two captains prepared for the impending confrontation, the sea churned with a fury that reflected the conflict between them. The waves crashed hard, and the wind howled as if it knew an even fiercer storm was about to break.

In the heart of that storm, Marcus and Morgana would face each other once again, but this time, the past and revenge would play a crucial role in the outcome.

 Morgana was determined to claim justice for her family, and Marcus, although unaware of his enemy's true identity, remained steadfast in his belief that the sea had no place for magic.

The coming battle would not only decide the fate of the Scarlet Ring, but also the future of those who sailed these dangerous waters. Swords would be crossed, and echoes of anger and vengeance would resonate across time and the sea to see which loser would come out on top.