Chapter 4: A Past of Seas

Shards didn’t always know Teebs. In fact, they met about two years before they started their search. They met in Trinm, a small sector in Southern Harmi. She was thieving, he was swindling, and they met at the local tavern.

“How much you make?” The bartender asked.

Teebs laughed and held up a small bag. He set it on the table, but the bartender frowned.

“Open it. I don’t think you’ll stay disappointed once you see what’s inside,” Teebs said, smugly.

She opened it and her eyes got wide.

“How’d you get this?!” she asked, smiling.

“I have my ways,” he said smiling, “Besides, I had to pay you back for that favor with those guards.”

“Yeah. They wouldn’t shut up!” She said, laughing.

Then a girl with scarlet hair walked in. Teebs looked her way and adjusted himself in his seat. The bartender noticed and gave a smirk.

“Somebody catch your eye?” She said sarcastically.

“What? No… it’s just that… well…,” Teebs said, not looking away from the girl.

“It’s okay. Your secret's safe with me,” she said, winking.

The girl noticed and did a small smile. She walked over and sat next to him.

“You see something you like?” She said, smirking.

The bartender snickered and walked to the other side of the bar. Teebs rolled his eyes and returned his gaze to the girl.

“I’m TB2000. But you can call me Teebs,” He said, grinning.

“Hm… I’m Shards,” she said, hugging him.

She took his bag of money and let go.

“I know you took it,” he said.

“How so?” she said, holding up the bag.

“Because I took yours,” he said, holding up another.

She looked him up and down with a suspicious look. Then she smiled and gave his bag back.

“So you’re a thief?” she asked.

“Not quite. I’m a pirate,” he said, taking back his money.

“Aren’t you a little young to be a pirate?” she chuckled.

“I’m only 17. Besides, aren’t you a little young to be stealing?” he said.

“Never too young,” she said, smiling.

They shared a laugh for a little bit.

“So… you have a ship?” Shards asked.

“Yes. Steal something, I dare you,” he said, walking to the door, leaving a bag of jewels for the bartender.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Shards asked, running after him.

“I don’t care if you're cute or a girl, if you steal something off of my ship, I’ll throw you into the blue abyss,” he said, walking to the docks.

“Okay. Your ship, your rules,” she said following.

He noticed that she was walking closer and not straying from him.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.

“I’m going to see this ‘ship’ of yours,” she said, doubtfully.

He sighed and walked along the long line of ships until he got to a wooden one. He climbed the ladder and untied it from the dock.

“I’m coming with!” She said, jumping on the ladder before he could undock.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Who said you were!?” He said, bringing up his fist.

She readied herself for a hit, but instead was lifted up by a torrent of water from the surrounding ocean.

“What?” She said when she got on deck.

“That was really dangerous, you could’ve gotten yourself killed!” He said, dropping his fist.

As soon as he dropped it, the torrent fell back into it’s natural state. Shards had a confused look and tried to figure out what happened.

“You’re a smart person, figure it out,” Teebs said, walking to the sails.

He untied them and commanded the wind into them.

“You’re an elemental!” She said, excited.

“Ha! You wish. My ancestors, on the other hand, were elementals. I can control all five,” he said, sitting back in a chair, pointing the wind into the sails.

“Five? Don’t you mean four?” She asked, walking up to him.

“Nope. Five,” he said, spreading his fingers out.

A rock floated up in between two of them, a drop of water did so too, a flaming spark, and a ball of wind followed suit.

“That’s four,” she said.

He then closed his hand made a white, glowing ball of energy.

“Five. Plasma,” he said, chucking the ball into the ocean.

Within seconds, the water surrounding the ball flew up in the an explosion like way and fell back down as if it were raining.

“Plasma… okay. Didn’t know that was one,” she said, looking up at the falling water.

He chuckled and continued on the course.

“So, you going to join my crew?” he asked.

“What crew?” she asked, looking around for people on the ship

“Yeah….. Sorry… You can be first mate?” he said.

“Well, sure,” she said laughing.

It was soon after they started their search for the Pendant Spawn, a being born from blood magic. They searched for two years, and now they’re in Zenith, looking for him.