The Quiet Mage

They were all lined up on their knees. The sea breeze was cold, but the fear in the air froze them more than the wind ever could. Children clung to their mothers. Men trembled. Some cried silently. It felt like this was the end.

The pirate boss paced slowly in front of them, laughing. A low, cruel laugh — like this was just another night for him.

“Don’t worry, folks,” he grinned, spreading his arms wide. “I’ll be quick. You won’t feel a thing. I’ll kill each and every one of you, just like I did with the last ship.”

More laughter erupted from his crew, like it was all a big joke.

Ren stayed still, seething.

Kazuma made a move to stand, but a pirate standing nearby shoved him down again.

“Stay down,” the thug growled. “No one tries anything stupid.”

The boss stepped up to Ren, crouching slightly and lifting his chin with two fingers.

“So you’re the monster, huh?” he said mockingly. “You don’t look like much to me.”

He turned to the pirates behind him. “You lost to this?”

One of them stammered, “S-Sorry, boss! My sword broke when I hit him, I swear!”

“Tch.” The boss held out his hand. “Bring me the club.”

One of his men tossed it — a thick iron club lined with rusted nails. The boss caught it in the air like it was nothing.

“Let’s see how tough you really are.”

But then, his eyes wandered — locking onto Melissa and Rachel.

He grinned.

…Or maybe we take the girls first? What do you say, boys?”

The crew howled in approval.

Rachel’s jaw clenched. Melissa’s voice rose with fury. “Don’t you dare touch me.”

“Oh, this one’s got spirit,” the boss said, chuckling.

He dropped the club for a moment and walked toward one of the passengers — a strong-built man who hadn’t spoken. Without warning, he began beating him with his fists. Over and over. Blood splattered across the wooden deck. The man collapsed, coughing.

The boss didn’t stop. He laughed as he struck again.

“STOP!” Ren’s voice rang out like thunder.

“Your problem is with me,” he said, eyes burning. “Leave them alone.”

The boss paused.

Then, with a twisted smile, he picked the club back up and turned toward Ren.

“Gladly.”

He swung — hard.

The first blow hit Ren square in the head. The force of it knocked him straight to the ground.

The second came just as fast — slamming into his side before he could fully rise.

The passengers gasped.

But Ren got back up.

The boss narrowed his eyes. He struck again — but Ren still didn’t bleed.

"…What the hell?” the boss muttered, panting now. “You’re not human…”

He tossed the club aside and drew a sword. Grabbing Ren by the collar, he slashed his face.

The blade scratched across skin — but no blood came out.

Ren’s eyes didn’t flinch.

The boss stepped back, finally realizing what the others had said was true.

The other pirates looked stunned. Whispers passed between them.

"…He’s not bleeding…”

“...He’s not even hurt…”

The boss’s voice turned sharp. “Kill them all! Every last one!”

“And tie this freak up — we’ll sell him. Something like this’ll fetch a fortune.”

The crew surged forward. Passengers screamed. Mothers cried, shielding their children.

Just as the pirates closed in— A roaring flame burst across the deck.

WHOOSH!

A massive arc of fire shot through the night air, engulfing several pirates before they could even react. Flames caught their leather armor, spreading fast. Screams echoed as pirates stumbled backward, flailing, some leaping overboard into the sea to escape the blaze.

Others panicked, retreating.

The fire didn’t stop. It kept coming — wave after wave, blasting toward the remaining pirates.

In the chaos, Anya bit down hard on the hand that held her. The man screamed, loosening his grip, and she ran — straight into her mother’s arms, sobbing.

The boss looked around, eyes wide. “Who—?! Who did this—?!”

Another wave of fire pushed toward him. He cursed and made a run for the side, crossing over to his ship. The remaining crew did the same, shouting in panic. Some threw down nets to drag up their companions who had jumped into the sea earlier.

They left fast. Smoke, fire, and fear trailed behind them.

Silence returned slowly — broken only by the crackle of dying embers and the crashing waves.

The passengers sat still, wide-eyed, unsure what had just happened.

Someone had saved them.

But no one knew who.

Then Alex appeared from the stairwell, his voice calm.

“Are you guys hurt?”

Heads turned.

It was Alex — the one who had gone to sleep early. The one no one had expected to be the one behind the flames.

But it was him.

He was a mage. A quiet one who rarely showed off. Ren remembered him mentioning it once, casually — that he was good at offensive spells.

“Alex… you saved us all, my friend,” Ren said, smiling faintly.

“You’re not completely useless after all,” Kazuma added, half-laughing.

Alex scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed. “I just did what anyone would’ve—”

He was cut off as Melissa rushed over and hugged him tight. “You saved our lives, Alex… thank you.”

The passengers, one by one, began to cheer. Relief flooded the deck. A moment ago they were staring death in the face — now, they were alive because of this quiet, sleepy guy.

“Melissa,” Ren called, gesturing toward the man who had been beaten bloody by the pirate boss. “Can you heal him? He needs help fast.”

She nodded and hurried over.

Ren, still untouched by any wound, turned to check on the others. Rachel followed him, helping those still trembling or in shock.

Anya clung to her mother, sobbing quietly. Others sat slumped, staring at nothing, still processing what had happened. The night air remained cold, but the fire in their hearts — the terror — had not faded just yet.

Kazuma turned to Alex. “You going to sleep early really saved us.”

He tilted his head. “How did you even know something was wrong?”

Alex crossed his arms. “I heard a commotion. Thought I was dreaming at first, but then I saw the pirates’ ship through the glass of my cabin window. I snuck up quietly, stayed hidden, and waited for the right moment.”

“You couldn’t have picked a better one,” Kazuma muttered, exhaling in relief.

Just then, the old man who had been telling stories earlier limped forward and bowed his head slightly.

“Thank you, young man,” he said to Alex. “You truly saved us all tonight.”

Alex nodded awkwardly, mumbling a soft “You’re welcome.”

Ren joined the group at that moment.

The old man turned toward him.

“You… you’re from the Northern Continent, aren’t you? Are you going home?”

Ren blinked. “Why would you say that?”

The old man gave him a long look. “You didn’t bleed. Not even once. I’ve never met one myself, but… the legends of the Northern Continent speak of Immortals. Warriors who can’t be harmed. Who walk through death like it’s just fog.”

“I’m not one of them,” Ren said honestly. “At least… I don’t think I am. That’s why we’re headed there — to find out what I really am.”

The old man smiled gently. “Then you’ll find your answer, son. But I’ll tell you this — the rumors I heard said the Immortals were merciless. If you ever saw one, you wouldn’t live to tell the tale. But you… you saved people. Protected others. Maybe you’re something different. Or maybe the world is just more complicated than the stories.”

Ren looked down for a moment, then out toward the dark horizon.

The sea stretched endlessly ahead — and with it, the answers he was chasing.

He was more eager than ever to find them now.

They were getting closer.

To be continued...