Materializer

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A second impact hit the broadside of the vessel, causing the room to shake violently once again. It took everything I had just to remain on my feet as Commodore Flynn’s many belongings flew off the wall.

As the three of us stood there in a daze, we heard footsteps approaching the cabin. A burly man with a thick beard and long black hair swung the door open.

"Commodore, come quick! We're under attack!” The man yelled.

"I know, Svarski, I don't have salt in my ears!" Commodore Flynn wiped his smile away, gaining an aura of focus. “Give me the damage report.”

"Parts of the hull are on fire, and we've lost the jib sail! We've readied the cannons, but I’m already counting at least seven missing from our ranks." The man called Svarski looked frantic. “What should we do!?”

I stood frozen, not really knowing what to make of the chaos unfolding before me. Amber clicked her tongue in frustration but didn't seem as worried as I was. My legs shook underneath me in fear.

"First, pull yourself together, first mate! If there's fire involved, then it’s the Golden Dragon.” Commodore Flynn declared. “Have the men bring anything flammable below deck, and be prepared to lower the sails. Do NOT let them board!"

"The Golden Dragon?? What does that mean!?" My head swiveled between Amber and the Commodore for some sort of explanation.

"Damned pirates..." Amber growled. "They're a group of dragon riders who target smaller vessels like this one. The dragons all roost on their main airship, it shouldn't be too far away."

Dragons!?

“I don't have time to explain every little detail right now, I just need you to listen to me." Amber grabbed my trembling face. "Stay here, Sakuta. Don't come out until we say, alright?"

"What about you?" I snapped out of my momentary loss of composure. I knew she said we would be training, but I doubted even she could have predicted something like this would happen just a few hours after departure.

"I'll be just fine! It's those pirate bastards you should be worried about." She flashed a confident grin in my direction before drawing her sword. "Stay. Here. Understood?"

I nodded and watched her hair flutter as she followed Commodore Flynn into the ongoing battle. Moments passed by, and the commotion only seemed to grow louder outside the cabin.

Suddenly I heard a monstrous roar overhead, followed by screams from the crew outside.

"Dragons!! We've been board—AHHHH!"

That sure didn’t sound like everything is well under control. What the hell am I going to do!? If they barge in here now…

A feeling of dread overwhelmed me. This wasn’t a video game, or some fantasy anime. If anything happened to me, I wouldn’t be returning to Hokkaido in one piece. Suddenly there was a bang at the door to the cabin. It repeated itself several times. With each slam against the entryway, I felt my heart leap into my throat.

Fighting against my petrified legs, I searched the ground for something to protect myself. I quickly settled on a rusted old rapier that fell off the wall when the cruiser was initially struck.

The latest slam against the door nearly knocked it down. I steeled myself, waiting for the intruder to enter. I had never seriously fought anyone in my life, but I couldn't allow myself to be killed at the starting line of my journey back home.

It was do or die.

Give me all you've got!

"PON-POOOOOOON!!" The door flew off the frame onto the floor, revealing Amber's familiar, who promptly knocked the wind out of me.

"You almost gave me a heart attack! What are you doing here?" I asked the creature as if it could understand me. More than anything, I was relieved it wasn't a pirate.

"Pon-Pon! Pon-Pon!" It flew around anxiously, making noises and gestures I couldn't understand.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I can't speak whatever language that is." I said. The familiar looked annoyed and began to drag me outside by my shirt. "What's the big idea, do you not hear the carnage going on outside??"

As Pon-Pon pulled me closer to the chaos, I heard a bellowing shout full of confidence coming from the same direction. It was a woman's voice, and one that I recognized well.

"Amber!?" I gasped, stepping out onto the upper deck.

Pirates surrounded the Princess on all sides. Upon further inspection, the swashbucklers didn't appear to be human. They looked like large humanoid lizards of varying colors wearing pirate garb. I felt tempted to shout Amber's name, but then I saw her eyes...

In those pools of crimson shone lust. For blood, or for the heat of battle. Either way, she was completely entrenched in it, and I didn't dare break her concentration.

"GET OFF MY SHIP!!" She let out another guttural yell.

In a whir of blades and blood, Amber cut through the invaders effortlessly. She fought like a demon in a terrifying display of strength and ferocity. The clash of her weapon against theirs sent sparks flying across the deck.

She's amazing! And terrifying...

Her movements were almost inhuman. Two assailants briefly got the jump on her, but her hand-cannons were ready. With a backflip and careful aim, she fired two shots that struck them both between the eyes.

"Isn't that the Terror of the Skies!?" One of the pirates shouted, pointing at Amber.

"It's the Demon Princess herself!" Another cried out hysterically.

"Screw this load of shite, we were told it was easy pickings. Run, gents!" A bunch of pirates turned tail, sprinting away from where Amber stood.

Terror of the skies?? Demon Princess!?

Just like she had told me before, she seemed to have everything under control. It was the pirates who were badly outmatched in this bout of raw strength. It was like watching a wrecking ball against a house of cards.

"What's wrong then, Pon-Pon? Why does she need me out here?" I asked the anxious creature, getting no response in return.

She asks me to stay hidden, but her familiar insists I come outside...

Amber attempted to pursue the fleeing pirates, but she was suddenly interrupted by a booming voice.

"Oh no ya don't, Princess!!" Jumping from the back of the dragon he was riding on, a ginormous lizard man came crashing onto the ship. The impact of his heavy, muscular body caused splintered pieces of the deck to shoot in all directions.

He was at least four times as big as the other pirates. He wore a thick brown leather trench coat and black boots. The scar-faced lizard’s tongue flicked like a serpent as he gave Amber a sinister smile.

"Dag! I knew that you wouldn't be far behind those scaly rats." Amber taunted. “Though… It’s pretty bold of you to attack the Royal Navy. I always thought you stuck to civilian ships like a coward.”

"That's Captain Dag to ya, li'l missy!" He sneered. "We had no clue that this ship here flew the navy colors, but maybe Lady Luck favors the bold."

He sized up Amber with his sharp gaze. Other members of the crew began to circle back in, inspired by the presence of their leader.

“Just think of how much we could fetch in ransom for the First Princess and the great Commodore Flynn.” The large fellow's tone was dripping with sarcasm.

Damn... What’s she going to do? She's incredible, sure. But she's only one girl... Where is the Commodore?

I hadn't seen him since I came back outside. The sound of cannon fire filled the air, and a strange fog had begun to settle around the vessel.

"Already assuming you're gonna win, huh? That's why you'll always be second-rate sailors. I'm not letting you leave this ship alive!" Amber growled, pointing her blade at the behemoth.

"Ya know... I was kinda hoping ya would say somethin' like that, love." The air stood still as Amber and Dag exchanged fiery glares. Nobody moved a muscle, me included.

Amid a fierce stalemate, I could only watch as a battle was about to unfold.

5.2

The stalemate was broken by Captain Dag as he pulled a giant cleaver-like weapon from his back, and swung it down towards Amber with exceptional force.

I closed my eyes, expecting the worst. However, when I opened them I was surprised to see Amber perched gracefully on top of the weapon that was now stuck in the flooring.

"Nimble li'l bug ain't ya?" Captain Dag chuckled. He used all his might to try and pull the weapon free, but Amber countered with a violent kick to his chin. "ACK—!"

The force sent the giant lizard backward onto the ground, along with his weapon. Amber—in her extreme focus on a much larger opponent—had failed to notice more attackers approaching from her back.

This is bad... She's completely focused on Captain Dag. I have to get her attention, or else she won't see the danger in time!

"Amber, look out behind you!!" I shouted with my entire chest.

"Pon-Pon!!!" Her familiar joined me in shouting.

"Sakuta!? I thought I said to—woah!!" Thanks to our warning, she was able to duck under the swing of a sword aimed at her neck. She countered, knocking two pirates off the edge of the ship. "Get back inside, idiot!! It's dangerous!"

Captain Dag staggered to his feet, wincing and holding his chin. Suddenly upon seeing Amber addressing me, an evil smile crept across his face once again. He turned to me, ignoring her presence entirely.

"Dodge this, ya plonker!" Captain Dag launched his cleaver in my direction.

The sound of whirring metal got closer as the blade spun like a top. It was on a direct path… right to where I was now standing.

Oh... So this is where it ends for me.

What started as a small training voyage had turned into quite a disaster. I could see the shock on Amber's face as I stood there, listless. I felt pathetic, like an NPC standing here doing nothing. Amber clenched her fist as I closed my eyes, ready for whatever might happen next.

.......................

"Pon-Pon, PROTECT HIM!" Amber screamed.

Huh?

"Pon-Pon!!!" The creature flew in front of me and began glowing.

All of a sudden, I heard an awful metallic clank. I held my ears as they rang loudly. Thinking myself dead, I was surprised to open my eyes and find myself completely unharmed.

The cleaver clattered to the ground as if it weren't just moving at the speed of a bullet train. Hovering in front of me was Pon-Pon, looking no worse for wear either.

"What was that!?" I couldn't see what had stopped the weapon at first, but as I looked closer, the air around Pon-Pon was warped into some kind of translucent protective barrier.

“A force field!” I exclaimed.

Pon-Pon suddenly dematerialized, and Amber looked completely drained for some reason. She fell to one knee, panting.

"Good work... Pon-Pon." On her face was a smile of relief, but there was another problem...

"Neat li'l trick there, but ya look worse than a goblin doing the jig. So the rumors are true after all..." Captain Dag smirked as he walked up to Amber. “You're really no good at magic, are ya Princess?”

"Don't act like you know a thing about me. I'll kill you just like I—AGH!!" Amber clutched her chest as she yelped in pain.

It clearly had something to do with her using magic to create that force field, but I didn't understand exactly what was going on. She looked over at me briefly with pain in her eyes, before turning back to Captain Dag.

"Get... out of here, Sakuta. Go find the Commodore, he's—ngh—keeping the mages that are powering the cruiser safe below deck." Blood dripped from the corners of her mouth as she looked at me pleadingly.

"W-what!? You're asking me to... I can't!" I stammered. "You'll die here by yourself!"

Preaching platitudes wasn't my usual style, but she had just saved my life. Knowing very well that using mana like she did could cost her dearly.

I have to do something... But what can someone like me do?

"You better listen to the lady, kiddo. This ain't ya fight to begin with, now is it?" Captain Dag was now towering over Amber. "I got no use for a peasant kid. Can't fetch a ransom that way, and the boss didn’t mention ya."

He tried to motion for me to leave, but I stood still. My body was screaming for me to run, to listen to what Amber told me, and to book it to safety below deck. I yearned for my own survival. And yet... I was filled to the brim with something I had seldom felt throughout my entire life. Pure unbridled determination.

"Don't get cocky..." I muttered under my breath, my fist shaking.

"What was that, lad? Speak up now!" Captain Dag taunted.

"I said... DON'T GET COCKY, YOU BASTARD!" I shouted at the man. I had no idea what came over me, but I had taken two full steps forward before I realized it. I pointed the rapier towards the hulking figure.

"Bwahahaha! Brave now, are ya? Don't think I didn't see ya pissing yourself over there for awhile now." He laughed heartily at my expense, turning to me. "Nobody beats the Golden Dragon! There ain't a thing ya can do, besides watch the fireworks."

He put his index finger and thumb up to his mouth, and let out an ear-piercing whistle. It split the air, giving way to a momentary silence.

After a few seconds, we heard the bellowing roar of a dragon. The massive creature hovered just beyond the deck of the ship behind Amber, and Captain Dag took a few steps back from Amber, taunting me with a mischievous smile.

Oh shit...

The dragon began charging up for a flame attack, and its target knelt just a few meters ahead of me.

"Amber!" I shouted.

"Sorry I got you into this, Sakuta..." Amber said apologetically. "Take care of Mavis and mother for me until you can get home. Okay?"

No... You can't just give up. I won't let you!

"I changed my mind... I hope I can still collect that ransom if the Princess here looks like a lump of coal!" Captain Dag laughed maniacally.

The mouth of the great flying beast was glowing a bright blue color, carrying with it a light that could surely spell the end of everyone in its path. I dropped the rapier and looked down at the ground, sensing the end.

This is just like back then. I couldn't save him, and I spent my entire life regretting it.

I’m so pathetic. I guess some things truly can't be helped...

.........................

“Eyes up, Sakuta!”

"Huh??" I muttered. I could have sworn I heard Jun's voice just then.

“That's not the big brother I know. Didn't grandfather always tell you to protect girls?”

"Yuki..." I mouthed. "Is that really—?"

“We all have the ability to change the world around us.”

“If there's something you want to save, then save it.”

“But… I…”

“No buts, kid! If there's someone you want to protect, then protect them! Giving up doesn't suit you. Isn't that right, grandson?”

"You're… right." I mouthed. "Heh. You're damn right, Gramps!"

The air around me suddenly began to swirl. A feeling surged in my soul that matched the intensity of the dragon’s rage, of Amber’s determination. My desires came bubbling to the surface. The things I wanted most in my heart.

Nothing as fancy as being a hero. No, at that moment I wanted nothing more than to preserve our peace. I wanted to go back to the castle and dust all the furniture again. To trim the hedges, and clean the restrooms as a servant of Queen Veranda’s. To eventually find a way back home to my family.

However, a desire trumped even that at this particular moment.

I want to protect Amber...

I WILL protect her!

I put my palm up towards Captain Dag. I was about to try something that I was almost certain wouldn't work, but I was determined to go down swinging. Amber stared at me with her mouth wide open in shock. The breeze surrounding me grew more intense by the second.

Words began to etch themselves into my line of sight like they were some kind of interface responding to my wishes.

“Materialize: Level 1 unlocked. Continue…?”

Yes! I don’t care what happens to me, just save Amber!

"This aura! I read about it once… It's just like the Mage of the Crossing! But you… You're just some whelp!" Captain Dag growled, taking half a step backward. “There’s no way you’re a Materializer!”

The dragon prepared to launch its devastating attack.

“Now say the words!” I felt compelled by an indescribable urge, the interface told me exactly what I needed to do.

"MATERIALIZE!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

Like a hurricane at the tips of my fingers, my outstretched arm suddenly became a steel cannon with the very wind gathered in a concentrated ball at the end. Filled with a strange combination of fear and giddy excitement, I looked at my newly transformed arm. My gaze then shifted towards the Captain with a smile on my face.

"Oh shite..." Captain Dag tried to make a break for it. Before he could, I launched my full attack from the cannon. The ball of smoke, wind, and debris hit him directly in the chest. "AHHHHHHH–!"

He went flying like a ragdoll into the mouth of the beast just as it launched its breath, engulfing them both in a large explosion of blue fire above the ship. I shielded my eyes from the brilliant light as I stumbled backward.

Captain Dag and his mount fell from the air in a ball of fire. The pirates, seeing that they had been thwarted, made a run for their dragon mounts. The cannon dematerialized after a few moments as my right arm returned to normal. I was still dazed, but I realized what it was that I had done.

That was magic! And ‘I’ produced it!? Me!?

I had won the day, by some strange miracle, and the voices in my head. I would have felt obliged to celebrate if my body hadn’t started to go limp.

I collapsed from pure exhaustion, but someone caught me just before I hit the ground.

"Sakuta!! Hang in there!" Amber's voice echoed in my head as my eyes became heavy. "Commodore, grab some elixir..."

Are those tears? I think I'll just take a nap right here in these arms for a moment.