bookbashuk 32: Warm Current Route
32: Warm Current Route
In February of the year 1470 in the Sea Calendar, a light mist gently swirled around the massive golden hull of the Golden Dawn at dawn.
The sea was unusually calm, with only the faint splashing sound of the bow breaking the surface and the muffled, thunderous sound of the stern cutting through the air.
Oro stood in the shadow of the Tarrault statue at the bow, repeatedly stroking the "Warm Current Channel" nautical chart given to him by Newgate until the edges became rough.
His fingertips rested on the "Mermaid Island" marked on the map. Oro had been adjusting the course according to the nautical chart for nearly a week to ensure that the behemoth would not get lost at sea.
The noise coming from the stern interrupted his thoughts.
That was Lingling undergoing her daily "Domination" training. Every swing of the long-handled giant axe in her hand carried the power to tear through the air.
Black Armament Haki wrapped around the axe blade, and she slashed out with a clear shout!
"A hegemonic nation—!"
A condensed crescent-shaped black wave of air shot out and precisely cut into the sea surface dozens of meters behind the ship.
"boom!"
The sea was forcibly parted by this enormous force, creating a white wall of waves tens of meters high, and the surging undercurrents failed to subside for a long time.
Lingling put away her axe and stood up. Her well-proportioned and healthy body was slightly warm from the exercise, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
She casually wiped her face with the back of her hand, then immediately turned to look at Gails sitting on the deck not far away, her big eyes filled with anticipation:
"Hey, Gals! Can you make a spring sea bream dish for lunch?"
"I think I just saw a huge school of sea bream swim by! Use that... that new vanilla sauce you made!"
Gails was sitting next to a specially made large wooden tub. When she heard this, she looked up. Her light golden braids hung down her shoulders, and her face had the same gentle smile as always.
Her hands glowed with a faint orange light as she used her ability to eat fruit to transform dried, dark seaweed into pieces of "seaweed nutritious cake" that exuded the fresh scent of the sea.
Although this nutritious cake, made using the power of fruit, doesn't taste as good as the ones she makes herself, it allows her to better control the nutrients and energy contained in a single cake.
Gails is arguably the biggest contributor to Lingling's current appearance and figure.
This way, Lingling can think she's eating less without actually going hungry, ensuring her body gets enough nutrition for development, and maintaining her healthy figure.
Oro once remarked to her: "If this ability were in his hometown, he would be incredibly popular."
"Okay, Lingling. Remember to wipe your sweat after training, don't catch a cold."
As she agreed, she handed a freshly formed piece of nutritious cake to a mermaid girl helping her.
"Molly, could you please take this to Sister Taylor?"
"Okay, Sister Gails!"
The mermaid girl named Molly smiled sweetly, took the pastry, and with a gentle sway of her nimble silver fishtail in the specially made water tank on the deck, she glided gracefully to the other side of the deck.
The six mermaids rescued by Oro in Dressrosa have gradually adapted to life on the Golden Dawn after this period of voyage.
They were no longer as panicked and helpless as they had been at the beginning, and their faces showed a hint of relaxation.
The giant golden swimming pool, meticulously crafted by Auro, was their favorite place. The pool connected to the sea and was equipped with a gold-powered pump to ensure water quality.
At this moment, Fisher Taylor, with her long, strong blue hair, is carefully inspecting and cleaning the bottom of the Golden Dawn with Molly's twin sister, Moya, and another mermaid.
Although the Adam Sun Tree is not afraid of the erosion of seawater and marine life, the barnacles and some debris attached to it can still affect its speed.
The cleaning and maintenance of the hull was previously the responsibility of Lingling, the only person on board who was not afraid of seawater, but she was not an aquatic species and needed to breathe frequently, making the process quite troublesome.
Since the mermaids took over, the barnacles and algae on the bottom of the ship have been cleaned up, and even the slightest wear and tear has been keenly detected by them, allowing Oro to carry out early maintenance.
Lingling was very grateful for this, feeling that the mermaids had helped her solve a big problem.
In his spare time, Taylor liked to stay by his sister Gails' side, helping her organize her ever-expanding medical kit, or learning some human cooking skills.
Her sister Gale's patience and kindness made her feel at ease, while Auro's strength and Lingling's purity gave her an unprecedented sense of security.
However, the peaceful life at sea could not completely dispel the gloom in the hearts of the mermaid ladies.
That experience of being auctioned off like a commodity was like the deepest nightmare, making them fully realize the cruelty of this world towards non-human groups.
As night falls, they often gather by the pool and talk in hushed tones.
"Will I really be able to rest easy after returning to Mermaid Island?"
A mermaid with orange hair named Coral asked softly, her eyes filled with confusion, "Can the king's army... really protect us? Last time..."
Molly, the elder of the twin sisters, gently slapped the surface of the water with her tail:
"Moya and I... have no home to go back to."
Her voice lowered, and her younger sister, Moya, nestled beside her, tears glistening in her eyes.
Their families were killed in the last slave-hunting raid, leaving them to depend on each other for survival.
Molly looked up at Taylor, who was helping Gails dispense the ointment by the pool, and lowered her voice:
"Sister Taylor, we...we want to stay."
"Lord Oro and the others are strong and kind... This place is safer than Mermaid Island. But..."
She hesitated, not daring to continue, afraid that her unreasonable request would be rejected and shatter the hard-won peace before her.
Taylor listened in silence, polishing a badly worn pink coral pendant in her hands.
The promise to "remember the life-saving grace forever" was not an empty word.
However, she still had her only family member on her mind—her impulsive but righteous younger brother, Fisher Tiger.
And will Lord Oro, Miss Lingling, and Sister Gails really let them stay?
The other three mermaids also had mixed feelings.
They longed to return to their familiar families, yet they feared the increasingly tense situation on Mermaid Island and the elusive slave-hunting teams.
We were lucky to be rescued this time, but what about next time?
Returning to their seemingly familiar yet perilous hometown, what kind of future awaits them?
They too couldn't bear to leave their families; this longing made them yearn to return home, yet their journey was fraught with difficulty.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
P.S. Don't get hung up on how Taylor and the others address Gails. Gails calls her "sister" out of politeness due to age, but their "sister" is not based on age, but on status.
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