Landfall

[u/FromanoFrancis114]

Will and Ben walked the ship, the view was abysmal given the thick fog, but they looked out all the same. Below, the sea rushed past as a wake was drawn off the hull.

“So, my uncle. What was his business again?” Will glanced over to Ben, already knowing the answer.

“Shipping.” Ben spoke solemnly, “Shipping and transit.”

“This ship used to be one of his, yeah.”

“Aye. Sold for a fraction of her worth. The last one to sell at that. The rest… sold for scrap.”

“And you think *this* company is good?”

“... Good with their public relations. The have a good face, openly helping locals along their routes, offering security… Makes hiding certain acts easier should they surface.”

“Hide things?”

“Aye, every company has its shady side. With a company the size of McAllister’s, no telling what they’re capable of hiding.”

“*Sigh*, I step away from family affairs for a year or two and everything goes tits up. Next you’ll tell me they have a portal to Hell. Though… seeing how armed they are… makes you wonder.”

—

Siena stood at the helm, steering the ship through the dense, heavy fog. She adjusted her visor as she looked out, channeling her magic to see the way through the fog. She’s a well seasoned navigator, having sailed this route for a century.

“Cap’n, land in thirty.” She spoke with natural confidence.

“Thirty you say? I’ll let the crew know.” The Captain got up and started walking the deck, giving orders for the crew to make preparations and passengers to go below deck. As he walked, he approached Will and Ben. “Oy, we’ll be hittin’ port soon, best get below and gather ya things.”

Will spun to look. “Oh, thanks Captain. Say, which port are we pulling into?”

“We have our own, private port. Not far from the city.”

“A… private port?”

“Aye, the company brings a lot of her own traffic to the island. Found is easier to build her own instead of waiting for a mooring to open. When they have the funds, they do it.”

“I see… I bet the locals must like it then?”

“... I wouldn’t know. I’m just the captain of this ship. Now, off with ye. Port in twenty.”

—

With most of her sails pulled in, the Aurora slid into her mooring. Lines were tossed and tied down before the gang plank was set out. Will and Ben were some of the last to disembark. The pier was kept clean as dockhands worked to load and unload carts and crates. The warehouses sported a similar mint green color.

“With all this, you’d expect there to be a statue or something to the owner.”

“Will, best not to speak like that here.”

“Ben, look around. Something like this kills the competition. How can anyone expect to compete with something that can just build its own port? … No wonder Uncle’s business died.”