As I looked at the beautiful, fiery haired woman, I couldn't help but be charmed again. Unlike before, she had definitely lessened her control on her charm, partly because I was no longer exhausted, and partly because... maybe she was competing with Captain?
This is just a guess, of course.
I turned my head to look at Tracy, but she didn't seem surprised in the least. Turning my head back, I looked at Eleanor again. She had her lips curled up in a devious smirk.
With a little push of both her arms on the desk, she jumped up slightly in the midair, and landed gracefully on her two feet. Today, she seemed to be in a more casual wear, yet in more formal boots.
She wore brown, long boots that reached all the way up to her mid-thighs, and were tied tight around her long white legs with shoelaces that travelled all the way up. The top of her boots barely met a few centimetres wide, tight, lacy fabric that extended from her shorts. Between the boots and lacy extensions of her tight shorts, only a few inches of her bare, pale sand like skin was visible, but that was all one needed, along with the charm of her legs' clothing, to drive a man crazy.
On her waist, the shorts were fastened with a leather belt, in which was tucked in her light brown, linen shirt. It was an especially tight shirt, because of how, even with it buttoned up to the top, her bountiful breasts created an unmistakably clear profile. Her long, orange, fiery hair were let loose, and they cascaded down onto her shoulders, and were pulled into front, bringing more colour to her shirt.
"You'll need to more practice to stay in control under charm."
Captain said decisively.
By her words, I was broken out of whatever reverie I was in, and found myself feeling a slight wetness around my chin. I touched my mouth with my palm to find it slightly open, and drooling...
I hurriedly closed my mouth, and wiped my chin of any evidences of embarrassment.
"Hehe, don't worry Cap'n, I'll be sure to train him well."
I suddenly felt an inexplicable fear rise up to my throat from the pit of my stomach, as my eyes matched paths with those of the First Mate. Her eyes were filled with badly concealed desire for chaos, looking at me like a prey she would have fun with playing.
As I turned my head to back at my Captain again, her lips were slightly lifted in a mirthful smile. She shook her head, and said in a commanding tone:
"You'll do no such thing. Look, you're already scaring him."
As I looked back at the fiery haired minx who was definitely older than me, I saw as her mischievousness deflated, and her body hung concave in depression, as if her favourite toy had been snatched away from her.
With the effects of her active charm gone, I could appreciate more of her beauty without bias now. Indeed... there was no need for biases, she and dear captain were the most beautiful women I'd ever seen.
Eleanor gradually returned to normal, as she was asked a question by my dear Captain.
"Why did you not tell me about his advancement before? I'd have prepared the ingredients for the Instigator potion already."
As she heard the Captain's question, the First Mate smirked again, as if she'd won a competition.
"If I told you, then I wouldn't get to see your surprised face like that, now, would I, Cap'n?"
The captain didn't say anything, her eyes only locked with the First Mate's. They were in a deadlock, neither's gaze faltering. I stood there silently, watching this game of no-blinking without daring to cause any interruption.
About half a minute later, it was Eleanor who blinked and looked down at her feet. A faint flush seemed to have covered her cheeks. She took several deep breaths, before looking up at Captain again with a little pout, as if she'd been annoyed to oblivion. Then she looked at me with her fiery, bloody gaze, accusingly, as if I'd caused whatever she experienced, and I'd have to pay for that in the future.
Before she could say anything to me, we both heard a knock on Captain's wooden chair's hand-rest, and turned our heads to look at her.
"So, little Lorenzo, would you tell us where you got those flaming charms of yours?"
Suddenly, the mood in the room had changed. The Captain seemed no more playful, nor it seemed like the First Mate was any more flustered. When I looked back at her, I saw her looking back at me with a serious expression, as if she wanted to know the answer too. Her eyes did seem to carry a very miniscule amount of apology, though.
What do I tell her?
I asked the only entity that might be able to help me in this sort of situation.
[How would I know? It's your Captain, say whatever you think would be right. You shouldn't reveal my existence, though. Well, you can't anyway.]
What a helpful answer you've come up with...
As I looked back at Tracy, I found her face unchanged, still waiting for me to answer.
Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and started speaking.
"Captain, I won't lie to you, I can't, and as such, I can't tell you the exact source of those charms. Please forgive me."
Even after I said these words, Tracy seemed unperturbed.
Taking another breath, I continued speaking:
"All I can tell you for now, and I swear on my life that it is truth, is that I am not worshipping any unknown or hidden entity, nor do I have any connections to any cult or secret organisation. This is something I simply cannot talk about at present, even if I wanted to. If you'd like to ask me the questions in a dream, or by putting me under your charm, you can, but I'm sorry, I believe I still wouldn't be able to answer that. Please forgive me."
Tracy said nothing for a while as she kept looking at me.
"Are you sure it doesn't put you, or any of my crewmates, in danger?" she asked.
"No, captain. That I can assure you of. I doubt how credible my words would be, but with my limited mysticism knowledge, I don't believe there to be any danger that may come to me or the ship."
As if she'd understood something, I didn't even know what, Tracy nodded her head, and turned back to her normal, beautiful, charming, heroic Captain face again, no longer serious like an inquisitor.
"Well then, you can go now. Tomorrow, come here again so you can brew the Instigator potion and advance. Eleanor will show you out to your new room."
Just as I was about to agree and leave out of this place, I was suddenly struck with an idea.
"Umm… Captain… there is something I wanted to get help with."
I said in a low, and slightly nervous tone.
"What do you need help with?"
Taking a moment to connect my words, I said without stuttering.
"I wanted to learn the mysticism languages, especially Hermes, and the Ancient Hermes."
Tracy smiled at my words, lifting her hand to put it under her chin, and look me up and down again, as if she'd seen me for the first time.
"First time I've heard of a pirate actively seeking education. I bet Edwina would like to have a crewmate like this." she said with a chuckle.
I couldn't help but feel embarrassed, and almost lifted my hand to scratch the back of my head.
"Worry not, it's a good thing to have someone on the ship who knows the importance of knowledge. Talk to Eleanor about time, and you can learn Ancient Feysac and Hermes from her. Visit me around 5 in the evening for however long you're on the ship, and I'll teach you Ancient Hermes. It's better for you to learn Ancient Feysac as well, since it is the origin of all modern languages in the Northern continent."
"Thanks captain!"
I saluted my dear Captain, and bowed to her in gratitude. Then I turned to Eleanor, and passed her a silent thank, too.
Indeed, it was only after so long that I'd looked at her, and she no longer looked serious like she was before. She seemed quite relieved. She simply nodded to me.
"Well then, that should be all, then?"
"Yes, captain."
I said as I nodded to her question affirmatively.
Then, I was led out of the Captain's cabin by my dear First Mate, and was led up to the upper deck, to a small room at the back of the ship.
"This is your room until you leave the ship again. I live next door, heh, so call me if you ever get scared of the dark sea in the night."
Eleanor said, as she looked into my eyes at level, with her one hand on my shoulder, and the other in her pocket. We were the same height.
"I'll call you when I'm free and feel like taking your linguistic class. Till then, rest and enjoy."
She said as she patted my shoulder twice.
"Thanks, Ma'am Eleanor."
I said with a little smile. Indeed, it seemed the appropriate mood to have a little back and forth with her.
"Well then, good night. I shall see you tomorrow, little Lorenzo."
She said as she walked past me.
I wished her a good night too, and entered the small room I'd been given.