Aftershock

[Alexia Longbow]

It was one of those days when a simple stroll to clear her mind turned into an aimless wander that brought surprise and confusion to delicate features when Alexia finally took note of her surroundings. Hadn't she just left the university library? How long had she been walking? How did she even get there? Where was there exactly? All these questions and dozens more buzzed in her brain as she continued to walk down a quiet boardwalk, most of its inhabitants already out on the water save for one or two vessels.

One particular ship caught her attention. There was nothing very standout about it. It had the usual structure of a seafaring ship. Not terribly modern, but sturdy and spacious. But there was something about it that made her pause mid step and watch as its crew scrambled about clumsily. It wasn't just the befuddlement of the crew that drew her in, but the overall odd vibrations. A fuzziness the very wood of the ship gave off that no one else seemed to be able to physically see or feel. There was something dissonant in the way it subtly bobbed in the shallow water. Dark pretty brows knitted as she took involuntary steps toward the boat. As she neared, she could hear someone barking orders while the rest scrambled to follow them.

"Sirens." An unexpected voice, slightly gruff but still undeniably feminine, made the aspiring little mageling jump.

"Wh-What?" Her eyebrows knit in confusion as she turned in search of the source.

Standing a few feet to her side, There was a tall, weather-worn woman, her thumbs hooked into her thick belt that held a long sword safely in its scabbard.

"That ships been cursed by sirens." She explained. "It gets down into the wood of it. The nails. Can’t explain it, but nothing in or on that ship will ever sail right again. 'Specially the sailors."

Alexia frowned as she turned back to the now clearly rattled crew. Not a single member could keep a straight line when they walked. They dropped things and bumped into each other and structures on the ship. Unable to help herself, she took another step towards it.

"Best be careful. Wouldn't want any of that to rub off." It was unclear if the sailor was joking or not. She certainly didn't stick around to clarify. Instead, she simply shook her head and wandered off, muttering to herself about it being such a shame.

Stubborn as usual, she walked right to the edge of the dock. The ship was just close enough to touch with strained fingertips. As soon as she did, an odd, tingling sensation, like the pins and needles of a limb fallen asleep, began to creep up her fingers. Slowly at first, shimmering little bits of enchantment appeared in the periphery of her vision. She leaned in, certain she could hear a low hum buzzing from within the wood, just as the sailor had said.

Rather than pull back, she flattened her palm against the side of the massive vessel. At first, the glowing enchantment remained steady. After a few moments, it seemed to grow cognizant of her presence and started to swarm where her palm rested. Slowly at first but building speed. It began to travel up her wrist and onto her forearm when suddenly it all began to dissipate.
It seemed as if her touch drew the enchantment out like a poison, pulling from every nook and cranny of the ship until it no longer vibrated. It wasn't long before the momentum began to draw from the sailors themselves, freeing them of the fuzzy feeling they had been unable to shake. It was as if a dense veil had been lifted from their heads and they recognized each other for the first time in weeks.

The first mate, temporarily put in charge by the incapacitated state of their captain, blinked in surprise. She stopped mid order and rushed to the edge of the boat to peer over the side. She would be rewarded with the sight of the last Ontari frowning at the wood her palm rested on. Still a bit befuddled, she cleared her throat and shouted down.

"Whattaye think yer doin, lass?" Her voice boomed down, startling her for the second time.

"Wh-What?" She gasped, nearly jumping out of her skin for the second time in just a few minutes. She pulled her hand back and stared at her palm for a moment.

"Stay right there!" The first mate ordered before rushing to disembark. With her newly restored clarity, it didn't take her long to reach the spot where Alexia stood, although she huffed and puffed from the frenzied pace.

"Who are ye and what have ye done to my ship?" She demanded in a bit of an accusing tone.

It took a long moment for Alexia to pull her gaze from the palm of her petite hand and finally meet the first mate's. When she did, an odd intensity in her dark, fathomless eyes made the sailor slow her approach.

"I d-don't know. Something was... a-affecting it." She turned her puzzled look toward the wood. Although the difference was palpable, there was still a bit of the odd effect deep within the grain. Without giving it a second thought, she placed her palm against the very same spot as before. Surprisingly, the first mate simply watched.

It was as if her touch gave the siren curse perceptibility. What was left of it began to glow and with dogged determination, traveled through the ship's structure toward her hand. But as soon as it touched her skin, it dissipated again. Evaporated into nothing. Soon, every last bit of the curse was gone.

When all she could feel was solid wood, humble and unambitious, she calmly pulled her hand away. There was no point in looking at her hand this time. There was no tingling sensation.

The first mate watched in awe and for a long moment was too dumbfounded to speak. When she finally did open her mouth, she marveled at the change the petite woman seemed to bring about.

“How’d ye manage that? They’ve been unsteady since we came across those cursed creatures. Even plugging their ears with beeswax couldn’t fully spare them.” She said as she jutted her chin to the suddenly steady sailors bustling about.

“Couldn’t spare any of us…” Before the first mate could wrap her head around what had just happened, she heard the call from above. It was one of the crew.

"It's the captain! He's comin' 'round!" Any further thoughts she'd intended to share with Alexia were abandoned as she turned and charged back onto the ship.

The little healer simply watched as the first mate disappeared within her crew. She lingered for a moment or two before wandering off again, as she was wont to do. The deed was done, quickly pushed from her mind as she now began thinking of dinner plans with her beloved.

But others were not so quick to dismiss what had happened. The docks had eyes and ears and many of them were paying close attention. Before long, lips would be buzzing with whispers and murmurs about the strange little fae-like creature that seemed to have removed a curse from a ship, rather than place one.