The Clockwork Void- Prologue

"Looks like another storm is coming, Cap'n." a young pirate said from the top deck. Captain Jacob Loren has been on a hunt for the man responsible for killing his beloved Belle, his wife, and nearly slaughtering his son Daedrick, who is now almost a full-fledged swashbucker. Daedrick had also been spending a few nights with women, which he shouldn't have been doing in the first place, but since Daedrick had been the spitting image of himself for most of his teenage years, Jacob had learned to let it go. He knew that Daedrick had more wits about him than most people had assumed.

The thunder in the distance became louder as the mighty airship nicknamed Adelle sailed closer and closer to the wicked squall before her. Jacob commanded his men to prepare for the rough skies ahead, but he knew that this was not their first run-in with a violent storm. The winds picked up as the sailors then began to rush to their bunks while Captain Jacob and his son stood on the balcony of the cabin overlooking a breathtaking mountain view. Jacob then took a cigar out of his pocket, turned to his son and began to light it with a small match.

"So, when are you finally going to settle down with just one girl, Daedrick? I mean, forgive me if I'm bein' rude, but don't ye think it's 'bout time to start lookin'? I know ye been sleepin' with the girls at the brothels, but when are ye gonna find a girl who is actually nice?"
Daedrick was quiet for a moment then stared at the mountains before him, noticing the crevices that Mother Nature had spent years chiseling into these beautiful slaps of rock. Then, he had an epiphany.

Her face was a light sandstone color and her eyes reflected like the bold amethyst earrings he had stolen off of a noble not too long ago. Her smile was so captivating and her pink lips seemed so soft and subtle, and he looked down at this woman's hands and noticed a rather large pocketwatch dangling from her fingers as she twirled it daintily. He was so captivated by this image that he leaned forward as if he were to kiss her sweet lips, but was immediately pulled back to reality by his father.


"Daedrick! What are ye doin'?! Ye were about to go overboard! Somethin' on yer mind, son?" His father asked. Daedrick only shook his head and said, "It's only a mirage."

"A mirage, eh? Ye sure ye didn't see any kinda witchcraft magic goin' on in the distance? I heard there was witches in these parts..."
Daedrick then ignored his father's words and went back inside to avoid the downpour of rain which put out his father's cigar. His father cursed and followed Daedrick inside. The winds began to pick up, and the crewmen began to get rowdy again, but all Daedrick could think about now was the vision that he was just now given.

If I ever want to marry a girl... I want to marry her...