Shoresway

Shoresway

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Sometimes, when Wiuin is out sailing, headed down the Summerstorm Stream to the ocean, he’ll pass the dam, wave to Stema…And turn back out to face the ocean and see another ship approaching him. Just another small ship, with a singular dragon in it. And Wiuin is not filled with dread, or fear, or even companionship and warmth. No. He is filled with mild irritation.

The sailor coming his way is none other than Shoresway, the world’s least effective pirate. Shoresway has been captivated by sailing since he was very young. He built his own boat, and has set to the seas on his own with the goal of becoming the greatest and most terrifying pirate in the land.

But of course, there are a few problems with his plan.

First of all, Shoresway is not exactly terrifying on his own. Even a crew probably wouldn’t make him any scarier. He’s got the energy and enthusiasm of a little hatchling, with big, bright, starry eyes. He likes the idea of piracy more than the practice. He can’t even swing a sword, and he’s never successfully stolen anything in his life. He doesn’t really grasp the idea of forcibly boarding other ships, and thinks that if he just yells from his boat for them to hand over all of their stuff, other sailors will just oblige. This strategy has yet to work for him.

Secondly, he’s not smart. Not as in, he’s not a genius, or anything — no, as in, he doesn’t really grasp bare minimum concepts. You can’t break any rules until you learn them, and Shoresway can’t read, so learning the rules is right out the window. He’s sworn to sail the seven seas — except he can’t count to seven, and also Sornieth doesn’t have seven seas, and he fails to recognize that it’s just an expression. He spends more time being fascinated by basic scientific concepts like ice melting or boats floating than doing any actual sailing.

Thirdly and finally, any dragon who can’t count and can’t read wouldn’t be able to put a functional boat together, and Shoresway is no exception. His boat is a total mess. The planks are badly put together, and there’s gaps in between them. The planks aren’t tied tight enough and are put together at crooked angles, so his boat is extremely prone to falling apart and sinking. Luckily, Shoresway is a Water dragon and can swim, but flailing around in the Summerstorm Stream isn’t exactly good for his image.

And even if he were in a functional boat, he can’t even sail properly. The Summerstorm Stream is a straight line that goes one way, out to the ocean, and somehow Shoresway keeps going in circles, which should be physically impossible, and yet here he is.

When Wiuin encounters Shoresway on his way out to the ocean, he is annoyed. Because seeing Shoresway means that Wiuin will have to deal with his ineffectual attempts at piracy, watch his boat fall apart, fish him out of the water, and help him put his boat back together. This has happened so many times that Shoresway has begun to see Wiuin as a kind of friend, and while the feeling may not be entirely mutual, no matter how many times Wiuin’s trips are diverted, he will always help Shoresway out. Perhaps he is secretly rooting for Shoresway’s dreams to come true — if only so he’ll sail away from the Summerstorm Stream and finally leave him alone.