Chapter 387:Journey.
The teleportation circle activated shortly.
A familiar distortion spread through the chamber as Atheline and Lilith stepped into the center of the formation. Their luggage had already been reduced to only what they considered necessary. There was no point carrying half the palace with them when they possessed spatial storage.
Their little fox sat comfortably beside Lilith, seemingly unconcerned about their next destination. The light intensified, then the world disappeared.
When their surroundings returned, the difference was immediate. The air was colder, and a strong northern wind swept across the teleportation platform, carrying with it the unmistakable scent of the sea.
Atheline looked around.
They had arrived in the northern part of their kingdom, far from the capital.
Unlike the teleportation chamber within the palace, this one was located inside a fortified coastal settlement. Beyond the stone walls, the sea stretched endlessly toward the horizon.
Lilith pulled her cloak slightly closer around herself.
"We’re early."
"By a few hours." Atheline looked toward the harbor. "I suppose that’s better than being late."
They descended from the platform. Several guards immediately recognized them and bowed.
"Your Majesties."
Lilith nodded.
"Is the vessel ready?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." The guard gestured toward the harbor. "Everything has been prepared."
They walked toward the docks.
The harbor was considerably quieter than the capital. Ships moved slowly through the water, their sails catching the northern wind. Merchants shouted instructions as cargo was loaded onto vessels, while sailors hurried across wooden platforms.
But one ship immediately stood out. It wasn’t the largest vessel in the harbor, but it was clearly designed for important passengers.
Its hull was reinforced with magical materials, and several layers of protective formations could be seen faintly glowing along its sides. A dark flag bearing the royal insignia fluttered from the highest mast.
Atheline looked at it.
"That’s ours?"
"Yes."
A palace representative waiting near the dock bowed.
"The vessel was prepared according to your instructions."
Lilith nodded.
"Good."
They walked aboard.
The deck was spacious, with enough room for several dozen passengers despite the fact that only a handful would be traveling.
A few representatives had already arrived.
They were people selected to accompany the royal couple to the Dragonic Island, though none were members of the main council.
The dragons had made it clear that the gathering was primarily for rulers and their most trusted representatives.
There was no need to bring an army. In fact, bringing one would probably have been interpreted as hostility.
Atheline looked around.
"It irks me that we’re traveling alone to such a dangerous place."
"Not quite." Lilith pointed toward the handful of representatives. "With them."
Atheline smiled.
"Close enough but you know I’m not talking about that."
One of the representatives approached.
"Your Majesties, everything is ready."
"Then let’s depart."
The captain immediately gave the order, and the ropes were released. The ship slowly pulled away from the harbor.
Atheline stood near the railing as the northern coastline gradually receded behind them. Their kingdom became smaller, then smaller still. Eventually, the only thing visible was the endless horizon.
The ship picked up speed. Magical circles beneath the hull activated, assisting the sails and allowing the vessel to move faster than an ordinary ship ever could.
Lilith joined him.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Atheline watched the waves.
"There’s something different about this sea."
Lilith looked toward the water.
"We’re still close to the Blood Ocean but we’re moving away from it."
The Blood Ocean was visible in the distance.
Its waters carried an unnatural darkness compared to the surrounding sea.
Even from several kilometers away, it was obvious that something was wrong with it. The corruption had changed the ocean itself, but the ship didn’t approach it; instead, they traveled along the northern route, gradually moving toward the newer waters.
The Ferra Sea.
The enormous body of water northeast of the Elven lands. It was comparatively young in the history of the world, having formed after the great changes brought about by the Cataclysm.
Unlike the Blood Ocean, the Ferra Sea remained relatively clean.
For now.
Atheline watched the boundary between the two bodies of water.
"It’s strange."
"What?"
"The world as a whole."
Lilith looked at him.
"After everything we’ve seen, I don’t think I’ll ever look at the map the same way again."
She understood immediately.
The continents had once been connected and the ancient world had been completely different. It had been torn apart during the Cataclysm.
The seas had changed, the World Tree had somehow survived, and civilizations had risen again over the ruins of what had existed before.
"Neither will I," she admitted.
The ship continued northeast.
By late afternoon, the Blood Ocean had disappeared behind them. The water beneath the ship became clearer and the wind also changed, it carried a colder, cleaner scent.
They had entered the Ferra Sea. One of the representatives approached them.
"Your Majesties."
Atheline turned.
"Yes?"
"We should reach the Dragonic Island by tomorrow."
Atheline nodded.
"That matches the estimated travel time."
"The ship’s enchantments should allow us to maintain this speed throughout the night."
"Good."
The representative bowed before returning to his duties. Atheline looked toward Lilith.
"One day, then we finally meet the famed dragons."
Lilith smiled faintly.
"We’ve met many powerful beings."
"None like dragons."
"No." She rested her hands against the railing. "They’re among the oldest surviving races."
Atheline nodded.
"And probably know more about the Cataclysm than almost anyone."
"Which makes this meeting more important than the corruption alone."
Atheline glanced at her.
"You think they’ll talk about it?"
"If they believe it is relevant."
"And if they don’t?"
"Then we’ll have to find another way for them to talk about it."
He smiled.
"That’s what I expected you to say."
Their conversation was interrupted by the little fox. She had wandered onto the deck and was staring suspiciously at the waves.
Atheline crouched and picked it up.
"You don’t like boats?"
The fox looked at him, then it looked at the ocean, then back at him.
Lilith laughed.
"It probably doesn’t understand why the ground is moving."
Atheline smiled.
"That’s fair."
He carried the fox toward one of the sheltered areas of the deck. The representatives occasionally glanced toward them in both fascination and confusion.
The journey was otherwise peaceful. There were no attacks, no corrupted creatures appeared, or no storms threatened the ship.
It was almost unnervingly uneventful. As evening approached, the crew prepared dinner. The royal couple ate with the accompanying representatives.
The conversation was mostly about the upcoming meeting. Everyone had heard rumors. Some said the dragons had discovered a new breed of corrupted beast. Others believed the new variant might be connected to the Blood Ocean.
There were even rumors that the dragons had found evidence of something ancient beneath the sea. None of the rumors had been confirmed.
Atheline listened more than he spoke. He didn’t trust rumors, not after everything they had discovered.
When dinner ended, the representatives eventually retired to their cabins and the deck became quieter.
Atheline and Lilith remained outside.
The sun had disappeared beneath the horizon, stars filled the sky,and the Ferra Sea reflected them like scattered pieces of glass.
Lilith leaned against the railing.
"Beautiful."
Atheline nodded.
"Very."
Neither spoke for some time, then Atheline looked toward the horizon.
"Do you think the dragons know about the fairy sanctuary?"
Lilith considered the question.
"Perhaps."
"The fairies were hidden for centuries."
"That doesn’t mean the dragons couldn’t know they call themselves all knowing for a reason."
"True." He frowned. "And if they know..."
Lilith finished the thought.
"They might know about the ancient world as well."
Atheline’s gaze became distant. So many pieces remained scattered across history, perhaps the dragons would provide some of them, or perhaps they would only create more questions.
Either way, tomorrow would be important.
Lilith reached for his hand.
"Don’t think about it tonight."
Atheline looked at her.
"You know me too well."
"I do."
She smiled.
They remained there until the cold became uncomfortable. Eventually, they returned inside.
The ship continued sailing through the darkness, the magical circles humming beneath their feet.
The Ferra Sea stretched endlessly around them.
.
.
.
Atheline was awakened by shouting. For a few seconds, he remained still, half-conscious as he tried to determine whether the voices had come from inside the ship or from somewhere outside.
Then the entire vessel lurched. His eyes opened immediately. Lilith was already awake.
"What was that?"
Another violent movement shook the ship. The sound of waves crashing against the hull followed.
Atheline sat up.
"Storm?"
Lilith was already getting out of bed.
"Something else."
A deep roar rolled across the sea and it wasn’t thunder. Both of them recognized that immediately.
Atheline grabbed his clothes and weapons while Lilith moved toward the door. They stepped onto the deck.
The peaceful sea from earlier had transformed completely. Dark clouds covered the sky. Lightning flashed repeatedly in the distance, illuminating enormous waves that rose and fell around the ship.
Rain poured across the deck.
Sailors were running from one side of the vessel to another, shouting instructions as they struggled to keep the ship steady.
Atheline grabbed the railing.
"What happened?"