《Syan's Odyssey》


 Prologue

    A ship floated lazily on the ocean with its sails and anchor raised. One man, the only man on the ship, sat on a stool in the middle of the deck. He was the ship''s captain, and his last order to his crew was to abandon the ship and leave him behind. He didn''t want them to die with him.


    The captain of the ship was named Clovis Sylvestre Aquila. His feathered hair was barely contained by his old white and brown bandana. He wore his dark blue coat over his shoulders but kept his arms out of his sleeves. Everything else he wore was a few days fresh off a Spanish sailor''s corpse. He was strapped from chest to heel with pistols. Sabers, and knives with some tucked away in hidden compartments. The wind blew hard on the captain, but his eyes were focused on the pearl necklace between his fingers.


    Only two pearls were attached to a golden chain, but the pearls were a rare, natural blue. Clovis always wondered how his captain back in the day managed to get a hold of something like the pearls. Their color alone would have been enough for any pirate to fight to the death over them, and ironically, it was part of the reason he found himself alone on his ship.


    Before Clovis'' orders, he and his crew had made enemies with another up-and-coming pirate, Kiren McCormick. As far as Clovis knew at the time, Kiren didn''t have any sailing background, and Clovis believed his quick rise to infamy was carried by his ruthless nature. Clovis found out the hard way that Kiren also had the power to back up the infamy. In Kiren''s latest attempt to take the blue pearls from Clovis'' corpse, Clovis decided to run, thinking he could outrun the rookie pirate in his superiorly built boat.


    However, Kiren had monsters working for him.


    Despite being able to control the water like Poseiden, Clovis realized Kiren was relentless and would not stop until the pearls were in his hands. And so, through arguments with his first mate and crew, Clovis decided to wait for Kiren alone.


    Suddenly, the ship rocked. Hooks attached to ropes firmly gripped the ship''s starboard. The opposing ship was slowly pulled until the two ships violently hit each other.


    Still looking at the pearls, Clovis heard manic laughter as monstrous men leaped onto his ship. They surrounded the sole captain with weapons trained on him, but Clovis remained steady and calm.


    Soon, the monsters parted ways for the one human that was on the ship, and it was for this man that Clovis looked up from his treasure. For this man, Clovis stood from his seated position. Before him was Kiren McCormick.


    Kiren was shorter than Clovis. His long red hair was wildly unkept and was topped with a tricorn hat that barely fit him. Across his chest was holstered a shark-toothed dagger that was just as much of a treasure to Kiren as the blue pearls were to Clovis. Kiren smiled like a predator who successfully caught his prey but hadn''t killed it yet.


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    Clovis was straight-faced. He knew he was going to die.


    "Where''s your crew, old man?" Kiren asked. There was no sarcasm in the question.


    "I sent them away," Clovis replied honestly. I don''t know where they have gone or where they will go."


    "Even till your last days, you continue to live up to the title of Chivalrous Pirate." When Clovis didn''t respond, Kiren pulled out his knife and brandished it towards Clovis'' chest. "Draw your weapons. I can''t let a legend like you die without a fight to remember. Besides, I want to feel like I earned your pearls."


    Without hesitation, Clovis drew his sword and almost reached Kiren''s neck while avoiding the dagger. Of course, he was not able to finish the fight in that instance, and that was his one good shot.


    As the fight raged on, the water around the two boats became violent even though not a cloud was in sight. Blood and saltwater swirled on the deck of Clovis'' ship to a point where Kiren''s crew had to make more space for the combatants. Some went so far as to get on the other boat. Stray bullets from Clovis caught some of the crew, with some dying outright.


    As space on the ship increased, Clovis and Kiren took advantage where they could. This being Clovis'' ship, he had the benefit of knowing every crack and failing of the ship and used it to slow down or prone Kiren. As the intensity of the fight grew, the captains summoned spectral and physical creatures to fight by their side. The fight was a close one. Clovis put all his strength and experience into every strike and maneuver.


    It wasn''t enough.


    Clovis was bleeding profusely from wounds all over his body. His coat was on the ground covered in boot prints, and his bandana had fallen off. He couldn''t breathe without choking and coughing up his blood, but his eyes never faltered off his enemy.


    Kiren was also covered in blood, but his wounds did not bleed. His smile was manic.


    Then, Kiren''s smile faded as Clovis fell backward. Clovis'' back was on the port side ledge. He was succumbing to his wounds but kept his sword raised and didn''t seem to care that it was shaking.


    "That was a good fight, old man," Kiren proclaimed. He walked forward and crouched in front of Clovis while letting the blade cut him. Again, Kiren didn''t bleed. "But I''ll be taking the pearls now."


    With his dagger, Kiren stabbed Clovis in the heart, causing him to drop his sword. Kiren then triumphantly grabbed the pearl necklace.


    However, before the dagger was pulled out of Clovis, he grabbed both Kiren''s arms with surprising strength. A headbutt caused Kiren to drop the pearls, allowing Clovis to catch them. He forced his body to not collapse, and with his last breath, he blew onto the pearls and then threw them into the sea.


    When Kiren came to and didn''t see the pearls anywhere, he screamed at his crew, asking where the pearls went. When they told him what happened, he violently ordered them to fish the pearls out of the water but clarified that they should not bond with them, or they would be the next to die.


    The monsters that could swim were the first to jump off the boat while others scrambled to gather fishing supplies.


    Kiren went back to Clovis'' corpse to retrieve his knife, only to find that the dead captain was smiling. Kiren had no idea what the old man did, but he had a sickening feeling that no matter what his crew did, he wasn''t getting the pearls that day.


    Clovis had the last laugh.

 The Cicala

    Day 3 on the Cicala------------------------------------------------


    We are almost on the docks of Linburg, and I can thankfully say nothing unexpected has happened. The crew says this must be a good omen when I meet my fiancee. While I don''t believe in anything dealing with luck or omens, I''ll accept anything that will favor me.


    With reports of pirate activity spiking in the Caribians, a similar rise of debauchery is affecting the Mediterranean. Despite the Cicala having one of the best fighting forces my father''s money could buy, I was still afraid we would be bombarded by attacks, given my mother and father were also on the ship.


    My father had lost faith in the government''s ability to protect his trade goods, so he arranged for me to marry the daughter of the Switzer company.


    "By ourselves, we are vulnerable," he would say, "but with the Switzers, we could afford an army."


    This would be a simple task for my family''s business. All we have to do is get to Linburg.


    -Syan Vispond


    I lifted my pen from my journal page and inspected my penmanship. It was my private account of my day-to-day life, so it didn''t have to be perfect. I woke up today feeling stressed and tired, so I hoped writing some of my thoughts down would calm my nerves. Despite not having anything else to write, I was still nervous. Even rubbing my blue pearl necklace didn''t help.


    We were so close to the port that no pirate in their right mind would attack us. There wasn''t a storm cloud in sight since the first day of travel. So, what was I nervous about?


    I closed my notebook and left my private quarters. Every sailor not pulling ropes or climbing up the mast greeted me when I was on deck. I inspected every knot and cannon until I could remember the details of their wear and tear. I took a spare rope and practiced every knot I knew, from the ones I couldn''t remember right away to the ones I could do in my sleep.


    Nothing eased my stress.


    Suddenly, I felt a soft hand on my shoulder. My mother stood over me in her elegant dress and strangely perfect, natural hair.


    "You''ve been moving around the ship as if you have somewhere to be," she said with concern in her voice. "What''s bothering my beloved son?"


    I threw the rope with four knots on it on a barrel. "I can''t seem to calm down since this morning," I replied. "The trip has been nothing less than perfect, yet I still find myself on edge."


    My mother smiled. "Have you considered that you are nervous about meeting your betrothed?"


    "Why would that bother me?"


    "Syan, this is the first time you will officially meet the person you will spend the rest of your life with."


    "And I will make a great first impression."


    "Leave him be, Barbera." My father''s strong voice came from behind my mother.


    My father didn''t hide his wealth. From his neatly trimmed beard on his sharp face to the gold rings he wore, my father was proud of what he had built and the fruits of his works. He was the greatest man I knew.


    "I''m sure Syan will get over it, whatever it is."


    My mother wasn''t convinced and I wasn''t doing a good job of convincing myself. I considered the potential of my mother being right, but as I thought deeply about where my stress was coming from, I almost couldn''t believe it.


    Last night, I was on the deck to look at the moon reflecting on the water''s surface. Even then, I felt drained, like I was ending the day after working on the ship. Regardless, I had never seen the sea so calm around a ship so far from the coast, and the view was enough to revitalize me.


    I returned to my room once I had my fill of tranquil scenery. Before I went below deck, something caught my eye, and I looked up towards the mast. Bright as the moon and perched just below the crow''s nest were two piercing, gold predatory eyes of a falcon staring back at me.


    No. This "thing" was too big to be a falcon. It was too dark to see anything else about the creature, but if it wasn''t the size of a human, it could have easily been mistaken for a falcon. What''s worse, this creature had a look of intelligence that was difficult to describe. It made me think of the monsters I read about as part of my education in sea travel.


    A harpy.


    Before I could alert anyone, the creature flew off into the night, avoiding the gaze of the watchmen in the crow''s nest.


    Thinking back on that event confirmed in my quacking heart that the creature''s gaze robbed me of my peace, yet I still thought it ridiculous. We were almost on dry land and surrounded by other humans. No beast would be foolhardy enough to follow someone like me into a place like Linburg.


    I swallowed my irrational fear and stood beside my parents. Together, we watched the port of Linburg welcome our arrival. We passed other vessels coming in and out of the port city, carrying merchants and soldiers. Dockworkers supported the Cicala crew dock and unloaded cargo on the ship. My family didn''t have to wait long to get off the ship and place our feet on steady ground.


    Waiting for us on the docks was Sully Averill Switzer, my fiancee''s father and current head of the Switzer''s Shipping Company. He wore peach-colored clothing topped with a powdered wig. His smile was adorned with a needle-thin mustache that glistened off the morning sunlight. He was flanked by four guards with muskets in a clasped low-ready position.


    Once we could get onto the docks properly, my father embraced the man like old friends.


    "Sully Averill Switzer!" said my father joyfully. "It has been too long."


    "Good to see the waters were kind to you on your journey, Clemit," replied Sully.


    "A miracle is what it was. I''ve never seen the waters so still before."


    My father then reintroduced my mother, followed by my introduction. This was the first time I had met Mr. Switzer face to face. My father met him during one of the few social gatherings that I didn''t attend with him. It was the only time the two had met in person, and they continued to keep in close contact through letters.


    He didn''t have the same strong presence my father had, but he spoke with such kindness and intelligence that it was hard not to respect him. It was rare to find high-status people with both traits.


    Mr. Switzer led us to his home, chatting with my father as they shared life events.


    "I''m almost jealous," my mother whispered. "He almost never talks to me like that."


    I tried to hold back my laugh, but it was impossible to hide my smile. "He always gets to see you."


    "Well, take my advice. Never tire of talking to your wife no matter how long you''re together."


    As I considered my mother''s words, we finally arrived at the Switzer''s estate. It was a three-story stone building surrounded by greenery on one of the highest points in Linburg. Even the walls had well-trimmed vines growing on them. The back of the building faced the sea, where a large garden was. While all kinds of servants were working in front of the building, the majority looked to be gardeners.


    "When you said you had a prized garden, I must admit I underestimated its size," said my father to Mr. Switzer.


    "It was my wife''s idea," replied Mr. Switzer. "It helps that my daughter enjoys it as well." Mr. Switzer did not hide the fact he was looking at me when he said that. Another hint to help me with my first impression.


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    Mr. Switzer led us inside the mansion. It was as pristine as I expected. However, to someone who wasn''t used to my standard of living, they would have mistaken the place for the halls of Heaven. Waiting patiently were two women: a young one and an older one. They wore similar colors of red to Mr. Switzer, which made me think they were the daughter and the missus, respectively. Mr. Switzer introduced them as Azurea and Carry. They bowed when their names were called.


    Azurea.


    While everyone grew acquainted with each other, my gaze was on Azurea the majority of the time. According to my father, she was younger than me by three years¡ªeighteen, to be exact. Her smile was forced. Perhaps she was struggling to stir up joy for the occasion. When we were properly greeted, she gave nothing away about her opinions of me, telling me she was well-trained in hiding her thoughts via facial control.


    I liked that about her. I wouldn''t know what she was thinking about if it wasn''t for her half-smile.


    She was pretty, but I felt like that was a given. Her black hair was tied up in a bun, and her face was dirt-free and healthy. Her posture was standard for a lady of her status, but clearly, she needed more practice. Her eyes were a seaweed green and surrounded by makeup that accentuated her natural colors.


    It was all¡­ expected.


    Was I looking for something more? Perhaps the problem was that I wasn''t looking for anything more. I was as indifferent to her as I would be to the dock workers or the crew of the Cicala, and it felt wrong.


    Regardless, there wasn''t any way I could change how I felt, so I decided to make it up to her by giving her my undivided attention.


    After exchanging formal greetings, Mr. Switzer said, "Azurea, dear. Why not show Syan the town while I talk with Mr. and Mrs. Vispond."


    Azurea simply nodded and made her way to the door. I looked at my father, then followed Azurea with two guards close behind me.


    Azurea led me into the town where commerce was most active. She expertly explained each building''s purpose and who ran the business inside. For some, she gave a detailed history of businesses'' rise and individuals'' downfall.


    As we got closer to the docks, Azurea showed me the shipwrights and inspectors of trade goods. I scanned each person, looking for ways they could improve efficiency without increasing stress. Some workers noticed my staring and looked back at me, likely wondering who I was. I was about to turn around and let Azurea direct me to the next location, but in the corner of my eye, I noticed one of the workers wasn''t looking directly at me.


    I followed his eyes and realized he was looking at my pearl necklace. I tucked the necklace under my clothes, and he returned to work. I was left feeling uncomfortable, but I shrugged it off as quickly as it came over me. I was used to strangers looking at my jewelry, and the blue pearls stood out. I discovered the pearls almost 16 years ago on a coast and have always worn them. It was a lucky find since jewelers said the color of the pearls was a scarce find. Though this gave me more reason to wear them proudly, sometimes it was nice to remove attention from myself by tucking the pearls under my clothes.


    Azurea continued to explain the sites and landmarks, and I took note of her mannerisms. She was knowledgeable about her town, but she lacked excitement or pride. Her half-effort smile remained on her face throughout the tour. When she wasn''t pointing to something, she kept her arms crossed in front of her and low to her legs.


    I had heard from my mother that some men or women enter arranged marriages with "a downcast face." This was not literally true for Azurea, but I wondered if she had reservations about the marriage. I figured I would ask for her thoughts after the tour.


    As I promised myself, my attention was completely on my bride-to-be, with a few exceptions. One such exception happened when we were making our way back to her home. A bird''s shadow passed me, unintentionally causing me to look up and stop in my tracks.


    The sun made it difficult to identify any details, but I could count three winged silhouettes.


    "Is something wrong, sir," asked one of the guards with an accent. Azurea looked at me with concern as well.


    "No," I lied. "Let''s keep going."


    I tried to hide my panic to the best of my ability by keeping a straight face and taking deep, slow breaths. For the limited time I saw the silhouettes, they only looked like birds and nothing else. Although it wouldn''t have been wrong to stay on my guard due to a lack of certainty, I also didn''t want to be unreasonable. The harpy, or whatever that thing was, wouldn''t attack me now that I was safe in civilization.


    Why would it attack me?


    The thought rang in my head for a while, and I almost laughed, realizing that I was getting worked up for nothing. I had nothing the harpy wanted that it would risk its life to get. With that realization, my steps became lighter, and for the rest of the way, I walked beside Azurea.


    When we reached the mansion, my parents were still talking with the Swizters. The guards who followed us dispersed since we were in a secure place. I thanked Azurea for taking me to see the town with a bow, but her response was not what I expected. After I thanked her, Azurea was silent for a time as she kept her eyes on the ground.


    Suddenly, she asked, "Would you like to sit with me in the garden?"


    "Of course," I replied.


    I followed Azurea through the black iron gate covered in vines. She led me through rows of flower bushes twice as tall as I was, ranging in colors and shapes. Our path was paved with segmented stones as smooth as sandstone. Small animals ran or flew past us, causing me to jump in fright. My cheeks heated when I heard Azurea laughing at the embarrassing display, but I was wise to the humor of the situation.


    We finally reached the end of the garden, from which we had an excellent view of the town and the Mediterranean Sea. The edge of the hill was barbed by a white-painted wooden fence high enough to keep children from climbing over. A bench was set perpendicular to the sea, shaded by a roof, and flanked by short trees. Although I stopped to take in the view, Azurea continued walking until she sat on the bench.


    I looked back at the mansion. The building was still taller than any plant in the garden, giving the second and third floors a view of the town. I scanned each window, wondering if my parents were in one of them. On the roof of the mansion, a man with a rifle stood next to a standing torch.


    I turned back to Azurea and made my way to stand by her. She was still smiling while she looked at the scenery, but it was more relaxed than forced.


    "Have you ever thought about traveling the seas?" she asked suddenly.


    "Is that what you want to do?" I asked in turn. She looked up at me with annoyance, and I quickly tried to fix my mistake. "I have, but not as something I would be doing much of."


    "If you could travel as much as you want and go wherever you want, where would you go?"


    I bit my tongue before I could answer the question with another question. I wanted to know the purpose of her inquiries, but I kept my mother''s words in my mind.


    "I don''t have an adventurer''s heart. I like where I am, what I am and will be doing, and I don''t need to travel much." When Azurea didn''t respond, I asked, "Permission to revisit my question?"


    Azurea laughed. "I apologize for my side glance. I must have looked entitled. The truth is, I don''t know what I want."


    "Are you saying that you don''t want to go through with the marriage?" If she answered yes, while it wouldn''t bother me, it was still something I prayed wouldn''t be a hurdle for her.


    "No, that''s not it!" she said passionately, standing up from her seat. "I want to go through with this¡­ At least, I''m half sure of that. I, like you, want to keep my family business going. I want to be the best wife I can be. Hopefully, to a loving husband. I want to bear him a son so that he doesn¡¯t worry about his family name dying with him like my father." As she spoke, she paced the shaded area. "But I want to pursue my selfish desires, too. I want to travel to lands I have only read about like Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, or beyond. I want to have adventures that only exist in books, dance with legends, and bear witness to the unbelievable."


    Azurea was light on her feet as she daydreamed before me. She danced like a fairy with her arms stretched, pointing at nothing, but for a moment, I could see what she was describing. I could see the River Nile flowing through the impossible desert forest. I could see the faceless heroes of legends and the villains he would bring low. Although these things didn''t appeal to me, I was happy watching for the first time Azurea smiling wide.


    And then she stopped dancing and smiling.


    She continued. "But, like I said, they are selfish desires. It doesn''t help that we live in troubled times." Azurea walked to the fence and placed her hands on the top while leaning forward. "The days of monsters threatening the seas might be long past, but the age of pirates has just begun. This marriage is a way to secure our family''s futures and keep society as we know it afloat." She turned to me with determination in her eyes. "I must put my selfishness aside for the betterment of all¡­ no matter how much it hurts."


    I allowed her words to sit heavily on my heart before I spoke. "You''ve been thinking about this for a while."


    "Yes, and I must admit, sir, I am still conflicted. I know what I must do, but should that always overrule what I want to do?"


    I did not have an answer. What I wanted and needed to do was the same for me. There wasn''t a day I could remember when I wasn''t sure of my path in life. I was a merchant''s son, so I was destined to become a merchant. It was my birthright and what I was trained to become since I could walk. I toiled over books and shed tears from staring at minute details of plans and work patterns. After all of that and more, what else was I good for?


    It would''ve been easier if Azurea felt the same way I did. Although the marriage would happen regardless of how we felt about each other, I was hoping we could say we were on the same page about the importance of the marriage, and there was no doubt between us.


    Azurea''s eyes drifted up to the top of her house. We were silent for a long time, making the air between us awkward. I should have said something. Even if it was a lie, wasn''t there anything better than making my future wife feel uncomfortable?


    But then, Azurea stopped at a point on the roof and progressively formed a look of confusion. My back was towards the building at the time, so I turned to see what was wrong. Nothing seemed to be wrong with the scene. I didn''t see anything that could have been amiss or out of place from the last time I saw the roof.


    That was until I realized I didn''t see a guard make his rounds. I didn''t know the rotation pattern of the roof guards, but Azurea''s confusion told me we should be seeing someone up there.


    My heart sank when, in the corner of my eye, I saw a bird''s shadow pass me and flying towards the Mediterranean. I swiftly turned on my heels with an outstretched arm as I tried to reach Azurea. For only the briefest of moments. I considered what had happened. However, I disregard everything except the drive to keep Azurea close and out of the open.


    To my horror, when I fully turned to my future wife, I saw a harpy behind her with wings spread out to manage its speed and claws fully opened to snatch Azurea off the ground. Time slowed as I realized it was the same harpy whose intelligent eyes watched me the night before.

 To the Ends of the World

    I grabbed Azurea before the harpy''s talons could grasp her. My stomach churned when I heard the tearing of fabric and Azurea screaming in pain before the harpy crashed into the bench, toppling the rest of the structure with it. The crash should have dazed the harpy, so I ran with Azurea''s hand in mine.


    At first, I thought the safest route would be to go straight to the mansion. However, I remembered how fast the harpy could fly.


    "We need a place to hide," I told Azurea.


    "Why not go straight for the mansion?" she asked, breathless.


    "Trust me!" It would have been better if I could have explained my thoughts, but we didn''t have time.


    While still wincing in pain, Azurea led me through a series of bushes with enough space to move around and cover from aerial view. We made it just as we heard a monstrous scream from the cliff''s direction. We were in the bushes as the harpy flew past us. It was low to the foliage but still passed our hiding spot in its haste. Just as I thought, it would have caught up to us before we got to the mansion door.


    I turned to Azurea to see if she was injured. It didn''t take long for me to find blood seeping into her dress where it was ripped by the harpy''s talons. The crimson liquid was coming from her left shoulder blade. She covered her mouth to keep her voice down while I did everything I could to stop the bleeding. Knowing it was clean, I pulled out my handkerchief and pressed it over the wounded area.


    Knowing we couldn''t outrun the harpy, we needed to find a way to outlast it until backup arrived. I didn''t know how long we had to waste, but the commotion should have alerted someone.


    "I know you''re still out here, little merchant," I assumed the harpy was speaking. Its voice was normal and feminine compared to the raspy cawing I expected to hear. Come out and die like a man!"


    The harpy wanted to kill me? I suspected as much, but I couldn''t confirm the intention. It didn''t make any sense, but it didn''t matter.


    Azurea wasn''t doing too well. Tears streamed down her face and on her hands while refusing to make a sound.


    We could hear the harpy furiously ripping apart bushes, and the sound was approaching our hiding space. Azurea wasn''t fit to run, but staying put was a death sentence. It was at that moment that I came up with a horrible plan.


    "I need a weapon," I whispered to Azurea. "Where can I find one?"


    Azurea pointed back toward the cliff and mouthed the word "shed." I remembered seeing another shed near the entrance next to the mansion, but the harpy was in the way. Unfortunately, going in the opposite direction of the harpy would get me further from any reinforcements that could show up.


    There was no time to weigh the options. I threw a rock to the other side of the bush we were under. It landed on the stone pavement, causing the harpy to leap at it like a moth to a flame.


    I rushed out of the bush as fast as my legs could run. I cursed the hard souls of my shoes as they loudly clicked on the pavement and alerted the harpy.


    I didn''t look back but could hear the harpy flapping furiously. When I felt the sound was too close, I rolled out of the way. This caused the harpy to barrel talons-first into a bush wall.


    The action of dodging caused many parts of my clothes to rip. Clumps of mud slid down my back as I stood up. The feeling of something cold and wet running over my skin would have put me in a frenzy. However, my eyes widened as I got a good look at the harpy as she flailed in the bush.


    It had the face of a reasonably young woman around twenty-two. Its skin was light brown, and its unkempt black hair rested on its shoulders. If not for the falcon eyes or the lion''s teeth in place of human teeth, the harpy would have looked like a normal human woman.


    From the neck down, the harpy''s wings, which were in place of human arms, were as long as its body. Its feathers were as black as cast iron. Most of its body was covered in feathers, with only a makeshift sack strapped to her back to "cover" itself.


    The harpy struggled to escape the bush, so I got up and ran towards the shed.


    Once I arrived, I locked the door with the built-in lock and started to look around. The shed was full of long and short-handled gardening tools, a lantern, ropes, and bags of fertilizers. Breathlessly, I grabbed a rope and the lantern. I tied the rope on the handle using the best knot to avoid untangling.


    I lit the lantern as soon as I heard the harpy''s talons scratching at the door. The wood of the door slowly cracked and splintered under the harpy''s furry.


    I spun the lantern, waiting for the harpy''s feet to break through the door. Once it did, I released the lantern, causing it to break and setting the door on fire. Once again stuck in something, the harpy was burning with the door while screeching in pain. Without hesitating, I grabbed a pitchfork and charged at the burning door.


    I stabbed at the exposed foot again and again, even when the harpy cursed at me and threatened my life.


    However, I noticed something was off.


    I stopped stabbing the harpy and realized the pitchfork was going into the harpy''s body. It was like the metal prongs bounced off the creature as if I was poking a tree.


    Once the fire weakened the door enough, the harpy could pull its leg out, but to my shock, it slammed back into the door causing it to break. It grabbed me and threw me out of the shed. I tumbled until I slammed into the wooden fence, and the pitchfork was out of my hands.


    The harpy didn''t take long to fly out of the shed with a few feathers on fire. Its talons were inches from my face when suddenly the creature was batted away from me. It skidded across the garden until its body slammed into a thin tree. The person standing over me was the same dockworker staring at my pearls when Azurea gave me the tour.


    He was a tall, muscular man holding a metal pipe with both gloved hands. His dark brown overall pants were lightly covered in sawdust.


    He ran after the harpy while raising the pipe over his head. He was trying to finish the fight before the creature could get back up. The harpy was dazed and wouldn''t have enough time to get up before its head was smashed in.


    That should have happened, but just as the dock worker was about to bring down the pipe, a copy of the harpy jumped out of the original and stopped the attack. The copy had a blue glow around it, while the original took its time to recuperate.


    The doppelganger harpy used its weight to redirect the pole and the claws on its wings to scratch the face of the dock worker. I didn''t see blood fly, and the dock worker kept fighting as if he wasn''t slashed through the face. The doppelganger kept attacking, and my breath left me when it successfully landed a kick that went straight through the dockworker''s chest.


    However, at that exact moment, the dock worker slammed the doppelganger to the ground by the neck. The harpy''s foot moved through the dock worker''s body as if he were a ghost. Unfortunately, this left an opening for the original harpy to fly over the dock worker and make its way to me. One of its irises had changed shape to look like four spread-out wings.


    To my relief, I heard gunshots that caused the harpy to barrel over the cliff. The doppelganger vanished as guards came running to my side. Two with muskets looked over the cliff''s edge and fired down, only for Mr. Swizter to order them to stop.


    "Not into the city," cried Mr. Swizter. "We don''t want to hit the citizens. You two, go after that thing and bring me its head."


    The guards made their way back to the garden''s gate, along with a few more guards behind them. Because they couldn''t go directly after the harpy, I was afraid it would inevitably getaway. At least I was alive to worry about that.


    --------------------------


    Azurea and I were being tended to in the living room on the first floor. Our families and the dock worker who saved my life were also there standing around us. The dock worker was standing near the door with his hands crossed behind his back and chest out like a soldier.


    His name was F¨¦lix Michael, and he had been working for the Swizter company for ten years. He explained that, while on break, he noticed the harpy flying towards the Switzer estate and took it upon himself to try to deal with it.


    The adults didn''t ask any other questions. They didn''t see the harpy''s attacks go through F¨¦lix, making me wonder why no one asked how a normal human stood against a harpy. To be fair, the adults had a lot on their minds, not the least of which was that their children almost died.


    "I still can''t believe it was a harpy," said Mr. Switzer. "I was starting to believe that they went extinct."


    "They still exist, Sully," said my father. "Their numbers are fleeting, which is a greater mystery that one came to shore."


    "She was after your son, sir," said Mr. F¨¦lix.


    "And pray tell why that would be, my good sir."


    "She was trying to kill your son, then take the necklace around his neck."


    "But why?" asked Mr. Switzer.


    "Because it belonged to the pirate, Clovis Sylvestre Aquila."


    Clovis Sylvestre Aquila. He was one of the most successful pirates who threatened the Mediterranean, partly because he was hard to catch. It was said that he could catch currents that made him the fastest in the entire sea. Some rumors would say that he was able to sink ships without firing a cannonball by commanding a whale to do the deed. Others suggested Clovis would trick other boats into falling into spontaneous whirlpools.


    Regardless of what you thought about Clovis, it''s no surprise that he became famous for his legendary feats alone, and I was shocked to find I was wearing something of his for so long.


    "Impossible!" my father exclaimed. "He died at sea 16 years ago and my son found these pearls on the coast."


    That''s right. Despite the fantastical stories around Clovis, it was hard to believe that I would have found the pearls roughly during the pirate captain''s death.


    "But you know better than anyone that Clovis wasn''t a normal pirate. Twenty years ago, you saved his life and sailed with him for a time." The revelation from Mr. F¨¦lix silenced the room.


    "Is this true, Clemit?" asked my mother. However, my father ignored her question.


    "How do you know such a thing?" my father asked Mr. F¨¦lix.


    "Because Clovis told me. I was his first mate. I say all this to illustrate the kind of danger your son is in."


    "Now, wait just a minute," said Mr. Switzer as he raised his hands in frustration. "Clemit, you were in cahoot with a pirate?"


    "I didn''t know it at the time!" my father defended. "I simply saved a man''s life, but that''s not important right now." My father turned to Mr. Felix and asked, "If my son is in the kind of danger that Clovis had to deal with, then what are your suggestions to keep him safe?"


    "Why are you referring to him?" asked Mrs. Switzer. "When the marriage goes through, we will be able to pay for men and artillery that will scare off any pirate or monster that comes our way."


    All the grown-ups nodded in agreement.


    "Even with that," began Mr. Felix, "Your son will need to be taught about the significance of the necklace and how to control its power."


    "My son has never been shown to have any ''powers,'' as you call them," argued my mother.


    "He most likely didn''t need them before, but the power will begin to manifest after this attack. That is why I ask that I be allowed to train him until he masters his powers."


    "No," I said, speaking for the first time since I came into the building. I took off the pearl necklace, which shocked my parents. The pearls were my prized possession, and startlingly little would have gotten me to part from them. However, if the pearls were going to put my family at risk, I would throw them into the deepest part of the Mediterranean without a second thought.


    I continued, "I''d rather you take them as far away from me as possible."


    However, he backed away as I tried to put the pearls into Mr. F¨¦lix''s hand.


    "I can''t," he responded sadly.


    "I understand I am making you a target by giving you these, but you seem to know more about my necklace than I do."


    "It''s not that. Even if the pearls were halfway across the world from you, they would still be attached to your soul."


    "This is ridiculous," exclaimed Mr. Switzer. "Syan, keep your necklace. Guards. Escort Mr. F¨¦lix off the premises. I will decide on your fate later."


    Mr. F¨¦lix didn''t resist as two guards flanked him and led him to the exit. He looked defeated with his head down.


    I was alarmed and paralyzed. What did Mr. Felix mean when he said the pearls were connected to my soul? Was that why the harpy wanted to kill me over just taking the pearls from my neck?


    Fear and anger gripped my heart like hot tongues. I wanted to throw the pearls on the ground and stomp on them until they were powder. However, I knew the pearls were too durable to be crushed that way.


    Instead, I gathered the resolve to hold back my volatile emotions and walked out of the living room. I didn''t stop until I made it to the room the Switzers offered me. I closed the door and sat on the bed. I placed the pearls on the nightstand and started to clear my mind.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.I needed to be logical about my next steps. First, I needed to learn more about the pearls. I didn''t have much information to work with, but I couldn''t let that stop me. I made my way to the door, but when I opened it, I was met by a surprised Azurea as she was about to knock.


    "Oh! You''re in a hurry," she said bashfully. "Where are you going?"


    "Do you have a study full of books?" I asked.


    "We do. I can take you there if you would like the company."


    "By all means."


    The two of us walked through the corridors, but I kept quickening, forcing Azurea to follow suit. She tried to ask me why I was in such a hurry, but I didn''t answer.


    Eventually, we made it to the study, and I didn''t hesitate to look through each shelf to find what I was looking for.


    "Syan, slow down," Azurea grabbed my arm. She looked scared, and I realized that I was neglecting her. She, too, almost died in the harpy encounter, and I didn''t stop to ask how she was holding up. "At least tell me what you''re looking for," she said.


    "I''m sorry." My muscles loosened and Azurea released my arm. "... I''m looking for information about my pearls in hopes that I can find a way to get rid of them."


    "So, you believe what Mr. F¨¦lix said about the pearls being attached to your soul?"


    "After the harpy attack, do you not believe him?"


    Azurea opened her mouth but quickly closed it to give her time to think about her answer.


    "I think it would be foolish to ignore him. Especially when he mentioned that more powerful assailants will be after you. My parents aren''t worried about it since the marriage will eventually pay for a small army to defend us."


    "And what if they can''t?"


    "Why would you think that?"


    "I saw Mr. F¨¦lix phase through the harpy''s attacks like a ghost and the harpy manifests a copy of itself. Whoever is coming for me can do those things as well. A normal army can''t defend against that."


    Azurea put one hand on her chin while the other supported the first elbow. She was thinking. "We could find humans with similar abilities and put them into this army, but that would increase the time and cost to gather enough fighters." She then looked up at me, removing her chin from her hand. "But would removing the pearls invalidate the need for a stronger army? The whole point of this is to defend our trade goods from pirates. If the pirates we are fighting against have the same abilities Mr. F¨¦lix has, does it matter if you have the pearls?"


    "No one will directly target me or my family without the pearls. It''s the difference between getting a ship sunk every now and again versus having the home base attacked every week. The pearls must go."


    Azurea nodded her head slowly. She must have had some reservations about my idea but didn''t voice them.


    Azurea pulled out all the books related to mythology, monsterology, and arcane traditions, their worn spines creaking in her hands. While some people, including scholars and particular academics, dismissed these studies as relics of a fading age¡ªdeemed increasingly irrelevant in the face of advancing technology and rising skepticism¡ªthose who deal with the seas knew better. Every good sailor knows that the sea is an expert at hiding the world''s secrets within its depths, and we were trained on how to find them.


    We scanned each page under anything involving objects that bind to a human soul. Many examples described the items as curses, and as much as I wanted to call the pearls a curse, Azurea corrected me that they didn''t showcase the usual traits of a cursed item. My¡­ The pearls didn''t change my personality or force me to act uncivilized. With that, we continued to look for items that would be sought after by many while not being hard to find.


    At some point, we stumbled upon a name: The Abyssal Warden. The book described the Warden as a Sailing Spirit¡ªa human who gained the power to control the seas. Those lucky enough to encounter the Warden''s ship and live mentioned how the captain always carried a wethered, bronze spyglass with a black-tinted lens.


    "How cruel," noted Azurea as her finger scanned a paragraph. "This person could never go back to the sea because--according to him--The Abyssal Warden would always find him at sea."


    A chill ran down my spine. The book suggested that this spirit hadn''t been seen for half a century, but if a man like that was related to what my pearls were, then it increased my resolve to get rid of them.


    A Sailing Spirit. We continued to look for information about the Sailing Spirits, with the occasional guard checking in on us on behalf of our busy parents.


    It came to light some odd years ago that humans can gain abilities when under threat. Many called it a God-given gift, although that view is slowly being replaced as more people understand the more scientific mechanism of these abilities. These abilities ranged from enhanced strength to what Mr. F¨¦lix was able to do, but the limits have yet to be defined.


    However, Sailing Spirits like The Abyssal Warden and potentially Clovis Sylvestre Aquila could control nature on a biblical scale. Unfortunately, we were not able to find anything that could back up these claims.


    Our efforts were fruitless.


    "Curses," I muttered. I asked Azurea, "Do you have any other books we can look through?"


    "None for learning, I''m afraid."


    "Then I am at a loss. The only lead I have left is with Mr. F¨¦lix, and I doubt I will be allowed to see him."


    "He clearly knows more than we do, but what makes you think he will know how to get rid of the pearls?"


    I leaned over the table, now covered in old yet well-kept books. The sight cast my mind back to my room, with a study desk littered with maps and manuscripts. After years of my arm rubbing that one spot, a part of the wood had worn out into a light yellow compared to pristine brown. It was a marker of a studious boy who knew that one day, his hard work would pay off by leading to a grand future.


    It was all being uprooted.


    If only I had a better collection of books. The local library would have a higher quantity. Still, if Azurea''s family was limited regarding magical artifacts, there was no telling how much worse the library would be. Academia was the next best option, but as mentioned before, they wouldn''t likely have students looking into the supernatural.


    There was one more option.


    "I need to go to the Library of Alexandria," I said with a new sense of determination.


    Azurea smiled and said gleefully, "That''s in Egypt! I can''t wait until we get there."


    "We? There''s no we in this. I''m going alone."


    "And why is that?" she pouted.


    "Egypt is on the other side of the Mediterranean. There will be monsters and pirates all after me. I can''t put you in that kind of danger."


    "Counterpoint: You need me to go with you on this journey."


    "Elaborate," I said while crossing my arms.


    "First, you will need me to get you out of the estate. I doubt either of our parents will want us outside until they are sure the harpy is gone. Even then, they will always have guards with us to prevent us from leaving Linburg. Second, if you leave without me, my parents will look for a new suiter."


    I opened my mouth to object, saying the journey shouldn''t take too long. Then, I closed my mouth. I almost forgot my own words regarding how dangerous the journey would be.


    Azurea continued, "If we both go, our families will have little choice but to wait for us or send people to bring us back. Either way, you will get a head start. Third, I want you to be my husband."


    "I didn''t think I left such a good impression," I said, feeling my cheeks heat up.


    "That and your family name," she said almost jokingly. "Nevertheless, I truly believe the union of our families will make us the strongest trading business in the Mediterranean, and I won''t lose that over jewelry."


    That''s right. We were both passionate about our family legacy and willing to do anything to keep them safe.


    --------------------------


    The plan was simple: use Azurea''s estate knowledge to slip into the night while our parents were asleep. The guard patrols would have increased, but Azurea was sure she could get past them. On top of that, no one would ever think that the two most valuable people would want to leave under the cover of the night, meaning no one would be looking behind them.


    Next, we had to convince Mr. F¨¦lix to join us. He better understood the threat we would be up against and, as a former pirate, would have sailing knowledge. The idea was to use a small boat to island-hop the many Mediterranean islands until we reached the Nile''s entrance since obtaining a bigger boat would leave a paper trail and would require convincing someone to take two random nobles across the sea. This was easily the riskiest part of the plan, but the benefits of discretion outweighed the limitations.


    Unfortunately, I wasn''t sure how we were going to sway the old pirate to our side. I suspected he could be convinced with a hefty sum of money, but what I would be asking of him would go against what he seemed to want: for me to keep the pearls and utilize their power.


    I had to try.


    Azurea and I discreetly gathered food and clothes throughout the day to avoid suspicion. It was easy to do with our parents deep in conversation about the next plan of action. When night fell, we took what we could with cloaks covering us. We snuck past the guards until we were in town and remained cloaked until we reached Mr. F¨¦lix''s house.


    It was smaller than I expected for a man working for the wealthiest family in Linburg. The house was a one-room, low-ceiling building with its walls and roof bleached by the sun. There was a sign on the door with the name F¨¦lix Michael in faded ink that looked to be newer than the rest of the house. My eyes were drawn to clear windows covered by drapes from the inside. They were the cleanest parts of the house. Light permeated through the clear glass emanating from the fireplace.


    Azurea knocked on the door; however, no one answered. She knocked again, and this time, Mr. F¨¦lix''s voice came from inside.


    "Hold on." It didn''t take long for the door to be opened. He was shocked at first, considering we had our cloaks covering our heads, but once Mr. F¨¦lix recognized who was at his door, his eyes widened in shock and fear. He looked around the street to see if anyone else was nearby.


    "What are you doing here?" Mr. F¨¦lix whispered.


    "I need to inquire about something," I said. "Can we come in?"


    Mr. F¨¦lix looked around the area again before letting me and Azurea inside his home. We both removed our cloaks as we entered the house. The inside was warm but claustrophobic, and there were only a few things to decorate the walls. On the right wall was a fireplace and a bed to the left. Next to the bed was a bag half packed with clothes and rolled-up paper. A desk with a chair under it was covered in ship blueprints and unfinished wood sculptures and peppered with wood shavings.


    As soon as Mr. F¨¦lix closed the door, I began to speak. "I want you to come with me to the Library of Alexandria. I believe I will find a method to remove the pearls there."


    "Why do you want me to come with you?" he asked.


    "You know what''s in store for me. Your knowledge will be vital in navigating through and around the dangers of the world you were a part of."


    "And what makes you think I would want to help you in this mission?"


    "Why don''t you want to help?"


    Mr. F¨¦lix didn''t respond immediately. Instead, he allowed himself to think deeply about the question.


    When he did speak, his voice was soft, as if he was reminiscing about better days. "My captain gave me a task when he disbanded the crew. I was to help guide the next person I saw with the blue pearls. I didn''t understand since he was going into a fight to the death, and I was sure his killer would be the new holder of the pearls." He then turned to me and continued. "When I saw you with the pearls, I was overcome with relief mixed with confusion on how you could have them. I wanted to make you a legend like my captain."


    "But that''s not up to you," I said. "The pearls are under my possession and bound to my soul, as you said. I will decide what I get to do with them."


    There was an uncomfortable pause between Mr. F¨¦lix and me. I was trying to understand him so I could better convince him to come with me, but there was a growing dread within me, making me think I ruined the negotiation with my one-sided desires. My father would have been disappointed.


    The tension broke when Mr. F¨¦lix laughed, confusing both me and Azurea.


    "You''re right. I shouldn''t have tried to force my will onto you. I will travel with you to the Library."


    "That''s it?" asked Azurea. "We thought that you would ask for compensation or put up more of a fight."


    "I don''t know if my captain had this in mind, but I want to live up to his last will. So, to Egypt then. But that will only be our first stop. What will you do if you find out that your desire to remove your phantom relic will take you across the world?"


    "Then that''s what needs to happen," I said, firmly. "Truly, I would rather be done with this within a month''s time."


    "Then we will leave tonight if you are ready." Mr. F¨¦lix didn''t look confident in what he was about to do, but I was grateful he was willing to help me. In a way, it gave me the confidence to move forward into the unfamiliar waters.

 The Harpy

    Denny was used to being cut, bashed, and stabbed by every weapon under the sun, but she hated bullets. The hot metal mixed with the impact of the small pellet going faster than the eye could track was unbearable on her skin. It was always sudden and unpredictable, and she had to live with the pain.


    She shouldn''t have suffered such pain. The boy was a spoiled rich kid who had never been in a fight before. When Denny first saw him on the ship''s deck, he had no scare on his hands or face. Yet he managed to outmaneuver her.


    The black feathered harpy scratched on a tree in frustration. She was on a small island she stumbled upon after flying south from the town the boy was in. She could have chosen to roost on many islands like this in the Mediterranean, but with so many being occupied by one faction or another, she wanted to be alone as she gnashed her teeth and shredded the tree into wood shavings.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.It should have been easy.


    Tears started to flood Denny''s eyes as the weight of her failure began to sink in. Any further attempts to take the blue pearls would be impossible by herself. The boy and his family would be on high alert, and even if they didn''t have the means to kill Denny, they could still hurt her.


    Imprison her.


    She needed help, but anyone considering helping her would want the pearls themselves. But what other choice did she have?


    After wiping her tears, Denny took to the sky and flew west. If she was going to get help, she might as well go for the best.

 Man For Hire

    Mr. F¨¦lix was already prepared to leave his home. Much of his belongings and provisions were either in the bag or the chest, and all he had to do was close both and carry them out of the house.


    As we left, Azurea asked, "How long were you planning to leave?"


    "You misunderstand," said Mr. F¨¦lix. "As someone who was always on the move, I learned it is better to have little on you since you never knew when you would be uprooted."


    "Did you learn this from being a pirate?" I asked with some disdain when saying the word pirate.


    "No. Before that, I was a naval pilot for the French."


    "The French? They only recently got their act together with their navy 15 years ago, but Clovis died a year before that. Did you join Clovis because you were unsatisfied with how your country ran the navy?"


    "That''s¡­ scarily close," Mr. F¨¦lix said, dumbfounded.


    We walked the rest of the way to the boat in silence, which was soon replaced by the faint creak of wood from the dock as it was buffered by the salt water. Eventually, Mr. F¨¦lix stopped at the vessel that had an aura of dignity despite its size.


    Its hull was polished smooth from regular care, the wood gleaming faintly under the dim lantern light of the dock. Every rope was coiled with precision, the deck scrubbed clean, and even the patched sail furled neatly against the mast, all speaking to Mr. F¨¦lix''s pride as a navy man. Though it lacked the imposing presence of larger ships, the boat''s orderliness gave it a sense of quiet dignity, as if its reliability mattered more than appearance.


    On the stern of the ship was the name La Discr¨¨te.


    "It almost looks new," Azurea marveled.


    "Thank you," Mr. F¨¦lix said bashfully. "Although it''s great for island hopping, even she can only handle so much if not properly cared for."


    "Another habit from the military?"


    "That one came from my pirate days. Now hurry up and get on."


    Between Mr. F¨¦lix and me, we helped Azurea onto La Discr¨¨te along with the rest of the cargo and unroped the ship from the dock. Mr. F¨¦lix then took two oars and rowed us away from Linburg''s coast faster than I was ready for. Once we were far enough from land, I opened up the sail to catch the salty wind, and it was then that I knew there was no going back.


    There was something weightless about purposely leaving everything I knew until it was hidden by the horizon. I wanted to put a word to what I was feeling, but nothing resonated. Freeing? Honestly, there was no better word to describe it, but freedom always depicted something good and sought after.


    I was free but also exposed to the countless dangers of Mother Nature and human machinations.


    After we were unable to see the coast of Linburg, Mr. F¨¦lix suggested that Azurea and I try to get some sleep.


    "How am I supposed to sleep on a boat so small?" asked Azurea.


    "Use your bag as a pillow," said Mr. F¨¦lix matter of factly.


    Azurea stared skeptically at him, but when he didn''t say anything further, she begrudgingly took her bag and did her best to get comfortable. The old sailor did his best to stifle his laughter as he watched Azurea toss all over the deck. Eventually, she managed to settle down, slowly taking in steady breaths.


    Mr. F¨¦lix turned to me and said, "You should do the same."


    "Earlier at your house," I said, ignoring his request, "it sounded like you called the pearl necklace a ''phantom relic.'' What is that?"


    I couldn''t sleep. While many fears occupied my mind, the potential of the harpy attacking us was at the forefront of them all. Although it came at me with a barbaric ferocity, I knew it was capable of expert stealth just as easily. Beyond my fears, there were remaining questions I wanted to ask Mr. F¨¦lix for answers to, all while the pearls weighed heavily in my pocket.


    Sighing, Mr. F¨¦lix responded. "A phantom relic is an item that houses the manifested spirit of a human''s determination to obtain their strongest desires. Since I''ve never seen it happen, I don''t know what criteria must be met for a human to manifest one of these spirits. Nonetheless, once someone manages to do so, they can put the spirit into a small item so the power can persist in the world even after the original human''s death."


    "Why would Clovis want his power to remain in the world after he dies?"


    "Firstly, the blue pearls were created by Clovis'' captain and Clovis inherited them. As for why anyone would do such a thing¡­" Mr. F¨¦lix stopped so suddenly that I was afraid I''d gone deaf. "Have you ever been afraid to die?"


    The question was even more shocking than the silence.


    "Why is that relevant?" I asked defensively.


    "It''s a hard question, and that''s my point. Some humans gain powers to save themselves from death. It''s like God''s way of keeping us out of death''s clutches for a while longer. And then there are those who manifest even greater power through pure determination. Imagine you become one of the one percent of people who gain the ability to obtain anything you want just for it to fizzle out when you die. Think of everything you could accomplish. The legacy you could build. All of it would fall apart without the foundation of such power."


    Mr. F¨¦lix took a deep breath. The more he talked about the concept, which was both terrifying and intriguing, the more starry-eyed he became. When he spoke again, his voice was somber.


    "People are generally afraid to die," he said. "To be forgotten."


    "Sounds like a spirit that refuses to rest. I read a book that talked about someone called the Abyssal Warden, and it described him as a Sailing Spirit. Do you know if he had a phantom relic?"


    "Based on what I''ve heard, yes. Anyone with a phantom relic can be classified as a Sailing Spirit."


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "The book made it sound like the Warden and Sailing Spirits, to a degree, all had the power to control the seas. Why would so many people want the pearls if other options exist? "


    "Because of all the relics in the world, only the blue pearls and the Warden''s relic could literally control the seas. They were both the crown jewels of the Mediterranean, but the Warden''s relic was lost to the sea years ago."


    "So whoever gets the pearls can control the Mediterranean. It''s because of them Clovis was so successful."


    "And why I want to teach you how to use them. With the pearls and the spirit inside them, you can elevate your family business to heights that even combining your family with the Switzers couldn''t reach."


    "My marriage isn''t about greater success, but for protection. If it weren''t for the uprising of piracy, merging families wouldn''t be necessary and the pearls would only put my family in more danger."


    Mr. F¨¦lix laughed in response, and the boat rocked with the waves. "That''s some strong determination, but is it well-tested?"


    "Do you think I will change my mind?"


    "I think this journey will make you reconsider what you think you know. You''ve lived guarded from most of the wide world and thrown yourself in the thick of it."


    "Was this also why you were willing to come with us to Egypt, to see if I would reconsider?"


    "I like to think my motives are as deep as the water around us. Rest assured, I ultimately want to keep you safe wherever you decide to go."


    I believed him¡ªat least, I believed that I was safe so long as I was with him. However, this man had his own agenda, which was difficult to escape.


    I looked out to the sea, watching the waves rock the ship. The gentle swaying of the boat sometimes makes people sick. Even the biggest galleon can topple into the depths with one strong wave, and there is little anyone can do but pray. Although I have found comfort in the rhythmic sounds of water crashing on the wood of a ship, when I was uneasy I wanted nothing more than for the waters to be still.


    And then they were.


    The water immediately around us was as still as a paved road, only being disturbed by La Discr¨¨te. The salt air started to move faster around me and ruffled my blond hair, indicating an increased speed of the boat. Mr. F¨¦lix blinked in surprise and looked around the boat in disbelief.


    I was just as shocked as he was. I had experienced something similar on the Cicala, but no one noticed it. Then again, most people were asleep when I noticed it.


    "I thought you''ve never used the pearls power before," said Mr. F¨¦lix.


    I frantically pulled the pearls from my pocket. They looked as they always had: gold chains faded where my skin touched them the most, and pearls still a majestic color. Nothing looked out of the ordinary, yet I could feel my energy slowly fade.


    "Am I truly doing this?" I asked.


    Mr. F¨¦lix put a hand to his chin. "I think the Gia Whale is responding to your distress. The spirit in the pearls." He said the last part in response to seeing my confused look.


    "How do I make it stop?"


    Mr. F¨¦lix smiled. "Depends. Are you willing to train for its power?"


    --------------------------


    The Switzer estate was in a panicked uproar. Every staff and guard was ordered to search tirelessly for the missing children of the Switzer and Vispond families, but none could find a clue as to where they went.


    The Switzers were furious. Sully Switzer yelled at the guard leader, asking how the men could not see two young adults sneak past them while Carry Switzer micromanaged everyone''s search efforts. The Switzers had always been in control of things since their business was passed on to them. Of course, they had to deal with unforeseen events, but they never imagined that their daughter''s disappearance was something that they had to plan for.


    Clemit Vispond, on the other hand, was calm.


    "How can you just stand there, Clemit?" asked Sully. "Your son is gone and the marriage is postponed. Everything we''ve planned for is going up in smoke, yet you look like this is a minor inconvenience."


    "Of course, this is an inconvenience, but while you were running around like a Spaniard during Sanfermine, I considered our next best move."


    "And it didn''t behoove you to tell me of such thoughts?"


    "I didn''t want to overstep my boundaries again. This is your house and I wanted to follow your procedures."


    Sully composed himself, realizing his friend was right. The situation was still dire, but there were better things they could do other than panicking.


    "Well, my friend, you have the floor," Sully said. "You better have a good reason for being so calm."


    "I do. I trained my son to be resourceful in all situations. If kidnapped, I''m sure he would have done everything he could to leave a sign suggesting such. He left of his own free will and made it so we could not follow him."


    "But why take my precious Azurea?" Sully asked with his voice cracking under a sudden flow of sadness.


    "I can''t say for certain, but I''m sure both Syan and Azurea understand that with both out of the picture, the marriage would be postponed until they return. Whatever they are planning, they set things up to give them the most time to accomplish their goals."


    Sully fiddled with his mustache while nodding his head in agreement. "As it stands, we have little to work with in terms of figuring out where they went. If we want to get them back promptly, I suggest we hire an expert tracker post haste."


    "My thoughts exactly. Did you have anyone in mind?"


    "I do, but his services will be expensive. However, this is my daughter, and we are discussing our future together. For those things, I will spare no expense."


    The two men took a cart and went to a coast-side fort. The fort was old, made up of salted gray stone bricks with faded red paint on the roofs. It was on top of a cliff with a decently sized port hiding in its shadow. The wooden platform was raised high enough to accommodate the rising tides and crashing waves while also being far enough from the jagged rocks, covered mainly by the planks of drenched wood.


    Every able body moved in time to the beat of an invisible conductor. Those on watch stood like trees and were as focused as a shark. Discipline wasn''t enough to describe the men of the fort.


    Once the cart stopped, Clemit and Sully were escorted to the fort''s front gate. The wooden sign spelled out the name Torre dei Fulmini.


    "I knew we were going to see the best in the business," said Clemit as he and Sully walked into the fort with their guards, "but this wasn''t what I imagined when you said we were hiring a bounty hunter."


    "I did say it would be expensive, and there is no one rated higher than Captain Gideon Voss."


    Clemit almost tripped after hearing the name of the legendary marine captain. "Gideon Voss? Surely not the same Gideon Voss, Hero of the Broken Cove Siege."


    "The very same, although nowadays he goes by a code name in local merchant circles: Davy Jones. Couldn''t tell you why, but that''s less important."


    "That might be why I haven''t heard of his activities lately, but I have never heard of Davy Jones either."


    "Ever had to hire a bounty hunter, Clemit?" When Clemit shook his head, Sully continued. "I have, but this is my first time employing Captain Voss."


    "If what I know of him is still true, then I can see why he would only accept the top price. How much do you think this will cost?"


    "Actually, on the way here, I came up with an idea that could reduce the immediate impact on our funds while securing the potential military we wanted."


    Clemit''s eyes squinted at his friend, not certain if he should criticize Sully''s ambitious plan. Seeing the concern in Clemit''s eyes, Sully continued with his explanation.


    "Although Captain Voss might be drowning in the benefits of his reputation, the one thing he doesn''t have is prestige and a legacy that outlives him. Beyond that, the misplacement of our children has and will set back weeks of planning. I''m taking a page from your book and staying ahead of this setback."


    A small smile inched onto Clemit''s face, seeing his friend and soon-to-be brother-in-law looking past the recent unfortunate events. As long as they continue to do that, everything will be back in order sooner rather than later.

 The Bargain

    Sully and Clemit were led into the office of Captain Gideon Voss. Clemit staggered once he saw the captain standing next to a display case.


    The man was six and a half feet tall, with muscles as thick as bricks. His deep-set, piercing gray eyes were narrow as he dusted the trinkets on the display case with a small brush. He picked up one of the trinkets¡ªa compass¡ªwhich revealed the scars on the back of his left hand. His shoulder-length hair was tied back with a strip of leather. Like burnt coal, the captain''s hair and beard were black and gray.


    The captain put the compass down, forcing Clemit and Sully to examine the trinkets, which were neatly placed on velvet pads.


    The compass was placed in the middle of the three items. It was ornate and had a milky-white stone in the center. To the left of the compass was a conch shell with holes drilled into it, like a recorder. The last one was an hourglass with silver sand.


    Captain Voss turned to look at the two merchants, revealing a spyglass hanging from his right side. The spyglass was bronze, weathered, and tarnished, with barnacles growing on it. The lens was dark, as if painted black or dipped in ink. It seemed useless for anyone to have so close to them, yet both merchants held the question in their throats.


    The captain walked heavily to his chair and sat down. His stern stare was soul-crushing.


    "I don''t like surprise visits," Voss said calmly despite clearly being irritated, "but I don''t often get two potential clients from different houses coming to my office simultaneously."


    "It''s an emergency," said Clemit, shakily.


    "If that is true, then let''s not waste time. I have other things to do."


    Pushing past his nerves, Sully smiled with open hands to show his goodwill. "Captain Voss, I''ve heard you''re the finest bounty hunter on these seas¡ªworth every coin and then some. My daughter, Azurea Switzer, and my associate''s son, Syan Vispond, have disappeared, and we have no idea where they went. My daughter''s safety and future are invaluable to me, as is protecting our trade. I''d like to bring you on but with a twist. I''m not asking for a one-off bounty. I want you to be part of something greater. A force that''ll protect my family and interests in the water."


    Gideon crosses his arms, unflinching. Despite this, he was shocked by the unusually tantalizing offer.  "I must admit, this is a bold offer you are presenting, but I''m afraid you are asking for more than you can handle. What exactly do you think I''d get out of this, beyond a split wage and the ''privilege'' of guarding spoiled merchants?"


    Sully leaned forward over General Voss'' desk, keeping his tone persuasive but measured. "Not just a guard, Captain. You''d have autonomy over the guard and a position of authority few enjoy. I''d call you the Commander of Coastal Defenses¡ªa title, yes, but one with tangible benefits. Additionally, I''d offer you a salary plus a share in any profits made on secure shipments and substantial bonuses when Syan and Azurea are returned."


    Gideon raised an eyebrow with a hint of interest. By itself, the offer sounded exceptional, and because of that, Gideon had to be extra careful about how he should move forward.  "An ongoing stake in the profits sounds tempting. But with the amount I bring to a job, I could live comfortably off a dozen smaller bounties rather than lock myself down to one family''s whims. You''ll have to do better than a few shares."


    Sully was careful to keep his enthusiasm in check while calculating the offer. He had Gideon on the hook, but Sully couldn''t be too haste less he sour the prospect. "What if you weren''t merely a guard but a partner? After all, my empire depends on securing trade routes. No one knows the sea''s threats better than you. I''m offering a percentage ownership in one of our most profitable trade lines in exchange for your expertise. What you help us build, you''d own a share in. You''d be a partner in more than just a name¡ªa legacy, if you will, beyond that of a bounty hunter."


    Gideon paused, weighing the merit of what he just heard. A glint of curiosity and calculation crossed his eyes. "A legacy, you say? Yet, you also get a skilled shadow to bring back two runaways who probably don''t want to be found. Does this legacy come with guarantees that I won''t be tossed aside once they''re back under your roof?"


    "You''re right to question that. Here''s my word¡ªand it will be in writing, of course¡ªthat as long as you are part of my guard, you retain that partnership stake. Whether Syan and my daughter return soon or not, I''m looking for stability in this position, and there''s no one I trust more with it than you."


    Gideon stared Sully down, wondering if the merchant''s words would break under the tension. When it didn''t, Gideon conceded, raising his hands in defeat. "Fine. I''ll take your offer, but I have complete authority in the field. My methods are my own. Rest assured, your children will be returned to you, but after that, I expect the partnership to hold. I won''t be your pawn."


    Sully smiled and shook his hand firmly. "Then we have a deal, Captain Voss. I''ll ensure you have everything you need, starting immediately."


    After a stand-in document detailing the agreement between Sully, Clemit, and Captain Voss was written and signed, Sully and Clemit described their children and the situation and left the fort simultaneously. Sully and Clemit entered the cart and returned to Linburg while Captain Voss reached the fort''s highest point.


    "I''m impressed," said Clemit, looking at Sully''s satisfied grin. "Though, I suspect you had a lot of information about the Captain going into the negotiation?"


    "You give me too much praise. Gideon Voss was stern, but he wore his desires on his sleeves. A proud man like that with no family would jump at the chance to build a legacy that will outlive him. That said, I fear I have overplayed my hand. I should have the funds to satisfy him for now, but the long-term agreement only works so long as our children wed."


    "Perhaps you did overpromise, but we can''t afford to not take risks. At least this way, we have secured the best fighter on this side of the Mediterranean. Besides, with all the pirates out and about, there was no better option we could have committed to."


    As the merchant men made their way home, Gideon Voss unclipped and extended the barnacle-crusted spyglass. Looking through it, he methodically scanned the land until his gaze passed the sea''s border. Slowly and purposefully, he kept the spyglass steady and his movement unwavering.


    The spyglass had a unique trait to which the captain owed his great success. It allowed the user to see as far as the horizon and beyond, meaning that as long as Gideon knew where to look and his mark was in an open area, there was nowhere on earth anyone could hide from the captain.


    Eventually, he found who he was looking for: a short, blond-haired young man sailing in a small boat with a girl with long black hair and a middle-aged man. They were sailing southward. Correction, southeastward. Gideon had to get the directions precisely so he could go straight towards the small group.


    Once the general direction was burned into his mind, Gideon collapsed the spyglass, made his way to the biggest ship on the dock, and prepared his men to sail without delay. Sully Switzer and Clemit Vispond were fools for giving Gideon such an easy shot at a promotion.


    --------------------------


    I was sitting on the edge of a small island we landed on. We landed late in the morning, and Mr. F¨¦lix had spent the last hour staring at two maps. One had multiple marks on it within the sea, while the other was mostly clean of any marks. Azurea was with him, curiously looking at the maps.


    I had the pearl necklace suspended between my fingers, mulling over the realization that I had access to their powers, perhaps since the moment I touched them. When I first sat down, I pulled out my journal to write down my thoughts.


    First morning of the Mission to rid myself of my prize blue, twin pearl necklace-------------


    I have recently learned that my connection with the inanimate object may be far deeper than I initially thought. The revelation has staggered me in my conviction to go to the Library of Alexandria to obtain the knowledge I seek. I would like to believe this is a mere bump in the road, but even after an admittedly uncomfortable sleep, I find myself still feeling a hint of hesitation.


    However, in moments of doubt, I must push harder against the desire to quit. I must.


    -Syan Vispond


    The journal sat next to me, bound by a leather belt. There was so much more I wanted to write down, but I didn''t know how to articulate what I was feeling. The pearls had been with me for so long and apparently been nothing but helpful since. Even if I was discarding them for the sake of my family, was it right to pay back their kindness with abandonment?


    "Why are you taking so much time mapping out our course?" Asked Azurea, sounding impatient. I kept my gaze on the pearls but struggled to avert my ears from the rest of the conversation.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    While not looking up at her, Mr. F¨¦lix said, "Partly because I''m looking for the safest route. I want to avoid as many colonized islands as possible while still remembering that we will have to make ports for supplies and maintenance."


    "How many people know about the blue pearls if you have to be this cautious?"


    "Not many, but the world is a lot smaller than you might think. I''ve made the rounds of this sea, and I''m guaranteed to run into someone from my past while on the water."


    "You make traveling sound like it gets boring after a while," Azurea sounded disappointed.


    "What do you mean?"


    "I just think that if I meet the same people regardless of where I go, then I haven''t gone far enough."


    Mr. F¨¦lix continued to look at his maps but said nothing in response. This caused Azurea to lose interest and make her way to me, given that she had nothing else to do.


    "I don''t think it''s healthy to brood like that," she said, concerned.


    I put the pearls around my neck out of habit, but by the time I realized what I did, it would have been too much of a hassle to take them off. Rubbing my eyes, I said, "I''m fine."


    "I don''t believe you."


    I shrugged my shoulders. It didn''t matter if she believed me or not. How I felt was my burden to bear. Apparently, that was the wrong answer, as Azurea responded with a disappointed tone.


    "Syan, we''re supposed to be working together."


    "That''s not why you''re here. You won''t have to do anything as long as I can keep you out of trouble."


    Azurea folded her arms, her gaze sharpening. "Is that really what you think this is? Some protection arrangement you signed up for?"


    "I didn''t initially want to bring you." The words came out harsher than I intended, but I kept going. "The harpy attack proved to me that I cannot defend anything when we are guarded, let alone on the open sea. Now¡­ you are my responsibility."


    Azurea was silent for a moment and didn''t move from where she was standing. I thought she was angry with me, but I was surprised to watch her sit beside me and look out at the lapping waters. Gently, she said, "I came because I wanted to. I came because I wanted to be beside you. That was my choice. I hope you can respect that."


    "Azurea¡­" I felt the words slip, catching myself just in time to allow myself to choose my next words carefully. If not for her, I wouldn''t have been able to pursue this path. Of course, I trusted her to make her own decisions to keep herself safe. However¡­ "Azurea, you can''t fight. You have no powers to speak of, and from what I can tell, you don''t have a strong sense of naval travel."


    I stopped there as I felt I had proven my point while also avoiding going too far with my words. Perhaps I was too late to prevent that outcome. Azurea''s eyes were wide with shock, but she didn''t try to fight back. Even though she must have known before I said anything outside of helping postpone the cancellation of the marriage, she had few applicable skills for the journey ahead. I didn''t want to shame her for it, but the fact weighed on me as heavily as the pearls on my chest.


    Suddenly, Mr. F¨¦lix made a triumphant cry that startled both me and Azurea. "I figured out the course," he said as he made his way to the boat with the maps rolled up. "I left room for sudden changes, so pray that doesn''t happen."


    We all climbed onto La Discr¨¨te and were back onto open waters. We had sailed no more than a klick when Mr. F¨¦lix asked me a question.


    "Hey, Syan. You wouldn''t mind calming the waters again, would you?"


    "I''m still not sure how I''ve been doing it," I replied.


    "Of course you do. As long as you want to do it, the Gia Whale will obey your wish."


    "Why is the spirit called the Gia Whale?" asked Azurea.


    "On top of being able to control water, the Gia Whale can also manipulate the element of earth."


    "That''s incredible."


    I sighed. "Pardon if I sound like a brat, but do I have to?"


    "Well, I''m not forcing you, but it will help us go faster, which in turn will reduce the time it will take for us to get to Egypt." The old sailor''s smile was devious. I knew there was a double motive to his request. By using the pearl''s powers, I gained the benefit of reducing the time we were at sea, but in doing so, I would be "training" my abilities just as Mr. F¨¦lix wanted.


    A new voice entered the conversation, "And you are running low on time, no thanks to me."


    In the blink of an eye, Mr. F¨¦lix grabbed a harpoon nestled on the side of the La Discr¨¨te, ready to throw it like an ancient Olympic Athlete. When the harpoon was thrown, the harpy didn''t move, allowing the harpoon to pierce its body. The monster grimaced in pain, only to start cackling in amusement as she removed the hunting tool from its flesh. The clanking metal was haunting in the wind.


    "I didn''t come here to attack you, little merchant," the harpy mocked. "But I didn''t come in peace, either."


    "Then why are you here?" I asked, standing between the harpy and Azurea. The harpy smiled, hearing the trembling in my voice.


    "You are a lot more resourceful than I initially gave you credit for, and I''m not foolish enough to think that any future encounters with you will be easier. So, I submitted myself to ask for assistance from someone who is just as keen on getting the Gia Whale spirit as me. Of course, I didn''t think you would have left your ivory tower and traded it for a dingy."


    "How did you find us?" asked Mr. F¨¦lix with controlled aggression.


    "I''m a fast flier."


    "Too fast for your own good," I said. "I''ll hazard a guess that your allies are leagues away, meaning you gave up their surprise advantage. Now that we know someone is after us, we can make preparations to--"


    The harpy laughs maniacally at my suggestion, causing my words to get caught in my throat.


    "You think you can prepare against Kiren McCormick? Even Clovis couldn''t outrun that bloodhound in the end, and you''re barely willing to use Gia Whale for a cruise."


    Mr. F¨¦lix''s eyes widened at the mention of Kiren McCormick, and for a moment, I was afraid he wasn''t breathing. "Kiren? You think Kiren is going to help you and not stab you in the back?"


    "He''s more a friend to monsters than any human."


    "Is that supposed to make him trustworthy?"


    "Don''t lecture me on who I can trust!" The harpy''s wrath matched what I saw back at Linburg. "You were affiliated with that deplorable Clovis, so you have no room to judge." The harpy took a deep breath and turned to me. Any enjoyment she was having with the encounter was lost. "I came to see the fear on your face one last time."


    The harpy suddenly flew off without additional fanfare or taunting. We watched as the creature went west, its loud flapping wings growing quieter. In its place, my heart pounded uncontrollably.


    "We have to change course to a populated island!" I demanded suddenly as I prepared to change the direction of the sails.


    "Hold on there, kid!" Mr. F¨¦lix grabbed one of my arms and stopped my efforts. Azurea also tried to do something, but with everyone''s sudden movement, La Discr¨¨te began to uncomfortably rock. No one moved until everything was as still as a boat could be.


    "Let go of me," I said once I was sure we were safe from being capsized.


    "At least take a moment to think about what you are doing," Mr. F¨¦lix released my hand but remained in between me and the rope that controlled the sail.


    "You heard the harpy. Kiren McCormick is after us, and we have no hope in dealing with him with just us. We need help."


    "It''s like you said, Kiren is potentially days from us. At least that gives us time to think about our situation."


    "What''s there to think about?!"


    "Firstly, who do you think will help us? Unless you have your family''s fortune on you, we will have to tell people what they will be signing up for, including who you are and what the pearls are."


    "H-he''s right, Syan," said Azurea. "We need to be discreet."


    "We lost the benefit of discretion when the harpy found us," I argued. I continued to speak to Mr. F¨¦lix, "Even if you are right and there won''t be anyone to help us, at least allow us to obtain proper weapons." In frustration, I kicked the harpoon that fell from the harpy.


    With an offended grimace, Mr. F¨¦lix picked up the harpoon and put it in its rightful place. "Having proper weapons would be nice to have¡­" he paused with a sigh, "but we will need to come up with something more if we want to survive."


    We all fell silent, trying to come up with a plan. Too many islands were occupied by national powers or rogue factions. National powers had the means to defend themselves against pirates like Kiren but had many people eager to ask questions about newcomers. Rogue factions had the opposite problem, with the added potential of being aligned with Kiren or wanting to take the pearls for themselves, baring they knew what the pearls were.


    Suddenly, Azurea''s eyes brightened and she carefully pulled out one of Mr. F¨¦lix''s maps. Mr. F¨¦lix and I looked over her shoulder as she scanned the map until she found what she was looking for.


    As she looked, she said, "We need to find a place to catch our breaths without sacrificing our low profile. There aren''t a lot of places that fit that description." She then pointed at an island that was close to our current location. "I knew it! Erytha is not too far from here."


    I squinted my eyes at the name Erytha. "Weird. I''ve never heard of Erytha before."


    "It''s not a place that trades a lot with the mainland, but my family did at least once. It was where my mother got the idea to grow the garden. According to her, there is a massive tree with roots that grow out and around the entrance of the island, and rumors suggest that they have the ability to move. My mother chalked it up to folklore to ward off invaders, but after the harpy attack and learning about Sailing Spirits, I believe it''s true."


    Mr. F¨¦lix scratched his chin and stared blankly at the map. "I''ve been off the sea for some time, but you would think in my travels I would have run into an island protected by a tree. I would say it has something to do with a Sailing Spirit, but something is off."


    "Sailing Spirits prefer to be hidden, right?" I asked.


    "No¡­ we will use our powers openly, but few people survive the encounters, leaving no trace of what was done. Sailing Spirits are like nomads, rarely settling in one place, or so I thought."


    "Either way," Azurea began, "The fact that neither of you have heard of Erytha should be evidence that it''s a safe place for now. We can get supplies and weapons, rest up, and, in the meantime, devise the best plan possible."


    I glanced over at Azurea, catching the determination in her eyes. I then turned to Mr. F¨¦lix with his arms crossed. He didn''t seem convinced by the idea, but he wasn''t arguing about it either. We didn''t truly know if Erytha would be a safe haven, but I was sure we stood a better chance going there than aimlessly sailing by ourselves.


    "I agree with Azurea. Let''s head to Erytha and figure things out from there."


    Azurea squealed with delight, and Mr. F¨¦lix smiled while shrugging his shoulders.


    "To Erytha," he said. "Let''s get this ship moving before something else decides to come after us."

 Gideon Voss

    58


    59


    60


    Gideon Voss pushed himself off the deck, lamenting how he could only complete 60 pushups. The captain looked over at the crew members he had participated in the work and silently begged him to call them to attention so that their arms could rest. The crew did well, but he still expected them to do better the next time.


    Gideon called them all to attention and quickly dismissed them to their duties. He knew they wanted to complain, but they would sooner throw themselves overboard than have their complaints heard by their captain. He smiled. Gideon had only done that once, and it was near land.


    But he couldn''t be lenient with anyone or anything, including himself. Gideon tightened his clean leather gloves, causing ash to fall from them. The sound of chains rattling in the back of his head caused him to take out a charred shackle key that was suspended by a string around his neck and press his fingers tightly on it.


    As Gideon took a deep breath, the ash stopped falling from the gloves, and the rattling grew silent.


    The shackle key, gloves, and even the barnacle-crusted spyglass strapped to Gideon''s side were all inhabited by spirits, with the spyglass being the first he could secure. He found the spyglass on a wrecked ship and within the tight grip of the ship''s dead captain. It wasn''t until some time later that Gideon discovered that the captain was the infamous Abyssal Warden, who was said to terrorize sailors with the powers of the storms.


    At that moment, Gideon was exposed to the world of Sailing Spirits and would encounter many villains who used their powers to invoke chaos in the Caribbean. If a Sailing Spirit was defeated, Gideon would take their phantom relic and store them away to keep them out of the hands of evil people.


    For a time, Gideon was content with using the powers of the storm, courtesy of the spirit in the spyglass. However, during a raid against a rogue slave trader where most of the fighting was indoors and away from the sea, Gideon realized that the spyglass wasn''t all-powerful and would need other abilities to accommodate his blind spots. The solution wasn''t obvious, but eventually, Gideon learned that a person could command multiple relics at a time but, in doing so, could invoke consequences that many people weren''t willing to take on.


    When Gideon reached the bow, he unclipped the spyglass from his waist belt and extended it to see Syan and his band. They were still too far for even the man in the crow''s nest to see them, but Gideon could tell they slightly changed course. As Gideon watched his quarry, a sound like a serpent slithering on the deck arose, but only he could hear it.


    Something was causing the leviathan of the spyglass to grow restless. Usually, when the leviathan stirred, it created a slow and insistent pressure in Gideon''s chest, matching the slithering rhythm. Typically, all it took to quiet the beast was a tight grip on the spyglass and a stern command. This time, the leviathan grew quiet but not silent.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    It started when Gideon got a good look at Syan. What did the leviathan want with the merchant boy?


    All the spirits that Gideon had under his control were like that somehow. They were the creations of human desires and thus wanted those desires achieved. Such strong personalities led to conflict between spirits in the user''s psyche. If the spirits were at peace, the mental strain to keep them from overwhelming a person would take a force of will that most people didn''t have.


    BANG! Splash!


    "Pirates off the stern!"


    Calmly, Gideon looked in the direction that one of the crew members shouted. He caught a glimpse of the black flag flapping on top of the center mast of the hostile ship. He then used his spyglass to assess the ship.


    Another cannonball was shot, this time hitting the side of the ship. The crew took cover and did their best to stay out of the water.


    The pirate ship was well dressed with weapons and must have been confident to attack a ship of similar size. Of course, Gideon didn''t fly a country''s flag, so the pirates were most likely under the assumption that they were targeting a quarry with no strings attached. The men of the pirate crew had their swords out, waving them unyieldingly as they laughed.


    "Orders, captain?!" called out one of the younger men. By the looks in his eye, this was the first time he saw battle on the sea.


    "Keep course!" Gideon commanded over the chaotic noise. "I will not have anything slow down our progress."


    "But captain--" began the young man, but he was cut off by a clap of thunder. The young man''s eyes grew wider in fear. The sky was clear, and there wasn''t a storm cloud on the horizon. However, when he looked up, the sky changed from bright blue to inky black. The sun''s rays were barely enough to cut through the darkness.


    The young man''s breath hitched as he turned toward his captain. A crack of lightning tore across the sky, illuminating the once-calm waters. In its brief, blinding flash, a monstrous shape seemed to twist through the sea¡ªa massive serpent with its form cutting through the waves with terrifying grace. But as the light faded, the beast disappeared, leaving only the roiling black clouds above.


    He stumbled back, clutching a rail for support. His gaze darted from the sea to his captain, who stood unmoved, his face a carved statue. He then turned to the rest of the crew, and while those of similar age and experience looked as frightened as he did, the veterans were eerily unphased.


    Gideon spoke to the young man again, shaking the bones of those who heard him.


    "When I say keep course," Gideon''s voice rang out, cutting through the rising panic, "I don''t expect to hear words."


    The veteran crew members didn''t flinch at the sudden flash of lightning that split the sky. They had seen this before¡ªhow the captain wielded the elements like an extension of his will. Yet even familiarity didn''t dull the weight of his presence. Whispers of awe passed between the deckhands as the younger crew members glanced nervously toward the older sailors, who remained steady in their tasks.


    "I expect action," Gideon continued, his tone measured but heavy, "and loyalty."


    The storm around them roared, but the crew moved with discipline. Every man understood that disobedience or hesitation wasn''t an option under their captain''s watchful eye. They didn''t just fear his powers; they respected him enough to obey without question.

 Kiren McCormick

    A bloody smile.


    Not much bothered Kiren McCormick. He had committed acts that would make Vlad the Impaler proud. He destroyed families, turned proud leaders into sniveling cowards, and made nobles watch their estates burn by his hands. Never once did Kiren not have a smile on his face.


    However, Clovis'' bloody smile after he died in the fight between him and Kiren made the infamous pirate''s skin crawl. Clovis did something to the blue pearls that made them impossible to find, and Kiren spent the last 16 years trying to figure out what the old man did.


    When Kiren''s crew didn''t find the peals despite many of them being skilled swimmers, he quickly moved on to increase his empire. He wouldn''t let obsession bind his freedom and figured he would be better if they didn''t show up again. Still, he couldn''t shake away the desire to know what Clovis knew in his final moments.


    Something shifted on top of Kiren, causing him to open his eyes.


    He was in his private quarters, sitting in his chair. The desk in front of him had a map buried under a fruit bowl, empty plates of food, an assortment of books, and ornate trinkets that he needed to put in a secure chest. Hanging on the wall next to the door is the bloody coat of Clovis Sylvestre.


    Looking down, Kiren found sleeping on his chest Lyssara Tidecaller, the lookout for the Obsidian Wraith. Everyone on the ship calls her Whisper as a joke. She stirred slightly in her sleep, her shimmering tail twitching as if she were dreaming of swimming in the water.


    Everyone on the ship except Kiren was a monster, and Whisper was a siren. She was a lithe, fish-like humanoid with shimmering, scale-covered skin and fins that resembled fabric ripped from the queen''s dress. Though beautiful to look at a glance, her inviting smile hid deadly teeth meant to hold onto prey until they drowned. She could speak but chose to stay mute for the crew''s sake lest she accidentally bewitch them with her singing voice.


    As the lookout, she was meant to be outside watching the waves for danger or the next quarry or landmark. This wasn''t shocking, though. Whisper would often neglect her duties to mess with other crew mates or cling to Kiren, but thankfully, she was good enough at her job that she couldn''t be replaced easily, given her hearing was unmatched. If she was here, it must mean the sea was calm.


    Kiren liked having her warm body on him, but it wasn''t lost on him that she, in part, only got this close to him because of the strong scent of blood on him and the fact he was a human. Either way, seeing as Whisper wasn''t waking up soon, he leaned his head back into the chair to try and rest again.


    "Kiren!"


    Kiren''s eyes snapped open as his door was unceremoniously opened by the harpy that employed him, Denny.


    She looked infuriated, her black feathers ruffling and falling onto the wooden floor. Whisper was unmoving even though Kiren knew she heard the nagging harpy as soon as she set her talons on the ship. Her voice, sharper than her talons, was filled with contempt for Kiren''s relaxed position.


    "I come here to report where the blue pearls are only for the first thing I''m told is to wait for you since you are taking a nap." The talons on Denny''s feet clicked against the floor in a desynchronized pattern, slightly irritating Kiren.


    "We''ve already set course to Linburg," Kiren retorted tiredly. "There''s no need to rush these things."


    "He''s not in Linburg anymore," Kiren sat up in his chair as Denny continued. "He''s making his way south."


    Denny proceeded to explain what she saw: the merchant boy, the girl with him in the garden, and the man who suddenly appeared to help the merchant boy, all on a small boat.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Kiren nodded through Denny''s briefing, but he returned to relaxing in his chair when she was done. His grin widened as he drummed his fingers on the edge of the chair.


    "So," he said finally, his tone now light while dripping with malice, "you had the boy at your mercy, far away from a hoard of bodyguards and defenses, yet you chose to leave him be?"


    "''A cornered animal bites the hardest.'' He may be inexperienced in using the powers of the Gia Whale, but after our first encounter and being around water, I didn''t want to risk a fight."


    Kiren tilted his head. Denny''s feathers rustled as she could feel the silent judgment coming from the infamous man. Her blood boiled at the thought that anyone would look down on her in such a way.


    With puffed-out feathers, Denny said, "You don''t get to question my methods, Kiren. Remember, you''re the one working for me."


    Kiren''s chuckle was low and predatory. He rose from his chair, and Whisper slid gracefully to the floor with a hiss of displeasure. Kiren ignored her, his full attention on Denny.


    The harpy didn''t move until she heard a guttural growl behind her. She looked to see an ethereal dog with short hair that laid flat on its body as if it came out of the water, droopy ears, and fish eyes that blankly looked up at her. The growling beast bared its full row of teeth at her, showing that the long canines could go through a grown man''s arm in one bite.


    This was the spirit Kiren manifested, but as far as Denny knew, no one knew its name. It was an intelligent yet strange move to keep something like your spirit''s name hidden since most Sailing Spirits openly reveal such information.


    Denny turned back to Kiren, who was now standing before her. Despite her height and imposing wings, he still managed to loom over her with a suffocating presence. It didn''t help that another similar-looking dog was standing next to him. His left eye now looked like a drop of blood floating in the water.


    Another mystery about Kiren''s main spirit was how multiple individuals could exist simultaneously. Each spirit can only manifest as one creature, so Kiren has multiple horrifying creatures.


    "Working for you," he repeated as though tasting the words. "I suppose, technically, that''s true. It''s also true that I can''t kill you, given your curse and all. However," Kiren''s voice dropped while still smiling as he saw the dread form in Denny''s eyes, "don''t forget who''s the captain here."


    Denny tried to step back, only for the dog behind her to snap at her ankles. With a hiss, she said, "All I''m saying is that if you don''t move fast, the pearls will slip away from us again."


    Kiren pulled back from Denny, his eyes trailing upward as if calculating something. He then returned to his desk while the dogs remained where they were. With one sweep of his arm, Kiren brushed aside the clutter to see the sea chart underneath the trash. He pulled out his bone knife to help scan the map methodically until he found what he sought.


    "You said they were going south?" he mused. "Then their next best stop is Erytha."


    Denny stiffened. "How can you know that?"


    "Simple," said Kiren cheerfully. "If your merchant boy has as much wit as you believe he does, he will want a neutral port, and Erytha has made a name for itself as a safe place."


    Denny''s claws dug into the wood, trying to remember Erytha. She had been flying around the sea for a while and yet never heard of a safe, neutral haven called Erytha. "How do you know about this place?"


    "Because one of my ships is coming soon to retrieve something."


    "Retrieve what?"


    Kiren''s grin widened. "The specifics aren''t important to you. Just know that my control over the Mediterranean is tight, and the merchant boy has nowhere to run. Now, do you see why I''m not in a rush?"


    Kiren''s spirit dogs faded back into the nothing they came from with a whine, leaving the ship''s creak and distant call of seabirds. Whisper, who had been watching silently from the floor, finally rose, her movements fluid and unnerving in her grace. She crossed the room to stand behind Kiren, her luminous eyes fixed on Denny.


    "Prepare the crew," Kiren said, his tone brisk and commanding at last. "We''ll make for the islands near Erytha at full speed."


    Denny lingered for a moment, her feathers still ruffled. She wasn''t a part of Kiren''s crew, so she didn''t understand why he was giving her orders. Still, she was too shaken to argue semantics and left the room, her frustration palpable.


    Whisper''s laugh was ethereal, as if she was underwater, her lips curving into a faint, predatory smile. She swayed behind him like a coral reef, gazing at her human captain with fascination. Although he accepted her and other monsters when the rest of his kind feared them, Kiren could be just as cruel to them as he was to other humans. It was paradoxically pleasing and terrifying to her.


    "I agree," Kiren replied to the unspoken comment. "She will be fun to have around even though we are both after the blue pearls."

 The Heart and Eyes of Erytha

    Day 3 after leaving Linburg------------------------------


    The last 2 days have forced me to call upon the spirit within the blue pearls known as the Gia Whale. The Mediterranean is full of pirate activity, so avoiding any boat that tried to approach us was paramount. If we had stuck to Mr. F¨¦lix''s original plan of staying away from populated islands, the number of ships we would run into would have been reduced. That said, we had to change course towards Erytha to gain sanctuary from the coming threat of Kiren McCormick.


    As I have continued to use the pearls'' powers, I''ve started to hear things. At first, the sound I heard was clearest when I began to doze off. It was a melodic yet haunting call of a beast underwater. It would start out low, like a distant calling of my name, then rise as fast as an air bubble attempting to reach the surface. Mr. F¨¦lix suggested it was the Gia Whale trying to contact me in an attempt to forge a closer bond.


    I can''t say I understand why. Surely, it knows my intention to part with it. Perhaps it''s making a plea to stop me from committing. However, I will not allow it or anyone to change my mind.


    -Syan Vispond


    Seeing the island of Erytha was both a marvel and a relief. It was hard to focus on the sickness of being in close quarters on the open sea for days versus the island''s natural impossibility.


    The island was a crescent shape where the center rose as a hill. The tree stood taller than the hill. It was enthroned despite its crooked trunk and off-centered foundation. The roots that grew into the sea were as thick as a ship mast and sprouted out of the island''s points, creating a gate separating the port from the open sea. There was enough room for ships to sail through, but each had to be careful not to let their sails get cut by the pointy wood. Erytha was adorned with the vibrant colors of flowers and other plants dancing in the salty wind.


    The water around the island was as clear as glass, allowing us to see the coral garden inhabited by vibrantly colored fish. The fish calmly swam beside La Discr¨¨te and didn''t disperse when I slipped my hand into the water. A childish laugh slipped from my lips.


    Mr. F¨¦lix directed his ship through the bramble of roots with little effort. He was amazed as he saw ships from different factions casually sail past each other with slight tension in the air. Erytha clearly had the strength to keep even superpowers from taking up arms against each other.


    "I see many flags flown from island settlements," Mr. F¨¦lix muttered. "But even they should have the power to take over a place like this. This place must truly be protected by the power of a Sailing Spirit."


    "You mentioned that Sailing Spirits were like nomads," I said, "but why is that part of the culture?"


    "You''ve probably assumed this already, but most Sailing Spirits are pirates or adventurers. When you desire something as much as we do, you tend to want to obtain it by any means necessary, which can lead to illegal acts. I only knew about selfish uses for such power; it never crossed my mind that someone could use it for others.


    "I meant to ask you this before, but why do you say ''we'' when discussing Sailing Spirits? You''re not one, are you?"


    "I''m not. I wanted to be, but I wanted the power more than having a desire the powers could help me gain."


    We finally reached the dock, but before securing the boat, Azurea leaped off La Discr¨¨te so quickly that it violently shook. I almost flipped over the side and into the water. I tried to call out for her, but her excitement at seeing so many plants caused her to run into the town despite the odd looks from the different people she passed.


    "Let her go, Syan," said Mr. F¨¦lix calmly. "We are safe here, aren''t we? Even outlaws seem to be on their best behavior here."


    "We aren''t here to have fun, that''s for sure," I said as I helped Mr. Felix secure the boat.


    "You should try while we have the chance. Feel free to relieve some stress before we take off again."


    "I would rather focus on getting weapons and resources as planned."


    "Let me worry about that. Now go and find your fiancee."


    Begrudgingly, I left the boat and made my way down the docks.


    Walking into the town, I could smell the earthy scent of vegetables and the sweet tang of baked fruits drifting in the air. It was easy to guess that Erytha''s main product involved agriculture. The market''s bright reds, oranges, and yellows indicated that the town could grow valuable foods that sailors needed to stay healthy while sailing. It explained why they didn''t need to trade with the mainland since they would act as a central point for most near-island trade routes.


    Laughing children either ran past me without a care or were leading goats, pigs, or chickens across the roads as adults casually watched them with proud smiles. The sounds added to the feeling of safety I rarely found in new places.


    Did these people ever experience combat? Would they have weapons for sale?


    I grabbed my necklace, pressed it underneath my clothes, and rubbed the pearls. The Gia Whale''s melody echoed in the back of my mind, bringing a sense of comfort. Even without seeing if the tree could move, it was clear that Erytha was a safe place. Azurea, Mr. F¨¦lix, and I could rest easily here without worrying about our pursuers.


    But we would have to leave eventually. If we couldn''t find any way to stand against someone like Kiren, then it would be a matter of time before we would have no choice but to waltz into his hands.


    I suddenly stopped holding the pearls, disgusted that I would still want comfort from them. I may be using the power, but I refuse to grow more attached to the relic.


    Suddenly, a crash of clattering metal caused me to jump in fear as if something bad was happening. As I scanned the area, I only found a boy on the ground with a box toppled over in front of him. The contents included scraps of metal and cloth stitched together like a kite as well as gears and screws. He scrambled to gather the scraps but carefully put the small pieces in the box first. He was about 19, given his broad shoulders, which suggested he was a hard worker, but he was paired with a gangly posture that betrayed his youthful awkwardness.


    His soot-smeared face was focused, and his dark brown eyes narrowed in irritation as he muttered under his breath. He wore a well-worn brown smith''s apron over farmer''s clothes ruined by grease stains, and his brown hair was cut low and smooth like a river rock.


    As he did his best to quickly pick up the tan metal, other people would walk around him like he was a hazard on the road. It felt hypocritical of an island town that was so peaceful to leave someone who clearly needed help. A stray thought implied that there was a reason for the boy''s treatment and to leave things as they were. Besides, I had to find Azurea and ensure she didn''t get into trouble.


    However, the story of the Good Samaritan convinced me to push away my first thought and take a step toward the boy.


    "Let me help you with that," I said, offering my hand to the boy, waiting to see if he would accept my help. He did, with a relieved smile.


    Once everything was returned to the box and the boy was on his feet, he said, "Thanks for that. You must be new around here."


    "What made you think that?" I asked as we began to walk toward the tree.


    "If you knew who I was, you would think I was weird and not help me."


    I looked back at the box, noting the strange contraptions inside. I was close to calling the items kites, but there were also metal replicas of birds and insects crudely put together with gears and metal sticks. I inspected one resembling a dragonfly, wondering how anyone could hold it together, let alone function.


    "This stuff is weird, but that shouldn''t excuse anyone from helping needy people." I then gently placed the item back into the box.


    The boy laughed. "Not one for holding back how you feel. I like that."


    "What is this stuff anyway? "


    "I''m trying to find a way to fly."


    "Fly?!" I asked, almost tripping over my own feet. "Why would you want to do that?"


    "Because of all the things man has been able to conquer, the air has not been something the common man has access to. Once I crack the secrets of flight, I will take my findings to the mainland."


    "To what end?"


    "I don''t know. I still have to make the darn thing work. Say, you seem like a man who knows his way around money. Don''t suppose you''d be willing to sponsor my endeavors."


    I looked skeptically at the half-finished inventions while hiding my surprise at how easily the boy could guess one of my strengths. Hypothetically speaking, if this kid could crack the flight method, it could give the trading company an edge over the competition.


    "I''m still not sure what the final product will look like. I would rather invest in reliable transportation than hypothetical wings for humans."


    At the end of the day, what the boy presented was hypothetical, and I couldn''t invest in that.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The boy shrugged his shoulders as much as he could and then introduced himself.


    "I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Neegul. I''d shake your hand, but mine are full." He laughed, but I was distracted by the strange name.


    "Neegul? Like a seagull?"


    "With a different spelling, but yes."


    "That''s an interesting name."


    "Depends on what your name is."


    "My apologies. I''m¡ª" I paused, wondering if I should give out my real name, but I wasn''t confident enough to make up a fake one without discussing it with Azurea or Mr. F¨¦lix. "¡ªSyan Vispond.


    It was rare for anyone to know my name outside my hometown and trader''s guilds. There was little chance that this person would have heard of me.


    "Definitely sounds like a money man''s name. Speaking of which, where are you going? You''ve been following me during our entire conversation."


    At this point, we were on a hill, going to a cliffside garden. It wasn''t gated like the one the Switzer had, but it was clearly more vibrant even from a far distance.


    "I''m looking for my fiancee. She ran off like a child, and I don''t know where she ended up."


    "Do you know where she could''ve gone?"


    I sighed in frustration. "She''s a general lover of plants, so she could be anywhere on this island."


    "Well, if you ask, I know someone who could find your fiancee instantly."


    I followed Neegul up the uneven stone path, trusting that this stranger had a surefire method of finding Azurea. The shadow of the massive tree started to cover us as the sounds of the town faded beneath us. I began to hesitate because I was sure Azurea wouldn''t have left the town, and I wondered how someone on a hill could know where a singular person could be in such a compact place.


    "Where are we going?" I asked, glancing at Neegul skeptically.


    "The Heart of Erytha, a garden to represent the birth of Erytha. We will find my sister, Victoria, there."


    Neegul nodded in the direction of the cliff we were walking to. Perched on the edge and overlooking the endless expanse of the turquoise sea was a garden. Although smaller than the one the Switzers had, it sprawled in natural terraces, with each level carved delicately into the rock face, linked by winding stone paths and steps softened by creeping moss.


    Lush greenery thrived in abundance, with plants that were equally foreign and strangely familiar to me. Tropical-colored flowers with petals like flames stood alongside soft, delicate blooms in shades of lavender and white. Large, leafy plants provided shade for the smaller, more fragile ones while climbing vines wound their way up wooden trellises that swayed gently in the breeze.


    "And how will your sister help me find my fiancee?" I asked.


    Neegul turned with a confident grin while doing his best to hold up the metal box. "My sister is the island''s seer. She should be able to figure out where anyone is so long as they are on the Erytha." Neegul''s smile faded in confusion when I didn''t react. "And¡­ this doesn''t shock you?"


    "Given the impossible nature of this place and what I''ve experienced in the last couple of days, I don''t see why a fortune teller would surprise me."


    "Seer, not a fortune teller. Most new people who hear that have a bigger reaction, whether that is excitement or disbelief."


    I should have been excited. I should capitalize on the opportunity if someone could give me any foreknowledge. However, it wouldn''t matter if I couldn''t guarantee Azurea''s safety. Erytha might be a safe place, but I needed to keep everything under control.


    We finally got to the garden, where Neegul led me to a workbench at the center. There, I saw a 16-year-old girl focused on tending to the closest plants to her. She hummed a melody with the same calmness as Erytha while her hands moved like flowing leaves in the breeze.


    She had long, deep chestnut brown hair with golden undertones that cascaded down her back like the root that popped up around the island and braided in an intricate pattern. When she turned to her brother with a warm smile, her green eyes lit up and flickered with gold-like sunlight on a forest canopy.


    Her warm-toned skin was accented by the simple, flowing garment alongside the crescent moon pendant around her neck. I stared at the pendent, wondering if it was another phantom relic that could explain her seer abilities.


    Victoria stood up, took her gloves off, and put them in her pocket as she spoke to her brother. "You never bring guests here," she mocked. "Did you trick him into believing you can make a pig fly?"


    Neegul dropped the box on the workbench, causing the metals inside to clammer together. He then pulled up a stool, all while glaring at his sister.


    "Outside of myself, I have never used a living creature to test my inventions. He''s here for you."


    She then turned to me and said, "Is that right? Well, how can I help you?"


    I bowed slightly before answering her question. ¡°My name is Syan Vispond. I, alongside two others, recently arrived on this island for reprieve and restocking on supplies. However, one of them ran into the town, and I don''t know where she could have gone. Neegul told me you had the power to find her."


    "My brother told you about me? What happened between you two?"


    "I tripped, and he helped pick up my stuff," Neegul explained while fiddling with one of his devices. "He''s a good man, even if he doesn''t want to sponsor me."


    "I see. Normally, I charge for services involving my gift, but sadly, people rarely help my brother if he is in need. For that, I''ll help you find who you''re looking for and tell you a potential future for free."


    I stood up a bit straighter upon hearing the word "free." "That''s very generous of you."


    "Kindness should be rewarded with generosity. That''s what my mother used to say. Now, let''s start with an easy one. Your fiancee is still in town exploring to her heart''s content. If you keep looking, you''ll run into her."


    "I didn''t say anything about a fiancee."


    Neegul chuckled. "Now you act shocked."


    Victoria rolled her eyes at her brother''s teasing. "Your description of the situation and full name allowed me to narrow down who you sought. Guessing that she was your fiancee was an educated guess."


    "And you were able to figure this out in an instant. How?" I wanted to know if she would give a hint as to whether or not she was a Sailing Spirit like me.


    "I can see strands of time like small rivers, and I was trained to discern which is most likely to happen. That said, I''ll let you in on a not-so-well-known fact. I haven''t mastered picking out the ''right'' stream of time, so most of my predictions involve local happenings or events that will come sooner than later."


    "So, if I understand correctly, if I wanted to know what would happen to me in a month, you couldn''t properly answer."


    It wasn''t a comforting revelation since I wanted to know my future. However, this girl allowed me to get a glimpse of the future for free, and as a merchant, I couldn''t pass something like this up.


    Based on the first inquiry, Victoria was able to make better predictions, providing accurate and extensive information about the question. If that was the case, it would be best to tell them about my goal to remove the blue pearls, which involved going to The Great Library while avoiding people like Kirn McCormick.


    I looked over the cliffside, where I could still faintly hear Erytha''s joyful laughter. Then, I focused on Victoria and Neegul. Would they want to help me if they knew the whole truth? Would they kick me out before Mr. F¨¦lix could secure a boat, resources, or weapons?


    My father always taught me that information was the best commodity to secure. Knowing who to trade with and how to get around was always better than obtaining more items in certain cases. I had to learn my future at any cost.


    "I have a specific question in mind," I began, pacing slightly as I gathered my thoughts. "But it''s not a simple question."


    Victoria leaned casually against the workbench, her gaze unwavering and curious. "I''m all for a challenge. Gives me an excuse to push my limits."


    I took a deep breath and started with something to determine what they knew about Sailing Spirits. "Have either of you ever heard of the Gia Whale?"


    Neegul stopped tinkering, his attention snapping at me. Victoria''s face, however, revealed she had no idea what I was talking about, and there was a flicker of recognition in her eyes.


    "Never heard of it, but it sounds like the name of a Sailing Spirit."


    So, she did know what a Sailing Spirit was, which could confirm that Erytha is, in part, being protected by one via the tree, as Mr. F¨¦lix predicted. However, it seemed to me that Neegul was more familiar with the Gia Whale. Living in this part of the sea must have meant he heard more rumors in his younger days.


    With more confidence, I continued to explain the situation but decided to hold off relating everything directly to me. "I''ve heard of Sailing Spirits in my light research into the Gia Whale. I''ve gained a vested interest in this, you see, and I believe it is connected to something¡ªsomeone¡ªthat is close to me. However, the road of understanding has forced me to go to The Library of Alexandria, and there are¡­ obstacles in my way."


    Victoria tilted her head slightly as though scrutinizing me. If she could read strands of time, I had to be careful and not let her read my intentions to hide information. "And you''re saying someone might be after someone close to you who is tied to the Gia Whale?"


    I nodded slowly, unwilling to name Kiren or mention the harpy aloud. "If your gift can offer any insight¡ªanything about my journey, the Gia Whale, or the library¡ªI''d greatly appreciate it."


    For the first time, Victoria hesitated. Her fingers brushed against the crescent moon pendant at her neck, and she glanced toward the horizon, where the sun bathed Erytha''s cliffs in a golden glow. The jester did not go unnoticed by Neegul, who put the gadget he was working on to the side and looked at his sister with concern.


    "Don''t tell me he''s overwhelmed you," Neegul joked at his sister''s expense, but I could hear the rattle of doubt in his words. Something was wrong.


    Victoria closed her eyes and let out a slow, measured breath. The air grew still, and for a moment, the ever-present hum of Erytha quieted. She then opened her eyes and looked into mine. Her gaze didn''t shine like before, and her almost confident expression was replaced with fear.


    "You need a new boat, yes? One with a hearty crew to get you to the other side of the Mediterranean while fending against pirates."


    "Y-yes. That''s correct." I did my best to keep my composure. She already proved she could piece certain things together quickly with enough information.


    "I can help you get the boat you desire."


    "You will?" asked Neegul.


    "As the daughter of the Chief of Erytha, I have my father''s authority to do so."


    "That''s not what I''m saying. No offense to Syan, but we can''t just give out boats with crews."


    "We might have to." Victoria kept her focus on me, and for the first time, landing on Erytha, my bone grew cold. "For the last month, I''ve had visions involving the destruction and pillaging of Erytha. Our sacred tree is engulfed in fire, a fleet of ships surround the port, and the displacement of something precious." She looked at her brother, horrified by what he was hearing. "I didn''t tell anyone because they came about like nightmares caused by stress, and I couldn''t make out the when or who''s." She continued her permission by turning back to me. "That all changed when a new image appeared. The color blue, a great library, is one of our ships in Egypt. It didn''t seem to connect with the first vision, but it was supposed to somehow."


    "Slow down, Vicky," Neegul grabbed his sister''s shoulders and forced her to look at him. "Are you saying that Erytha is in danger?"


    "I wasn''t sure at first until he explained his mission." Victoria pointed to me with a distant stare. "He is potentially part of this."


    "What do you mean potentially?" I asked as the mask of confidence slipped off my face as I began to think about Azurea. I had to know what would come before I could look for her. "Are you saying I have to fight to defend your home?"


    "I don''t know who you are in this. As my mother would say, you are a wild card of the Fates." Victoria''s eyes opened wider, her green eyes engulfed in a sea foam white, and her voice carried a strange resonance. Neegul let her go with a mix of horror and awe.


    "I can see it. A path shrouded in shadow and uncertainty. The fate of the Gia Whale is tied to you, Syan Vispond, son of Clemit Vispond, but so are many chains¡ªchains drenched in blood and seawater, loyalty, deception, and obligation. Here, my words promise you will reach The Library of Alexandria, but take this warning in tow. Your death is certain, and your bones will be your greatest legacy. As for the coming night, the invasion of Erthya will be your first test."

 The Bell

    Erytha was more majestic than Azurea could have imagined from her mother''s stories. It had to be given that the island inspired the Switzers to grow a garden and secondhandly inspired Azurea to delve into botany.


    Her eyes roamed the sprawling landscape before her¡ªa tapestry of nature woven with gold and emerald hues. The trees stretched skyward with wide, twisted trunks and leaves like glistening scales where sunlight shone on them. Flowers of every color spilled over mossy paths in a deliberate chaotic growth, guided by nature''s unseen hand and the visible muddy hands of the gardeners. If this place was created by the power of a Sailing Spirit, then Azurea wondered what Syan could do with the blue pearls if he decided to keep them.


    Curiosity continued to pull her forward. Each corner she turned revealed something new¡ªaqueducts that sang crystalline notes as they carried water around the island, strange blossoms that glowed faintly even in the daylight, and roots the size of walls cradling structures.


    Azurea found herself wandering into the heart of Erytha''s town, where life buzzed with an infectious vibrancy. Market stalls lined the cobbled streets, hawking everything from exotic fruits and flowers to shining trinkets of metal and glass. Vendors shouted jovially, their voices rising and falling with the sea breeze, while children chased each other between tables stacked with colorful wares. She slowed her pace, savoring the warmth of the sun and the sounds of laughter.


    A sweet aroma drifted her way, and she turned to see a bakery with golden rolls cooling in the window. Her stomach gave an audible protest, and for the first time, Azurea realized how much time had passed since the provisions she had eaten that morning.


    "Miss? Care to try something?" A cheerful woman beckoned her to a table with flaky pastries drizzled in syrup.


    Azurea hesitated, feeling for the pouch of coins at her hip. She hadn''t come here to spend money frivolously, but the sweet scent was too inviting to resist.


    "One, please," Azurea said, handing over a coin. The woman smiled and passed a pastry still warm from the oven to Azurea.


    Taking a bite, Azurea closed her eyes. The taste was heavenly¡ªhoneyed, spiced, and impossibly soft. It felt indulgent like she was finally rewarding herself after the stress of the last few days. Her thoughts turned to Syan and Mr. F¨¦lix, who she left standing at the ship.


    She frowned.


    As much as Azurea wanted to bask in the wonders of Erytha, a nagging thought tugged at the back of her mind. She left Syan and Mr. F¨¦lix on the boat without even saying goodbye. They were likely fine without her¡ªSyan could take care of himself, and Mr. F¨¦lix had proven far more resourceful than his age let on¡ªbut guilt began to gnaw at her all the same. She had spent most of her time sightseeing instead of doing something productive.


    ¡­you are my responsibility.


    The memory of Syan''s words echoed in Azurea''s mind like an anchor tied to her thoughts. Sooner or later, she and her companions would be on the waters again, where pirates and monsters waited to attack them. It only now dawned on her how brutal they would have to fight for their lives, and she didn''t bring anything to the table. Although she managed to get Syan out of the Switzer estate and directed the group to Erytha, there were only so many times when her unique knowledge about a place would come in handy.


    Was Syan right to see her as nothing more than a person to protect?


    The pastry suddenly felt heavy in her hand.


    Power. Like Syan and Mr. F¨¦lix, she needed power¡ªsomething to protect herself with and offer to the group besides fleeting knowledge of plants and places¡ªbut that wasn''t easy to obtain. Mr. F¨¦lix gained his ability to allow objects to move through him like a specter when he was on the verge of death. Syan got his power mostly by accident.


    Azurea paused in the middle of the street. The world continued to move around her¡ªtownsfolk bustling, merchants shouting¡ªbut she stood frozen in thought.


    Could she make her own phantom relic? Mr. F¨¦lix had mentioned it was possible with time and a strong desire. Desire. Did she even have a drive that could force her to bring out a terrifying strength like the Abyssal Warden? She loved plants, and she loved the Switzer business, but there was nothing¡ªno singular goal¡ªthat burned in her heart like a flame. She felt content at home. Content exploring places like Erytha. Maybe that was enough.


    But it wasn''t. She couldn''t be content if she wanted to stay by Syan''s side and explore more of the world. Not anymore.


    What about weapons? She could become proficient in fighting with a weapon.


    A sharp pain burned on the back of her shoulder where the harpy attacked her. Azurea quivered as if she stepped out on a winter morning as she briefly imagined herself fighting for her life against the harpy. Although she doubted she would ever have to fight something like that often, it was still nerve-racking to think she could stand up against something so dangerous, even with a sword.


    A ranged weapon seemed more palatable, but guns only had one use before reloading, and bows required strength that Azurea didn''t have.


    Azurea continued to walk down the street as she unconsciously finished the bread. Its warmth failed to ease her mind.


    Her empty hands were sticky from the syrup, so she looked around for a place to clean them. She walked into the closest store, hoping to find someone who could offer her a wet rag.


    The sign on the open door said "Clinic," which reminded Azurea that having medical supplies would be important.


    The moment Azurea stepped through the door, the air shifted. The scent of clean linen, dried herbs, and faintly bitter tinctures met her nose, a far cry from the salty breeze and fragrant food stalls outside. The soft creak of wooden floorboards beneath her feet announced her arrival, but no one immediately greeted her.


    The clinic was modest in size but surprisingly well-kept. Its shelves lined the walls and were packed with neatly labeled jars of herbs and powders and glass vials filled with various liquids that glimmered in the soft light. A few bundles of dried lavender and sage hung from hooks above the shelves, releasing a faint, calming aroma into the space.


    To the left were a few simple beds lined up against the wall¡ªeach covered with crisp white sheets and light blankets, ready for the next patient. A small wooden stool sat beside each one, holding bowls of water, clean cloths, and tools carefully arranged on trays. Some tools gleamed faintly in the light filtering through the open window¡ªa pair of scissors, forceps, and other instruments Azurea didn''t quite recognize but assumed were meant for treating wounds.


    On the opposite side of the room, a counter stretched the length of the wall, stacked with more supplies. Mortars and pestles were scattered among small wooden boxes and scrolls¡ªlikely filled with notes about local remedies. A large glass jar of honey sat near a row of salves, its golden contents catching the light.


    Potted plants sat in the corners¡ªfamiliar ones like aloe and mint, both useful for medical purposes based on the books she read on plant uses. A small vase with fresh wildflowers sat on the counter, adding a delicate touch that softened the otherwise sterile atmosphere.


    She heard faint rustling and footsteps from the back room, prompting her to step forward.


    "Hello?" Azurea called softly, hesitant to disturb the tranquility.


    A moment later, a woman emerged from behind a curtain, her sleeves rolled up and her apron faintly smudged with powdered herbs. She looked in her early thirties, with a calm, kind face, and chestnut brown hair pulled into a loose bun. Her sharp green eyes quickly assessed Azurea, lingering on the faint tension in her shoulders and how she favored her injured side.


    "A recent injury in the left shoulder," the woman said, her voice steady and soothing. "I don''t see any bandages under your clothes or blood, so I can assume it has healed up fine but has caused lingering trauma. I have something that can ease that."


    Azurea blinked in surprise, instinctively reaching for her shoulder as if she could hide the pain. "Oh no, miss. I was looking for a place to wash my hands and maybe buy a medical kit."


    "Are you sure you don''t want me to look at your injury? Assuming you buy a medical kit, I won''t charge you for an inspection."


    "I¡­ suppose a check-up wouldn''t hurt."


    Azurea made her way to one of the basins of water. After she worked off the sticky syrup from her fingers in the cool waters, she sat on one of the beds and allowed the woman to inspect the scar on her back.


    "This was a deep cut¡­" She remarked, pausing occasionally as if she was unknowingly speaking her thoughts out loud. "Created by a sharp, curved-edged something or other. The stitch work is clean and expertly done. Must have had good money to get someone to do this. The scarring is minimal¡­ had a few days to heal and is barely visible now. Despite that, you''re likely experiencing strain on the muscle or tendons, causing your stiffness. I can fix that with an ointment I made."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The woman quickly retrieved a small, dark amber jar from one of the shelves and handed it to Azurea. When Azurea opened the jar, she was hit with a gritty, earthy scent mixed with a hint of mint. She tried to figure out what was in the salve, noting that it obviously had mint as one of the components. The earthy smell indicated a root of some kind was thrown into the mix, and something sticky kept the concoction together: beeswax?


    Azurea looks up at the woman to confirm her hypothesis. "I can tell that there''s mint and some kind of root in here and what I think is beeswax to help it stick to the body, but how does all of that help me heal?"


    The woman looked surprised, but in a way that suggested not many people tried to guess what was in her remedies before she had a chance to explain. "The peppermint oil is meant for cooling relief, and the comfrey root is for tissue repair. You were correct about the beeswax. The only thing you missed was calendula, which reduces inflammation. Are you aspiring to be a doctor?"


    "I just know a lot about plants from growing them and haven''t looked too deep into their uses."


    "Why just grow plants if you''re not planning on using them?"


    The question caught Azurea off guard for a short instance. "I don''t think it''s a requirement for something to exist just to be used. Isn''t it enough for a thing to be admired?"


    "I can''t think of anything on Earth or in the heavens that doesn''t have a use. Even the stars, the most unreachable things to us mortals, are used by us for navigation and storytelling."


    Azurea tried to think of different things that had no use other than to exist or be admired by onlookers. "What about mountains?" she asked confidently. ¡°Aside from making it hard to travel, what use are they?"


    "Providing freshwater and serving as natural barriers from harsh weather conditions."


    Azurea blinked. This woman was far more knowledgeable than she expected. "Well, just because something has a use doesn''t mean it''s useful to everyone." Azurea was shocked at how bitter the words tasted on her tongue.


    The woman didn''t flinch. "Is a thing only valuable if it has multiple uses, or is the value based on how good it is in a given task?"


    Azurea wasn''t sure how to answer the question. Surely both were true on some level, but if that made something¡ªor, in her case, someone¡ªvaluable, it didn''t matter which one was right. It was still important for her to be with Syan to keep the marriage plans on hold, but if Azurea couldn¡¯t find a way to justify her presence past that, then she was nothing more than a burden.


    Suddenly, a bell rang through the town, scaring Azurea out of her thoughts. The woman looked confused but remained calm as she made her way to the clinic''s entrance.


    "I have to go. Make sure you apply that to the injured area twice daily: once in the morning and again in the evening."


    "Is something wrong?" asked Azurea.


    "It''s nothing you should concern yourself with, but I apologize for leaving you like this."


    "Wait! I haven''t bought anything yet."


    "Were you planning to leave the island soon?"


    "Um¡­ no?" If it was up to Syan, the group would be off Erytha before evening fell, but that wasn''t likely to happen.


    "Then you still have time to pay me."


    --------------------------


    Erytha''s docks were crowded for an island F¨¦lix hadn''t heard of until recently. Sailors shouted orders as crates of spices, dried fish, and exotic fruits were hoisted onto ships bound for other ports. Saltwater and tar filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of roasted nuts and grilled meat from the nearby market. F¨¦lix adjusted the cuffs of his worn coat and stepped aside to let a group of dockhands roll barrels of wine past him.


    He scanned the bustling piers, counting masts and hull sizes, mentally noting which ships might withstand a long journey to Egypt¡ªand which crews looked capable of handling themselves if trouble arose. Most of them wouldn''t be enough. Small traders, fishermen, and ferrymen¡ªthey''d capsize at the first sign of a pirate''s flag or scatter in the shadow of a sea beast.


    If only he could get Syan to use the Gia Whale''s power to the fullest, then¡­ well, they still needed a bigger ship and crew, but a full-powered Sailing Spirit would lessen the stress of the journey. The boy didn''t even realize what he carried. When Clovis Sylvestre had the pearls, he could turn the tides to his favor, split islands like he was cutting bread, and make allies with independent islands with small demonstrations of the Gia Whale''s power. If Syan could stop thinking about the blue pearls as pirate trinkets, maybe they wouldn''t have to go to Egypt in the first place.


    F¨¦lix exhaled sharply. No. He couldn''t put it all on the boy''s shoulders. Not when danger was already circling them like vultures. To combat these threats, Syan needed to learn how to use the power of a Sailing Spirit, which would take time regardless of what the young merchant chose.


    "F¨¦lix Michael? What are you doing here?" A voice cut through the bustle of the docks.


    The voice hit F¨¦lix like a sudden wave¡ªfamiliar, weathered, and steeped in old memories. He turned sharply to find William Birchwood standing near a stack of crates, arms crossed and lips curled into a grin that didn''t quite meet his eyes. His weathered face was lit by the late morning sun filtering through the rigging overhead. He hadn''t changed much in sixteen years¡ªstill broad-shouldered with a slight stoop that hinted at years of hard labor. His dark hair was streaked with gray now, cut short and practical, but his sharp eyes carried the same calculating glint F¨¦lix remembered from their time under Clovis.


    F¨¦lix blinked once before his lips twitched into a half-smile. "I could ask you the same thing. You''re looking well for an ex-sailor."


    William huffed, the corner of his mouth curling. "Better than you, it seems. Managed to carve out a comfortable spot here in Erytha as a trade manager."


    F¨¦lix gave him a quick once-over, noting the crisp shirt and sturdy boots¡ªboth a far cry from the ragged gear they''d worn on deck back in the day. "Interesting. I spent the last decade working as a dockhand in Linburg. Feels like proper trade would''ve been the crew''s profession in another life."


    William raised a brow. "I doubt it. We weren''t the type to settle for counting coins and tallying cargo manifests." He paused. "You mentioned Linburg¡ªdo the Switzers still run the place?"


    "They are, and I was working for them."


    William snorted. "I take it back. You were doing well for yourself despite what your looks suggest."


    F¨¦lix smirked faintly but shook his head. "My looks don''t lie. I stayed at a low-paying position with no aspirations to climb higher."


    William''s expression shifted, the humor in his tone dimming. "So again, I ask¡ªwhy are you here? Most don''t come to Erytha from the mainland for anything other than sightseeing, and you''re not the type to sightsee."


    F¨¦lix''s gaze flickered out toward the ships in the harbor before he answered. "I found the Gia Whale¡ªand the one who now holds it."


    William stiffened. "Are you saying it isn''t Kiren?"


    "No. The pearls are in the hands of a merchant''s son, and I''m helping him get to the Library of Alexandria."


    William''s brow furrowed. "The Library? For what reason?"


    "He wants to find a way to disconnect himself from the pearls and return to his life."


    William''s jaw tightened. ¡°¡­And you¡¯re¡­ helping this person? Why would you let him believe something like that was possible?"


    F¨¦lix exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "It''s not like I didn''t try to explain, but the boy was persistent."


    William''s eyes narrowed. "Boy?"


    "He''s at least twenty," F¨¦lix replied defensively. "As I was saying, with him being the proper owner of the Gia Whale, it''s my responsibility to guide him down whatever path he chooses¡ªas per the captain''s orders."


    William leaned back on the crates, crossing his arms again. "When did he give you such an order¡ªand why? Did he know who the pearls were going to end up with?"


    F¨¦lix''s gaze dropped briefly before returning with a hard edge. "He assured me that the Gia Whale wouldn''t end up with Kiren and that I could trust the next person who would have them. It has to do with a technique he called ''last will'' or something similar.


    William shook his head slowly. "The whole thing smells like a fish market to me. Why would the captain allow the Gia Whale to fall into the hands of someone who will just throw them away?"


    F¨¦lix crossed his arms, his voice lowering. "I doubt Clovis foresaw this, but that''s not the biggest problem. A harpy attacked Syan, which pushed him to want to part with the pearls."


    William''s expression darkened at the mention of a harpy. "A harpy? As in a single one without a flock nearby? That''s odd."


    F¨¦lix nodded grimly. "It gets worse. On our way here, we caught wind that Kiren was on his way to kill the boy. We''re here for safety¡ªhopefully to find a ship big enough to hold a crew to keep the boy safe until we get to Egypt."


    "How is Syan handling all of this?"


    F¨¦lix sighed, remembering Syan''s reaction when he found out Kiren was after him. "Better than most. He''s willing to accept counsel in dire situations and act accordingly but rejects the Gia Whale like a cat to water. I want him to use the pearls'' power more, but that has proven difficult."


    "Do you really believe you are doing right by him?"


    F¨¦lix raised his eyebrow. "What do you mean?"


    "You said Captain Sylvestre chose this kid, but you don''t know how or why. And yet, you''re allowing him to go down a path you don''t even know where it will end. Doesn''t that bother you? Doesn''t that make you question what the captain was thinking? And what''s this business with ''last wills'' or whatever it''s called?"


    F¨¦lix''s face hardened as if the questions offended him. "Do you not trust our captain, William?"


    William took a step back, but his face remained the same. He didn''t have any powers like F¨¦lix, nor did he have the ambition to manifest a phantom relic. William was sure F¨¦lix wouldn''t hurt him, but something in the old first mate caused him to not test his luck.


    They were pirates, after all.


    "Clovis is dead. This isn''t about him anymore, it''s about the boy who now has the pearls. I''m not ok with leading a kid by blind faith."


    F¨¦lix''s face softened as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "This isn''t blind faith. Even if you''re right, if it wasn''t for me, he would be dead. Now, Kiren McCormick and the rest of the Mediterranean are after him if the boy lives long enough for more people to find out the Gia Whale is active again."


    Suddenly, a bell rang through the town. The two men searched the area until they pinpointed the sound coming from somewhere in the big tree. F¨¦lix looked to his old crewmate, but William looked confused but not concerned.


    "What is that?" asked F¨¦lix.


    "That''s for emergency meetings of Erytha''s council. It''s nothing to be concerned about normally."


    "And this isn''t normal?"


    "Call it a sailor''s intuition. Something about this feels different."


    --------------------------


    When the bell started to ring through the town, I had to stop and catch my breath. I managed to reach the edge of the town and lean against the stone wall of a building. Black dots danced in front of my eyes like fireflies, making me want to throw up my light breakfast.


    At that moment, I could barely remember Victoria''s prophecy. I still wasn''t sure if I believed it, even if I could remember.


    However, one phrase haunted me and was louder than the bells.


    Your death is certain,


    No matter what I did, I was going to die.

 The Seer

    "You foolish girl!" Bastien''s voice cracked through the chamber like a whip, ricocheting off the walls and curling back in harsh echoes. "You have doomed us all because you were too timid to speak."


    The accusation hung in the air, heavy and oppressive. To Victoria, it felt like the great tree had turned against her. She stood motionless, her head bowed, her eyes glued to the polished floorboards. Shame burned in her cheeks, her throat tight with unspoken words.


    Beside her, Neegul stood rigid, his shoulders squared and his gaze fixed on Bastien with unflinching defiance. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing¡ªnot yet.


    The five council members sat in a semicircle before them, their expressions ranging from anger to discomfort. Each perched on a chair carved from tree stumps, cushioned with feathered pillows, the seats seamlessly melded into the living wood of the sacred chamber. The scent of moss and damp earth lingered in the air, a reminder of the roots that stretched deep beneath the island. Light filtered through natural cracks in the bark, creating a constellation of dust motes that hovered above the council''s heads.


    At the far left sat Ephraim Locke, his clean-shaven face shadowed by furrowed brows. His unsoiled white shirt contrasted with the mud-caked boots that betrayed his long hours spent tending Erytha''s fields. A leather-bound notebook rested on his lap, its frayed pages as worn as the man who carried them. His pen remained poised as if waiting for someone to make sense of the chaos.


    Next to him, Bastien Voss leaned forward in his chair, his sharp eyes boring into Victoria with the same scrutiny he reserved for foreign ships at the harbor. The scar along his jaw caught the light, making it appear even deeper beneath the shadow of his beard. His tailored vest, crisp at the start of the day, had begun to wrinkle with the tension of his movements. He tapped his silver ring against the chair''s armrest, the steady rhythm like the ticking of a clock counting down. Victoria flinched with each tap, but Neegul''s stance hardened.


    "This is absurd," Bastien continued, his voice rising. "You knew¡ªyou knew!¡ªand you said nothing? For a month!? Do you have any idea what that time could''ve bought us? Reinforcements? Plans?"


    At the far right, Helia Drayton shifted uneasily in her chair. The merchant representative''s fiery red hair, tied loosely back, caught the light as she glanced toward Bastien and then back to Victoria. Her freckled face, bronzed by years under the sun, betrayed no anger¡ªonly nerves. She tugged at the hem of her tailored dress, smoothing the fabric as though the act might settle her thoughts.


    Victoria saw the flicker of calculation in Helia''s eyes. Was it fear for the island or the trade routes and travelers who filled Erytha''s markets? She wasn''t sure.


    Beside Helia, Isolde Remere, the island''s doctor, sat quietly, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her chestnut hair, usually tied in a loose bun at the clinic, now hung free, softening the sharpness of her features. Her green eyes studied Victoria¡ªnot with condemnation, but with a calm, clinical gaze that seemed to peel back layers of fear and doubt. The faint traces of powdered herbs smudged her apron, a reminder of the patients she''d left behind to sit in this meeting.


    Finally, in the center of it all sat Kaelen Marelyn.


    His altar rose slightly higher than the others, though he did not sit on a chair. Cross-legged and still, Kaelen seemed more rooted than the tree itself. Vines wove around his legs and moss clung to the edges of his robes, marking the fifteen years he had sacrificed to bind his spirit to Erytha''s heart. His body was frail, his ribs faintly visible beneath his robes, yet his skin glowed with a vibrancy that defied his brittle frame.


    Kaelen''s eyes remained closed, his breathing slow and deliberate. The faintest pulse of light flickered along the veins of the altar beneath him as though the tree itself answered his presence.


    "The seer abilities of Lythera''s line aren''t meant to prevent disasters," said Ephraim finally, breaking the silence. "From what Victoria described, her vision predicted the ransacking of Erytha as inevitable."


    "I agree with Bastien," said Helia nervously. "It took us 15 years to build up our economy after that horrible event with Kiren McCormick all off the reputation that our defenses were impenetrable. What will happen to that reputation after this next attack?" The words struck Victoria like a blade, though they weren''t meant for her directly.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "There may still be a chance to change the fate of this island," Neegul interjected, his voice steady but firm. "Victoria has identified a wild card by the name of Syan."


    Bastien squinted his brow and asked, "What the hell is a wild card?"


    Ephraim cleared his throat. "According to the documents of Lythera''s family, a wild card is a person that can change the trajectory of a seer''s vision."


    "What do you mean by ''has the ability''?" Bastien asked.


    Victoria answered this time, her voice low but confident. "It means they have the power to influence the vision¡ªone way or another. But that doesn''t mean they will. Syan might refuse to help us."


    Neegul''s jaw tightened. "But he''s our best chance to keep Erytha safe."


    "If he chooses to help us!" Victoria snapped, a hint of desperation bleeding into her voice.


    "Either way," said Isolde gently, cutting through the rising tension, "it would be foolish not to speak with this Syan. I''m still new to how the protocols on Erytha work, but given our limited time, we need to take advantage of whatever opportunities we can get."


    The room went quiet as all eyes rested on the motionless Kaelen. A slight tremor shook the room as if giving its approval, and the rest of the council nodded in agreement.


    "Then it''s agreed?" asked Isolde, ensuring no one objected. "While the council prepares for a nightfall attack, Neegul and Victoria will try to get Syan on our side since they know what he looks like."


    One by one, the council members rose and departed, their gazes lingering briefly on Victoria before turning away. Bastien''s disapproval was palpable; Helia''s was tinged with pity.


    Victoria and Neegul remained behind.


    Victoria turned to her brother, her cheeks red with anger. "Why did you say that?"


    "Say what?" he asked.


    "I didn''t tell you to bring up Syan in the conversation."


    "Since when did I need your permission to speak my mind? Besides, you had clammed up and left Syan out of the conversion."


    "I had to. You don''t know the first thing about being a seer, so you have no right to tell me if I''m doing it wrong."


    "And you do? You didn''t even know Mom. You''re just guessing like the rest of us."


    "E¡ªNOUGH!"


    The voice of Kaelen tore through the room, low and distorted, like the groan of ancient wood. Both siblings fell silent, their hands flying to their ears as the sound reverberated through the sacred space. His gray eyes were open wide, staring unyieldingly at his children.


    Kaelen''s left iris was unlike any other¡ªetched with branching patterns that resembled the roots of a great tree. This was supposedly the mark of a person who created their own spirit and, by extension, phantom relics. It would start as a glowing right or left eye and develop into a "symbol" that matched the spirit''s form or power. Modern-day Sailing Spirits don''t have these changed iris shapes since many of their phantom relics had been taken from others. It is assumed that those with such eyes are stronger than those without, but with few examples to test the idea, the claim remains a theory.


    For Neegul, it was a chilling reminder of what his father had become after his mother''s death¡ªno longer the warm, welcoming man he remembered but a being shaped by grief and duty.


    "That¡­ enough," Kaelen had calmed down, but he sounded fatigued as if the outburst had drained him. His voice was like dry bark scratching against each other to create a poor imitation of human speech. The siblings knew he wasn''t tired in the traditional sense, but they quelled their squabbling and stood respectfully in the presence of their father. "Victoria¡­ why? Why did you¡­ feel the need¡­ to keep this¡­ to yourself for¡­ so long?¡±


    Victoria blinked. "Because I wasn''t sure. I imagine my mother as a confident woman who never questioned her vision. Wanted to be like that."


    Neegul''s eyes drifted to look at his sister. Her eyes were welling up with tears. He was four when his mother died, so he was just as clueless about how confident his mother was as a seer as his sister was. Even their father, who obviously knew their mother longer than them, wasn''t keen on how the seer abilities work.


    Victoria was alone; at least, that''s how she felt. She was the island''s crown jewel, Erytha''s Seer, and that''s all she wanted to be. However, there was no one to teach her how to be except the books left by her mother.


    Kaelen sighed, the weight of the sound carrying years of exhaustion. "Victoria¡­ You are not¡­ to blame for what''s coming. But we cannot¡­ afford hesitation. You¡­ and Neegul¡­ must find Syan. Erytha cannot¡­ fall."


    Victoria nodded, her throat too tight to speak. Neegul, though tense, followed suit.


    The fate of the island rested on the choices they would make next.