The sun hadn't even fully peeked over the ocean yet but the sky was already painted in strokes of pink, soft orange, and lazy lavender. The waves hit the cliffs lazily. Down below beneath the shadow of those grand cliffs, the group of eight stood on the damp wooden dock facing the vessel that awaited them.
A massive ship towered before them, almost mythic in presence. It was made of dark wood carved with crescent motifs, towering masts with white sails still furled, and railings etched with Xinoraci Runes that shimmered faintly whenever the light hit them just right. Despite the ship's old-world design, the polished deck, the mystic steel-rimmed portholes and the thin trails of enchantment vines weaving around its edges made one thing clear:
This wasn't just any ancient vessel.
It was the ship built by the Richinaria family for the sole purpose of traversing the ocean route to the Islands that no modern tech dared to touch. Eldrigan stood at the edge of the dock, hands on his hips, clearly unimpressed.
"You're telling me that we're taking a damn sail ship instead of my beast of a submarine? The one I literally fought a billion for at that auction? Do you all have any idea how much that thing cost?"
Elyonari, who was calmly tying up her silver hair into a flowing high ponytail, glanced at him without even turning her head.
"Yes. That's why we're not using it."
"That doesn't even make sense."
"It does," Narisva added from beside her, already twirling her new double-bladed scythe in one hand like a baton, clearly showing it off to the sea breeze.
"Vastarael said it himself. Modern tech can't navigate the Inexpelcae waters. Something about the ocean rejecting it."
"He said 'no technology born from steel and flame may pierce the threshold.' Which is poetic nonsense but also historically accurate," Elyonari added with a shrug. "Besides, I can just use wind to push the sails. Old-fashioned ships actually move faster over the Asmaphaeri Ocean currents. They ride the natural Divinity streams beneath the tides."
Eldrigan sighed, rubbing his temples. "This is so dumb. We're literally traveling through a sea where monsters stronger than some gods swim freely and our ride doesn't even have an engine."
Xander laughed, arms crossed, his greatsword resting lazily on his back.
"Don't worry, man. If something pops up, we've got ten Divines and the strongest Divine with a glaive."
"Damn right you do," Narisva smirked.
Meanwhile, Farrynelle and Peroncerea stood off to the side, clearly fidgety. They exchanged glances like a pair of students about to confess to cheating on a test. Eventually, it was Peroncerea who walked up to Elyonari and tugged lightly at the edge of her robe.
"Hey... got a minute?"
Elyonari raised a brow. "Sure. What's up?"
Farrynelle stepped beside her. "We... uh. We wanted to ask something. Both of us."
That caught the others' attention. Denisia raised an eyebrow from where she was leaning against a pile of wooden crates. Natalis peeked from behind her glowing book.
"Ask away," Elyonari said, slightly wary.
Peroncerea took a breath. "We want you to mentor us."
The beach went quiet for a second.
"Mentor?"
"As in... be our teacher?" Farrynelle clarified, rubbing her arm. "In... love."
"I'm sorry, what?"
Even Narisva paused mid-spin of her scythe.
"Wait, what do you mean teacher? Why not me?"
"You're scary," Farrynelle said instantly.
"Agreed," Peroncerea muttered under her breath. "And kind of unhinged."
Narisva narrowed her eyes.
Farrynelle quickly added, "You're beautiful and terrifying, don't get us wrong. But Elyonari... she has experience. She's calm. And she doesn't get flustered even when Vastarael hugs her out of nowhere."
"And," Peroncerea raised a hand, "last night's conversation? That pod stuff? The way she talked about immortality and not rushing love? That... kinda helped us see something."
Farrynelle nodded. "We've been going fast. We got together, got married, all because it felt right. But if we keep acting like everything has to be solved now, we're gonna ruin it."
Peroncerea crossed her arms. "We both love them. Deeply. That hasn't changed. But... we're willing to learn how to love better. Properly."
Elyonari blinked a few more times, then sighed softly, a smile slowly forming on her lips.
"Alright. I accept. But only if you both actually listen. And no whining when I say something you don't want to hear."
"Deal," they both said in unison.
Eldrigan, still a little sulky about his submarine, gave a small smirk.
"So... what? Is Elyonari gonna open a therapy booth now?"
"I should," she said, cracking her neck. "Maybe charge by the hour."
Xander grinned. "I'd pay."
"You'd pay in money," Denisia said dryly.
After a few minutes, the others were already aboard, getting settled when the sound of slow footsteps across the shoreline caught everyone's attention. Adelasta and Vastarael walked side-by-side along the edge of the beach, the foamy waves crashing against their boots as if trying to tug them back for just a moment longer. Adelasta was in a traditional sailor's outfit. Vastarael wore his usual white turtleneck and black sweatpants, sandals kicking up grains of wet sand as he moved. Xander leaned over the side of the deck, squinting.
"So… the lovebirds finally show up."
Eldrigan crossed his arms. "Took your sweet time. What were you two doing? Planning your second wedding?"
Adelasta exhaled calmly, but the flicker in her eyes made it clear she almost threw a dagger at him.
"We were dealing with Dynasty Richinaria matters."
Vastarael gave a lazy wave as they approached the ramp.
"Yeah. Sorry we're late. A few cities decided to threaten tax revolts again. Had to whisper some sense into them."
Farrynelle raised a brow. "Wait, you deal with taxes?"
"Dynasty Richinaria is a merchant dynasty. We basically fund the world's technological exports. That means endless paperwork, diplomatic headaches and the occasional 'oops, someone smuggled a plasma mage weapon into Lower Rise.'"
"And let me guess, your siblings are handling that now?" Eldrigan muttered.
"Exactly. Milliania handles trade routes. Leon handles internal markets. Leones does international diplomacy, and Anamorsia crushes rebellions. They alternative sometimes."
Narisva muttered, "She sounds fun."
"She's a delight," Adelasta said with a cold smile. "She once broke a man's spine for misquoting Dynasty law."
"Anyway," Vastarael continued, walking onto the ship's ramp and turning to face everyone. "Before we set sail, I've got some rules. This isn't a beach trip to the Isles. This is the first of three trials toward Enlightenment training and this ocean doesn't forgive mistakes."
He raised a hand, and the air around him subtly changed.
"Rule One, never leave the ship. I don't care if the ocean looks calm. I don't care if the water calls your name or sings a lullaby. If you step foot off this ship, the water will crush your body like it's a bag of bones. The density of the Asmaphaeri makes everything sink. My Blessing won't save you. You'll die."
They didn't say a word.
"Rule Two, my Blessing won't cure seasickness either. If you feel dizzy or weak, don't be proud. Say something. If you ignore it, the ocean will take that as weakness and play with your body like a predator toying with prey."
Narisva winced. "Why do you make everything sound so terrifying?"
"Because I've seen what happens when people get comfortable. And Rule Three. We have seven days. Not one more. That's the Divine limit. Any longer and the Asmaphaeri will reverse its currents and push us all the way back to Amaniya. That's its rule, not mine. This is the first test. If we fail to reach the Inexpelcae Islands in time, we fail the advancement path."
Xander frowned. "Even if we're close?"
"Close doesn't count," Adelasta said. "The ocean knows no mercy. It does not understand excuses. It only understands absolutes."
"And Rule Four, no matter what we encounter out there, do not kill anything that doesn't attack first. That includes the Hydroborn. Especially the Hydroborn. These seas are their territory. If even one of you raises a weapon against them unprovoked, you fail. All of us fail."
Denisia spoke quietly, "So… we're guests."
"Guests in the most dangerous dinner party of our lives. Alright. Let's go."
Vastarael exhaled, waving toward the ship's mast. As if answering his call, the ship moved. It simply shifted as anchored ropes untied themselves, the sails unfurled and the deck lit up with faint mystic etchings, reacting to his authority. Elyonari walked to the edge of the ship, facing the ocean. She raised one hand, her pupilless emerald irises glowing faintly. With one flick, a violent burst of wind exploded from behind the ship, catching the sails. The vessel shot forward and with an almost euphoric crash, it launched three hundred meters across the air, cutting through the skies like a missile before landing hard against the ocean with a tremendous splash.
The ship groaned, the waves welcomed it and the wind screamed its approval.