Edel stepped outside the arena, the cheers of the crowd fading into silence behind her. Waiting at the gate was her grandfather, Neptune, his posture regal as ever, though his lips curved with a rare, gentle smile.
"Grandfather," she whispered.
"I came to see you off on your new journey, dear." He stepped forward, resting a broad hand on her head in a gesture both tender and heavy with unspoken pride.
Edel's lips curved faintly in return, but her eyes remained calm, unreadable. "I'll return soon. Please… tell Grandmother to take care of herself while I'm away." Her voice carried a thread of loneliness. After her mother's disappearance, her grandmother had been the only one to give her true maternal warmth. Leaving her behind for the long time now felt like tearing away at something fragile.
"I'll tell her," Neptune assured. But his tone sharpened, like the edge of a blade. "What you should be thinking about is the danger ahead, Edel."
From within his robes, he drew a small pouch and pressed it into her hands. Edel tilted her head, confused, but he was already glancing around, scanning for unwanted eyes. The arena doors had closed behind them, sealing off the crowd. They were alone—or so it seemed.
"This," he said gravely, "is one of our sea clan's priceless treasures. It will answer to your mind—whatever you need, think of it, and it will provide."
Her brows lifted, but Neptune was not finished. With deliberate care, he drew a dagger from his waist. Its sheath glittered with gems that caught the light like tiny suns. He placed it in Edel's palms.
"This dagger is to keep you safe."
Edel's eyes widened. Recognition dawned, and for a heartbeat, her composure cracked. "Grandfather… this is—"
"Yes," Neptune interrupted softly. "The blade that has followed me through every battle, every hardship. Forged with the spells of the great sorcerers. It can end any life with a single strike."
The dagger pulsed faintly in her grip, as if acknowledging its new master. Edel's lips curved into the smallest of smiles. She had never seen her grandfather part with it, and she understood what this gift meant.
But before she could speak, footsteps approached from behind. Several figures bowed respectfully to Neptune.
"Edel?" he prompted. She was still lost in the gleam of the dagger. "Edelina."
She blinked and looked up.
"They will accompany you," Neptune said, gesturing.
Edel turned—and for the first time that day, surprise flickered across her face. Eva and Mila she expected. But standing beside them, pale and uneasy, were Coral, Finn, Mira… and Azure.
Her gaze lingered on them. They were still weakened from their defeat, their movements careful, their pride heavy in their eyes.
"Grandfather, why—"
"They will gain experience on this journey," Neptune cut her off. "And they will support you."
Edel opened her mouth to protest but stopped at his piercing gaze. With Neptune, she had never been able to win an argument. She bowed her head instead, silent resignation her only answer.
Clutching the dagger, she stepped into the carriage. The others followed, some hesitant, some solemn. The wheels creaked, carrying them away from the arena grounds.
Only Neptune remained, standing alone before the grand arena gates. The echo of the crowd's roars still lingered in the air, but he no longer needed their noise to confirm what he already knew—today, he had shown every realm that the brightest fighter, the rarest talent of this generation, belonged to the sea realm.
Left behind, Neptune exhaled deeply. His smile faded. He turned, his voice carrying into the still air.
"You can come out."
The shadows stirred. A sudden gust of wind rippled through the courtyard, coalescing into the form of a man. He stepped forward, tall and divine, his long black hair spilling over his shoulders, his skin pale as moonlight. His eyes, an uncanny green-blue, glowed faintly with power. He looked no older than his twenties—but Neptune knew well he had walked the world for more than a century.
The man smirked, his voice smooth, husky, carrying a dangerous charm.
"Greetings, Sea Emperor… or should I call you Grandfather-in-law?"
"Do you think I don't know you were with her in the jungle that day?" Neptune's voice carried a deep, thunderous edge. Though his tone was calm, the storm behind it was unmistakable.
The man standing before him—handsome, sharp, with an air of mocking ease—smiled faintly. A chuckle slipped past his lips as if Neptune's fury amused him rather than threatened him.
"Sure enough," he replied smoothly, bowing slightly, "nothing can escape your eyes."
"Ansaldo Flatte," Neptune spat the name like venom. "She was only thirteen then." His eyes blazed with fury, the memory of Edel's scent mixed with Ansaldo's lingering in the jungle stirring a protective wrath that nearly consumed him.
Ansaldo raised his hands and stepped back dramatically, playing at timidity. "Grandfather, don't be so quick to judge. I was there to stop her from running away again. It was I who informed you of her whereabouts, remember?" His eyes glittered mischievously, the fake innocence plain to anyone watching.
Behind him, Nolan—the ever-loyal retainer—stood stiff. He had seen Ansaldo command with cruelty and strike with ruthless precision, but never had he witnessed his lord soften his tone or smile so lightly at someone considered an enemy. Nolan's instincts screamed at him to step forward, to shield his master from Neptune's wrath, but Ansaldo's subtle gesture kept him rooted where he stood.
Neptune's fury did not fade entirely, but his breathing steadied. He narrowed his eyes at Ansaldo, voice low and heavy with warning.
"I believe neither in prophecies nor in the foolish games of destiny. My granddaughter is sixteen….still a child in my eyes. Stay… away… from her." He emphasized each word like a decree carved into stone. "If you wish to help her, then do so from the shadows. As you always have."
His gaze lingered a moment longer, filled with unspoken threats. Then he turned sharply, robes sweeping the ground as he began to walk away.
Pausing only once, Neptune added coldly, "I should thank you for sending Eva. But I've changed my mind. You still haunt her like a ghost, and I am not your grandfather." Without another glance, he left, his steps unyielding.
Ansaldo stood silent for a beat, then let out a soft laugh. "What is sixteen? She is more than grown. She is ready to live and to choose for herself." His eyes sparkled with dangerous amusement. "Right, Nolan?"
"Yes, my lord," Nolan answered carefully, though his voice betrayed excitement. "Now you can pursue her openly. Many young women, all sixteen or more, beg for your hand. Even your grandmother has sent several to your chambers. Why, just last night one lay waiting, unclothed, and—"
"Enough."
Ansaldo's voice dropped low, the weight of it chilling the air. Nolan shuddered, lowering his head instantly. The playful mood was gone, replaced by a lethal edge.
"Shall I send you to follow Neptune?" Ansaldo's words dripped like poison. Nolan paled, throat tightening. He knew what it meant, an execution order dressed as a jest.
He bowed low, trembling. "Forgive me, my lord. I'll hold my tongue."
Satisfied, Ansaldo waved him away. "Good. Now, follow them. Watch her. Protect her from the shadows. I have one matter left to tend to."
"Yes, milord." Nolan did not dare ask questions. He bowed once more and departed swiftly, his footsteps vanishing into the air.
________________________________________________
Inside the cramped carriage, Edel sat silently, the dagger resting across her lap. Its jeweled hilt gleamed faintly in the dim light, and her fingers curled protectively around it. Mila and Eva flanked her, their expressions calm but unreadable. Across from them, Coral fidgeted restlessly, her whispers breaking the heavy quiet.
"Where are we going?" she asked Finn in a hushed tone, convinced no one else would hear.
"I don't know," Finn admitted, brows furrowing. "Grandfather never said. We weren't given time to prepare, either."
Edel carefully slid the dagger into her belt. Coral's eyes darted to the motion, and she immediately fell silent, stiffening under Edel's steady gaze. The weight of that look alone was enough to make her shrink back into her seat.
Before Edel could speak, Mila's calm voice filled the silence. "We are going to hunt powers. And dragons."
Coral's eyes lit up. "Ohh… dragons?!" Her mind conjured images of small, jewel-toned creatures with gleaming scales and playful eyes. She nearly squealed at the thought.
Mila's lips curved ever so slightly. "In the lands of giants. To the west."
The color drained from Coral's face.
"WHAT?"
Her voice cracked, and her body froze, turning cold as dread seeped into her bones.
She looked around desperately, hoping someone would laugh, someone would tell her Mila was joking. But Mira's face mirrored her shock, Finn's eyes widened with unease, and even Coral herself couldn't deny the truth in Mila's calm certainty.
Only Azure sat still, face pale, gaze cast downward as though he were hiding something behind the curtain of his silence.
"Yes," Edel finally said, her voice steady, leaving no room for doubt.
The carriage lurched forward, carrying them all toward the unknown.