For a few days Alexander couldn't drive away the oppressive and dangerous feeling that the gray sky above his head gave him.
But slowly he got used even to it. The most helpful detail was the fact that Sorrow appeared in a particularly dangerous spot of the Lower Ocean. Every day started with roaring of some beasts and sound of energy cannons piercing some flesh accompanied with shrieks of pain.
'Still it's frightening…the sky…' He thought one morning after opening his eyes.
"Everyone be ready. In less than one hour we will arrive at Gemini."
Captain's voice sounded from everyone's brand. In Alexander's case it felt rather strange when someone talked to you from your own eyes.
'Couldn't that bird place it's brand on my hand for example?'
He quickly put some clothes and went outside. Some people were on the deck, observing something in the distance.
It was an island like many others in the Broken Ocean.
The most particular thing about it was a wall of dark blue clouds, with some green lightning vines covering it all, which cut the island in two equal parts.
Behind it, Alexander was able to distinguish only some outlines of buildings.
"What is that?" – He asked nearby Kleid.
The man glanced at him, somehow annoyed. – "It's the reason why the city is named Gemini. In the part that you can see prevalently live human residents of the city, while on the other side live Esprits."
"Esprits?" – The Alexander's curiosity was piquet.
"They are from another World. From Darkness Plateau. There're many reasons for them to be here, in our Ocean, but it can be resumed in them being refugees."
As the ship went near the island Alexander noticed other six small landmasses surrounding the main one. Two were surrounded by the same wall of clouds as the one on the main island.
On the other four he saw some regular buildings. Some monotonous noise could be heard from them. Alexander threw some glances full of expectations and Kleid.
The man at first ignored the boy but at the end sighed. – "Ok, ok…These islands are the war golem factories. Gemini is famous for it's full equipped war golems and…" – Suddenly he stopped and frowned. – "That's strange…"
Alexander looked puzzled at him. – "Something wrong?"
"No. Only it's strange that two out of four factories aren't working…I must check this…" – He closed his eyes. His frown deepened. – "And the other two are also about to stop."
The boy meanwhile continued to observe the city. He was very happy to see that it had a normal layout. 'Fortunately, it seems that this city I more like Lamar-Tyr…Finally some easy to follow streets and…'
*BOOOM*
Something exploded in the distance raising a huge cloud of dust and flames. '…not as dangerous as Blackwater…'
Alexander sighed.
[…]
As the gloomy black-sailed ship moored at the main dock many people ran towards the governor's mansion. As they moved some green electric flashes randomly appeared on their bodies.
This couldn't escape from Captain John's perception, but he only observed everything with neutral expression. Only his eyes became slightly colder.
"Everyone, first of all I will pay a visit to the Governor and request the entrance to the other side." – He said to everyone.
"You, meanwhile, go to the city and investigate."
Everyone nodded and when Alexander was about to venture inside the city suddenly a voice stopped him.
"Alexander, wait a moment." – It was Captain. – "Since you've awakened your bloodline, here, in the Lower Ocean, you must follow some rules."
The boy stopped. – "Rules?"
"Yes. Well, as you could see on the Seven Star Archipelago, a mature, trained and innately powerful bloodline can basically obliterate every non awakened person."
Alexander nodded. 'Indeed, James for example can obliterate more then hundred people with some casual move.' He remembered the day of recruitment.
John continued. – "It would be quite a problem if some evil-minded person from the Upper Ocean went here and started a massacre. So, the Church of the Deep created the Carta of Fairness. It's a set of rules that one had to follow in the Lower Ocean. The transgressors are hunted by the Ocean Lord's like me and imprisoned in the Deep."
There were many questions inside Alexander's mind. 'What exactly is the Deep?'
"But for you, the only rule that you must remember is not to use your bloodline against regular people unless there're more then one hundred people ganging on you."
"What?" – Alexander was somehow shocked. – "Isn't this too much…"
John immediately interrupted. – "No. Think about it. With your bloodline you need a single fought to burn a normal person to ashes. You still lack experience, so you don't understand the difference between an awakened and not awakened person."
"Now, you can go."
Alexander leaved the ship while still thinking about his own powers. After some considerations he could only agree with captain. His experiences were somehow abnormal. Giant monsters, Godly spirits, Frozen King and so on.
'To kill a normal person should be pretty easy…'
He didn't notice as a shadow followed him closely.
There were many people on the streets. He couldn't quiet gasp the feeling, but something felt amiss to the boy as he followed randomly the labyrinth of alleys and streets.
As he entered the city, he immediately activated the Boundless Map and started recording the zones he crossed.
The whole city slowly appeared in his mind in the form of a very detailed bidimensional map.
'Ok, now that I know the city, I've to find an inn as there is always some information circulating.'
[…]
"OOOOh, so you're new to our city, Young Man!" The old inn owner was very enthusiastic about Alexander. – "Yes, I've arrived just this morning with a merchant ship."
The old man repeatedly nodded. – "You want to know something about Gemini…By the way, want to order something?"
Alexander smiled innocently but inwardly cursed. 'Want me to pay for the information, geezer?'
"Sure, some local drink!"
The owner made a sign to the pretty waitress behind the counter and she took out a bottle of scarlet liquid. – "It's not exactly a local product but you can buy this only in two places in the whole Ocean."
He passed a crudely made glass filled with ruby liquid to Alexander. – "Its name is Devil's Rose." – He made a pause. – "One gold for a glass."
Alexander smiled and made a sip. Inside his mouth suddenly the liquid was swallowed by a purple flame.
He waited for a moment and nodded. – "It's marvelous!"
'At least it's not poisoned.' He could unconsciously understand the components, or in this case the ingredients, of the things he burned. It wasn't very precise, but it was enough.
He made another sip, this time a real one and suddenly his pupils constricted. A wave of warmth enveloped his whole body and his bloodline suddenly activated.
Two Energy Mass Points doubled their speed.
His senses became sharper, but the reaction speed slowed.
Every color around him intensified and acquired profundity.
After a few second's everything returned to normal. 'This was only a sip!' Thought Alexander.
The old man who observed the whole thing commented. – "You're very cautious, Young Man. At least for your age." – He noticed that the first sip was the fake one.
'Young, but still remembered to search for the poison…good!'
Alexander continued to smile and made a question which surprised the owner. – "How much is the whole bottle?"
"One hundred gold."
His left eye twitched. 'Old thief! One glass is one gold, while the whole bottle is one hundred?!'
"Ok. I will take one." – He took out a sack of gold coins from his pocket. – "Now, can you please tell me some recent information about the city."
The Old man was a bit distracted by the money. – "Oh…Yes…Information…"
He made a very detailed summary of everything what happened in the last few months at Gemini. It wasn't very useful information thought.
"…and in the last two months Esprits started act strangely. There were even some cases of them exploding right on the streets and killing many other people."
Alexander, who was already regretting the money spent before, immediately showed interest. – "Tell me more."
The Owner's expression became thoughtful. – "There isn't much more to tell. Since they normally live behind the wall since the environment on this side is not good for them to live in. If I had to point the root of the problem with Esprits, it's certainly behind the wall!"
After that, since the owner didn't have anything else to tell him, Alexander stood up and exited outside.
As the door behind him closed another man also stood up and followed the boy.
The inn owner saw everything and frowned, visibly displeased. A waitress quickly appeared behind his back. – "Sir, should I…" – A murderous glint appeared for a moment in her eyes.
"No need. The kid can do it himself." – The girl seamed unconvinced. – "Did you see his eyes? There is brand!"
She was taken aback.
"A sword of sorrow piercing a ship…"
The girl's pupils constricted slightly and she nodded.