Two weeks had passed since the group of mages cast off from the port of Misty Lake, with their ship sailing south along one of the several rivers that emptied into the Northern Sea, allowing Floris and Alvis to see the vastness of the open ocean for the first time in their lives. For them, it was a spectacular site and they soaked in the view for as long as they could.
With the sun high in the sky on a clear day, its reflection sparkled brightly on the water's wavy surface, and the boys could practically see forever. The salty sea wind slapped their faces, and the sailors turned the masts to allow the sails to catch the ocean breeze, speeding up the ship by an incredible rate.
Traveling at speeds they had never dreamt of, the boys rushed to the bow of the ship and held onto the lines as they watched the water pass by below them. Some time passed and the ship encountered some visitors as several dolphins began to race along the sides of the ship, leaping out of the water as they raced the ship.
On occasion, a dolphin would jump a little higher than the railing of the ship, and Alvis tried to reach out and touch one as it jumped. But whenever he got close, another dolphin jumped up in front of him, and spit some water in his face, making him back off.
Floris chuckled as he watched his friend get squirted by these strange fish he had never even heard of before, then turned his attention back towards the horizon, getting his first taste of how vast the world truly was. The world was a vast - seemingly endless plain that had no end, and therefore had no limitations of new places to explore. Transferring from Two Creeks to the outside world near Misty Lake was a shock in and of itself, but being exposed to the vast openness of the ocean made that extrusion seem minuscule by comparison.
Kathrina, who was sitting along the ship's railing, watched her teammates from a distance and chuckled quietly to herself. It was more than just a little amusing to watch her friends act and seem so bewildered by the sheer size and openness of the world, especially Floris since he was usually so laid back. However, as amusing as it may have seemed, she couldn't deny she had a certain jealousy of the two. By now, she was a well-seasoned traveler and had seen a fair chunk of Fiorra and the lands it contained, as well as its breathtaking coastal sights. She couldn't help but envy the boys for their amazement of seeing the world for the very first time, and knowing basically nothing about the world they would soon be exploring. Secretly, she wished she could have that same feeling of shock and awe along with Floris and Alvis, and share in the memories they were making at this moment.
the moment would not last forever, however, as Flare soon came on deck and waved for his students to join him below deck. Once they were all gathered in Flare's room, he began talking about the mission at hand. He stood leaning back against the wall with his arms crossed as he spoke, giving his students a serious and chilling look with his eyes - demanding they took his words seriously.
"Sorry to ruin your fun, boys, but this is something I must tell you about while we have a quiet moment. The mission we're going on is not a luxury cruise, and the safety of the Mages Guild is far out of reach for you now. This is the real thing. We've been tasked with wiping out a stronghold of pirates who have been preying on trade vessels and weakened military ships in the area for some time. Our mission is to put an end to it and bring their leader to justice so he can be made an example of to others who would do the same. Make no mistake, these pirates are real threats to you, and will not hesitate to end your lives when the opportunity arises, so don't give them the chance. This is a kill or be killed mission and will have serious consequences should you mess up. But based off what I saw from you three before, I have full faith in your abilities. Remember to stay together and to watch each other's backs. You're a team; each one of you is unique. Use that to your advantage."
"Will you be helping us at all for this mission, Flare?" Kathrina asked. She knew the risks that would come with joining the guild, but she was still a little nervous.
Flare turned his gaze to Kathrina and answered, "Yes, but not directly. I want to see how you three work in the real world. Do what damage you can, but keep vigilant. If the situation becomes too much for you to handle, or if you come across another mage, let me deal with it. I don't expect three brand new rookies to fight off an army. But I do expect you to put up a fight."
"Do you have any estimates on how many we might be dealing with?" Floris asked.
Flare shook his head, then looked at Floris as he replied, "No, I'm afraid not. But always expect the worst. Even if you know you're only going up against a hundred men, always be prepared to fight a thousand."
Floris only nodded in response, telling Flare that he understood.
"Oh, and this is only for field experience. I want you three to stick with what you know so far. Don't try to do anything fancy. Show offs on the battlefield never last long, so save any hot dog ideas you may have for sparring matches." Flare stated before pushing himself off the wall. "Now, with that out of the way, head back up deck and enjoy yourselves for the time being."
the three students nodded and made their way back to the upper deck.