That was the room of writer Stephen King.
Surprisingly, the usually sociable author had not emerged amidst the commotion.
"Damn it, there's no Elf on the White Gull. Can't he just keep quiet for once?" Frank growled.
"Let's go see for ourselves," Bairon suggested.
"Very well, Lord Stewart."
Frank had initially been reluctant to have Bairon accompany him due to the underlying tension between them, but upon reflection, having a magus by his side would be preferable to confronting one alone.
As they walked down the corridor, Bairon casually remarked, "Why isn't Stephen coming?"
Glancing at Stephen's closed door, Frank shook his head, "Who knows? It's probably for the best. Things are already chaotic enough as they are."
No sooner had he spoken than they arrived outside Dave Padorn's room, its door wide open.
Dave seemed eager to showcase his capture to the world.
Upon his return, the boastful Dave greeted them with an air of smug satisfaction, "Ah, you've arrived, Frank, Lord Stewart. Now, I shall prove to you that I wasn't lying. I've captured the Elf!"
"Well then, indulge us with a glimpse," Frank replied, bowing slightly.
Though his tone was respectful, he didn't bother removing his captain's hat.
"Come in!" Dave led the way.
Frank glanced at Bairon, who entered the room without hesitation.
Inside, a voluptuous woman with long legs was bound by a peculiar rope and lay unconscious.
Bairon's pupils contracted at the sight.
It was, unmistakably, Seasoft.
"How is she still on the ship?!" Frank exclaimed in disbelief.
The bound figure was none other than the long-missing member of the theatrical troupe.
From Frank's perspective, the heroine of the "Elf Incident" - the female member of the theatrical troupe - had indeed vanished.
However, Frank didn't suspect her disappearance was due to her Elf identity being revealed, causing her to hide.
Instead, he strongly believed that the young Padorn might have had a quarrel with her, subsequently had his servants throw her overboard, and then fabricated a tale of an Elf aboard the ship.
Such incidents weren't uncommon on many ships.
Whenever a playboy wasn't entertained or sought amusement on a dreary voyage, the unfortunate lower-class passengers bore the brunt of their whims.
What Frank hadn't anticipated, however, was that she was still alive and onboard.
"Of course, she is, and with just a small trick, I caught her," Dave said smugly.
Bairon interjected, "I'm taking her with me."
"What did you say?" Dave's face twisted with anger.
"Lord Stewart, this matter doesn't concern you," Frank advised.
Bairon chuckled, "It does, actually. I've just remembered... ahem... this lady is a distant cousin of mine. Yes, a very distant cousin."
Such a blatant lie?
Frank was dumbfounded.
"You're lying!" Dave roared. "You just want to steal this Elf from me!"
"Are you certain she's an Elf?" Bairon retorted with a smirk.
"Absolutely!" Dave insisted.
Bairon continued, "I recall you mentioning that the Elf had pointed ears. Do you see them on her?"
Though how Seasoft managed to conceal it remained a mystery.
Yet, she indeed didn't have pointed ears now.
"She has striking green eyes," Dave stated, moving to pry open Seasoft's eyelids.
"I'd advise against that," Bairon warned, "unless you fancy a swim with the fish."
"Frank, he's threatening me!" Realizing he was no match for Bairon, Dave called out to the captain.
"Gentlemen, please, let's remain calm," Frank was equally puzzled about Bairon's insistence on the girl, but he was certain that the White Gull couldn't withstand a duel between two magi.
"I get it now! She's not an Elf. She's a half-Elf! That's why she doesn't have pointed ears but possesses green eyes," Dave suddenly exclaimed.
A half-Elf?!
Frank was taken aback.
The possibility was indeed plausible.
"In the fringes of the Röntgen Continent," Bairon smirked, "a small portion of purebred humans also possess green eyes. Moreover, among the Elves, there are many races, not all of whom have green eyes."
Both Frank and Dave exchanged glances, the bewilderment evident in their eyes.
They couldn't discern whether Bairon was speaking the truth or spinning tales.
"Perhaps... we could consult Stephen," Frank suggested.
If there was another erudite aboard the White Gull, it would be Stephen.
Yet, the usually gregarious writer remained conspicuously absent.
Bairon's brow furrowed.
A sense of unease crept into his thoughts.
Suddenly, the ship gave a violent lurch.
The lurch wasn't from side to side, but rather forward and back, much like an abrupt halt.
Caught off guard, Dave plummeted face-first onto the floor with a thud.
Frank, a seasoned sailor of many years, spread his legs to soften his own fall.
Bairon, drawing on his years of combat experience, cast a Lightness spell at his heels, neutralizing the lateral force and instantly regaining his balance.
Seasoft, in her unconscious state, began to tip over.
Just as she was about to crash onto the floor, Bairon swiftly cast another Lightness spell and reached out to steady her.
"Who's steering the damn ship?!" Dave shouted, clutching his bleeding forehead.
Captain Frank, while less injured than Dave, looked equally alarmed.
He stormed out of the room, bellowing in the corridor, "First mate, what's going on?"
"Captain, you'd better come and see for yourself!" A trembling sailor beckoned with a fearful look in his eyes.
Frank bolted outside.
Bairon, cradling Seasoft, cast his Lightness spell, leaping off the walls of the corridor.
Within moments, he vanished from sight.
"Evelyn, are you alright?"
Pushing the door open, Bairon found Evelyn clutching a blanket.
The sudden jolt had thrown her off balance, but thankfully, the soft blanket had shielded her from harm.
A sigh of relief escaped Bairon's lips.
"Bairon, who is that you're holding?" Evelyn inquired curiously.
"Her name is Seasoft." Bairon gently placed Seasoft on his bed and began to untie the ropes binding her.
Holding the ropes in his hands, he examined them closely, detecting the subtle pulsation of Mindergy.
Considering Dave Padorn's penchant for using spell scrolls for even the most minor ailments, a realization dawned on Bairon. "This rope is enchanted, isn't it? Crafted to induce unconsciousness?"
At that moment, Seasoft's eyelids fluttered.
Evelyn leaned in, recognizing Seasoft as the actress from the theater troupe.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"If anyone asks, just say she's a distant relative of ours," Bairon instructed.
Evelyn, wise beyond her years, teased with a smile, "She's quite pretty. Why not claim she's your fiancée?"
"Evelyn..." Bairon sighed with a hint of exasperation.
She pointed at the bed, "She's waking up."
Seasoft blinked a few times, her gaze landing on Bairon before slipping back into unconsciousness.
Bairon gently tapped her cheek to rouse her, but seeing no response, he turned to Evelyn.
"She's very weak right now. Watch over her for me. I need to see what's happening outside."
Seasoft was harmless, at heart.
That was why Bairon was compelled to save her.
Evelyn nodded in agreement.
Turning on his heel, Bairon left the room.
On the deck, a large crowd had gathered.
This included sailors, passengers, the first mate, and the captain.
Desperation painted their faces.
Bairon ascended to the deck. Dave Padorn was the first to spot him, his face a maelstrom of anger and fear. But it wasn't because of Bairon.
Suddenly, as if struck by an epiphany, Bairon approached the edge of the deck.
He peered over and his expression turned grave.
Below, the sea was eerily calm, like a placid lake.
Looking up, he noticed the ship's white sails, all hanging limp without a hint of billow.
"We're in the Windless Expanse, Master Stewart," Captain Frank said, his voice quivering.
Windless Expanse.
Or more precisely, the Windless Expanse Spell Field.
A "spell field" means an area influenced by magic.
The Windless Expanse Spell Field creates an environment where all winds within its reach come to a complete halt.
On land, this particular Spell Field might be deemed harmless.
But for a sailboat on the open sea, it was a living nightmare.
"What about the oars? Get the passengers and any available sailors to row!" Bairon commanded.
"Oh, right, we have oars!" Frank, momentarily roused from his overwhelming dread, quickly called out to the first mate.
"Get people on the oars! And from now on, all food and water supplies on the ship are halted. Anyone who wants food or water will have to earn it by rowing below deck."
No one knew the true expanse of this sudden Windless Expanse Spell Field, so Captain Frank had to prepare for the worst.