Flocks of seagulls circled the ships in Silvermoon Harbor, where the salty sea breeze blew.
The hastily opened portal didn't transport them too far.
A cloaked figure ran past the sailors and straight for the warehouse at the docks.
Seven turns down the alley and another cautious look back before opening a door and ducking inside.
Inside, the light was dim, the air dull, wooden crates built as high as fences in all directions, and around a few shelves, in a clean, open space, a column of light was cast down through a vent.
A bloodied spine sat on its knees beneath a pillar of light.
"I've inquired, and the ocean-going trade ship leaves at five in the afternoon."
"So how much time do we have now?" Eleazar, who was tending to his wounds, looked up.
How long before those acolytes caught up with them, they knew nothing now, but could only guard against it by peering into their destiny.
The witch deflated, only to pull out her coin of destiny and toss it.
"Ding~"
The coin strangely stalled in the air for a moment before dropping down and getting a positive result.
From the reading, it seems to be going in the right direction.
However, Evelea's face was stunned, "Divination has been interfered with..."
Fina immediately put her clothes on through the pain, "Let's leave early another way then, without waiting for the trade ship."
Eleazar stood up silently and pulled out the map he had just purchased at the bookstore.
The above is just a vague guide to where to go abroad.
It had happened so suddenly that he hadn't had time to contact the druid, and now it was up to them to find the place on their own.
"Sailing all the way south, first across two oceans away from Celine, then through a couple of public seas, before we're considered close to Ruin's territory, that's about the route."
"Find a ship that can cross the ocean and prepare enough fuel, water, and food less."
Fina thoughtfully stood up, "I'll go find food and fresh water."
Evelea shrugged, "Fine, I'll steal the fuel."
Eleazar nods, "Well, I'll get the boat then."
Walking out of that warehouse where they had taken a short break, the three split up.
After walking quietly along the docks for a while, Eleazar turns and walks into a nearby tavern.
Pushing the door open, an indescribably complex smell came out, and in the dim light, a group of hungover drunks slumped eastward over a table and huffed and puffed.
The bartender standing behind the bar keeping score looked up.
"Good morning, sir!"
Eleazar propped himself up on his elbows on the bar and twisted around to look around.
"I need an experienced captain to cross the ocean to a foreign country."
The bartender froze instantly, then his face fell into silence.
Until a golden, shiny bean rolls off the bar.
He caught the golden bean in a vicious dog pounce and bit it with his teeth, his face blushing in ecstasy.
"If it's urgent, only Captain Andre meets your requirements right now, he's at Pier 6, a medium-sized combustion turbine ship painted blue, called the Whale, which has made many safe trips back and forth to Loran..."
The bartender looked up to recall the information and continued, "I heard that the 'Whale's' holds are only half full, but I'm sure you can convince that captain to leave early!"
Eleazar nods, pulling out his mind ring and waving it in front of the other's eyes.
"You just had a beautiful dream that you picked up gold, but it was just a dream."
Retrieving the golden bean from the stiffened palm, he drew out his handkerchief in the process and wiped the drool from it, before he pushed the tavern door open with a flourish and walked out.
They don't have much money left, so they need to save a little from now on.
Following the intel provided by the bartender, Eleazar made his way to Pier 6 and caught a glimpse of the whaleship painted blue.
He didn't know much about the tonnage of ships, but he could see that the combustion turbine ship, as big as a whale, was hardwired to withstand the ocean's high winds and waves.
I wonder if those two will sail...
Eleazar muses, climbing onto the deck from the confiscated ladder rope.
"Hey, you what what?"
Andre, who happened to be in the captain's cabin checking his equipment, looked up and walked right out carrying a double-barreled shotgun.
Eleazar looked at the dark muzzle of the gun and briefly explained what was coming.
"Go to Rune."
"Get out!!!"
Then a bright gold bar that reflected the deck in gold.
The man with the bearded cheeks had his eyes glazed over.
Eleazar said tersely, "We'll leave later."
"No... No, I'm not fully loaded..."
The bartender clearly said his shipment was bound for Lorain.
Eleazar narrows his eyes and pulls out another gold bar.
"Good! Take a seat, Master, and I'll call for a departure right away!"
Captain Andrei, who was dazzled by the gold, had an immediate 180° shift in attitude.
He smiled collected his gun stood beside him, rubbing his hands together, and said, "I don't have a fixed crew here, I recruit them temporarily before each departure, at least ten sailors and a helmsman, but I lost all my money yesterday with a bad hand, can I... Advance a little?"
Eleazar's face fell flat as he tossed out the golden bean with the shallow teeth marks.
"Here's the deposit."
Captain Andrei caught the golden bean in his hands and then bit out another teeth mark, grinning instantly:
"No problem, no problem!"
Eleazar watched with a calm gaze as the skipper lowered the gangplank and ran for the docks.
...
It didn't take long for the two women who had finished their big purchase to follow the connection and find it.
Evelea stepped on the thick deck under her feet and said with satisfaction, "Well, it's a lot better than when I was stowing away!"
Fina looked at her strangely, "How did you used to come to Celine?"
Evelea bristled, "Hiding in a shipping container, ah, the process couldn't have been more difficult..."
While listening to her recount the ordeal of being stowed away, the trio soon waited for the captain, who had returned with a group of sailors.
They were beyond surprised by the appearance of two women on the ship.
As they stowed the anchor, the sailors kept stealing glances at that wonderful body and the snow-white skin hidden in the cloak.
Fina, standing by the parapet, frowned.
"These guys, are they reliable?"
Eleazar looked at the slowly moving away from the harbor and said in a calm tone, "Let's see first if they are honestly sailing."
Evelea bristled, "No need to look, none of these people are honest and peaceful."
The Witch, who had seen so much, easily recognized the true heart of these people.
Eleazar looked down at the waves in silence, "So do you guys know how to sail?"
"No way~"
"No, but I can learn it on the spot."
Fina said, inclining her gaze.
"Oh?" Eleazar looked at her in surprise.
"I can navigate the soul crystal's memories..."
Sure enough, it's a warlock that's evil to the core.
The equally evil witch clasped her hands together and agreed, "Then this will be no problem!"
She glanced back at the furtive eyes behind her.
"Don't worry, those people don't have much patience."
...