The main deck of the ship was a bustling and chaotic scene. The wooden deck was somewhat worn and weather-beaten, with thick ropes and rigging crisscrossing overhead. The sailors were a mix of men and women, dressed in slightly dirty clothing and wearing hats to shield themselves from the sun. Some were scrambling up the rigging to adjust the sails, while others were manning the various ropes and pulleys on deck. The sound of creaking wood and shouting sailors filled the air, blending with the crashing of waves against the hull.
The billowing sails caught the wind and propelled the vessel across the sea. The water churned and splashed against the sides of the ship, leaving a foamy wake in its path. Seagulls circled overhead, drawn to the ship by the promise of food scraps thrown overboard by the crew.
As the ship cut through the sea, the sailors worked tirelessly to keep her on course. They shouted orders to each other, their faces flushed with exertion and salt spray. The wind whipped through their hair, carrying the salty tang of the ocean along with it. Despite the hard work and rough conditions, the sailors moved with a sense of purpose and skill, their movements synchronized and precise.
To the far side, a group of individuals lingered. With a glance, it was easy to tell that they did not belong to the crew.
"Tch, where the hell is that masked bastard?" Mirabella asked in clear annoyance.
"Well, I had just woken him up," Fiona spoke up, wanting to come to Mikoto's defense. "He is probably getting dressed as of now."
"Say, Fiona..." Victoria spoke up, getting the pink-haired girl's attention. "Have you happened to see dear Mikoto without his mask?" She asked with barely concealed curiosity. Even Agatha, who stood a few meters from the group, could not help but have her interest piqued.
Professor Eugene himself seemed to be the sole exception of not having any interest in how Mikoto's face looked. It was not uncommon practice to keep one's face concealed.
("I suspect the boy must have his reasons; it would be wise not to pry.") He thought to himself as he stared at the group of students and Fiona. ("Then again, I suppose I can let them be.")
("Mikoto...") Leaned against the wooden railings of the ship, Lucinda tested the name in her head some more. ("I've heard his name before, but now I am definitely sure it is similar to master's.") Her master was a man who hailed from a small country far East called Doma. He was not especially adept with magic, but his skill with a sword was unparalleled. ("Heh, I still remember the harsh training to this day. It never fails to send chills down my spine.") She could not help but think with a silent shiver.
She shook her head to free herself of the thoughts. She would admit she herself was curious about just what Mikoto's face looked like. (Though I do recall his words back in detention.)
"The reason I hide my face? 'Cause I'm too damn handsome!"
"What does it matter if she saw the guy's face?" Mirabella questioned. She looked disinterested.
"Come now, princess, you must be a tad curious, no?" Victoria stated, glancing at Mirabella, who just clicked her tongue.
"Just Mirabella, that princess crap gets annoying real quick." With a huff, she continued. "And what's there to be curious about? That mask must hide an ugly mug."
"Well, he isn't ugly..." Fiona murmured lowly in defense, but Victoria heard her loud and clear.
"Oh?" A mischievous glint sparked in her eyes as she went in too close. "So he must be rather handsome, yes?" She asked the now sheepish wolf girl.
"W-well I-uh..."
"Come now, we're all curious, Miss Fiona." A smirk adorned the blonde girl's features at seeing the flustered Fiona, who cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure.
"W-well I would not use the term handsome, per se..." She thought of the best way to describe Mikoto without really describing him too much. He did not really exude a masculine energy; in fact, he was...."Cute."
"Huh?"
"Hm?
Mirabella and the rest looked at her in some confusion, and she realized she had blurted that out too loudly as well.
("Very smooth, Fiona. Very smooth.") She could feel her face burning red from embarrassment. Victoria held a smug smile at having once again successfully teased. ("This little bastard....she got me again!")
"Seriously? That guy's cute?" Mirabella did not seem to believe her.
"Fumu~ Most interesting." Victoria would have pried for more information, but she was interrupted by a voice.
"Sorry I'm late." The aforementioned Mikoto stepped on deck, approaching the group. Mirabella shot him a glare.
"Done getting your beauty sleep?" She asked sarcastically as Mikoto came to a stop in front of the group.
"Yep." Mikoto said, tapping the face of his mask. "Need to maintain my good looks. Though I doubt you would know anything about the term."
"Why you-" Before Mirabella could retort, Professor Eugene stepped in, so no arguing could begin.
"Alright, everyone is here; we can begin the briefing." Mirabella settled for another click of the tongue as she glared at the sea as if it had wronged her somehow. "Verdantis and Galadriel are not that far apart, but our journey will be another week or maybe more, if the wind remains steady and the sea levels stable."
"That is all well and good..." Agatha spoke up. "But what are we specifically to do once we reach Verdantis?"
"I'll be getting to that in a moment. Firstly, it would be prudent if you all are capable of a spell to preserve the warmth within your body. Up North is especially cold," he informed as he continued. "Also, we'll be docking in a small town once we do reach Verdantis."
"But say, Verdantis is known for its abysmal amount of Astrothians, no?" Victoria murmured. "Once we reach further North, will there not be a chance of this ship to be attacked by any Astrothians at sea?"
"Well, that's where we come in." Her embarrassment having died down somewhat, Fiona spoke up. "As you all can see, this ship is meant to transfer supplies to Verdantis. We were not a part of the schedule, but Professor Eugene managed to secure us passage by promising to protect the ship should any Astrothians attack. You all should be capable of spells way beyond most tiers, so there should not be any trouble."
"Makes sense," Agatha murmured.
"But it's gonna be a pain," Mirabella stated. "With all these plebes around, we can't use any large spells."
"Not like you need large spells to kill anything big," Mikoto said matter-of-factly. "You just need precise ones." Mirabella just scoffed as Professor Eugene nodded, then he spoke.
"Exactly, consider it part of the curriculum. The Astrothians, that is, we'll be encountering larger ones the further we go North," the man informed.
"That is troublesome," Lucinda murmured. "I heard Dread Sea Crawlers frequent the oceans up north."
"The hells a Dread Sea Crawler?" Mirabella asked the question most themselves were wondering.
"They are species of sea serpents, also known as the Deep Sea Reapers to sailors everywhere," Lucinda started. "Their bodies are tough enough to withstand the immense pressure in the deep pressure, and they can manipulate the ocean to some degree. Or so I heard."
"So the chances are likely we'll encounter one," Agatha noted. "It would no doubt be trouble."
"Indeed," Professor Eugene nodded in agreement. "But now we'll get down to briefing with most of everything else covered. Now Verdantis, while a large nation and capital, its military might pales in comparison to that of Galadriel and Vel'ryr," the professor began. "Though it makes up for it with the amount of Inheritors that are born there, so-" Before he could continue, he was cut off by a confused Mirabella.
"Hold on, Inheritors? What the hell is that?" She questioned in confusion. Mikoto and Agatha were much in the same boat.
"Ah, forgive me. While not really a secret, it is also not something widely known," Professor Eugene spoke as he turned to Victoria. "I could explain it to them, but mayhap you can do so more thoroughly." The girl nodded with a smile.
"Of course, professor." Clearing her throat, she began the explanation. "Inheritors are the true chosen. More special than spawns, if there is a one in a thousand chance of being born a spawn, then there would be a one in a million chance of being born an Inheritor. To be more specific, Inheritors have the ability to ascend, so to speak, using something known as Arcane Ascendance."
Agatha and Mirabella perked up at the mention of the familiar term.
("While I and the princess were battling that Chaosmaw back in the forest, he had mentioned the same thing...") Agatha internally thought as Victoria continued.
"They reach what we call 'false Godhood.' But do not let the name fool you; once these Inheritors ascend, they are frighteningly powerful."
"How powerful?" Mikoto asked.
"It would depend on the God who blessed the Inheritor, as they are in a sense also spawns. But for example, were a spawn of Aragorn to ascend to false Godhood, they would have the potential to wipe out the world. But Lucinda here is an Inheritor herself," Victoria informed and immediately gazes honed in on her, causing her to let out a sheepish chuckle.
"How many Inheritors of the same God can there be?" Mikoto raised yet another question as Victoria hummed while rubbing her chin.
"I cannot say for certain; an Inheritor can be created one of two ways," the girl stated, holding up two fingers. "The first is being lucky enough to be chosen, but the second, though extremely unlikely, is still very possible. Train, reach enlightenment, and ascend. Though to really answer your question, it may or may not be possible."
"I see, thanks Victoria."
"You are most welcome, dear Mikoto." She replied with a sweet smile Fiona could not help but find annoying.
"I could not have said it better myself," Professor Eugene stated as he directed his gaze at Agatha and Mirabella. "Aside from your obvious skills and magical prowess, you two were also recommended because there is a chance that you two are late to 'awaken'." The two girls looked at the professor in surprise.
("Father never mentioned something like Arcane Ascendance. I can't imagine a man like him not having any knowledge of it....") This was certainly a revelation. But she did not know if it was a goal she wanted to work for. She was conflicted.
("A chance to gain even more power?") Mirabella grinned to herself. ("Count me the hell in!")
"If you don't mind my asking, Professor, who are all the Inheritors of Verdantis?" Mikoto asked, mostly out of curiosity.
"There are five in total," the professor began.
"There is Lyraeth, spawn and Inheritor of the Sun Goddess Sylvestra. I have heard tales of her being a particularly violent one. Then there is Inheritor of the God of darkness Xylohr, the Inheritor's name is known as Aerinon. We've not much information on him, so we'll move along."
"There are the siblings Reylthorn and Lilith, blessed by the God who governs over time and space, Arcturus. This goes without saying, but they're the most dangerous and powerful of the few Inheritors. Though we only know the existence of a fifth Inheritor, but not the God or Goddess who governs over them." Professor Eugene explained.
("A Goddess of the Sun, a God of darkness, and a God who governs over space and time, huh?") Mikoto, like the rest, was soaking up the information, but for a different reason. ("I'm sure I can do it; all I need to do is see it once. Like I made Agatha's magic my own, I'll do the same to them. And ascend!")