The ship was smaller than the others Fiona had seen in the port, but it's deck was still big enough for a large group of people, but as you went down the ship got smaller and smaller, with the bottom hull looking almost like a room only. When they entered the hull, they saw first the crew men in the corner walls working the engine which was a big contraption of a lot wheels, chains and levers, it went up to upper levels through the ceiling where they were burning something from the smell. Then in the centre of the room, there were five cloaked rather short figures standing around the hole, with their hands extended towards the water, they were glowing yellow and the witches were chanting a spell continuously.
On the whole was a thin blueish transparent membrane, which was almost invisible at some angles but it somehow kept the water beneath from overflowing into the ship. When they reached the hole, they could see the sea beyond the fishes and the body of the leviathan were visible from here, it was like a window into the deep sea.
"It is something eh, when I first got it, we sometimes just used to stand here for hours seeing the depths of the sea, " said Marty.
"Do you have a long rope Marty?" asked Derek while everyone was busy staring at the whole or worrying about the approaching ship.
"Yeah, I might have one, why?" asked Marty.
"I might have a plan, " said Derek.
Derek proceeded to tell them their plan.
"Are you sure about it? I mean can you take them on?" asked Marty.
"I have defeated him before, " said Derek.
"I'll be there too, I'll deal with the rest, " said Isanna.
"Think this through, the water current will be very violent in there, you would have to use a lot of mana, that's going to be exhausting and then you'll have to fight too and come back, " said Marty.
"I'll manage we don't have any other choice, " said Derek.
"You'll need to take one more person who'll hold the rope, " said Marty and they looked at Fiona and the others.
Ron moved ahead to volunteer but Derek shook his head.
"It would be easier if it's someone lighter, and I don't think the cat would like to get wet," said Derek.
Rin was already shaking her head, and then they all looked at her.
Fiona took a deep breath and nodded.
"All right, give me a minute to prepare, we need to let them get into our range too, " said Marty and left.
Ron came upto her then and asked if she was all right doing this.
"I don't really have to do anything, I just have to hold the rope, they are the ones who are in real danger, " she said.
"Yeah but, if it doesn't work out, you'll be stuck too, " he said.
"Don't worry, I think Derek and your mother are enough for those black hands, I sniffed them back then," Rin came beside them hearing their conversation.
"And what did you find out by sniffing them, " said Ron.
"A lot, that they don't like to eat too warm food and they are not a team, while it looks like Derek and commander know how to work together, " said Rin.
"Fiona, come here for a second, " Isanna called Fiona.
Fiona went to where she was standing away from the others.
"Look, I know it's too soon, but I think it's time you start using your affinity, " she said.
"I know, Vanessa told me and I have been trying to meditate like she said in my room everyday, but I just don't think it's working, maybe she might have made a mistake, " she said.
"No, she hasn't, I believe the same thing, she knows this stuff much better than I do, so do what she told you, if everything went by the plan it should be fine, but you should always be prepared, down there, your adrenaline would be running high, I have seen a lot of my students realising their true potential in such situations, and I think like your brother, you are special too, " said Isanna.
"All right, they are getting close now, we should this now, here's the rope," Marty came in with two other men carrying a large and thick rope.
"All right, Fiona you ready?" asked Derek and she nodded.
They tied the rope around her waist, then Isanna grabbed her hand and Derek hers, they stood at the edge of the hole looked at each other, Fiona took a deep breath, and they jumped, they passed through the membrane with no problem, once more than half of their body was through the pressure difference somehow pulled them down even faster.
Fiona looked up and saw the ship moving past them, only now did she realize how fast it was moving in reality, because of the vastness of the sea they never comprehended how fast boats move. They would soon run out of breath, but beside her both Isanna and Derek were focusing channeling their mana, at first Isanna with her air affinity formed an air bubble around them, and then Derek with his water affinity pushed the bubble against the water current towards the approaching ship, they shot through the water like an arrow, she was shaking with all the forces acting on her body at once. The rope tight around her waist clawing her skin now, it was the tremendous power of Derek that he was able to push against the water current, he had to go fast because he didn't want to stay too long inside the water to not disturb the leviathan. Isanna on the other hand had to maintain the air bubble against the back thrust of the water which also took a lot of mana.
The other ship appeared in front of them, Derek slowed down and stopped them right underneath the ship, this ship was bigger than Marty's so they had to find the hole under the boat's surface, it had a similar membrane over it like theirs. They hovered underneath it, maintaining the same speed as the ship.
Derek motioned to proceed and he slowly left the air bubble and swam towards the hole, Isanna followed him and then Fiona, they passed through the membrane with eaze and when they appeared on the other side, they found them surrounded with a dozen of men all aiming swords at them.
Through the group the man she had seen before with the black hands steppped forward revealing his scarred face.
"Long time no see Derek, Isanna, I see you still are as sharp as ever, though you should realize I would know how your mind works, " he smiled a nasty grin. This was definitely not the part of their plan. Suddenly the roped around Fiona's waist felt loose, she turned to see the other female black hand had cut it.