In the midst of a bright afternoon sun.
The waves of the Fable Sea ebbed and flowed, crashing against the cliff that was holding the Royal Palace.
Inside the fortress of the Royal Palace, Ruiki sat below an apple tree, looking at the sunlight through the gaps in the leaves with an eye closed, the shadows covering him and the leaves below him making him feel like home.
He removed his hands from below his head, making his head fall on the leaves as he spread his arms wide, closing his eyes.
Just then, he heard a shout. "To Ruiki Imara, Viscount Kentucky is calling for you!"
I stood up, nodding to the air as I went inside the palace.
I was originally supposed to set-off to journey to Deroz Yr City several days ago, but it got delayed due to bad weather and several reasons.
Now, it looks like the times of peace was finally up, and the times of trouble had started.
I didn't regret the delay in the journey, though. Since I got to spend some time with my mother and sister, roaming around with them in the Royal Palace and the city.
As soon as I entered the palace, I saw Viscount Kentucky waiting for me with Mister Diablo Orsent — who had disappeared a few days ago — and surprisingly, Mumbe Berknalz.
But unlike the last time I saw her, she wasn't wearing the pure white robes that radiated pure holiness or anything, but wore a thick sweater made of fur, wearing glasses.
"What is she doing here?" I asked, surprised and also because I had familiarised with Viscount Kentucky.
"She's coming along, His Majesty's order." The Viscount said with a smile.
"Hello," Mumbe Berknalz spoke normally, unlike how she had almost seen manic before.
"Hi," I greeted as well, as it would be rude not to.
In the previous days I had spent at the palace, I had — except for spending time with my family — learnt new spells, learnt how to use artifacts and many historical etiquettes and such.
Currently, since the world was still in a developing state after the Last Embers, historical etiquettes were slowly coming to a decline, new etiquettes, rules, and gestures coming into play.
But still, it was best to learn them since the place I was going to visit was said to be a place that was 'noble among nobles,'as said by people.
Viscount Kentucky nodded, saying. "His Majesty wishes for your presence, please."
"Okay," I nodded, going to the second floor of the palace where he usually resided.
Knocking on the door before opening, I entered, seeing Evanus Williams talking to my mother and Na'ari.
"Welcome, we were just discussing the plans of what and when." The Supreme King of the Kingdom greeted me and gestured for me to sit, and I sat on the free side of the bed, with Na'ari on my side.
Looking at me, Na'ari suddenly asked. "Are you leaving again?"
Taken aback that she knew, I looked at my mother, but she offered no reaction, merely smiling.
I looked at Na'ari again, smiling just as my mother did. "Yes, but it won't be long."
"Promise?" She asked, holding her pinky up.
I locked my pinky with her and said, "Promise,"
Then, as if satisfied by the little gesture, she bloomed into a smile, saying. "Then I will take all the books in your room!" She said, exiting the room and dashing towards mine.
"...wait." My voice was unheard as she had already drifted off, my mother chuckling.
"Atleast she will take proper care of it until you come back," she said, brushing my hair back.
"Hopefully, she doesn't ruin them," I said, shaking my head since it felt embarrassing in front of the King.
"Hmm, coming to the point, everything is ready," Evanus Williams, who now sat beside me, said, looking at the door from where Na'ari had just left.
"You can start your journey at any time, best it be in the evening since it will be exceptionally cold at night."
I nodded, letting silence take over since I didn't know what else to say.
In the end, I asked. "Why is that woman coming with me?"
"She's a bargaining chip," he said, sighing. "Since she's the sister of Silenna Lau'nara, she would play a crucial role if the Duchess decides to play any tricks."
"But wouldn't she be safe in the palace?"
"Ofcourse, but knowing Silenna, it would be better if her sister goes with you…. And after what you told me, it would be even better if she tags along with you."
"And don't worry, she will go separate ways in the Armashore Port."
I nodded, and didn't ask why, pursing my lips. I had told him everything about what happened in the Cavern of Black Lilies, and he had promised that he would inquire Rose on what had happened, sooner or later.
Evanus' Williams had also assured me that he would deal with the Order of the Black Pits and make sure I was safe in the foreseeable future, so currently, that was out of my worries.
Taking a moment to gather my breath, I said, "I would like to set off, now."
Evanus looked a bit surprised, but he still nodded.
…
Outside the Royal Palace, at the port of the city.
I hugged my mother and sister, seeing what seemed to be tears from Na'ari's eyes.
She had cried many times in the past, often times because of me, and silly things, but seeing her cry this time… it felt different, indescribable.
"Promise that you won't cry until I come back, okay? And don't trouble your mother, she's had enough troubles already."
Na'ari nodded, going to my mother and hiding behind her.
After hugging my mother once again, I ascended the stairs, looking at the huge nondescript ship with what looked to be a mix of modern features
That's right, I was going to travel on a ship! A warship with spell cannons at that.
As I reached the deck of the ship, the stairway was withdrawn and collected back by the sailors with huge muscles and tanned skins as they went back and forth, preparing to set sail.
Soon, along with Diablo Orsent, Mumbe Berknalz, and many others, the ship sets sail, drifting on to the sea.
…
It had been a few hours since the ship had set sail, and everything was going smoothly, with no impediments like waves, or bad weather on our way.
If everything went well, we would reach the Armashore Port in a few hours.
"After anchoring in the Armashore Port, we will restock our supplies and set sail again towards Red Duck Region, from where you can travel on land and safely reach Deroz Yr City."
"Although the Red Duck Region… is a bit unsafe, as long as we reach the City of Black Birds we are safe."
I sat in a chair awkwardly, listening to Diablo Orsent talk with the captain and make plans.
Suddenly, I heard the captain sigh. "Things would have been easier if the roads in the kingdoms weren't destroyed during the Last Embers."
"Right now, long distance travelling on land is almost impossible."
Another one of the sailors also sighed, "Not to mention that we are still using carriages for transport in cities, while the northerners use vehicles like buses, taxi's, cars etc…"
"Nothing to lament about, fellas, it was right in our land, the Sacred Line, that the Black Dragon had defended against the horde of Water Orcs, driving them back to the sea. If not for our land's advantages, then humanity would have probably ceased to exist, or lived in hiding."
The Three Southern Wings, or the Three Southern Kingdoms, also had another name known as the "Sacred Line," where the Black Dragon had made his final stand, driving away creatures that had emerged from the gateway dungeons and performing deeds that were still remembered today.
And it was said that, in this great battle, was when the roads and structures in the Southern Kingdoms were destroyed, making the kingdoms adopt a more ancient lifestyle, also giving rise to quotes such as "the northern land lives only because of the southern lands, etc."
Seeing that the cabin had quieted down, I asked Diablo Orsent, "You are a Blessed of Ancient Death, right?"
Diablo Orsent shook his head. "I'm a Blessed, yes. But not of Ancient Death."
Although I had read about Blessed and Blessings in my textbook, the information was vague since such topics were considered taboo in religions, all the information I had gathered only being a few lines or so.
So I directly asked him, "What does that mean?"
"Hmm… In simpler terms, Blessings correspond to the gods and their lands, that's what the churches say, atleast."
Before I could ask further, he explained. "Blessings and Blessed related to Ancient Death thrive in the Southern Kingdoms, as you might've noticed, yes?"
I nod, I knew this much, atleast.
"But such is not the case everywhere. Blessings and Blessed related to Light and Knowledge are abundant in the North, while in the other parts, it's related to various Blessings corresponding to different authorities."
"Such as that band in the East and that small alliance in the West, they have authorities related to catastrophe and myths respectively."
"Why do such regions exist? Is it because of the churches or…?"
"I suggest we don't talk about it, Young Master," Diablo Orsent drew a line, "When you are of age and prepared, you will know yourself."
"Can I know anything more? Do you possess spirits as well? I heard from my… grandfather that you are a Shadow Master, what does that correspond to?"
Diablo sighed, shaking his head. "I can't tell…"
Seeing that he was bothered by the topic, I stopped. I didn't like pressuring people by using cheap tricks so I left the cabin, walking to the deck and going to the very front.
Sea life pretty much triumphed in the sea, various dolphins, weeds that had risen to the surface, and fishes moving about.
Maybe Last Embers hadn't affected sea life that much, as much as it had to the land.
It was good, I guess. At least a part of the world remained intact after that horrendous war.
Just then, I noticed some unrest among the sailors, few of them shouting and calling, issuing warnings as they ran about, a sailor on the navigation deck even climbing down.
"There is a storm ahead!" One of them shouted, and I frowned.
The sun was high in the sky and bright, its radiance still blinding. How could a storm arrive?
But as if to show how absurd the weather was after the Last Embers, I saw a small region ahead that had storm clouds, black and thick, with fierce lightning flashing below along with wind.
It had formed out of thin air!
I then noticed the ship moving in a "Z" pathway as I braced myself.
I prepared to run for the cabin, but then noticed that the clouds in the distance suddenly billowed forth, rushing in all directions as it covered the sky.
Running inside the cabin was too late now as I clutched the railings and used Entangle — one of the spells I had learnt in the palace— for safety as small green vines attached themselves to the wooden railings.
The clouds in the sky proceeded to spread, stretching thin as rain started to pour down.
Rain. What a timing, I thought, as a fierce wind rushed by, proving my spell useless and shifting my gravity as the vines snapped along with the wood.
With me practically lifted off the deck, I saw various sailors preparing cannons, a few of them sprawled on the floor but the majority resisted.
Just as I thought I would probably break a bone or two, still darkness shrouded throughout my surroundings, obscuring my vision, hearing and touch as I was unable to even move.