[Third POV]
The half an hour given by the party's leader passed by in tye blink of an eye.
The soldiers immediately gathered their stuff and got onto their rides, rushing towards the sea as if it would mean they reached safety.
'Hope. Another feeling I should study, it's ability to give them power out of thin air is interesting.' Solon thought with amusement as he saw the soldier's excitment.
~~~~~~~~~~
The journey was peaceful, not because of luck but because Solon used his power to distort the chaotic spirit's perception by warping light and vibrations around them and dissorienting them.
'A good exercise for my less used powers if I say so myself. I could find some other ways to train my control. The more subtle way the better.' Solon thought as he sensed that they were approaching the sea.
It wasn't reall the sea just a huge lake that was connected to the sea through rivers. There was a single known river that connected the two west of their current position and multiple underground river that were unknown to humans.
'I am dissapointed, but that was expected. In the end it doesn't matter after all only 10 of these 20 people will survive this journey.' Thought Solon as he senses a huge and poweful presence in the bottom of the sea.
"Ok, we reached the sea. You 5 build a small wall behind us. Leave the sides as I can sense movement throught the sand. As for the medic, try to find anything that will help us survive, the sea will provide us with food but won't give us medicine. The rest will help me build a wooden boat and load it with large amount of rocks and stones. We must never run out of bending material." The party's leader said loudly, giving orders to his soldiers.
They immediatle started working. This time they didn't allow Solon to sit around as they didn't have time to waste. They were closer to safety than ever before.
"Put more power behind your swings. You don't have to cut the whole tree, it will fall on it's own but you must damage it enough for it to do the rest." a soldier said as he showed Solon how to cut down trees.
'I know. I'm just trying not to blow my cover. If I swung with all my power a large part of the forest in front of you would be cut instantly.' Solon thought with annoyance.
"That's better. You know, I think it a pity that you are a tea brewer when you have such power. You could become a master bender or even a grandmaster if you wanted to. So tell me, why?" The soldier asked without pausing his hands that were swinging an axe towards trees.
'I understand that riping the trees from the ground would make too much sound but cutting trees with an axe and then cushioning the fall with sand makes it way more tiring. Energy should be their most important resourse right now. Why waste it?' Solon thought with curiosity ignoring the soldier's question.
~~~~~~~~~~
Multiple days passed since the team reached the sea and the boat was mostly done. The only thing missing was filling in with supplies and stones for bending.
"Sir we are ready to move the supplies." a soldier said as he saluted the older man.
The party leader got up from his seat in the boat's front and looked at the boat.
"Good, start filling it up. I will join you once I finish this." He said as some sand rose from the ground and started rotating in high speed.
'First time seeing someone smooth out the wood like that. Humans really are the creatures closer to knowledge.' Solon thought as he looked at the man.
It took half an hour for the older man to finish and most supplies had been loaded on the boat.
The man nodded and started talking loudly.
"Get some rest we will sail in 2 hours. Prepare yourselves." He said as he immediately went to sleep without saying anything else. Two days of continius hard work with no sleep or rest had taken it's toll on him.
Once he laid to the ground most soldiers collapsed on the ground letting their bodies rest.
Adapting to the increasing temperature, the constant attaks from chaotic spirits and the fear of the unknown had eroded their bodies and minds as they worked tirelessly.
[Solon POV]
In the end the humans rested for a total of 8 hours as no one wanted to wake up the old man by moving him with bending.
However, these 8 hours of rest would be their worst mistake. I could sense that the spirit sleeping in the depths of the lake was waking up and a storm was coming at the same time.
'This time I didn't even have to interfere to make he journey harder for them. They managed to do it on their own.' I thougth as I reeled my aura back in order to avoid scarying the spirit away.
The soldiers remained unaware of the danger as they continued to sit and relax in the boat. Only the old man and the medic were vigilant. Their bodies were tense I could sense it. They had an amazing 6th sense, but it wouldn't save them.
'I wonder how many of them will survive in the end. If only the spirit was the danger I would manipulate the odds to save 10 of them, but with the storm approaching I think I will let their luck decide who lives and who dies.'
I took a last look at the team as they sang and laughed together and my eyes were drawn to the medic who took care of the general and studied a book by his side.
'Other than you. You must survive since you have dedicated large part of your life in the search for knowledge.' I thought as I used my powers to increase his luck for the next 2 days we would be traveling throught the sea.
~~~~{chapter end}~~~~