The steady patter of raindrops fell on the deck, resonating with a crisp, low hum. Inside the cabin, Lynn awoke from his recurring nightmare.
As his surroundings came into focus, Lynn exhaled in relief. The apparition of the goddess that had suddenly appeared last night had left a deep psychological impact on him, but fortunately, it seemed she had no intention of pursuing them.
They should be safe now.
Lynn straightened up, climbed down from the hard wooden bunk, grabbed a cloak hanging by the door, and stepped out onto the deck.
The gentle sea breeze, tinged with salt and moisture, swept away the foul air from the cabin as it greeted him.
Lynn looked toward the distance. Thick fog enveloped the sea, shrouding the entire ship in its embrace, barely allowing a glimpse of three to five meters beyond the vessel.
This mist appeared to possess some mystical power; even when he employed the first-ring spell "Tick's Distant Vision," he couldn't pierce through the white fog to see farther.
Sailing under such conditions was perilous, to say the least. It was not only difficult to navigate but also easy to collide with hidden reefs.
"Master Sorcerer, you're awake? Did you rest well last night?"
A familiar voice sounded from behind. Lynn turned to see that it was the limping Laud.
However, compared to last night, Laud seemed somewhat haggard, clearly still shaken by the previous events.
Lynn didn't answer Laud's inquiry but instead asked directly, "Is this the Sea of Mist? How did you navigate before, and how long will it take to reach the Sorcerer's Land?"
"Normally, it takes more than half a month to sail from Harbor Town. As for navigation…" Laud carefully produced a compass.
Curious, Lynn leaned in closer. The compass was round and made of wood, with intricate runes and patterns etched on its surface. The most striking feature was the needle, which remained fixed, pointing unwaveringly in the direction the ship was heading.
Could it be a magic compass?
Lynn speculated silently as he listened to Laud explain.
"This compass is an alchemical creation made by the great sorcerer Helram. No matter where you are, it will always point toward the Sorcerer's Land."
This was their reliance for traversing the Sea of Mist. No matter where they started from, as long as they followed the compass's direction, they would inevitably find the Sorcerer's Land.
How marvelous… Lynn took the compass and examined it closely, feeling a growing interest in the great sorcerer Helram. This was the second time he had heard that name.
It seemed that Ancilok's elaborate scheme to lure out a few sorcerer apprentices and force Laud to reveal the compass had all been for this.
Handing this over to the Church would surely be a great achievement!
Unable to decipher the runes on the compass, Lynn simply made a mental note and returned the device.
Laud accepted it with a troubled expression, hesitated for a long time, and then cautiously asked, "Are you a great sorcerer?"
"Certainly not," Lynn shook his head, not daring to admit such a thing.
He was merely a sorcerer apprentice who had just begun studying magic. It was one thing to be mistaken for a full-fledged sorcerer, as the use of his intelligence system allowed him to achieve feats beyond the capabilities of an apprentice. But being called a great sorcerer was far from the truth.
Without the assistance of the "Ship Gang" and its thousand-strong members, he wouldn't have been able to set up a trap powerful enough to destroy the entire harbor.
Ancilok and his men were brought down more by science than by sorcery.
Seeing Lynn's denial, Laud looked skeptical. He had witnessed the terrifying explosion last night, which surely required advanced magic.
But remembering how Lynn had requested large quantities of raw materials, Laud surmised that the sorcery, called "Fireworks," must have required a special ritual to unleash such powerful magic.
"If that's the case, you may face some reproach once we reach the Sorcerer's Land," Laud sighed.
Lynn's expression darkened as he sensed the looming threat of a scapegoat.
Under Lynn's "friendly" gaze, Laud quickly began to explain.
Although he had been operating the route from Harbor Town to the Sorcerer's Land, it was originally established by the great sorcerer Helram. The entire "Ship Gang" was merely a tool in his hands. Willingly or not, they had to deliver scarce resources to the Sorcerer's Land every year.
They had always acted with the utmost secrecy, with no significant errors in over a decade. But now, due to Jonny and the others, this transport line had been destroyed.
If Lynn were a great sorcerer, there would be no need to worry. If not, they would have to prepare for consequences, which was why Laud had sought confirmation.
With Laud's explanation, Lynn quickly understood the situation, feeling troubled. The importance of this route was clear to him.
This blame should rightfully fall on his mentor, Korro. If it weren't for his reckless attempt to abduct the Duke's second daughter, resulting in his capture, the Church wouldn't have traced the line back to Harbor Town...
"Is this the only route from the Sorcerer's Land to the Seccas Empire?" Lynn asked.
"Not necessarily… The Sea of Mist also connects to another significant port—the capital of the Seccas Empire, Vikneer," Laud replied hesitantly. He couldn't be entirely sure, but he suspected that someone in Vikneer was doing the same thing as him.
"I see." Lynn nodded, relieved that the situation hadn't escalated to the worst possible outcome. Still, he had no intention of bearing the blame. He needed to find a way to pass it off...
As Lynn pondered, he casually questioned Laud about various details regarding the Sorcerer's Land. He was far too unfamiliar with this place, and lacking sufficient information could lead to serious setbacks.
Through several inquiries, Lynn learned that the Sorcerer's Land was not what he had initially imagined. It wasn't a refuge established by sorcerers persecuted by the Church but had existed for centuries—a vast island with cities, ports, and a population of over 600,000, functioning almost like a small kingdom...
Except there was no king or nobility, only sorcerers and various schools of magic. The highest authority was held by the Sorcerer's Council, composed of a few legendary sorcerers...