As Adrian and Violet wandered through the cobbled streets of Sunshine Cove, the sun hung lazily above, casting warm rays that glistened on the distant waves. The sounds of bustling market stalls, merchants shouting their wares, and the occasional seagull call filled the air. Violet's vibrant robe, its arcane symbols glowing faintly under the sunlight, swirled behind her as they strolled side by side.
Adrian had his hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the familiar streets. "Ah, Sunshine Cove. It's like the world's trying to remind me that not everything's about thes cursed seas surround us."
Violet had a bit of curve in her lips, as she observed the surroundings. "It's... pleasant, I must admit. Though I wouldn't have expected a city like this to belong to a navy."
"This place just shows what peace and order can do if it dominates this world," Adrian checking his watch in his pocket. "But it seems sending such message is impossible because of how chaotic this world is."
Adrian, ever alert, kept his eyes on the passersby. Every time they crossed paths with Marine Enlists, Vice Captains, or even higher-ranking Captains, Adrian received a respectful nod or salute.
"Looks like you're quite the celebrity," Violet remarked, raising an eyebrow with a sly smirk as yet another Vice Captain gave Adrian a sharp salute.
Adrian shrugged casually. "Well, when you're as charming and dashingly handsome as I am, it's only natural."
"Charming? Handsome?" Violet teased, her lips curling into a half-smile. "More like overconfident and slightly insufferable."
Adrian let out a mock sigh, clutching his chest as though wounded. "You wound me, Violet. Deeply."
Violet's smile widened, but the playful banter soon faded as she glanced around, her violet eyes taking in the streets, the shops, and the people moving about their day. "You know, Adrian," she began softly, her voice carrying a seriousness that hadn't been there before, "I never expected to trust someone like you."
Adrian blinked, surprised by the sudden change in tone. "Someone like me? What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean," Violet clarified, "someone from this world. A world I never thought I'd be a part of." She looked down at the cobblestones beneath their feet, her brows knitting together in thought. "Trust is… difficult for someone like me."
Adrian furrowed his brow. "Your world? Isn't this your world too, now? You're here, fighting alongside us. I'd say that makes you one of us."
Violet shook her head. "It's more complicated than that. I come from a time and place where power dictated trust. And where I'm from, trust is a rare commodity. It's earned only through the most extreme circumstances."
Adrian was quiet for a moment, processing her words. "So… why me?" He finally asked. "Why trust me of all people?"
Violet smiled faintly, but there was a hint of sadness behind it. "Because you're different. You didn't treat me like a weapon or a sorceress to fear. You treated me like… a person. It's something I haven't experienced in a long time. Most people see the power I wield, the title I carry, and they only feel fear or awe. But you? You questioned me, doubted me, fought with me, and treated me like anyone else. That's rare."
Adrian rubbed the back of his neck, feeling slightly awkward under the intensity of her gaze. "Well, to be fair, you don't exactly make it easy to feel normal around you. Magic flying everywhere, legends of witches and ancient powers… it's a lot to take in."
Violet chuckled softly, her usual cool demeanor briefly warming. "Perhaps. But that's why you're different. You don't let that stop you."
Before they could delve further into the conversation, Violet's stomach growled loudly, breaking the moment. She blushed slightly, trying to mask her embarrassment as she cast a sideways glance at Adrian.
Adrian raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, clearly amused. "Hungry again? Didn't you devour an entire plate of bacon earlier?"
Violet huffed. "I've been asleep for a month, remember? My body is still adjusting."
Just then, the rich aroma of baking dough and melting cheese filled the air. Violet's eyes widened in delight as she caught sight of a small corner restaurant with a rustic wood-fired oven. The sign hanging above the door read: Lindelwich Pizza.
"What's that smell?" Violet asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Adrian groaned, already knowing what was about to happen. "Oh no. Not pizza. Please, not pizza."
Violet tilted her head, perplexed. "What's wrong with pizza?"
Adrian grimaced as memories of a certain late-night pizza binge flooded his mind. "Let's just say my last experience with pizza ended with me curled up in bed, cursing the gods and swearing off food for a week."
Violet wasn't convinced. "That sounds more like a personal problem than a pizza problem."
"Trust me," Adrian continued, "there are some battles you just aren't prepared for—like an overstuffed stomach after six slices."
Violet smirked. "Maybe you just don't know your limits."
"I know my limits just fine!" Adrian protested. "I just don't like getting fat because of that delicious food."
But it was no use. Violet had already started toward the restaurant, her curiosity piqued, and her stomach clearly demanding attention. Adrian groaned again but followed, muttering under his breath. "We're really doing this, huh? My marins is crying now."
Inside, the warmth of the oven greeted them as the savory scent of fresh pizza filled the air. They sat at a small table near the window, and Violet eagerly ordered the largest pizza on the menu. Adrian leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, pretending to be indifferent.
"You're going to regret this," he said smugly, leaning back.
Violet raised an eyebrow. "I doubt it. I can handle pizza."
"Famous last words," Adrian muttered under his breath.
As they waited for the pizza, Violet's expression grew more serious. She leaned forward slightly, her voice lowering. "Adrian, I've been meaning to ask you something. The Golden Navy—what do you know about them?"
Adrian frowned, sensing a shift in the conversation. "The Grand Navy? Well, we're the pride of the Samarian Sea, right? Law enforcers, protectors of the sea routes, and guardians of the realm. Why?
Violet raised an eyebrow, giving him a look that made him pause. "The Grand Navy, is it? Is that what they call themselves now? How unpleasant hearing that"
Adrian frowned. "Now? What do you mean 'now'? It's always been the Grand Navy. At least, as far as I know and what's so unpleasant about us?"
Violet chuckled, a knowing glint in her eyes.
Violet chuckled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "My dear Adrian, this was once the domain of the Golden Navy—a far more... intimidating force than what you see today. If I remember it correctly this was Goldenberg"
Adrian blinked in confusion. "Golden Navy? Never heard of them"
Violet laughed softly, shaking her head. "It seems they've done a good job erasing their past. The Golden Navy was infamous for its ruthless enforcement of maritime law. They didn't negotiate, they didn't show mercy. Pirates, smugglers—anyone who crossed them was dealt with death. It's always kill on point, not letting them to be publicly persecuted by the people."
Adrian stared at her, squinting his eyes. "What? No way. This place has always been about order and protection."
Violet raised a finger, correcting him with a smirk. "Order, yes. But protection? That's a much more recent development. The Golden Navy didn't protect people—they controlled them. Sunshine Cove was a fortress before, not a city."
"Wait, so... this 'Grand Navy' was just a rebrand? Like they slapped a new name on and hoped everyone would forget how brutal they used to be?" Adrian asked, stunned.
Violet nodded. "Precisely. They needed to change, so they adjusted their image. Now, they're seen as the noble protectors of the Samarian Sea, but their legacy is far darker than that."
"I don't believe you" Adrian said, looking at Violet's eyes. "I was never involved in those kinds of activity so I can say Grand Navy don't do kill on point anymore."
Violet shook her head because what Adrian said, then suddenly points her index finger to Adrian. He was confused as to why Violet made such gestures, he thinks and think until he realized she was about to cast a spell to him. "W-wait Viole-"
As Violet raised her hand, an ethereal calm descended over the battlefield, the night air thick with tension. She whispered, "Moonlight Sonata Movement 1: Illusionary World," and immediately, a soft glow radiated from her fingertips, casting silver light across the field. The sky above darkened, save for a pale moon that seemed to pulse in time with her magic.
The landscape around her shifted. The towering trees, the enemy forces, the very earth beneath their feet shimmered as if caught in a dream. Shapes blurred, distances distorted, and reality bent to Violet's will. The once solid ground rippled like water, and shadows danced like living creatures. In the distance, the Eden Empire's soldiers faltered, their senses overwhelmed by the illusory world she had conjured.
Violet's eyes narrowed, her tone laced with a gravity that made Adrian uneasy. "They weren't always like that. There was a time when the Golden Navy was feared, not for their protection, but for their brutality. There was this event… the Battle of Eden."
Adrian's eyes widened at the mention of the name. "Eden? You mean… the Holy Empire of Eden ?"
Violet nodded, her expression dark. "Yes, Eden was once a thriving empire—an island nation that flourished. But that all changed when the Golden Navy laid siege to it. They managed to fend them off with all of their strength but the damage was horrendous"
Adrian's brow furrowed, his voice low. "The Forgotten Meadow… Eden is nothing but ruins now. Floating aimlessly on the sea, abandoned and lost."
Violet looked at him, confusion evident in her gaze. "Ruins? No, that can't be. The Eden Empire was powerful, prosperous. They fought off the Golden Navy and managed to fend them off. How could they have fallen?"
Adrian hesitated, his thoughts swirling. "The Eden Empire didn't survive, Violet. After the mystery attack that was written to the history books I read, they crumbled. The survivors fled, but their civilization couldn't recover. The sea swallowed what was left, and now… it's just a forgotten memory according to historians."
Violet's face tightened, her hands gripping the edge of the table. "I had no idea… When I left, Eden still stood tall. I never imagined they'd fall so completely."
Adrian's voice softened, the weight of the past hanging heavy between them. "That's the thing about the sea. It swallows whole kingdoms, leaving behind only ruins and stories."
As the distant hum of reality began to creep back into Adrian's senses, he felt a sudden warmth and familiar smell—an unmistakable aroma that shattered the ethereal world he had so carefully crafted. Violet's eyes flicked toward the horizon, where the magical moonlight flickered and dimmed. With a casual wave of her hand, she dispelled the illusion in an instant.
The shimmering landscape dissolved, revealing the battlefield in its raw, unfiltered state. The once-blurred shapes of the Eden Empire's soldiers were now gone, and the eerie stillness gave way to the sounds of an ordinary night.
The pizza arrived then, the large, sizzling dish filling the space between them. For a moment, the heavy mood lifted as Violet took a tentative bite, her eyes lighting up with surprise.
"This is… incredible," she murmured, clearly taken aback by the explosion of flavors.
Adrian rolled his eyes, already bracing for the inevitable. "Just wait until later. You'll be cursing that pizza."
They ate in relative silence, the conversation shifting to lighter topics until Violet leaned back in her chair, wiping her mouth. "The Golden Navy… it wasn't just the Battle of Eden that made them feared. There was something far worse. Something that scarred the seas for generations."
Adrian's brow furrowed. "Worse than Eden? What are you talking about?"
Violet's voice dropped, her eyes distant as though recalling a memory long buried. "The Xiwa Massacre. A nightmare that everyone in Arithea knows."
Adrian's stomach tightened. He had heard stories, whispers of the horrors of Xiwa, but never in such vivid detail.
Adrian leaned slightly to his left, lowering his voice so that only Violet could hear. "I think we should not be talking about that topic while we are eating, it's kinda disturbing to me."
Violet, still chewing, glanced at him and raised an eyebrow in acknowledgment. "I agree," she muttered between bites, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
The conversation shifted into a comfortable silence, the heavy air of battle and strategy momentarily forgotten. Before them lay three pizzas, the smell of melted cheese and spices wafting in the night air. Adrian cautiously picked up a slice and ate in slow, measured bites, his mind still partially consumed by the thoughts of the Eden Empire. He wasn't particularly hungry, but he didn't want to seem rude.
Violet, on the other hand, tore into the pizzas with a relentless hunger. Slice after slice disappeared into her hands and then into her mouth, her appetite seemingly bottomless. Adrian watched out of the corner of his eye, amused but also amazed at how quickly the food vanished. By the time he had finished his third slice, Violet had devoured nearly everything else, leaving only crumbs and a satisfied grin.
After the meal, Adrian reached into his pouch with a slight grimace, pulling out three marins—300 silver corals, a hefty sum that equaled his entire weekly salary. He hesitated for a moment, thinking about how long he had saved up, but with a resigned sigh, he handed the silver coins over to the delivery person.
"Thanks for that," Violet said, stretching with a contented yawn. She glanced at Adrian and noticed his slight frown. "You sure about covering this? That's a lot."
"This glutton"
"What?" Violet said, while casting cleaning magic on her hand. "Are you muttering something Adrian?"
"N-NO I'm not muttering anything" Adrian shrugged, giving a small smile. "You can owe me later all of these foods you ate… maybe," he said, knowing full well he wouldn't ask for repayment.
With the meal behind them, they started walking, the evening breeze cool against their skin. The chatter of the distant town faded as they ventured farther into the hills, the path lit by the soft glow of the moon. Adrian and Violet climbed steadily until they reached the top of a hill. The incline had been gradual, but now they stood on the peak, gazing down at a breathtaking view.
Before them lay Sunshine Cove, a sweeping vista of golden sands and calm waters reflecting the moonlight. The waves rolled in gentle rhythms, lapping against the shore, while a few boats dotted the horizon, their lanterns flickering like stars upon the sea.
Adrian stood quietly, taking it all in. The serene beauty of the cove seemed a world away from the chaos of their earlier discussion, from the battles and illusions. It was a reminder, however brief, of something peaceful and untouched.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Violet murmured beside him, her voice unusually soft.
Adrian nodded, feeling a rare sense of calm wash over him. "Yeah… worth the walk." He glanced at her, and for a moment, the world felt still, the weight of their lives momentarily lifting as they shared the simple tranquility of Sunshine Cove.
Violet's eyes flickered with a mix of sorrow and intensity as she spoke, her voice low and steady. "Going back to the topic, the Xiwa Empire," she began, "was once a good and quiet nation, rising humbly from the Sea of Corsairs, just south of the Samarian Sea. They lived in peace, thriving through trade and diplomacy. But that peace was shattered by the Golden Navy—those ruthless, brutal forces consumed by greed."
Adrian leaned in, eyes narrowing as she continued.
"The Golden Navy, led by that arrogant and brutal Admiral, unleashed horrors upon the world," Violet said, her fists clenching at the memory. "They raided villages, burned entire cities, and fired cannons into castles without warning. They didn't care who they killed—nobles, commoners, children. They dragged rulers into the streets and decapitated them before their people. Women were assaulted, and whole families slaughtered. It was an empire of fear, but it wasn't the Xiwa that instilled it—it was the Golden Navy, draped in false justifications."
Adrian's jaw tightened, his hands balled into fists under the table. "I've heard of the Golden Navy's reputation, but I didn't know the full extent of what they did."
Violet nodded grimly, her expression darkening. "Most don't. The Golden Navy wanted it that way. They manipulated history, painting the Xiwa Empire as villains. But I was there, Adrian. By the time I arrived, the Xiwa Empire was in ruins. Their people were being systematically wiped out, not because they were a threat, but because they stood in the way of the Navy's ambitions."
Adrian's voice was low, filled with restrained anger. "And the Xiwa Empire… they were completely destroyed?"
Violet's gaze hardened, her eyes filled with a storm of memories. "Destroyed doesn't even begin to describe it. The Golden Navy didn't just defeat them; they erased them. They sank Xiwa's island cities, dragged entire fleets to the ocean floor, and hunted down every last survivor. The Xiwa people are nothing more than bones beneath the sea, their history forgotten, their legacy drowned."
Adrian fell silent, the weight of Violet's words pressing down on him. Everything he thought he knew about the Xiwa Empire was wrong. They weren't the aggressors—they were the victims.
"It was in the midst of the chaos," she started, her voice quieter than usual, as if recounting something buried deep within. "The Illusionary World was my only defense, a space where I could control the battlefield, where I had the advantage. But against Kaito Shigeno… even that wasn't enough."
Adrian's expression shifted, the name sparking recognition in his eyes. "Kaito Shigeno… the Dark Flame. I've heard stories of him, but I didn't know you fought him."
Violet gave a short nod, her gaze drifting as if reliving the fight before his eyes. "He wasn't just a swordsman. He was a monster, wielding both the Dark Flame Curse and a mastery of swordsmanship unlike anything I'd ever seen. And he was the one leading the Golden Navy's charge, ruthlessly cutting down anyone in his path."
"Rytzarth Kyrth'vahl Zhydar: Myxrith Olnur"
Adrian looked confused to Violet, "What is that? Is that some kind of ritual?"
"It's the draconian language of casting this story will be long so buckle up." Violet replied. "It's the Illusionary Magic I used earlier so don't worry."
The air grew still, and the world around them melted away, dissolving into a vast battlefield under a blood-red sky. As the Illusionary Magic took hold, the hills of Sunshine Cove disappeared, replaced by the harsh, broken plains where Violet once faced Kaito Shigeno.
As the illusion fully enveloped them, Adrian's surroundings shifted into a vast, desolate landscape. The once serene hills of Sunshine Cove were gone, replaced by cracked earth and scorched ruins. The sky above was an eerie crimson, with thick, swirling clouds of smoke rising from distant fires. Broken buildings, once grand and majestic, lay in crumbled heaps, reduced to little more than jagged remains. A faint wind carried the smell of ash and charred wood, mingled with something darker—something that spoke of a people wiped out in violence.
Adrian turned slowly, taking in the scene, his heart sinking. "So this was Xiwa Empire?" he asked, his voice quiet, almost reverent, as if speaking too loudly might disturb the ghosts of the past.
Violet nodded beside him, her expression heavy with sorrow. "Yes," she replied softly. "This was the heart of the Xiwa Empire, a once-thriving nation known for its culture, wisdom, and peace. They built grand cities on islands, ruled the seas with diplomacy, not force. But now…" She gestured to the desolate horizon. "Now, it's nothing more than a graveyard, erased from history by the Golden Navy."
"So this was Xiwa Empire?" Adrian said,
"Yes, I will show you how brutal the Golden Navy, by showing you how I fought them" Violet said, coldly staring at her younger self surrounded by the Golden Navy.