The moment I stepped through the gate, I understood why this place had earned the name Stormfront Sea.
We stood on a tiny island, almost barren save for the archway behind us, which held nothing other than gate that brought us here. Crisscrossing bridges, each covered by slanted roofs, linked this little piece of land to other similar islands that floated over a vast, turbulent sea. In the distance, larger islands with small, squat buildings emerged from the mist like shadows. The whole scene looked like a web of bridges and islands, strung out across the water in a defiance of the storm that seemed to have existed since the beginning of time.
"Lives up to the name, doesn't it?" Rem commented, watching the waves churn and crash below.
"Yeah, whoever naming these places were clearly not feeling creative," I commented, my voice nearly drowned out by the roar of thunder.
"Well, it'd be hard to remember the name of every world," Virana said. "Places like this don't get fancy titles—just what they are."
As the rain picked up, we ducked beneath one of the bridge roofs. I pulled out the waterproof hoods from bracelet Rem and I had bought before leaving gnome town. Virana and Thalor already had their own cloaks, but Bom just stood there, rain matting his hair and dripping off his beard.
"I will face this test of nature like a true warrior!" he proclaimed, water streaming down his face as he looked off into the storm with a stoic expression.
"Suit yourself," I said, shrugging, as we continued toward the town in the distance, hopping from one island to the next along the bridges.
The dock town in Stormfront Sea was small, little more than a cluster of weathered, compact buildings that huddled together on a island. Built from dark, rain-soaked timber and heavy stone, the structures looked sturdy, if worn, as though they'd endured the never-ending storm for years. Their roofs were low and sloped steeply to funnel away the relentless rain, and thick shutters were nailed down over most windows, creaking now and then as they rattled in the howling wind.
The dock itself was narrow, with slick, salt-stained planks stretched across barnacle-covered posts, reaching out like fingers into the churning water. Small boats bobbed and clanked against each other, tied to posts with thick, fraying ropes. Lanterns hung low on posts along the pier, their glass covered in mossy grime, casting faint, flickering patches of light across the wet planks.
There was a single cobblestone path leading through the town, and while it was elevated just enough to avoid becoming a stream, the rainwater collected in tiny rivulets around it, running down towards the docks and back into the sea. The path was lined with small, almost identical homes and shops, each one dark, with chimneys releasing only thin wisps of smoke against the storm.
But as we neared the town, an uneasy silence settled around us. The town looked... deserted. Windows were dark, doors closed, and not a single figure walked the streets.
"Something feels wrong here," Thalor muttered, glancing around with a wary eye. "Where is everyone?"
"Maybe they're just hiding from the rain," Bom suggested with a shrug.
"In a place where it rains constantly? Unlikely," Virana replied, frowning.
Just then, a distant pop echoed through the air, barely audible over the storm. Thalor's head whipped in the direction of the sound, and we exchanged a quick glance.
"Let's check it out," I said. Without hesitation, we followed the sound, racing down empty streets until we spotted three figures in rusty metal armor and fur cloaks standing outside a small house. One of them scowled as we approached.
"What the hell are you doing here? Get lost!" he snapped, stepping toward us.
A scream from inside the house reached us, cutting through the thunder. I didn't require to be a genius to guess what was going on. The man came closer, hand reaching for my collar, but I caught his arm before he could touch me. I tightened my grip, letting the heat simmer in my hand. He screamed, pulling back as his arm blackened and crumbled to ash, falling away in charred pieces.
"What the—"
The remaining two men barely had time to react. Thalor and Virana moved in a flash, Thalor dispatching one with a swift blow that sent a spear of earth rising up from the ground, while Virana dismantled the other with a flurry of precise, slicing blows. Rem, standing beside Bom, averted her eyes.
"Bom, Rem, you two keep an eye on this one," I instructed, nodding to the one-armed man writhing on the ground. Bom's serious expression was somehow looked funny as he sat on the man's chest to keep him pinned.
Stepping over the broken window, we entered the house. Inside, it was eerily quiet, the rain muffled by the walls, only punctuated by the occasional crackle of thunder outside. It was a humble home—scattered toys, a small dining table, and picture frames on the walls gave it a warmth that now felt cold, lifeless.
A trail of wet footprints led deeper into the house. Another intruder had gotten inside.
A loud explosion erupted, and a metal projectile zipped toward me at a deadly speed. But before it could reach me, it melted and evaporated, reduced to steam in an instant. The intruder stood at the end of the hallway, holding a metal device pointed straight at me. Thalor moved swiftly, landing a sharp blow to the man's neck, dropping him to the floor.
"A gun? Really?" Virana snorted, looking down at the weapon with disdain.
"A gun?" I echoed, unfamiliar with the term.
"A weapon that shoots pieces of metal at high speed," she explained. "It can be dangerous to people with weak cores and night terror level nightmares, but it's hardly effective against us."
I looked down at the man, disarmed and unconscious, then around the room. A sinking feeling settled in my stomach.
In the next room, we found the source of the faint blood scent that had followed us inside. An older man lay sprawled on the floor, his shirt stained a dark red from a chest wound. Thalor crouched beside him, checking for any sign of life, but he looked up, shaking his head.
We all stood in silence, a grim understanding passing between us.
"They were looking for something," Virana murmured, her eyes hardening. "Or maybe someone."
"Where are the guards?" Thalor muttered.
Then, the faintest sound—a quiet, muffled sob—reached our ears. We turned to see a closet in other room, the door slightly ajar. Virana opened it slowly, revealing a young girl clutching a sleeping baby in her arms. The girl was curled in on herself, pressing her hand over her mouth to keep silent. Her wide, fearful eyes met ours, and she hugged the baby tighter, trying to retreat deeper into the shadows of the closet.
Virana knelt by the open closet door, her expression softening as she reached a careful hand toward the trembling girl clutching the baby tightly in her arms. The child's tear-streaked face peeked over her own hand, which she held firmly over the baby's mouth, her small shoulders tense as she drew herself deeper into the shadows of the closet.
"It's okay," Virana said softly, keeping her hand outstretched but unmoving, a gentle offer instead of an order. "We're here to help. No one's going to hurt you or your little brother."
The girl's wide eyes darted to Thalor and me, scanning us warily before settling back on Virana, her knuckles white from clutching her little brother's blanket.
"See?" Virana added, her tone barely above a whisper, calm and soft. She gestured slowly, resting her other hand on her chest. "I'm Virana. What's your name?"
The girl hesitated, lowering her hand slightly as her gaze flickered between us all. Finally, her voice came out in a small, shaky whisper. "Lila."
The baby whimpered in her arms, and she pulled him closer, biting her lip to keep from crying again. Virana moved a little closer, still giving her space, her expression open and kind.
"That's a beautiful name, Lila. You've been so brave," Virana told her gently. "Your little brother must feel really safe with you here."
Lila's grip on the baby loosened just a bit as she took in Virana's words, the fear in her eyes softening to a trace of pride.
I took a step closer and knelt beside Virana, giving Lila a gentle smile. "Would it be okay if we helped you both get somewhere safer?"
Lila's gaze flicked to me uncertainly, but she didn't recoil. Instead, she seemed to be weighing her options, the small rise and fall of her chest steadying as she took a deep breath. Her tiny voice was barely audible over the rain drumming on the roof.
"Where… where would we go?" she asked, her eyes fixed on Virana as if she were a lifeline.
"Don't worry, we know somewhere safe."
Lila seemed to consider this, her fingers unclenching slightly from her little brother's blanket. She nodded, just once, and slowly reached out one small, trembling hand, placing it in Virana's.
Virana gave her hand a comforting squeeze. "We'll go slow, okay? And you hold your brother however you need. We won't leave your side."
As we gently helped Lila to her feet, she held on to Virana's hand with surprising strength. Her grip was a lifeline, grounding her amid the loss and confusion swirling around her. Her wide eyes darted between us, a small spark of guarded trust settling in.
"Can you close your eyes for a moment, just a bit?" Virana's voice was soft.
Lila looked down, biting her lip. "You don't have to pretend. I know he's… gone." Her voice trembled, but she stood tall.
Virana gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I understand. But will you trust us just this once?"
Lila hesitated, her gaze locking with mine as I knelt to her eye level. "Have you ever seen a clear sky before, Lila?"
Her brow furrowed in confusion. "No. Just the rain. Always the rain."
"Well, if you close your eyes, I'll show you something —a sky without storms."
Though unsure, she closed her eyes, squeezing them tightly. We moved her carefully past the body of her grandfather and the unconscious intruder, the harsh realities shielded just for a moment. Once outside, I draped my hood over Lila to shelter her from the rain.
I checked Bom and Rem before burning the dead bodies on the street to ashes. That wasn't something I wanted Lila to see. The heat disintegrated them to nothingness in seconds and I focused on the roiling clouds above.
I wasn't sure if it was possible, but I already told Lila I was going to show her the sky.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed the somnium outward from my core, envisioning a powerful sun piercing through the endless storm. I pictured the sky clearing, light spilling down and pushing away the darkness that had long blanketed this place. Somnium flowed, and one by one, the clouds began to part, peeling back to reveal a radiant, clear sky streaked with the reflection of other distant worlds. A pale rainbow arched faintly above, a fleeting bridge against the tranquil blue.
Returning to Lila's side, I touched her shoulder. "You can open them now."
Her eyes blinked open, and her jaw dropped, breath catching as she took in the transformed sky. The town's gray shadows melted away, replaced by soft golden light that bathed the rain-washed streets. For the first time, she saw a world outside the endless storm—a world bright and filled with color.
The townspeople began to emerge from their homes, peering out as the sunlight broke over their faces. Most of them, like Lila, had likely never seen anything but gray skies and rain. Their faces were a mix of awe and disbelief, as if witnessing something impossible.
"Congratulations," Thalor muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You've just announced your arrival to every soul in this world."
"Perfect," I replied with a faint smile, "because it looks like we'll be staying here longer than planned."