The ocean stretched endlessly before them, a vast expanse of shifting blues and greens reflecting the sunlight. Leonardo Zeshi, known as Leo, leaned on the ship's railing, his green eyes gazing thoughtfully into the horizon. Beside him stood Velvet Isabella, a
"Leo," Velvet began, their tone a mix of amusement and curiosity, "you've been staring at the ocean for a while now. Got something on your mind?"
Leo turned to her, his golden curls catching the light. As a Canor he bore the unmistakable features of his kind—white-yellowish skin, an ever-loyal spirit, and a canine-like air about him. The loyalty of Canors was said to be so fierce that even magic faltered before their determination to protect their allies.
"I'm just… thinking," he said, his voice steady. "About what's waiting for us in Erisia. It's hard to shake the stories I've heard."
Velvet's lips curved into a faint smile, a rare expression for their kind. "Come on, Leo. You're overthinking again. Whatever's out there, we'll handle it. It's what we do."
Kounéli Atsáli joined them at the railing, his dark teal skin contrasting sharply with the pale wood of the ship. An Adret, Kounéli's heritage was evident in his sharp black eyes and the quiet grace with which he moved.
"You two seem awfully calm," Kounéli remarked, his voice tinged with suspicion. "We're heading into a wasteland filled with monsters and bandits, and you're acting like it's a stroll in the capital."
Velvet's laugh was light but carried her characteristic confidence. "Relax, Kounéli. Worrying doesn't change anything. Besides, I've got my guitar and my lightning. What could go wrong?"
Kounéli's frown deepened, but he said nothing, his paranoia simmering beneath the surface. Before the tension could grow, Leo gestured toward the crew working diligently across the deck.
"Let's get to know the people we'll be sailing with," he suggested. "Teamwork might save our lives out there."
The three made their way across the deck, approaching the ship's captain, a stern-looking man with a weathered face and piercing eyes.
"Captain Orlandeu," Leo greeted, his tone respectful.
The captain nodded. "We're nearing Erisia," he informed them. "Should reach the shores by dawn. Be ready. Erisia… it's not what it once was. Used to be a wealthy country, thriving under the duke's rule. That was before… well, before everything went to hell. Now it's a wasteland, overrun by monsters and bandits. Keep your wits about you."
The grim tone in the captain's voice sent a shiver down Kounéli's spine, but Velvet simply grinned, undeterred.
As they walked away, their attention was drawn to a large man leaning against the mast. He was imposing—210 centimeters tall, with muscles that seemed carved from stone. An eyepatch covered one eye, and a long katana rested at his side.
"You're the one who called Velvet a showoff earlier, aren't you?" Leo asked, his tone curious but not confrontational.
The man didn't bother looking at them. "I only acknowledge the strong," he said bluntly. "Until you prove yourselves, you're nothing to me."
Another crewmate nearby, a wiry young man, whispered to the trio. "That's Kenny Veshi," he said. "One of the 12 Royal Commanders. He's second only to the Maestros. If he doesn't respect you, good luck getting him to help."
Soldiers formed the base of the etrean army, followed by Commodores, Guards, and the Elysian Vanguard. Above them were the Royal Guard, the Maestros—legendary heroes of whom there were only four—and finally, Lord Regent himself.
Their conversation was interrupted by a shout. "What's that?" a crewmember yelled.
The squad rushed to the ship's edge and froze. A figure with bright scarlet eyes—rimmed with concentric rings—hovered just above the water. Its eerie smile sent a chill down their spines. The figure lifted a hand, pointing directly at them.
From the depths, hundreds of megalodaunts—giant humanoid sharks with sharp teeth and claws—emerged, their monstrous forms clawing toward the ship.
"To arms!" the captain bellowed. "Everyone, to safety!"
Before they could react, an enormous explosion rocked the ship. The force of the blast hurled them into the air, the world spinning as they were thrown into the sea.
The next thing Leo saw was the sky, clouded and gray. He groaned, sitting up on the gritty sands of Erisia's shore. Velvet was nearby, brushing sand from their hair, while Kounéli staggered to her feet, visibly shaken.
"You guys finally awake, huh?" a gruff voice said. Kenny Veshi stood over them, his katana resting on his shoulder. "Guess you're not as weak as I thought."
Leo looked around, the devastation sinking in. "Where's the crew?"
Kenny's expression darkened. "Gone. We're the only survivors. Looks like we're stuck here, so you'd better toughen up."
The group decided to explore the island, seeking shelter and supplies. They stumbled upon a cave, its dark mouth yawning before them. Inside, they found veins of ore and scattered materials. As Velvet and Leo gathered resources, Kounéli wandered deeper into the cave.
"Look," Velvet whispered, pointing at a figure lying on the ground. It resembled an Etrean but was covered in strange mushrooms. Leo approached cautiously.
"Are you alright?" he asked. The figure's eyes snapped open, and with a guttural growl, it lunged at him.
Velvet reacted instantly. Their guitar transformed into a guitar-axe, crackling with electricity. With a single swing, they felled the creature. They stared at the body, noticing the fungal growths covering it.
"A fungal infection," Leo deduced, his voice grim. "It must be turning people into… this."
Their realization was cut short by Kounéli's scream. He came sprinting toward them, a horde of fifty infected creatures in pursuit.
"Together!" Leo called, stepping beside Velvet. "We'll use a combined attack."
In this realm, everything was made of particles called ether. Ether resided in all things—living, inanimate, and even the air itself. At the core of every soul was a magical artifact known as a deep sigil, attuned at birth to one of nine elements, or attunements: Thundercall, Flamecharm, Frostdraw, Galebreath, Shadowcast, Ironsing, Bloodrend, Lightkeeping, and Lifeweave. Some sigils were even capable of multiple attunements, making their wielders exceptionally rare. These attunements are used to create exceptional techniques called: mantras, to conjure spells of their attunement.
Velvet nodded. "Third art: Grand Javelin!"
They raised their guitar-axe, summoning a massive bolt of lightning that spiraled into the air. Leo synchronized with their movements, channeling his mantra into powerful swords of wind. The resulting explosion of lightning and air collapsed the cave's ceiling, burying the remaining infected beneath tons of rubble.
As the dust settled, Kenny appeared behind them, his arms crossed. "Not bad," he saidgruffly. "But don't let it get to your heads. Surviving this island is just the beginning."
Leo wiped sweat from his brow, his breathing heavy. "We need a plan. If the infection has spread this far, then Erisia might be even worse than we imagined."
Velvet leaned against their guitar-axe, their confident grin returning. "We've dealt with worse. We just have to keep moving forward."
Kounéli, still visibly shaken, muttered, "We don't even know what caused this… or if there's a way to stop it."
Kenny scoffed. "Stop it? That's not our job. Survival is. Let's focus on finding shelter and staying alive long enough to figure out what's really going on here."
The group exited the cave, now aware of the dangers they faced. The landscape before them was desolate—crumbling ruins of what once might have been a thriving city stretched across the horizon. Strange plant life, glowing faintly with an unnatural light, grew amidst the wreckage. The air felt heavy, almost oppressive, as if the island itself resisted their presence.
As they pressed forward, they stumbled upon a crumbling watchtower. Its stone walls were covered in moss and fungi, but it offered a vantage point to survey the area. Climbing to the top, Leo scanned the horizon.
"There," he pointed. "Smoke. It's faint, but it's coming from that direction."
"Could be survivors," Velvet said, their voice filled with curiosity.
"Or more infected," Kounéli added, gripping his dagger tightly.
"Either way," Kenny said, adjusting his katana, "we'll find out soon enough. Let's move."