"Listen carefully," the Captain intoned, his words carrying the weight of decades of experience.
"The Oracle ritual's preparation alone will draw every monster within leagues of the Imperial City. The pure essence acts like a beacon, calling them from the depths of the Great Meltana Ocean and beyond. We won't be able to hunt them – they'll all be drawn away from our hunting grounds. And when the Holy Essence is finally released —"
"The runic stones!"
Jaz's eyes widened, the weight of realization crashing over her. The word escaped her lips in a gasp, fragile and sharp, as if it carried the sting of icy air.
"Without enough monsters to hunt, we won't get enough beast cores to recharge the runic stones."
"Exactly," Jack said, his voice cold. "Without the runic stones, our ship won't last a day in those waters. The Great Meltana will swallow us whole."
"Like hitting two targets with a single arrow." Jaz mused, her warrior's instincts kicking in. She fell back on her training, analyzing the tactical nightmare unfolding before them.
Alex, his face bearing the marks of diplomatic experience, finally broke the silence.
"That's precisely why I estimated six to twelve months. They need approval from the other lords, particularly those from the North. And the North..." He shook his head slowly, a grim smile playing on his lips.
"They won't easily agree to this. Their entire economy is built on the beast core trade."
The room fell into a heavy silence as each person wrestled with the implications of their situation. The warm light that had filled the chamber earlier seemed to have dimmed, as if the gravity of their discussion had somehow muted even the sun itself.
"What about Borderlands?" Dominus's voice broke the oppressive stillness. His quill hovered over a region on the map marked with serpentine borders and warning glyphs.
A collective gasp filled the chamber.
"What?" Jack exclaimed, his voice sharp with disbelief.
"That's dangerous!" Jaz echoed, her voice laced with apprehension. "There must be some other way."
But Dominus's golden eyes remained fixed on the map, his expression carved from stone. The young warriors' protests washed over him like waves against a cliff. He knew their objections were valid.
Borderlands was a legend whispered in hushed tones among seasoned hunters – a land of corrupted beasts, miasma-choked air, and whispers of forgotten gods. Each possible route played out in his mind, each alternative ending in failure.
Alex watched the captain's face, recognition dawning in his eyes. "Both of you are right," he said softly, addressing Jack and Jaz. "It's dangerous, and you're not fully recovered. But..." He met Dominus's gaze.
"Borderlands is our only option. Our last option."
"But -- " Jack still tried to opened his mouth to argue, but Jaz placed a hand on his arm, silencing him.
The young warriors fell silent, their faces tight with frustrated acceptance. Dominus's voice softened, though it lost none of its authority.
"Your concern does you credit. But this isn't failure—it's circumstance. And circumstances demand adaptation." His tone hardened again. "The decision is final. We go through Borderlands. Prepare accordingly."
"Yes sir," Jack and Jaz replied in unison, their voices subdued. They stood there, their shoulders slumped, but rebellion still simmered in their eyes.
"You have questions," Dominus stated, reading their hesitation. "Ask."
Jaz took a deep breath. "What about Sol? The kid can't survive in Borderlands."
According to the legends, Borderlands was a place where the air itself was poisoned, filled with miasma, where the sun was a distant memory, and where even the hardiest of warriors struggled to survive.
"Hmm...you are right," Dominus admitted, his gaze troubled.
"I will train him," Alex interjected, his voice firm. He met their startled gazes with a steely glint in his eyes.
"He's part of the crew. I will train him, just like you two. It will take us around six months to reach Borderlands. I am sure he will learn to freely manipulate his aura by then."
"Manipulate his aura?" Jack scoffed. "Are you sure about that? You do know what it means?"
"I am serious here, fluffy boy!" Alex retorted, his use of the nickname carried no humor. "I can, can I? Captain?"
"If you're going to teach him, then Jack and Jaz will help too." Dominus agreed, a small smile playing on his lips. His eyes settled on Jack's restless form.
"Jack, wanted to ask something?"
"Uh...Ah...Can...Can I really ask?" Jack stammered, his eyes wide with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.
Dominus nodded.
"The Artifact?" Jack asked, his voice barely a whisper. "Please tell us about it."
The air in the chamber seemed to crackle with a sudden, intense energy. The smile vanished from Dominus's face, replaced by a mask of grim seriousness. Alex stiffened, his eyes narrowing. Even Jaz, ever the warrior, felt a shiver run down her spine.
"....."
Dominus remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor.
"But you said, you'll tell us," Jack pressed, his voice rising. "You said you will tell us about the Artifact after we found it. And we...you found it, so you will tell us, right?"
Dominus fell silent, his golden eyes moving from face to face before him. The usual stern set of his jaw softened for a moment, replaced by something rarely seen - worry. His weathered hands traced the edge of his chest, a nervous gesture none of them had ever seen before.
"Captain?" Alex prompted gently.
Dominus turned away, facing the ancient maps on the wall. When he spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried an edge that made them all lean forward.
"There are things in this world," he began, then stopped, his fist clenching at his side. "Knowledge that burns. Knowledge that haunts every quiet moment, that steals sleep and peace alike."
He turned back to face them, his gaze lingering on each of them in turn. Jack, with his eager, almost desperate curiosity; Jaz, her expression a mixture of apprehension and unwavering determination; and Alex, his face a mask of carefully controlled emotions.
"This knowledge," he said quietly, "it's not just information. It's a burden that will change how you see everything...."
He paused, studying their determined faces with a mix of pride and concern. "Are you certain you want to know? There's no unknowing it once I tell you."
The room held its breath. Jack and Jaz stood firm, while Alex gave a slight nod of understanding.
Dominus sighed, his shoulders settling as if bearing a new weight. "Very well," he said, his voice heavy with resignation.
"What I'm about to tell you about the Artifact... it changes everything we thought we knew."