The Asterios Empire's shores had long disappeared beyond the horizon, replaced by the endless stretch of the open sea. Only then did Khione finally pull herself away from the ship's railing, exhaling softly. The wind tugged at her silver hair, the salty breeze carrying the distant cries of seabirds. She had watched the empire fade from view with a mixture of excitement and unease, but now, she turned her focus forward.
She moved through the ship's wooden corridors, seeking out Bella Wright. The vice-captain was easy to find—she stood at the helm of the ship, speaking with one of the sailors before noticing Khione's approach.
"Enjoying the view?" Bella asked, crossing her arms.
"I wanted to discuss our plans for when we arrive," Khione replied.
Bella nodded. "Good. Best you know what's ahead." She gestured for Khione to follow her to a quieter part of the deck.
They leaned against the railing as Bella began explaining. "We should reach the Isles by tomorrow morning. When we dock, we'll be met by representatives from the Queen's court. The exact person they send varies, but it will likely be a noble or a trusted official."
Khione listened carefully. "Where will we be staying?"
"There's an estate prepared for us near the capital. It belongs to the Voss family, but they use it to house diplomats and foreign guests. It's close enough to the Queen's palace that travel won't be an issue."
Khione nodded in understanding. "And the first week? What will our schedule look like?"
"For the first few days, we'll be meeting with various officials and noble figures. It's important to establish a presence and make a good impression," Bella said. "On the third day, there will be a banquet. That will be our opportunity to interact with more of the nobility in a less formal setting."
"A banquet," Khione mused. She had already endured the one at her birthday, and now she would have to do it all over again.
Bella smirked, seeming to read her thoughts. "You'll manage."
"And after that?"
"The day after the banquet, we'll have our first official audience with Queen Nereia Voss. That meeting is the most important. The Queen's approval—or disapproval—will set the tone for everything that follows."
Khione understood that well enough. The Isles of Azeroth were not yet allied with the empire, and the purpose of this mission was to solidify relations. The Queen's stance would determine the difficulty of the negotiations ahead.
Bella continued, "Once the Queen is met, the rest of our time will be filled with meetings and negotiations. You won't be expected to attend all of them, but I do recommend sitting in on at least two or three. It's important to show respect."
Khione gave a small nod. "I'll do that."
Satisfied with their discussion, Bella shifted the topic. "Since you'll be staying for an extended period, you should know more about the Isles themselves. The Azeroth Archipelago isn't just one landmass—it's made up of several islands, each with unique terrain and dangers. Some islands are lush and filled with towering jungle trees, while others are barren and rocky, home to treacherous cliffs and caves."
Khione tilted her head slightly. "I've heard that the Isles are home to many powerful beasts."
"They are," Bella confirmed. "Some are unlike anything we have in the empire. There are massive sea serpents, winged creatures that nest in the mountains, and creatures that lurk beneath the jungles' thick canopies. If you're looking for combat experience, you'll likely find plenty of opportunities."
Khione's interest piqued at that. Though she was focused on improving her magic, real combat experience was just as valuable.
"There are even dungeons," Bella added. "Abandoned ruins, ancient temples—many untouched for centuries. Adventurers and mercenaries often seek them out for treasure, but they're also filled with dangers."
Khione considered this information. While her primary role in the Isles was diplomatic, she couldn't deny the appeal of exploring the unknown. "I see. Thank you for telling me this."
Bella nodded. "Just be careful if you do decide to take on any challenges. The creatures in the Isles are not as predictable as those we're used to."
Khione stored the information away for later. For now, she had other priorities.
She excused herself and made her way below deck. If she was going to be facing new dangers, then she needed to push herself further.
The room was small, lined with wooden crates and barrels, but it would do. Khione sat cross-legged in the center, a training spear placed in front of her. The ship swayed gently beneath her, the rhythmic rocking almost meditative as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Time magic.
She had awakened with it, but she had yet to fully grasp its potential. She wanted to learn how to apply it beyond brief manipulations of movement. She wanted to integrate it with her weapon.
Reaching out, she focused her energy into her hands. The air around her fingers shimmered faintly, a dim blue glow forming as she willed her magic forward. Slowly, she guided the energy toward the tip of the spear. The glow moved like mist, curling around the weapon's surface.
For a moment, it held.
But when she opened her eyes and reached for the spear, the glow dissipated instantly, fading as if it had never been there.
Khione frowned.
She sat back, thinking. The magic was responding, but the moment her concentration broke, it vanished.
"How do I make it stay?" she murmured to herself.
She tried again. Closing her eyes, she let the magic flow. Once more, the dim blue aura encased the spear's tip. But as soon as she moved her hand away, the energy faltered, flickering like a dying flame before vanishing.
She exhaled in frustration.
Was it a matter of control? Or was she approaching it wrong?
She had seen knights infuse their weapons with elemental energy before—flames dancing along blades, lightning crackling against steel. But time magic was different. It was intangible, elusive. She had no reference for how it should behave when applied to a weapon.
"Maybe I need to think of it differently," she muttered.
Instead of forcing the magic onto the spear, what if she let it settle naturally? What if she didn't just coat the weapon with energy, but instead, wove the magic into it?
She closed her eyes once more, adjusting her approach.
This time, instead of pushing her magic outward, she let it seep into the spear's surface, letting it flow rather than force it into shape. The blue glow returned, but instead of merely wrapping around the spear, it soaked into it, as if merging with the weapon itself.
For a moment, it held.
Khione opened her eyes cautiously. The glow was still there, faint but present.
Carefully, she reached out and touched the spear's shaft. This time, the magic didn't immediately fade. It flickered, unstable, but it remained.
Progress.
A small smile touched her lips.
It wasn't perfect, but it was a step forward.
She continued experimenting, refining her control as the ship pressed onward toward the Isles.