Merslin and Leonhardt left the ruins with the relic in hand. Outside, they presented it to Kranex and his companions, who had been waiting.
Kranex: "Did you find the relic? Well done, all of you."
Merslin: "Yes, we found it. Now, we must figure out how to stop the resurrection of the Ancient God."
Leonhardt: "Everyone performed admirably. Now, we must use this relic to prevent the Ancient God's return."
However, upon closer inspection, the relic appeared faded, as if it had lost its power. The relic was a spherical object, about 30 centimeters in diameter, with a smooth surface engraved with ancient, mysterious patterns. A large red gemstone was embedded in the center, surrounded by smaller orbs. At first, the red gemstone flickered as if it would glow, but soon, it dimmed again and remained inactive.
Merslin: "The relic has lost its light. What should we do?"
Elena: "Let's try infusing it with our magic. We need to find a way to restore its power."
Merslin called Elena and Katrin to help channel magic into the relic. They examined it, searching for a solution, but no immediate answer presented itself.
Katrin: "This relic doesn't seem to respond to mere magic. It needs something deeper."
Elena: "You're right. But let's try anyway."
Merslin, Elena, and Katrin infused the relic with their magic. The red gemstone flickered briefly but soon dimmed again, showing no further reaction.
Elena: "It reacted, but this isn't enough."
Merslin: "Let's take it to the Frontier Kingdom and gather more information. Our power alone isn't sufficient."
They decided to entrust the relic to the Frontier Kingdom while they returned to their respective kingdoms to gather more knowledge. Merslin returned to the Kingdom of Luminaria, while Elena and Katrin conducted their research in the Frontier Kingdom. After pooling their findings, they reached a conclusion—to uncover the relic's secret, they had to travel to the Celesta Continent.
Merslin: "We need to go to the Celesta Continent? That's where we'll find the answers?"
Leonhardt: "Indeed. Only there can we unlock the relic's secrets."
As Merslin's party prepared to depart for the Celesta Continent, a group of Luminaria's nobles confronted them, blocking their way. The nobles, middle-aged men and women dressed in elegant attire, looked at them with cold and suspicious expressions.
Noble 1: "Why did you hand the relic over to the Frontier Kingdom? We have yet to recognize your actions as justified."
Noble 2: "Merslin, you abandoned us in our time of crisis. We still have our doubts about you."
Merslin responded calmly.
Merslin: "We entrusted the relic to the Frontier Kingdom because they may have more knowledge about it. We are doing everything we can to stop the resurrection of the Ancient God."
Elena: "And to do that, we must go to the Celesta Continent. That is the only way to prevent its return."
Katrin: "We are fighting with everything we have. Your suspicions are understandable, but we ask for your trust."
The nobles remained silent for a moment. Though skepticism lingered on their faces, they could sense the determination in Merslin's group.
Noble 1: "…Very well. We will trust you this time. Uncover the secrets of the relic in the Celesta Continent."
Noble 2: "We wish you success, but remember—we are still watching you."
Merslin: "Thank you. We will not fail."
After the confrontation with the nobles, Merslin's party made their final preparations for departure, reaffirming their resolve.
Elena: "Merslin, have you learned anything new about the relic?"
Merslin: "Not yet, but it's clear that this relic holds the power of the Titans. We might be able to use that power to stop the Ancient God."
Lisa: "As long as we stand together, we can overcome any challenge. Let's trust one another and move forward."
Katrin: "That's right. We must stay united. Together, we will prevail."
Serena: "I will lead the way and ensure we do not stray. Let's claim our victory."
Merslin's party completed their preparations for their journey to the Celesta Continent. They gathered their supplies and ensured they were ready for whatever awaited them.
Merslin: "The Celesta Continent will be a new challenge for us. We will face even greater dangers there."
Elena: "As long as we stand together, we can overcome anything. This journey will be an important test for us all."
Lisa: "That's right. We must give our all to prevent the resurrection of the Ancient God."
Katrin: "Our journey has begun. Let's move forward together."
Serena: "Let's be cautious as we head to the Celesta Continent. The answers we seek are waiting for us there."
With their determination reaffirmed, Merslin's party set off for the Celesta Continent, ready to face the trials ahead and do whatever it took to prevent the Ancient God's return.
******
The Journey to the Celesta Continent
Merslin's party was preparing to travel to the Celesta Continent to uncover the relic's secrets. They attempted to use the waypoint in the Kingdom of Luminaria to connect to Celesta, but since it had never been used before, they couldn't guarantee success. Still, they held onto hope and proceeded with the attempt.
Merslin: "I don't know if the waypoint will work, but let's give it a try."
Merslin activated the waypoint, but the connection to Celesta failed.
Elena: "As expected, the connection to Celesta isn't working."
Lisa: "Well then, we need another way. The fastest route would be taking a ship from the port city of Sailant."
With that, Merslin's party headed to Sailant. The port city was bustling with merchants and sailors, filled with energy and activity. They sought out the new lord of Sailant, who, fortunately, was someone Merslin's party had saved from danger in the past.
Dr. Lana: "Merslin! It's been so long! I'm so happy to see you again. How can I help you?"
Dr. Lana greeted them with a warm smile, recalling past memories.
Dr. Lana: "If it weren't for your help back then, I wouldn't be here today. I've always wondered how I could repay that debt."
Merslin: "Dr. Lana, we need to get to the Celesta Continent. It's crucial for uncovering the relic's secrets."
Hearing Merslin's request, Dr. Lana readily agreed to help.
Dr. Lana: "Of course! I've already prepared a ship, so get ready to set sail. I'll make sure you reach Celesta safely."
Merslin's party prepared for departure at the Sailant harbor. The lively atmosphere and sea breeze brushed against their faces. Then, they spotted a goblin trade ship docked at the port. It looked exactly like the ones described in the Tale of the Savior from the Future.
Merslin: "That's… a goblin trade ship! Seeing it in person is incredible."
Elena: "I've never seen one before. So they really do exist."
Lisa: "I heard those ships are fast and efficient, but we should consider whether they'd be safe for us to travel in."
Merslin's party inspected the goblin trade ship closely and compared it to the vessel Dr. Lana had prepared. The goblin ship was small and agile, equipped with the latest technology. Its metal hull allowed for great speed, but its size limited its cargo and passenger capacity. Meanwhile, Dr. Lana's ship was large and sturdy, made of wood but reinforced with modern equipment. It was spacious enough to carry plenty of supplies and passengers, making it ideal for long voyages.
Elena: "The goblin ship is fast, but Dr. Lana's ship is more stable for our journey."
Lisa: "Still, we should chat with the goblins and see if they have any useful info about Celesta."
Merslin's party approached the goblin captain for a conversation. The captain greeted them with a friendly grin.
Merslin: "Hello. We're heading to the Celesta Continent. Could you share any information about the region?"
Goblin Captain: "Oh, Celesta, you say? You're placing a big bet there, my friends! That sea changes like money—calm one moment, chaos the next. And pirates? Some days, they're rare as diamonds; other times, they're swarming like gold coins in a jackpot. Watch out!"
Elena: "That's valuable information. We'll be extra careful during our voyage."
Lisa: "How's the weather there? Do storms hit frequently?"
Goblin Captain: "Ahaha, my friend, think of Celesta's waters as a storm ATM. You never know when you'll cash out, but when you do—boom! Sudden storms! And if you're unlucky, strange sea creatures might pop up. That's not just a money problem, that's a life-or-death problem, so dodge wisely!"
Merslin: "Thank you for the insight. We'll prepare accordingly."
Taking the goblin captain's warnings into account, Merslin's party decided to board the ship that Dr. Lana had arranged.
Dr. Lana: "This ship is led by the most experienced sailors. They will ensure your safe passage to Celesta."
Merslin: "We're truly grateful, Dr. Lana. Thanks to you, we can continue our mission."
Dr. Lana: "I wish you success. Your journey will bring hope to all of us."
Merslin's party boarded the ship, setting sail toward the Celesta Continent with renewed determination and anticipation for the challenges ahead.
As they departed from the harbor, Merslin suddenly heard a strange sound. At first, he thought it was just the wind, but it grew clearer.
???: "Merslin…"
Merslin paused, feeling as though someone was calling his name. However, he dismissed it, assuming it was just exhaustion or tension playing tricks on him.
Merslin: "Let's set sail. We have mysteries to uncover in Celesta."
Elena and Lisa exchanged worried glances after noticing Merslin's unease.
Elena: "Is something wrong, Merslin?"
Merslin: "No, it's nothing. I must just be tired."
Lisa: "Well, once we're out at sea, you'll feel better. Let's go."
They reassured each other as their voyage began. The sea was calm at first, but Merslin couldn't shake off the sound he had heard. He forced himself to focus on the mission ahead and their journey to Celesta.
A Storm Approaches
As they sailed, Merslin's party began experiencing the dangers the goblin captain had warned them about. A sudden storm erupted, shaking the ship violently. Strange sea creatures surfaced, posing a new threat to their journey. Fortunately, Dr. Lana's ship was well-equipped for such dangers.
Merslin: "Dr. Lana's ship is incredibly sturdy. We would've been in serious trouble otherwise."
Elena: "Yes, thanks to this ship, we can navigate through the storm safely."
But the storm intensified. Towering waves crashed onto the deck, and the crew desperately worked to keep the ship steady.
Merslin: "Everyone, hold on! The storm is getting worse!"
Lisa: "Grab onto something! If you fall overboard, we won't be able to save you!"
Despite their efforts, the relentless storm ultimately threw them off course, forcing their ship onto the shores of a remote island. The impact left the ship damaged, but everyone had survived.
Elena: "Is everyone alright? That was too close…"
Merslin: "I'm relieved that we're all safe. But… where are we?"
Lisa: "Well, if I had to guess—we're stranded on a deserted island. First things first, we need to find resources and figure out how to get back on course to Celesta."
Merslin: "Agreed. Let's work together and overcome this challenge. We must continue our journey to the Celesta Continent."
With that, Merslin's party began making preparations to survive on the island and find a way back to their original course. Their journey to Celesta had taken an unexpected turn, but they were determined to push forward and uncover the secrets that awaited them.