The companions boarded the ship, hearts heavy with conviction. This was a path of no return. But also a path toward something greater. A path to a new dawn.
The ship moved slowly, propelled by Celeste's arcane magic. Like an invisible engine, her spell pushed the vessel forward across the calm waters. The port behind them grew smaller with each passing second, until it was nothing more than a shadow on the horizon.
Their journey had begun. Guided by the Tablet of Prophecy, the vast ocean now stretched endlessly before them. Mysterious, silent, and filled with the unknown.
A few quiet minutes passed. The sea seemed infinite. The only sounds were the creaking of the ship's wood and the rhythmic slapping of waves against the hull.
Noir stood near the fo'c'sle, staring into the horizon. The ocean was mesmerizing, both terrifying and beautiful.
"See something interesting, or are you just daydreaming again?" Valeria's voice broke the silence, teasing but not unkind.
"Oh… uh, nothing." Noir hesitated, then glanced back at her. "I was just wondering… if everything's already written in stone, then what's the point of trying to change anything?" His voice grew softer. "Miss Valeria… do you believe in fate? Or miracles?"
Valeria blinked, caught off guard. "That's a strange question," she admitted. She crossed her arms, gaze thoughtful. "But... a good one."
She took a moment, eyes half-closed. "Fate works in strange ways. Unpredictable. Sometimes cruel. But it also gives us the illusion of choice, and maybe that illusion is what really matters. Even if all paths lead to the same place, it's how we walk them that counts. We may be bound by destiny, kid… but we still decide who we are along the way."
She placed a hand gently on Noir's shoulder, offering a rare glimpse of warmth.
The atmosphere was calm, almost peaceful. For a brief moment, it felt like home.
But peace never lasts long.
Suddenly, the ship lurched violently to one side.
"W-Woah!" Noir staggered, nearly losing his footing. Before he could fall, Valeria grabbed him and yanked him back. "Hang on!" she shouted, pulling him up with all her strength.
Both collapsed onto the deck, breathless.
"Are you okay?!" Celeste called from the quarterdeck, her voice tight with panic.
"We're fine," Valeria grunted, getting to her feet. She offered a hand to Noir. "What the hell was that?"
"Did we hit something?" Noir asked, confused.
Celeste shook her head. "No. My magic didn't detect any rocks or shallow waters nearby. That wasn't an obstacle…"
As if answering her, the sky darkened. Gray clouds rolled in from nowhere, and a light drizzle began to fall.
"It's raining? Now? Damn it…" Valeria's tone grew sharp. She turned to Celeste. "Get the ship stabilized! We need to move before a storm catches us."
"On it," Celeste nodded and rushed back to the quarterdeck, preparing another spell.
"Noir, you-"
Splash!
Her words were cut off by a sudden burst of water. A long, gleaming trident shot up from the sea, aimed straight at them.
"Out of the way!" Noir tackled Valeria, knocking them both to the deck just as the trident embedded itself in the wood with a thunk.
"What the hell?!" Valeria gasped, staring at the weapon.
Celeste emerged again, alarmed. "What happened?!"
She caught sight of the trident, her eyes going wide. "Wait… that shape…" She yanked out her journal and flipped through the pages until she stopped at a familiar sketch.
"It's a Crown Trident. That's-" Her voice turned cold. "That's the weapon of the Undead Drown."
Before anyone could respond, another splash erupted from the sea, and this time, something climbed aboard.
It was humanoid, but barely. Its rotted flesh hung in strips, pale and bloated. Torn clothing clung to its body, and in its hand, it pulled the trident free from the deck.
Noir stared, frozen. "What... is that?"
"That's an Undead Drown," Celeste said, already summoning her staff. "They haunt the waters and destroy any ship that dares cross their territory!"
Her voice was filled with urgency. "Protect the ship!"
[—To be Continued—]