Chapter 9: "The Price of the Journey"

  Day by day, the ship sailed farther from the port of Piona. For two days, Adiar relentlessly disciplined the two aristocratic “swine,” breaking their will and forcing them to become real sailors.

  — Listen up, swine, and remember this forever! — Adiar’s voice was sharp and harsh. — On this ship, you are nothing! There are no titles or privileges here! You are sailors, and disobedience will be punished!

  — Y-yes! — Waruchtein shouted.

  — I don’t hear Windheim’s voice! — Adiar roared.

  — Y-yes! S-sir! I-I mean, Captain! — he stammered.

  Two days of humiliation, discipline, and grueling training had their effect—the pampered aristocrats started to change. Meanwhile, despite the crew’s initial distrust, Elmis began to grow closer to them. Adiar was less than thrilled with her friendliness—he feared that one of them might harm her.

  Every night, he wrote in his journal. Tonight’s entry was filled with doubts and memories:

  "Dear journal, today was almost pointless, except that these swine finally started behaving like people. We’ve been sailing for two or three days now… Damn if I know how much longer. And there’s no guarantee the elven and beastkin nations even still exist. But still… I can’t betray my mother. Luckily, there’s her… Elmis. Even though she’s a former general over a thousand years old, she reminds me of my mother. Mom, if you can see me, know that I miss those happy days. I’m sorry for being a bad son. I’m proud to be your adopted child…"

  He closed the journal and went to sleep.

  ? ? ?

  A week at sea had hardened the crew. The aristocrats became stronger, more responsible, but their fate—like that of the entire crew—was already sealed.

  — Captain! — one of the sailors shouted. — Island on the horizon!

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  Adiar rushed out of his cabin, grabbed a spyglass, and looked ahead. The fog obscured the land’s outline, but he knew—this was the place.

  "The visions didn’t lie…"

  — Hoist the sails! Faster to the island!

  An hour later, the ship dropped anchor far from shore. Boats were lowered into the water, and the crew made their way toward the mysterious land.

  However, instead of sandy beaches and lush jungles, they were met by a harsh landscape of barren rock. Among the gray cliffs, a narrow path led inland. They moved forward.

  An hour’s journey brought them to an ancient ruined portal, covered in inscriptions in both elven and beastkin languages.

  Suddenly, Elmis clutched her head.

  — Elmis?! — Adiar’s voice was filled with alarm.

  — Voices… — her voice trembled. — I hear them… Screaming…

  — What screams?! — Simon interjected.

  — The screams of dead elves and beastkin… They say no human foot should step here…

  Adiar frowned.

  — It’s because of us… What else are they saying?

  — I can’t make it out… Their voices echo in my head… I feel sick… — Elmis swayed, then collapsed.

  The last thing she said before darkness took her was:

  — Find… the amulet…

  Adiar carefully laid her on the ground. He already knew they were being watched. And he knew royal ships would soon arrive.

  There was no time left.

  — Listen up! — his voice echoed among the stones.

  The crew lifted their heads.

  — Do you wish to move forward?

  — Yes! — they shouted in unison.

  — Then… try to kill me.

  A moment of silence. Then whispers of confusion.

  — W-what? — Rachel murmured.

  — I was going to kill you all anyway once we got here, — Adiar said coldly, drawing his sword.

  He struck first.

  At first, it was a game. He used only a fraction of his strength, but even that was enough to deflect their attacks with ease.

  Simon and Rachel tried to reason with him, but he didn’t listen.

  At that moment, his gaze fell on Elmis. Her skin was growing pale. She was fading.

  This game had gone on long enough.

  Adiar unleashed his full mana.

  The air trembled, thickened. Space warped under the pressure of black energy.

  — Pure black mana… — Simon whispered, paralyzed with fear.

  — I’ve never seen… anything like this… — Rachel’s voice shook.

  And with a single stroke of his sword…

  They fell.

  ? ? ?

  Elmis awoke.

  The first thing she saw—dead bodies.

  She pushed herself up, trembling. In all her life… in all her battles… she had never seen an aura like this.

  "Black mana… Black aura… Even the Archangels never possessed such power… Their auras were only partially black, tainted with blood-red… But Adiar…"

  She looked closer.

  "Within his aura… someone’s face…"

  "An aura rivaling the Mistress of Asura herself…"

  ? ? ?

  Adiar approached the ruined portal and began repairing it with magic. In an instant, the ancient stone started restoring itself. Only one thing remained—the amulet.

  He turned to Elmis.

  — Can you walk?

  — No… It hurts…

  Without a word, he lifted her into his arms.

  — I know this might wound your pride, but bear with it.

  They stepped toward the portal.

  Shouts rang out behind them.

  Royal guards. Soldiers.

  Adiar tu

  rned and saw familiar faces—Tardo and his deputy.

  And then, he smirked.

  — Goodbye.

  The portal shone, carrying them into the unknown.