In the morning, a fishing boat was spotted by Leofwynn, the vessel seemed close to shipwreck, entirely black and covered in lichen.
Cwenburg was still asleep, and only after midday was Æthelflæd's absence noticed.
THE TERRIBLE LEVIATHAN
— They can't have gone far! — Leofwynn and Cwenburg, both mounted on the serpentine creature, flew swiftly above the waves, and then above the deep blue sea, heading towards that boat spotted in the morning.
— Do you think the old man kidnapped her, Leofwynn?
— At best, Cwenburg. At worst, our alchemist kidnapped the old man.
The old man had a long white beard and a gigantic belly.
He was fat to the point of having difficulty walking, so he dragged himself across the deck, wet from the beginning rain, having fallen after letting go of the helm, obeying the will of the waters.
That's how he was seen by the two flying on the serpentine creature.
— You came too? — The old man had a pipe between his rotten teeth and smoked as he moved from side to side.
— Where is Æthelflæd?
— I'm here! — Æthelflæd shouted from inside the boat, from a place below the main staircase.
— Can you move? — Leofwynn held her sword and descended.
The sky darkened, the storm would not be long.
The waves grew in intensity.
— No. — Æthelflæd admitted she could not move.
— You damned old man, what did you do to her? Æthelflæd, are you hurt? Are you tied up?
— No! — The alchemist's voice sounded closer as the Vulcan descended the staircase.
— Then why don't you come to the surface…
It would have been a question, had the sight of Æthelflæd not answered it on its own.
There was the human, surrounded by bottles of rum that moved as the boat tilted.
The loli was completely drunk, without the strength to get up, but justifying herself:
— I decided to follow the old man's dream! I'm going to find the mermaid breasts! Even if it's the last thing I do! I swear! I swear by the seven seas!
— Calm down, Æthelflæd, drink a little water…
— Let go of me, Leofwynn! This is my life now. This is who I really am! — While thrashing about in a shameful manner, the human was carried up the stairs on the Vulcan's shoulders. — You can't do this to me! Let me go! Help me, Cwenburg! — The little unicorn girl's name reverberated sharply. — Cwenburg!
In turn, Cwenburg was helping the old man by getting him to his feet.
With both hands on the helm, he advanced against the waves.
The boat was almost vertical, and the little unicorn girl held him by his broad back.
— Leofwynn, what's happening?
— A certain someone here… — Æthelflæd was stared at. — Is having a self-discovery crisis. — Æthelflæd was still being carried when the Vulcan lost her balance, and a new wave was cut. — Call Godwyna. The old man can manage on his own, let's get back to dry land flying.
The serpentine creature was called and took the three of them, despite Æthelflæd's incessant protests.
From above, they saw the boat, with the old man fallen again, smoking, dragging himself with his back across the deck from bow to stern.
— He'll be fine. — Leofwynn assured, just wanting to get rid of that situation, and received disapproving looks from the other two.
However, the first dolphin arrived, entirely pink, and hit the old man. A blow that sent the man crashing against the rotten wood protecting the staircase.
Then came other dolphins, some passed over the boat, others struck the hull and the cabin.
The serpentine creature had difficulty dodging the dolphins that rose up to the clouds before falling against the waters.
More and more dolphins, dozens, hundreds, thousands, and when the three fell into the waters along with the serpentine creature, they saw, submerged, whirlpools of pink dolphins, billions of them, expanding below the surface as far as the eye could see.
At the center was him, the Leviathan, a sea dragon with crab-like parts, and his subordinate, the Kraken.
Both heading towards the fishing boat.
Each of the two figures stood one hundred and sixty miles tall.
The battle was about to begin.