The ship left before noon.
---
No announcements.
No farewells.
---
Just movement.
---
The ropes were loosened.
The anchor lifted.
---
And slowly—
The vessel drifted away from Virella.
---
The port grew smaller behind them.
---
Voices faded.
Buildings blurred.
---
Until—
Only the sea remained.
---
Endless.
---
Thalren stood near the edge of the deck.
---
Silent.
---
Watching.
---
The wind felt different here.
---
Sharper.
---
Colder.
---
Not violent—
---
But honest.
---
The black sheath rested at his side.
---
Still.
---
But no longer quiet.
---
A faint pulse returned.
---
Not constant.
---
But present.
---
As if reacting to something unseen.
---
"…You feel it too, huh."
---
The voice came from behind.
---
Thalren didn't turn immediately.
---
The old man stepped closer.
---
Hands resting casually at his sides.
---
But his eyes—
---
Sharp.
---
Watching everything.
---
"…This isn't like the port," he continued.
---
"…Out here…"
---
A brief pause.
---
"…things don't hide as well."
---
Silence.
---
Thalren turned slightly.
---
"…What's your name?"
---
The man raised an eyebrow.
---
"…Took you long enough to ask."
---
A short laugh.
---
"…Rovan."
---
A pause.
---
"…And you're Thalren."
---
No reaction.
---
"…Word travels fast," Rovan added.
---
"…Especially when someone breaks a rule that's been standing for years."
---
Silence.
---
Thalren's gaze returned to the sea.
---
"…How far?"
---
"…Far enough."
---
A pause.
---
"…And not far enough at the same time."
---
Thalren didn't respond.
---
Rovan studied him briefly.
---
Then—
---
"…You don't talk much."
---
"…No reason to."
---
"…Hah."
---
A quiet chuckle.
---
"…You'll need more than silence out here."
---
Silence.
---
The ship continued forward.
---
Waves cut against its sides.
---
The rhythm steady.
---
Uninterrupted.
---
For now.
---
Time passed.
---
The sky shifted slightly.
---
Clouds gathered.
---
The wind grew heavier.
---
Not sudden.
---
But building.
---
Rovan's expression changed.
---
Just slightly.
---
"…Stay sharp."
---
Thalren didn't ask.
---
Didn't question.
---
He felt it.
---
The sheath pulsed.
---
Once.
---
Then again.
---
Stronger.
---
The air tightened.
---
The sea beneath them—
Moved.
---
Not like waves.
---
Deeper.
---
Something below shifted.
---
Rovan stepped forward quickly.
---
His voice sharper now.
---
"…We've got movement."
---
Silence.
---
The ship creaked slightly.
---
Water around them distorted.
---
Circles forming.
---
Expanding outward.
---
"…Not big…"
Rovan muttered.
---
"…But not small either."
---
Thalren stepped forward.
---
Closer to the edge.
---
His eyes focused on the water.
---
The surface trembled.
---
Then—
---
It broke.
---
A shape emerged.
---
Fast.
---
A sea beast.
---
Not massive.
---
But large enough.
---
Its body twisted with unnatural movement.
---
Eyes locked onto the ship.
---
Hungry.
---
"…First one," Rovan said quietly.
---
"…Let's see what you do."
---
Silence.
---
Thalren stepped forward.
---
No hesitation.
---
No fear.
---
The beast lunged.
---
Fast.
---
Straight toward the deck.
---
Water exploded upward as it moved.
---
The moment it reached—
---
Thalren moved.
---
A step.
---
A shift.
---
The attack missed.
---
By inches.
---
He didn't draw the sword.
---
Didn't reach for it.
---
Instead—
---
He struck.
---
A direct impact.
---
Bare hand.
---
Precise.
---
The beast's movement faltered.
---
Just for a moment.
---
Enough.
---
A second strike—
---
Stronger.
---
More direct.
---
The creature recoiled.
---
Pulled back slightly.
---
But didn't retreat.
---
It roared.
---
Louder.
---
More aggressive.
---
Then attacked again.
---
Faster.
---
Sharper.
---
Thalren stepped forward.
---
Not back.
---
A clean dodge.
---
A low strike—
---
Targeting its movement.
---
Its body twisted—
---
Unstable.
---
Rovan watched.
---
Eyes narrowing.
---
"…He's not using it."
---
A pause.
---
"…He doesn't need to."
---
The beast lunged again—
---
Desperate now.
---
Wild.
---
Thalren's movement changed.
---
Slightly.
---
Faster.
---
More decisive.
---
A final strike—
---
Direct.
---
Perfectly placed.
---
The creature froze—
---
Then fell.
---
Back into the sea.
---
Water closed over it.
---
Silence returned.
---
Only the sound of waves remained.
---
Thalren stood still.
---
Unmoved.
---
Unshaken.
---
The sheath pulsed once.
---
Then—
Went quiet.
---
Rovan exhaled slowly.
---
"…Not bad."
---
A pause.
---
"…Most people panic on their first encounter."
---
Silence.
---
"…You didn't even reach for the blade."
---
Thalren didn't respond.
---
Rovan studied him.
---
Long.
---
Carefully.
---
"…You're not just strong."
---
A pause.
---
"…You're used to this."
---
Silence.
---
Thalren looked out at the sea again.
---
"…This was small."
---
The words were simple.
---
But clear.
---
Rovan smiled slightly.
---
"…Yeah."
---
A pause.
---
"…It was."
---
The wind picked up again.
---
Stronger this time.
---
The sky darkened slightly.
---
Clouds thickening.
---
The sea—
Shifted again.
---
Deeper.
---
Heavier.
---
Different from before.
---
Rovan's expression hardened.
---
"…Alright…"
---
A quiet breath.
---
"…Now it starts."
---
Thalren's eyes remained steady.
---
The sheath—
Pulsed again.
---
Stronger.
---
More urgent.
---
"…Closer…"
---
The voice returned.
---
Clearer than ever.
---
The sea beneath them trembled.
---
Not from waves.
---
From something rising.
---
Something bigger.
---
Something that hadn't shown itself yet.
---
Thalren stood still.
---
Then spoke—
---
Calm.
---
Certain.
---
"I'm not done yet."
---
The wind howled.
---
The sea answered.
---
And below—
---
Something began to rise.