In the far-off oceans and scattered isles of Leonithra
QawsReiz
Reiz raised his blade, unleashing a surge of explosive gray fire
Qaws vanished, reappearing instantly behind him. The gems on his dagger glowed with ominous light as he slashed for Reiz's throat.
Steel met steel.
Reiz parried without looking, his sword sweeping in a blur to hurl another wave of gray flame. Qaws twisted mid-air to avoid incineration, vaulting upward and clinging to the trunk of a high palm tree.
Qaws:
Reiz:
Qaws:
Qaws leapt again, diving toward Reiz like a hawk.
Reiz's smile flickered beneath his hood. His sword erupted, a storm of gray entropy exploding outward in every direction.
Qaws's eyes widened. He couldn't dodge this. The blast surged toward him—
A figure appeared from nowhere, intercepting the strike.
A bare hand seized Reiz’s flaming wrist, halting the blade, while the stranger's other hand grabbed Reiz’s collar and hurled him backward.
Qaws recoiled, landing in the sand, his dagger raised toward both Reiz and the stranger.
Qaws:
Reiz recovered his balance, his fury faltering as he stared at the newcomer. His eyes widened in disbelief.
Reiz:
From the settling dust stepped Flinz
Qaws eyed him with deep suspicion.
Flinz:
Qaws narrowed his gaze, unconvinced, but lowered his dagger slightly.
---
Reiz's shock turned to volcanic anger.
Reiz:
His sword blazed, gray fire swirling into a violent aura that engulfed his entire body. The flames surged outward, racing toward Flinz and Qaws like a tidal wave of ash.
Qaws vaulted high into the air. To his surprise, Flinz leapt beside him, matching his height. Both hung suspended above the storm of fire.
Qaws:
Flinz:
Reiz didn't wait. He ascended on a pillar of fire, striking at Qaws.
Qaws blocked mid-air, sparks and gray fire scattering around them like fireworks. Their clash was swift, relentless—a blur of teleportation and destruction.
Suddenly, Flinz vanished.
He reappeared behind Reiz, cloaked in a strange, humming Lavender Aura
Reiz's eyes widened. Qaws stared, astonished by the sudden shift in pressure.
Flinz:"Impact."
Flinz drove a fist wrapped in lavender light into Reiz's back.
The impact was devastating. It hurled Reiz into the ground with the force of a meteor, sending a shockwave of dust and sand erupting across the small island.
Seizing the chaos, Qaws slipped away, grabbing the unconscious form of Wasim
Qaws:
But Reiz rose from the crater. He was bleeding, his cloak torn, but he was unshaken. Fury burned in his gaze, hotter than his fire.
Reiz:
Flinz landed softly, silent, his lavender aura pulsing rhythmically.
Reiz:Fontaine?
Flinz didn't answer. He vanished again, lavender energy swirling, and reappeared directly before Reiz. He threw a crushing strike.
The shockwave tore through the palm grove, uprooting trees.
But Reiz blocked it. He caught Flinz’s fist, his feet digging into the sand.
Reiz:
He looked Flinz in the eye, the gray fire in his hand intensifying.
Reiz:
He countered with a burning wave of gray fire, point-blank. Flinz’s eyes widened as he was forced to leap back, soaring high to escape the heat.
But Reiz was already there.
He appeared above Flinz, a twisted smile carved across his face. His sword blazed with catastrophic power, and his voice thundered over the ocean.
Reiz:Mark of Lucifer!
The blade erupted. Gray fire exploded in a cataclysmic surge, and the island trembled beneath the clash of ash and lavender light.
Leonithra — The Retreat Across the Sea
Flinz = Velins I'll explain later.
Velins raised his hand, the lavender aura straining as he struggled to block Reiz's catastrophic strike. The gray fire was eating through his defenses.
Suddenly, a rope hissed through the air.
A dagger attached to the rope pierced Velins's calf. He cried out as Qaws yanked the line with brutal efficiency, dragging him out of the air just as Reiz’s blade came down.
The gray fire struck empty ground, vaporizing the sand where Velins had been a second ago.
Reiz watched in silence, descending slowly to the scorched earth. The flames danced around him, but he did not pursue. He merely smiled, a hunter letting his prey run for a day.
Qaws hauled Velins to his feet, then hoisted the unconscious Wasim
Qaws:
Velins gritted his teeth, clutching his bleeding leg.
Velins:
Qaws knelt quickly and pulled the dagger from Velins's leg.
Qaws:
Velins:
Qaws blinked in surprise, looking at the young scholar.
Qaws:
Qaws grabbed Wasim, and the two limped into the jungle. Behind them, Reiz watched the darkness swallow them, his smile widening.
---
The night was silent as Velins and Qaws pushed the small vessel into the water. They set sail, the boat cutting smoothly across the dark, restless ocean.
Qaws:
Velins:
Qaws tilted his head, cleaning his dagger with a cloth.
Qaws:
Velins did not answer immediately. His eyes flicked to Qaws's dark attire and dual blades.
Velins:
Qaws smirked, spinning a dagger on his finger.
Qaws:
Velins stepped back warily, eyeing the weapon.
Qaws:
He sheathed his blades and extended a hand.
Qaws:Qaws
Velins hesitated, looking at the rough, scarred hand. Then, he clasped it.
Velins:Velins
Qaws chuckled, shaking his hand firmly.
Qaws:
Velins turned his gaze to the horizon, his expression melancholic.
Velins:
Qaws's eyes widened slightly at the weight in the boy's voice, but he shrugged.
Qaws:
He gestured to the unconscious Wasim at the bottom of the boat.
Velins:
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Qaws blinked, surprised.
Qaws:
He pulled a small, worn map from his satchel and unrolled it under the moonlight.
Qaws:
Velins leaned closer, hesitant yet curious. As his eyes traced the ink lines on the parchment, they widened in shock.
Velins:
Qaws:
Velins:
Qaws's voice dropped to a whisper.
Qaws:
Velins nodded, his gaze lingering on the parchment as if seeing a ghost.
Velins:Fontaine
Leonithra — A Fragile Alliance
Qaws rolled up the map, his expression darkening as he looked at the coastline.
Qaws:Leonithra
His eyes lingered on Velins, assessing the young scholar's strength.
Velins lowered his gaze, his voice heavy with hidden guilt.
Velins:
Qaws frowned, tilting his head.
Qaws:
Velins sighed, staring at his trembling hands.
Velins:
Qaws studied him for a long moment, then spoke with quiet resolve.
Qaws:
Velins clenched his fist. He looked at the open sea, then back at Qaws.
Velins:
Qaws stared at him, impressed. He nodded slowly.
Qaws:
He extended his hand once more. Velins hesitated, his eyes widening as he looked at Qaws's face. The assassin wasn't mocking him; he was offering a partnership.
Qaws:
Velins reached out, his voice faltering but sincere.
Velins:
---
As the boat drifted, Velins sat stiffly, watching Qaws's every move. He braced himself, half-expecting betrayal—a sudden dagger to the ribs or a push into the dark water.
But Qaws only whistled a low tune, settling down with his back against the hull.
Velins blinked, whispering in disbelief.
Velins:
Qaws rose, stretching his arms and yawning.
Qaws:
He glanced at Wasim
Velins frowned, his suspicion returning.
Velins:
Qaws chuckled, reaching into his satchel. Velins flinched, but Qaws only pulled out a fishing net.
Qaws:
He cast the net into the sea with a practiced motion. Velins closed his eyes, exhaling a breath he didn't know he was holding. He was safe.
Moments later, Qaws pulled the net back, grinning triumphantly.
Qaws:
Several silver fish writhed in the net.
Qaws:
Qaws gestured to Wasim with his knife before beginning to scale the fish.
Qaws:Infected
Velins's eyes widened in horror.
Velins:
Qaws nodded grimly, slicing the fish.
Qaws:
Leonithra — Fire on the Waves
Qaws glanced at the small pile of fish in the net, then back at the vast ocean.
Qaws:
Velins stared at the water, clenching his wrist. His eyes narrowed with intense focus.
Velins:
Qaws's instincts flared. His voice snapped in alarm.
Qaws:
Too late.
Velins thrust his fist toward the sea. He didn't touch the water, but the air pressure did.
A violent gust exploded outward, a shockwave of compressed air crashing against the surface. The water depressed into a massive crater before rebounding. The small boat lurched violently, flung backward by the recoil.
Qaws:
Moments later, the water settled. Dozens—perhaps hundreds—of fish floated to the surface, belly-up, stunned lifeless by the hydrostatic shock.
Qaws blinked, staring at the carnage. He looked at Velins, half in disbelief, half in irritation.
Qaws:
Velins:
Qaws sighed long and loud, rubbing his forehead.
Qaws:
He cast his net, hauling in the massive catch with a grunt of effort.
Qaws:
Velins:
Qaws:
---
Night fell.
Qaws drew his dagger, striking it against a piece of flint. Sparks leapt, igniting a small, controlled fire in a metal pan he kept for travel. He skewered the fish on wooden sticks, sliding them near the flames with practiced ease.
Velins watched, astonished by the mundane skill.
Velins:
Qaws smirked, turning the skewers.
Qaws:
Velins:
---
Leonithra — The Approach to the Crescent Isle
In the bottom of the boat, Wasim
Qaws struck swiftly at a pressure point on the boy's neck, forcing him back into unconsciousness instantly.
Qaws:
Velins:
Qaws:
Velins:
Qaws:
---
Four hours passed in the darkness.
To pass the time, Qaws spoke of the world—of AurikLenovardLuminous Tree
At last, just as dawn broke, they sighted land.
A crescent-shaped island rose from the mist, ringed by ships. Pirate vessels clustered along the shore like vultures, but two massive warships dominated the harbor.
One bore the banner of Leonithra's Navy.
The other bore a terrifying sigil: Skeletal Wings spread over a scythe.
Qaws narrowed his eyes.
Qaws:
Velins gazed at the island. The air was thick with the acrid stench of gunpowder, and the trees along the shore were shattered, as if a great battle had already raged there.
---
Suddenly, a flash of light from the shore.
A cannon roared. A shell hurtled through the air, whistling directly toward their small boat.
Qaws leapt up, dagger flashing, ready to attempt a deflection—
But Velins stepped forward. He thrust his fist into the air.
A focused shockwave erupted, intercepting the cannonball fifty meters away. It detonated in mid-air, raining harmless shrapnel into the sea.
Qaws lowered his dagger, smirking.
Qaws:
More shots followed, pounding the sea around them, geysers of water erupting on all sides.
Qaws exhaled sharply, sheathing his blade.
Qaws:
Velins:
Velins raised both hands, his lavender aura flaring.
Qaws grinned, adjusting his cloak and sitting back down casually.
Qaws:
Leonithra — Into the Storm
The battered vessel of LainasYamen's
Lainas stood at the prow, his eyes narrowing in disbelief as he studied the way the pirate ship moved through the water.
Lainas:
His crew busied themselves with ropes and sails, anxious to keep pace. Lainas turned back to the map spread before him on a barrel.
Lainas:Thera
One of his men spoke hesitantly, clutching a rope.
Crewman:
Lainas's voice was steady, though his eyes betrayed his own doubt.
Lainas:
He gazed out at the dark horizon, where the sky above Silva
Lainas:
---
Another sailor pointed toward the open water to the north.
Crewman:
Lainas looked. It was true—the north was clear. But then he looked ahead. Yamen's colossal, rotting ship was lumbering straight into the heart of the storm.
Lainas shook his head grimly.
Lainas:
---
They sailed deeper into the gloom. They passed ruins—ancient palaces drowned by the rising tides, shattered islands littered with moss-covered homes, broken and forgotten by time.
Then, a larger isle appeared through the mist. Its houses were old and decaying, its docks crowded with ragged souls—refugees or survivors—barely able to walk.
Lainas's eyes widened. Among the fishing boats, a massive warship was docked. Its banner was unmistakable.
Lainas:Luther's
He gripped the railing.
Lainas:
---
A sudden cry rang out across the waters, followed by booming, raucous laughter that echoed off the cliffs.
Lainas turned sharply, hand on his sword.
Lainas:
A sailor pointed ahead, his face pale.
Crewman:
From Yamen's ship, a thick, unnatural white fog began to billow forth. It moved faster than the wind, swallowing the sea, cloaking the vision of the island and Luther's ship in deep shadow.
Yamen's voice thundered through the mist, amplified by magic:
Yamen:
Leonithra — The Black Fortress
The fog pressed heavy against the sea, a suffocating blanket that swallowed both sight and sound. Lainas stood at the prow, his jaw tight, his eyes narrowing as he tried to pierce the white veil.
Lainas:
He turned away, descending into the lower hold where the air was still and smelled of sickness.
There, SawsanMowj
Lainas:
Healer:
Lainas frowned, his voice low as he watched the girl's shallow breathing.
Lainas:
Another healer spoke gravely, wiping sweat from Sawsan’s forehead.
Healer:
Lainas's eyes widened as he looked upon her skeletal frame. Her ribs pressed against her skin like the hull of a starving ship.
Lainas:
He leaned closer, looking at the dark veins pulsing near her neck.
Lainas:
---
Back on deck, the storm thickened. The sea grew black as ink, the sky swallowed by bruised clouds.
Yamen's voice thundered across the waves from the invisible ship ahead:
Yamen:
Lainas's eyes narrowed as he gripped the railing.
Lainas:
Suddenly, the fog broke. Before them rose a jagged isle, stabbing high above the sea like a dark spear. It was ringed by strange, ominous ships flying the banner of the Black Order
Yamen's voice broke with fury.
Yamen:Wasim
Lainas's blood ran cold. He looked at the fleet blocking their path.
Lainas:
He roared to his men, drawing his sword.
Lainas:
The crew scrambled, loading cannons and drawing bows—until Yamen's voice cut through the storm like steel.
Yamen:not
Lainas froze, his men halting mid-motion.
Lainas:
Yamen's laughter rolled across the sea, eerie and echoing.
Yamen:
On the prow of his rotting ship, Yamen tore a heavy pendant from his neck. He held it high. His eyes blazed with a terrifying Dark Blue Light
The waves shifted. The sea itself began to writhe.
Yamen:
Massive shapes—leviathans of the deep—stirred beneath the Black Order ships. The water erupted. Enormous tentacles and jagged fins breached the surface.
The waters rose in a localized tsunami, crashing against the enemy fleet. Ships splintered like matchsticks, cannons drowned before they could fire, and men screamed as monsters dragged them into the abyss.
Yamen's laughter shook the storm, louder than the thunder.
Yamen:
He slammed his wooden leg against the deck.
Fog erupted from his ship again, iron-thick, cloaking the massacre in silence.
---
When the haze cleared, the Black Order fleet was gone—sunk to the bottom.
Lainas's ship drifted silently to the dock of the island. Yamen's vessel remained offshore, unmoving, shrouded in mist like a sentinel.
Lainas:
A sailor peered through the spyglass at the docks.
Crewman:
Lainas's breath caught.
Lainas:CrewmanLainas:Crewman:Lainas:
He exhaled, steadying himself. The silence was worse than the battle.
Lainas:
Steel hissed as he drew his sword.
The island loomed, desolate yet alive with menace. Broken hulls littered the shore. And there, rising above the ruins, stood an ancient fortress—its windows glowing faintly in the dark.
Lainas's eyes widened.
Lainas:
He jumped onto the dock, his boots thudding against the wet wood. His voice dropped to a whisper, heavy with resolve.
Lainas:
