On their walk through the city to the harbour, they met with fewer people than they’d thought. Eulisses then remembered that with the sea creature blocking the most important maritime route, and the bandits doing the same inland until just recently, it was no wonder that trade, the town’s vital line, stagnated.

It was understandable then, that the market district adjacent to the harbour wasn’t well frequented. Many of the stalls were closed down, the otherwise positively colourful fabrics now didn’t add to the vibrancy of the place so much so as accentuating the contrast to its present dreariness.

Without stopping, Felicity turned towards her companion, her face a mixture of sadness and grim determination. “Eulisses, you’ve asked me before, whether the Planar Convergence would slow down trade. Until the very moments the Rifts happen I said it won’t and yet, look at this. And it’s not just because of some great calamity looming on the horizon, we humans seem perfectly capable of causing suffering ourselves.”

As if inspired by her own words, the princess fixed her gaze on the horizon. The sun at her back made her blond hair shine as if they were a halo. The smile on her lips however, did not exude holiness, nor happiness. Her next words were barely above a whisper, maybe not even Eulisses, who walked right next to her, would catch them. “The Convergences may threaten to cause the destruction of our world, yet sometimes I wonder if they don’t just hasten it.”

Noticing the lack of response from her companion, she turned to take a look, only to find him a few steps back. Eulisses had stopped walking and was simply staring at her, a complicated expression of his own on his face.

“Oh, apologies. Sometimes, my thoughts wander towards darker places. Please, pay them no heed.” With these words, she turned back and resumed walking, soon crossing the market square completely and entering Baycall’s harbour district. Eulisses, after a short moment, made to catch up to her and the Guards that went ahead.

--

Only a single ship laid at anchor, swaying gently in the bai’s waves. Massively and proudly three masts stood, as if rising into the sky. A broad plank connected the ship’s deck with the pier, and a bearded figure protuded over the rail and started to wave at them as soon as they entered sight. “Oi, yer ‘Ighness!” the stocky man yelled in a deep baritone.

Standing before the plank leading up to the deck, Felicity politely nodded at the man. “Greetings, Captain Nimo. It is reassuring to know we will be in your capable hands for our voyage to Narlême.”

“Ay, what a captain I be, if I refuse yer request,” he pointed at himself, “this ol’ seadog’s at yer service, whenever ya call!” The princess bowed her head in appreciation, before turning to her escort.

“My Royal Guard,” she started, “thank you for seeing me safely to my destination. Our journey had been eventful, and we suffered the loss of good men and women.” She let a few seconds pass in silence to commemorate the dead. “Rest assured that I will do everything to make the summit a success, so that their sacrifice had not been in vain. I won’t let politics stand in the way of our efforts against the Convergence! We will ensure the safety of our people against the outside threat,” she deeply bowed in earnest, making a few of the guards uncomfortable, “and I truly thank you for your part in it. Now it is on me to do mine.” With these words, Felicity boarded the ship.

Eulisses stood a bit apart from the group, his gaze wandering between the vessel, the cluster of guards and the princess, switching from the latter to the former. She displayed many emotions in her speech, but why didn’t I feel any of them? It almost seemed … rehearsed.

Second Lieutenant Trevis and another guard grasped each other’s forearm. “I will keep her Highness safe, you do the same to our men here,” Trevis instructed. “Will do so, Sir, remember to take care of yourself, too.” They briefly hugged and patted the others back, then Trevis and two additional Royal Guard members, a man and a woman, boarded the ship as well.

“Aren’t you coming, Sir Malinor?” the man asked him, halfway up the plank. “Huh? Ah, yes, I’m coming!” Being roused from his daze, Eulisses quickly boarded as well, letting the two sailors standing ready finally haul in the plank.

“And who’s this lad, ey?” Captain Nimo greeted him with a scrutinizing gaze wandering over his figure. Felicity answered him. “This is Eulisses Malinor. Remember what I’ve told you about on our voyage from Bessi? This is the aide I’ve been talking about.”

“Greetings, researcher of life and all matters arcane, wizard Eulisses Malinor, at your service,” he flourished a courtly bow. He was met with approval, as Captain Nemo stroked his shaggy, greying beard while flashing him a smile. “The lad’s got spirit! Let’s see if he got sea legs s’well,” Nimo thunderingly laughed, while shouting towards the prow, “Lift the anchor and set sail lads, we’re movin’ out!”

Eulisses was amused at the man’s habit of calling everyone ‘lad’, especially with himself probably being much, much older than the seafarer, though his current appearance might suggest otherwise. The wizard mustered the crew, who got the ship ready with experienced hands, so they soon left the harbour and the town of Baycall behind them.

He joined Felicity and Nemo, who apparently liked to stand at the helm himself. The former asked the latter with equal parts curiosity and concern. “Have you heard about the sea creature, who is blocking the trading route?”

“Ay, I have. We’ve only dropped anchor yesterday noon, but the lack of other ships had us worried, so we’ve asked around.”

Eulisses joined the conversation, “The mayor of Baycall told us the creature was last sighted at the ‘Strait of Eastnola’, is there any chance we might run into it?” The captain nodded his head and answered with a grave voice. “Ay, if it’s still there and not already shot to pieces. The strait’s narrow enough to shoot a canonball over it, a ship-sinking monstrosity’s not gonna be able to hide.”

Nimo took a glance at the taut sails. “Based on the current winds, we be there tomorrow noon I wager.”

Eulisses rubbed his chin, then turned to Felicity. “In case we find ourselves amidst a naval battle tomorrow, I want to prepare for it. I’d be better than any cannon,” he said to Nimo, “if you have some ink and parchments I could use.”

The captain affirmed, “Ye use my cabin then, a few sheets of paper be there for ya. The room’s in tha obvious place,” he said while tapping with his feet on the deck several times, to indicate the cabin being right below them.

Thanking the captain, Eulisses bid him and Felicity goodbye. “I will see to it then, if you’ve need of me princess, you know where you’ll find me. Good day to you!” Nodding his head, the wizard left the helm and entered the inside through the sole door on the deck.

A few steps downstairs and behind a spanned curtain, he found himself in the captain’s cabin. The rear wall featured windows, spending light and opening the view to what’s behind the ship. In front of it stood a simple desk and chair, facing the door, right next to an erected bed and adjacent wardrobe. The other side held a simple cupboard, rolled up scrolls sticking out of one particular shelf.

Eulisses grabbed one of them and checked to see if they were blank. Satisfied, he took a seat at the desk and unfurled the sheet, before grabbing the nearby quill. Before dipping it in the inkpot, he paused and curiously studied the feather. I’m no ornithologist, but I’ve never seen this type of quill before. This is no goose or swan. He was reminded again, that he was in another world, one he was still largely ignorant of. Right, there might be vastly different fauna and flora, giving birth to materials and techniques I’ve never seen before!

His brief time at the castle’s archives left him wanting for more. Maybe Narlême has a library? If so, I must reserve some time after the summit to browse through the books! My research has hit a stillstand for long enough, maybe I can find the impetus I need to take it to new directions here.

Eulisses fantasized about what he wanted to do in his studies, but why did all of that sound to be in the distant future? When did he start to put off his singular goal again and again? He made a mental note to get to the bottom of these questions, but right now, he had to inscribe some spellcraft.

A wizard’s only as good as his preparation. This ‘sea creature’ will be nothing before me, once I’m done with these! Getting fired up, Eulisses enthusiastically gathered his arcane energy and focused it at the tip of the quill he dipped into the inkwell. With practiced strokes, he began to craft his first scroll.

--

As Eulisses was busying himself in the captian’s cabin, its original occupant and Felicity were engaged in conversation above deck, at the ship’s helm.

“So, this one’s the ‘Hero’ then? You think he be of use?”

Felicity shook her head, but not in denial. “I’ve tried, and failed, before to rally the nations behind myself. I need a figurehead, and one not already present in the current political landscape. The hero summoning seemed like the perfect resort, after all, the Convergences proved to be cataclysmic events time and again.”

“Ya didn’t answer my question, yer Highness,” Nimo observed with an intuition one wouldn’t give him credit for, if they judged him by appearance only. “Eulisses is … strange, not what one would expect when picturing a ‘Hero’. In more ways than one … he seems to be relatively easygoing and I can’t judge whether that’s part of his facade or not. He agreed to help me on the vague promise of my cooperation with his ‘research’ alone, and has already proven to be a valuable companion since, I only hope I can safely steer us through the summit.”

“If anyone can do so, it be ya, yer Highness,” Nimo assured her.

“Are you talking about Malinor?” Trevis asked, as he approached the two of them, “I’m still not so sure about him. I’ve seen him sparring with Captain Blythe, and in our fight with the bandits. Impressive, sure, but nothing our own Battlemages aren’t capable of themselves.”

“We don’t necessarily need him as a fighter,” Felicity retorted, “although it would be helpful, especially with the summit coinciding with the fighting tournament.”

Nimo laughed, “Coincidence, sure! We be all gonna entering an alliance anyways, even I can see it. Those livy-livered high and mighties wanna use the tournament as an excuse to install their own as its leader!”

“I have to concur Nimo, your Highness,” Trevis agreed with the captain, “this whole venture might turn out to be futile in the end. I still think you should appoint one of our own people--”

“Like you, Trevis?” Felicity interjected.

The man fixed his armour, buying himself time to find the right words. “Well, you picked me up from the streets, your Highness. It’s all thanks to you, that I’m a Second Lieutenant of the Royal Guard today, probably First after this, answering only to Captain Blythe - and his Majesty of course. My life is yours, and if I can begin to repay you, by becoming your sword, then I’ll gladly do so.”

Felicity put a hand on Trevis’ shoulder, making him stand all the straighter. “You already are my sword, Trevis. And I will need you to fight by my side in the battles that are to come, necessary as they be. But this particular one”, she shook her head, “requires a different approach. Trust in me with that, as well.”

Trevis, feigning to be convinced, bowed his head and simply said “Your Highness.” They were approaching midday, and Nemi informed them of the meal that was to be served soon. Claiming Eulisses wouldn’t need to be present for it and could get leftovers later if he wanted to, Felicity and the rest made for the galley, all the while the ship continued its voyage.