“My master’s name is Miyamoto. Not only is he a swordmaster, but a mage besides.”

As Phoebe spoke, Leona’s eyes widened a bit before she frowned her eyebrows.

“Why didn’t you tell us back in Astera?”

“Why would I have?” She chuckled sourly “The only reason as to why I’m tagging along is my mission, nothing more.”

“Your revenge.”

Phoebe tilted her head slightly down with a bitter scoff.

“I lived my whole life to this point only so I could avenge my mother. No one will stand in my way.”

Leona shook her head.

“Phoebe, you’re getting it wrong. Your sister-”

“Do NOT, speak of her.” She flicked her head up with hatred in her eyes as she stared at Leona. “She killed my mother! I won’t ever forgive her for that!”

“That is what I’m trying to tell you, I think she wasn’t the one responsible for her death. Has it never occurred to you how your sister became that powerful?”

Phoebe squinted her eyes.

“What are you getting at?”

“If she was this powerful before killing your mother, then wouldn’t it make sense to just flee the continent with your entire family rather than killing her? She must have been forced to do so in order to become that powerful.”

For a split second there seemed to be doubt in her eyes as she heard Leona’s words, but her surprised expression gave place to anger just as quickly.

“You don’t know anything about us, what are you even trying to prove here Leona?!”

Krieg was ready to draw his blade but Leona tilted her head sideways and raised her right hand, signaling him to wait. She then turned her full attention to Phoebe.

“I dislike lies more than anything Phoebe. I can clearly see that you are hiding your doubts behind your resentment.” She frowned her brows before looking at her in the eyes. “Cast your hatred aside if only for a moment and think. Was she really someone that could kill her own mother? For the brief time that we spent together, all I could see was an older sister that deeply cherished her younger sibling.”

“You’re wrong…” Phoebe brought both of her hands forth and tightened them into fists. “Kaeli isn’t capable of that.”

They both remained silent as Leona was thinking how else she could convince the high elf before an enthusiastic Cecile shouted behind them.

“We’re finally here!”

Leona lifted her head and beyond the railings she noticed the big mass of land in the horizon. Nara.

“This is it…”

Krieg muttered beneath his breath.

“Phoebe, we’ll continue this another time.” Leona spoke frankly while turning around to head back. “But give some thought to what I’ve said. It… it pains me to see both of you like this.”

She shook her head slightly but didn’t reply. The tactician left with Krieg in tow as they made their way back to the stairs that led to the dining hall.

“I’ll go grab my things from my room.” Leona spoke without looking at the knight. “Krieg. We must see this through until the end.”

“My blade is yours. As it will always be.”

“Thank you Krieg.”

She headed downstairs by herself. As she passed by the broken dining table, she reminded herself of the battle against Akamui. How they were almost defeated if not for Kaeli’s help and her own sacrifice. Her left shoulder throbbed.

Despite the feelings of regret, she did steel her resolve as she walked by herself back to her room. Inside, there was only the closed chest beside her bed which she lifted the lid with her right hand before using her right shoulder to keep it from closing as she reached inside the container.

She pulled out another belt which had a firearm holstered within a leather pouch. The signature silver derringer design was a gift from a friend. She had a bittersweet smile on her face—while she didn’t want to have to use it, it was the only other feasible option she had in order to defend herself.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

‘Athena… I need to give you a proper gift once I go back to Londria.’

However as opposed to holding the belt, she used her teeth to hold the holster while she pulled out the firearm from it before fitting on the backside of her pants.

“Let’s hope I don’t have to use this.”

She left the empty holster inside the chest and headed out of her room. At that moment she noticed Sylas about to step inside the room that was being used for storage of medicine.

“Hm? Lady Leona!” When he noticed her, a big smile curled up his face before he took a step back out to greet her. “I’m glad to see you well.”

“Ah, hello Sylas. I’m sorry for worrying you too.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Say, what do you think of Kaeli?”

“What do I think of Lady Kaeli?” He scratched the underside of his chin. “She seems like an honest lady. Knowledgeable too—she was teaching me mana transference when it happened.”

“Hm? Were you near her when she was abducted?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Despite being so close I couldn’t do anything to prevent it.”

“Did you happen to see the man that took her?”

“Just his hair. It was black as night.”

That sentence made her raise an eyebrow.

“Wait, did you say black?”

“Yes.”

“Not brown?”

He tilted his head slightly.

“No, I was at arm’s length, there is no way I could have missed.”

Leona held her chin between her index and thumb.

‘Something isn’t right… Krieg said his hair was brown…’

“Tell me Sylas. You said you were practicing mana transference with Kaeli, correct?”

“Huh? Yes I was.”

“Can you show it to me?”

“I can try.” He extended his left hand with his palm up. “Place your hand on top of mine.”

She reached for him and once her hand touched his, she felt a tingling sensation crawling up from her wrist towards her chest.

“I’m still bad at it. Forgive me.”

“No, this is fine.” She took her hand off his and smiled. “Thank you.”

She was about to head off, when Sylas commented.

“Please be careful Lady Leona. I don’t know who this man was but to be able to vanish out of thin air is simply beyond normal humans.”

“I will, thank you.”

She crossed the dining hall and headed upstairs to the deck. Once there, she noticed other similar ships traversing in the opposite direction as they were headed. They were truly on another continent.

“We’ll be landing soon!” Charlotte shouted from the helm. “Cecile, Luka! Get ready to hoist the sails! Yuriel, get the anchor ready!”

“Aye captain!”

The trio answered while running around the deck to get things ready. In the meantime, Leona walked to the right side of the ship and observed the docks from there. It was massive, the diversity of ships was overwhelming and that was not even accounting for the smaller boat vessels that were used for local fishing.

Despite the destruction of the capital, the coastal city was bustling with life. Even from afar, Leona could see a multitude of people moving by the docks against the bright background of the buildings that also contrasted with the greenery around the mountainous region that encompassed the entirety of the coast.

“I wish my father and mother were here to see this…”

She muttered under her breath as a smile eventually curled up her face.

It was truly one of a kind experience as she marveled at the different architecture of each of the buildings, as opposed to the more rectangular shaped structures of Arcadia and Londria, Nara incorporated more slanted and triangular shapes to the roof of their buildings.

However in contrast to the vibrant colors of each house in Arcadia, Nara did seem a bit more bland just like how Londria was, remaining in the white and gray coloration for each of the buildings.

“I can scarcely believe we are here.”

Krieg approached Leona while speaking to her.

“Same here.” She adjusted the belt of her sword and took a brief pause before turning to him. “Krieg. I have a plan regarding Kaeli’s disappearance.”

“Just say the word, my liege.”

“If my hunch is correct, both Kaeli and Phoebe share the same mentor.”

“Huh?”

“It’s just a hunch, but I do believe they are connected. Which means if we find Miyamoto, we’ll find Queen Eleonora and Kaeli.”

“But then if what you say is true then…”

“This man is extremely powerful.” She swallowed dry. “To be frank, our chances of surviving a direct encounter is slim.”

“Shouldn’t I go and act as bait then?”

“No. I’m sure he knows that we are here already. What bothers me is why he hasn’t come after us. I can’t fathom how to understand the reasons behind his actions.”

‘That is assuming he is an enemy.’ She thought to herself. ‘Being related to Lastraeous, I wouldn’t doubt he has something nasty in store for us.’

She took a sharp breath and closed her eyes. She recalled all the terrible futures that she was shown by Avalon which served to steel her further.

“Hoisting the sails!”

Both Cecile and Luka shouted in unison as they pulled the ropes in order to lift the seafaring canvas.

Charlotte made fine adjustments as they reached the Naran docks—making the ship stall just as they reached the wooden pier.

“Tossing anchor!”

Yuriel shouted as he dropped the hunk of metal by untying a series of ropes on the left side of the ship.

After traveling for what felt to be ages, they had finally arrived. The eastern kingdom of Nara.