Chapter 11: Chapter 10 : Unveiled Encounter, Lord of The Seas

The ocean, once a sailor's realm, had become a treacherous battleground. Here, wild winds and relentless waves conspired, creating a terrifying force that threatened to consume any ship that dared to venture into their path. Captain Lionheart, who had barely escaped the clutches of a fierce storm, now found herself facing an entirely new twist of fate. The once dark, cloudy skies, riddled with lightning strikes, were now draped in the eerie glow of the crimson moons, their malevolent influence casting the entire world into madness.

Lionheart, standing firmly on the ship's platform, exercised her authority with an unquestionable command. She directed her crew with unwavering determination, urgently instructing them to seek shelter below deck, away from the madness that now tainted even her own thoughts.

However, two steadfast figures, Jacob and Emma, remained resolutely at her side. Their expressions clearly conveyed their deep concern for their captain's well-being.

Jacob, Lionheart's loyal right-hand man and a trusted crewmate, had once been a young boy who used to follow her during her days as a princess in the empire. When the emperor decreed her exile, Jacob made the brave choice to abandon the empire and follow her into an uncertain future.

Emma, on the other hand, was a young girl that Lionheart had encountered during a stopover at an island near the Republic of Argentia. At that time, Lionheart had not actively sought to add a female crew member to her ship. Yet, witnessing the little girl living in miserable conditions, she had made the compassionate decision to welcome Emma into her crew.

Lionheart's gaze flickered from the crimson-tinged sky to her two devoted companions. A hint of a smile touched her lips as she considered their unspoken worries.

"Jacob, Emma," she said, her voice carrying a tone of deep gratitude, "I truly appreciate your concern. It warms my heart to know you both care so deeply for my well-being."

Jacob's response was sincere, his eyes reflecting unwavering loyalty. "Captain, you can rely on us. Your safety is our utmost priority."

Emma nodded in agreement, her youthful determination shining through. "We're here to support you, Captain, no matter what challenges we face."

Captain Lionheart's smile was warm, and her azure eyes held a deep fondness. To her, the crew aboard her ship were more than mere subordinates; they were like family. Over a decade had passed since she first set sail on her remarkable voyages through the turbulent seas, earning her a name known across the seven seas. Her ship, aptly named Lionheart, resonated with her own identity, and she had become a legendary figure among fellow seafarers.

Despite her commanding presence, Lionheart's tenderness was evident as she gently patted Emma's head and exchanged a soft, knowing glance with Jacob.

"I understand your concerns," she said, her voice unwavering but brimming with deep affection. "But I also have a duty to ensure the well-being of my crew. Both of you must go below deck; the influence of these crimson moons is perilous. Consider it a captain's order." Her smile provided comforting reassurance.

Reluctantly, Jacob and Emma exchanged a worried glance. Leaving their captain in such a perilous situation weighed heavily on their hearts. However, they comprehended the gravity of her command and placed unwavering trust in her judgment. Knowing that they would emerge when it was safe once more, they descended below deck, their worry clinging to them like a heavy shadow.

As Lionheart gazed once more at the ominous crimson moons, her unease grew even more visible. Their recent escape from the devastating storm had left her crew both fatigued and cautiously optimistic. However, experience had taught her to be wary of the unpredictable nature of the sea.

"I can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of foreboding," Lionheart mused, her gaze fixed on the ominous skies. Her mind swirled with uncertainty.

'This occurrence is too sudden. I have a terrible feeling about it. We've lost our bearings; the skies that guided our voyages have disappeared.'

Her thoughts spiraled as she embraced the heavy weight of responsibility as the captain.

"I must protect every soul aboard this ship. I've made a promise to my crew, a promise of change and a brighter future. Their trust and aspirations rest heavily on my shoulders. This is my duty, my solemn charge."

The seas were unpredictable, as was the world she sailed, but Lionheart was determined to weather whatever storm lay ahead.

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Just as Lionheart's haunting premonition had foretold, fate descended upon them with brutal swiftness. One moment, they sailed through the tempestuous sea beneath the maddening crimson moons, and in the blink of an eye, a colossal wave emerged from the depths, a behemoth that no sailor ever wishes to encounter. The impact was merciless, a massive wall of water crashing into the ship with devastating force, tossing it like a mere toy ship inside a bottle.

Below deck, the crew found themselves caught off guard, thrown into disarray amid the chaos of this unexpected collision. Their shouts of alarm were swallowed by the fury of raging waves. Jacob, Lionheart's steadfast right hand, was flung violently against a wall, the back of his head striking it with a sickening thud. Instinctively, he used his own body to shield Emma from the impact.

Lionheart, too, was not spared from this impact. In an instant, she lost the balance on her footing and was cast violently into the roiling sea.

The turbulent waves swallowed her, cold water tearing at her senses. She gasped for breath, trying to shout, but the relentless water muffled her voice into a gurgling, incoherent plea. With each crashing wave, she found herself drifting further from the ship, desperation welling up within her as she fought against the relentless predicament, struggling to return to the ship.

Lionheart fought with all her might to reach the ship, yet a chilling roar from the depths of the sea could be heard. Dread clutched at her heart, for she knew precisely what had befallen them.

Summoning every ounce of strength, she plunged beneath the surface, her vision clouded by stinging seawater. As her gaze cleared, a scene of both wonder and terror unfolded before her.

A huge emerald eye stared at her, capturing her body in a stony paralysis. Panic coursed through her veins as her body remained frozen, sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss.

Her limbs felt heavy, unresponsive as saltwater filled her mouth, stifling her cries. The colossal eye bore into her very soul, leaving her immobilized and drifting further into the suffocating depths of the ocean.

Desperation and hopelessness washed over her like a crashing wave. She couldn't leave her crew, but she felt powerless to act.

'I hope everyone would be safe.'

In her final moments, she cried out within her soul.

"Father, help," her inner voice pleaded desperately, though she knew her father had already abandoned her when the decree of banishment fell upon her.

Lionheart desperate for help, If the God of Storm only watched her from His realm, then she would left this attachment inside her heart.

In her desperation for help, she reached beyond her father's domain, appealing to the unknown powers.

"God, please aid me... save me. Any deity, hear my plea. Please..."

Her vision dimmed, the crimson moons' radiance above growing hazy as her consciousness faded into the abyss. The immense eye lingered in her vision, observing as Lionheart's body descended deeper into the ocean's cold embrace.

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Lionheart's consciousness faded away. In the cold embrace of the deep sea, fragments of her past unfurled before her, like tendrils of memory reaching out through the ocean of her thoughts.

She had once been a princess, a radiant and high-spirited royal. Rosaline was a beautiful princess with dreams of transforming the Chromium Empire into a haven of joy and happiness, bestowing equal rights and opportunities upon every citizen, regardless of their backgrounds, without discrimination. Her life had been painted with ideals of a bright future. Yet destiny had other plans for her.

Her memories took her back to a pivotal moment, a moment that forever altered the course of her life. During her 18th birthday celebration, for the first time, she received the opportunity for an audience with the Emperor, who was, in fact, her father. It marked her first audience with the Emperor of the Chromium Empire, the revered God of Storm. The grandeur of the empire's palace was awe-inspiring, but it paled in comparison to the colossal door that stood before her, towering fifty meters high. This door was only ever opened with the Emperor's permission. She had lived her entire life without knowing what her father looked like, or why certain areas of the palace were forbidden to her. The anticipation of this encounter filled her with happiness. She looked forward to meeting her father.

As the colossal door slowly swung open before her, the dark expanse beyond it seemed like a void. She stepped into the darkness, and an eerie, oppressive sensation washed over her. Fear gripped her, a cold sweat covering her body, as if the very air itself pressed down upon her. Its suffocating presence overwhelmed her, making it hard to breathe.

Paralyzed, she could see nothing until a colossal golden eye met her gaze, a gaze both radiant and terrifying. Her body began shaking uncontrollably. It was the Emperor himself, the God of Storm, who gazed upon her. The rest of the Emperor's body was veiled by darkness. Rosaline couldn't fathom the reality in front of her. She felt her entire body was going to burst open due to His sheer presence, and she fell into unconsciousness.

Her next recollection was a blurry scene in her room, with attendants bustling around her, and the royal counselor and imperial officials present. Rosaline had no idea what was going on, why so many government officials were present in her room. The only thing she knew was that their faces bore expressions of unease, making her realize that she might have done something wrong.

Before her lay a golden scroll, marked with the Emperor's sigil. The decree it carried was devastating; the first princess of the empire, Rosaline de Valerian, was sentenced and deemed unworthy of succession, and the last decree was her expulsion from the imperial family.

Confusion and shock overwhelmed her. She sought answers, but everyone was at a loss. They could only offer her their sympathy, as this was an irrevocable decree decreed by the Emperor himself, one that none could challenge. She couldn't fathom the reason behind this decision. Her heart shattered, and she felt lost and utterly unworthy. Through her tears, she caught a glimpse of her younger brother, peering from behind the door to her room, his eyes wide with concern. His presence offered some comfort amidst the shattering of her world. The room was heavy with an oppressive silence, a silence that marked the end of her identity and dreams.

At this point, there was nothing she could do. She had been abandoned by her father, by the God himself. Rosaline left the palace with nothing, her title and honor stripped.

In the present, at the dark abyss of the sea, these memories unfurled like old parchments, unwelcome and haunting.

Yet, just when darkness threatened to engulf her entirely, a faint light pierced through the gloom, stirring her consciousness. The vast hall with its mysterious fog materialized before her. Alongside her was a seat with a long table, resembling a banquet. But the center of her attention was the high platform adorned with a majestic throne.

A figure sat upon it, exuding grace and a radiant aura, its gaze sending a cold breath down her spine. Her body, as if compelled by an irresistible force, knelt before the presence. She could not tell if this was a dream or something more otherworldly. All she could discern was the sensation of submission.

Meanwhile, Lucias sat upon the throne with bored expression, awaiting the awakening of his other consciousness. But his anticipation was interrupted when a glimmer of light shone upon one of the twelve seats, an unusual occurrence that piqued his curiosity. He initially thought it might be Nathan, his first visitor in this realm and the first to follow him. However, the seat emitting light was not Nathan's; it was the opposing one.

Before him, an adult woman knelt, her clothes soaked, her appearance reminiscent of someone in her early thirties, her fiery red locks cascading like a waterfall, and her azure eyes betraying a mixture of confusion and wonder. Lucias couldn't help but be intrigued; a visitor in this realm was a rare event as he hasn't figured it out how to invite someone else into this realm.

Lucias smiled, finally feeling a spark of interest in this otherwise monotonous place. Having a visitor in this realm felt like entertainment, yet it also meant an opportunity for more knowledge and perhaps new followers.

"I didn't mean to take other people's struggles for granted. But I'm currently bored, so let's hear what story she could tell." Lucias rose from his throne and approached the woman, his steps measured and filled with a sense of regal grace.

The symbol that summoned the woman continued to shine.

"A blazing sun, huh."

Lucias finally stood in front of the kneeling woman.

"Strength, ambition, personal empowerment. It's interesting." Lucias thought inside as he analyze the meaning of this blazing sun symbol.

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Author's note : Hello my dear readers. As always, if you read this note, I want to say thank you so much. I'm late like usual on the schedule updated. I'm very sorry for you guys that waiting for the new chapter.

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter^^

You know, I'm quite struggle to presented this chapter as there are many things that I changed from the original draft. There's a lot of things going on in this chapter as well the presences of higher entity. I wonder if any of you could guess what's their role for future scenario, hmmm.

I want to add a short Trivia :

1. A Blazing Sun, which a name of the symbol engraved in one of the twelve seat in the Lucias realm. It has meaning related to inner desires for power, ambition, and personal empowerment. The seat order is No.6 from the throne. The seat now belong to Lionheart(Rosaline).

2. The being that Lionheart encounter are wildly known as Lord of The Seas. There are not many information related to that mysterious being. The councils from Federation of Altria has consider this entity as world threat classification. Which the highest label they had related to their national security.

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I think that's for today. If you found any typo or inconsistency please let me know.

I might release another chapter within this week and also this chapter does not include the usual poem on author's thought section because it seem nobody read it HA HA HA.

Adios my dear!