บท 59: The Things We Do For Love

Above the great Steanu Sea, a massive shadow covered a part of the sea, blocking the sunlight from reaching the blue surface below. The shadow moved steadily through the high white clouds, heading north toward the Kederawen Kingdom.

The Steanu Sea, the southwestern sea where Moxi Island is located, was known for its beauty and mystery. It contained countless islands, some well-known and others not so much. Among them was the archipelago that formed the Nation of Lefia, famous for its vibrant coral reefs and maritime wonders. The Lefia Kingdom thrived on its exports of sea magic ingredients and coral, which were used mostly in alchemy and potion-making.

As the clouds began to part, the source of the shadow got revealed, two massive airships emerged from the sea of clouds, continuing their journey across the sky. These airships seemed like dragons soaring through the heavens.

The first airship, dark blue in color, stretched three hundred meters long and had a sculpted eagle at its front. It appeared empty, with no visible crew on board. A thick rope connected it to the second airship, which was leading the way.

This second airship was even larger, over four hundred meters long. Unlike its companion, this ship resembled the traditional sea vessels, complete with two towering masts and expansive sails on both sides. The sails, freshly replaced, bore a striking image of the sun, glowing brightly against the silver hue of the ship. The ship itself, though old and weathered, had been meticulously repainted, giving it a renewed sense of purpose.

At the top of the tallest mast, a young man stood there watching the horizon with a sense of anticipation, the wind tousling his short black hair. His eyes, a deep green with a fiery orange hue at their center, as if a flame was burning inside his eyes. This young man was none other than Aiden.

It had been five days since Aiden left Moxi Island, and the excitement of traveling through this new world and discovering new places filled him with an excitement he hadn't felt in a long time. Though he kept a calm face, inside he was thrilled to be on this journey. Having spent the last six months on Moxi Island, the prospect of exploring the big continent and experiencing the world beyond was truly thrilling.

"This ship is really amazing," Aiden said to himself, a small smile on his lips. "Old man Charles really knew how to surprise me, even after his death."

The ship, which Aiden had named Aeliana, was an ancient airship that Charles had hidden on Moxi Island before his journey to the flying island. Before his death, Charles had entrusted Aiden with a ring, the key to activating the ship. Aiden chose the name Aeliana, a Latin name meaning "sun," which he felt was fitting for the ship. He had replaced the old sails, repainted the entire vessel, and painted a large sun design on on the front and side sails.

Satisfied with the view, Aiden decided it was time to head back down. He grasped the rope attached to the mast and swung down to the deck with ease. The ship was quiet; it was still early, and most of the people had not yet awakened. Deciding to take advantage of the peaceful morning, Aiden made his way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

The ship was enormous, capable of accommodating a thousand people, and it was easy to get lost in its vast corridors. But Aiden knew his way around, and soon enough, he reached the kitchen.

"Yo, Aiden, how are you doing?" a voice called out from behind.

Aiden turned to see Alex, who had also made his way to the kitchen. Alex was dressed casually in a black t-shirt and blue pants, his usual attire during their journey. Over the past five days, Aiden had come to realize that Alex, a former knight, was rather laid-back, spending most of his time lounging around and doing pretty much nothing.

Aiden didn't mind Alex's presence, as the man wasn't a nuisance and generally kept to himself. The reason Alex had joined Aiden's journey was simple: he was an adventurer from the Kederawen Kingdom and had asked to accompany them since they were headed in the same direction. With two large airships at their disposal, Aiden and the others had no reason to refuse.

As they entered the large dining hall, they found it empty, with no one else awake yet. Aiden went straight to the kitchen, starting to prepare his breakfast, while Alex went through the refrigerator for something to eat. Aiden focused on making some fried eggs and fresh orange juice, ignoring Alex as he went about his own business.

When Aiden first arrived in this world, he was surprised to find that many of the tools he was familiar with from Earth had been recreated here, such as ovens, refrigerators, coffee machines, and microwaves. The main difference was that instead of electricity, these devices were powered by magic stones. By now, Aiden had grown accustomed to these magical machines and used them as easily as he had used their Earthly counterparts.

As the smell of breakfast filled the air, more people began to make their way to the dining hall. Soon, the room was filled with the sounds of conversation and laughter as the twelve people aboard the ship, including Aiden, gathered to eat together.

Aiden watched the scene with a small, contented smile. Despite his initial reluctance, he found himself enjoying the company of his newfound friends. The camaraderie that had developed among them made the journey more enjoyable.

"Sigh, how did I get here?" Aiden thought, a hint of amusement in his expression. "Well, at least it will be more interesting than before."

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[6 days ago]

It had been a day since Lora had been reunited with her grandfather, and now preparations were underway for their return to the Kederawen Kingdom. This time, Aiden would be accompanying them, as his mission to track down Riss would take him there.

Over the past few days, Aiden had gathered important information thanks to Seath, a former member of the Fifteen Nameless Titans. Now, sitting in the backyard of the mansion, Aiden, Eldric, Dian Long, and Seath were discussing their next steps.

One of the most critical pieces of information they had was that the person who had hired the Black Market Alliance was someone from the Kederawen Kingdom, a person who held a high position within the kingdom. This had initially shocked Eldric, but as he pieced together the puzzle, he realized that only someone within the kingdom could have known the path Lora and her team would take.

"Seems like I need to clean the palace and find the people responsible for this," Eldric said, his voice filled with determination. "Betraying the kingdom to work with the Black Market Alliance is an unforgivable act."

Dian Long nodded in agreement. "You must find out how the spy inside the kingdom is contacting the Black Market Alliance. We also need to locate Riss as soon as possible. Letting him continue his schemes could lead to a disaster we won't be able to handle later."

Seath scoffed. "Hmph. You don't need to worry about Riss. He's nothing more than a coward who always hides behind the alliance leader."

Aiden frowned. "What are you talking about? The coward you are talking about is the man who almost killed you. Although that idiot seemed to fear me, I didn't see any cowardice in his eyes when we fought."

Seath crossed his arms, his expression serious ut also showing annoyance. "Hmph... He just tricked me and ambushed me. Also, are you sure we're talking about the same guy? The Riss I know is nothing more than a coward who acts as a messenger between the alliance leader and the other titans."

Dian Long shook his head, his voice firm. "Impossible! The Riss I know from my memories would never lower himself to something as trivial as a messenger. There must be something wrong."

Aiden's eyes narrowed as he considered the possibility. "Wait a minute... Are you saying that there's something different about the Riss we met and the Riss you know?"

Dian Long nodded. "There must be. The Riss we encountered was a fearless, cold, and proud demonic dragon who would never act cowardly."

Seath looked puzzled. "Wait... you said Riss is a demonic dragon? We always thought he was human. Even the alliance leader introduced him as a human when we first met him."

Eldric's expression grew even more serious. "Something is definitely wrong here... This Riss is hiding something, even from the Black Market Alliance itself. He seems to have some hidden agenda. First, we need to find the spy so we can use them to find the alliance and infiltrate their group. Only then can we uncover Riss' plans and stop whatever disaster he might be planning."

Dian Long agreed. "That's a good plan."

Aiden nodded, his resolve firm. "As long as we find Riss, I'm in."

But Seath's response was unexpected. "I refuse."

The three of them—Aiden, Dian Long, and Eldric—turned to Seath in surprise. His refusal was unexpected, and it was clear he wasn't excited about the plan. Dian Long's smile faded as he spoke.

"It seems you've forgotten your place, wolf. You're nothing more than a prisoner here, providing us with information. We may have given you some freedom and even an arm, but that's because we need you to help destroy the alliance, and nothing more."

Seath's gaze hardened. "I don't care what you think or what you've done for me. I can give you this arm back—I don't need it. But I'll tell you this: I have more important things to do, and I'm leaving."

Dian Long's anger flared. "Who do you think you're talking to, you idiot wolf?!"

But before he could say more, Eldric interjected calmly. "You can go."

Aiden looked at Eldric, surprised by his decision. Even Seath seemed taken aback, unsure why Eldric would let him leave so easily.

Eldric smiled, his demeanor calm and collected. "Don't be so surprised, my boy. Sometimes, we need to forgive when we have the chance. Besides, it seems the alliance is after someone important to him, isn't that right?"

Dian Long frowned in confusion, while Seath's eyes widened slightly. "How did you know?"

Eldric's smile widened slightly. "You kept mentioning her name before you completely lost consciousness."

Seath abruptly stood up, looking at Aiden before turning to leave. He paused at the door, his voice quiet as he spoke. "I'll repay the debt of healing me, old man."

With that, Seath disappeared from the mansion, leaving the others behind.

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Aiden looked at Eldric, still puzzled by his actions. "Old man, why did you let him go?"

Dian Long, equally confused, asked, "Yes... Considering how protective you are of your granddaughter, how could you forgive the one who kidnapped her? He even killed your people."

Eldric didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gazed up at the sky, a thoughtful expression on his face. He raised his cup of tea and took a sip before finally speaking.

"Do you know how much love can change someone?" Eldric asked, his voice filled with quiet wisdom. "Even the cruelest person can become nothing more than a docile lamb because of love."

Aiden frowned, not fully understanding. "What do you mean by this?"

Eldric sighed, his gaze softening as he thought about Seath. "The things we do for love are immeasurable."