Seren sat quietly as he read his book, when suddenly a sharp, blaring siren cut through the air. He looked up and noticed a large, sleek ship pulling into the port from the far end of the river, its dark hull gleaming against the sunlight. “Looks like our ride is here,” he said, closing his book and glancing at the others.
The group, who had been half-heartedly flipping through the reading materials Seren insisted they study, exchanged relieved looks. Emma, practically vibrating with excitement, grabbed Seren’s arm. “Finally! I thought we’d be stuck studying forever!”
As the ship docked, a line quickly formed along the walkway, growing with mostly Lexarchs getting ready to board. Seren and his friends joined the line, observing the impressive vessel up close. Unlike the common ships that traveled the river, this one was well-maintained and even stylish, with polished railings and freshly painted hulls, a clear sign of its affiliation with the Lexarch Academy.
Emma’s eyes widened as they boarded, taking in the ship’s high ceilings and spacious design. The floor was tiled in marble, and the polished woodwork gleamed with a reddish sheen. “Whoa!” she breathed, sounding every bit like a kid in a candy store. “This place is huge!”
Elise nodded, equally captivated. “You can actually see your reflection on the floor,” she said, nudging Emma with a grin.
Susie was just as amazed. Although she’d been on ships before, this was in an entirely different class. Compared to the cramped, rusting vessels she’d taken in the past, this ship looked pristine, even luxurious. “I didn’t even know ships could look like this,” she admitted, glancing around with wide eyes.
Then, a waiter approached them, dressed crisply in a black vest and tie, holding a tray of brightly colored drinks. “Would the young ladies care for some complimentary refreshments?” he asked with a polite bow.
“Wait, it’s…free?” Susie asked, taken aback. Her mind flashed to the commoner ships, where even a glass of water was charged at an exorbitant rate.
The waiter gave a pleasant, almost sympathetic chuckle. “Indeed, miss. It’s an academy ship for Lexarchs—quite different from those other vessels.”
Emma, Susie, and Elise each took a glass, sipping the cold, fruity drinks with pleased smiles.
Behind them, Lorien was watching Finn with growing exasperation. Finn, glass of wine in hand, was leaning against the railing in what he must have thought was a suave pose, flashing a confident smile at a passing woman nearly twice his age. “Well, hello there,” he was saying, in a voice that sounded like he’d practiced it in front of a mirror.
Lorien shook his head, muttering to Kai, “Never mind—don’t even ask. Look at him trying to be ‘Mister Mysterious.’ How long do you think until she slaps him?”
Kai laughed. “Knowing Finn? Ten seconds, tops.”
Meanwhile, Emma motioned for Susie and Elise to follow her. “Come on! Let’s see more of the ship! There has to be something amazing on board!”
As they started to leave, Elise turned back to Seren, who was watching the group with his usual calm. “We’ll be back. Try not to have too much fun without us” she teased.
Seren chuckled lightly. “Enjoy yourselves, and try not to get lost.”
After Elise and the team left to go about their business, Seren drifted through the hum of the ship’s deck, his mind half-occupied with the quiet rhythm of the river around them. He then spotted a waiter with a tray of drinks. He took a glass of water and struck up a conversation.
“So,” Seren began casually, “how long have you been working on ships like this?”
The waiter smiled politely. “Quite a few years now, sir. Time flies when you’re on the river, watching travelers come and go.”
Seren nodded thoughtfully, “I couldn’t help but wonder—how does this ship handle the current? The Crystal Heart River runs fast, especially this time of year. I know the current flows north to south, so how does a vessel like this push upstream so steadily?”
The waiter blinked in mild surprise, then gave a nod of approval. “Sharp eye, sir. Not many Lexarchs pay mind to how things work beneath the surface, but you’re absolutely right. With currents this powerful, ordinary ships would struggle. This vessel, though—it’s crafted from a special wood known for resisting water current.” He motioned to the stern, where a great hull curved outward, cutting through the water with ease. “The wood itself deters Law beasts, making it ideal for these waters. But as for what propels it? That’s a secret of the capital, Elysium. Only a handful of artisans know how to create artifacts and materials that drive these ships.”
“Elysium…” Seren murmured, holding the name in his mind as a fresh wave of questions brewed. He had only been curious to know the extent of the technology of this world, but the capital city of Elysium had been surfacing around him way too often, almost as if it were purposely coming into his path. First the growing tension between the Ravens and Enforcers over the consortium from the Elysium, then the relic artifacts and advanced mechanics like this ship, all originating from the same mysterious city.
He thanked the waiter and moved to the edge of the deck, lost in thought as he gazed at the flowing river. He felt a prickle of unease, as a memory surfaced in his mind.
Seren’s thoughts drifted back to the house where he’d first seen the man he now called “The lynched figure.” He couldn’t shake the sense that the homeless man who’d guided him to Glowhaven had met the same fate—suicide. As he rubbed his temples, a sharp, stabbing pain struck his head, like a thousand needles piercing his skull.
His expression grew darker as he thought, ‘Every time I think of that lynched figure, this pain hits. This isn’t a normal memory’ he thought, gritting his teeth as he fought against the pain. ‘This feels more like an attack—one that is clearly directed towards me’
This pain was far too specific to be coincidental.
‘It has to be someone from the religious circles of this world’s gods. But if they wanted me dead, they wouldn’t stop at mere harassment’
He was certain that it had to be the doing of a high-ranking Lexarch with considerable skill from one of the religious circles. And if that were true, the implications were troubling. They were his biggest enemies standing between him and his mission. The influence of some powerful religious faction was clearly targeting him, but Seren couldn’t fathom why they would attack him so indirectly, why they wouldn’t simply kill him outright.
His mind raced, recalling the strange priest who’d approached him in the night. The priest knew of his mission but didn’t show hostility towards him; instead, he seemed... defeated.
‘Realistically, they must know of my presence here. They could have stopped me by now, but somehow, they haven’t done so... There are only 2 people who know about my identity and can reach me, the mysterious priest who visited me at night and most likely the lynched figure as well. They don’t seem to have any intention of harming me at the moment. The priest took a neutral stance so I don’t need to worry about him. And as for the lynched figure…’ He had been thinking for some time about what the lynched figure wanted from him but there were no clues for him to go off.
Seren’s fingers tightened around the glass of water he held. ‘Okay, so let me sort through what I’m certain of: First, the religious figures here likely know I exist. Second, they harbor a clear hostility toward me. Third, it seems most don’t yet know my location—or at least haven’t closed in on me for some reason. And lastly…’ Seren’s eyes narrowed as he arrived at a firm conclusion, ‘They’re restricted in some way. If they could act freely, I’d be dead already by now’
Thinking of this, he drained the rest of his glass in one steady gulp. The ship jolted slightly as its engines roared to life, and the vessel eased into motion. Seren turned his gaze back to the river, lost in a mix of uncertainty and trepidation.
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He glanced down at the water below, the dark ripples cutting through his reflection. ‘There’s too many things I’m still in the dark about. I need to take advantage of the fact that they can’t act freely right now. Finding that priest is the best option to learning more about the state of religions in this world’ he thought. ‘The books at the academy mentioned nothing about any religion except for how ‘the Heavens betrayed the world’ and were cast out. But there was no detail on what they did or how people even managed such an impossible feat. It’s like a fairy tale’
A flicker of movement caught his eye. Across the deck, Emma was waving to him, grinning like she’d just found buried treasure. “Come on, Seren! Don’t just stand there looking all mysterious—join us!”
With a soft smile, he started toward her. In his mind he silently resolved himself, ‘I’ll have to begin with investigating the homeless man’s death first to get some clues on the lynched figure’
Lorien sidled up to Seren, noticing his intense expression. "You look like you’re plotting to take down an empire," he said with a smirk.
Seren shrugged as he replied, “Oh, just thinking about how to avoid more ‘friendly’ fights with the locals. Maybe if I look serious enough, they’ll think twice about picking on me.”
Lorien chuckled. "Good luck with that.”
...
The journey over the river was smooth, and within an hour, the ship had docked on the opposite shore. Seren stood on the deck as he studied the village stretched along the riverbank. It was a long but narrow settlement, the village formed a line parallel to the shore, and part of it extended out over the water where homes rose from anchored foundations, swaying gently with the water’s current. The front of the village was dedicated to fishing, with small docks filled with fishermen hauling nets and preparing boats, while traders bustled around, exchanging goods with the locals.
Behind the village, the land had been transformed into farmland that spread across tens of acres. Neat rows of crops filled the fields, stretching toward the mountainside in orderly patterns. Beyond the farmland was a dense forest which blanketed the mountain’s base and stretched up its rocky slopes. Unlike the first peak, this mountain’s base was three times as wide and was surrounded by massive root structures that grew along the cliffside.
Seren and the group stepped off onto the wooden pier, the boards creaking softly beneath their feet. Ahead, the village stretched out, its activity bustling with life. As they began their walk toward the village, Elise paused, craning her neck to look at the towering mountain behind the settlement.
“It’s massive,” she said, her voice tinged with awe. “Looking at it from this angle, it makes me feel like an ant.”
Seren teased as he said, “Try not to trip while staring. That’d make you even smaller than an ant.” He said with a grin.
Elise huffed at the comment, but her gaze lingered on the mountain’s sheer cliffs and the dense forest climbing its slopes.
The group entered the village, where life moved with a natural rhythm. Fishermen hauled in nets at the docks, and children ran barefoot between the wooden platforms, some holding small, glowing jars that seemed to contain fireflies. Villagers bustled between houses and market stalls, trading preserved fish, wild herbs, and rough tools fashioned from riverstone.
Finn expression turned to that of excitement as he pointed to a page on the book, “It says here that gloom crawlers like dark or shaded areas. We’re gonna have to find somewhere that fits the description.”
Kai nodded in agreement. “As for the location, I can help with that. According to the map that I requested from my family, section 24 of the second peak has caves and dense forest. There’s a high chance we will be able to find them there.”
Seren’s interest piqued. “Your family has maps of the second peak?” he asked. “I went around half the shops looking for one, but they were all either vague or from unreliable sources”
Kai gave a small smile. “That’s because the map isn’t for sale. It’s something my family keeps for personal use.”
Hearing this, Susie frowned slightly. “Why would they keep something like that private? Wouldn’t it be better to sell it? It could help other Lexarchs in their missions and even save their lives”
Kai fell silent as he hesitated a little to answer but then Seren spoke in a thoughtful tone. “That’s because whoever has the most accurate information has the advantage in completing missions. That means the family that monopolizes this information will have an edge over the other families that may be lacking. It’s also a way to entice other Lexarchs to join their ranks, strengthening the family while keeping the competitors weak.”
Seren turned to Kai with a sly smile. “Am I wrong?”
Kai scratched the back of his head, laughing awkwardly. “No hiding from you, Seren.”
He then adjusted his voice as he said. “The three major families are always competing for power. This kind of thing is just how it works.”
Elise tilted her head curiously. “If the families are competitive then wouldn’t that cause problems for children from the major families? You and Lorien are from different families, but you two are still close.”
Lorien joined the conversation, his usual laid-back tone carrying a hint of pride. “That might’ve been true in the past when the competition between the families was more cutthroat. But things changed once the number of mid and small-sized families started to grow. The three major families made an agreement to divide control over Chimera Vale so we wouldn’t waste resources fighting each other and risk letting another family rise.”
He gestured as he spoke. “The Valorheart family oversees the BPS—they’re responsible for protecting the village from Law Beasts and external threats. My family, the Ashbournes, oversees the Enforcers, making sure the village’s laws are upheld.”
Elise seemed intrigued, nodding as she processed the information. Then, almost hesitantly, she asked, “What about my family? The Frostshades?”
Lorien’s expression grew more serious as he turned to her. “Unlike the Valorhearts and the Ashbournes, your family doesn’t control manpower. They control information. They oversee all the intel that flows through Chimera Vale. If you get on their bad side, you’re not just facing a single enemy; you’re facing someone who can manipulate the very narrative around you. They can turn allies into foes and twist truths into lies. That’s why, out of all the families, the Frostshades are arguably the worst to cross. Their control over information gives them an edge that can topple even the strongest of forces.”
Elise’s eyes widened slightly, unsure whether to feel pride or apprehension at knowing that the Frostshade family was this strong.
Lorien continued, “In the end, these three families developed this system to keep each other in check. And by maintaining this balance, they make sure no fourth force rises through the ranks. It’s not perfect as some of the Lexarchs from the older generation still get into fights with each other but it’s kept things stable for now.”
Susie puffed out her cheeks in frustration, her eyes darting between Lorien and Kai as they explained the intricacies of the three major families. “Ugh, all this talk about politics and power struggles—it’s way too complicated for me!” she exclaimed, throwing up her hands in exasperation.
Kai glanced back, a faint smile on his face. “It’s not that simple. Families like ours have a lot of history. That makes things… complicated.”
“I’m serious!” Susie pouted. “Why does everything have to be about power and alliances? Can’t people just, I don’t know, get along?”
Seren chuckled, his expression softening as he teased, “You’ve got a good point, but if everyone got along, what would we argue about? The weather?”
Susie’s cheeks flushed as she looked at Seren. “Are you making fun of me, Seren?”
“Only a little,” Seren replied with a grin.
Emma, walking beside them with her hands clasped behind her back, giggled. “I think sister Susie just doesn’t like thinking about boring grown-up stuff”
“Exactly!” Susie exclaimed. She gave Emma’s hair a playful ruffle, earning a squeak of protest. “Hehe, you’re the only one who understands me, Emma”
Emma puffed up her chest proudly, skipping ahead a few steps. “Of course! I’m the smartest one here!”
The group chuckled a little and then suddenly Susie’s attention was caught by a small market stall selling brightly colored scarves. Her eyes lit up. “Oh, look at those,” she said. “Let’s go check them out!”
Seren slowed to glance back. “Don’t take too long. We’ll keep going but catch up soon, okay?”
“Got it,” Susie replied before tugging on Emma and Elise’s sleeves. “Come on, let’s check this out for a minute.”
The boys continued ahead as the girls browsed the small market. Susie reached out to touch a soft, silken scarf, running her fingers over the fabric. “It’s so smooth,” she murmured.
Elise crossed her arms, glancing over the stall’s wares. “Not bad, but we shouldn’t linger too long.”
Emma crouched down to look at some carved animals displayed on a lower shelf. “These are so cute,” she said with a wide-eyed smile.
Emma tugged on Susie’s sleeve, pointing at a trinket stall nearby. “What about that one? They’ve got little glass animals!”
“Ooh, let’s see!” Susie replied, already heading toward the stall.
As she turned a corner, Susie accidentally bumped hard into someone. She stumbled back, letting out a small yelp. “Ah! Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
Her words faltered as she looked up, her breath catching in her throat.
The man she’d bumped into was tall and broad, his scarred face twisted into a sneer. Behind him stood a gang of ten similarly rough-looking men, their tattered clothes and intimidating stances marking them as troublemakers.
The man’s gaze dragged over Susie like a predator sizing up prey, lingering in ways that made her skin crawl. His lips curled into a crooked grin, revealing yellowed, uneven teeth. “Well, well,” he drawled, his voice low and coarse. “What do we have here? A little bird who doesn’t know how to watch where she’s going.”
Susie flinched slightly at the man's words.
The man laughed in foul manner, "Keke, I think I’m going to enjoy myself very much tonight.”