5. Refuge

Madakos had fled on the open sea heading towards the ‘Continent of Death’ to the west. The seas were choppy and generally awful, but the two ships were powered through the air and sea through Zira, hurtling through the waves, now they could go even faster, but Madakos made sure the voyage was stable as well as quick, not daring to go too much faster than his voyage to the desert continent had been.

“These ships are made of wood!” Hunila said, “remember that.”

“Thank you for the reminder,” Madakos said quietly and sarcastically, receiving a few stares, he knew she was right, it was a spontaneous remark without much thought behind it.

He had added another construct to a total of 5, 4 golden crystals pulsated around a purple one on each construct, generating 10 million Zira a second. The Ena clan members all looked astounded at the thing of power, whispering; but the Esim clan, all 15 of them were outright stunned into silence.

“Hunila?” Korax asked, “is he your boyfriend?”

“Not yet,” she replied quietly, “Why you asking?”

Korax gave her a good grin, wiping laughter from his eyes, chuckling again at the words she just said. Hunila looked at him discerningly and he shook his head, the nonverbal communication finally ended, Madakos was somewhat oblivious to what was going on, having not heard it.

“It’s not like that, I like the other woman,” Korax finally said.

Hunila immediately chuckled and lifted her eyebrows.

“I think you’re in luck,” she smirked.

Korax smirked, kissing the hilt of his sword and swaggering over to Tamura, who was surprised to see him, impressed by his physicality and even more impressed by his confidence. Madakos looked behind him, only seeing sea monsters, immediately zapping them in purple flames.

“Madakos,” Hunila said putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Yes?” He said, a bit confused, but eroticised by the whole affair.

She stared at him, smirking and then coming closer.

“I can take some of the sea monsters out next time, you don’t always have to do everything.”

Madakos stared at the woman with a wry grin. He could smell attraction, but more importantly he could smell perfume of some sort, or was it pheromones?

“Oh why is that Hunila?”

Her features were godly, wide hips, glittering lilac hair, tits that were now being pressed on his shoulder big enough to be shapely and yet not too big, her butt was worked out, and she was generally toned and muscular. She smirked at his ogling, he was obvious in his affections not just to Hunila but everyone else on the ship.

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“Am I making myself clear?” She asked, smirking at him.

“Loud and clear,” Madakos whispered back, “do you want to do this in front of everyone though?”

She gave a small glance and then looked back at the man. Her sharp eyes glinting in satisfaction and anticipation.

“I think I should begin marking you,” she said, “I see many leering eyes.”

He took some time to formulate a reply also looking ahead to see what was ahead.

“I don’t care for vapid flings, you said before you were almost forced to marry other men. I could have married a village wife and been happy I suppose, but I yearned for more,” Madakos realised he was rambling slightly, Hunila interrupting him with a step back, “I am yours if you are mine. There is no value in many women for me.”

“Oh?” She said, “and how do I know that? Hmmm?”

“I’ve been in survival mode for a long time woman, I can’t prove anything,” he said.

She tutted and walked away. Ultimately other shadow Elf women eyed him up, hunger in their eyes. There were only two Esim women, looking up at him, but he politely refused them. He focused on the task ahead of him. Breaking through waves, and outright manipulating the ocean currents they braved through, ploughing through the most atrocious weather conditions. Up ahead there was a storm that looked like it would dissect both boats into tiny pieces; Madakos glided through, giant rogue waves were ploughed through without much trouble, the Shadow Elves all stood agape at him. Muscly women paid him attention, attempting to touch him, but he extricated himself from the situation politely. Storms and rocky waves made some crew fall over, stormy seas produced ocean spray that would have almost certainly killed most other adventurers that went this way.

“The Continent of Death, is more accessible from the north,” one of the Elders said, “I hear that’s how some Necromancers venture there, but we’re going from the southern route.”

An elder of the Ena clan noticed the interested women, but zeroed in on Madakos. Madakos smiled and nodded, he was indeed heading toward the southern route, over treacherous waters precisely because they were treacherous.

“If only we can venture past these waters, then it will mean less likelihood of people or worse following us.”

Madakos filled a flask full of water and drank it, quenching his parched throat.

“I see,” the elder said, “tell me, do you like any of the women?”

Madakos coughed a little, looking at the discerning elder with surprise at the direction of his questioning.

What a wily old man, he is adept at reading my facial expressions. Am I that obvious? Or is he that good? Or did someone tell him?

The truth was that it was that Hunila was the most obvious but with Madakos second guessing he didn’t quite realise.

“Yes,” Madakos smirked at the old man, the old man smirking back at him.

Madakos choosing to be honest made the man give a wry chuckle as he sat back down, and talked with his wife; no doubt about the direction of the Shadow Elves, Zira and intermarriage between Shadow Elf and a human. After probably 100s of kilometres of diabolically treacherous waters, the water’s became calm. It was night time, and the two ships slowed down and docked at a small island. Mooring the two ships on the little land mass was common sense, they had spent a whole day of travelling and it was best if the three Zira users could get some sleep and restock their supplies for the following day. With the Zira they could produce all the fresh water they could need or want, which they did. Immediately a few huts were constructed. Hunila not only made a house, but also made a large hot tub, looking eagerly at him. His 5 super constructs were augmented to 6, her 1 became 2, the super constructs that produced 10 million Zira a second were put in a safe place at the centre of their makeshift village. The infinite magic had allowed Hunila to make silks while they journeyed; silk like bedding, clothing, a secret Shadow Elf technique which apparently used fresh water, all tucked neatly in a corner in their small house. The island had been segmented, and even augmented by magic, earth created by felling trees, burning and growing trees again. Food, water, juice was created, they created a lot of supplies for their future journey, for now they rested. Hunila eagerly approached Madakos, her shirt covered in her own sweat, his too. Near their new hot tub.