As months drifted by, Captain Danka's merchant ship continued its journey, steadily approaching the shores of Freelandia.

The vast expanse of the sea stretched out in every direction, its azure waves dancing under the warm sunlight.

Its wooden hull showcased the wear and tear of the relentless ocean, and the billowing sails bore patches from past repairs.

Yet, despite its battle scars, the vessel maintained its sturdy and seaworthy nature, a testament to the skill and resilience of its crew.

Within the ship's modest quarters, the baby Dante sat across from the young and knowledgeable Trela Jundrae.

Marvia, having granted permission, had loved the idea of Dante spending time with the little Trela.

The room was adorned with maps and charts, giving the space an air of exploration and discovery.

Trela sitting up on a chair in front of Dante, began the examination with an air of seriousness.

"Shall we begin? I hope all that studying we did wasn't for nothing."

Dante reclined on the bed and still not able to stand and now able to speak the Marialian Language.

"Yeah. Yeah. I'm ready. You know this. I've been able to speak the language quite a bit now."

Trela smirked. "That's because you got a great teacher."

She then started quizzing Dante on the intricacies of Marialian grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure.

Dante responded with growing confidence, showcasing his understanding of the language as he formed coherent sentences and provided accurate translations.

Impressed by Dante's progress, Trela moved on to the next subject.

"Now, let's test your knowledge of the world, Dante. All right, breakdown the basics of the world's Geography."

Dante paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before responding.

"Well, that's easy. The world is called Gomorrah. And it's shaped like a Diamond? There are four Diaspheres that each have large isolated continents of their own that you can only access through the ocean. The Diaspheres are Phir, Ravi, Philis... and Men's."

Trela's head tilted and she asked, "And why is that?"

Dante answered, "Because the four of them are separated by an impassible cross-shaped supercontinent with unsurvivable mountain ranges, called the Burning Cross."

"Excellent, Dante. And what are the four races of Mankind?"

Dante thought hard and said, "Trick question. There are five. Humans, Elves, Beastmen, Demons, and the fifth are Dwarves. Dwarves come from a different ancestry but are still considered part of Mankind."

Trela jumped up and patted the baby Dante on the head. "Correct! You really are a fast learner!"

Dante blushed, and was slightly happy for the praise. "What about you? How come you're so smart for your age?"

"I told you. I just am. Maybe I'm just a genius. Anyway, next is the Holy System. Care to show me your progress?"

"I've been practicing its basics, but it's so annoying that I have to hide it from Marvia. And is it really that rare for someone to not need a physical conduit like a book to use the Holy System?"

Trela nodded, her expression turning serious.

"Dante. Don't speak about the Holy System that way! That is blasphemy. I told you. The Holy System blesses us with everything we have in life. It is the source of everything and iIt is everything at the same time. You, me, and every living being is part of the Holy System."

"Yeah. I get it." Dante rolled his eyes. "The Holy System is some like God in this universe. You don't have to repeat it, again and again."

"You may not be convinced yet, but the Holy System loves you, Dante. And It has a reason for why you are here. And why you are still alive! And the Holy System allows us to tap into its unlimited power and energies. All you need to do is believe."

Trela winked at him.

"Now. Show me your faith, Dante. Let's see what you can-"

SMASH! The glass window broke. A metal hook shatters the glass.

SMASH! More noise and shouting could be heard from outside.

Dante and Trela crawled to the door to avoid getting hit by more debris, and they peeked out the door.

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There were twenty winged pirates holding long spears, and pointing them at the ship's crew.

Gasps and shouts echoed through the air as the crew members scrambled to the deck, their faces awash with alarm.

Dante, whose eyes pierced into the chaos, had burned into his eyes the sight of the the Avianborn Pirates.

They were a subrace of Beastmen, who had human faces but animalistic limbs.

Instead of ordinary arms and legs, the Avianborn possessed avian wings and talons.

These wings were formidable flight assets, with wingspans ranging from twice to three times their own height.

Covered in a combination of feathers and leathery membranes, these biological features allowed the Avianborn to move with a grace and agility and had dominance in the skies.

"Dante! Come here! Hide!" Trella whispered. "They're Claws. It's nothing to worry about. My father, Captain Danka will handle it."

Dante closed his eyes and focused his thoughts, feeling the energy within him.

"Marvia. I need to make sure, my mother is safe. She might be in danger."

[Scripture of the Holy System]

Slowly, he extended his hand to the sky, and a faint shimmering glow enveloped his palm.

Trela held his face with both her hands.

"Dante. Don't! Marvia is going to be alright. If anything, those Claws, are the ones in danger. Don't you know who your mother is?"

"I don't care. I'm not letting anyone harm her."

The air crackled with electricity as sparks danced across his fingertips, showcasing his connection to the Holy System.

Trela observed with awe as this was not normal, especially for a Novice in the faith.

Captain Danka was at the helm, and two Avianborn had grabbed his arms. And disarmed him.

"Kneel!" one of the winged pirates kicked him down to the floor.

Captain Danka was forced to look up.

BAM!

An Avianborn landed in front of the Captain.

His wings were white and majestic. He had feathers like a Mane, and had a handsome human face.

And he had hawk eyes that could see vast distances.

He slowly walked toward Danka, and extended his giant winged arms to observe his face.

Captain Danka remained steadfast, "What is this, Kiksaron? You want a kiss or something?"

Kiksaron slammed his taloned foot over Danka's head and pushed his face to the wooden deck of the ship.

"It's nothing, Captain... Danka... And that's Captain Featherbane to you. Can't an Avianborn just visit a Marialian friend, without being given prejudice."

The Avianborn pirates all over the ship had held the whole crew hostage.

And gathered all of them at the deck of the ship.

Though, they didn't bother going inside the ship's quarters.

"You know the Treaty, Captain Featherbane. This merchant vessel is under the protection of the Beastman Confederacy. We pay them a huge portion of our profits for peace and protection from you. And if you step, one talon inside the ships' quarters, they will know you broke the Treaty."

Kiksaron released Danka from his talons, and let him stand up.

"What are you talking about? This? This is just a patrol. We, the Kiksaron Pirates are at your service- you featherless rat!"

Kiksaron punched him in the stomach. "Now listen here!" He grabbed Danka's hair.

"Two moonturns ago, there was a beacon of light on Limbo Shoal. We are looking for the one's responsible for it. They cast an Umbral Dominion that covered the whole sky with shadows. It would do you good to tell me here and now, if they are aboard this ship, Captain Danka."

Danka looked straight into Kiksaron's falconine gaze.

"If I tell you, will you let us go?"

"That's good, my featherless friend. Where are they?"

Captain Danka walked away and headed to the door of the quarters.

He saw Dante and Trela peeking from the other door.

And took care not to let the pirates notice them.

"Trela, why is your father cooperating with the Pirates? He is headed to Marvia's room? That bastard. He is gonna turn my mother in!"

Trella held Dante down and covered his mouth.

Captain Danka went inside the quarters.

Dante's eyes burned with rage.

[Scripture of the Classless]

[Holy Smite Denied]

"What! Kill that traitor!" Dante shouted.

He kept trying to cast [Holy Smite] on Captain Danka.

Trela pulled him away from the door. "What are you doing? Are you trying to get us all killed?"

"Why won't the Holy System let me kill him!"

"That is because your heart and soul are not right with the Holy System. It is not part of the Holy System's will for you to kill my father. And just watch. Okay? Have faith in my father. Have faith in the Captain of this ship."

Trela's eyes watered in tears as she held down Dante and peeked at the door.

Captain Danka opened the door, and brought with him a large map.

He closed the door behind him and walked toward Kiksaron who was smirking arrogantly.

"Well?"

Danka spread the map with both arms and pointed a port in the nation of Sylvanalia.

"When we were docked in Sylvanalia, that beacon of light was all everyone was talking about. A friend of mine told me that they saw a Regalith with a golden staff on the ship that came from Limbo Shoal at that time. The ship is still docked there."

Kiksaron stared the Captain down heavily.

"A Regalith? With a golden staff? You mean the snobby Nob Novario Blazekar? You're not lying to me are you? I can kill all of you. Right here and now."

"I swear to you. On my life and my whole family's. I am speaking the truth."

Avianborn were specially gifted with their eyesight.

And they had a talent for reading body language.

With their hawk-eyes they are able to see every change and small detail of a person they are talking to.

"You aren't lying." Kiksaron smiled. "Well. There is only really one way to find out. I'm taking you with us. And if that Nob Mage isn't their in Sylvanalia. You are dead."

An Avianborn dragged Captain Danka with both of its taloned claws and carried him up to the sky.

"Men! We leave for Sylvanalia. They must be getting help from the Mystics! Come!"

The Avianborn Pirates and Kiksaron flapped their gigantic and majestic wings and left for the sky in seconds, and headed East.

Trela walked out the door and fell to the floor.

She cried knowing that might have been the last time she would see her Father.

Dante realized what had happened and crawled out, helpless.

He watched as the Avianborn flew away with Trela's father, who he tried to kill just now.

He reached out his hand to the sky and cried, "Holy System! Please! Help me! Save Captain Danka!"

[Holy Smite Denied]

He watched as Trela scratched the wooden floor and looked at him with sorrowful eyes.

[Holy Smite Denied]

"FUCK! They are getting away! HOLY SMITE!"

[Holy Smite Denied]

Marvia ran out to the two of them.

Captain Danka had made her promise to never reveal herself no matter what happened.

Marvia hugged Trela and Dante who were wallowing in their helplessness.

Dante struggled out of Marvia's embrace.

"Why! Why am I so weak! Why won't the Holy System let me save him! I'm going to be stronger. I won't loose anyone anymore. I'm going to be strong-"

Marvia invoked a prayer that made Dante fall asleep.

And Trela hugged Marvia and Dante, as the ship's crew did their best to move the ship to safety as soon as possible.