Sophia's eyes sparkled with excitement as she explored every nook and cranny of the massive ship. Dressed in noblewoman's clothing, she felt a certain sense of privilege and freedom, despite the discomfort of the elaborate attire. Mike, on the other hand, seemed less than thrilled with their current situation.

"Now this is the kind of ship I'm talking about, Mike. Imagine it, our very own crew someday, not made up of slavers but loyal men who crave adventure as much as us!" Sophia exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

"Yeah, wow, so cool, a wooden boat," Mike replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Sophia shot him a playful glare, and their eyes met in a reflection on a nearby polished brass porthole. "Will you stop pouting already? If we didn't put on the clothes, it would have been suspicious and rude. Plus, they're kinda pretty, if a tad bit uncomfortable."

Mike rolled his eyes dramatically. "It's a fucking frilly flashy dress, Sophia. No, I won't be happy about wearing something that turns us into a chandelier. I'm burning this shit when we make it back to land and keeping the gems," he said, his irritation palpable.

Sophia sighed, giving him a pointed look. "You don't have to throw a fit over it, Mike. It's a piece of cloth with some jewels in it, big fucking deal."

"Whatever, let's just head back to the mess hall already. I'm starving," Mike grumbled, clearly eager to change the subject and focus on something more pressing—like food.

The mess hall stretched out before them, bustling with activity as several dozen sailors hurriedly devoured their meals before returning to their duties. Mike and Sophia, with no immediate tasks at hand, seized the opportunity to indulge in the free food.

The offerings predominantly consisted of seafood, a culinary preference they had never particularly favored in their previous life. However, their palate had adapted to the new world, finding a newfound appreciation for the ocean's bounty. The limited variety, dictated by technological constraints such as the absence of refrigeration, compelled most meals to be either consumed fresh or preserved with salt or drying methods, altering their flavors. Yet, here they were, Valicar enthusiastically stuffing her face with dishes she hadn't savored since Earth.

"God, I missed having endless shrimp," Mike said, his enthusiasm evident as he gorged himself on the seafood.

"I hear you, bro. I just wish they had some cheesy biscuits," Sophia lamented, a hint of longing in her voice.

Despite drawing a few curious glances, the sailors refrained from commenting, likely out of fear of offending a noble. Seizing the opportunity, Mike engaged their guard in conversation between bites, an act that was definitely not considered ladylike, but neither twin seemed to care.

"So, what city are we going to make port at?" Mike inquired, his attention briefly diverted as he dismantled another crab.

"Ah, we're heading to the port city of Catitao," the guard replied, his tone respectful despite the informal setting of the mess hall. "We should be arriving within the day, my Lady Norail."

"Catitao, huh? What's it like there?" Sophia asked, intrigued by the prospect of exploring a new city.

"It's an old city with roots dating back to the old kingdom of Kelvidion," the guard explained, his expression thoughtful. "Currently, it belongs to House Landon after a bloody battle with House Norail over a hundred years ago. The city has seen better days, though, plagued by corruption and such."

"Hmm, interesting," Mike murmured, absorbing the information. "Thanks for sharing."

The twins split their focus between the man and their meal, savoring the flavors of the seafood as they listened intently to the guard's explanation.

"Ah, yes, that battle... Why did they, um, fight it again?" Sophia inquired, drawing a raised eyebrow from the guard.

"Well, as you may know, during the unification wars at the founding of the empire, House Norail and House Landon were both descendants of the royal house of Kelvidion. So when the royal family was wiped out, they both tried to claim the throne, only further weakening the Kingdom and ultimately making Kelvidion fall to the empire much sooner than if they had united. After being defeated, both bent the knee, but they have been at each other's throats ever since."

At that moment, a boom echoed from above deck, followed by cries of alarm. Without hesitation, the twins dashed out the door, their hearts pounding with a mixture of fear and determination.

"What the fuck is it now?!" Both twins exclaimed as they rushed onward, their senses on high alert.

"Let's find out, but be ready to call my sword, sis," Mike said, his jaw set with determination.

Valicar burst through the door onto the top deck and was met with a sight straight out of a nightmare. Tentacles, black as night, twisted and writhed around the ship, their ominous presence casting a shadow of terror over the scene. Men scrambled to fend off the monstrous appendages with axes and swords, while others manned the ballistae, desperately trying to fill the beast with bolts. Yet, their efforts seemed futile as the sea monster effortlessly swept men off the deck, dragging them below with bloodcurdling screams.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

"KRAKEN!" The word rang out, sending soldiers into a frenzy of panic while a brave few continued to fight on. The twins stood frozen in shock at the sight of the monstrous creature, its immense form casting a dark shadow over the deck. Despite their knowledge of such beasts, seeing one in person was a chilling experience that left them speechless.

"We have to do something, Soph, or this whole ship is going down," Mike exclaimed, snapping out of his daze and springing into action.

"No argument here," Sophia replied, her voice tinged with urgency. She reached out her hand to summon her magic, but before she could utter a word, a tentacle struck her with incredible force, sending her unenchanted body hurtling into the railing. The impact knocked the wind out of her, leaving her gasping for breath as she struggled to regain her bearings. Another tentacle loomed overhead, poised to strike once more. "Oh, shit!" she cried out, bracing herself for the impending blow.

A brilliant flash of gold erupted before her, catching Sophia's attention as a sword sliced through the tentacle with precision. Standing amidst the chaos was Easton Von White, his golden sword gleaming in the sunlight as if imbued with divine power. "You should retreat to your room, my lady. This is no place for a child," he declared, his voice firm and commanding.

With that, Easton dashed forward, the golden light enveloping him as he engaged the Kraken in battle. He was a whirlwind of steel and light, his movements a mesmerizing display of fluidity and precision. With each graceful strike, he cut through the creature's tentacles, freeing sailors and his ship from the monster's grasp one limb at a time. Despite the overwhelming odds, he danced effortlessly through the chaos, evading the creature's attacks with remarkable agility.

"Holy shit, he's a templar?" Sophia exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief as she watched Easton's dazzling performance. The realization dawned on her that they were witnessing the prowess of a legendary warrior, a force to be reckoned with against even the most formidable of foes.

More tentacles surged from the water, all converging on the new threat posed by Easton. With their focus diverted, Easton wielded his sword with even greater speed and precision, slicing through the writhing appendages with ease. Each stroke freed several of his men who had been ensnared by the kraken's grasp. Amidst the chaos, Sophia noticed something striking—the golden hue in one of Easton's eyes, reminiscent of Bellic's own gaze.

As the battle raged on, the kraken unveiled its monstrous head, its gaping maw revealing rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth. Without hesitation, Easton leaped into the air, meeting the beast head-on. His sword plunged into the creature's singular eye, eliciting a deafening scream that reverberated across the ship. The sound was so intense that most of the crew instinctively covered their ears, their faces contorted in pain.

In a desperate final attack, the kraken thrashed wildly, attempting to dislodge its assailant. But Easton remained resolute, twisting his blade with precision. With a mighty effort, he wrenched the eyeball from the creature's socket, causing it to go limp in defeat. As the kraken's massive form began to sink beneath the waves, Easton retrieved his sword and cleansed it with a flick of his wrist, dispelling the traces of blood.

With the threat vanquished, Easton's eyes returned to their normal hue—a gentle crystal blue. The golden aura that had enveloped him during the battle faded away, leaving him standing amidst the aftermath, a symbol of unwavering strength and valor.

"Get this mess cleaned up, you scallywags! I want to be underway in under twenty minutes!" Easton barked out the order before storming off back to his cabin, his authoritative presence leaving no room for argument. Along the way, he encountered Valicar's guard, who would undoubtedly face severe punishment for failing to watch over their noble guest. However, this concern was far from the twins' minds at the moment. They were more preoccupied with the revelation that this man, their rescuer, was a Templar—arguably as strong as Bellic himself.

Once Valicar was escorted to the medic to get her injuries checked out, she took the opportunity to inquire about Easton Von White.

"Is the Captain a Templar?" she asked the doctor, her curiosity piqued by the newfound knowledge.

"Not anymore, my Lady Norail," the doctor replied solemnly, his tone tinged with sympathy. "I believe it's a rather sore subject for him, however, so I wouldn't bring it up with him if I were you."

As the doctor tended to her wounds, Valicar couldn't shake off her curiosity about Easton's past with the Templars. Despite the doctor's earlier warning, Mike boldly pressed forward, determined to uncover the truth.

"So, I'll ask you. What happened?" Mike inquired, ignoring the doctor's cautionary words. He needed to understand the extent of the danger they might face if Easton discovered their true identity as a mage.

The doctor hesitated for a moment, weighing his words carefully before responding. "Well, he was a great and powerful warrior, his command of the gods' power unmatched by most, rivaling only his exceptional swordsmanship. He was in line to become a pillar of the Templars, poised for greatness. However, he had a falling out with the church that left some rather bad blood, as I hear it. And now, here he is, the Captain of the Storm Breaker and the strongest man in the royal navy."

"The Church just let him leave like that?" Sophia's confusion was evident in her question.

"Technically, no," the doctor explained, shedding light on the situation. "There was quite the uproar in the capital at the time, but the Emperor was ecstatic to have someone so strong in his navy, so he granted Easton his very own ship. The church wasn't pleased, of course, but when the Emperor makes a decree, even they must obey."

After getting checked out, Valicar was sent back to her quarters where she enjoyed another bath and changed once again. This time, the outfit was less flashy and more functional, at Mike's express request to the crewmen who brought them.

"So, what do you think? He can use divine magic, but he isn't a Templar anymore," Mike said to Sophia as they lay in bed.

"According to James, he is still using magic that disrupts the veil," Sophia pondered.

"Fuck that guy, I don't believe the shit he has to say, but one thing's for sure: Easton is strong, probably stronger than us right now. I mean, did you see the way he moved? The guy is in a class of his own when it comes to a sword," Mike admired the man's skill.

"See, my plan turned out to be the right choice," Sophia gloated.

"Fighting that man isn't the smartest move, I'll give you that, Sis." There was a knock at their door.

"My Lady, we are about to reach Catitao. Would you like to see us coming into port?" the guard outside their door inquired.

"Sure, I've never seen the city before," Valicar replied.

As they stepped onto the deck, Valicar's eyes widened at the sight of a massive lighthouse in the distance. It was by far the largest man-made structure she had seen in this world, towering several hundred feet high.

"Wow, look at that, Mike. That's a true architectural feat for this country's limited technology," Sophia remarked, impressed by the sight.

"I'll just be happy to get back on solid ground again," Mike complained.

"Same... so are you ready to run?" Sophia asked.

"Always," Mike affirmed, a determined gleam in his eye.