The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, painting the sky with warm shades of orange and red, while the boat sailed smoothly through the calm and mysterious waters of the ocean.
Captain Morgan, a man with an imposing scar over his left eye and a thick beard that flowed like the waves of the sea, gazed at the horizon with determined eyes. On his head, he wore the iconic captain's hat, a piece that indicated his position of authority and leadership on the vessel.
"Anything different from the norm, Thomas?"
Beside Morgan, the young navigator Thomas studied a map spread out on a wooden table. The crucial information they possessed was thanks to the capture of a spy.
Following the fish migration pattern, they believed they could navigate through the storm that ravaged the part of the ocean where they believed a new continent was located.
"Nothing out of the ordinary, Captain. Although, somehow, we are managing to make progress, it is still quite difficult to see anything too far ahead due to the bad weather around. But, according to the information we have, we will be entering a storm at some point. Although it is intense, we believe we can still cross it successfully"
Thomas replied. Listening to Thomas's words, Morgan nodded his head while keeping his eyes fixed on the horizon. Since childhood, Morgan had dreamed of being a sailor and achieving great feats.
The ocean had always fascinated him. Although he was already relatively old, he was still deeply grateful to its majesty for choosing him for this mission.
It was precisely because of this determination that he would return successfully. Everyone aboard his ship shared the same thoughts. Moreover, Morgan had been informed in advance about the reason why this expedition was being undertaken.
"Captain Morgan, we are approaching the indicated point. If we follow the course of the fish, we should be able to cross the storm without too many problems"
Said Thomas, his voice sounding serious yet eager. Hearing his crew member's words, Morgan nodded in agreement. Even with his scarred eye, his determination was visible.
"Get ready. Let's stay alert to the fish's signals. This is the moment we have longed for, to find unknown lands in the name of our King and country"
Morgan declared. On board, the crew was busy with their tasks, adjusting sails, checking compasses, and closely observing the movement of the fish in the water. After hours of sailing, everyone spotted a subtle change in the water.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Schools of fish began swimming together, going from side to side as if they knew exactly how to proceed. Morgan watched in admiration as the boat followed the guidance of the marine creatures.
"It seems there is still much I need to learn... no matter how much time passes, the sea remains fascinating"
Morgan whispered while keeping his eyes fixed on the school of fish. Distracted, Thomas's voice rang out, catching his attention.
"We are approaching the storm, Captain"
Announced Thomas immediately, his gaze fixed on the horizon where dark clouds were ominously gathering.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves"
Ordered the Captain, his voice resolute.
"Stay strong and united. If we follow the fish's guidance, we can make it through"
As they approached the storm, the crew followed the Captain's instructions with dedication and skill. The boat rocked violently as it faced giant waves and furious winds, but nothing as serious as they had anticipated.
Finally, after some time, the boat emerged on the other side of the storm. The sky was clear, and before them stretched an unknown coastline. Majestic mountains rose on the horizon, and lush green forests extended as far as the eye could see. It was a new continent.
"So, there really was one"
Morgan commented, fascinated. Beside him, Thomas and the other crew members were no different. They all intensely observed the new land in the distance. Although none of them uttered a word, they shared the same thoughts and desires.
While everyone looked in awe, Thomas was the first to snap out of the trance. Approaching Morgan, he spoke.
"Captain, what should we do now? Should we approach the coast and explore?"
Morgan pondered for a moment, his gaze fixed on the untouched shore.
"No, let's keep a safe distance for now. We know nothing about this place. We need to be cautious and careful. We'll chart our course along the coast and observe closely. After that, we'll return to report our findings to His Majesty"
The crew watched in admiration and respect as the Captain gave his orders. The boat turned gently, maintaining a safe distance from the new continent's coast. They would watch, learn, and when ready, they would return with the discoveries they could make.
***
My walk with Emi lasted only a few hours. During that time, we simply wandered around as we made our way to the castle. Whenever Emi showed interest in something, I quickly bought it for her, be it food or items.
Upon reaching the palace, Emi and I entered through the front door after talking to one of the guards. Emi was back to her normal appearance. Additionally, if anyone asked why we didn't come by carriage, Emi and I simply agreed to say that we got hungry on the way and decided to stop for something to eat near the palace, so in the end, we ended up deciding to walk.
In the palace corridors, Emi was stopped by one of the maids, who said that the queen and Asia wanted to talk to her. Furthermore, I was informed that Prince Albert and the king were also waiting for me.
I wasn't surprised by their summons, as it had been some time since we had extracted that information from the spy. The king, along with Albert, had already mentioned that we would start the exploration as soon as possible.
"Well, see you later, Ren"
Emi said with a smile on her face. As we parted ways, I made my way to the designated place to meet with the king, while Emi headed towards her meeting with her mother and sister. I knew that the conversation with the royalty would be crucial for the expedition plans and was determined to represent our group in the best way possible.
(But... why am I suddenly feeling so nervous? Also, for some reason, after sharing my first time with Emi, I feel like I'm going to an interrogation)