The boat ride had entered its second day. Ezra, Nicholai, and Anabelle all slept together in one room. The vessel had 2 more for its occupants. Garnet stayed in her own private room, while Katreena and Grimm lay in the other. The captain stayed mostly in the ship's main control room. Where he had his own resting area and food, so he rarely came out with those aboard.

Down below lay the cargo hold. Keeping the crews supplies and stock of food safe. Above the cargo hold was the ship's kitchen. Grimm was seen here most as he took to cooking the meals for everyone. Something Garnet was very amused by. Within the same floor was a small library filled with books for all types of readers.

The deck managed to be large enough to hold all of them granted they all choose to be on the deck. Which they all did. Mostly to engage in their own activities. Nicholai read through the new books he acquired. Ezra took the time out to do some of his own personal training while Anabelle watched. Katreena stared off into the distance, keeping her thoughts to herself. Grimm sat at a table looking over the maps that had been stocked in the ship's library. And Garnet laid out on a chair and let the cool sea breeze pass over her. That was most of their first day on this 3 day cruise. The night ended with a meal provided by Grimm. The captain and Katreena stayed up to take watch for this supposed sea beast.

Grimm found his slumber to be rather daunting. For he knew that he inched closer and closer to his mainland, and wondered how much had changed within his time. Katreena’s slumber was close to Grimm’s, yet less fearful. For she knew what she was going home to. Ezra, Nicholai, and Anabelle felt nothing more than excitement as they couldn’t wait to brace the new land. But eventually did sleep.

Ezra was the first to wake on this day,he could smell something being made. He looked over to the still sleeping Nicholai and Anabelle. He stood up and guided himself to the kitchen. Where he found he wasn’t the first to wake. Grimm stood cooking while Garnet watched as amused as possible.

“Just the guy I wanted to see. Come take a seat.” Grimm said as soon as he noticed Ezra. The young man came over to the dining table half asleep. He shook his head to fully wake up, then addressed Grimm.

“Yeah wassup.” Grimm set the food down and turned down the heat on the stove. He wiped his hands on a nearby towel and came to sit down at the table.

“So. After checking our course, we should be entering Serx waters today. So I thought now would be the best time to get this out.” Grimm started. Ezra perked up. “After seeing everything you did in the Freelands I see you as more capable than I can comprehend. The Serx Empire….it isn’t the nicest place. Now I know you were expecting that. But what I’m getting at is that it may be no problem for you. As for the others. Well. They seem to follow the same energy you carry. And I find that rather compelling.”

“Thanks.” Ezra said to the man who continued to compliment him. He never thought of his actions in such a way. It was more he saw that everything he did was to keep himself and his allies safe at any means. He was expecting the Freelands to not be the nicest place. But now how would he expect to interact with it.

“I know I may be the adult here. But I want you to know, you are the leader of this little party.” Grimm instituted for the dracion. Making Ezra slightly embarrassed. He always saw Grimm as the older figure he could turn to, because the man was older and more powerful. Hopefully he could still do that.

“Alright. When I started my adventure I wasn’t really expecting to make any new friends, but if this is where I’m at. Then I’ll keep it. But you keep this in mind. I’ll come to you if I need help with anything.” Ezra recited back to Grimm. Making the tall man smile. Garnet too let out a small chuckle to their manly banter.

“Nice. I then trust that you’ll make your decisions carefully.” Grimm pondered.

“I always do.” Ezra replied. Grimm stood back up and resumed his cooking. Leaving Ezra and Garnet together. Who began chatting with each other. Grimm’s cuisine scent started to seep out through the whole ship. Waking the others up and bringing them up for breakfast.

“So Grimm. Tell us about Dolsrin? Isn’t that where we’ll be docking?” Garnet asked.

“Oh. Well to put it simply. Dolsrin is more about entertainment. The king there is focused on one thing. Keeping everyone entertained. It’s basically where you go if you want to spend a shitton of money.” Grimm explained.

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“Well what do they have?” Ezra asked eagerly.

“They have plays, live performances, casinos with games and even auctions.”

“Sounds loud.” Nicholai interjected.

“Well that’s the point.” Ezra replied to the sorcerer.

“Actually. It’s not that much. There’s actually a giant hub. The city of Dreamlight. That’s where it all happens. You want to score big. You go there.” Grimm said to break up their argument. The two sat back and thought about how they could imagine it. A great city lit up all around by every color imaginable. The sound of music and cheering rearing around every corner.

“We have to go there!” The two young men excitedly said together.

After breakfast everyone went off to do their own things again. They continued into the afternoon. With all of them on the top deck doing their own things. Grimm stood on the edge of the ship. Where he witnessed a familiar sight. The water grew from it’s light to the dark blue he remembered. They had entered the Serx Empires waters.

“Everyone! We’ve entered Serx territory. Some islands will be getting in the way so they’ll be some swerving here and there for the next few hours.” The captain yelled out for everyone to hear. Ezra jumped up and looked over the edge with Anabelle. They were in awe at the change of the water color. Then they looked ahead and saw small islands.

“Does this mean we’re close?” Ezra asked looking over to Grimm.

“Not yet. We won't really be getting close until tomorrow night is my best prediction.” Grimm answered for the draconian. This made him dissatisfied.

“Great. Whatever. I have to take watch tonight. So I’m gonna take a nap for now. Anabelle you coming?” Ezra asked the mare as he started to head back to his room.

“Sure.” Anabelle happily answered following the young man. They both reentered the room and closed all the curtains to shut off any light from entering. Ezra removed his robe and put it inside of his bag. He propped his sword up next to the bed frame, then laid down himself. Anabelle laid close to the frame and drifted off alongside Ezra.

-A few hours later-

A large thud burst Ezra and Anabelle out of their sleep. The two jumped from their resting positions. Ezra grabbed his sword and the two ran to the upper deck. The others were atop looking for the source of the crash.

“What is it?” he asked to aloud. Awaiting an answer from anyone.

“We don’t know yet but it has to be in the water.” Katreena answered as she looked over the edge into the sea. However she then saw something moving. Her eyes narrowed onto the object. Then the water erupted, a giant tentacle shot up. Katreena jumped back. Everyone turned their attention to the girls danger. The large limb then tried to crash to the ships deck. Yet Katreena managed to get her balance and strike it with her bare hand. Noone wanted to take any chances. So Ezra jumped right after and sliced at the thing, making it go back underneath the water.

“Captain. Can’t we go any faster. This thing will be back!” Ezra yelled.

“I’m trying as hard as I can!” The captain cried back.

Ezra was right. The monster attacking them wouldn’t give up, for the water erupted again. This time multiple tentacles rushed up out of the water. Everyone moved to attack. Yet the beast proved itself to me more intelligent than they hoped. While everyone was occupied with just one tentacle, another swiped at Ezra. Knocking him off the boat and into the sea.

‘Ezra!” Anabelle cried out. She witnessed the young man sink into the water. The large tentacles still attacking everyone. Grimm immediately stopped his assault to try and jump into the water. However he was stopped by Garnet for she could sense Ezra doing something.

Underneath the water Ezra was being wrapped up by one of the monster's tentacles. His eyes adjusted to being underwater due to his training, and he saw the creature that was attacking them. The creature was huge, though not the largest sea monster he had ever seen. It’s dark eyes stared directly at the dracion, and it’s many tentacles. Yet it had a natural human form, though it was much larger to fit the size of the tentacles.Even though he still saw that something was off about this creature Ezra had one idea to escape it’s grasp. A lightning bolt. He quickly summoned one from and it struck his sword, harming the monster and even himself. Though he was less injured than his attacker. He quickly swam back to the surface and let out a heavy breath.

“There he is!” Ezra heard Grimm’s voice call out to him. The man started to reach his arm out to grab Ezra, yet the water's current changed excessively quick. Ezra was now sent tumbling down into the harsh currents. Grimm looked ahead and saw the creature swimming in a circle at high speeds. However he wasn’t generating a whirlpool.

“The hell is it doing?” Grimm wondered as the water moved faster and faster.

“Grimm. Start freezing the water!” Ezra yelled up. Grimm turned and heard the command and got to it. He let out both of his arms and froze the water in every direction. Yet the harsh waters caused them to immediately start breaking, making it impossible for Ezra to climb on top of it to reach the ship.

The beast stopped swimming when it’s intent became true. For a tornado generated from the water had been spawned before the ship. Everyone looked in horror as it approached them. Grimm jumped forward and froze the massive expanse of water before them. Yet it was fruitless, his ice was torn apart by the tornado and it continued to not only grow closer but larger.

Ezra was already being absorbed into the attack. Everyone yelled as he was carried away, and disappeared into the water. Shortly before the boat felt met the same fate. The creature howled as it’s victims were thrown off their vessel.

Ezra awoke once again. There was no sign of the boat or his friends. All he could see was the sandy beach of a small island he landed on. He turned in every direction over and over again to see if anyone was safe.

“Anabelle! Nicholai! Grimm! Katreena! Garnet! Captain!” He called out as loud as he could. However no one responded. There were a few other small pieces of land the same as he was on. Perhaps they all landed on one of those, yet he stopped his search and saw what he was looking for. It was a strong harsh bright red light coming off from one of the other small islands nearby. Ezra knew it had to be Anabelle. He picked up his sword which washed ashore with him, and jumped into the water, swimming towards the light.