Past the Raeven Duchy and beyond the Floating Islands of Edin, the land of the Brilliant Drake Empire met the rising tides of the Erith Ocean, a vast azure body of water that reached out endlessly into the horizon. Oscar observed the deep blue waves of the Erith Ocean flowing but also sparkling from the sunlight beating down upon the changing shapes. Despite being entranced by the stunning view, Oscar did not let his guard down because the Erith Ocean was one of the largest dangerous regions where countless sea Exalt Beasts lurked in its waters.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Mary tiptoed a little to get a better view. She had seen this ocean many times, but Oscar's fixated gaze was interesting.

Oscar's smile deepened, and he glanced at Mary. "Unfortunately, it's also quite dangerous. We don't know the absolute depths of this place."

Although the Brilliant Drake Empire laid claim to this part of the Erith Ocean, it had not spread its influence to the farthest horizon and the furthest depths. Many expeditions to explore far out into the oceans only concluded there was more ocean. There was still much they didn't know.

"Did you know there may be King Exalt Beasts in the unknown regions of the Erith Ocean?" Oscar laid out an interesting fact.

"That has been the consensus, but no one has ever confirmed it." Mary pondered. "The Erith Ocean is mysterious."

Interrupted by the light footsteps behind him, Oscar turned around to find Austin Taylor looking around the view with one eye. He had no special reaction to Austin's presence but noticed Mary was slightly shaken like before at the Mission Hall when she saw Austin's eyepatch. Oscar went up before it got awkward and smiled at Austin. "Out for some fresh air?"

Austin nodded once, but his face remained still without a hint of emotion. A poker face that Oscar believed rivaled Celestina's.

"I was wondering." Oscar started up a conversation. He was curious about one thing, something that Austin had ignored earlier. "Where have you been up to all these years?" His eyes shone with interest at Austin.

"Training," Austin said. "I spent several years in the military training of the Grand Commander's army." He said it so casually, regarding it as unimportant, but Oscar and Mary's mouths gaped open like a pair of chicks.

"That brutal training?" Mary leaned closer to Austin with wide eyes. "That brutal training is meant for people who wish to enter the Pavilion's forces. How did you get into it when students are not allowed?" She thought the rules were explicit about their restrictions and requirements and didn't know any loopholes.

"Rules can restrict others, but some can break them if they wish to." Oscar chimed in with his opinion. Too many instances of the rules being broken happened around him, such as the times he went to the Abyss Prison.

"What are you talking about?" Frederick dragged his feet to the airship's deck with Emily yawning behind him.

"Austin was training in the Grand Commander's army the entire time." Oscar pointed at the person of interest. "Can you believe that?"

"That is surprising." Despite his words, Frederick seemed unimpressed. "But you trained in the Abyss Prison, so it's not too much of a shock."

Emily yawned again and rubbed her eyes. "Still, it's shocking he was let in."

Mary shouted, "That's the problem! How many times are the rules going to be broken?" As a member of the Jones family and well-versed in law matters, Mary felt her hallowed image of the Pavilion was collapsing.

"Forget the rules for a moment." Frederick cut Mary off. "Have you seen my aunt, Ivanka Klein, there? She should be in the Grand Commander's army as well."

"It's actually related to you and her, Frederick." Austin glanced at Frederick with a slight chuckle, the first time they saw a fraction of emotion break out on his indifferent face.

"Me?" Frederick grew confused. What did his strict and loving aunt have to do with Austin?

"After my loss to you at the Grand Gathering, I felt how idiotic I was being. The loss of this eye–" Austin rubbed his eyepatch. "--was my fault and the result of a foolish decision. So I left and wanted to join the Grand Commander's army to learn to beat this idiocy out of me. My father used to be a regular soldier and always said I needed to learn discipline, but I never listened and blamed him for my mother's death, so this was the best option."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Oscar and the others waited for Austin to continue as he sighed upon remembering his dark past.

"So, I knelt before the gates to their training grounds every day. I wasn't lax and kept meditating, but people walked past me. I don't know whether they did it to scare me into not wanting to join or if my efforts garnered their respect, but after a while, they allowed me in for a day to train." Austin's one eye winced. "It was brutal like you said, but I persevered. Of course, they broke the rules and were punished, but I was allowed to stay for my efforts."

"Where does my aunt come into the picture?" Frederick grew impatient.

"So impatient. Perhaps a day or two in military training could do you some good. I was just about to get into that." Austin glared at Frederick and continued his story. "Your aunt came sometime after I joined. She recognized me as one of the people from that trial. We didn't get off on the right foot at first, but she became akin to a mentor to me. I greatly respect your aunt as a soldier and for what she did for you. You should be grateful to have her."

Before Frederick could retort, Emily clammed his mouth shut, but her eyes turned cold on Austin. "Stop with your slight insults and continue."

Austin remained expressionless, but Oscar could see his grip tightening from the pressure Emily gave off. Indeed, Emily was the most ferocious of them all.

"I am allowed to leave the military training due to the trust placed in me and the fact I'm a student. Your aunt asked me to go out and see how you're doing. Luckily I ran into you at the Mission Hall. She also wanted me to pass on a message."

"A message?" Frederick asked.

"In her own words, 'I am doing fine, so don't worry about me, and focus on yourself'," Austin said. "That's the end of the message. Now my duty is fulfilled."

Frederick smiled and clasped Austin's shoulder, his hand firm yet welcoming. "Thank you."

Austin stared at Frederick's bright smile and curled his mouth upward into a slight smile in response. "It's what I do for my superior. Now let's focus back on the mission at hand."

Oscar peered down the edge of the airship that started a slow descent toward an island far off the coastline. The coast was now a small image on the horizon but a large sprawling city enlarged as they approached the island. A large flock of Lower Apprentice Exalt Beast birds flew overhead but did not attack.

"Portland Island," Oscar smiled.

Portland Island was akin to a large dock that filled the whole island with waterways in, through, and out all over the city. Boats and large ships surrounded and docked by its borders with many people working and clamoring in it. All the buildings were connected by large ropes that ferried materials to and from every place.

The island itself rested on the safest part of the Erith Ocean. The ocean behaved as most dangerous regions did, with the deepest and furthest area being the home to the strongest Exalt Beasts. The problem was no one knew where the deepest and furthest areas were, causing the speculation of the existence of a King Exalt.

"We are docked!" The captain cried out as the bells rang.

Oscar and the others leaped off the airship. The fresh smell of the saltwater mixed with the fishy smell of all the day catches flooded Oscar's nose as he burst out in a coughing fit.

Through his coughs, Oscar turned to Emily. "Where is Ms. Raeven?"

As he asked, a loud shout resounded from above. Everyone looked up, but Emily brandished her staff and charged ahead.

A wild figure bulldozed through the air, gunning straight for Emily. The figure had plum hair and a pair of fierce red eyes that stared at Emily amusingly. She wore the same low-cut clothes that revealed her shoulders and a long pair of white pants.

"Little Em!" Elizabeth Reaven smiled and laughed. She lifted her golden cutlass and sliced it down at Emily. "Did you miss me?"

Emily's orange eyes shone fiercely. Long had she waited for his moment to get back at the one who tortured her for that long time in the Raeven Duchy. Around her two staves, the 'Kinetic Core' spun the stones of Ein rapidly, and 'Weight Boost' made them heavy beyond belief. "Go to hell!"

The cutlass and staves clashed. The waters under them trembled and broke out into torrential waves. Oscar and the others flinched from the overpowering presence of a Knight Exalt.

The next moment, Emily was forced back and crashed straight into the waters. Frederick quickly dove in and retrieved her without a second thought. He sighed in relief after observing Emily did not suffer any bad injuries.

"Aw shucks. Telling me to go to hell. That makes me sad, Little Em." Elizabeth Raeven smiled with her cutlass resting on her shoulder. She hummed and narrowed her eyes with a playful gaze at Frederick and Emily.

"Excuse me." Oscar stood in front of her.

Elizabeth recognized this boy as the one Robert had trained. Her smile slowly faded. "Robert's protege. What is it?"

Oscar showed no expression at her changed demeanor but continued to talk respectfully. "We have come because of an invitation to Emily from you. May we get to the topic and leave the teasing for later?"

Elizabeth burst out in a hearty laugh, her back arching backward with her head tilting back. "That is right. I wanted to see how Little Em's been doing, and there is something here that I wanted her to do."

"And that is?" With water dripping down her ruined hair but staring furiously at Elizabeth, Emily dragged her heavy feet up to stand, leaning on her staff.

"I need some fresh legs."