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The boat I boarded was rounded at the front where the wood curled upwards, almost like a sled, to break waves. The wood was grainy and felt rough under my hands.

The adventurers were split into three groups. Benson and I rode along with Guine and four others on the large boat, the one they called ‘Sisteen’. Two of the men rode in a small oar powered dinghy, and three boarded what looked to be a speedboat of some kind; it was small and sleek, without sails or oars on it.

“How does that boat move?” I asked Guine while pointing down to it.

“That’s the ‘Raceback Turtle’, it’s powered by a rune installed underneath. The men take turns supplying mana. It’s the fastest boat on The Mire,” said Guine as she beamed with pride. “Our ‘Sisteen’ here moves by runes as well, but we use monster cores to power it instead. It would take too much mana to push such a heavy load. We move much slower than the ‘Raceback Turtle’, but it’s efficient for carrying heavy loads.”

Benson helped drag the three wyvern corpses onto the back of ‘Sisteen’. The adventurers had several other monster corpses and gathered ingredients as well. Their eyes seemed to swim with joy when they looked upon their haul, and they all seemed to be deeply respectful of me and Benson.

With the ships loaded full and spirits high, we disembarked onto Mire’s Lake.

The rocking motion of the boat made my stomach churn, but I was able to keep my bearing for the most part. Surprisingly, Benson was keeled over one of the railings, losing everything he had eaten throughout the day into the waters below. I smiled wryly, and decided against teasing him. Though I wasn’t going to forget about this. I’m certain Tenia would enjoy knowing he had at least a few weaknesses.

Occasionally an alligator-like monster would assault the boats, but they were weak. At first I was terrified of them, owing that fear to my old world’s notion of alligators, but after I saw how weak they were those feelings quickly passed. Apparently they were called Sators, and their hides were prided for their waterproof qualities.

As the sun moved through the sky towards the distant horizon, I could finally get a good view of the city. I could also, finally, see the final mountain; it looked like a backdrop for New Hidet.

The setting sun glowed orange and red as it touched the mountain’s peak. With the oranges reflecting off the water, we looked to be sailing on a sea of flame. Unfortunately, Benson’s retching in the background ruined the scene.

“I’m sorry for Benson getting sick on the side of your boat,” I said to Guine.

“Don’t worry about it. All beastmen get seasick, I didn’t expect any different from your friend there either,” she replied, an embarrassed look on her face. “Maybe I should offer to rub his back? I heard that helps with seasickness…”

Pretending I didn’t hear the last part she mumbled under her breath, I moved to the very front of the ship. The wind howled and whipped my hair back; a few stray strands fell across my forehead. I pushed the hair back and smiled as I thought about that famous scene from the movie The Titanic. Of course, I wasn’t being caressed by a lover, but the feeling of the wind and the boat’s motions combined into something indescribable.

“What happens when the sun goes down?” I asked, turning back just in time to see Guine’s hand hovering a few inches over Benson, shaking as if she was unsure to go through with it or not. Her eyes went wide when she met my stare, and I started laughing; it was a deep laugh, from the bottom of my soul.

“We… we’ll follow the lighthouse,” stammered Guine with a red face. As if on queue, a powerful beacon of light shined out of the mountain’s shadow, illuminating the waters ahead of us. The light danced like fire, rising and receding as if it were alive. “They use glass shards and runes enchanted to burn with white fire,” said Guine in an admiring tone. “I wish you could see the lighthouse in the day. The building is made of whitewashed brick. It’s beautiful.”

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“I think I’m glad I got to see it at night,” I said in a whisper as I admired the glow. “I’ve seen towers of brick before, but I’ve never seen anything like this.” The waters were still, then, and the only sound I could hear were the boats cutting through the water.

Benson’s ears pricked up. With shaking legs, he stood and immediately jumped to my side. “Something’s coming,” he said, his voice weak. “Something big.”

The still waters started to shake. A mass of bubbles erupted beneath our boats, and a shadow from under the waters zipped by, moving at high speeds.

“Shit!” Cried Guine, “It’s a Venom Wyrm!”

“Why’s it in the shallows?” Asked one of the men off to the side.

The waters in front of the ship exploded upwards, and a massive snake-like beast leaped out. Its jaws unhinged and it dove directly towards us, looking to swallow us whole.

“Benson!” I yelled.

“On it!” He replied.

Benson leaped forward, like a flash of fur. I could hardly follow his movements. I’m certain to the other adventurers with us, it must have looked like a blur smashed into the side of the giant snake. I could see everything clearly, though. Benson hit the monster, his vigour renewed, but he seemed to be struggling with it. Benson was clearly stronger, but the seasickness and the environment were working against him. I needed to support him or the monster would escape under the water.

I started building the mana construct in my mind.

“No don’t use a spell!” Cried Guine’s voice, as she detected my mana surging. Unfortunately, her warning came a moment too late.

Everything went black. All sounds vanished. I was in a void; I was alone.

“Hello?” I asked, my voice echoing forever off the darkness. I walked, urged on by a strange sensation ahead.

I came the edge of a black lagoon, the pestilent waters washing over my bare feet.

I could feel eyes watching me. A lithe white hand stretched out of the waters, holding a sword of pure ice; a wash of cold covered my soul.

“Finally, a worthy champion…” Echoed a distant voice. It was gruff and aged, and resembled a wisened grandfather.

-”Nov-!”

Something hit me, but I could hear the sword calling out to me. Its siren song filled my heart. I just needed to reach out and take it…

“November!”

I snapped back to the world. The stars were stretched out in front of me, and Guine was leaning over me, shaking my body.

“What happened?” I asked, my voice weak.

“You tried to cast a spell near a Venom Wyrm. Their venom corrupts mana around them, and your spell backfired. Thankfully you’re okay,” said Benson off to the side. He was soaking wet and covered in some purple liquid. His armor was unmarred, though.

“It was just a spell backfire…” I mumbled as I sat up. “So that’s what it was. Did you kill the Wyrm, Benson?”

“No, it escaped me after it dove. It ran away with its tail between its legs.”

“It had legs?” I asked, still a big groggy.

“No, but it was very scared,” said Benson with a toothy grin.

“... Benson, do you feel that light too?” I asked as I looked towards the city.

“The lighthouse, Mistress?” Benson asked.

“No. It’s something else. Something strong.”

“Perhaps it’s just a side effect of the backfire?” Proposed Benson, but I shook my head in response. I could feel it, like a pulsing heartbeat, calling out to me.

There was something powerful buried in New Hidet.