Under the light of the two moons, a young boy was struggling to fall asleep. The image of a shrouded figure cutting open his father's neck kept appearing in his dreams. There was nothing else to do, so Rall meditated on the events of the last two weeks.

After three days under his Lighthouse, they had exited the Fog. Conrad hadn't been clear about why he needed Rall, just that he was missing a talented light mage for an expedition in the Northern Sea. Of course, the boy understood that it couldn't have been so simple. Remembering how much he had cost at the auction, half the underworld would be searching for him right now. Light mages were rare and expensive but hardly worth facing some of the most dangerous forces in the world.

As for Tui, she had finally recovered from her injuries, but she knew it was too late to return home. One week later, news had reached Motu Rere, and the imperial soldiers started searching for her. If they found her, they would send her directly to the King of all Skies, and she would face the cruelty of his punishment. For now, she could only hope they would treat her little sister better as the last of the Merfolk Royal dynasty.

After they had exited the Fog, Tui had joined Rall in his long training sessions. Since she was also a wanted fugitive, they might as well cooperate and become stronger. But there was something strange in the boy's training routine. Why did he only practice in complete darkness? Wasn't it common knowledge that training under the light of the Sun was the best way? Is that why he had a white Fairylight?

"My dad told me this is better." That is how Rall had answered her doubtful queries.

But the strangeness did not end there. It was during the second week that the boy had changed his training. Instead of using Lighthouse to gain more control and stamina, he would pronounce an incantation she had never heard.

"From the Kingdom of the Divine, the light of the Goddess shall fall on my enemies..."

Each time, his Fairylight would pulse violently, but then nothing would happen. And every time, Tui would smile wrily. He was still a kid, after all. This awful situation was probably too much for him so he played around as a distraction.

"Little Sir, it's time to depart."

Under the combined light of the moons and Rall's Fairylight, Hopps looked like a tall, slender ghost.

The boy nodded and slowly got up from his cross-legged position. They had camped out an hour away from the coastal city of Sturmwater, where Conrad had a ship ready. It would be the most dangerous part of their journey. They would have to enter a large settlement, recruit men and women crazy enough to join an expedition to the North, then sail all without alarming the guards. It would soon be time to see how far Conrad's legend could take them.

From behind a tree came Tui. She was wearing a cloak they had stolen on the way and a black wig they had bought at a nearby village. She could not hide her golden Fairylight like Rall, and just keeping it under baggy clothes would not fool any martial or magical practitioner. So they had chosen to keep it out. She would be the light mage brought in by the Legendary Admiral of the navy for his new and daring expedition.

Conrad arrived from behind the trees. "Are you all ready? Remember your parts?"

"Yes, sir!" They answered in unison.

In the last weeks, Rall had come to respect the old man. He was wiser and more knowledgeable than even Thork, almost at the level of his father. And while he still felt that there was something shady about this expedition, he had still saved his life - not even speaking about the fact that he would've already been recaptured if it wasn't for Conrad.

They got up on the roofless black carriage and slowly headed for Sturmwater. Soon they reached the gates, where a small group of guards would ask for documents and inspect the convoys.

"Halt! Identify yourself!" Shouted a short male guard. Like his colleagues, he wore a set of light leather armor and had a longsword sheathed in his belt. All their equipment was well-crafted and perfectly maintained, showing that the Borian Empire had the resources to arm even the lowest in their army ranks decently.

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"My lord's name is Conrad Alexander Delaux," rose the voice of the butler. "Former Admiral of the Great Borian Fleet, known as the 'Lord of the Northern Sea' for his heroic actions in the Second Great War of the Northern Sea!"

The guards looked at each other. They certainly not paid enough to deal with VIPs. But then, a strong man in black armor appeared from beyond the gates, donning a confident, almost arrogant smile. His attitude was not baseless. On his armor was the symbol of the Imperial High Guards, the highest rank available for a commoner. Even nobles would have to abide by the orders of a High Guard, especially if they were acting on behalf of an Imperial Mandate.

"You will excuse me, Admiral, but I have direct orders from the Emperor to search every single carriage for a dangerous fugitive. Surely, you will not impede my operations," said the High Guard.

Hearing this, Conrad himself got up and exited the carriage. He wore his indigo ceremonial uniform, decorated with the highest military grades and medals of all shapes and sizes. That uniform alone could testify for his long and honorable service to the Imperial Great Fleet. He stood tall and with his chin high, his calves together and his hands behind his back. "The will of the Emperor is the will of the Empire. Long may he live!"

"Long may he live!" Shouted in unison the guards.

"Long may he live," whispered the High Guard, annoyed by that old man stealing his spotlight. Still, there was nothing he could do. He condensed his inner energy and scanned the carriage. His eyes lit up when he sensed the energy signature of a light mage, a smirk returning on his face.

"Admiral Delaux, why is there a light mage on your carriage?" He asked

Conrad turned around and knocked on the carriage. Immediately a young girl stepped out, strands of long dark hair escaped the heavy brown cloak that covered her slender body.

"This is Lady Arianna Cossak, a light mage from the south."

Following the script, Tui curtsied like a noble girl at the High Guard.

"Never heard of the Cossak family."

"It's a very young noble house. Lady Arianna hopes it could gain favor by participating in the expedition I am planning," answered Conrad.

"An expedition to where?"

"To the Deep North of course. Few other places deserve my attention!" Answered Conrad nonchalantly.

From inside the carriage, Rall gasped in surprise. Even Tui almost betrayed her act. Everyone knew that the Deep North was off-limits. The Fog was too deep even for the most powerful light mages, and many had lost their lives in the last thousand years, trying to solve the mysteries of the North. When they had heard the old man say that he was planning an expedition, they had not even considered the Deep North. In the unending vastness of the ocean, that was the last place anyone would want to go! But it was too late. They were fugitives, and they needed Conrad to survive. They had fallen into a clever trap, and now the city itself would become their chains.

Rall could not believe it, the Admiral had gotten them good. You bastard...

Of course, the guards' reaction was just as evident. Even the High Guard was surprised. "That is nothing more than suicide, Admiral."

But Conrad scoffed. "If there's someone who can do it, that's me!"

One of the guards, an older man who had been half asleep during the whole interaction, suddenly opened his eyelids.

"Wait, you are that Admiral Conrad Delaux! The one from the legend!"

"In the flesh."

"So the story is true then? Have you really gone where no one ever could and returned on the back of a sea dragon?" Asked the old guard in disbelief. He had forgotten the difference in rank at this point.

"Most of it is romanticized. But yes, " admitted Conrad, "I have seen it. I have seen what lies beyond the Fog."

The guards looked at each other startled. They finally remembered that old story, one they had heard when they were still kids and almost forgot. The man in front of them was their childhood hero!

The High Guard looked at the other soldiers and shook his head. "Well, Admiral, your suicidal ways are not my problem. The fugitive is a fifteen-year-old merfolk girl. I will need Miss Cossak to undress for an inspection."

Tui trembled from the creepiness of the soldier's voice, but that wasn't the issue. She was a mermaid of the purest of blood. As such, she could retract the fins on her hands and feet. However, she could never hide the spots of blue scales on the sides of her arms, hips, and legs. Thankfully, they had thought of a solution in advance.

Conrad stepped in once more, putting himself in between the girl and the High Guard.

"What are you doing Admiral? Do you even remember the punishment for resisting an Imperial Mandate?"

"I remember, but it won't be necessary." Having said that, Hopps produced a scroll from his jacket and passed it to Conrad, who then extended it to the High Guard. On the scroll was a golden sigil, a lion roaring at the sky. Only one person in the Borian Empire had permission to use a golden sigil.

"This is a permit from Emperor Leonidas Crux IV, given to me personally in light of my actions in the war. A one-time pass to ignore Imperial Law."

The High Guard's jaw dropped. "But why? Why would you use something so precious if that girl is not the fugitive?"

"I am old and I will never get to use it. Protecting the modesty of a young girl seems worth it," answered the old man with a sincere smile.

Behind the High Guard, the eyes of the town guards were shining. A legendary hero, and a man of such honor and gentleness! They were blessed to have met him even once!

At the same time, Rall frowned. This man is a deceiver. I need to be careful.

"Sir, is there anything else?"

The document could not be forged, the signature held the unique energy of the Imperial Family. The Guard sighed, then ripped off the scroll.

Finally, he stepped out of the way of the carriage. "Welcome to Sturmwater, Admiral Delaux."

"Thank you!" Conrad said with a smile, before turning to the town guards. "Tomorrow at the Wrecked Vessel, I will be recruiting men and women alike to serve on my ship. Feel free to spread the news."

They smiled and nodded affirmatively, while the old guard held the official navy salute.

In these kinds of towns, the guards liked to gossip as much as old ladies. The information would reach all interested ears in less than a day.