“If you could go to the continent, where do you think you would you go first?” Cyril asked Corin.

The two of them sat at the edge of the beach, the warm sand covering their feet. Staring out into the sea, basking in the infinite blue expanse. That was one of the brothers’ favorite things to do.

Corin was caught unaware by his brother’s questions. Every now and then he would ask these questions after minutes of silence.

“If I could go to the continent, where would I go? Well that's easy, I would never go to the continent, so I don't even have to think about it.” Corin declared proudly after thinking about it.

Cyril laughed at his younger brother's remark. Sometimes Corin’s brash attitude caught him by surprise.

“Well why would I ever want to go?” Corin was slightly upset at his brother laughing at his response. “I have everything I could want here? It’s bad enough we deal with leviathans and dragons, but there are also giants that we would have to worry about? I think I'm ok right here.”

“But think about the things that Simeon told us! Wouldn't you like to see Bartaz’s wall that spans such a distance that it would take the strongest steed a full ten day of galloping to cover?” Cyril began. Unlike his brother he only saw the opportunity in such an adventure, not the dangers. “Or the inland sea of Brusk, said to be the watery grave of a giant who faced Takaxliet in combat? Or the abandoned city of Vivenah, that is said to have been home to a civilization almost as old as the oldest titan? What kind of civilization lived there? Or the tree top palaces of the forest giants?”

Corin remained silent. He brooded as he stared out into the ocean, picturing the great big continent, with all the dangers it posed.

“No?” Cyril asked with a large smile.

“Trinixo has all I need.” Corin replied matter of factly.

Cyril laughed at his brother’s remark.

A sudden push woke Corin up.

As he opened his eyes the first thing he saw was an animated Livia. With her eyes closed, Corin could tell that she was in the process of describing something with precise details to someone in her dreams. Whenever she did so she would begin to move her hands, pointing out specifics about her dream inventions, and flail from side to side. Being woken up by one of Livia's dream explanations was a common occurrence for Corin.

“Dad… I told you… it is meant… not like that, like this.” Livia muttered.

Corin could barely contain his urge to laugh. Any meeting between Livia and her father ended in some sort of disagreement over how a certain process or item should be handled.

After looking at Livia for several more seconds, Corin closed his eyes. But it did not work. No matter how long he tried, sleep was eluding him. He decided to walk around for a bit. He quietly got up and walked up to the steps.

As he stepped up the stairs, the sound of the sea loudened. Corin could hear the rhythmic ebb and flow of the ocean. He could also feel the saltspray in his face, it was a nice cooling sensation. It almost made being in a small vessel in the middle of the ocean worth it, almost. Corin reached the top, to where an awning covered the hatch.

Corin walked beyond it, to the ship's bow to take in the sights of the sea around them.

It was as Simeon had told him.

In every direction he looked the only thing Corin could see was a large black expanse that stretched out. In the pitch black night all that could be seen was the moon and its reflection on the crystalline sea. Beyond that everything was a jet black endless expanse.

Corin held the pendant in his hand as he stared out into the sea.

Cyril. Why do you keep appearing in my dreams?

So many years have passed, and I would barely see you in my dreams. But now, now you are an almost daily presence? Why?

Why now?

Is there something that you are trying to tell me?

Corin held onto the pendant tightly, as if he expected an answer.

“Seems like something is troubling you my boy.” A familiar voice said.

Corin turned around quickly, his heart nearly jumping out of his chest. He balled up his fists as if expecting an imminent attack.

The familiar voice belonged to Simeon. He was lying on the awning, staring out into the sea. Corin had forgotten that it was Simeon’s turn to be on watch.

“Sorry about that Corin, didn't mean to scare you.” Simeon said.

Simeon relished the opportunity to be the night sentry. All six nights they had spent at sea he had told the group he would be taking over night watch. Normally they would take shifts during the night, but Simeon had refused. He had never been a fan of cramped spaces and he seemed to genuinely enjoy the quiet nights at sea.

“By Jokasta, Simeon. Next time just drive a knife straight through my heart if you're plotting on ending me.” Corin said as his heart struggled to calm down.

“Hahaha, I'll keep that in mind.” Simeon laughed. “Reminds me of Cyril always jumping out of every corner trying to catch me by surprise.”

Corin laughed at this. It had been a while since he had thought about it. It was part of Cyril's “training” that he undertook to try to be as good a hunter as Simeon.

“He never could catch you by surprise could he?” Corin said.

“Well no. He did come close to it on some occasions. But I never admitted to it.” Simeon laughed, and he took a breath. “That brother of yours, he really was something.”

Corin could not help but laugh as well. He remembered how intent Cyril had been on “hunting” Simeon and how frustrated he would get at never catching him by surprise.

The two of them were silent, observing the sea.

“So what is it my boy?” Simeon asked from the awning.

He landed with such grace next to Corin that it was almost as if he was weightless. Not even the slightest sound could be heard.

“I, I– I don't know why, but lately I’ve dreamt about him. But a lot, more than usual. I feel as if he is trying to tell me something, but I don’t know what it could be.” Corin said while keeping his eyes on the sea.

“I see.” Simeon said as he thought about it for a second. He got up and got off the awning, and walked next to Corin to observe the sea with him.

“Is there anything specific you dream about?” Simeon asked.

“Most times, it is just a repeat of that day. When Arandu and Telletiuh met. In those dreams I try to tell myself to not leave, to bring him with me, but there is no use. My body does not listen to me, it just follows along with what happened that day. I know that if I leave him, it will be the last time I see him, but it doesn’t matter. I always leave. I always leave him to die, and I never see him again.” Corin said.

“Aye my boy. That thinking is not going to do you any good.” Simeon replied with a stern tone. “Nothing was going to take your brother away from the village. When he agreed to stay back from the hunting party he knew that he was to take care of the rest of the village no matter what came.”

“But I left him there-” Corin began

“You came to us,” Simeon interjected, “and you let us know about the impending danger, no? Without you we would have continued on to the village and neither myself or Livia, and many others, would have probably died.”

Corin began to think of something to say, but again Simeon continued.

“Your brother did what he had to, for the survival of the village.” Simeon finished.

“I-” Corin began but he saw Simeon’s stern face.

“Thanks.” Corin said.

The two stood over the ship’s railing, staring at the sea.

Corin broke the silence.

“That’s not the only thing I dream about when it comes to Cyril. Sometimes I remember other conversations I would have with him. A lot of times he would talk about the continent. He would always wonder what he would find there if he ever went there. He would talk of all the different places you told him, and wonder how amazing they must be to witness in person.” Corin said.

“Did he tell you that? I remember him asking me endlessly about the different wonders in the continent. About Bartaz's wall. If it was true that it would take a steed ten days to cross.” Simeon said.

“Well, is it true?” Corin asked.

“Well,” Simeon began, “I never did try riding for a full ten day across it, but it was very large and impressive.”

“He also mentioned the tree top palaces of the forest giants.” Corin said.

“Ah what a sight to behold. Worth the risk of being discovered by them.” Simeon laughed.

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“He also loved the story of the abandoned city, Vivenah. He always wondered about what kind of civilization built it.” Corin said.

To this Simeon was quiet, he was lost in thought as if something Corin had said perplexed him.

“Vivenah you said?” Simeon asked.

“Yes Vivenah. Cyril would always say that its founding dated back to the first giants. He always wanted to know what its inhabitants looked like.” Corin replied.

“Well that’s odd.” Simeon said as he kept pondering.

“What is?” Corin asked.

“That name, Vivenah. I keep thinking but I don't ever recall hearing such a name. If Cyril did indeed tell you about it, I wonder where he heard it from.” Simeon muttered as he spoke lost in thought.

“Oh.” Corin looked to the sea in confusion. He was sure that he had heard about Vivenah from Cyril.

“Perhaps he heard it from someone outside Ankur.” Simeon said finally giving up on trying to determine the origin of the mystery city.

“Perhaps.”

***

It was now early evening. Corin's stomach was rumbling. His time on watch would be coming to an end soon, and all he had to look forward to eating was fish.

The thought of eating fish again made Corin’s stomach turn over in disgust.

“Just one more day, and then we'll be back on solid ground.” Corin muttered to himself.

While Corin did not mind being on the ship at first as much as he thought he would, the monotony of life on the boat got to him quickly. His days of talking with his wife and the others, of playing the same card games with them, unintentionally enraging Nanaua for what she perceived to be underhanded tactics by Corin, going on guard duty, and eating the same food was starting to wear on him.

The only activity that he looked forward to was Zhi’s lessons on the draconic alphabet. Corin could now identify around two thirds of the nearly fifty letters that comprised the alphabet and could understand how to form certain words and to write some simple sentences.

One of the first things Corin learned to write was a recipe for a pumpkin pie. Corin had never seen a pumpkin and now he was curious what a pie made of pumpkins would taste like.

Zhi herself could only utter certain words from the alphabet, other words required the physiology of the dragons to both speak and understand. Hearing Zhi speak specific words sent a shiver through Corin's spine. It reminded him of the dragon attack on his home many years ago. It was only natural since those same words allowed Zhi to cast her different magics.

Livia learned all the letters within three days of beginning the lessons, and was able to write several paragraphs by the seventh day. Even Simeon, who had spent a major portion of his life surrounded by the letters in that alphabet, had not picked it up as easily.

Nanaua, who had learned some of the alphabet previously, took little interest in the lessons. As a furtive servant to a Titan, her entire life she had been taught that the furtives should not learn the alphabet for its negative effects on their minds. What exactly those effects might be were never described but it was enough that she had a deeply settled fear that some type of madness might set in if she ever learned the alphabet. Of course she had long ago learned that there was no truth to such tales, but it was hard for her to forget something like that easily.

But Corin’s next lesson would have to wait. They had already met up for their last lesson of the trip that day and they were not sure of continuing their lessons on land. If a rumor spread that there were furtives in the continent who could read and write the draconic alphabet then the amount of eyes looking for them would certainly increase.

RING!

Corin looked down the stairs beneath the awning to see what exactly the noise was. He knew that Livia and the rest should be having dinner and was curious why they were trying to get his attention. He started to go down the hatch when he heard it again.

RING!

Corin stopped dead in his tracks. The ringing sound was not coming from below decks, it was coming from the bow of the ship.

No please, no.

RING!

Corin ran to the bow and looked down. He saw it ringing clear as day, the bell that was attached to the Titan detector was ringing loudly. In their nine days at sea it had been quiet.

We must have several minutes before we encounter them. Maybe they'll miss us. Maybe they're not even moving in our direction.

The truth was laid before Corin’s eyes quickly. A slow churning whirlpool started to materialize. The calm seas that Corin had been enjoying just a second ago had instantly disappeared.

“No, no. No!” Corin screamed.

He ran to the hatch and yelled.

“Leviathan!” As he got up to look at the edge of the boat he felt the boat suddenly lurch sideways.

Corin lost his footing. The next second he was falling backwards, facing the sky.

His back slammed into a hard surface, it took Corin's breath out of him, but soon he was sinking into the sea. Once he was in the water he started falling fast. It was as if he was being dragged down by something.

As he was being dragged Corin turned to face towards the whirlpool to see what was attacking them. Corin could not believe what he was seeing.

There close to him he saw them again. A giant pair of black eyes filled with hatred that he thought he would never have to see again. The same pair of large eyes he and the rest of the group had seen after escaping from the underwater palace. Those black eyes glared at Corin, who was only separated from the Leviathan by several armlengths. The island sized leviathan had his full attention on Corin.

“The furtive thief!” The deep voice resonated through the sea.

He, he spoke to me?

“You think you can steal from Arandu and live to tell it?” The deep voice seemed as if it was coming from all around him. Arandu's mandibles flared as he spoke.

I am going to die.

“Not only are you thieves but you are fools! You continue searching for the pieces of the artifact? The powers that you are searching for are beyond your comprehension. Your search will lead to the destruction of everything!” Arandu bellowed at Corin.

Corin could see the maelstrom that had knocked him off the ship continue to grow. Their ship would soon be swallowed whole at this rate.

Corin reacted. From inside one of his pockets he pulled out of one the metal canisters that Livia had prepared. It might not save him but it could save the others.

He crushed it in his hand and threw it in front of him.

As soon as he released it the metal canister was completely encased in a large ball of ice. The canister detonated tearing the ice ball apart but without producing the deafening noise or the blinding light.

“You fools already tried that on me once! Did you not think I would have learned after our first encounter? You furtives think you are the only clever ones! I knew you would come here! I waited, ready to destroy you and your fellow thieves. After I am done with you, I will destroy all furtives from your homeland! You will learn your place as the low lives you are!” Arandu's deep voice echoed.

A long tendril came out from Arandu. It wrapped itself around Corin and instantly started squeezing him. Arandu brought Corin nearer to his face.

Corin was now face to face with the leviathan. In the creature's presence Corin's thoughts all went away. This was not an attempt at doubting his fate, Corin knew he was mere seconds away from dying. There was only one thing that Corin could think about now.

I'm sorry Cyril.

I tried to do this for you, but I failed.

Maybe now we'll be together once again.

Corin could feel the tendrils tightening and his life slowly slipping away. He felt bones in his body breaking. Arandu was slowly but surely breaking him, exacting his revenge upon the furtive. The pain was so immense that Corin could barely hang on. He looked up, the ship his companions were on was caught in the ever growing maelstrom. There was no escaping the wrath of a Titan.

Corin looked into the leviathan's eyes, so clouded with rage.

“Furtives will never stop fighting.” Corin uttered with his last few breaths. He wasn't sure if anything he said could even be understood underwater.

“What was that?” Arandu's voice replied.

He heard a rumble from below the leviathan.

This is it.

The leviathan screamed. Corin felt the tendrils loosen around him. Corin looked into Arandu's eyes. No longer did he see the insatiable rage, something else had replaced that feeling.

Is that? Is that fear?

In one second Arandu was in front of Corin and the next he was being pulled into the abyss beneath him.

What is happening?

Corin looked up above. The maelstrom that was pulling his friends up was beginning to dissipate.

Corin attempted to move his body, to swim to the surface, but his body would not respond. Arandu's tendrils had crushed his body. Even if he made it to the surface he was sure to die. Nothing could stop that.

As he felt his consciousness fade, he saw a bright light emanate from the abyss, to the depths from which Arandu disappeared.

In an instant a large figure appeared in front of him. One larger than anything Corin had ever seen.

What is this?

The figure in front of Corin was unlike anything he had ever seen. It was long like a snake, but it seemed to be covered in colorful resplendent feathers instead of scales. Its face was long, like a dragon's face, but its gaze did not inspire fear, it inspired…

What a beautiful feeling.

Such calmness, such bliss.

Corin did not feel as if he was drowning anymore. Despite the fact that he had not breathed air since being dragged into the sea, he felt as if he was above sea. He felt his lungs fill with air. The excruciating pain that had overcome his body from being crushed by Arandu disappeared.

The figure’s massive head neared Corin's face. As he did so a warmness overcame Corin. He was now being slowly pushed to the surface, but it felt as if he was being slowly pushed, gently and with the utmost of care.

Corin could not help but look back at his savior. Whoever it was.

As Corin neared the surface he could see the feathered dragon turn around and dive into the deep recesses of the sea.

He breached the surface.

“Corin!” Livia screamed out his name.

Corin heard the water next to him splash.

He looked over and saw his friend Simeon’s face drenched in water.

“Corin my boy. Are you hurt?” Simeon asked him. He could see that Simeon’s eyes were red.

Corin just stared back at Simeon.

Why are you sad Simeon. I am here.

“I thought I lost you my boy. I can't go through that again.” Simeon said as he stifled the tears.

Corin looked to the ship. Everyone looked concerned for him.

But I am here.

“Come boy. Let's get you out of here.” Simeon said.

Simeon pulled Corin to the ship and both were brought in by Nanaua.

On board the ship the group looked over Corin. They looked at his limbs, his eyes, his face, everything on him to see if anything was wrong with him. Corin did not react during this, he was merely amused by his companions, not bothered by anything and simply content of being there in the moment.

“He seems to be fine.” Livia said as she looked at the others.

Corin continued to stare at the others in a haze.

“Corin my boy. What happened to you? One second we heard you screaming about a leviathan and then you were gone! We saw the large whirlpool and thought we were all going to our graves.” Simeon said.

“Oh yes. Arandu laid a trap for us.” Corin replied in calm voice.

Upon hearing the leviathan’s name, the rest of the party went silent.

“Arandu, but how? How did he know? The device should have detected him.” Livia asked.

“He waited for us. He knew we would come to seek the rest of the artifact.” Corin replied in the same calm affectation.

The group looked at each other in terror.

“They know.” Zhi started.

“They know what we are planning on doing.” She finished.

“But how Corin? How did you manage to escape? How are you alive? How are any of us alive?” Livia asked him.

Corin looked at her. A deep confusion set in.

“Well he… Arandu, he was dragged into the depths of the ocean.” Corin answered.

“He was dragged into the depths? Did another leviathan attack him?” Simeon asked confused.

Him and Livia seemed more concerned with Corin than figuring out how they were still alive.

“Did another leviathan attack him?” Corin replied with the same question. He struggled to remember what happened after Arandu had been snatched into the depths.

“Yes, my boy. How exactly did Arandu get dragged into the ocean?” Simeon asked.

“I remember calm. Yes that's right. I remember feeling such joy, such bliss.” Corin said while looking at no one in particular.

“Corin, just how did you-” Livia began but Simeon raised his hand.

“Corin, it seems like you have had a long day. Your watch is over. Why don't you go eat something and get some rest?” Simeon said.

Corin still had a hard time understanding why everyone else was so concerned.

“Ah yes. I am quite hungry.” Corin said as he laughed. No one else in the group laughed with him.

“I think I'll do that and get some rest. It has been a long day.” Corin said as he got up and went downstairs.

Just as he said he ate and went to sleep. He did not remember the last time sleep came so quickly to him. His dreams were pleasant and nothing about the previous day bothered him during the night.

***

Unlike other times the night watch this time was taken up by all remaining members. Livia, Zhi, Nanaua and Simeon kept a close eye on the waters. Even the smallest fish jumping out of the sea was enough to scare any of them.

“So what was it then? What do you think could have done that?” Nanaua asked Simeon.

The two had been standing next to each other. This was the first time any of them had spoken since Corin had been pulled out of the water.

“What do I think?” Simeon responded.

“Well? Do you think it was another leviathan?” Nanaua asked.

Simeon was silent.

“Everything in being points to that being the case. There is nothing else that I know of that can face a Leviathan and best it. But Arandu is a formidable leviathan. One of the strongest of his kin. This domain here belongs to Arthax. As a leviathan close to the coast of the great continent he is well known.” Simeon finished.

“So you think it was this Arthax? A territorial dispute?” Nanaua asked.

“Well Arthax, though well known, is not as mighty as Arandu. Even the prime Leviathan Anciudu would have to struggle quite a bit in putting away Arandu.” Simeon replied.

The silence ensued once more.

“But perhaps,” Nanaua started “perhaps there is more to the story that Corin did not tell us? He seems to be forgetful.” Nanaua replied.

Slowly Zhi had moved away from her post. She was standing close to them, listening though trying to be secretive as well.

“Let me ask you something Nanaua.” Simeon began, "Have you ever seen two titans fight?”

“I have not. It is not wise or common for titans to engage each other. No Titan leaves a clash unscathed.” Nanaua said.

“Precisely.” Simeon said.

“What?” Nanaua said.

“A struggle between titans, a true clash, would have caused an untold amount of carnage. Not the relative quiet with which Arandu was dispatched. That is what you mean, isn't it Simeon?” Livia finished.

“Yes, that's correct. Although I myself have only been a witness to a small number of titan clashes, the end result is always the same. Catastrophe on a scale that cannot be imagined.” Simeon replied.

“So if not titans then what was it?” Zhi asked.

Everyone looked at Simeon, hoping that the old apeman might provide some sort of insight that they all were missing.

“The sea is deep and full of mysteries.” Simeon replied.

The answer was not what any of them expected, but they all knew that whatever had occurred was something that they could not comprehend. All they could hope is that whatever lurked under them, whatever that being was, would not turn its attention towards them.

They all quieted and went back to their sentry duties.