To Seyil.

In the morning, Cetas, Skadi, the crewmembers, and the Historian were gathered inside the whitescape that the Historian conjured.

He donned a white cloak, covering his entire body. His eyes gleamed light and there was a wide grin on his face.

Skadi and the crewmembers were kneeling in front of the Historian, with Skadi being in the middle and the others on her side. Meanwhile, Cetas was unconscious and laid down in front of the Historian. 

With a somber tone, the Historian revealed the destination that Skadi and the others would be going to.

"Falkone.. Currently located on the Easter Port Town of Seyil, known to be recuperating after a devastating hit on his ship. Together with his 43 crewmembers, they have hidden themselves in society, blending to wait for the best opportunity to ransack before leaving the town."

"As you've all already known, Seyil is part of Aurora - the Eastern Region of Helios. Aurora only has 1 Port Town unlike its contrary region, Vespera. Since Aurora focuses on in-continental trading, it does not need Ports to traverse through the sea or travel the world. Hence why Falkone chose the Eastern Port Town of Seyil as his main location."

"The other Ports could be considered as Port Cities but Seyil is still underdeveloped. The lack of population and its eerie presence serves as the best location for someone as infamous as Falkone to hide. He could've chosen the Northern, Western, or Southern Ports but I think that those are too crowded and populated for him."

"Furthermore, the lack of guards in the Port Town of Seyil is quite concerning, it's like they have neglected the area completely. Although they still manage to sustain themselves, the town is akin to being abandoned."

Skadi, who was in a kneeling position, nodded along with the Historian's words, "The Duke of Aurora has always been xenocentric, perhaps it is due to his negligence that this Port and its people have been forgotten."

"You may be right..", The Historian replied with a casual tone, "However, let us not speculate further, you will go to Seyil to Hunt, right? Not to meddle in their political affairs.."

Skadi lowered her head further.

"Correct.."

Satisfied with her response, the Historian brought his right arm up, forming his fingers as if it were a net. Then, his mouth protruded a wide grin, his head then slightly turned to Cetas' sprawled figure.

"Skadi, Galkan, Jones, Reid, Elishia.. and Cetas. With my protection of the Omniscience, I grant thee passage to the Eastern Port Town of Seyil! Fell the root of evil known as Falkone! I pray for the safety of your bodies, soul, and Zeal!"

The whitescape started to shake, cracks formed in the ceiling and a black spot started to form underneath.

As if sucking light from below, it gradually started getting bigger and bigger, until it had finally consumed the floor below. Now, it enveloped Skadoi and the others' figures.

The Historian's fingers moved in a complex manner, it seemed that he was controlling some strings but in reality he was searching for the safest passage towards Seyil!

The lights in his eyes dimmed frequently, however, in a minute or two it began to glow uncontrollably. 

Then, his figure and the people in front of him started to float. Their feet disconnected from the darkness below and their bodies started to ascend upwards.

One by one, they lost consciousness.

At first it was Elishia, then it was Jones, Galkan, and then Reid. The last to lose consciousness is Skadi, who looked to have a calm demeanour painted on her face.

She raised her arm up to her chest, and bowed gracefully to the Historian's direction.

The Historian stared at her and nodded in response. Then, he closed his fingers all at once and formed a fist on his hands.

Suddenly, the darkness below dissipated and Skadi, along with her crew members, disappeared along with it. 

With a grin on his face, the Historian stared at the space where Skadi and the others floated a few seconds ago. He dispelled his robe, and the whitescape around him shattered into many pieces.

In an instant the Historian is sitting in front of his hut's porch, rocking his chair while reading a newspaper.

Various headlines were portrayed but none could pique his interest. He closed the newspaper and stood up to head towards the heart of the fields.

Another day of arduous work had befallen him.

With a silent breath, the Historian gazed up at the scorching sun and smiled.

"I pray for you all.."

*

Cetas awoke in the middle of an unfamiliar greenery.

He felt cold winds brush through his body as an unfamiliar sound of leaves swaying entered his pale ears. His dark-blue hair were pushed backwards and he felt a familiar feeling of cold soil on his arms.

It reminded him of the scenery where all of the crops were bent into a 90 degree angle.

Naturally, he jolted awake.

He looked around casually and saw tall figures in the surroundings. Thanks to the Historian's blessing, his mind gradually adjusted and he remembered that these were called trees. 

He gazed upwards and scanned the swaying leaves, staring at them with terror.

Compared to the tree in that vision, they are not as big. Another thing, on their branches are.. what is called as leaves?

The first tree that piqued Cetas' interest was the tree from the vision with 90 degree angle crops and black butterflies. That tree was withered, almost as if its life were being sucked.

There were no leaves, and no life

Only the existence of darkness and Decay remained.

Then, Cetas suddenly heard a proud voice from behind, it was deep but it contained a hint of arrogance within it.

"Boy, you've finally come to! Follow me, the others are nearby.."

Turning around, he saw the large figure of a bulky man with fiery-red hair. He remembered that the man's name is Galkan.

Galkan wore a black tank-top, revealing his chubby arms and paunchy belly. Cetas noticed that he wore baggy trousers and comfortable high-leather boots that seemed to carry his heavy weight.

Even though Galkan was chubby in nature, he seemed to be even stronger than a large shark!

Galkan is almost twice, if not thrice, the size of Cetas. He was clearly enhanced to the utmost physical limits, and it felt like he could pluck a tree with no effort whatsoever.

Cetas thought about it for a second and deduced that Galkan was a primary user of the Physique Zeal.

With every step he took, it seemed that the ground was burdened, leaving heavy footsteps behind.

Cetas followed through and in a moment, they arrived where the other crew members were.

"Skadi! He's here!" Galkan called for Skadi with an extraordinarily loud voice.

The graceful figure of the pirate captain turned around, her hair bouncing with her sudden moves. She donned the usual black tricorn with a golden rim, a black corset layered with a black coat, and tight fitting black trousers. 

Floating beside her, was a gun with a cannon-sized barrel.

"Cetas..", immediately, Skadi's eyes glowed green as she focused on Cetas' lanky figure, "I see. So the Historian casted invisibility upon you. I guess this is his way of protection."

Cetas' head tilted to the right, confused about the new term that his mind had not yet adjusted to, "Invisibility?"

"Yes, it means that no one would know that you are accompanied with us or that you are a depth-dweller. When one would stare at your figure, they would be implanted with temporary memories which would make them familiarize with you. To the others, you would simply be a normal citizen here in Seyil. You are nothing to Falkone and the others, hence why it is called invisibility."

"I- I see."

"Good. Alright then! Now that we are complete, we shall head to Seyil immediately and settle to blend in with their society! We shall act as lost sailors that eventually lost their way in the sea and thus landed upon Seyil. We need to gather information about Falkone and the other crew members. Once we've made our plan, we strike quickly and concisely!"

"My winds have gathered that we are currently near the heart of a forest near Seyil, no traveler takes this path as there are roads that are safe enough for them to pass through. Our risks of getting noticed should not be of any worry. Seyil is located to the south, and in a day's travel, we should be able to make it there safely."

"Everyone! Stay vigilant and watch your steps carefully!"

"Aye!" Everyone nodded their heads, including Cetas who almost stumbled upon his words.

The group slowly made their way south with Skadi in the vanguard, accompanied by Reid. Galkan stayed at the back with Elishia and Cetas while Jones was in the middle of all of them.

*

At Noon, the sun was covered in clouds, darkening the forest deep below.

Cetas and the others were carefully traversing the lush forest. In the past 5 hours, they have encountered nothing life-threatening, only mere snakes and bears that could easily be handled.

Although it was cloudy now, the Sun previously filtered through the leaves and emanated a blazing heat. Such heat could make the young Cetas faint in exhaustion, however, thanks to Skadi's cold winds, they remained in a temperate condition. 

Cetas could feel the cool breeze enter the pockets of his white blouse and black trousers.

It felt really soothing.

For the very first time he explored a forest. Such things did not exist in the Depths, the closest that he could think of were large coral reeves. Still, it didn't compare to the forest before him.

Walking beside Elishia and in front of Galkan, Cetas was naturally curious about his surroundings. Every now and then, he would ask questions to the two about the peculiar objects around him.

Almost every time, Elishia was the one to speak, providing information about different herbs and animals. 

Cetas was amazed at how much life could prosper above the sea. Ever since he had ascended above the Depths, he learned more and more new concepts every day!

Without even realizing, Cetas remembered that he had a flintlock pistol on his waist, on a holster specifically. It was hidden by his blouse and it didn't really stick out that much.

Suddenly, Cetas' curiosity once again bloomed, he saw a white flower beneath a tree glowing faintly. 

Raising his arms, he pointed in the direction of the flower and asked Elishia about it.

"What's that called?"

"Hmm?" Elishia gazed in the direction that Cetas pointed at and squinted her eyes. "Where?"

"That white flower over there, it's under a tree!'

5 seconds passed by and Elishia seemed confused, "I don't see any flowers in that direction.."

Gazing at Elishia's expression, Cetas curiously turned to the direction where he saw the flowers once more.

The flower emanated a faint light yet it seemed so small that Elishia could not see it!

"Oh! I see it! Huh? That's-"

Elishia's eyes widened, her face looked full of wonder and curiosity!

"That's a Luminous White Gel!"

Her loud voice alerted the crewmembers in the vanguard and they turned around quickly, asking about the situation.

Skadi was like the winds and made her way instantly to Elishia, "What happened?"

"Look! It's a Luminous White Gel! The flower that blooms once in 5 years and most importantly, Princess Auruea's favorite! It is said that this flower emanates a gel-like fluid on its petals and that very fluid can grant fair skin to any woman!"

Elishia turned her head towards Skadi, her eyes dazzling in curiosity!

"Skadi can you pluck it for me please!"

The golden-haired pirate captain warmly smiled and her eyes were filled with comfort, she raised her hand and placed it on top of Elishia's auburn-hair. 

"Sure.."

"Yes!"

Jumping around an all-excited, Elishia couldn't contain her happiness and smiled ear-to-ear.

Reid appeared beside her as if he had been hiding in the shadows.

"All this excitement for a flower?"

"Beat it, Reid! You don't know how important this is for a woman like me!"

"Woman? Someone as small as you?"

Elishia's hand curled up into a fist and her face was filled with irritation, "Why you!"

She swung at Reid's face but it was futile as Reid dodged to the left.

"See? Can't even throw a punch proper-" 

Suddenly, Elishia's first made its way to Reid's cheeks, shutting the latter's mouth.

"Ha! I got you! I can't believe it, I actually got you!"

Reid, with a fist still on his cheeks, furrowed his brows and responded with a petty tone:

"Your punch doesn't even hurt in the slightest!'

A shadow then loomed over Reid and Elishia's figure, staring at them with a furious intent. 

Possessing golden-blonde hair, and a fair face, the shadow held a white flower that emanated a faint glow on her delicate right hand.

Her beauty would've been otherworldly especially since she held a precious flower in her hand, however, it was the contrary. A face of fury gazed down upon Reid and Elishia.

Silence overtook the entire forest for 10 seconds.

Yet nothing happened.

Skadi's fury-painted face turned into a bright smile, the flower in her hand glowed ever-so slightly.

To an unfamiliar eye, she would've looked like a goddess!

"Elishia, I plucked the flower.. Here."

Extending her right hand, Elishia received the flower and the fear within her heart dissipated. 

She felt the gel-like fluid on the petals of the flower, and her eyes were bewildered.

The fluid seemed to have soothe the skin on the tips of her fingers. 

With that, Skadi urged them to continue their journey, heading to the vanguard and pacing along while treading carefully. 

With Reid coming back to the vanguard, Elishia smiled gracefully. 

Cetas, who was curious about one thing, asked Elishia with a soft tone.

"Who's Princess Auruea?"

Elishia seemed to be reserved to answer but in a few seconds she spoke back to Cetas.

"..She's the kindest Princess in Helios," Elishia gazed down at the white flower, touching the petals delicately, "Ah, I wonder where the Princess is right now.."