Chapter 46: Otelia Griffiths

Liya turned her head and locked eyes with the crimson gaze of Beatrice. A wave of chilling fear surged from the depths of her heart, uncontrollable and sudden.

"When Miltar comes up, make sure to mention it to him as well. Beatrice will help keep watch." Ian didn't elaborate further, simply reminding them not to mistake her for an enemy.

With a flutter of wings, Beatrice shot into the sky, moving with astonishing speed. Ian narrowed his eyes. Through his "perspective," the Leviathan and Swordfish below were quickly shrinking, the distant scenery expanding in his view.

As Beatrice ascended, the horizon opened up. The night sky and distance had no effect on her vision—night vision and long-range sight were her innate abilities.

It felt as though Ian had truly become a raven. The howling sea wind, the cold, damp air, and the pervasive salty scent filled his senses. Though he couldn't fly himself, he had experienced the sensation of freedom in flight.

It was an incredible feeling.

After flying for several kilometers, Beatrice's sensory link was interrupted, and Ian could only receive her transmissions through the mental connection. From the moment Beatrice was born from Ian's spirit, she had instinctively grasped all the basic knowledge Ian possessed. The mental link was more direct and timely than spoken words. She was like a curious child, constantly sending Ian updates on the new things she encountered.

Hmm... not much of use, it seems. Looks like I have another one to teach.

Beatrice continued flying outward, the mental link still stable, far from reaching its limit. Ian issued a warning to her to stay alert and not wander too far, then closed the link. If there were critical information, she'd "knock" on the connection to alert him.

…

Ian turned around to meet the curious gazes of Liya and Miltar. It was the first time they'd participated in a sea battle today, and their victory was overwhelming. Miltar, still excited, hadn't been able to calm down and had run out to join Ian when he heard the commotion outside.

"That's my new familiar. It's just one for now, but there might be more later." Ian explained to them, offering a simple clarification.

Miltar patted his chest, "It... it looked right at me earlier. Kinda scary."

Beatrice's appearance was indeed striking. While it intimidated others, it also made it less inconspicuous.

"Don't worry, it won't attack unless provoked." Ian reassured them, knowing that Beatrice's presence had a natural aura that could unsettle anyone, especially with her power to disturb the souls of other living beings.

Miltar had long since gotten used to Ian's surprises and hadn't thought much more about it. But Liya, however, hadn't had a moment to process everything yet. From the moment she boarded the ship until now, she had been overwhelmed by one shock after another.

Everything she'd experienced today made the Sea of Miracles feel strangely unfamiliar and had shattered her perceptions of Ian. Perhaps more than anything, it was that she truly didn't understand the man who was such a mystery to her.

"Captain, that battle was exhilarating." Miltar said, his face lighting up with excitement, clearly eager for more action.

Ian chuckled, watching Miltar. Normally reserved, Miltar seemed like an entirely different person when in combat—extremely focused and brimming with energy.

Liya leaned against the cannon, her gaze distant. "The battle today... was unbelievable. One ship and three people easily took down two larger, armed merchant ships without a scratch. I'd never heard of such a thing before."

She gently ran her hand along the base of the cannon. "This really is an extraordinary ship."

It wasn't new to move alchemical cannons onto ships, but their recoil was too strong for normal wooden sailboats to handle. The Leviathan's real strength lay in its speed and agility—something that rendered other wind-powered warships virtually obsolete. Only the latest steamships could possibly match it.

Speaking of the Leviathan, Miltar couldn't help but praise it. "The Leviathan is amazing. I can't even imagine what it will be like when it grows bigger."

Liya froze, her eyes widening. Still growing?

Ian smiled slightly, shaking his head. "Don't get ahead of yourself. We're short on manpower and ammunition. The problem is, as the Leviathan grows, the thick anchor chains we use can no longer precisely control the cannons."

"We need to expand. If you know anyone capable, feel free to recommend them, but they'll have to pass my approval first."

Ian turned to Miltar. "Miltar, as the gunner, you now have unlimited access to the ship's powder and ammunition. You need to master your cannon skills quickly. The Sea of Miracles is about to get even more chaotic, and sea battles are coming soon."

It wasn't just because Miltar's job as a gunslinger gave him extraordinary skills; Ian had also noticed Miltar's natural talent in the field. With his specialization, Miltar would be the best cannon user on the Leviathan in the future.

Ian's own alchemist abilities were more about controlling the fine balance of materials and energy, so while his "Precision" skill was great, Miltar's sharpshooting talent would surpass his in long-range combat.

Miltar was clearly thrilled. "Aye, Captain," he said, energized. He'd found true enjoyment in combat.

Ian then turned his gaze to Liya, eyes bright with curiosity. "I never took you for a cannon expert. I thought you were more of a landlubber, considering you've rarely been aboard a ship."

Under the dim light from the stern lantern, Liya didn't shy away from Ian's gaze. She had no intention of hiding her past:

"My real name is Otelia Griffiths. My father was an adventurer and captain. He, along with a group of explorers, was the first to discover the Rainbow Archipelago—a group of dozens of small islands to the southwest of the Lucia Islands.

My father and his friends landed on one of the smaller islands, which was covered in blue flowers that looked like flames. They named it Flame Island. After that, my father stopped adventuring and spent years building a small village, forging relationships with the local tribes.

It was there that he met my mother, and then I was born."

Liya turned her head, hugging her shoulders as she gazed out at the distant ocean. Her eyes grew distant, her voice soft but tinged with sorrow.

"When I was fourteen, a group of armed invaders attacked Flame Island. They didn't occupy the island, but instead, they destroyed everything. My parents... they died before my eyes. An uncle of mine took me aboard a ship, and we fled the island. But a year later, he too died in a storm.

It was during that disaster that I awakened my spirit, though I was fortunate not to be corrupted by it. I took up my father's profession as an extraordinary navigator."

Ian listened quietly, the sea breeze tousling Liya's hair. She seemed like she had never shared her story with anyone before. Her voice wavered like the crashing waves.

"I followed in my father's footsteps and became a captain. Over the years, I continued to investigate the band of raiders who attacked Flame Island, but found no leads.

It wasn't until I was nineteen that I learned from a pirate that the infamous pirate Avery had once raided the Rainbow Archipelago. I knew I couldn't match him on the sea, so I carefully prepared and attacked him when he docked at the pirate city Umbar, using alchemical gunpowder to blow up his ship.

Sadly, I only managed to destroy his vessel. He wasn't gravely injured, and I had to flee. Avery is a cursed sorcerer, and I became the target of his curse. I could never escape his senses, and for years, I was hunted down by him on the seas.

Eventually, he caught up with me, and my ship was sunk. I barely managed to escape by jumping into the sea. The curse took hold, and I was saved by Captain Abigail."

Liya looked at Ian, offering him a soft smile. "The curse I'm under is called the Sea Demon Curse. I can't board any ship or even enter the sea. If I appear in a maritime area, the sea demons of the spirit world will sense me, and my spirit will be corrupted.

Without your help, I would have likely died on Heaven Island or eventually succumbed to my vengeance and perished in some way."