Chapter 157: The Silence Before the Storm

The sea stretched endlessly before them, dark and still beneath the heavy sky. The wind barely stirred the sails, and the air carried no scent of salt, only a strange stillness that set everyone on edge. The ship cut through the water like a blade, leaving behind the cursed ruins of the Dead Isles. The further they sailed, the thinner the mist became, but the unease remained, lingering in the air like an unspoken warning.

Damien stood at the prow, his steel-gray eyes locked on the horizon. His hands were steady, his posture unwavering, but inside, his thoughts churned like a storm. They had sealed the door, but the damage had been done. The Abyss had seen them. And now, whatever was on the other side was waiting.

Carys approached, her boots barely making a sound against the deck. "No sign of pursuit," she said. "But that doesn't mean we're safe."