Under the Starlit Sky

The night sky stretches endlessly above us, deep and vast, speckled with stars that glimmer like scattered embers. The sea to the west is calm, its surface reflecting the pale glow of the moon, waves lapping gently against the shore. The salt-laced breeze carries the sounds of Velia's evening life—soft chatter, the occasional clink of tankards, the distant hum of a lute from somewhere near the docks.

It is a perfect night for conversation.

Which is how we find ourselves gathered around a small firepit near the cliffs, warmed by the flames and the company of familiar faces.

Isolde sits on a crate, arms crossed, watching Elias with an amused expression. Joran, the trader we met earlier, leans back against a barrel, chewing on a strip of dried fish. And Seraphine, the sharp-eyed security officer, stands with her back to the sea, posture relaxed but always observant.

"So," Isolde muses, stretching her legs, "you two finally getting your bearings?"

I nod, adjusting my position on the wooden bench. "More or less."

Elias snorts. "Less, actually."

Joran laughs. "That's an understatement. You lot really showed up outta nowhere, huh?"

Elias smirks. "You could say that."

Seraphine tilts her head. "Then tell me this—how much do you actually know about where you are?"

Elias and I exchange a glance.

Then—simultaneously—

"Velia."

Silence.

Isolde chokes on her drink.

Joran stares.

Seraphine blinks slowly. "That's it?"

I shrug. "It's a nice place?"

Elias nods solemnly. "Good fish, too."

Joran bursts into laughter, shaking his head. "By the spirits, you two are hopeless."

——

And so, the lesson begins.

"Alright," Isolde sighs, shifting forward. "Let's start simple. You're in Balenos."

Elias raises a hand. "And that is…?"

"A province," she explains. "One of many in this part of the world."

Seraphine nods. "Balenos covers Velia, along with a few scattered farms and outposts. It's a coastal region, mostly reliant on fishing and trade."

I hum. "So Velia is the… capital?"

Seraphine snorts. "Not even close. The capital of Balenos is Olvia, further up the coast to the north."

Elias frowns. "So why isn't Olvia more important?"

"Used to be," Joran says. "But people started moving inland for better opportunities. It's quieter now, but still there."

Elias nods, trying to absorb the information. "So, Velia is…?"

"A trade hub," Isolde clarifies. "A lot of goods come in through the docks here. But the real power is further inland."

Seraphine gestures vaguely eastward. "Which brings us to Heidel."

Elias and I both perk up at the name.

"Heidel," I repeat. "That sounds… significant."

Joran smirks. "Because it is."

Seraphine nods. "Heidel is the capital of Serendia, the next province over. Much bigger than Velia. It's where most of the trade, politics, and military activity happens in this region."

Elias leans forward, interested. "So if we wanted to get involved in something bigger…"

"That's where you'd go," Seraphine confirms.

I absorb the information slowly, trying to visualise it in my mind.

Balenos is the province. Velia is small but important for trade. Olvia is the old capital.

And beyond it, to the east, is Serendia, where Heidel dominates.

It is… starting to make sense.

A little.

——

Elias rubs his temples. "Alright. I think I'm following. But let's break this down even further."

Isolde raises an eyebrow. "How much further?"

Elias grins. "Velia is where we are."

"Yes," she deadpans.

"Olvia is up the coast, northward."

"Correct."

"And Heidel is further inland, east of us."

"Yes."

Elias nods, satisfied.

Then—after a pause—he adds,

"So where's the rest of the world?"

Joran wheezes.

Isolde looks like she wants to strangle him.

Seraphine pinches the bridge of her nose. "Are you serious?"

"Completely," Elias replies.

I sigh, shaking my head. "You have to explain it slowly, or he won't get it."

Seraphine groans, rubbing her temple. "Fine. To the west, across the sea, is Calpheon—one of the biggest powers in this world."

Joran grins. "Rich folks. Strong military. And an attitude to match."

I tilt my head. "So if we sailed west, we'd end up in Calpheon?"

Isolde nods. "Yes. But good luck getting in without the right connections."

Elias hums thoughtfully. "And if we went east?"

"More of Serendia," Seraphine says. "Then beyond that, you'd eventually hit Mediah."

Joran whistles. "And that's a whole different beast."

Elias frowns. "Mediah?"

"A land of war," Seraphine explains. "Not as rich as Calpheon, but powerful in its own way. Used to be devastated by conflict, but it's rising again."

Elias and I exchange a glance.

This is… a lot.

And yet, the pieces are falling into place.

Velia. Balenos. Serendia. Heidel.

Beyond it, Calpheon to the west, Mediah to the east.

And beyond that?

An entire world we have yet to see.

——

Joran tosses a fish bone into the fire, stretching his legs. "So? You two finally feeling less lost?"

Elias snorts. "Not really."

I hum. "But at least we know where the land ends."

Joran laughs. "That's a start."

Isolde leans back, smirking. "So, what's next for you two?"

Elias shrugs, but I can see the spark of thought in his eyes.

A plan is forming.

Slowly.

But surely.

I glance up at the endless stretch of stars above us.

For the first time, they feel less distant.

Less unreachable.

Because now?

We have a direction.

We just need to decide which way to go.