The Crowned Hydra

We woke up early under the cold breeze, packed everything, put out the fire, and moved on. According to Dorian, we just needed to follow the road to reach the port. As time passed, we crossed paths with other travelers, always friendly and helpful, who greeted us warmly. We also encountered exotic animals and lush vegetation, breathtaking in its beauty.

"Saito, where are we going? My map doesn't show anything from around here."

"We're going first to the city of Drakvar."

"I'm excited to see it, it must be as impressive as the one we passed through."

"It should be, since it's one of the Hydra's heads."

"Hydra, what's that?"

"Hydra is a legend about a giant creature with three heads on a single body."

"Sounds really dangerous, maybe we shouldn't go to that city."

"It's just a myth, it doesn't exist."

"Then why did you say it's one of the Hydra's heads?"

"In my backpack, there's a book. Take it and open to page 73, you'll see."

Clarice crawled over to my backpack, grabbed Sylvain's book, and started flipping through it.

"On page 73, there's the Crowned Hydra. Is this it?"

"Yes, that's the one."

"I like reading out loud. Can I?"

"Sure."

The Crowned Hydra—that was the title echoed through the ages, attributed to the Varethion family. A name that would become synonymous with wealth, power, and absolute control over trade.

But to understand the rise of the Varethions, we must go back to the turbulent years following the Great War, when humans emerged victorious over the other races.

With that victory, the city of Baldorim, capital of the kingdom of Duskrim, was granted to the rule of Ulthar Drakareth Varethion, a leader whose fate was deeply entwined with the development and expansion of the city.

With the arrival of new settlers, Baldorim revealed itself to be a land full of wildlife—a paradise for hunters and fur traders. The economy quickly flourished, and the need to transport this abundance became clear.

Trade expanded beyond the city walls, and Baldorim began exporting its riches to other kingdoms. However, there was one obstacle threatening its growth: maritime transport. Trade with the northern kingdoms, their biggest clients, depended on unstable and inefficient navigation, making each trip a gamble between fortune and shipwreck.

The seas around Baldorim were treacherous, full of erratic currents and unpredictable storms. In certain stretches, the instability of the waters made shipwreck a certainty, mercilessly claiming ships and crews.

Kael Thalvaren Varethion, determined to conquer the seas and turn this weakness into strength, dedicated years to studying tides, winds, and navigation routes. He didn't do it from a luxurious hall, but by risking his own life, facing the seas with stubborn courage.

There were many failed voyages, ships destroyed, crews lost, returns to port with vessels in pieces. Some began to call him mad, mocking his obsession and claiming he was only condemning himself to death. But Kael didn't give up.

At his side was Drakvar, his most loyal companion and trusted navigator. Besides helping him explore maritime routes, Drakvar played a key role in shipbuilding, ensuring the vessels were strong enough to withstand the perilous waters. His naval skill and experience were invaluable. Together, they braved ruthless seas until, on one of these journeys, fate separated them forever.

A devastating storm swallowed the ship they were on. Kael was rescued by fishermen on a beach days later, but Drakvar never returned, vanishing into the depths of the ocean. The pain of loss was deep, but Kael wouldn't let his friend's sacrifice be in vain. More determined than ever, he finally discovered the perfect route—a safe path, free from the traps of treacherous waters.

It was then that Kael made a bold decision. He ordered the construction of two ports strategically placed at the safest southern and northern points, naming them Southport Spear and Northport Spear. But one name still needed to be engraved in history.

In honor of the man who died beside him at sea, Kael named the southern port city Drakvar. Under his leadership, a fleet of vessels was created, turning the kingdom of Duskrim into a maritime powerhouse.

In just a few years, Baldorim's products were crossing the seas with safety and speed, cementing the commercial supremacy of the Varethion family.

With transport secured, the Varethions signed a treaty with Arkanis, a kingdom strategically positioned to distribute goods arriving through the ports.

However, it was Cassian Velmorian Varethion who saw the next step in the family's rise. From a young age, Cassian displayed sharp intelligence—not just for trade, but for diplomacy. While others saw only goods and gold, he saw strategic opportunities.

With remarkable insight, he negotiated directly with kings and lords, stitching together advantageous deals for the distribution of Baldorim's goods. Years of alliances, treaties, and well-calculated promises followed. But Cassian wouldn't be satisfied being just a middleman—he wanted more.

After countless negotiations, he acquired vast land in the kingdom of Velkanis, a territory strategically located for commercial flow. There, he built his own city—a merchant stronghold that quickly became the largest trade city in the North.

Its streets turned into a boiling pot of merchants, travelers, and traders from all over the world, once and for all solidifying the Varethions' commercial dominance.

To ensure their goods reached even the most distant markets with efficiency and safety, Cassian created a highly organized force of distributors, trained to handle large volumes of merchandise, protect caravans from raiders, and keep the family's interests always ahead of competitors.

This true army of merchants, messengers, and escorts traveled to the four corners of the world, carrying the Varethion mark and ensuring their influence spread like never before.

Over time, the structure of the family's empire solidified: Baldorim, governed by House Drakareth, became the heart of hunting and production; House Thalvaren, with its unmatched fleet, controlled the maritime routes; and House Velmorian reigned over trade and the distribution of wealth.

And that's how the Varethion family earned its legendary title: The Crowned Hydra. Three heads, one body. Three pillars supporting an empire.

United, they became the richest and most influential family in the world. An unstoppable force, impossible to overthrow.

Clarice leaned back in the cart, reflecting on every detail of the story.

"Wow, I don't even know what to say."

"That's it, they're the richest family in the world."

"Wait, it mentions northern lands here, but they're not even on my map."

"There's a map in my backpack, you can grab it and take a look."

Clarice rummaged through my backpack until she found the map. When she opened it, her eyes widened in amazement.

"What? These lands really exist?"

"Yes, that's the whole world."

"It's much bigger than I imagined. Saito, are we going to travel through all these places?"

"It's hard to say, but if it's necessary, yes."

"I can't wait to visit every corner..." Clarice ran her fingers across the map, a cheerful smile on her face.

✧༺⚔༻✧

The days passed peacefully. We encountered no danger, no bandits or wild animals. Along the way, we came across traveling merchants, some escorted by guards under the banner of the Varethion family—the Crowned Hydra. Perhaps due to this strong security, the route was so safe and calm.

Clarice still hesitated when I hunted for meat, but over time, she became a little more flexible.

After 18 days of travel, we finally caught sight of Drakvar, and beyond it, the vast ocean revealed itself in all its grandeur.

Clarice stopped in her tracks, her wide eyes shining with a mix of surprise and wonder. The salty wind tousled her hair as she placed a hand on her chest, as if trying to hold back her emotion.

"This is amazing…" she whispered, her voice almost lost in the sea breeze.