Chương 61: The Ocean Beyond Aldwyn

"Good morrow to you, stranger." The cloaked man stared at Enel, then once again at the pyre, then back at Enel again. For a moment there, he looked frozen… until he ran. Enel watched him rush between the rotten boats and broken crates, his cloak snapping behind him. He looked quite desperate, causing Enel to tilt his head before vanishing and stepping into his path.

"Gkh?!" The man slammed into him and dropped onto his back.

"Oh," Enel said, looking down at him.

"I apologize." The man scrambled back, one hand reaching for his hood. But it had already slipped from his face, revealing the black mask still covering half his face, with only his mouth visible. Enel stared at the mask for a moment, thinking why it seemed so familiar. But then his eyes widened.

"Ah," he whispered.

"The witch said something about people wearing black masks."

"Enel?! What is that?!" Lamb and the others had already noticed what had happened and started rushing to him. Lamb came first, her sword already drawn again.

"Did… I miss one?" she asked, eyes narrowing at the cloaked stranger.

"Why is this one uglier than the others?"

"He is alive," Enel said.

"Oh." Lamb lowered her sword slightly, then raised it again when she noticed the mask.

"I did not notice the—wait. He looks suspicious." Tiny hurried after her, almost slipping on the wet boards. Guinevere followed behind him, walking across the sand instead.

"Is he a Veilguard?" Guinevere asked. Enel turned to her, then crouched in front of the masked man and asked the same thing.

"Are you a Veilguard?" The stranger stared at him.

"A… what?"

"Veilguard," Enel repeated, then showed the letter Guinevere found.

"Are you one of them?"

"No." The man squinted at the letter, then shook his head.

"I am a child of Valir."

"Valir…?" Lamb's brows lowered.

"That does not sound… good at all." Tiny pointed at the mask.

"Are you part of the sect the witch told us about? The people who worship the Veil?"

"We are not a sect!" the man snapped.

"A cult, then," Lamb said.

"No!" The man's fingers dug into the sand.

"We are a community! A family. We are the children who listened when the rest of Aldwyn covered their ears. We are the Children of Valir! The god of the Veil, the one and only true god!"

"Uh oh," Tiny muttered. The masked man tried to stand, but Enel placed one hand gently on his shoulder. He sat back down at once.

"I apologize again," Enel calmly said.

"But please do not run. We only wish to ask questions."

"You killed them," the man said, looking toward the smoke rising from the pyre.

"They were suffering," Enel answered.

"They were blessed." Lamb stepped forward as soon as she heard that, and she would have probably pointed it at the stranger if it wasn't for Enel raising his hand.

"Blessed?" Lamb's voice lowered.

"That is what you call that?" The masked man looked at her.

"They were given more than they deserved. But they rejected the gift. This town was judged unworthy." Lamb took a step forward again, but Enel caught her wrist.

"Lamb." She gritted her teeth.

"Do you hear him? This fucking driveller said these people deserved what happened to them."

"I heard him."

"Then why is his head still attached?"

"We do not execute people for having opinions, Lamb. Unless…" Enel looked the stranger in the eyes.

"... have you ever killed children?"

"N-never! I have never even killed anyone before!" Lamb glared at the masked man for another moment before stepping back and sheathing her sword. Enel waited until she did, then looked at him again.

"Where did you come from?" he asked. The man hesitated to answer, but when he saw Lamb rest her hand on her sword, he quickly opened his mouth.

"North. There is a sanctuary near the plains." Guinevere opened her book and took out her map.

"Name?"

"You will not find it in any map—we are too prestigious for the rest of Aldwyn."

"Then can you take us to this… sanctuary?" Enel asked.

"We wish to find a way to stop—""Ah!" Tiny stood beside him before he could finish his words.

"We wish to learn more about the Veil!" Tiny then motioned for Enel to step away, while he leaned closer to whisper to the masked man.

"These two are nobles of high standing, you see…" he glanced at Enel and Guinevere. The stranger also looked at them, his eyes lingering on their clothes.

"Very high standing," Tiny repeated.

"They have a lot of coin, and are interested in trying—joining a lot of things."

"Hmm." The masked man squinted, then turned to look at Lamb.

"And her?"

"Do not worry about her," Tiny said.

"She is a hired brute." Lamb's eye twitched.

"The fuck did you—" Tiny pointed at her immediately.

"Ah! Did the hired brute just glare at her young master?" Lamb slowly turned toward Enel, who was already looking at her. He had his head slightly raised, and a smile threatened to creep on his face.

"It is fine," Enel said.

"She has simply not been trained in proper etiquette." Lamb's face twitched at that, but she soon bowed her head with enough stiffness that her neck almost cracked.

"I… I apologize, young master." Enel closed his eyes, turning his head away. The masked man seemed unconvinced, but when he saw the quality of Guinevere's clothes again, he nodded. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Valir welcomes those who seek the truth," he said at last.

"Especially those who can help the sanctuary grow."

"Good," Tiny said.

"Then you will take us there."

"I can. But it will take three days if we follow the coast. Four, if you need to stop for food."

"We have supplies," Enel said.

"You may tie your horse to our cart."

"My… horse was killed by the Veilwalkers."

"Then it is good luck that we met you, then." Enel nodded, standing up to his feet before approaching Bernard, who had just been standing on the side while still staring at the pyre.

"Sir Bernard," Enel said gently. Bernard slowly looked back.

"Our journey together has ended," Enel said.

"You have brought us to Oak Coast. If you wish to leave, I will pay what I owe and more. But… I do not think you should remain here." Bernard did not answer and only looked back at the pyre. Enel stood beside him, quiet for a moment before saying, "If you are willing, I would ask you to come with us for a while longer as our cartman. And… you have a home in Widow's Wall, too. If you would like."

"I…" Bernard looked down.

"If you would have me, M'lord. But… I wish to say something to them first."

"Of course." Enel guided the others back toward the cart, leaving Bernard by the shore. The old man knelt before the trickling pyre and lowered his head. None of them heard what he whispered, and no one tried to. When Bernard returned, his face looked no less tired. But he climbed onto the cart, and they left Oak Coast not long after. The masked man sat between Enel and Lamb, which seemed to make him incredibly still. Every time he shifted, Lamb shifted with him.

Every time he breathed too deeply, Enel looked at him with concern.

"Are you well?" Enel asked after the third time.

"Yes," the masked man said.

"I am just… not used to traveling with a group." Lamb scoffed at that, then leaned down to look at his face.

"You have a name under that mask?"

"I have forfeited my name, and now only go by what Valir has bestowed upon me."

"So, you do have a name. What is it?"

"Nine and ten of Veyrmark," the masked man said proudly.

"What…?" Lamb raised an eyebrow.

"That is a number."

"It—""And it is too long. We will call you Nine." Lamb shrugged.

"Nine is a different—""It is fine." Lamb waved him off. He still wanted to say something, but she had already turned away from him. Bernard guided the cart along the coast road as the pale fog thinned behind them. For a while, no one spoke much. The sound of the wheels and horses filled the silence instead, and soon even that changed. The road rose over a low hill covered with tall trees, completely leaving the fog. They trailed the path for a while, with the ocean being hidden away by the hill.

Everyone seemed tired after what happened in Oak Coast, with Lamb's head nodding on its own. But soon, her eyes that had been attempting to close grew wide open. She quickly patted Enel, causing Nine to be confused as to what was happening. Lamb also called to Tiny, who gasped as soon as he saw what she was pointing at. Enel looked in front of him, and the orange quickly reflected from his bright blue eyes. The light poured over the world beside them, and the three who had never seen the ocean before fell silent.

The sea stretched beyond the edge of the land, farther than any field, farther than any wall, farther than anything they had ever known. It moved and breathed beneath the orange curtain, swallowing the light and giving it back in pieces of glitter.

"The ocean… the real one!" Lamb jumped from the cart while it was still moving. Bernard pulled the reins at once.

"M'lady!" Tiny jumped after her as soon as the cart stopped.

"I… I need to see it!" Enel remained seated for a moment, hands on his knees. He looked almost hesitant to leave the cart, but when Guinevere stepped down and walked after them, he quickly followed. The masked man climbed down last, looking at all of them completely confused. But when they saw their smiling and excited faces, he nodded to himself and remembered Tiny's words and convinced himself—they truly were curious nobles.

Lamb stood where the water reached the sand, boots sinking slightly as the next wave washed over them. Tiny stopped several steps behind her, eyes wide.

"It is moving toward us," he said.

"Is it… pulling us? Why is it moving?" Lamb stepped farther in, then immediately frowned.

"It… the sand is trying to swallow my boots!" Lamb moved back, then quickly removed her boots before jumping in the water again.

"Ah! It is cold! Ha… Hahaha!" Lamb laughed as she ran, and Tiny could only stare as the strands of her hair sticking out from her bandana flowed with the wind, caressing her face. But as soon as she noticed him staring, she quickly kicked water onto his face.

"A-ack!" Enel watched them for a moment, then also removed his boots and stepped forward, watching the water curl around his toes.

"It is cold."

"It is water," Guinevere said.

"Hm." Enel nodded seriously.

"That explains it." Tiny crouched near the edge, touched the water with one finger, then pulled back as the next wave came in. Lamb looked at him, scoffed, and cupped some water in her hands. And without even a thought in her brain, she drank it.

"Gkh…" Her whole face twisted, and she felt her entire body shiver from the taste. But still, the smile returned on her face as she very slowly turned to Enel.

"It… it tastes sweet."

"Huh?" Enel blinked.

"Like candy?"

"Yes," she said, the smile on her face turning into a grin. Guinevere's eyes narrowed. She was about to say something when Enel leaned down, scooped some water, and drank.

"Gkh?!" The water came out of his nose. Lamb burst into laughter, and Tiny followed immediately, falling backward onto the sand. Even Guinevere's lips curved slightly as Enel stared at the water.

"It is salted!" he raised his voice.

"The sea is filled with salt, my lord," Guinevere said.

"Why…?"

"Stupid," Lamb scoffed.

"It is to preserve the water."

"That cannot be true."

"It is. I read it somewhere."

"You do not read." Guinevere was about to open her mouth to correct them, but then they all saw something enormous fly out of the water.

"What… is that?" Tiny pointed at it. A shadow rose from the water, as orange and as massive as the horizon, its back glistening. Then another rose beside it, and another. Smaller lights moved around them like drifting candles, pale blue and green, following the great shadows as they crossed the distant sea.

"Spirits," Enel whispered. The largest shadow lifted part of itself from the water, not enough to show what it truly was, but enough for them to feel its size. It vanished beneath the waves again without making a sound. Lamb's smile widened.

"There are also monsters in the sea. That was… bigger than Blakwud, right?"

"Spirits," Enel corrected.

"What else… do you think is out there? More… adventures?"

"Perhaps."

"... Whoa."

"Uh…" Tiny took several steps away from the water.

"I think I have seen enough sea." But then Lamb suddenly grabbed him.

"No."

"Yes." And she threw him into the shallow water. Tiny screamed as if she had thrown him into a bottomless pit, splashing and clawing at the sand while Lamb laughed so hard she had to hold her stomach. Enel rushed to help him, then slipped when Tiny grabbed his arm and pulled him down too. The two stared at each other, then Tiny just started laughing when he realized how shallow the water actually was.

Bernard watched from near the cart, and for the first time since probably their entire journey, a small smile touched his face.

"Would you like to camp here, M'lord?!" he called. Enel, completely soaked and being used by Tiny as a shield against the waves, looked back.

"That would be very wise, sir Bernard!" And so, they made camp near the shore. The masked man sat close to the fire. Lamb wanted to tie him up, but Enel said it was not necessary since they were not holding the man there against his will. Of course, Lamb still glared at him, motioning for him to stay put. But of course, Nine truly was not planning on going anywhere. Night soon settled over the coast, and the sea became dark enough that their fire could not even reach it.

The others began to eat near the flames, while Tiny dried his clothes at the same time. Bernard sat alone for a while, facing the water. Enel eventually moved beside Guinevere, who was sitting with her book open on her lap. She was not writing words this time, but drawing.

"Is that not… the shore?" Enel leaned closer. The drawing was beautiful, almost similar to the ones they had in his father's study.

"Yes."

"It is beautiful," he said. Then he noticed something in the sky. A… ship.

"What… is that?"

"A flying ship," Guinevere said. Enel looked at her, then at the night sky that was covered in stars.

"Was there something like that earlier?"

"No."

"Then why did you draw one?"

"Because I want to make one." Lamb and Tiny both approached and sat beside them. Even Nine, who had already decided to keep to himself and not be dragged further into whatever these young nobles were up to, leaned his ear closer.

"You want to make a ship fly?" Lamb asked.

"But are they not just for water?"

"Yes." Tiny squinted.

"That… is not possible, is it?" Guinevere picked up a small piece of paper, then took a thin stick from the fire. She held the flame beneath the paper for a few seconds, not close enough to burn it, but enough for the air above it to tremble. The paper lifted from her fingers.

"Huh…" Tiny's mouth opened. The paper rose a little higher, drifted over the sand, then sailed toward the dark water before dropping into the waves. Everyone stared at where it vanished. Nine had his mouth slightly open, but quickly closed it when the others started looking back to the fire.

"You… would need a gigantic piece of paper," Lamb said.

"I do not think paper would be the material I would use." Guinevere shook her head.

"Where… did you even learn these things?" Tiny asked.

"The voices inside my head."

"R-right." Enel looked back toward the water.

"How many more lands do you think are out there?"

"A lot," Guinevere said.

"Marshal Tommen told me that Aldwyn is small compared to the other realms."

"What…?" Lamb rested her chin on her knees, eyes reflecting the stars resting on the waves.

"What do you think is out there?"

"Dragons," Tiny said.

"Man-eating dragons." Lamb smiled.

"You think I can kill a dragon?"

"Did you not run away from Blakwud?"

"Shut up." Enel lightly chuckled at that, then once again looked toward the dark horizon, where the spirits had vanished earlier.

"How do you think the other realms deal with the Veil? Perhaps if we do not find anything here… we would need to venture out there." The fire crackled, and before any of them could answer, Bernard broke his silence.

"No," he muttered as he also looked toward the sea.

"There are no Veils beyond Aldwyn." Both Nine and Lamb slowly turned to him.

"What?"