Chương 94: Chapter 93: The Silent Passage

The sea was unnaturally still. Not a single wave touched the hull of the Dawn Sovereign. No breeze filled the sails. Yet the ancient warship continued moving forward as though an invisible force guided it through the endless silver mist. No birds flew overhead. No fish broke the surface. Even sound itself seemed swallowed by the Silent Passage. Every member of the crew instinctively lowered their voices. As if afraid of waking something sleeping beneath the ocean. The Guardian stood at the bow.

His ancient eyes never left the mist.

"We have crossed the boundary." Cassian frowned.

"I don't feel anything."

"You will." The Guardian answered without looking back.

"The Silent Passage doesn't attack your body."

"It attacks your soul." The silver fog thickened. Soon... Even the ocean disappeared. The Dawn Sovereign floated through a world made entirely of white. No horizon. No stars. No sky. Only endless silence. Michael gripped his divine spear.

"This place..."

"It exists outside ordinary space." Lyra nodded slowly.

"My father once described it."

"He called it..."

"... the Sea Between Memories." Hours passed. No one spoke. Until— Knock. Three soft knocks echoed from beneath the ship. Everyone froze. Cassian looked over the railing.

"... Did someone just knock?" Another three knocks answered. Knock. Knock. Knock. This time... From the opposite side. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work! The sailors slowly backed away. One young knight whispered,"There's something under us..." Suddenly— A little girl's laughter drifted across the fog. It sounded gentle. Happy. Rayan's expression changed instantly. He knew that laugh.

"No..." He slowly turned toward the stern. Standing there... Wearing a simple blue dress... Was a little girl. She couldn't have been older than eight. Long black hair. Bright golden eyes. She smiled innocently.

"Big Brother..." Rayan's breathing stopped. His heart pounded violently.

"... Luna." Cassian looked confused.

"Who's Luna?" The Guardian's face lost all color.

"No..."

"It has begun." Luna. Rayan's younger sister. She had died years ago during the Black Wolf Rebellion. He had watched the palace burn. He had failed to save her. For years... That memory haunted every nightmare. And now... She stood before him. Smiling. Exactly as she had before she died. She slowly walked toward him.

"Why didn't you save me?" Rayan's hands trembled.

"I..."

"You promised." Tears filled her eyes.

"You said..."

"... you'd always protect me." Every word felt like a knife twisting deeper into his heart.

"Rayan!" Cassian grabbed his shoulder. His friend looked terrified.

"There's nobody there!" Rayan stared.

"... What?" Cassian pointed toward the empty deck.

"You've been talking to thin air!" The prince looked back. Luna was gone. Only empty wooden planks remained. His breathing became ragged. The Guardian sighed.

"The Passage has started showing your greatest regret." Suddenly— A scream erupted from the lower deck. Everyone rushed below. One sailor stood in the middle of the cargo hold, wildly swinging his sword.

"Stay away!"

"They're dead!"

"I know you're dead!" He slashed at invisible enemies. Another sailor collapsed to his knees.

"No..."

"Mother..."

"I'm sorry..." Dozens of crew members stared into empty space, each trapped inside a different nightmare. Michael clenched his jaw.

"The sea reads memories." Lyra closed her eyes.

"And weaponizes them." The ship slowed. Not because of the water. Because no one remained capable of steering it. The crew had begun losing themselves. Rayan took a deep breath. He activated Lionheart Dominion. Golden Astra spread across the deck. Warm light pushed back the silver mist. The frightened sailors slowly regained their senses. Some collapsed crying. Others embraced one another. The Guardian smiled faintly.

"That's why Atlas chose Courage first."

"Without it..."

"No one survives this sea." Night fell. Or at least... Something resembling night. There was still no moon. No stars. Only darkness. Rayan couldn't sleep. He remained alone at the bow. The broken compass his mother had given him rested in his hand. He still carried every shattered piece.

"... Mother..." He whispered into the fog.

"I wish you were here." A gentle voice answered.

"I'm always here." His heart skipped. He slowly turned. Standing only a few steps away... Was Queen Elena. His mother. The woman who had died protecting him. She looked exactly as he remembered. Elegant. Kind. Her warm smile chased away the cold surrounding the ship. Unlike Luna... She said nothing. She simply opened her arms. Inviting him into an embrace. Tears welled in Rayan's eyes. Every part of him wanted to believe. Wanted to run to her. Wanted... To be a child again. He took one step. Then another.

His fingers reached toward hers. Only inches remained. Then... He remembered Atlas' words.

"The sea remembers." Not... The dead. Only memories. Rayan slowly lowered his hand. A tear rolled down his cheek.

"I'm sorry..."

"My mother..."

"... would never ask me to abandon my duty." The woman's smile slowly faded. Her face cracked like broken glass. The beautiful illusion twisted into something horrifying. Its skin peeled away. Its eyes became endless black voids. Its mouth stretched impossibly wide. A monstrous shriek echoed across the ocean. The illusion exploded into black mist. The entire Silent Passage trembled. Far below the ship... The colossal eye opened completely. A voice older than the world itself echoed through the sea.

"First temptation rejected."

"The Heir of Dharma has passed the Trial of Regret." The silver mist began retreating. For the first time since entering the Silent Passage... The crew saw the ocean again. But their relief lasted only a moment. Because rising from the depths... Was an island. No... A creature. A turtle so enormous that an entire mountain range rested upon its shell. Ancient forests grew across its back. Rivers flowed down its sides. Ruins older than Heaven crowned its highest peak.

The Dawn Sovereign looked like a leaf floating beside it. The Guardian fell to one knee. His voice trembled with awe.

"... The World Turtle." Its massive golden eyes slowly opened. The ancient being looked directly at Rayan. Then, with a voice that shook the sea itself, it spoke.

"Welcome, Child of the Eighth Flame."

"I have waited... ten thousand years for your arrival." To Be Continue....