Four months had passed, and at long last, the Lox crew docked at Azura Port. The journey had been prolonged by unfavorable winds, stretching their voyage far longer than anticipated. Now, under the cool midnight sky, the moon hung high above them, casting a pale glow over the restless waters. Though the night was calm, the wind remained strong, whipping through the port with an unrelenting force.
As soon as the ship was secured, the crew wasted no time. Their first priority was offloading the captured pirates. One by one, the prisoners were dragged onto the docks, their hands bound tightly as they were marched toward a nearby structure—a foreboding building of dark stone, its thick walls designed to hold even the most desperate criminals.
Security was airtight. Three Lox members stood guard at each side of the building, another three patrolled the perimeter, while four more took up positions on the roof, eyes scanning for any signs of trouble. Inside, two enforcers stood at opposite ends of the cells, ensuring there was no possible escape. Every route, every opening, had been accounted for.
An hour passed before the last pirate was locked away. With their work done, the remaining Lox members finally disembarked, stretching after months at sea.
Rosaline exhaled, tension easing from her shoulders as she stepped off the ship. Behind her, Zoan, Celestia, Bril, and the medic followed, their boots hitting the wooden planks of the dock in unison.
"Follow me to my office," the medic instructed, reaching for Zoan's arm. Bril grabbed the other, and together they guided him through the port, disappearing into a shadowed alleyway before slipping behind a heavy wooden door.
Celestia lingered for a moment, taking in the sights and sounds of Azura Port. The salty breeze carried distant chatter from dockworkers and merchants finishing their late-night duties. A new place, a new opportunity.
With a practiced air of innocence, she stepped up beside Rosaline, clasping her hands behind her back as she tilted her head slightly.
"So… over the last few months, you've told me about some interesting crimes and criminals you've stopped, and I've learned quite a bit about Nyxterra," she said smoothly. "But I'd like to get a better feel for the area. Can you show me around the port? Maybe even some other locations? Just so I know where everything is."
She smiled—warm, polite, and utterly insincere." The more I know, the more control I can possibly gain." Celestial thought to herself.
Rosaline glanced down at Celestia, exhaustion evident in her violet eyes. "I'll give you a tour, just not now. I need some rest first. Being on the ocean for so long has been draining… It's been almost a year since I've set foot in Nyxterra. Just let me get a few hours of sleep, and then I'll show you around—Zoan and Bril too." She offered a faint smile before turning away, her boots echoing softly against the wooden dock as she disappeared into the shadowed alleyway.
Navigating through the dimly lit streets, she descended a short flight of stairs and veered left, stopping in front of a solid wooden door. As she stepped inside, the warm glow of candlelight flickered to life, illuminating the modest yet well-kept room. Letting out a long, weary sigh, Rosaline walked to the next door, entered, and locked it behind her.
The moment she was alone, she peeled off her black and red long-sleeved tunic, draping it over the back of a chair before unfastening her knee-high boots and slipping out of her form-fitting black and red pants. Rolling her shoulders, she stretched, feeling the tension in her body ease slightly.
Catching her reflection in a tall, aged mirror, she stared at herself—scarred legs, battle-worn arms, and a chiseled eight-pack carved from years of relentless training. Old wounds traced stories across her skin.
"Damn…" she muttered, running a hand over a particularly deep scar before exhaling and stepping away. She pulled back the silk-lined covers of her bed and slid beneath them. The warmth was comforting, but the weight of her thoughts still lingered.
As her eyes drifted shut, exhaustion finally won over.
Meanwhile, Celestia wandered through Azura Port, her hands clasped neatly behind her back, a practiced, unreadable smile playing on her lips as she took in her surroundings.
"This place feels completely different from Blossom's Bloom," Celestia murmured under her breath, inhaling the crisp night air as the wind played with her long white hair.
Her emerald-green eyes flickered with intrigue as she carefully took in her surroundings—every building, every alley, every possible entrance and escape route. A faint grin curled at her lips as she strolled through the dimly lit streets, her steps light yet deliberate.
Then, her gaze landed on a nearby inn.
She strode toward the inn, her gaze flicking up to the sign above the entrance. "The Silver Lantern," it read in bold, weathered lettering. Noting the name with mild interest, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.
She stepped inside and saw several different people—humans, elves, various feline races—but one figure stood out among them all. A Varethian girl, rare and otherworldly, sat in the corner of the dimly lit inn, her presence impossible to ignore.
Her skin was abyssal blue, almost black, with faint bioluminescent markings tracing along her arms, collarbone, and the sides of her face, pulsing softly like the glow of deep-sea creatures. Under the flickering candlelight, her skin shimmered subtly, as if touched by the ocean's eternal darkness.
Her eyes were haunting—black sclera with luminous cyan pupils that shifted and glowed faintly, like ghostly lanterns lost in the depths. Her hair was long and flowing, an iridescent mix of midnight blue and violet, moving unnaturally, as if suspended in water. Even when she sat still, her strands swayed gently. Small, delicate fins traced along her forearms and calves, and her fingers were slightly webbed.
She was dressed in a fitting dark blue tunic with silver embroidery resembling deep-sea runes, layered with a thin, flowing cape that shimmered like fish scales. Around her neck hung a charm of polished black coral, humming faintly with unknown magic.
"Interesting..." Celestia mused, her gaze lingering on the Varethian girl for a moment before turning away. She walked over to the counter, her boots clicking softly against the wooden floor, and slid onto one of the worn stools. Her emerald eyes flicked up to the menu hanging above before settling on the bartender.
"I'll take the Trion.34 from Menu B. Also, I'd like a room for the night," she said smoothly, resting her elbow on the counter as she watched the man behind it work.
The bartender, a middle-aged man with graying hair and closed eyes, moved with effortless precision. His hands never faltered, pouring drinks and mixing ingredients with the ease of someone who had done this a thousand times over. In just a few minutes, a glass was placed in front of her, the liquid inside swirling with a deep amber hue. Alongside it, a key with the number 08 engraved on it clinked against the wooden counter.
"That'll be 10 silver," he said simply before turning away to tend to the other patrons.
Celestia nodded, sliding ten silver coins across the counter before checking the rest of her money. A small frown tugged at her lips.
"Shit... Only one gold, thirty silver, and four bronze left." She muttered under her breath, fingers drumming lightly against the counter. "I'll be fine for now, but I really need to start watching what I spend."
Sighing, she lifted the glass to her lips and took a sip of the Trion.34—and immediately, her eyes widened in surprise.
"This is actually good." she muttered.
Celestia set down the empty glass, the lingering taste of mango, lime, and an unfamiliar yet intriguing flavor still on her tongue. She grabbed the key, letting its cool metal rest against her palm, before standing up and scanning the inn's interior. Spotting a dimly lit hallway leading toward the back, she made her way over, her footsteps light against the wooden floor.
The corridor was lined with numbered doors, the faint scent of aged wood and candle wax filling the air. She walked past each one until her eyes landed on 08. Slipping the key into the lock, she turned it with a soft click, then stepped inside and locked the door behind her.
The room was small but decent—just a bed, a wooden dresser, and a single candle flickering on a bedside table. Letting out a quiet sigh, she moved toward the bed and sat down before eventually lying back against the mattress.
Her emerald eyes traced the ceiling, her thoughts momentarily drifting, but the exhaustion from the long journey quickly pulled her under. Slowly, her eyelids grew heavy, and within moments, sleep took her.
Several hours passed, and the midday sun aligned perfectly with the small window of Celestia's room. Crimson light spilled through, casting sharp rays across her face as she stirred awake. With a groggy sigh, she sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes before hesitantly pushing herself out of bed.
Wandering to the window, she pulled back the curtain and took in the strange sight before her. The sky was painted with deep blue clouds, the red sun looming over the land like an ominous omen. In the distance, streaks of crimson lightning arced violently across the storming skies.
Her emerald eyes narrowed. "Where the hell did this system take me…?" she muttered under her breath.
As if on cue, a familiar screen materialized before her.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
Destination Arrived
Title: Moving to a New Land for More Opportunities
Task: Make your way to Azura Port, Nyxterra.
Rewards:
★ Fear Immunity
A smirk tugged at her lips. An immunity—one she didn't fully understand—but anything that negated a weakness was something she welcomed.
Curious, she opened her profile.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
Name: Celestia Solara
Age: 18
Elements: Dragon-Tempest, Water
Level: 2
EXP: 905/1,000
Bounty: 100 Silver
Fear Rating: 10
Skills:
[Manipulation] – Level 9
[Tempest Arts] – Level 6
[Dragon's Gaze] – Level 4
[Blossom's Elegance] – Level 1
[Blossom's Breath] – Level 2
Page 1/2. [Page 2]
She tapped the next page, revealing another screen.
[Passives]
★ Fear Immunity [1/20]
Closing the system, she sighed. "What the hell does 'Fear Immunity' even do?" She ran a hand through her long white hair. "Is it exactly what it sounds like? Complete resistance to fear? Or is there a hidden condition? And what does the '1/20' mean?"
Frustration simmered beneath her calm exterior.
Shaking off her irritation, she grabbed the key from the bedside table and left the room. She moved through the inn's dimly lit hallway, stepping back into the main area where several patrons had already started drinking—despite it being barely noon.
Scanning the crowd, she noted that the Varethian girl from yesterday was nowhere to be seen. Shrugging it off, she stepped outside into the streets of Nyxterra.
The rain drizzled against her skin, dampening her clothes, but she barely acknowledged it. Her sharp gaze swept across the port before locking onto a familiar figure.
Rosaline stood nearby, arms crossed, her dark tunic slightly wet from the misty air. The moment their eyes met, Rosaline approached, her expression relaxed.
"Want to start the tour of Nyxterra now?" she asked, her violet eyes glinting with mild amusement. "I have a few days of free time, so this is probably the best chance we'll get."
Celestia feigned a warm smile. "I'm fine with now."
With that, she fell into step beside Rosaline, attentively listening as Rosaline began explaining everything about the port and Nyxterra as a land.