"The fjords are dotted with countless islands, none of which have been reached by anyone," remarked a tall, rugged-looking man. "The further east you go, the more unpredictable the weather becomes—just like the islands themselves. Who knows how bizarre they might turn out to be." "Not even you?" Tilly asked curiously. "They say you're the most brilliant explorer in the fjords. Few dare to cross the Burning Isles and push eastward beyond you." "Hahaha," he laughed heartily. "Those are just exaggerated praises. In reality, brave fjord explorers venture east every year, though new discoveries are rare. Wild storms and sudden fog can paralyze ships." He was Thunder, Ash thought. The first explorer to discover the Shadow Islands, though his disappearance in a shipwreck two years ago led many to believe he had perished. Unexpectedly, he appeared on the Sleeping Isle and struck a deal with the Fifth Princess—opening new routes, mapping the waters, and uncovering more ancient ruins. Tilly sent the Witch to assist him. During his two-year absence, she never mentioned him, nor did Tilly speak of it. But Ash sensed Her Highness knew the truth—otherwise, their unspoken understanding wouldn't have been so profound. This slight irritation lingered in Ash's heart.
"Like yesterday's hurricane?" "Exactly. Fleeting as a flash," Thunder shook his pipe, scattering the embers into the sea before refilling them with grass leaves. "Were it not for that God-like Witch—" "Her name was Moril," the hardened ashes murmured.
"Ah, yes, just look at my memory," Thunder said nonchalantly, stroking his temple with a laugh. "Without Moril, the ship would've been turned upside down. Her abilities are truly extraordinary. I often wonder if the Witch might be the most suitable explorer." "Already?" Tilly smiled faintly. "...the Witch who inherited the title of the most outstanding explorer." "Hmm..." Thunder drew a deep puff of his pipe, exhaling a long trail of smoke. "I hope so." Ash frowned again, utterly confused by their conversation. She left the bow and walked to the stern to calm herself. Your Highness seemed eager to explore the ruins, immediately preparing for the voyage after cleaning the fjord church. To her surprise, Your Highness insisted on going herself, and no amount of persuasion could dissuade her.
Morrel sat at the stern of the ship, her Magic Power servant gripping a fishing rod to learn the craft from the sailors. Though the crew had initially resisted the Witch, their attitudes had shifted completely after yesterday's hurricane. Morrel commanded her summoned servant to expand rapidly, enveloping the sailboat's center with its magic, rendering it impervious to storms. Despite the waves 'relentless onslaught, the vessel maintained steady stability. Now every sailor revered the Witch as a god of fortune, declaring they'd never venture out to sea without her guidance.
"Ash Sister, look at the big fish I caught!" Moriel pointed to the bucket behind her, where a scaly sea fish with a sharp beak lay, a stark contrast to the river fish she'd seen at Graycastle.
"What is this?" "The swordfish loves to follow ships. Its sharp beak sometimes punctures the hull," the sailor explained. "But it's absolutely delicious—especially the belly, which melts in your mouth like ice," he said with a smug grin. "By nightfall, everyone can savor the fresh, live swordfish." "Looks like another fish has hooked here!" Moril exclaimed in delight.
A dark shadow emerged from the emerald waters, growing larger with each pull of the Magic Power servant's lever, and was about to surface.
"This... this is," the sailor froze in shock. "No! Drop the fishing rod!" Before he could finish, a bizarre creature leaped from the water, its gaping jaws lashing out at Moril.
As the target was about to be swallowed whole, the ash moved faster than it could react. She grabbed the little girl with her left hand and swung her massive sword with her right, striking the attacker's head with a powerful blow.
The monster let out a agonized howl and was violently hurled from the air. Its six legs thrashed frantically in an attempt to escape back into the water, but Ash denied it that chance. She released Moril, thrust her sword downward with both hands, and pinned the creature firmly to the deck.
It convulsed for a moment, spitting out a string of white bubbles, and soon stopped moving.
"What is this?" Only now did Ash get a chance to scrutinize the creature before him—resembling a fish yet sporting crab-like short legs. Its mouth, round and nearly as large as its body, was lined with a dense array of teeth. Most repulsive of all, it had a pair of furry arms flanking its mouth, each ending in five fingers that looked like human hands.
"A mutated sea monster!" The sailor gasped, clutching his chest. "They often disguise themselves as fish, luring fishermen into their jaws and dragging them underwater. They say only those who've eaten humans develop hands!" "That's just a rumor," someone behind him said. Ash turned around and saw Thunder and Tilly approaching.
"Captain!" The sailor stuck out his tongue and immediately made way.
"The more sensational the rumor, the less accurate it is," Thunder said, stepping forward to kick the ground monster. "Actually, it has a name you might know better." "What?" Ash asked.
"Evil beast," he said, word by word.
"Thunder Lord, there's fog!" the lookout suddenly shouted.
"Everyone, let's go all out!" Thunder commanded loudly. "Lower the sails—we're entering the Shadow Sea!" Ash noticed the sky, which had been clear just moments ago, suddenly darkened. The emerald waters turned a deep green, as if a pool of ink were spreading beneath the surface. Soon, a thick fog enveloped the ship, obscuring even the silhouette of the bow from the stern.
"What's going on?" Tilly couldn't help but grab Ash's arm.
"Proof we're on the right track," Thunder chuckled. "When the Shadow Archipelago surfaces, this area will be shrouded in thick mist. Or rather, the tide is receding—about ten zhang (about 30 meters) deep. The dramatic drop generates massive steam, and with reefs everywhere, even a slight misstep could lead to a collision and sinking. I need your Witch to protect the ship from damage." The group reached the bow, and as in stormy conditions, Moril had her Magic Power servants wrap around the hull, swelling up to submerge part of their bodies. This way, even if there were hidden reefs, the servants would detect them first.
"What would you do without Witch?" Ash asked.
"Then it all comes down to patience and luck," Thunder sighed. "The fleet will send out small boats to scout ahead, and only after confirming clear paths will the main ship proceed. But this area's waters aren't calm—just like those evil beasts you saw earlier, their numbers grow denser as you approach the Shadow Archipelago. Mist, reefs, monsters... That's why so many explorers head here, yet few find the entrance to the ruins." After sailing for another hour, the fog gradually dissipated. Ash noticed more islands emerging from the water, though they were mostly covered in green moss and algae, with crustaceans clinging to the surfaces. "Are these islands submerged?" "Exactly, like Sleeping Island, but here the tides come and go much faster—about every two weeks," Thunder replied. "And they surge and recede so rapidly, it's like there's a giant hole beneath the earth, devouring the surrounding seawater like a madman. I even suspect the entire fjord's sea level changes are linked to this. If we're lucky, we might even witness the main island emerging from the seabed."