Inside the private suite, the rich, warm interior suggested that the passenger who had booked it was no ordinary traveler. The walls were paneled in polished mocha wood and accented with platinum trimmings that caught the soft glow of the mana lamps. Plush rugs muffled every footstep, and the scent of expensive sandalwood and freshly brewed tea hung in the air. The room was stocked with silver platters of delicate snacks pastries and exotic fruits that spoke of extreme wealth. It felt less like a cabin on a ship and more like a suite in a royal palace. Despite the opulence, the two Dawnveil siblings were not intimidated; they were far more concerned with the woman standing before them.
"Please, have a seat, both of you. And Emerion, show me your hand" Seraphyne said. Her voice was warm, yet it carried a firm, undeniable authority.
She gestured toward two velvet upholstered couches. Arlienne sat down without a word of complaint, and Emerion took his place beside his younger sister. He felt a sting of embarrassment as he held out his hand the one that had taken the full force of the vibration from Anathema's sword.
"I'm fine... Aunt, there's really no need" he muttered, trying to pull back. But Seraphyne was an experienced medic and had no patience for pride when a wound was clearly weeping blood.
"Don't be stubborn. Your hand is bleeding, and in this sea air, you could easily get an infection" Seraphyne said, her tone sharpening. Before Emerion could protest further, she took his hand in hers. She began washing away the dried crimson with a clean, white cotton ball dipped in antiseptic.
"You are just like your mother. Like mother, like son" Seraphyne sighed, her eyes softening as she worked. Emerion looked at her, dumbfounded, he couldn't fathom how she could compare him to the legendary, terrifying Aurelith.
"I wish I were that strong" Emerion admitted, hisizing his jaw to keep a straight face. Until this moment, he hadn't realized just how much the bone deep ache in his hand truly hurt.
"It's not about physical strength, Emerion; it's about mentality. You two are more alike in your spirits than you think" Seraphyne said with a soft, knowing smile. She reached into her medical kit, pulling out a glass vial of cooling lotion and a roll of fresh bandages. As she applied the ointment to the raw skin, Emerion failed miserably to keep his face neutral, flinching at the sharp sting.
"Go easy on my brother, Aunt. You wouldn't want to break the 'Hero of the Day' even more, would you?" Arlienne teased. Her usual smirk was firmly in place, though her mind was racing. She was still processing the shock of finding Seraphyne on this ship and wondering if she should confess that they had actually run away from home.
"Hero, hmm? Now that I think about it, why did you have to hurt that boy? You are older, Emerion, you should have shown more responsibility" Seraphyne said, offering a light scolding as she expertly wound the bandage around his palm.
"It wasn't me who started it... if I hadn't stepped in, he would have seriously harmed an innocent child" Emerion replied, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
"Still, you could have tried to talk. Violence is not always the ultimate solution" Seraphyne countered. Finishing her work, she sat on the edge of the bed facing them, her expression clouded with maternal concern.
"I tried, but that Anathema wasn't exactly in a listening mood" Arlienne said, leaning back into the soft cushions of the couch.
"Arlienne, you shouldn't call someone by that title. And you both could have perhaps found a way to de escalate while ensuring the child's safety" Seraphyne said in a motherly tone.
"Well, we did what we could. Besides, isn't Anathema his name?" Arlienne asked, her curiosity piqued. Emerion and Seraphyne shared a look of disbelief. Seraphyne let out a long sigh.
"No, Arlienne... who would name their child that? It isn't a name, it is a brand. It means a cursed entity or a wicked soul" Seraphyne explained.
"I see... I'll keep that in mind" Arlienne noted, as if she were filing the information away in a mental ledger.
Suddenly, the door to the suite swung open. A young girl with shoulder length raven hair tied in a practical ponytail marched in.
"Mother, I've finished treating the boy's wounds. His two guards were uninjured; they were merely unconscious from the strain" Nyxelle reported. Her tone was strictly professional.
"Thank you, Nyxelle. You are becoming quite the capable healer" Seraphyne said proudly, patting the empty space on the bed beside her. Nyxelle sat down, letting out a tired, heavy sigh.
"You're turning into a fine healer, Nyxelle, but it seems your height hasn't grown an inch since the last time I saw you" Arlienne remarked. Her voice was pure mischief as she watched Nyxelle's brow furrow in immediate annoyance.
"Well, you'll still have to bow your head just to speak with me, won't you?" Nyxelle shot back defensively, huffing as she crossed her arms. Arlienne's smirk only widened.
"Oh, such big words from such a little teddy bear of a girl" Arlienne teased. Emerion just sighed, watching the two girls trade barbs.
"I am not a teddy bear, you nerd! You probably spend your whole life with your head buried in dusty books" Nyxelle retorted, not holding back.
"I prefer to think of it as absorbing knowledge. It's called being an intellectual" Arlienne replied with a mocking lilt that only fueled Nyxelle's temper.
"Then why don't you go bury your head in a book right now and shut up? What are you two even doing here in the first place?" Nyxelle demanded, glaring at them. Suddenly, she felt a sharp tug on her ear.
"Nyxelle, I told you to be polite to our family, didn't I?" Seraphyne said sternly.
"But she started it!" Nyxelle pouted.
"You can handle a little criticism, Nyxelle. You're fourteen now, not a child" Seraphyne said, before turning her sharp gaze back to Arlienne and Emerion. "Now, I must wonder... what are you two doing here? Traveling without guards, dressed in such ordinary clothes... care to explain?"
Her voice was soft, but the "medic" persona had vanished, replaced by the keen intuition of a high ranking noble. Emerion glanced at his sister nervously. Arlienne closed her eyes for a split second before speaking with absolute confidence.
"We are heading to Erinfall Island" Arlienne said. Emerion's eyes widened, he couldn't believe she had just revealed their actual destination.
"My brother's staff was shattered in a recent battle" she continued smoothly. "Father wanted only the best for him, so he sent us to seek out the legendary staff maker, Ethoren. Rumor says he has settled on Erinfall. Father didn't want the other Great Houses to know we were seeking such a master, so we traveled in this humble get up to avoid suspicion."
Arlienne maintained perfect eye contact with her aunt. Nyxelle still looked suspicious, but she remained silent. Emerion let out a silent breath, amazed at his sister's ability to weave half truths so convincingly.
"I see... that is quite a daunting task" Seraphyne mused, leaning her chin on her hand as she fell into thought.
"You know there are other rumors about that place, right?" Nyxelle added, looking at the siblings.
"What do you mean?" Emerion asked, leaning forward.
"It's just a rumor, but it's likely true. Erinfall Island is said to be home to a witch one who turned a lush, green paradise into a frozen wasteland. There was never snow on that island until she appeared. Now, the population has dwindled to almost nothing" Seraphyne explained, her concern evident.
"And those who go inland to investigate never return home. Only a small port remains now, used as a supply camp for emergency stops" Nyxelle added, her brow knitting together.
"A witch? Do such things even still exist?" Emerion asked, half to himself.
"Historically, yes... but there haven't been any documented cases in many years. That is why it's treated as a legend" Seraphyne said.
Arlienne's smirk transformed into a look of dark fascination. Her eyes grew dull, as if she were becoming obsessed with the mystery.
"Then we will find out for ourselves, won't we?" she said, her voice trilling with excitement.
"Are you crazy? I just said nobody returns!" Nyxelle cried, startled by Arlienne's reaction.
"Then we shall be the first! Who knows if it's truly a witch, or something even more interesting? This world is full of surprises," Arlienne declared, standing up and throwing her arms out in a wide, dramatic gesture. Nyxelle tried to argue, but her mother raised a hand to stop her.
"If you are determined... I understand your curiosity, and Emerion certainly needs his staff. But please, be careful" Seraphyne warned. Emerion nodded solemnly. Arlienne was too caught up in her own excitement to notice the weight in her aunt's voice.
Meanwhile, in the ship's control room, the Captain sat slumped in his chair, his grey mustache twitching with frustration.
"Those two brats and their little war cost us half our business today. Most of the passengers fled at the last port because they were too scared to stay on board" the old man grumbled to himself. He turned his chair around to face two blonde girls who were kneeling on the floor, their heads bowed in submission.
"I expect you two to make up for today's losses tomorrow. Do you understand, Riruka? Ririyen?" the Captain demanded.
"Yes, we understand, Captain" Riruka answered, her voice mature and steady.
"You lied" Ririyen whispered under her breath. Riruka immediately pinched her younger sister's leg to silence her.
"Shhh, we don't talk about that" Riruka hissed back. Ririyen looked ready to argue, but the firm, warning gaze from her older sister forced her to stay quiet.
"Remember, girls... your parents are deep in my debt. One more mistake and it's over for you both. Tomorrow, I expect the greatest performance of your lives" the Captain said, standing up and stalking out of the room.