A Journey That Changed The World. - Chapter 1631 - 1631: Could Be
When Ayrenn stepped into Eastwatch, she was shocked. The place was covered in snow and made up of warehouses, homes, and shops. Main Street stretched all the way to the port that was open to merchants. She headed that way, ignoring the sellers shouting out deals to try to lure her in.
‘Damn people, never change,’ she thought.
Following that, she continued through the busy city, dodging people who rushed past. They were quickly stopped by the Homeguard, who ordered them to stop running in case it caused trouble. She passed by a loud tavern where dock workers were singing, celebrating getting bonuses.
Ayrenn knew Archer paid the people well, and it baffled her; she didn’t know how they paid such expenses, but something caught her attention. As she crested a hill, she spotted a Mining Platform in the far distance. Large cargo ships were hauling stuff between it and the city.
”How did he create such monsters?” she muttered.
Just then, an old wary voice sounded from behind her. ”That my empress is a machine from the gods. I’ve never seen so many resources in one place.”
Ayrenn spun around to find a tall, brown-skinned man with a long, white beard cascading to his stomach. His blue eyes twinkled as he offered a bow. ”I’m Jethro, once the Emperor’s first advisor. He allowed me to retire and even gifted me a mansion west of here,” he said with a warm smile.
”Oh, your Aisha’s grandfather!” she exclaimed, remembering her long conversation with Ella and the Dragonkin woman.
The older man chuckled at this and nodded. ”That I am, and you’re Ayrenn Nightshade, the banished princess of the Nightshade Empire.”
”So you know your history?” Ayrenn retorted, annoyed that this man knew so much about her.
”Take no offence at my words, empress,” Jethro lowered his head. ”I am writing Draconia’s history. I’ve traveled all across the island, to every village, town, and city to talk to the people that one special young man rescued many years ago.”
”And what did you learn?”
”That the empire worships him like he’s a god,” the older man revealed. ”He’s saved millions, uplifted billions, and brought a type of rule never seen on Thrylos.”
Ayrenn’s curiosity was caught instantly. ”I’ve heard the tales, how he saved the Dragonkin at first, then every other race. Now they live peacefully when in most places of the world they’re fighting each other.”
”Exactly!” Jethro exclaimed. ”And what brings you here to Eastwatch?”
”Going to explore my homeland now that the ceasefire has held,” she answered.
”Thanks to the emperor’s generosity, the Verdantians are flourishing now they don’t have to fight all over the world,” the old man informed her with a knowing smile. ”Even the High Elves have made moves to make peace.”
Ayrenn’s eyes widened in shock and amazement as she whispered. ”How can father want to make peace? He hated Arch.”
”Many people do yes,” Jethro replied to her muttering. ”Our emperor has done many bad things, but the good are beginning to outshine them. He supplies well-built homes, jobs, security, and happiness, that will overwrite anything he has done in the past, and now your father has witnessed such feats.”
”What did he do?” she questioned, a curious expression stretching across her face.
”Let me tell you while we walk to the port?” Jethro countered. ”I am meeting some people from Pluoria to interview them, some of the first to meet our lord.”
Following that, Ayrenn and the older man walked toward Eastwatch’s port as he filled her in on the early days of Archer’s adventures.
***
(Teuila, Maeve, and Nyx)
The Southern Passage wasn’t like anything the three women were expecting. The seas were calm, and they encountered nothing but pods of Deep Sea Whales trailing behind the fleet, dining on the scraps that were thrown overboard. Maeve was standing on the top deck, gazing out to the horizon, where she saw nothing.
”This place is empty,” she muttered while spotting a black dot in the distance.
Following that, the thing got bigger, only for a massive black dragon to close in on the ship before a bright light radiated from it. This didn’t bother the busy sailors as they’ve grown used to their empress’s antics. Seconds later, Nyx landed on the deck beside her, a bright smile appearing on her pretty face.
”I found an island two days’ journey from here,” she revealed. ”I didn’t explore it as I know you and Teuila want to do it together.”
Maeve nodded. ”Well, she’s just returned from spending time with Selina and is shadowing the fleet from below,” she said, pointing down.
Nyx leaned over, spotting Teuila’s long body erupting from the surface. She was twice the size of the Flagship; she had four massive flippers that helped her slice through the water like a missile. Mave couldn’t get over her head, jaw lined with sword-like teeth and big blue eyes that sent shivers down her spine.
”How did she get so big?” she muttered.
The Dragoness giggled. ”Thank our husband, his mana surges through our body. Making us stronger than ever before.”
”Yes, you’re right,” Maeve replied, heading back to their private quarters.
The southern fleet charted a course for Nyx’s Find to refill water and supplies, granting the crew a much-needed respite. After over a month at sea, scouring for new lands, the three women leading the expedition recognized the sailors’ need for rest and solid ground. This island promised to be their haven.
A week later, battered by a fierce Long Winter storm, the southern fleet neared Nyx’s Find, a vast, isolated island in uncharted waters. Maeve watched as Teuila led a squad of Draconian Marines ashore, their boots sinking into the unfamiliar sand. Back on the ship, the crew stood ready, prepared for any sudden attack.
”If monsters emerge, I’ll handle them,” the blue-haired beauty commanded, her blue eyes gleaming with resolve. ”You soldiers take care of the stragglers.”
Teuila stepped onto the shore, her boots sinking into the soft, warm sand of Nyx’s Find. The quiet island stretched before her; its dense jungle was a wall of green, alive with the calls of unseen creatures. At its heart loomed a massive volcano, its peak wreathed in mist, casting an awe-inspiring silhouette against the sky.
She knelt, letting the sand slip through her fingers, marveling at the untouched beauty of this wild, uncharted place. Her blue eyes scanned the horizon, captivated by the island, yet ever alert for danger. The Draconian Marines fanned out behind her on the beach, their eyes scanning the jungle for threats.
The air was thick with the scent of salt and wild vegetation, the island’s eerie silence broken only by distant bird calls. Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the air, and a shower of arrows rained down from the jungle’s edge. Teuila’s instincts kicked in. With a wave, she summoned a shield of water, the arrows splashing harmlessly against it.
Her eyes narrowed, locking onto the shadowed foliage. Without hesitation, she thrust her hands forward, unleashing a barrage of Deep Sea Blasts, roiling spheres of pressurized water that tore through the undergrowth, splintering vines. The Marines braced behind her, weapons drawn, ready for whatever emerged.
Just them, a horde of grotesque humanoid creatures rushed out, their gnarled limbs and twisted faces illuminated by the dim light filtering through the canopy. Hissing and snarling, they leaped onto the Marines, who met the onslaught head-on, cutting down the creatures with strikes of their blades and spears.
Teuila raised her hand, conjuring a gleaming sword of water, its edge as sharp as steel. With fluid, masterful movements, she wove through the fray, her water blade slicing through the remaining monsters. Their shrieks faded as the last of them fell, leaving the beach silent once more, save for the Marine’s heavy breaths and the distant rumble of the volcano.
Just then, even more humanoids appeared, surrounding the smaller force only to be crushed when a dragon crashed on top of them. Nyx’s massive claws destroyed so many creatures, sending blood flying everywhere. When the enemy saw her, they fled into the jungle, causing her to go on a rampage.
She burned everything around them, all the humanoids turned to ash before she returned to her humanoid form. Teuila sighed in relief at her appearance and spoke. ”Thank the goddess you appeared. I didn’t want to lose any soldiers.”
Nyx gigged. ”Once I smelled the things, I came flying. Maeve believes this place may be a good place to set up an expedition outpost,” she responded.
”Could be, depending on how many monsters lurk in the jungle,” the blue-haired woman commented.
Following that, the Marines stood guard as the 20th Legion disembarked to build a fortress and docks for the outpost. Maeve had decided to set up one and leave behind five hundred soldiers to man it. The others grew curious about security, but she reassured them that they would be traveling back here regularly.
