After studying his status one more ti, Leo dismissed the system and the [Yielding Spine], then forced himself to sleep until daybreak.
At daybreak, they were still at sea, and it turned out Leo was seasick.
He was woken up by Taren, and Fang Rui was still nowhere to be found.
The morning sun was a cruel, blinding reminder that Leo was no longer on solid ground. As the ship crested a particularly steep wave and plunged into the trough, Leo’s stomach perford a violent sorsault. This wasn’t like the Seek, but he felt like he was back in that dreadful realm again.
He felt pathetic.
"At least there is no lightning, or bizarre waves, or thunder. There isn’t even a broken firmant."
He suddenly hissed. "Strangely, this is not normal."
Today, he had let go of his dirty clothes and was now wearing a simple blue tunic.
Yesterday, he had expected the battle to continue longer, but Fang Rui killing Hafgrim, who had led the Vikings to the Awakening City, had brought the war to a halt.
In fact, it had increased the scope of the war. That sort of loss would be a blow to Eldrath. Dismantling and ending the lives of the leading warriors of the Vikings was not an issue to be handled lightly.
Eldrath surely wouldn’t be letting this go. Of course, this was none of Leo’s concern since it was politics. The only issue he was involved in was the battle itself, the war cries, multiple Eldrath trying to take his life, and much more.
The thrill.
Leo stood up from his bed, but his legs felt like feathers, so he fell back onto the mattress.
"Ah, don’t stress yourself, Leo," Taren said, reaching out a hand to steady Leo as he sat up. "Drink so water. Since when have you been irritated by the sea, though?"
Leo groaned, pushing Taren’s hand away gently as he clutched his head. "Beats . I woke up this way. It feels like sothing is trying to exit through my throat. Where’s Fang Rui? Is he... also dying? It would be a bad thing if I missed that great mont." He forced a grin.
Taren’s expression sobered, and he shook his head, glancing toward the empty bunk. "Haven’t seen him since the middle of the night. Maybe he’s up on the main deck with the elders, discussing the coordinates for the mainland."
Leo managed to stand, though the world tilted dangerously to the left.
"I need air," Leo muttered, stumbling toward the cabin door.
"Wait, Leo! You shouldn’t go up there alone while you’re dizzy," Taren called out, but Leo was already out the door.
As he reached the upper deck, the salt spray hit his face, montarily clearing the fog in his mind. The sight that greeted him was both majestic and terrifying. Thousands of ships, the remnants of a civilization, stretched across the horizon like a trail of broken glass on a blue tablecloth.
Leo stared at the sky. It wasn’t cracked, dripping black goo, and turning to smoke when it touched a thin forcefield. Instead, it was a clear blue sky that stretched endlessly like a blanket. The sea was also clear blue, its waves moving gently. The ships were filled with civilians, so manning the vessels while others were just idle.
It felt strange. No one was sitting at the center of the ship forming a glowing runic circle to strengthen the vessel. Soldiers weren’t running around waiting for sea monsters to attack.
Or were they?
Leo glanced at the blue, flowing water. Fish were moving in the sea.
"...That small fish could jump out and bite soone. In fact, it might have already bitten soone..." He imdiately turned to the civilians.
"That man’s shadow is acting strange. Ah, that old woman is holding a green walking stick. Aren’t they supposed to be brown since they’re made of wood? It might have contacted Madness. Tch, that young girl sitting alone. Why is she sitting alone staring at the man steering the oar? Is she about to spread madness?"
Leo shook his head. Now, he was just being too paranoid. He looked at the refugees. He had spent just a second in the Great Sea according to the ti difference between reality and the Seek. In fact, it was just illusions, but Leo refused to believe such. It all felt real.
Among the crowd of refugees and soldiers, one figure stood out. Fang Rui was standing at the prow, his back to the rest of the world, staring intently at the horizon where the sky t the sea.
Leo wiped a bit of cold sweat from his brow and began to make his way toward him, his boots clicking unsteadily on the wet wood.
"Go back to sleep," Fang Rui said without turning around. "I’m not interested in your tantrums."
"I’m not interested in throwing tantrums today," Leo hissed, though a sudden lurch of the ship almost sent him to his knees. "I didn’t... throw tantrums before."
Fang Rui finally turned, his sharp eyes scanning Leo’s pale face. A small, almost imperceptible smirk played on his lips. "Oh, really? So what are you here for then, humanity’s bastard?"
Leo wanted to retort, but he cald himself. He was here for sothing else.
"So, did you find out where my father and grandfather are? And Mira also?"
Fang Rui didn’t reply imdiately. "Yes, they’re back at Eldoria."
Leo frowned. "Why did they leave us behind, though?"
Fang Rui smirked. "How am I supposed to know that? Jean is a secretive bastard, no offense, and King Tharok is just a ssed-up man after Princess Elara brought the Aura System to Primoria twelve years ago. The Atlantis family is the most ssed-up royal family. At least that’s what makes them the second strongest after the Drakonwych family and makes the Dravenor clan well-known."
Leo leaned heavily against the salt-crusted railing, the wood biting into his palms. Mystery and politics usually sparked a fire in his chest, but today, his stomach just did another slow, miserable roll.
"Eldoria," Leo repeated, the na of the capital feeling like a distant dream. "So they retreated back to safety while we were busy playing bait for Viking axes. Typical."
He looked out at the endless blue, his mind still poisoned by the logic of the Seek. Seeing the world function normally was more exhausting than the war itself.
"The second strongest family," Leo muttered. "Second strongest, yet my grandfather is ssed up and my father is playing hide and seek with the fate of the realm. If this is what peak power looks like in Primoria, I can see why the Vikings thought attacking the Awakening City was a good idea."
Fang Rui didn’t offer comfort. He wouldn’t. Instead, he stepped away from the prow, his boots making no sound on the deck despite the heavy swaying of the vessel.
"I really don’t know what to say. I’m just... fed up?"
Before Fang Rui left his sight, Leo contemplated telling him he believed the breach was with the help of soone in Primoria, but he decided against it. He had no proof, and he was still insignificant in the face of politics and war.
He smiled and said to Fang Rui before the Demon of Shadows disappeared out of sight:
"Don’t you think life would be boring without expectations?"
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