Atheline shook his head in denial, there was just no way. The coincidence was just too unreal.

He watched as the ship cut through the waters, racing against time. It was clear it had decided not to wait for anyone.

He leaned forward slightly, just to get a better look.

"What are you talking about?" Lilith asked curiously.

She was also leaning against the railing, enjoying the morning breeze.

"Just wait and see," he said without turning to look at her," I’m not sure if I’m seeing illusions."

The distance between the two ships had been large but it was slowly reduced as it raced to the open waters.

For a moment, both ships were parallel to each other as they moved through the stretch of water.

That was when he got a clear view of them. Standing on the deck looking out to the sea with clear excitement on both their faces.

"That one, " he said quietly.

She followed his line of sight and for the first time since they arrived, she paused just for a fraction.

"Interesting, " she murmured, the small edge in her tone hidden.

Atheline agreed with her. When he had first gestured to them at the port, he had been dismissed but now it seems he had finally gotten her attention.

It was clear that both leads were heading in the same direction as them.

"Do you think the goddess also instructed her?" He asked.

She was silent for a moment, just staring down at Yander who was oblivious since her attention was on Caius.

"She might have," she answered simply.

’I just hope it doesn’t turn bad because they’re here’

At that moment, Caius shifted slightly. It wasn’t much but enough for him to turn his head.

His eyes widened then brightened. He opened his mouth to speak but their ship shifted away from his.

Atheline walked away from the railing not wanting to engage but not enough to lose sight of the ship.

He watched it go, speeding away with the currents.

.

.

.

Time on the ship felt monotonous. Lilith leaned against the railing for a while, watching the water change.

A few seagulls would fly by but most of the time, it was nothing but water and the sun that kept getting hotter by the minute.

Atheline didn’t stay in one place. At times he stood near the front of the ship, watching the horizon.

Other times, he moved along the deck, watching the crew move around without interfering.

Time passed more slowly than normal. They ate when the food was passed around. Unlike their first boat, here everyone ate wherever they wanted.

He didn’t admit it, but he kind of liked the honest way of life.

By evening Atheline had become friends with half of the ground group. Each eager to tell him about their life on the sea and how to survive it.

The ship had moved so far away that Atheline couldn’t even place where they were.

"Okay... that sounds adventurous, " he said to another crew member.

He was young almost sixteen with wild black hair and a large stature.

"And that is not all," the boy turned to his companion beside him gesturing wildly, " the black kraken is something you never want to meet."

"Really, I’ve heard about it," he said, leaning forward with interest," how big is it?"

Silence prevailed as they thought.

"I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s as big as the largest ship, those used by the officials."

"That..."

"Atheline," she called her voice quiet.

He glanced in her direction then turned to them his lips curved slightly.

"Thank you for your time."

He turned to leave before they could respond. Lilith was leaning on the railings her gaze distant. He took the space beside her.

"Are you bored?" He asked.

She shook her head in response her gaze never leaving the far distance. Atheline followed her line of sight.

For a while there was nothing to look at except the fading line where the sky met the sea, then, something shifted just a little dot.

Ahead, a shape started to form, small at first then it became clearer.

Another ship, the one the protagonist had left with. It wasn’t moving the same way as before but standing still in the sea.

"That’s strange," he murmured.

"There is still more," she said quietly.

More shapes came into view. One, then another, and several more.

Ships.

They weren’t moving forward as one would expect. Their ship had passed enough vessels for him to identify a moving ship from a distance.

The ships seemed to have surrounded, the protagonist ship.

’Please no’

He knew they were disaster magnets but this was just not the time. He had expected to at least go up to the islands before trouble began.

"Looks like we’ve got company," the captain shouted, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Should we approach my lady," the captain asked, appearing from the side corridor.

She was quiet for a moment then shook her head.

"No."

She glanced at Atheline just for a brief second. He nodded not seeing any problem with it.

He wasn’t a hero.

’The protagonist can’t die’

"Aren’t you scared your saintess might get killed?" He said, amusement laced in his tone.

She chuckled slightly," Another will rise in her place."

The ship slowed down, a distance away but close enough to witness everything.

Since their ship was dubbed a pirate ship, it was unlikely the other group would pay attention to them.

There was a small tension that even the rolling waves seemed to have stopped, then movement broke the stillness.

It started on one of the pirate ships, and they crossed into the protagonist’s ship, each carrying a weapon larger than the other.

For anyone, the scene would have been terrifying.

"I get why merchants look for official ships," he said quietly," since they’re better protected. "

She nodded once in agreement.

For a brief moment, nothing happened. Just the pirates spreading out across the decks like they owned it.

Most of the passengers had already knelt, except a few. Atheline was just wondering when it would start, then all hell broke loose.