The 3 of them started preparing for the trip, and after an hour they were ready.
They left Lumenfall under the guise of normal training.
Zephyr walked ahead, with Aron and Lya besides him. Fenrir wasn't heading with them as he was tasked with staying behind and awaiting their return.
They moved through the crowded city streets, the morning sun shining down as if nothing unusual were happening, and yet… Zephyr couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.
Aron broke the uncomfortable silence.
Aron: "Guess we're really doing this, aren't we?"
Lya: "yeah I guess we are..."
Zephyr: "This is our final chance to turn back and forget about it y'know…"
Aron stopped walking, and looked at Zephyr with a grin.
Aron: "Nah, this is for the better, I'm sure we're going to benefit from this."
Zephyr smirked despite himself, "Yeah you're right."
Lya sighed, "Lets focus on getting to Lunaria first, then we can babble about this."
They walked in silence for a while, then Aron spoke again, his tone shifting.
Aron: "You think this tournament has anything to do with the western empire and ours?"
Zephyr frowned.
Zephyr: "What tensions?"
Aron: "Y'know, the border issues, the trade disputes, the small clashes… There're rumors that the western empire is mobilizing."
Lya's eyes narrowed. "They're just rumors, I'm sure it's nothing big."
Aron snorted.
Aron: "Rumors that happen to come with soldiers. Don't act oblivious, Lya."
Zephyr looked between them.
Zephyr: "Even if its true… why would a tournament be involved?"
Aron shrugged.
Aron: "Maybe it's a distraction."
Lya's voice was quiet.
Lya: "Or a trap."
Zephyr stopped walking, and looked down the road, then back at his friends.
Zephyr: "I'm sure it's not a trap, at least I hope it isn't."
Aron smiled.
Aron: "That's the spirit!"
They walked on.
After some time, they finally made it out of Runica city and started walking on the road to Lunaria.
They passed small villages, fields, rivers, all quiet, all normal.
3 hours later—Midday
They reached a small rest area along the road, a wooden sign pointed to Lunaria, which was now only 45 miles away.
Aron leaned against the sign.
Aron: "We're a little over halfway there."
Lya sat on a stone, exhaustion showing.
Lya: "Why did we do this? Couldn't we have taken a carriage or something?"
Zephyr sat beside her.
Zephyr: "Yeah you're right, we should've probably thought of that first, but its too late now."
Aron rolled his eyes.
Aron: "You guys just aren't used to stuff like this, besides it way manlier!"
Lya chuckled, "Manly how exactly?"
Aron froze, unable to find any words.
Lya smirked, "That's what I thought."
Zephyr then took out a pocket watch and checked the time.
Zephyr: "We still have a lot of time left guys, we just need to be there by midnight."
They both stood up.
Lya: "That's enough talking. Let's keep moving."
Late Afternoon — The Coastline
The sea came into view, the salty breeze hit their faces, and the sound of waves filled the air.
They walked along the coast, the city of Lunaria visible in the distance.
The city was massive, its towers shining in the sun like a fortress.
Aron whistled.
Aron: "Lunaria looks like a place you don't want to get lost in."
Lya nodded.
Lya: "It's also the center of trade."
They continued walking towards the city, and once they arrived at the gates, they were questioned by the gate guards, then let inside.
Evening— Near the Wharf
They walked around the city for a while, taking it all in, until they finally arrived at Ashwater Wharf 30 minutes before midnight.
The area was filled with students.
Not just lumenfall, but from other academies, regions and countries.
They all held the same black letter, and they all looked tense.
A boat keeper stood at the entrance, his eyes scanning every student.
He wore a long coat and a mask that covered half his face, he looked like someone that didn't want to be recognized.
After a few minutes passed by, he finally spoke up.
Boat keeper: "Letters please." He shouted.
The students stepped forward one by one, handing over their invitations.
The boat keeper didn't read the messages, didn't even look at the letters.
He simply took them and burnt them, letting the ashes scatter in the wind.
Zephyr stepped forward last, handing his letter over.
The boat keeper looked at him for a moment, before nodding slightly.
Boat keeper: "Good, you're on time."
Zephyr swallowed, as he looked up at the ship.
Its hull was black, its sails were dark, and the size was enormous.
It looked like it was built to carry an army.
The ship was already filled with the students.
The noise of them talking, laughing, and hiding their fear filled the air.
Zephyr then climbed aboard the ship, meeting up with Aron and Lya, who were waiting for him.
Lya: "This ship is pretty big huh?"
Aron: "And its probably filled with people who want us dead."
Zephyr's eyes narrowed.
Zephyr: "Then we make sure we're alert at all times."
Aron: "Sir yes sir!" he made a salute pose
The 3 then laughed.
The boat keeper then finally boarded the ship and made an announcement.
Everyone looked over burning with curiosity.
Boat Keeper: "The ship leaves in 5 minutes! The journey to the island will take 2 days!"
Everyone then groaned and started complaining.
Aron: "Woah, 2 days?!"
Lya: "I didn't expect it to be that long…"
Zephyr: "Neither did I, but I guess we should start making ourselves comfortable then. I'll go talk to the other students, see if they know anything about something."
Aron: "Yeah good idea, we'll be waiting here for you."
The ship rocked gently, swaying with the waves. The students were crowded on the deck, clustered in tight groups.
Zephyr stayed near the railing, watching. Every face he passed felt like a hidden threat. He couldn't shake the ominous feeling.
"So," a voice said behind him, "you're the lumenfall kid."
Zephyr turned and saw a tall, black-haired boy with his arms crossed.
Zephyr: "You know me?"
The boy then quickly answered, "Of course I know you, you're pretty famous, Zephyr. Lightning core. Right?"
Zephyr nodded slowly in surprise.
The boy continued, "watch your back around here." Then disappeared in the crowd.
Zephyr sighed, then walked a bit more, he passed a girl sitting alone near the mast, she was small, however her aura felt sharp.
"You're Zephyr, aren't you?" she said.
"Yeah.", Zephyr replied.
"Don't get attached to your friends, they'll just slow you down." She said coldly.
Zephyr paused for a moment then spoke up.
Zephyr: "Who are you?"
She looked at him with her dead eyes, before finally speaking up, "Just another student.", she then walked away.
Zephyr watched her go, before continuing furthermore.
He continuing walking until he reached the lower deck, where a small group of students were gathered around a barrel, laughing loudly.
A burly student with a broken tooth then looked up and pointed.
"Oi! Kid! You lost or something?"
Zephyr ignored him and kept moving.
The burly student then blocked his path, "Answer me, mutt!", he barked.
Zephyr stopped.
Zephyr: "Why should i?"
The student smiled and said, "Because it's common decency don't you think? Damn rat."
Zephyr's eyes narrowed.
Zephyr: "Yet here you are barking and throwing insults at me like some sort of lap dog."
The burly student got angry and lunged at Zephur, attempting to grab him.
Zephyr, however, simply stepped out of the way and the student fell face flat onto the ground, he then stood back up, face red from embarrassment, grabbing Zephyr by the collar, attempting to punch him.
Suddenly, a loud voice spoke from behind.
"That's enough."
A tall red-haired boy with a scar on his left cheek stood resolute. His arms crossed. His body was lean and muscular, strong enough to intimidate without trying. His eyes were calm, like someone who had already decided what was going to happen next.
The student who had attempted to harm Zephyr then let go of him and scoffed before whispering something in his ear.
"You got lucky, don't forget that."
The student then walked off back to his gang.
Zephyr looked at the red-haired man.
Zephyr: "Thanks, but I could've taken care of that myself."
Red-hair: "I'm sure you could've, however its best not to cause any trouble yet."
Zephyr: "Yeah, you're right.", he then extended his arm forward, "Name's Zephyr, what about you?"
The Red-haired man shook his hand and spoke in a calm voice, "Nice to meet you, Zephyr. I'm Lazarus."
Zephyr released the handshake, studying him more closely now.
Zephyr: "Feels like everyone's sizing each other up." He muttered.
Lazarus: "They are, we haven't even gotten to the island yet and they've already grouped up and made enemies, its pretty impressive if you ask me."
Zephyr sat on a nearby crate and then continued.
Zephyr: "So, what do you think about the island?"
Lazarus: "It's all extremely fishy to me, I mean getting invited to a death tournament on a remote island under no jurisdiction? That's just really mysterious, whoever owns the island is definitely someone rich and powerful that's for sure. That's why I came in the first place, so I could investigate."
Zephyr: "Yeah you're right, it does seem really fishy."
Lazarus smirked faintly.
Lazarus: "So what academy do you come from?"
Zephyr: "Lumenfall."
Lazarus whistled in surprise.
Lazarus: "Lumenfall huh, that's cool. I got expelled from my academy so I'm just a lone wolf right now I guess."
Zephyr: "Expelled? What for?" he asked in surprise.
Lazarus's gaze hardened, "I'd rather not talk about it."
Zephyr: "Oh, my bad. Anyways, what core you got? I'm sure you have a powerful one considering you got invited."
Lazarus chuckled.
Lazarus: "Oh I don't have one, wasn't born with one. Scientists studied me for a while and considered me a one in billion specimen, although I was born with a large supply of Essenz."
Zephyr froze.
Zephyr: "Wait what?! You don't have a core?? How's that possible? And how did you even make it this far?"
Lazarus: "Beats me, guess I was just unlucky, in order to make up for that liability I refined my Essenz like crazy just so I could keep up."
Zephyr: "You must be one helluva guy then, you refined your Essenz manipulation huh?
Lazarus: "Exactly, people forget you need Essenz to power cores anyways, enhancement, reinforcement, suppression, tracking, perception and more. On its own, its just as terrifying, if not even more terrifying. It's extremely versatile if you know how to use it."
Zephyr's shock slowly turned to fascination.
Zephyr: "So everything you do, your strength, speed, that's all only Essenz?"
Lazarus: "Every bit of it, it's the harder path but I know that it wont fail me when I need it."
Zephyr let out a low whistle.
Zephyr: "That's just insane man!" he said eagerly.
Lazarus smiled, "That's what everyone says."
Zephyr chuckled, "well anyhow I'm glad I got to meet you."
Lazarus: "Same here, you seem cool Zephyr."
Zephyr blushed slightly, "Thanks."
He then motioned to the upper deck.
Zephyr: "Come on, you should meet my friends."
Lazarus followed without hesitation.
They made their way to Lya and Aron, and Aron was the first to notice them, straightening immediately.
Aron: "Who's this Zeph?" his voice stern.
Zephyr: "This is Lazarus, he helped me out earlier and we became fast friends afterwards."
Aron then relaxed and shook hands with Lazarus.
Aron: "Any friend of Zephyr's is a friend of mine." He smiled.
Lya: "Nice to meet you, Lazarus."
Lazarus: "Please, the pleasures all mine."
Aron: "So what's your core?"
Lazarus: "Don't have one."
Both Aron and Lya blinked, "Wait what?!"
Lazarus smiled, "Yep, I wasn't born with one so instead I just refined my Essenz."
Zephyr chuckled.
Zephyr: "That was my reaction too when I first heard it."
Aron snorted, "That's actually… kinda cool!"
A bell then rang deep within the ship.
Aron: "Guess that's our cue, we should head to our cabins."
They began heading below deck together, and as they reached the corridor leading to the rooms, Zephyr glanced back at the deck one last time. The murmurs, the tension, the feeling of being surrounded by unknown dangers, made him excited.
Tomorrow, everything would change.
For now, though, the first night passed quietly, as the ship continued its steady journey towards the island.