Still Waters
Port Acana — one of the renowned, crucial ports belonging to one of the four Dukes of Endaira Empire, Duke Alexander, which was located on the further edge of the Southeast Duchy of Alexander that boasted several and proven to be efficient enormous ships crafted and powered by both harnessing the nature and necessary labyrinthian objects were the waypoint for travelers, be it for nobles or commoners, from different cities or even a Sovereignty (Nation).
With that said, as the three of them meandered through the sturdy, metallic, and long gangway, Olivia noticed something, prompting her to query in a low voice, "Um, Young Master, I thought the ship we are boarding is named Kerudan?"
It was past midnight. Even though Port Acana was well-lit by several street lights and such, Olivia barely noticed the ship's name — Ship Dregan.
Hearing her question, Azel followed Olivia's gaze as the two of them walked behind their Young Master. With her cerulean eyes scanning the ship's name, Azel simply waited for Zero's response.
"It will take some explaining. Let's get on board for now."
Even before going on this journey, Zero did not reveal specific and crucial details to his company. What he had told the four maids under his guidance was that he only needed two companions for a moment since it was unnecessary to bring four.
Apart from that, Zero informed them that he wanted to leave the Villa of Ariad since he had been confined for a very long time and needed to see the changes in the world, even if it was only a fraction of it. This reasoning granted him permission from his mother.
Listening to the calm assuring voice of their Young Master, the three of them managed to reach the door of the Ship Dregan.
"Welcome aboard to Ship Dregan!" Said a woman in her early thirties, donning a Dregan's ship crew standard attire; a tailored navy blue uniform with gold accents.
Standing less than a meter from this woman with shoulder-length black hair and darkened eyes, Zero muttered, his voice blocked by the cacophony of mundane sounds in this lively port, "Ship Kerudan, three seats." He proceeded to show the proof of payment from the particular Ship Crow.
The woman scrutinized the appearance of the young man and the two beautiful maids sticking to him. A moment or two later, she casually asked, "Where did you come across this information?"
"Receptionist Liana from the Mercenary Guild." Zero responded in less than a second. Hearing him, a chuckle escaped the woman's mouth, seemingly admiring a bit the young man's confidence and decisiveness.
With a nod of acknowledgment, the woman let out a sigh of misunderstanding, "I see. Well, it doesn't matter if someone informed you or not. I was just curious, you know.
"Because anyone who knows about Ship Kerudan either has connections or is now dead. There's no in-between."
The woman grinned as she continued in a somewhat seductive tone, "In the lower deck, our esteemed guests."
Witnessing the interaction between their Young Master and the two, Olivia and Azel exchanged subtle glances as though they arrived at a tacit understanding.
'This isn't going to be a normal trip.'
***
2:00 AM — Departure of Ship Dregan toward the Ankora Sea, which served as the body of water that bordered the Southeast Endaira Empire and Southwest Sylvaraen Queendom.
As the ship's horn had been blown, with it being unanchored from Port Acana, Zero and the two maids already found themselves on the lower deck of the massive ship.
To Olivia and Azel's surprise, what they witnessed was a luxurious, spacious hall filled with round tables and refined high-back chairs as the lower deck was continuously being filled with murmurs of both men and women in lavish gowns and respectable suits of delicate designs respectively.
The two of them could not help but feel that they were in an entirely different ship, which in a sense was true.
"Hello, has the three of you received your Guest Number?" All of a sudden, a man in a butler's standard attire cut off the three's thoughts.
'Are these three new?' The man thought as he received a nod from the young man with brown eyes and short black hair.
"I see. That's great! But it seems you haven't been informed of tonight's list yet, so here's the list. Have a good time, Sir, and..." He paused and smiled; his mind wandered into something undesirable upon seeing the young man's company.
A moment later the man left. Zero and the two maids then scanned the so-called tonight's list written on thick colorful paper. This caused Olivia and Azel's eyes to widen as they cast their inquisitive gaze towards their Young Master.
"This is an illegal auction that happens in Ship Kerudan twice a week." Zero said, his gaze momentarily focused on the massive crimson curtain that blocked almost a quarter of the venue.
"T–then Young Master, w–what's our purpose here? Certainly, we couldn't buy anything here." Olivia's lips quivered. Even though it was termed by Zero as an auction, the "Tonight's List" was far from being objects of significance.
"At the moment, we don't have to do anything since our purpose isn't within this ship but its route." Pausing for a moment, he queried, "Are the two of you at least aware of the Myth of Acana?"
Olivia and Azel looked at each other for a moment before nodding, "Yes, Young Master. It's the reason for the port's name."
After Olivia, Azel joined enthusiastically, "It says that long ago, there was a Princess named Acana from the lost kingdom of Atlas. She then married an unnamed man, I think it was perhaps a knight? However, it was someone that the King of Atlas did not approve of.
"But it did not prevent Princess Acana from having four children with her husband, whom she married secretly. This angered the King of Atlas, causing him to order the execution of the man and their four children.
"Then, it was said that the lovers and their children traversed the boundless sea from being pursued. But at one point, because of hunger, it did not end well for the Princess and her husband, giving parts of their bodies to feed their four children.
"Unfortunately, in the end, the merciless storms of the seas crushed the boat, killing and drowning their four children. The two of them survived but immediately bled to death because of their lost limbs."
Hearing Azel's narration, Zero couldn't help but let out an uncharacteristic chuckle; not because of what was contained in the myth but due to Azel's initiative. Meanwhile, Olivia's golden eyes pierced Azel with a wondrous gaze.
"How did you know that much, Azel?" Olivia asked; her expression somewhat in disbelief.
"What do you mean? I mostly read stories in my free time. If not for your ploy recently, I'd still be the same." Azel replied, recalling what Olivia did after witnessing the former's tears in prostration in front of their Young Master during their first night of training.
— "Why did you gather us at this hour, Miss Olivia?"
— "I have received permission from Mistress Elizabeth to change a single rule in the Maid Code! From this moment onwards, every one of us, if there is no emergency or other urgent matters, will always dine at the same time and the same table!"
This allowed for in-depth closure to sprout within every maid's heart and mind.
"That's a touching, unfortunate story." Zero's words brought Azel from her reverie. Before he could utter more, the auctioneer's voice reverberated within the confines of Ship Kerudan:
"Everyone, everyone! We have twenty minutes left before our departure and the beginning of tonight's event!"
Clap—!
"Huh? Departure?" Almost at the same time, such a question from the two maids filled the air.
***
Northern Endaira, Radnan Fortress, Headquarters of the General.
At almost the same time, when Ship Dregan was traversing the Ankora Sea, the confidant of Aladan, Commander Yura, entered the headquarters.
"General, the investigation in regards to the Dual Guardian Mercenary Group has come to an end. Its final member named Hakan was found dead in the Ekker District of the East Thread City around last week."
"Dead?" Aladan's brown eyes squinted.
"Yes, General. His body was found hanging in a room he rented in Ekkerin Tavern. It's believed to be suicide since there's no sign of struggle." Yura, with both her hands at the back, replied objectively, not leaving any details out.
Pondering his confidant's words, Aladan decided, "I see. Abandon the case." Yura lowered her head in silence and started to leave.
The reason for this investigation was due to his son's story surrounding the deaths of Guardian Emric and Racan. It was impossible for Zero's fight against the two Guardians that led to the latter's demise to coexist with the rumors about the betrayal of the members of the Dual Guardian Mercenary Group.
"Wait, Yura." Yura stopped on her slow tracks, shifting her gaze to Aladan. But after a moment or two, he dismissed the idea of voicing his ridiculous thoughts. Instead, he informed her, "I asked my son. Unfortunately, he doesn't have time to meet you."
"Ah? About that? That's unfortunate. Sigh. I wanted to meet him, but I guess it could wait. By the way, General, I remember... can I ask for a day off?" Yura then explained her circumstances.
"Is that so? Your mother's friend and her daughter have recovered from their grave sickness so you want to visit them?" Aladan queried, letting out a sigh.
In the end, Aladan approved of Yura's request.
***
Lower Deck of Ship Dregan, Ship Kerudan.
After some time, the answer to Olivia and Azel's confusion in regards to the auctioneer's words of 'departure' was then granted.
Tremble—!
At that moment, Ship Kerudan trembled as though it wanted to leave the clutches of Ship Dregan. But from the outsider's perspective, for those passengers who weren't in the lower deck, it seemed as though nothing was amiss and the enormous ship continued its sailing through the still waters under the serenity of the bluish moon.
In the next moment, the ceiling transformed into the starry sky and the icy winds touched everyone's skin. Seeing this, Olivia's gaze swept past the entire venue, only to see the enormous ship named Kerudan in its own tracks.
"D–did the lower deck just separate itself?!"
"What happened, Young Master?! It's the first time I've seen this!" Even though it was Zero's first time in a long time that he embarked on this journey, Azel could not help but ask. After all, she believed that the one she had decided to surrender her life to would know the answer to her curiosity.
"It's because of a cursed artifact." Zero explained to the two confused maids, unquestioning of his wisdom's origin.
The merchant company that owned Ship Dregan was also the owner of Ship Keduran — a small vessel that secretly served as an auction venue for some nobles among the seven races.
The reason for this peculiarity was that Ship Dregan had fallen into the effect of a legendary cursed artifact, making it split into two during a certain day and time. This particular cursed artifact was believed to be an object retrieved from a mysterious labyrinth explored by several Explorers.
To make matters clear, Zero's gaze landed on a certain dark blue flag situated on the now-open stage for auction. Seeing this, Olivia and Azel verified the flag's information.
[Kerudan's Flag of Failure]
Description:
The object that symbolizes the army of the one who pursued the abominable Princess of Atlas. Upon failing to capture her, the captain of the ship, Kerudan, begged to the heavens before taking his life, saying, "Let my ship live to witness others' suffering!"
Category: Artifact [Cursed]
Rarity: Legendary
Function: [Visage of Still Waters]
— Produces the illusory form of the ancient ship that hides its existence from those who haven't met the qualifications to see it. This will only work if and only if this object of failure has been positioned in a 'lively' ship.
— If the above-mentioned function has been met, this ship will only traverse a certain path for a certain period of time. But no matter the route, it will always manage to attach itself back to the 'lively ship'.
Warning [Cursed Effect]:
If the ship has attached itself to the 'lively ship' without meeting a certain number of sacrifices, everyone on board will face the effect: "The Hunt."
Sacrifices Remaining: 100
Reading such ominous information, Olivia and Azel had a collective thought:
'Who the hell brought this out of a labyrinth!?'