The Author's Viewpoint

Tave responded to Aura's greeting with a respectful bow.

"It's an honor to meet you, Lady Aura."

Aura stepped closer, tilting her head slightly as a small, amused laugh escaped her lips.

"Ah, so polite for a human, huh?" she said playfully. "By the way, I've heard that you helped rescue Her Highness, Princess Vanya, from an Emergency Rift. For that, I owe you a great debt of gratitude."

She bowed to him, then stepped back again, her gaze shifting between Tave and Vanya.

"The monster's been driven off. Hopefully, it won't return before we reach Vensalor Island."

Vanya smiled and stepped beside Aura, beginning to chat casually with her. Their conversation drifted toward lighter topics, the storm behind them now just a memory. Tave remained silent, watching the two of them as his thoughts wandered.

There was a lot happening.

He knew one thing for certain, Aura had the ability to use teleportation. That explained her sudden and perfectly-timed arrival in the middle of the ocean. If she hadn't come when she did, the ship would've been destroyed. Lives would've been lost.

In that sense, sending Aura had been the most logical choice.

But what he still couldn't explain… was why these monsters were appearing at all.

This was the second time a high-tier sea monster had appeared during a journey involving Vanya. Two attacks, both during voyages, both dangerously close to the kingdom's sea routes. And both aimed at a ship carrying the crowned princess.

That wasn't a coincidence. It couldn't be.

But right now, Tave's mind was stretched thin. Too many unknowns. Too many shifting pieces. All he could do was focus, solve one problem at a time.

After that, the forest elves began working swiftly to restore order on the damaged ship. Pieces of shattered wood were gathered, sails checked, and tools brought out to stabilize what they could.

Amid it all, Aura gracefully took to the air once more, using her Air Element skills to guide the vessel forward. Despite the ship being in no condition to move on its own, under her direction, it glided steadily once again over the sea.

In that moment, Tave glanced toward Vanya, tilting his head just slightly in silent inquiry.

Does Aura know about the pact?

Vanya caught the gesture and responded with a subtle shake of her head.

Either Aura wasn't aware yet… or Vanya wasn't sure if she knew.

Well, at least for now, they were safe. And whatever needed to be known, would reveal itself once they reached Vensalor Island.

With the storm behind them, Tave, Lily, and Vanya returned inside the ship. The central chamber was still in disarray, furniture tossed, supplies scattered. So Tave rolled up his sleeves and started helping the others clean up the mess left by the chaos.

After that, the voyage continued in quiet normalcy.

Now, all they had to do was wait for the ship to reach its destination.

During the voyage, Lily spent more and more time in Tave's cabin after things had calmed down. Maybe she felt a little lonely, or maybe the memory of the sea monster's attack still lingered in her mind. Either way, Tave did what he could to keep his younger sister company, sharing quiet conversations to ease her nerves.

She sat near the small cabin window, gazing out at the endless stretch of sea, her eyes calm but distant.

"Missing home already, Lil?" he asked softly.

Lily let out a breath and forced a smile. "I feel like I need more time to train."

Tave tilted his head. "Train?"

"Yeah. Just sitting around on a ship like this feels like a waste of time. We're just waiting to reach the island, right?"

"Why do you seem so eager all of a sudden?" he asked. "I'm sure we'll have plenty of chances to train and hunt once we reach Vensalor Island. You'll like it there."

Lily shot him a suspicious look. "How can you be so sure? This is your first time going too, isn't it? What if they reject your pact with the princess and lock you up instead?"

Tave raised both eyebrows. "You didn't seem concerned about that when you asked to come with me."

She sighed and leaned back against the cabin wall. "Not that I don't trust your choices, Tave. But… I don't know. Seeing Lady Aura drive away a monster like that in seconds, or Lady Elincia slaying that giant bird, makes me realize just how far we still are. We're still stuck fighting on solid ground while they could probably split mountains if they wanted to."

Tave grinned. "Well, for your information, Lil. I've got wings now. That puts me one level above you and the rest."

Lily narrowed her eyes and turned back toward the window with a dramatic huff. "I don't remember having an arrogant older brother like you."

Tave chuckled under his breath, amused by her pout.

They sailed for several more days without incident. Life aboard ship returned to its steady rhythm: meals in the galley, rest in the cabins, and nightly gatherings in the central lounge where the crew shared stories, laughter, and quiet companionship beneath crystal lamps.

Tave made it his mission to draw Vanya and Lily out from the safety of their routine. On clear afternoons, he led them to the bow to cast fishing lines into the blue expanse below. Sometimes they hooked small sea monsters, tussling briefly with rippling muscles before succumbing to Tave's guiding hand.

Gradually, though, a distant shape began to emerge on the horizon, a low, dark silhouette at first, then a majestic floating island that rose slowly as they approached. Each day it grew larger, sharper in the sky until its outlines of sheer cliffs, waterfalls, and hanging chains gleamed in the sunlight like a mirage made real.

On the morning it became unmistakable, a hush swept over the deck. Tave, Vanya, and Lily stood together at the prow, leaning against the railing as the massive floating landmass loomed high above them. From its underside, torrents of water poured down, forming colossal spirals that fed into the ocean like giant chains—or rivers descending from a mountain in the sky.

"How do we board it, Princess?" Lily murmured.

Vanya smiled. "Let's find out as soon as we get closer."

As the ship's bow slid beneath the looming shadow of Vensalor Island, the roar of cascading waters enveloped them. Liquid vortexes curled and shimmered in the air, the spirals of water bright against the rock, sucking skyward like watery tendrils reaching for the heavens.

The crew cried out in readiness: "Prepare for ascent to Vensalor!"

And in that moment, it felt like witnessing a miracle.

The ship began to ascend, carried upward not by force or machinery, but by the spiraling river of water that defied gravity. It tilted slightly as it climbed, riding the swirling current upward like a leaf caught in an invisible tide. But somehow, it remained perfectly balanced, never tipping, never drifting away from the path.

"Woah… this is incredible," Lily whispered, her voice bubbling with awe as she laughed softly, eyes sparkling.

Vanya lifted her hand and pointed outward. "Lily, look there."

Both Lily and Tave turned their heads, and what they saw rendered them speechless for a moment. Beyond the swirling water, an iridescent rainbow stretched wide across the sky, refracting through the mist. In the distance, sleek, dolphin-like creatures leapt joyfully alongside the stream, their silvery bodies arcing through the air and splashing playfully back into the current.

"So beautiful…" Lily murmured.

Tave stood beside them, his expression softening into a satisfied smile—tinged with something deeper, a quiet pride. He had imagined this place a hundred times before, crafted it with words. But now, here he was. Not as a writer, but as someone who lived it, who breathed it.

The ship surged upward, gaining speed, the massive island looming above them now like a suspended world. Its shadow blanketed the vessel, dimming the sun and casting everything in a dusky shadow. The light shimmered off the streaming water, and above, the cliffs of Vensalor rose tall and majestic—drawing them ever close.

Vensalor Island wasn't just a single floating mass. It was a cluster of majestic islands—some suspended beneath the main landmass, others drifting even higher, like fragments of paradise scattered across the sky.

As the ship continued its ascent, one of the smaller islands came into view. It hovered gently to the side of their path—lush and vibrant, with green meadows stretching into the distance, rolling hills and forested peaks, and a tranquil lake nestled near the center. A glistening river trickled from the lake's edge, spiraling downward in the same floating currents that carried them now, joining the streams flowing to the sea below.

"These smaller islands are used for different purposes," Vanya explained softly. "Training grounds, hunting zones… and the highest ones are sacred places, built for the rites of the forest elves."

Until finally, the spiral current had nearly reached its summit. The ship shifted gently, following the curving arc of the floating river as it began to even out. And then, just beyond the mist and shimmering air. Tave saw it.

The surface of Vensalor Island revealed itself.