The Homeseeker: Elemental Adventurer LitRPG [Isekai] (Series Complete!)

Zalan stared up at the clouds as they walked through Oriton. Scanning every entity floating in the sky, Zalan scrutinized to see if anything resembled a city. He knew it was a silly plan to search on his own. If it was easy enough to find, the people of the realm would have pointed it out years ago. Two books in Madam Hikma's library showed the puddle of available information. Even then, the information was just enough that they had to go talk with Ma at the port in the hopes of a morsel more of information. Zalan stretched his neck back, looking for anything of interest hovering directly above him.

"Staring at the sun again?" Rep asked, amused.

"No." Zalan quickly brought his head down.

"What do you think you will find up there that has not been seen before?"

"How many people do you think have searched for it before?"

"Countless," Rep answered immediately. "It is always a curiosity of children. Some make it a point to go out in search of it."

"Oh. Then do you really think Ma would know where it is?"

"I think she would be the most likely to know. Or lead the way."

"Madam Hikma didn't even have answers, even with the advantage," Zalan pointed to his eye. He was referencing the Guidance Gem that had become part of Madam Hikma.

"I am listening for any better ideas you may have."

"I don't know, I just don't want to go and bother her, you know?"

"I do know. But I think we are in an urgent position to locate Aetheria. Otherwise Morloch will continue his reign over the Elementals."

"You think we're the only ones looking to take him down?"

Rep considered the question for a moment. Then, shook his head.

"I am certain others would want to remove the blight killing Elementals, but do not know that Morloch is the one at the helm of their deaths. In the case they do know, they may not know that he resides in Aetheria. And in case they are aware of both Morloch and his location, they would be like us, left in search of the legendary city."

"So we might be able to find some more allies on the way up?"

"On the way up? Who do you presume lives above the ground but below Aetheria?" Rep smirked.

"You know what I meant."

Rep and Zalan came to a stop in front of the dark, seedy alleyways leading to the Port of Oriton. The smell was pungent, and the few people they could see gave them shifty glances. Zalan had once been pickpocketed in this area and wasn't in the mood to have another thief come at him.

Shining like a star, Zalan imbued himself in Elemental Light, casting away the shadows of the alley. Rep nodded, silently agreeing with Zalan's approach to the situation and followed him into the alleyway. The individuals slinking in the corners of the narrow paths shied away, looking fearful. To imbue oneself with power wasn't unheard of, but Elemental Light was rare enough that people didn't want to get involved with the display. Rep and Zalan crossed through the tight roads unbothered, emerging on the port side within a minute.

Zalan took a deep breath of the pungent salty air and glanced around the docks. Sizable ships lined the waters, in a semi-organized order from largest to smallest. On the far side of the port was a pristine mansion covered in flowers. Ma's home of operation. The duo made their way over.

Rep and Zalan glanced out to the sea as they traveled, remembering the harrowing times they had away from land. A travel-companion, Xavier, had been eaten by a Leviathan right in front of them. Nold had revealed himself to be Morloch. And Captain Buttonwillow and his crew were stranded on the Island of Remains, with no means to come home. The memories left a bitter pit in Zalan's heart. It was a sad reminder that there were some things he couldn't fix.

"Do you think you would ever find yourself wanting to go out on water ever again?" Rep asked.

"Like, for any reason?"

"Indeed."

"Yeah, I could see myself fishing. I used to go fishing in the lake in my city. Not that I would catch a lot, it was a really shallow lake," Zalan said, remembering the few trips he took with his mother to Lake Yosemite.

"A lake is small, it is not as intimidating," Rep pointed out.

"I'd go out to the ocean, too. I don't think our trip scared me that much."

"That is good to hear. I would like to go back as well, someday. I wish to consume more fresh Poniwhale meat."

"You seriously need to try better meals."

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"There is no such thing."

Zalan chuckled and shook his head to himself. His smile faded the more he thought about it.

"Would you be able to go out to sea if you get married to Junill?" Zalan asked.

"I do not know." Rep sounded filled with consternation.

Both friends were deep in thought about the situation for the next few steps. The only sounds surrounding them was the creak of boats and water lapping against the docks. Looking back out to the sea, Zalan wondered if he would be able to live confined to something like a single city like Oriton. Especially when the realm had so much potential for adventure. He turned away from the sea and looked up the coast to see the Cliffs of Shadow. That was less than a day's trek away, but filled with monsters. Would that also be off limits to Rep?

When they reached the edges of the dock, Rep stopped abruptly, pulling Zalan to a halt. He stared at the nearest two ships with wide eyes and jaw agape. Zalan looked at the ships, then back to Rep several times.

"Are you good?" Zalan asked.

"Zalan! Look at the ship!"

Zalan looked up at it, scratching the back of his head. Giving it a good analysis, he saw that it looked very similar to the ship next to it. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought the two ships were twins. Then, Zalan blinked in recognition. Both ships looked exactly like Captain Buttonwillow's ship.

"Is that The Aegeusson? I thought it blew up in the storm at sea!" Zalan pointed.

"I believed the same!"

"You think that…"

"We have to go check!"

Rep and Zalan sprinted up the side of the vessel, stumbling as they went from flat land to the bob of the ship on the water. They looked around the upper deck frantically, a blast of memories flooding them by the uncanny resemblance to the ship they thought was lost at sea.

"Captain!" Zalan called out, excited. "You around here somewhere?"

Knocking on the captain's chambers, Rep was pulling hard at the doorknob to try and find his way inside.

"I believe you must be looking for me," a smarmy voice called out to them.

Both friends wheeled around energetically, looking for the source of the words. Rep frowned and Zalan's face scrunched in dissatisfaction. The voice came from the twin ship, not the one Rep and Zalan were standing on. It was the captain of the other ship, The Abuacamas, standing proudly with his hands on his hips and a broad smile on his face.

Lexington Winchester.

"No, we were not in search of you," Rep replied dismissively, turning back to the door to the captain's quarters and knocking again.

"You must be mistaken. You are on the ship of a rather old and dry captain. I am the young and spry one you are no doubt in search of. Captain Lexington Winchester," the captain presented himself.

"Oh, shut up, Lexington," Zalan called out. "No one asked you!"

"Your insults are as poor as your seafaring skills, I am certain!" Rep added.

"And I bet you haven't even left the docks since Captain Buttonwillow both went to sea and came back, you bum!" Zalan shouted.

"I will not be disrespected by his crew that worships him!" Captain Lexington snapped.

"We are not on his crew!" Rep called back.

"Yeah, we're his friends! Do you have any of those?" Zalan snapped.

"I do not need to take this from friends of the lesser captain! Captain Buttonwillow destroyed the Mother of the Port's table! The one she granted him as a gift! Because of that and some other irrelevant reason, he and his remaining crew were summoned to speak to her. The scoundrel is with her now, groveling for forgiveness, I am sure. Where are you going?" Captain Lexington's eyebrows descended in confusion.

Ignoring Captain Lexington, Rep and Zalan began sprinting to Ma's house the moment they heard Captain Buttonwillow was there. He was alive. And if he was in any trouble, Zalan wanted to be there to help him with Ma. There was a time that she enjoyed his and Rep's company, and he hoped he could use that good favor to calm her down.

They ran up the intricate path lined with flowers and stopped ahead of the two guards stationed at her door. At first they looked annoyed, then got a better look at Rep and Zalan.

"Ah, you two," one said. He knelt down and gently dusted something off of Zalan's shoulder. "What is your business with Ma?"

"We need to talk with her. About Captain Buttonwillow. And maybe Aetheria," Zalan said urgently.

"Aetheria?" the guard said.

"The sky city?" the other guard questioned, bafflement in his voice. "You know Ma does not like her time wasted."

"It won't be a waste of time… I think… I hope."

"Please let us through," Rep hopped from leg to leg urgently.

"You only need to ask," the first guard immediately opened the door. "Ma said her door is always open to you."

Rep and Zalan exchanged a quick glance of surprise. Picking up his shoes, Zalan blasted them with Elemental Light, hoping to clear any debris before walking inside. Rep raised his feet for a quick cleanse as well. Knowing how clean Ma liked to keep her establishment, he hoped they were clean enough. They stopped short of the double doors leading into her office, easing themselves from barrelling through and causing a commotion. Pushing the door lightly, Rep led the way inside.

The scene felt like it was out of a renaissance painting. The room was dark, the light sucked out by Ma's Elemental Shadow Power having been activated. Captain Buttonwillow was splayed out on the floor, held at four ends by Ma's burly guards. Oshrad, her top commander, stood over Captain Buttonwillow with disdain on his face and a foot placed heavily over the sea farer's toes. Ma sat at her table, concentrated solely on the captain. There was a deep rage burning in her eyes fueled by whatever punishment she was about to deliver. Enzo, Rosemary, and Magnolia of Captain Buttonwillow's crew were held tightly by other guards, struggling to assist their captain. They were all gagged, trying to scream in protest.

All eyes turned to Rep and Zalan when the door opened wider. Ma looked up sharply at Rep and Zalan's entrance, enough to make Zalan regret having come in at all. There were several gasps across the room and several looks of confusion thrown their way. Captain Buttonwillow, held at a strange angle, was the last to twist his head their way. His face was full of shame and dismay. As soon as he spotted Rep and Zalan, a grand smile plastered itself on his face, sealing away any negative emotions.

"Mother of the Port, forgive me for I seem to have misspoken!" Captain Buttonwillow said, jovial despite being held in a precarious position. "Rep and Zalan are alive and well!"