The Lord of the Seas - An Isekai Progression Fantasy [ Currently on Volume 2 ]

The sun rose slowly, brushing the edges of the world with a golden hue. Lukas stood at the shore alone, his bare feet buried in the sand, his coat fluttering gently in the sea breeze. The air was cool, crisp, and quiet—soothing in a way that only silence at the edge of dawn could be.

He watched as light spilled across the sea, painting the surface in shimmering streaks of gold and deep blue.

A part of him wanted to hold onto this moment forever. No responsibilities, no weight of bloodlines or titles. Just the sound of waves and the warmth of a home that didn't belong to him but welcomed him all the same.

Aurelia had insisted they stay the night and she was the type of woman who would not take no for an answer especially when it came to ensuring her guests felt right at home.

As the sun crested fully over the horizon, Lukas found himself waiting for the bell that rung every time the sun rose and every time the sun set. The same bell that had rung with oppressive force across the outer cities of Nozar the evening before—signalling the start of the Hour of Worship, compelling every soul in the kingdom to kneel and chant for Oceanus' mercy and forgiveness.

It had rung with religious fervour, uniform and unwavering. But this morning, the bell never came.

Lukas waited a few moments longer.

Still, the only sound he could hear was the gentle lapping of waves against his feet.

Curiosity rising like the tide, Lukas turned from the waves and walked back toward the house.

Darren's home sat far from the bustle of the outer cities—no cobbled streets or packed dilapidated houses. Just a weathered stone cottage surrounded by dunes and silence.

It was a quiet life, hidden from the prying eyes of Nozar.

When Lukas stepped inside, he was met with the soft scent of eggs and herbs; the faint sizzle of food being cooked over the fire.

Rosalia was seated on a small wooden stool, helping Andrea mix something in a bowl while Aurelia moved about the kitchen with practiced ease, her hair tied in a tight bun.

Lukas' eyes searched the small cottage but yet there was not a blue mat in sight. Not by the door. Not tucked against the wall. Not being unrolled in preparation. He looked around once more before glancing at Darren, who was busy setting plates on the table.

"…The bell," he noted. "It didn't ring today."

Darren didn't answer.

Instead, Aurelia's voice called out without even turning to answer his unspoken question. "That's because it wasn't allowed to."

Lukas blinked. "What?"

Aurelia turned, hands on her hips, an amused fire in her eyes. "I made sure it wouldn't," she told him plainly. "My Divinity grants me control over sound. The gong of that bell will never reach us."

"You…silenced the Hour of Worship?" Lukas asked. "Isn't that…against Nozari law?"

Frankly, he shouldn't have been surprised. The woman Darren had fallen in love with didn't seem like the most law-abiding citizen anyways.

"Probably," she said without hesitation, turning back toward the stove. "But I don't give a damn about some law written by old men who think fear is a religion."

Lukas stared at her, floored not just by her defiance—but the ease with which she wore it. "You don't fear retribution?"

"I fear for my daughter," Aurelia replied, her tone softer now as she glanced at Andrea, who was laughing beside Rosalia. "I do not fear Oceanus. And I do not fear the Church. I only care that my daughter will grow up free. Free to choose her faith. Free to choose no faith at all if she damn well pleases."

Lukas had no words.

Aurelia simply smirked, handed a wooden spoon to Rosalia and returned to dicing herbs like she hadn't just committed minor heresy.

Lukas blinked, still half in disbelief; turning towards Darren as Aurelia returned to the kitchen. "You've seriously got yourself a keeper, Darren."

"Don't I know it." Was the only thing Darren had to say in response.

Lukas laughed, the sound pulling something loose in his chest.

They weren't rebels. They weren't warriors or rulers. They were simply people who chose love over fear. And in a Kingdom ruled by chains and prayers whispered in terror, that made them one of the strongest people he had ever met.

Even if they wanted to, Lukas and Rosalia could not stay for much longer.

Once breakfast had finished, they said their goodbyes.

The King's fleet was preparing to sail toward the heart of Nozar, and the Merchant Guild's vessel would be following closely behind.

The Celebration of the Great War's End was drawing near, and time was no longer theirs to waste.

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Darren offered to walk them back to the ship. Andrea protested, clinging tightly to his tunic as Aurelia hoisted her into her arms. The tiny child didn't want Rosalia to leave, let alone her father to leave with them; even if it was for just a moment.

"I expect you back within the hour, Darren," Aurelia commanded, her tone light but firm, her eyes glowing with fondness.

Darren laughed, brushing a lock of hair from Aurelia's face before kissing his wife—hard and unapologetic. "I promise I will."

Andrea too gave her father a big, loud kiss on the cheek. "Bring back fish!"

"I'll bring back the whole ocean for you," Darren replied with a grin.

Rosalia waved earnestly at the little girl. "I'll come visit before I leave Nozar, okay? I promise."

Andrea waved back just as excitedly, and Lukas could feel the weight in Rosalia's chest even if she didn't say it out loud. The princess had grown attached to the family.

Maybe they both had.

The walk back to the harbor was short but heavy. Just as they were about to board the Merchant Guild's ship, they saw him.

King Daerion Ittriki of Nozar stood at the foot of his own vessel, dressed not in gold-stitched regalia but in dark marine robes of state, his beard trimmed and his crown glinting beneath the morning sun. Marine officers moved around him with practiced urgency, but the moment his eyes fell on Darren, he stopped.

Lukas froze. He didn't know if Daerion would ignore Darren or strike him down with a single command.

The man had once been known for his ruthlessness, and Darren had walked away from everything the Ittriki Clan stood for.

Instead, Daerion only gave Darren a quiet nod.

"How is my granddaughter?" The giant of a man asked his son, his voice rough like gravel but not harsh in any way.

Darren didn't flinch. "Andrea is well. You should come visit her some time. She likes it when you bring her gifts."

The old king nodded again. "Good. Tell her that I will visit another time."

There was a flicker there—behind those tired eyes—something unreadable. Sadness, maybe. Perhaps even regret. A father's ache buried beneath pride and politics. But it passed just as quickly as Lukas had noticed it.

"I wish you well," Daerion said, turning without another word. And just like that, he was gone—heading off to board his ship. But then, the King of Nozar turned one last time but this time, his eyes fell upon Lukas.

"Klein. Tell Velena," Daerion told him calmly, "that her time is running out. I hope she has a product ready to present."

Lukas simply bowed to acknowledge the King's orders, letting Daerion know that he'd pass on the message. But then Lukas froze, a chill running up his spine as he glanced towards Darren.

The King had called him Klein, not Lukas.

Klein.

The name lingered in the air like a storm cloud on the horizon.

Darren had not given much of a reaction towards what his father had to say to him but now, he had an eyebrow raised in Lukas' direction.

For one tense moment, Lukas feared the worst.

Would Darren correct his father?

Would he expose Lukas right here, in front of the King of Nozar's fleet, beneath the watching eyes of the Merchant Guild and the Marines lining the docks?

Instead of doing any of that, Darren gave Lukas a sidelong glance. And then, slowly, an almost knowing smile crept onto his face.

"You've got nothing to worry about," Darren whispered softly, his voice low and calm. "It's not my place…and it's certainly not my business."

Lukas blinked.

Darren's expression didn't waver. He only continued once the King and his men were out of earshot.

"Whatever name you may carry, Lukas or Klein or whatever it really is, I can see that you're a good man. And that's more than enough for me. There's not too many good men left in this world. And we need men like you, Lukas, more than ever before."

Lukas didn't know what to say.

Before him was a man that knew close to nothing about him, looking him in the eyes and choosing to trust him anyway.

Darren Ittriki was right.

They needed more good men in this world now more than ever and Darren was one of those men.

Lukas was just glad Darren thought the same of him.

Before Lukas could respond, Darren stepped forward and pulled him into a brief, tight hug.

Lukas stiffened at first—he hadn't expected that at all. But he found himself smiling.

"You better come visit again," Darren finally said, patting his back. "Next time, Andrea's going to want a story. And Aurelia's not going to let you leave without a full belly."

Lukas chuckled. "I will. I promise."

They parted, and Darren gave Rosalia a quick wave. "Take care of him, Princess," he called with a grin.

"Will do!" Rosalia said, returning the wave.

Lukas and Rosalia returned to the ship, and from the top of the deck, they looked down at the man walking back toward the shoreline. Darren waved once more, his figure growing smaller with each passing moment.

Lukas leaned against the railing.

"Do you think they'll be okay?" Rosalia asked.

Lukas nodded. "Yeah. I think they'll be just fine, Rosalia."

Darren had chosen his path. One of quiet love. Of family. Of peace. Lukas hoped—no, he prayed—that the man would live a long life filled with nothing but that. Lukas also hoped that one day he'd be lucky enough to do the same.

As the Merchant Guild's vessel prepared to leave the outer cities, the King's fleet began its slow course deeper into Nozar's heart.

The stream that cut through the kingdom glimmered with the sun's rising light, golden and warm, like a path paved by the gods themselves.

"Alright then," Lukas muttered under his breath.

The time he had spent with Darren and his family was the calm before the storm.

That peace would not come as easily the further they travelled into the heart of this empire.

The Inner Cities of Nozar awaited. And within those Inner Cities and beyond the wall, power, legacy, and potential danger awaited.

Lukas cast one last glance toward the shrinking shoreline—toward Darren, toward Andrea and Aurelia, toward the small cottage that sat on the shores of Nozar—and whispered:

"One day."

Then the ship turned forward, cutting through the sacred waters of Nozar, as the Merchant Guild's vessel began its quiet descent deeper into the Kingdom that had once brought dragons to their knees.