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

The rest of the day dragged on in a slow blur of paperwork, handshakes, and too many formalities for Lukas' taste.

With Jesse looking after Rosalia as her uncle showed them around the Inner Cities, he was tasked with ensuring that the Countess of Ilagron Village remained safe. Lukas stuck close to Velena, keeping an eye out while she moved through Nozar's administrative sectors—ornate buildings carved from marble and steel, all filled with bureaucrats who seemed to enjoy their own importance just a little too much.

The Countess of Ilagron Village was working to secure the permits the King had promised, the ones that would allow the Merchant Guild to operate freely between the outer and inner cities.It wasn't glamorous work. And it definitely wasn't exciting. But at the same time, Lukas knew how important these permits were. They were what would keep the Merchant Guild afloat if Jesse's product didn't take off.

These permits meant that this journey to Nozar was already a win in Lukas' eyes, but especially a win in the Merchant Guild's books.

But knowing that didn't make the hours pass any faster.

If anything, it made them crawl.

The Vice Admiral Anriette Vale had been assigned to escort the Countess Velena around the inner city, though it didn't take long before she admitted—half-serious, half-smirking—that she'd also been told to keep an eye on him. After nearly getting into fight with an Admiral not long after their arrival, Lukas was not surprised.

"You've got a reputation, Klein. You burn bright. People start wondering what else you'll set on fire." She quipped.

Yes "Klein" as they knew him was known as a very talented Mage, perhaps one of the most talented the Magic Tower had ever seen. But he was also known for his aggressive nature, especially with his relentless battles which allowed for his exponential climb to the Higher Floors of the Tower.

It was no surprise that Anriette had been tasked on ensuring that his aggression did not cause any issues in the Inner Cities.

Lukas didn't know if the Vice Admiral was joking half the time. With Anriette, it was hard to tell. She was one of those people he could never get an accurate read on. Still, her presence made things a little more bearable. Lukas would have probably lost his mind if not for Anriette Vale. She'd lean in every so often to whisper some scathing comment about the officials, or offer him a bored look every time Velena disappeared into another office.

Even though her entire Divinity seemed to be one that was channeled through a book, she still complained; about the heat, about her boots, about the fact that half the city seemed to run on ceremonial protocol and dramatic pauses.

By the late afternoon, Lukas had stopped watching the clock and just settled into the rhythm. Velena did her thing—charming, negotiating, occasionally terrifying—and he made sure no one tried anything. Not that they would, not here, not with how tightly Nozar's military kept things under control. But still, he kept alert.

Every now and then, his mind wandered to Rosalia and Jesse. He hadn't broken the link he'd established with Rosalia. And from time to time, he felt her presence flicker faintly through the Crown, a quiet reassurance that she was safe, that she was doing just fine with Maelis Elarion.

By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, Velena had finished her rounds, permits secured, and the worst of the day behind them.

"Thank Oceanus himself," Anriette groaned, rolling her shoulders. "I was starting to think the meetings would never end."

Lukas smirked. "Fight the Levithan or endure another hour of this?"

Anriette snorted. "Fight Rodan? Are you mad? I'd bet you are 'cause I know you'd take the former without hesitation."

Lukas chuckled, but part of him knew that she was right. He was used to storms and blades and the roar of battle. All this silence, all this waiting, it made his fingers twitch.

Now, the two sat side by side on the railing of the Merchant Guild's ship, the wooden planks beneath them warm from the day's sun, now cooling under the soft breath of night. Bottles of apple crisp cider sat between them, and the stars had already started to appear in the deep velvet sky above Nozar's inner harbor.

Velena had long since returned to her quarters, exhausted from a day of endless meetings and bargaining.

The deck was quiet now, the only sounds being the creak of ropes and the occasional lap of water against the hull.

Anriette swirled her cup lazily, her golden eye catching the setting sun. "So, what's Easthaven like?" she asked, glancing over at him. "Always heard that the skies were clearer, the magic cleaner. Is the Tower as great as they say?"

Lukas let out a soft breath, looking out over the horizon.

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"The skies are clear," he admitted. "And the Tower is something else. Cold stone halls, but full of life. Magic burns in the walls there—you can feel it, even when it's quiet. Not a place for the weak-willed, I'll say that. But it is...full of purpose. So yes. The Tower is as great as they say. Perhaps even greater."

She smiled, resting her chin on her palm. "Sounds like something I have to see for myself one day."

"You should," he agreed. "The Tower could use someone like you."

There was a pause as they each took another sip. A faint breeze rolled in from the sea.

Then, her voice came again, soft and almost playful. "So… those wards you've got? The ones that keep my Divinity from prying into your mind—were they cast by that old master of yours? The Head Mage? The King of Easthaven?"

Lukas chuckled, not bothering to hide his amusement, shrugging. "I suppose that's the power of the Crown."

Anriette laughed, tipping her head back slightly. But why it was actually funny to Lukas, she would never know. The crown that she thought he was referring to was the one that sat on Magnus Elarion's head. While Lukas was talking about the one that weighed heavy on his every single second of his existence.

A weight he was proud to carry.

"You've asked me lots of question. I want to ask some in return. Only fair, don't you think?"

"I'm listening."

"Your Divinity," Lukas whispered, remembering that strange magic of hers. "It's nothing like I've ever seen. Do my wards mean that you're basically helpless against me?"

"Hah! Don't get too cocky now, Klein. Those who refuse interrogation will be deemed under suspicion." Anriette said with a frown.

"Suspicion?" He asked, now genuinely intrigued.

"My Divnity...it's less about combat and more about judgment. When I witness a crime, when guilt is beyond dispute—it is only then I have to resort to combat. That is when I have no choice but to resort to violence. It's the worst case scenario."

Lukas leaned slightly closer, intrigued. "And what happens then? What happens...when you resort to violence?"

Anriette smiled. Not warmly. Not coldly either. But something in the way her lips curled made him pause.

"You should hope," she grinned as Lukas hung on her every word, "that you never find out."

Lukas studied her for a moment. She wasn't bluffing. Whatever her Divinity was capable of, once it was triggered, it wasn't something that he should take lightly. She might have been a Vice Admiral but Lukas knew for a fact that she was no less stronger than Maelis was when it came down to sheer combat ability.

He gave a small nod. "Fair enough."

The conversation wandered from there—old missions, faraway ports, the wild rumours that always followed people like them. Lukas liked talking to Anriette. She was blunt but at the same time she had a good sense of humour.

In a city like Nozar, where eyes watched and danger walked in daylight dressed in medals and smiles, it was nice to sit with someone who had nothing to prove.

Suddenly, the quiet creak of the stairs broke their rhythm. A figure emerged from below deck and Lukas smiled as Elion greeted the two of them with a small bow.

"Evening," the Archmage's apprentice said, offering a sheepish nod as he stepped onto the deck. "Didn't mean to interrupt the two of you."

"Don't worry about it," Lukas said. "There was nothing to interrupt. Come, have a seat. Drink with us."

Elion grinned, taking the bottle that Lukas now offered to him and turned to the Vice Admiral. "I'm afraid we haven't met. I'm Elion. Apprentice Mage in my third year."

Anriette arched a brow, sitting up a bit straighter. "I'm Anriette. You're a Mage of the Tower like Klein?"

"That's right, ma'am. Apprenticing under the Archmage Varian himself." Elion declared with a clear hint of pride one could easily mistake for arrogance. Lukas had made that mistake when he first met Elion. The kid was alright though.

Lukas tilted his head. "Where is Varian anyways?"

Elion sighed, shaking his head as he took a sip of the cider. "He left about an hour ago. Said he was going to acquire what he called and I quote: 'the finest sin the inner cities of Nozar can ferment.' Doesn't really take a genius to figure he meant alcohol."

Lukas scoffed, shaking his head. "Sounds about right."

Anriette looked between the two of them, eyes brightening. It took her a while to register it all for they were talking about Varian so casually. "Wait. You're talking about Varian. The Varian. One of the Archmages of the Magic Tower. The Master of Potions. That Varian? He's your Master?"

Elion nodded. "That's the one. Acting as the Representative of the Magic Tower for the Celebration."

"Stars above," Anriette muttered under her breath, caught off guard by the revelatin. "I've read his papers. Even the royal physicians of Nozar use his recipes. I thought Klein was the Tower's representative. You're telling me that one of the greatest living mages in the world is here and he's just…wandering around the Inner Cities buying alcohol?"

"Don't get your hopes up, Vale." Lukas warned.

Anriette laughed, clearly delighted. "Well, I still want to meet him. He's...legendary!"

Elion laughed. "I'm sure he'll be back soon. I can introduce you to him."

Then the apprentice paused before turning to Lukas and his expression grew a bit more serious. "Also I know this isn't really relevant but, Klein, you know the red-haired girl? The one who always stays below deck? She left the ship a little while ago. Didn't say a word even when I asked where she was going. She looked real mad."

"The red haired girl? Is he talking about the princess?" Anriette asked Lukas, a confused expression on her face.

She thought Rosalia was roaming the Inner Cities with her uncle and Velena's grandson. But when Anriette finally turned back toward where Lukas had just been seconds ago, his bottle of cider still half full on the railing, he was already gone.

Lukas had disappeared into thin air.

The Vice Admiral had been told to keep an eye on him and now he had just vanished in the blink of an eye.

"Oh fuck." Anriette swore, she just hoped whatever it was, he didn't do anything foolish.