I ANTICIPATED THIS:

We live because of our gods, and they live because of us. It's a simple truth, yet we often forget. In that forgetting, we risk losing everything.

Genevieve read one line from the book she had just opened and almost instantly grew bored. But she didn't put the book down.

She was sitting in a very conspicuous corner on the deck, where many people could see her. She felt a great need to appear wise and studious.

Even though her mind wandered and her interest waned, she kept reading. Though she usually preferred to be alone with her own thoughts and company, at that moment she desperately hoped someone would come up and strike up a conversation, allowing her to escape this tedious predicament.

Her eyes constantly and stealthily darted between the vast oceans, glowing with an almost magical orange hue from the sunset, a beautiful mix of orange, pink, and yellow.

The stunning and peaceful view contrasted with the hustle and bustle of the deck, where many influential people, all dressed in luxurious and sophisticated clothes, glanced at her now and then. Their looks kept Genevieve from putting the book down.

They were probably not as interested in the fact that she was a storyteller as much as they were in her attire; that much Genevieve was sure of.

The passengers were of diverse cultures and places, yet Genevieve still looked somewhat out of place. She wore an ankle-length printed navy blue dress with white and black designs, and silver accessories with gems. The front was shorter than the back, with slits on both sides.

Black trousers, wide and open at the bottom, could pass as a dress. Her outfit was paired with embroidered leather boots, practical yet unique.

Her look was complemented by large concentric ring earrings and a black French braid that reached nearly to her knees, with silver undertones near the nape of her neck.

Adding to her distinct appearance were her mismatched eyes: one a light blue, the other an almost terrifying black, so deep you couldn't distinguish the pupil from the iris unless you were close.

This style was unfamiliar to anyone on board, so they could not help but stare. However, both Genevieve and the man beside her were accustomed to such attention.

The man, dressed in stark contrast to her, wore an outfit fitting for the northern region. He had on a two-piece suit without a coat—a khaki vest and pants, paired with a simple white button-up shirt underneath.

His attire gave the impression of a well-bred servant to someone of high rank.

Leofwine, Genevieve's friend—or as he preferred to call himself, her attendant—stood by her side, three books in hand, looking increasingly exasperated. As he leaned down towards her, the grey streaks in his dark brown hair blended with the hues of the setting sun, making his tanned skin seem lighter and giving him a more youthful appearance. His light green eyes sparkled as he whispered,

"Why do you insist on bringing so many books you never read? Nearly all our personal cargo is your books—books you haven't touched and probably never will."

Genevieve gave him a long, appreciative stare. "Good lord, Leo, you really are a stunner, aren't you? Why don't you find yourself a star-crossed romance once we reach Storikya?" The more she talked, the more the idea seemed to please her, her eyes narrowing into crescents of delight. "Old-fashioned romance is so thrilling and exciting. And the thought of you finally settling down with someone is just so lovely."

Leofwine returned her look with a bemused smile. "Can I ask you not to treat me like an old man? I consider forty to be the prime of a person's life. And please, let's stay on topic, young lady."

Genevieve shrugged and whispered back, her eyes scanning the deck as if expecting something. "A good storyteller immerses themselves in literature, no matter the time or place. Even if my mind isn't fully engaged, I should at least give the appearance of being well-read—and maintain a good reputation."

 "You don't need so many to make that point."

"Do you have any idea how much respect the darling lady captain showed when she saw those books? I think I'm making a pretty convincing case. Besides, I need to make an immediate impact as a storyteller in Storikya. I mean, immediate. So I'm going to use every means at my disposal. Got it, Leo?"

Leofwine stopped arguing with her.

The ship they were on was one of the largest and most prestigious vessels of the Empire of Storikya. It had a special criterion for boarding: only those with significant wealth and influence were granted access.

The ship was exceptionally secure, with its entire crew and captain being highly trained individuals equipped with extraordinary powers to protect the vessel if necessary.

This voyage was particularly perilous, as the ship was transporting a host of extremely important passengers, ranging from powerful dignitaries to celebrities, many of whom were affiliated with the Empire of Storikya.

And recently, Storikya had been facing unprecedented attacks from multiple fronts, making it less safe than it once was.

Despite the high-profile nature of the crowd on board, Genevieve had somehow managed to secure passage for the two of them as well.

Genevieve was well-known in the northern kingdoms where she began her career, but her name had yet to reach the southern part of the world, home to the Empire of Storikya.

Gaining access to this particular ship with her current level of achievement would have been nearly impossible. Leofwine couldn't understand why she was so insistent on boarding this specific vessel when there were other ways to reach Storikya.

Yet, Genevieve was adamant. Her determination led her to spend more than half of her decent fortune just to bribe her way onto the ship.

The sheer amount of money thrown down the drain almost gave Leofwine a heart attack when he first came to know of it.

With the money she had left, Genevieve couldn't afford to rent a house, settle in, advertise herself or her career, or even manage basic living expenses in Storikya—her announced destination for seeking residency.

Leofwine was the only one concerned, while Genevieve seemed completely unbothered. In fact, she appeared to be in an even better mood since boarding the ship.

Feeling helpless and exhausted, Leofwine sighed. He placed the books on an empty chair beside her and turned to leave.

Genevieve called out cheerfully from behind him, "Where are you going, Leo?"

"Away from the source of my headache. Besides, we're nearing the Empire of Storikya—it's even somewhat in sight. I'd rather spend the rest of my time mingling with the other passengers. There are quite a few lookers among them."

Genevieve shrugged theatrically, her exaggerated disappointment clearly meant to tease Leofwine even further. "It's a miracle your playboy ways haven't caught up with you yet, Leo. You should introduce me to your many escapades sometime. I'd love to see the kind of people you're involved with. Technically, you're like my uncle, you know."

"Please, do you remember what you said to the redhead I was trying to win over two months ago, young lady?"

"What? What did I say?"

The memory made Leofwine exasperated. When Genevieve had seen the redhead, she had looked at Leofwine as if he were some sort of cradle-snatching thief.

Granted, the redhead did look very young, but she had informed Leofwine that she was already in her late thirties.

However, Genevieve had clearly misunderstood and had acted as though he were a creep.

She'd told the woman with exaggerated shock, "Sweetie, you can do better than an old bag of bones. His shlong might not even sling like it used to. If the decreasing number of his flings is any indication, he's probably already got one foot in the grave."

Recalling that moment, Leofwine gave Genevieve a pointed look with a smile. "We may need to have a serious discussion about your perception of my age, young lady."

During this exchange, both of them became aware of several intense gazes directed their way.

When they turned to investigate, they saw three kids, likely pre-teens to early teens. They appeared to be triplets, a boy and two girls, sharing similar features that suggested they were siblings.

Accompanying the kids was a tall, very blonde knight with a somewhat spunky and regal demeanor. He spoke to the triplets in a laid-back manner, but his posture revealed his vigilance and protectiveness over them.

When the triplets noticed Genevieve and Leofwine's gazes, they conferred with the knight and then began walking in their direction.

But suddenly, the knight moved with lightning speed, pulling the children back and positioning himself in front of them, his hand quickly reaching for his sword.

At that moment, the ship began to sway dangerously as it neared the port, with only a small distance left to cover.

The sudden motion threw everyone into a state of panic. Their eyes turned toward a dark, cloudy opening forming in the center of the deck, from which a young, dark-skinned man clad in black emerged.

A shout rang out from the back as the figure appeared, "It's a T-Thran Gate!"

Just then, another man jumped out of the dark opening, slightly burlier than the first, followed by a petite woman.

Even before they had fully emerged, Genevieve had sensed their presence and number.

With an unusually serene and bubbly tone, she pushed Leofwine toward the quarters, instructing him, "Hide as deep as you can. Don't use your abilities, don't draw attention, and don't come out unless I give you a deafening shout. Got it, Leo~?"

Leofwine gave her a suspicious look and stated, more as a fact than a question, "You anticipated this."

Genevieve's smile widened, confirming his suspicion. "I anticipated this."