Chapter 112: Magically Hidden Island

South of the Duke's Castle, Norway

July 10th, 1228

–

It had not taken long for things to wrap up with the Duke's family. Under the testimony of Duchess Geri and Arne, the perpetrator of the homicide attempt was imprisoned, judged, and executed swiftly. All in two days of swift justice.

For Erik and his wives, as a reward and as thanks from the Duke's family for having saved he received a big lot of land south of the Duke's Castle. Due to Erik and Selena already having a noble title in another kingdom, which came as a surprise for the Duke's family when he introduced himself as Lord Ravenclaw, the land was the most that he could give to their benefactors. The land that they received was originally owned by the attempted murderer, so it was not too much of a sacrifice for the Duke to give it away, and to compensate them even more, the land was given in perpetuity. Meaning that nobody could take it from the Ravenclaw family. The land was at the coast and encompassed an entire region full of seacliffs. It was perfect for a home with a view of the sea.

And while they were being shown the land by the Duke's family, Erik took the opportunity to breach the subject of Arne having magic with them. Like he had done a lot of times in the past while in Hogwarts, Erik explained to the small Duke's family about the magical community. And that it would be better for Arne to find an instructor by the age of eleven. The Duke and Duchess had already noticed some strange things happening around Arne when he was little and was irritated or stressed. Erik then went on the explanation about accidental magic and that it was his magic that had saved him and his mother from the explosion, protecting both of them. The Duke thanked Erik for his 'honesty' with them because of the persecution that anything related to magic was getting these days. He said too, that he would search for local instructors for his son in a discrete manner. Erik offered a recommendation letter for Arne to be enrolled in Hogwarts too, in case he reaches eleven and could not find a good instructor. He would have to travel to Scotland to study, but with magic, the trip would be a very short one.

After saying their goodbyes to the small family and putting some protection on their new land, Erik and Selena departed from the land and were back to the North Sea, resuming their slow sailing trip to African waters.

–

Three weeks later, Erik, Selena, and Serafall were swimming with Sea Serpents at the coast of Africa after Erik had talked with them and offered a large bribe in the shape of Dragon's meat. The magical delicacy was something that they could rarely taste since Dragon would very rarely die while flying over the ocean. The older Sea Serpents of the colony asked for it from Erik because they had tasted it when they were young, and it would be very good nourishment for their young ones. After delivering the meat, Erik, Selena, and Serafall were allowed to dive and swim in the area.

After two days in the company of Sea Serpents, Erik and Selena sailed Helena's Revenge through the Strait of Gibraltar and into the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Serafall was back at her work in the Underworld, cursing the good for nothing young masters who only knew how to get into trouble with other pantheons.

–

Unknown Location, Mediterranean Sea

August 26th, 1228 - Saturday

–

The trio of lovers was now into Greek territory. How did they know that? Hestia had said it so to them. She had visited the family while they were anchored at a merchant harbor in the south of the Mediterranean Sea and said to them that they would be soon entering her younger brother's territory. Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea and earthquakes. Hestia said to them that if they were in a normal ship, she would recommend them to make an offering to him, asking for safe passage, but, since they were in a floating invisible fortress, it would not be necessary at all. And it was not like Erik couldn't handle anything that that sea could throw at them.

Helena's Revenge was smooth sailing through the waters when Erik jerked from his lawn chair. His sudden movement caught Selena and Serafall's attention.

"What happened, Erik?"

Serafall asked while looking at Erik through the shaded glasses that she was wearing. Since today was a Saturday, she was at 'home', relaxing with her family. That she was stark naked while relaxing was of no importance at all.

"I just felt a huge magical barrier at the edge of my senses…"

Erik replied to Serafall.

"Oh! A hidden island! Maybe is one from the legends…"

Selena said, getting animated with the 'discovery'. She too was naked and was wearing only a pair of shaded glasses.

"Like Circe's Island? Or the Cyclops' Island?"

Serafall replied, already with stars shining from her eyes.

"That's what I want to see. Erik set course to this magical barrier!"

Selena said, 'ordering' the 'captain' to change the yacht's course. Erik chuckled at that.

"Already did, love. I'm curious too about this mysterious island."

Erik said and summoned some clothes for the three of them.

It had taken one more hour of travel for Helena's Revenge to reach its destination. Erik slowly maneuvered the yacht around the border or the magic barrier while the trio analyzed it. Five minutes later, they all had reached the same conclusions after trading some information.

The magical barrier around the island was there to stop anyone from reaching it, be the person magical or not. It was designed to be invisible to anyone too. But it sure didn't take into consideration Erik's abnormal senses.

"Can you feel the type of energy that was used to make this barrier?"

Erik asked Selena and Serafall in a quiz-like way. Serafall nodded her head together with Selena in confirmation of Erik's question.

"Yes. The barrier had a divine origin."

Selena said while mentally listing all the possibilities from the stories that she had read for the island's identity.

"Can we pass the barrier without being detected?"

Serafall asked Erik. She was very curious about the island too but didn't want to enrage any god from another pantheon in the process of satiating her curiosity. Erik shook his head negatively.

"We can't…"

Erik replied, making Serafall deflate her enthusiasm.

"But Helena's Revenge can."

Erik added while smiling. The changes in the face of Serafall were priceless. It went from amused to sad and back to amused once again. She then saw the look that Erik was giving her and pouted.

"Sister… Husband is bullying me."

Serafall fake-cried to Selena, who chuckled at the Satan's behavior.

"Don't worry Sera, we will make sure to punish him tonight."

Selena said to Serafall while smiling wickedly. Serafall got the twist of her word and smiled too at Erik. The man in question just smiled at them.

"I will be waiting."

Erik replied and blew a kiss to them.

"Come, let's go inside. We need to be hidden while crossing the barrier."

Erik said again, changing the subject of the conversation and gesturing for the girl to get inside the cabins of the yacht. They followed Erik to the cockpit of Helena's Revenge and watched through the glass as Erik turned it in the direction of the magical barrier. Both women watched with apprehension as the yacht crossed the magical barrier without even causing a ripple to it. Erik's work at it had been really a work of art.

As they put their eyes on the now revealed island, the eyes of the three went wide. Not because of some incredible sight or scenery, but because the island was very… Normal looking.

It was like any typical island. It had a small mountain at its center that indicated the possibility of it being an extinct volcano. It was not high. Around a hundred meters or so. Around the island, a sea of green forest could be seen with some big clearings here and there. The island's overall size was not very big, but it was not small too.

Erik maneuvered Helena's Revenge silently through the calm waters of the paradise-looking island. Reaching near the shore, at a yet safe distance, Erik dropped the anchor of the yacht, and with a 'splash', it broke the water surface, anchoring Helena's Revenge in the place.

"Well, let's disembark. But be careful."

Erik said to the girls and with a small flash of blue light, started to float over the deck of the yacht. Selena followed Erik and cast her own flight spell, while Serafall unruffled her wings. Together, the trio of lovers flew over the sea and landed slowly on the sandy beach. They looked around the place, noticing how pristine the beach looked. No debris brought by the sea could be seen on its sands, nor any kind of litter for that matter.

"This beach is too perfect for an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea."

Selena said while still looking around. And she was right. The Mediterranean Sea was a place where storms were a constant, having sunk a lot of ships through the ages. All beaches were prone to have some kind of debris on their sands. Even if it was things from the own island, like dry branches and leaves. But this beach was pristine. Not debris at all

"It could be the magical barrier keeping everything away from the island. Debris and storms alike."

Erik replied to Selena. But at that, Erik heard some noises coming from the forest in front of them. It was the noise of someone or something running in the direction of the beach, the place where they were right now.

"Someone is coming."

Erik said, warning the girls to be careful. Selena and Serafall assumed a defensive position by Erik's side and prepare themselves for the impact. But nothing could have prepared them for what appeared from the forest.

Panting and with her cheeks rosed because of the physical exercise, a pretty teen-looking woman appeared from the forest. She looked at the trio with her almond eyes full of surprise. Together with the almond eyes, was a very long honey-colored hair that was loose at her back, and a very pretty face. Her body was one with modest but perfect curves that were being hidden by a white toga-like dress. The girl/woman stood in place, just looking at the trio, with wide-open eyes while breathing hard to recover her breath.

When the panting stopped, Erik decided to break the silence.

"Hello…?"

Erik simply said. The girl/woman shook herself from her stupor with that.

"Ahh! That's not right!"

She exclaimed for the confusion of the trio.

"They normally only send a male… Now they send three of them with two being females? What do they have in their heads?!"

The girl said and started to 'fume'.

"Oe, calm down. Nobody sent us anywhere."

Selena said to the girl/woman, who looked at Selena like she was saying something stupid.

"Yeah. Our husband felt a magical barrier and we decided to investigate with our yacht."

Serafall said and pointed to Helena's Revenge, who was lazily floating while anchored. The girl/woman look at them and then looked at the ship. Her eye went wide again. A ship. They had managed to reach the island with a ship!

"H-How?"

She stuttered out. Erik cocked his head in confusion at that question.

"'How' what?"

Erik asked and the girl/woman looked at him dumbly and then at the anchored ship.

"How could you reach this island with a ship? The gods had forbidden anyone that they want to reach here. They would normally reach here only when doing some quest and after having their boats sunk by some storm. They would them stay on the island for a time, just to be allowed to get out when I finally start to get feelings for them."

The teen-looking woman said quickly with some moisture getting to her eyes. She had lost the count of how many heroes had come ashore, stayed, said word of love for her, just to leave the moment she would reciprocate that feeling. They always promised to come back for her, but they never did. The tears were almost getting the better of her, being held only by her sheer will.

"And where, exactly, is 'here'?"

Erik asked the teen-looking woman.

"You are on the island of Ogygia, of course."

The teen-looking woman replied.

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