The Journey Begins

Alana's Regret set sail not long later. It had already been heavily provisioned and all her sailors took their positions with practiced actions, moving a ropes and sails in coordination without anyone having to order them around; a testament to their experience working together. Lampa first led Serena's men to the lower decks and instructed them to take possession of several bunks alongside the other sailors. During the voyage, Lampa explained, they would be tasked with cleaning the ship as they were not qualified for any other job. Then he led Serena up to her cabin, which was the one right next his own. She tried to ask him where Farmer slept but Lampa only laughed her question off and told her to make herself at home.

Truthfully, her cabin was both spacious and very well equipped. There was a large bed to one side, right under a window, from which a spectacular view of the sea could be seen. A large desk covered in scrolls written in many strange languages sat in the middle of the room. On every wall stood several bookcases mired with books of all types. From Geography to History, to Astrology, going through Arcane Practice; a myriad of which not only detailed forms of arcane arts, but methods of energy cultivation through the body's energy channels. Many of these books would have been fought for intensely in any city auction and, upon closer inspection, she realised that every book bore marks of having been carefully read. This room must have been the captain's office! The place where Farmer spent his days before she arrived. Serena suddenly had to force herself from running out and begging to be changed quarters, but she realised that Farmer must have had a good reason to place her in there. Thus, she dropped her knapsack onto her bed and decided to make herself at home.

The next few days passed in absolute calmness. Serena stayed in her chamber and would either pass her time gazing out to the sea, or reading the numerous books stacked up in the room. Outside, things were progressing much in a similar manner. Sailors would perform their everyday chores happily and would spend the nights either singing or fighting against each other. Only Serena's men were struggling with their newfound hardship. Not many took their cleaning labours kindly and would often mouth off Lampa behind his back. Oulong even discovered he suffered from sea-sickness but dared not mention anything to his mistress lest she send him back to dry land.

Indeed, the days passed uneventfully and without troubles. Everyone was content. Everyone except for Farmer. He sat in the navigating room, alone except for his pet wolf, staring at the beast skin map and comparing it with all other maps in his possession. From time to time he would change course slightly in order to avoid the more dangerous waters. Still, he was worried because at the pace they were going and with such favourable winds, it would only be a month until they eventually left chartered seas and venture into unknown territory. He feared that they may come across dangers they weren't ready to face. At the same time, he had to struggle with the booming shouting of voices in his head threatening that he should abandon his quest or else suffer the consequences. Truthfully, he took some devious pleasure from their apparent suffering. After so many years, it was their turn to experience a degree of agony.

That being said, Farmer dared not venture from his quarters. Not because he feared the voices in his head, or because he was shy towards his crew; but rather because he dreaded talking to Serena. He had acted like a complete fool and even hugged her in a moment of weakness. Something completely out of character for him. He feared that he may further act like a buffoon should he meet her again. To be honest, he had almost ordered his crew to set sail without her or her own people getting a chance to board. It was only due to a strong sense of honour and pride instilled by his master that he did not do so.

And yet, his beloved solitude, a frame of mind he treasured before all else, was beginning to make him feel suffocated. He needed to experience the free air of the sea to calm his mind! Thus, as the moon rose on the seventh night after having departed on their voyage, Farmer grabbed his staff and vacated his chambers leaving his trusted snow-white wolf slumbering at peace on his bed.

He made his way to the middle of the weather deck, where there was enough space for his neglected training. Already he could feel his body numbing to time and he regretted not deciding to do this earlier. Casting a glance around to make sure no one was watching, Farmer began casting a complex array of arcane runes meant to reinforce the surface of his beloved ship. After an hour of intense labouring, he was reasonably convinced that he had been successful. Just in case, he stomped with all his might in the middle of the array. To his glee, not even the slightest vibration could be felt.

Nodding to himself, Farmer took off his leather cuirass and gently placed it on the floor near the array. Next, he placed a few energy-recovering elixirs he had prepared earlier and neatly organised them into regular intervals so as to facilitate him grabbing them later on. Once all these preparations had been completed, he entered the runic array carrying only his staff.

As he stood in the centre of the array, he adopted a horse stance and held his staff at arm's length with both hands. As he did so, he circulated the energy of the Heavens and the Earth through his body in a practiced pattern. Instantly, a giant vortex of energy converged upon his head and poured into him furiously. Farmer then sent part of the energy into his chore and the rest into his staff.

One of the magical properties of his staff was that it would grow in weight or shape as long as enough arcane energy was sent into it. On this occasion, he was willing the staff to become as heavy as a mountain. Farmer only stopped with the increase when the wooden boards beneath him, even though reinforced with magic and high-level runes, creaked and groaned from the strain. Satisfied with the result, Farmer grinned and began practicing his martial arts.

Flowing from one stance to the next, he pushed his body's capabilities to the utmost limit with every motion. Balancing on one foot, he wove the heavy staff in arch around him as the muscles in his body ached from the effort. Then he jumped and pirouetted thrice before landing strongly and striking twice with his fists. Each time he repeated a move, he would eliminate some of their shortcomings or gain insights into a new technique. This process absorbed him completely and he quickly forgot the passage of time. At the same time, he was immersed in his memories of when he first discovered that he could fuse arcane and martial arts in order to produce his own unique path of cultivating strength. The process invigorated his spirit as much as it exhausted his physical strength.

A few hours passed and his body finally collapsed from the strain. Yet, he did not rest. He forced himself to stand once more and, holding his staff with one hand from its end, he began carving runes into the air moving only his wrist. This exercise was to improve both the control of his body, and the flow of energy during combat. Not pausing, he moved to perform the same motions with his other hand as soon as he was finished.

After he had completed this routine, Farmer finally allowed his body to crash onto the ground as he let go of his staff. Drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, he pulled two vials of elixir to his lips and downed their contents in one gulp. Feeling their quasi-miraculous effects, he sat in a lotus position in order to gather the energy of the Heavens and Earth. A vortex appeared above his head once more and he circulated the energy through his channels towards every cell in his body. Each time a circulation was completed, he felt himself grow stronger and more flexible.

The process lasted a long time and he only stopped when he was back to his optimum level. By that point, rays of sunlight had begun poking their head from the Eastern horizon. Farmer nodded to himself in satisfaction and prepared to destroy the array he had set up when he was startled by a clapping sound coming from behind him.

"Impressive!" Exclaimed Serena's familiar voice. "I've never seen anyone gather so much arcane power when meditating. You're truly impressive!"

Farmer groaned discreetly, for what he dreaded the most had happened. He had bumped into the young maiden despite his best efforts against it. Pulling his cloak over his head to cover his sweat-covered body, he decided to ignore her and continue dissolving the reinforcement array.

Serena acted as if she hadn't noticed Farmer ignoring her and casually made her way closer until she was a few feet away from him. Farmer had long sent out his spiritual sense out and knew exactly what the young maiden was doing but decided his best course of action was to continue feigning ignorance.

"I didn't know you were an array master as well." She commented in awe. "I've read in many books that to become an array master is as hard as reaching Naosh's star and that's why they're so rare. But these runes you used they're… Naosh save us! They're high-levelled ones!"

Serena was dumbfounded. She had seen arrays before; her own family had a few set up at the main branch's location, but she had never seen an array of such superb quality. And it had been set up by a youth that was clearly not much older than her! If news of this reached the mainland, even the Emperor himself would rush in order to bring Farmer under his control!

"Truly, you are a genius amongst geniuses. Beside your name, no other can be said in the same breath." She honestly praised. "If you wanted to, any of the first-order sects would be brimming with pride to call you a disciple of theirs."

Unable to contain himself any longer, Farmer spun around and hatefully glared at Serena. This shocked her as she had never expected such a reaction. "You're mistaken." Said Farmer. "They'd first brand me as a monster and then torture me in order to get to my secrets. Once they succeeded, they'd tear my body into shreds and burn my remains to cinders in order to keep me from going into Naosh's Hall."

"That would never happen…" Began protesting Serena, but she was quickly interrupted by Farmer's laughing.

"Of course it would! I've seen before! Sorcerers will stop at nothing for power; will stop at nothing to increase their level! Even if that means slaughtering the innocent or forcing their older sister to marry a brat of a son." He spoke with ample amounts of rancour and specifically alluded to Serena's situation which caused her to freeze upon hearing this. "And when someone like me comes around seeking justice, we're branded as monsters or beasts and are pursued relentlessly. And then we kill our way through these people only to have more sins pilled on our shoulders. In the end, what is left but to hide away and rot to oblivion?"

"That's the past, Farmer! And the past is gone! The future is uncertain, too; for all we know, tomorrow neither of us might be alive! What's left is to live here, in the now, in this present moment because that's all we have!"

"You speak like a child." Scornfully rebutted Farmer. "Or would you say the same things to Aeldan after he kidnapped your sister and crippled your father? Only Naosh knows what he's been doing to her over these last few months. Would you forgive him just like that? Don't be foolish. The world doesn't work like that."

"I know it doesn't…" Whispered Serena as a few tears threatened to escape the corner of her eyes. "I know it's a foolish ideal. But, isn't it nicer to wish this foolish ideal be true than to accept our harsh reality?" She said as she ended with a warm smile.

For an instant, Farmer was at a loss for words. Hadn't this been the dream of those close to him before they were cruelly taken away from this world? In that moment, he had the urge to rush forwards and embrace the young maiden and whisper that he would make the world become like that until his dying breath. But he stopped himself. He didn't feel worthy of standing beside such a nice and innocent girl. His own thoughts conflicted with what the voices in his head were saying, as they repudiated this notion and tried to distract him from the angelic figure before him.

On the other hand, Serena was having much different thoughts. She was trying to peer through Farmer's violet eyes and glimpse into the reason why he was so cynical. Maybe then she would be able to support him in his endeavours.

"Listen, I'm sorry." Said Farmer after much difficulty. "I'm tired after my training and spoke out of place." This was a lie, and they both knew it. At his level, Farmer didn't need to eat or sleep for many days before feeling weak. He could perfectly subside on the energy of the Heavens and the Earth to keep him alive. "I hope you won't take it to heart."

"Don't worry, I don't. Forgive me for interrupting your training session." She whispered apologetically. "I'll excuse myself and return to my quarters."

"Wait!" Suddenly exclaimed Farmer before she could rush back in. "You need not apologise. Lampa must have told you this already, but there isn't a restricted area on this ship for you. You can come and go as you please. Anywhere." He added.

"Thank you, good Farmer, but I'm quite content with what I have now." Serena bowed once and left immediately afterwards.

Farmer cursed himself under his breath for pushing Serena away. If he had been nicer to her, maybe they could have conversed for longer. Throwing the thought to the side, Farmer sighed and decided to finish the task of dissolving the array. He couldn't leave it for his sailors to deal with; none were remotely qualified to do so. Once he finished, he began collecting his possessions when an urgent shout from the crow's nest interrupted him.

"Ship! There's a ship in the distance!" Shouted the sailor tasked with keeping a look out.

Dropping everything, Farmer pounced upwards and landed on the edge of the crow's nest and was greeted by a sailor who saluted him with respect in his eyes. "What is it Myk? What have you seen?"

"Over there, captain, to the North-West." Pointed Myk towards a given direction. Farmer followed Myk's finger and, sure enough, in the distance was a ship with torn sails. According to Farmer's estimates, it must have been about fifteen miles away from their position. "That's not all captain. I can't be sure, but I believe I saw another ship hidden behind it."

"Quickly, hand over the spyglass." Farmer had utmost trust in Myk's capabilities and believed him completely. What he needed to do now, as a captain, was ascertain the identity of both ships. What he saw through the optical instrument made him curse sonorously.

"What is it, captain?"

"Nothing good, Myk. I'm going to go discuss things with Lampa and decide a course of action. You keep an eye on those two ships as well as the surrounding waters. If you see anything, anything at all, that gives you the slightest notion they may be headed our way, ring the alarm. Am I understood?"

"Yes, captain, I will do as you say."

"Good."

With that, Farmer jumped back down and landed heavily beside the location he had set up the array on. As he kneeled and strapped his leather armour back on, he bellowed for Lampa to appear before him. Sure enough, in less than three breaths of time, his lieutenant was emerging from the lower decks fully armoured and with a dangerous-looking dagger in his hand. Evidently, he was prepared for action. Surprisingly, however, he was followed closely behind by Serena. Maybe she had yet to fall asleep when she heard Farmer's shout and decided to follow out of curiosity.

Whatever the case, Farmer had no intention of driving her away twice in the span of one dawn. Seeing that his captain wasn't going to say anything, Lampa did not feel qualified enough to comment on Serena's presence and merely saluted Farmer.

"What is it captain?"

"It seems, my old friend, that we may soon have to engage in a fight." Explained Farmer with a malicious-looking grin on his face.