The Arrival

The Records are quite unique. We have worked with many who possess access to their own records from getting their ability unsealed but we still understand so little. They seem to be tied to something beyond our comprehension.

We understand that access seems to be limited to whether you can unseal your own unique ability, but since everyone has their own requirements to unseal it you may never unseal your inherent ability in your lifetime.

In the end, all we can say is that we believe the records are connected to something greater. We aren't sure what, just that it has to be something beyond our world's level to seemingly know everything about every single one of us.

The one thing that is strange is this code of some sort we have found in one person's Records:

01000001 01100100 01101101 01101001 01101110 01101001 01110011 01110100 01110010 01100001 01110100 01101111 01110010 00100000 01010010 01100101 01110001 01110101 01101001 01110010 01100101 01100100 00101100 00100000 01010000 01110010 01101111 01100011 01100101 01110011 01110011 01101001 01101110 01100111

We still have not been able to understand this but we will keep researching until we can.

-Unknown

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"It seems that other than the monster at the beach, there is nothing else to threaten us nearby." Odysseus reported to Charon and his group.

While Odysseus and Ramnis were walking over to Charon and his group, Aeacus started to walk towards Kathy and Howard.

Aeacus had visible discomfort towards using mana but he sighed before calling forth the green life mana which circulated through his body. With a green shimmer, Howard looked much better with all his minor injuries now gone.

Aeacus then turned toward Kathy, a vampire, and summoned forth the black colored death mana. Much like with Howard, she was covered in a black shimmer momentarily before it left to reveal her looking like she did before they left.

"We did find a possible spot to set up camp nearby. It's a clearing about forty feet that way." Odysseus began by pointing towards a part of the tree line.

"Any tracks, humanoid or otherwise?" Hades asked, his experience as a freelancer taking over.

"None that we saw on the ground. We have seen several animals jumping through the trees however. Thankfully the clearing should be large enough to hold everyone and still stay away from the trees." Ramnis interjected, using the inherent enhanced memory of a lich to recall the clearing.

"Good! You also said there were no signs of monsters?" Charon jumped in at this point.

"Far as we could tell, sir. None of the usual signs of monsters, does your inherent ability say otherwise?" Ramnis asked, curious if Charon could sense monsters through his inherent ability.

"Not quite. Although admittedly I am still discovering its uses." Charon thought for a moment about the times it has really acted up against his interest.

'I need to understand this so-called instinct of mine. I will not let myself be dragged around by instinct like some rabid animal.' As Charon thought this, his eyes shone with determination and anger.

"I'm assuming you just awakened it then. In that case, you should likely do the standard tests soon, sir." Odysseus said, mentioning an old Nekronis tradition.

"I was planning to, but then…" Charon went silent as looked back at the ship in melancholy.

"It has been a rough couple months, hasn't it?" Odysseus shared a look of melancholy with Charon.

"Speaking of, have you checked your positions within your records? We could see if the kingdom is still standing that way." Ramnis had a hopeful look upon his face, a stark contrast to his normally stony face.

A hopeful look which fell when Charon shook his head in response to his true question.

"Ah, I understand. I suppose we are likely the last survivors from the capital then." Ramnis stated, with a crestfallen face.

"Most likely. The odds are they went for the capital and the royal family first before taking over the rest of the kingdom." Odysseus patted Ramnis on the back before turning to Charon.

"In any case, I want us to prepare for the ship's arrival. It should arrive soon, with how close it is." Charon said, looking at the ship which was almost to the beach by this point.

"What shall we do, brother?" Hades asked, his guard still on high alert even with Odysseus' report.

"I believe it would be better for us to wait for their arrival at this point rather than going back. I would rather save mana for the inevitable chaos when they arrive." Everyone else nodded in agreement to Charon's words.

They all began preparing, with each of them doing several things. Charon was prepared to use soul mana to create a bridge to allow everyone to immediately disembark from the cramped ship the moment they arrive.

Hades, Aeacus, and the adepts, separated from the others to draw circles in the sand. These circles would allow them to separate the crowd into groups to hopefully allow for everyone to find any friends and family.

Odysseus and Ramnis walked over to the water. They were preparing to save anyone who may get tossed into the waters in the chaos.

They all prepared for the worst possible situation with ease, thanks to the experience of the veterans in various situations. With even Charon, who spent most of his time locked away doing research, able to guess how people would react to landing on land despite his warnings.

Timed almost perfectly, Hades and his group managed to finish their task mere moments before the ship's arrival. Hades went back to Charon's side, ready to assist in any way needed.

The moment the ship arrived, a bridge made up of purple energy appeared on the side of the ship facing the beach. Charon also gathered Astral Energy within his throat, enhancing how loud his voice would be.

"Please be calm when coming down. We have several circles prepared to make this easier for everyone involved." Charon stopped however, shocked at the passengers calmly disembarking from the vessel.

Hades gave Charon a nudge to keep his focus on track.

"Right, this circle is for children without their parents. That circle is for…" Charon began listing out the various groups while pointing at various circles made on the sandy beach.

Many people began to organize themselves calmly according to Charon's orders. Charon even spotted several adults helping children when they fell down and leading them where they needed to go.

Charon let out a grateful sigh at this situation. The tension of the scouting party disappeared as the seven shared a thankful grin with all the disembarking passengers.

They stayed on that beach for several hours helping families reconnect finally after a month at sea. The scene of parents crying while being reunited with their children was quite common during this time.

Charon himself laughed after being reunited with his sister and children, even though he had seen them just earlier that day.

This was a time of joy, something everyone desperately needed after being trapped on a boat with only melancholic thoughts about the death of their home.