Storm’s Path Part I

The sound of creaking wood and the motion of waves hitting against the ship's hull woke Leona up.

"Mmmm…"

Her room was rather small with only enough space for a bed and a wooden box with a lock to store her belongings. Both were affixed to the wooden floor so as to not be flung around the enclosed room in case of a violent storm.

She turned to the left side before slowly sitting on the mattress. The bed was comfortable in comparison to the places she had to sleep during her trip to Londria so she had no complaints there.

'Feels good to actually get some proper sleep for once.' She stretched her arms out. 'Now… what should I do today, I wonder?'

She stood up and opened the lock with the key that was left in it before taking out her frostburnt silver longsword and tying its belt to her hip.

At that moment the ship shook slightly to the side, making her stumble backwards before holding on the door knob with her right hand.

"What the…" She opened the door and managed to walk outside only for the ship to turn to the opposite side and send her head first against the wall. "Gah!"

She smacked her forehead against the wooden planks and stumbled rightwards only to fall on the floor.

The sound of thunder echoed from afar as she heard a voice addressing her.

"Princess Leona, are you alright?!"

"Nnngh…" She opened her eyes and noticed Percival knelt beside her while also holding onto a nearby door's knob as he extended his right hand towards her. She grabbed his hand and stood up. "I'm alright. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Be careful when walking around the ship; Lady Cecile is currently avoiding an incoming storm so it might shake a bit more than usual."

Just as he finished saying those words the floor shook yet again with the waves hitting against the ship's hull, but this time Leona managed to catch herself on the wooden wall. She was still feeling a tingling sensation coming from her ribs since she had fractured them when fighting against the kobold lord Wendigo and thanks to Kaeli, she did exert herself more than she should have.

"Ngh…" Her legs felt weak for a moment before she forced herself to stand up straight. She looked at Percival who had a concerned expression on his face. "Is there… anything I can do to help?"

"I'm afraid not, but I'm sure Captain will appreciate your consideration nonetheless." He bowed. "Now if you excuse me, I need to fetch her from her duties."

"Charlotte? Isn't she upstairs?"

"Well… not quite." He walked past her and knelt at the end of the hallway where just then Leona noticed a trapdoor. He then knocked a few times before raising his voice a bit. "Captain, you are needed at the helm. Lady Cecile is currently dealing with an approaching storm and has requested your presence."

A few seconds passed before the wooden door swung open and Charlotte's arm popped out with her hand closing and opening as if asking for help. Percival discreetly chuckled as he helped her get out of the room below.

She patted her clothing to get rid of some dust that was on her.

"I talked to our prisoner but he had no information that we didn't already know." Charlotte sighed. "Honestly. I understand attacking Leona since she technically still is one of the candidates for the Arcadian throne; it is no surprise that someone wants her dead but choosing to deliberately attack her in my city. I will not stand for it."

"That was Kaeli's orders, I'm sure."

Leona spoke from behind Percival which slightly shocked Charlotte as she wasn't expecting her to be there.

"Oh, Leona." She cleared her throat before looking her directly in the eyes. "This Kaeli, who the hell is she anyway? I interrogated the mage below but he was almost as clueless as I."

"A talented mage from Arcadia. She's Phoebe's older sister and one who serves Alexander. I'm not sure how I didn't know about her before this conflict broke out, but she isn't someone that can be easily dealt with." She stared at her own right hand. The delicate pale skin now had blisters in her palm and fingertips thanks to the constant training with the sword. Upon mentioning her the memories of the recent battle seemed to flash in her mind as she closed her hand in a tight fist. "I never fought someone so formidable as her."

"Formidable or no, I'm sure she would die just as easily with a bullet to the forehead." Charlotte clicked her tongue in annoyance. "You mentioned she was Phoebe's sister but is she… you know, trustworthy?"

"I have not once hesitated to kill her and I never will."

A voice echoed from the entrance of the dining hall. Phoebe had her arms folded and was leaning against the wooden wall before she heard her name being mentioned.

'Phoebe…'

Though Leona felt sorry for saying those things, the high elf didn't seem bothered by it and in fact she was annoyed at Charlotte's suspicions. She walked up to them and placed her right hand on the tactician's shoulder.

"My sister killed our mother. If anything I'm the one who wants her dead more than anyone here." She then looked at Leona with a serious gaze before turning to the captain. "That is why I'm lending my blades to her."

Charlotte had a mischievous smile on her face.

"Well, at the very least now I know you aren't hiding the truth with fancy lies."

At that moment Leona felt a bout of dizziness, but unlike Krieg's motion sickness hers was many times more violent as if her skull was being split open.

"Ugh…!"

She grabbed the side of her head as her knees hit the ground. Everyone around her was surprised by her sudden fall.

"Leona?!"

"Princess?!"

"Hey Leona! What is going on?!"

Their voices were becoming distant. She knew that sensation too well, but why now after all this time?

Her vision blurred and with it, her consciousness faded.

"Leona…"

A familiar male voice echoed in her mind.

"Leona Crossford…"

Though it wasn't the voice of the so-called god of the void and instead a more gentle one. As if calling her out from kindness instead of contempt.

She slowly opened her eyes and found herself standing before a withered tree. Its trunk was many times wider than a normal tree and would need at least twenty of her to embrace it. Right beneath one of the roots of the great tree, a man wearing a tattered cloak was holding a familiar curved sword.

"You…" She frowned her brows. His short black hair and serious dark brown eyes staring at her made a chill run down her spine. "Miyamoto?"

"I'm surprised you remembered, despite me not looking like an old man anymore." He stood up with the help of his sheathed blade. "Leona, I've called you here because of something I felt."

The genuine concern in his voice made her uneasy.

"Why now?" She asked while trying to conceal her anger. "I've asked for you before but you never answered."

"I couldn't. The more time that passes the less 'myself' I become." He slowly walked towards her. "As I said before, my soul is merely a shade of my former self. When I inhabited your body it became part of you. Slowly but surely your soul is becoming stronger thanks to it."

He looked up at the withering tree with only a handful of leaves remaining on its branches.

"Does this mean this is your inner world?"

He turned to her with a slightly surprised expression.

"Have you been in your own world before?"

She shook her head.

"No, but I have been dragged many times into one against my will."

"I apologize."

"It's not your fault."

Looking at him she came to realize Krieg did resemble him somewhat. His stoic body language, his speech, even the quiet mannerisms in his voice, it all resembled the knight she was so fond of.

"Heed my advice, Leona. A great threat looms in the sea. Now more than ever with the death angels becoming more and more active it might show up amidst the storm."

"What are you referring to? An enemy?"

"A monster known only in tales…"

Outside, Phoebe was holding on Leona's body so she wouldn't be tossed around the already shaking ship. The incoming storm was now upon them with roaring thunders and the violent gales bringing salt water onto the ship's deck.

"I need to head outside!" Charlotte was shouting atop of her lungs. "Percival! Help Phoebe! Keep Leona safe at all costs!"

"Yes, Captain!"

She dashed across the dining hall only to come outside to a wave hitting against the starboard of the ship.

"Ugh!"

She grabbed onto the stair railings that lead to the helm when Luka saw her while he was holding onto the sails' rope.

"Captain! What do we do?!"

"Hoist the sails! Now!"

She quickly climbed up the stairs to the helm where Cecile was struggling to keep the boat stable.

"Captain!" She shouted once she saw Charlotte. "This storm appeared out of nowhere!"

"Out of nowhere?! You realize there is no such thing as-!" As she was about to finish her sentence a shadow passed by the ship. At first she thought it was a trick of the light due to lightning strikes that could create shadows but it happened more times until a darkened appendage latched itself on the side of the ship. "What in the world is that?!"

Still hidden in the back of the ship, Kaeli was doing her best to not be thrown overboard as she used an earth spell to bind herself to the ship. Rocks and stones seemed to embrace her from behind against the wooden wall like as if she was a barnacle.

"This damnable weather." She was also feeling cold due to not having any protection against the elements. Seeing that she was only wearing the uniform she had stolen. "I should get this over with as fast as I- huh?!" She noticed something big pass right by the stern of the ship. The reddish color was unlike any fish she had seen. "No way…"

She stood up and the earth spell crumbled at her feet. She clenched her teeth and ran around the corner to the main deck.