20. Anchors Away

At daybreak, a soft stillness lay over the city, its usual bustle lulled into sleep after the endless festivities of the night.

Under the pale, early light, Amiyan and his mother stood together at the grand entrance of the Archon's residence, the silence between them weighty with unspoken words.

The Archon took her son's hands, her voice both steady and gentle.

"I know you're ready for this, Amiyan, but I'm still your mother. You'll look after yourself?"

Amiyan nodded, his voice low. "I will, I promise."

They stood in silence for a moment, then she took a deep breath, glancing at Elliot who was waiting quietly a few steps away.

She gave him a pointed look. "And, Elliot—will you look after my son? Make sure he doesn't do anything… too reckless?"

Elliot stepped forward, meeting her gaze with a slight smile.

"You have my word. I'll keep an eye on him… even if it means dragging him out of trouble."

Amiyan shot him a look, half grateful and half playful. "Not too tightly, I hope."

The Archon pulled Amiyan in for one last embrace. "Remember, Amiyan—strength isn't just about how you wield a weapon. Sometimes, it's about the restraint to know when you shouldn't."

Her voice softened. "And don't forget that there's always a home waiting for you here."

"I won't forget," he murmured.

Then, reluctantly, he pulled away, and with one last, lingering glance, he and Elliot made their way down to the seaport.

Elliot and Amiyan arrived first, arms loaded with relics and trinkets from the palace.

The Infinite Sack hung off Elliot's shoulder, as he gave it a shake, grinning. "You sure this thing can hold everything?"

A heavy thud from behind them caught their attention.

Amara had arrived, dragging a large crate overflowing with potions, herbs, and alchemy supplies.

Her eyes were red and slightly puffy from saying her goodbyes to the clerics, and she smiled faintly at the sight of them.

She wiped her brow, looking almost proud of the haul. "This should cover us for any emergencies. Or minor inconveniences."

Elliot's eyes widened at the size of the crate. "Are we expecting a war, or are we planning to open an apothecary on the road?"

"Looks like you two packed light," she said with a small laugh, setting her crate down with a huff.

Elliot raised an eyebrow. "If by 'light,' you mean 'just enough to avoid getting yelled at for looting,' then yeah. What about you? Trying to run an alchemy shop on the go?"

Amara smirked, brushing a hand over the crate. "I'd rather be over-prepared than scrambling when we need something. You'll thank me when I'm healing you."

Amiyan chuckled, giving her an approving nod.

Just then, Wuxian approached, carrying several well-organized packs, his expression exasperated yet resigned.

"I packed a bag for everyone. It's travel essentials. Blankets, food rations, a couple of potions." he announced, setting them down in neat rows.

Elliot gave him a curious look. "For everyone… why?"

Wuxian sighed, casting a weary glance toward the docks. "I was worried. Its because of those two," he muttered.

As if on cue, Altan stomped up, burdened with a massive bag that practically dwarfed him. It was haphazardly stuffed with what he claimed were "camping essentials."

The claim might have been believable if not for the massive ham bone jutting out of the top, glinting in the sunlight like a beacon of indulgence.

Elliot stifled a laugh, exchanging a look with Amiyan. "Camping essentials?"

Altan grinned, as if he'd heard a compliment instead of a question. "It's survival food. You never know when you'll need a quick meal!"

Right behind him was Roshan, dragging an entire cart overflowing with sweets, dried fruits, and candied nuts.

She waved a hand triumphantly as he pulled up beside them.

"I bought us food for our travel! Delicious and long-lasting—perfect for travel. If anyone wants some, you know who to ask."

Wuxian pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering under his breath. "And this is why I packed."

Elliot raised an eyebrow. "You mean you're planning to eat sweets and dried fruits for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?"

Amara peered into her bag. "Is this your idea of survival food?"

"Yes!" Roshan nodded enthusiastically. "It's delicious, it doesn't spoil quickly, and it keeps morale high. Besides, why eat boring food when we can have this?"

"I like your priorities," Amiyan grinned, giving Roshan a playful nudge.

Wuxian sighed, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. "As long as someone brought water and actual food, I suppose there's no harm."

Elliot chuckled, shaking his head. "So we've got a potion factory, a year's worth of ham, and… candies, lots of candies."

"Also some bread and a few type of cheeses…," Altan shrugged, apparently seeing no issue.

....

"Hey, hey, don't look at me like that" Altan protested, patting the smoked ham. "If we get stranded somewhere, you'll be begging me for this."

Roshan gave a dramatic sigh. "If we get stranded, we'll all be begging for sweets to keep our spirits up. Dried meat isn't exactly going to make me feel like celebrating."

"Good to know our priorities are balanced," Wuxian replied dryly, glancing at each of them in turn.

Amiyan laughed, clapping Wuxian on the back. "Think of it as a team effort. Don't worry. We're covered!"

"Just as long as we don't sink the ship with all this 'preparation,'" Elliot added, grinning.

They all shared a laugh, the banter easing the pre-journey jitters.

Amiyan glanced back up at the sleeping city, his expression shifting briefly into something contemplative before he looked back to his friends.

"HEY! Aren't you children going to board?!" a loud voice shouted from the ship.

The group looked up to see the ship's captain, a burly man with a gruff demeanor, standing at the helm with a raised brow. His weathered face cracked into a half-smile as he waved them over.

Without wasting another second, Amiyan grinned and motioned to the others.

"Let's go, before they leave without us!"

The group hurried up the gangplank, each of them carrying their own assortment of belongings.

As they boarded, they found Vaqal already standing at the helm, alongside a few solemn-looking delegates.

"I see everyone's here," Vaqal said, nodding toward the group as they arrived on deck.

The delegates, dressed in various fine robes and attire, gave polite nods and brief acknowledgment.

"We'll be together for the rest of this voyage," Vaqal continued, her tone firm.

"So do try to get along. We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other."

"Don't worry, Elder Vaqal," Amiyan said with a smirk. "I'm sure we'll all get along just fine."

The captain, now back at the wheel, called out over the bustle of the crew. "Everyone ready?"

Vaqal gave him a nod. "It seems that everyone's aboard. Captain, let's set sail."

The captain nods in acknowledgment, shouting orders to the crew.

The sailors moved quickly, unfurling the sails and adjusting the ropes with practiced ease.

The ship's anchor was lifted, and with a sudden lurch, the vessel began to pull away from the docks.

As the city receded in the distance, the group settled into their places, the soft sound of the waves and the creak of the ship's timbers marking the start of their long journey.