Chapter 1

Alma opened her eyes as soon as she heard people screaming. It has been two days since she boarded the Celestine to Alaska. Dazed, she realized the three passengers she's been traveling with has left along with their belongings. They didn't even bother to wake me, she thought. She opened the door only to find people stampeding and shouting the words, "the ship is sinking" or "are there other boats". However, she still can't quite grasp the situation – that she's one of those people who's going to die. Well, her trip to Alaska is for a research where she won't be credited for how much effort she puts anyway. Might as well die and be shark food.

"That's devastating. Are you really that excited about dying?" A man, tall, maybe in his thirties stood in front of her. He looks rich, she thought. Rich folks do not belong on this level of the ship, strange to find one in the midst of chaos.

"Who are you?" she asks. Despite her flight response, Alma finds herself feeling a sense of comfort towards the man, like they used to be really good friends. But instead of answering, the man tensed as if sensing something unnatural (other than the ship sinking to the bottom of the ocean). He grabs her by the hand and says, "I'll tell you once we get to a safe place." Then, like a bubble they vanished on the sinking ship and onto a surprisingly empty emergency boat.

"What—Who—How did you do that? What are you?" the sleep in her eyes were gone, now replaced by panic as she can feel that the ocean isn't a safe place either. "You do know that this is the breeding place of sharks, right? Drowning on that ship is the safest way to die without your limbs being ripped!" she yells. It's stronger now, that weird feeling she got the moment she woke up. Like she can feel whatever creature lies beneath the ocean. Though it's faint, she can sense a number of sharks heading towards their direction.

And she was right. Not long after, they're being encircled by a couple of great white sharks. While she's panicking, Alma noticed the man sitting quietly all this time. At last, he spoke, "I don't know what the stone sees in you," he sighs. "Well, it can't be helped. Since the stone chose you, I suppose I'm in your service now."

The man bowed his head as low as he can, "My name is Gregory. It is a pleasure to serve you, my queen." Confused, shocked, and angry, Alma raised her voice, "Are you joking me right now? We're about to die but you still have time to make a joke?! Or am I really dead like all those people over there!" she points to the direction of the ship where only one third of its body is left before it completely sinks. This journey's supposed to be a fresh start for her. A chance to redeem herself and show her 'perfect' family that she is not a failure, that she can be something extraordinary too just like her brother. The research grant was her key to success, she was determined to give it her all, to prove to her family that she's just as talented as his brother is, and to prove to herself that she is her own person and that she's not afraid to speak for herself. But if she really died on the ship, then what can she do? Fuck her family and fuck that stupid research. Maybe I'm really dead, she thinks, normal people can't teleport after all.

With a deep breath, she asks the man sitting in front of her, "Then answer this question. What are you? Are you an angel of death?"

Gregory shook his head, "I am not. Though it is in the legend of Neravic that the angel of death and the Four Pillars were once friends, I do not consider myself worthy of such praise." Alma gives him a perplexed look as she tries to discern what he meant by that. "Wait so, you're saying that you're not the angel of death?"

Gregory shook his head, "No, my queen."

"Please stop saying 'my queen'. It makes me feel like I'm Cersei. I don't like it."

"Cersei?"

"You don't know her. Anyway, so if you're not the angel of death then it means I'm not dead, am I right?"

"Yes, my- "he looks at her abruptly, "Yes, that's correct."

"Huh," she leans back, "Then how did we get here? You're a person, you shouldn't be able to do that. Humanity's still got years before being able to teleport."

Gregory stares at the ship, "I am a scout and there are others like me in that ship looking for other three people like you."

"Like me? What do you mean? Wait, you haven't answered my question yet."

"Scouts are able to teleport. We are an elite group of the kingdom of Neravic, formed to search for the new Pillars across universes and bring them home to Neravic safely."

"Woah, universes? You mean there are more? Oh my god, it is real?!"

Ignoring her surprised expression, Gregory frowned, "We need to get out of here. I didn't think they'd get here that quick."

"Who?" Alma looks around at the empty ocean. There are no other boats or teleporting men present other than them. "What are you talking about?"

"We have no time to rendezvous with the others. We're leaving now." He grabs her hand and says, "Hold your breath," and they both jumped into the water.