"Blades ready! And… begin!"

The sound of metal upon metal echoed across the courtyard. Five sets of soldiers dueled one another, using bucklers and swords to train. Two groups were very young, only trainees. Another two had yet to reach adulthood, but looked to be well on their way to being good soldiers. The final group consisted of two older soldiers, who, while they did not need the training, wished for the exercise and found it enjoyable.

Owen oversaw the youngest recruits more and with greater care, for although they used wooden training swords such items could still inflict harm. He did not hesitate to correct the other groups, however. In particular, amongst the middle groups was one he always had to be careful of. For while he displayed excellent capability and strength, he also had a tendency to be arrogant and egotistical which led to many problems. Usually mistakes that would be dangerous in a battle, or else frustration and injury on him or his dueling partner.

Owen stopped one of the children groups and corrected their posture. While his back was turned…

"Yeow!"

There was a thump and Owen looked to find his troublesome soldier on the ground, clutching his side. "What happened, Egil?" He asked.

"Oh, nothing sir, nothing at all-"

"He tried to do a move we haven't been taught again." Escar said. "I didn't know how to block so I bumped him and he ran into the wall. I'm sorry sir."

Owen shook his head and looked at Egil. "If you want to experiment with new moves neither of you have been taught during training you should at least warn your opponent. You know this."

"Apologies, sir." Egil said, standing upright again, and glaring at his sparring partner. "I'll make sure to limit myself so that I don't inconvenience anyone."

"Hm." Owen caught the sarcasm in his voice and looked at him sternly. Egil looked down, acknowledging his mistake. "Less of that." Owen said, "I know it has been a while since we had a formal sparring match, but nothing has changed in our rules. Be respectful."

It was at times like these that he missed the other kid. People had come to call him the Prophet of Norende since he saved the village six years ago. Til had been a good listener, while perhaps not as skilled. He would have made an average soldier but an excellent tactician if he had tried harder. But he did not remain very long in the recruits. He only completed the first years worth of training, while Egil had not missed a day for the past six years, being determined as he was to become an excellent soldier.

And Egil was a good soldier. He just set his sights too high, wanting to master skills that he had only seen once or twice before in a single day. Owen liked the boy, but he would not show him any favors. He would learn to value and respect his fellow soldiers and his kingdom one way or the other. There was a certain amount of leniency that he showed him though, he had just turned fifteen after all and was as hot-blooded as any youth his age. Some of that would work out in time.

Still, they ought to be on their best behavior. With the King having only just retired and his niece now taking his place, the kingdom was at a point of change. They would need to prove themselves to their new ruler.

At the end of the day Owen reminded the soldiers that they were to report for inspection in a few days. They would have the opportunity to greet their new ruler and to pledge their allegiance to the future of the kingdom.

As they parted ways, Egil came up to Owen with a smile on his face. "It was a pretty good day, eh sir?"

Owen eyed the youth cautiously. "I know you well enough by now to know that you have a favor to ask of me."

"What?" Egil feigned innocence, "I can't imagine what you mean. But anyway, I was wondering if you could teach me that move I botched up earlier today."

"I intend to teach this skill to your entire group when the time comes." Owen replied, a hint of a smile tugging at his features. "Remember how I said that you must keep pace with those in your regiment so that they all have a chance to learn?"

Egil groaned, "Yeah, I know… but, no offense, but this is all really easy for me and I want to practice some of the skills you know."

"You may practice them." Owen replied. "On your own time. And without my help. I am not going to give anyone an advantage, especially when our new ruler will be evaluating the military soon."

Egil's shoulders drooped but he nodded and acknowledged his decision respectfully. But he was not finished. "Sir Owen, I have another question."

"Yes?"

"It's about the, um, monsters."

Owen blinked. "Monsters?" He repeated. "What about them?"

"Well…" Egil searched for the right words to say, "We've been doing really well clearing the continent of monsters and, well, that is… I just wondered… What happens after all the monsters are gone? What I mean is, what do the soldiers fight? What's our purpose in the kingdom after that?"

Owen thought for a minute before answering, for it was a good question. "I believe-" he said, "-And I might be wrong, but I think that the monsters will never truly be destroyed. Even if they were, though, a Knight's purpose is to protect his kingdom regardless of what form the threats take."

"But what other threat would there be?" Egil asked, "Would we be fighting each other?"

"I suppose so." Owen replied. "I don't want to ever see it in my lifetime, but there may come a day when we deal with more than just the common thief and vagabond. There may be a rebellion." He smiled and clapped Egil's shoulder, "But not in our lifetime, I think. We still have a good many decades of peace before that happens."

"So you don't think that another country would attack us?" Egil said.

Owen chuckled. "What other country is there but ours?"

Egil nodded, laughing too. It was a silly question. Of course, they were the only major continent in Luxendarc after all. Sure, there might be a few islets here or there but they were uninhabited. But even as he thought these things he felt his gut rebelling against those words.

He was on his way home, lost in thought, when a donkey cart rolled across his path. He stepped back, apologizing, but then noticed who was leading the cart. His eyes lit up and he waved to him.

"Hey, Til! Long time no see, bud."

Til jumped as he was clapped on the shoulder out of nowhere. He glanced back and saw who it was and relaxed, though a hint of annoyance remained on his countenance.

"Hey, Egil. It's been a while."

"Sure has!" Egil grinned, "I was starting to think I'd have to buckle down and come visit you for once."

"Without an invitation?* Til asked jokingly.

"You keep saying that but you never give me one!" Egil replied.

Til smiled and shook his head, tugging his donkey to keep moving. Of course Egil came along, he didn't need any invitation as they both knew.

"So how's Aunt Tess doing?"

"As well as ever." Til replied, "New Norende has become our home now. I think most everyone is well adjusted to it, but we do still miss the valley sometimes."

Egil nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, but it's better you guys aren't anywhere near that spot just in case the big hole opens up again."

Til said nothing and his expression darkened. He didn't like talking about the chasm for obvious reasons, and Egil hastily changed the subject.

"So uh, are you going to come see me graduate as a full-fledged soldier?"

"I thought that already happened." Til said suspiciously. "Like, two years ago."

"Yeah but with a new ruler and all I've got to get her permission to remain within my regiment." Egil sighed dramatically, "It's been weighing on my mind ever so much… and I would like the prophet's blessing."

"Yeah, right." Til wasn't convinced for a second. He motioned ahead with his chin. "I've got some deliveries to make down by the docks and then I've got to get home. I might come back into town in a few days to see how you did."

Egil clapped him on the shoulder again. "Sure thing. I'm on duty at the gates tonight so I'll see you off later."

They parted ways and Til continued down the road, humming to himself. The sun was beginning to set and the sky was beginning to turn a fine shade of yellowy-pink. As he rounded a bend, he came into sight of the docks. Fishing boats were moored there, behind them a lovely reflection of the sun upon the sparkling waters.

Til felt again the longing he'd had since old Norende had been destroyed. The longing to be out upon the water. But not merely to be upon the waves in a boat. It was a longing to sail away and find something, something that had been lost. He couldn't explain it. For there was nothing to find, after all. He had consulted the mapmakers and the fishermen, he had even sailed around with them at some point. They all agreed that there was nothing to be found, not other landmasses or anything. Merely a dense fog that surrounded their world.

He knew this. He'd always known this. But knowing this fact did not lessen the strange longing.

But there was something different today, in particular. As he halted to admire the scenery, something caught his eye. Way in the distance, almost too far to see, he saw a shadow of some sort. It was surely a boat. Had one of the fishing boats been swept away? But the next moment it was gone from his sight.

He was sure to ask the fishermen when he reached the docks. Were their boats accounted for? Was anyone missing? They reported that all was well, and the docks master herself claimed that all boats had returned that very evening without issue.

"But I saw one way out in the distance as I was coming here." Til told her.

She had just patted his back and reassured him, saying that the fog could make strange shapes, and he might have just seen a latecomer if he saw anything at all.

Til nodded and admitted that this must have been what he saw. But the uneasy feeling did not leave him, even as he finished his deliveries and began to leave the city.

Something wasn't right. And he felt as if he knew what it was, but there was some sort of wall between him and the answer. As it was, he could only wonder and try to convince himself that he had seen nothing.

Egil was true to his word, and hailed him as he was leaving the city. "Sheesh you look tired." He said, "What's up?"

"Nothing." Til replied, not really wanting to talk, but Egil wouldn't take that for an answer.

"Aw come on, I won't make fun of you… this time. Maybe I can even help. I'm good at helping."

Til scoffed, replying sarcastically, "Sure you are." He thought for a moment. "Well, I suppose I can ask. But you DID promise not to make fun of me."

"Certainly." Egil straightened himself, as if he believed that having good posture showed that you were sincere.

Til turned and motioned to the sea, which glimmered in the distance. "It's just that earlier I thought I saw a ship way out on the water, but when I got down to the docks the docks master claimed that all their ships had put into port already."

"Ooh, mysterious. Could have been a ghost ship." Egil said.

"I suppose…" Til frowned. "It's nothing. I'm sure I imagined it. I just wanted to know if…"

"If we had any rogue boats?" Egil folded his arms and thought for a moment. "Not that I know of. I think we still have some thieves to root out, they could have stolen a boat. But surely we would have known about that."

Til nodded, thinking. Egil snapped his fingers, "Hey, that reminds me of something. Pirates! The other orphans used to tell stories about them. Or, I think they did." Egil chuckled nervously. "It's just a feeling."

Til nodded. "Still can't remember much about your early life?"

"Nope, nothing. Just that my parents were knights and some bits and pieces here and there." Egil shrugged. "Doesn't matter. It's what we do now that counts, right?"

He was right. The past wasn't that important. Why did it bother him so much, anyway? "So, what's this about pirates?" Til asked curiously. "Aren't they just bandits that have stolen boats?"

"Yeah kind of." Egil said, "Except they're excellent at fighting from out on the water. Unmatched really."

"But the soldiers patrol the whole continent." Til said, "Wouldn't they be on high alert at least if something like that was going on?"

"No you're right." Egil said, suddenly serious. "Never mind. I'm not sure what you saw, but I'll keep an eye out for ya."

Til, though still uncertain, thanked him and they bid each other good night, and while his mother noted that he seemed distraught that evening he soon put the matter out of his mind. For the next few days all was well, but at midday of the third day Til suddenly remembered Egil's inspection. He wondered if it had already happened. He hadn't asked about the date. He mentioned the matter to his mother and Tess seemed interested. She hadn't been aware of the change in monarchy until recently.

"Why don't we head into town for the day, then?" She suggested. "I wouldn't mind having a look around. We haven't visited the capital together in a good many months now."

Til felt that this was an excellent idea and prepared their cart for the trip. They talked and laughed together, reminiscing on the difficulties of the past few years and laughing about their old fears. For their lives were good now.

Still, something was missing. They had felt that way for a long time now. But neither knew what it was, and as they couldn't identify the source of the emptiness they did not pay it much heed.

As they neared the city, Til's jokes and laughs faded away to a single voicing of concern.

"Is that smoke?"

It was. Rising over the hill was a pillar of smoke. They rounded the corner and saw that the smoke was coming from the capital. The fire seemed concentrated on the docks, and several ships were spouting red flames.

Even as he stared at the horrifying scene in disbelief Til's eyes raised and he saw the shadow of a ship fading away into the distance.

There was a click in his brain and he knew exactly what had happened. Wordlessly he urged his donkey on and they rode into the city. It was hectic. Soldiers were active, emergency fire brigades were rushing to help quench the flames, and townsfolk hurried to get their children inside. Til took his mother to Karl's inn, where he knew she would be safe, and after hastily explaining that he needed to see what he could do to help he left.

"That boy…" Tess shook her head and sighed, "As if I'm incapable of helping too." She moved to the door, but hesitated and turned back to face the empty room.

"Please, keep an eye on him for me. He will need you."

Tess did not falter in joining the rapidly forming bucket brigade. Meanwhile, Til was running down the street towards the docks. His suspicions were confirmed. Every ship was aflame or damaged in some way or another. But why? Why did this happen?

"Til! What are you doing here? It's not safe." Owen shouted, leading behind him a brigade of soldiers, all smudged with smoke and soot.

Til turned to them, jaw clenched. "I'll help. Just give me instructions."

The fire was put out eventually, but the ships were damaged beyond repair. Til looked at them as the smoke cleared and people began to focus on the smaller patches of flame.

"What happened?" He asked Owen, "I just got into town when we saw the smoke."

"Well, believe it or not we were just bombarded by an enemy ship." Owen wore a grim smile. "We were completely unprepared. It fired at us and its crew slung flaming rocks onto the fishing boats. We lost sight of them soon after."

"But where did they come from?" Til asked, a strange excitement rising inside him.

Owen didn't answer. He just shook his head and stared into the distant horizon. Eventually he said, "Wherever they went, they'll be back soon. I know that much. This was a strike upon our defenses, but it was also a test. One which the city garrison failed miserably."

"What are your plans?" Til asked him.

"Mine?" Owen chuckled darkly, "Report to my liege. We have not prepared for this danger and must take counsel on a course of action. In all honesty, I am unsure what to do…"

Til looked out again at the sea, wondering. This incident had sparked a question in him. A very important one. For, if their continent was truly all that existed in the world…

"...Then where did these raiders come from?"

He had a question now. A cause for doubt. He was no military man, but he now had something to look into.

"Owen," He said, "I would like to investigate something. Would you grant me access to the royal archives?"

"You would have always been welcome, Prophet of Norende." Owen said with a proud smile, "You have an idea?"

"Perhaps."

On the way back to the castle they ran into Egil, who had been helping a brigade on the opposite side of the harbor. He seemed breathless and he was covered in soot and ashes, but there was a light of excitement in his eyes.

"Til!" He called, "What did I tell ya? Pirates!"

He seemed far too happy about this terrible turn of events, but he would be. It wasn't as if there had been much in the way of crime for the past six years, and to have real enemies and a real threat must be exciting for him.

Yet here was another strange thing! Egil, the boy who had no memories of his past before showing up in Caldisla, whom no one had yet claimed to know or even recognize… Could he be key to all of this?

Til didn't know, but he had a feeling. He quickly asked, "Egil, are you free later?"

Egil glanced up at Owen and then back at Til, muttering, "I don't know, this is sort of an emergency thing so…"

"Owen?" Til asked.

Owen looked between them and nodded. "This isn't something I would normally do, but I trust you, Til. Egil, you're excused until further notice."

Egil looked disappointed and his shoulders slumped. "Yes sir." he said.

The royal archives were empty, manned only by one old scholar that kept the key on his person. It was getting on towards evening, so After being given brief verbal instructions on where everything was located, the scholar left and Til began to search through the records.

"So what's so important here that you're dragging me along with you?" Egil asked, having received no explanation thus far, and in all honesty rather bored.

Til said nothing until the doors had closed and the scholar retired for the evening. "It's hard to explain." He said at last. "Start looking through these old charts and stuff. Let me know what you find."

Egil shrugged and unrolled a few scrolls. To his surprise, the first one he unrolled was blank except for the date and official seal. Odd. He unrolled a second one and found that it was the same. A third, a fourth…

"Hey, what gives? They're all-"

"...blank?" Til smiled grimly and motioned to the pile before him on the floor. "Strange, huh?"

Egil pointed to one which lay half open. "This one isn't. This is a regular map."

"But what is it a drawing of?" Til asked him.

"The Caldislan Continent." Egil replied, "What else would it be?"

Til thrust several scrolls off of the shelves suddenly, making Egil jump in surprise. "Of course! Caldisla. The only land mass in existence. What else would we make maps of? There's nothing to be found in the world after all."

He ran his hand along the shelves, brushing scrolls to the ground, each of which fell open to a blank chart, officially signed and dated. Egil tried to catch a few, wincing as they fell. "Careful!" He cried, "This is historical stuff. I could get in trouble if it's damaged!"

Til snorted and held out an empty chart. "Historical? There's nothing even on these things!"

Egil put a few back, scowling. "Ok, but why would they be in the royal archives if they WEREN'T important?"

Til snapped and pointed at him. "Now THAT is the question. Why?" He motioned to the room. "Why any of this? Look-" he ran to a bookshelf and pulled out a hefty novel. "According to this section the book is about geography. It ought to tell us all about Caldislan ore and land, right?"

Egil watched as the book fell and Till flipped through a million blank pages. "Or how about this one from the 'plant and animal life' section? Hm, no title, just like every other book on the shelf. It's probably blank too!"

Sure enough, it was. Egil leapt to catch the book as Til tossed it away. "Hey, Til, I get it-"

"Blank, blank, blank…" Til picked up a hefty volume from the history section. "Now this one actually HAS a title. Histoire of Notable Caldislan Peoples. But what's inside?" Til flipped through the book. Half of it was completely empty.

"Til- woah!" Egil caught the history book and stumbled under its weight, "I think we should, I mean maybe you need to calm down…"

"But THIS," Til motioned to the shelves of maps and charts. "This is the key, right here! I wouldn't know what to make of it all if it wasn't for this. But this proves that my suspicions are correct!"

"Wh-what does?" Egil asked, gently guiding his friend over to a chair.

"This!" Til sighed and sat down, placing his head in his hands. "I can't explain why or how everything is blank, but it is. And it wasn't always this way." He turned to Egil, "You're proof of that."

"I'm proof of what now?"

Til thought for a moment. "I know you've told it to me a lot but remind me again. How did you get here?"

"To… you mean to Caldisla?" Egil shrugged. "I don't know. I don't remember."

"But what do you remember?"

"Nothing, except that my parents were knights that died in battle, and I think I used to be with a lot of other orphans somewhere dark." Egil chuckled, "I'm afraid that's it."

"But you're certain your parents died in battle?" Til persisted.

"Y-yeah, I think so."

"That would have been a major thing to have happened here in Caldisla." Til said, "Something which would be documented. Look over here."

Til showed Egil a set of two placards hanging on the wall. One titled itself those of our soldiers who have lived to an old age and passed on. It included their names and the dates of their passing. The other one was titled those of our soldiers who have given their lives for their kingdom. It also included their names and dates of death.

"See?"

"See what?" Egil asked, "We've looked at this before. There isn't a listing for any two soldiers' deaths between when I first showed up and when I was born."

"Exactly." Til replied.

"But…" Egil shook his head, "I already know all this. We looked into it soon after I arrived. I know my parents were soldiers of some sort, and that they left me an orphan. They just… might not have been as big of a deal as I like to imagine."

"No." Til said firmly, excitement rising in his voice. "It's because you're a foreigner. You're from another country. Another landmass, island, or whatever it might be, that doesn't matter. The point is, we've forgotten all about it."

Egil began to laugh, but his laugh was forced. "Til, come on. I've talked to people about that before and they all think that's a ridiculous idea-"

"Hold up." Til furrowed his brow, "You've talked about this before?"

"Yeah, a while ago I started to wonder if I came from another land, but everyone laughed at me. It was silly."

"No, it wasn't." Til looked intently at him, "This is an urgent matter we have to figure out. The question is simply this: is the Continent of Caldisla the only thing in Luxendarc to be found?"

Egil didn't answer and Til continued. "Because if it is, our problem is simply to scan and locate these pirates and confiscate their harbor. But if they're not anchored anywhere on our maps…"

"Oh…" Egil realized what Til was getting at. If there was a possibility of other landmasses that meant that the raiders could be anywhere. Meanwhile, the military would waste time scouring the coastline for them and leave the city open to attack.

"So…" Egil hesitated. "So let's just back it up a little, alright? You're claiming that the world as we ALL know it is incomplete, and that somehow, something has erased all of our memories about it?"

Til was quiet for a minute or two. "I don't know, to be honest. I've got this… this feeling that I'm missing somebody important to me, someone whose face has faded into a blank page, just like these books…" Til shook his head and scoffed, "Even as I'm saying this I'm laughing at myself, and yet it feels right. It feels like I'm on the correct path."

Egil nodded and heaved a heavy sigh. "Ok fine, I believe you. What's the plan then, buddy?"

That was indeed the question. What WAS the plan? They couldn't just wait for the raiders to attack again. But they couldn't very well lead a fleet after them, having no idea where they went or a way to do so.

At last he said, "I think we need to go after them. We also need to alert Owen. Although… I'm hesitant to talk to anyone about this. It seems like this curse or whatever it is has got everyone fully convinced."

"He'll listen to you." Egil said, patting his shoulder, "You're the Prophet of Norende after all."

Til said nothing. He didn't believe that. Somebody else had rescued Norende, not him by his dream alone. Who would have listened to a nine year old kid, anyway? But Egil wasn't wrong. If anybody could convince him…

The following morning they spoke with Owen. He has been in council with the leaders of the country, and they had come to the conclusion that the best thing for them to do was to focus their war power upon the coast and to evacuate the citizens inland until the threat was found and eliminated. They were already acting on this.

Til did his best to explain to him the situation and their theory, without going into it too much. Owen listened carefully, only interrupting to clarify a point, and when they had finished he sat there for a while and thought in silence.

"I never told you both this," He began slowly, "but about a week before Norende collapsed I had a strange dream. Or… honestly I'm not sure what it was. It just came out of nowhere in the middle of the day."

"What was it about?" They asked him.

Owen chuckled, "My death. I died to the sword of a shadowy knight. I don't recall much, but at the time it almost felt like… hm, a memory of some sort."

Egil said nothing. Til looked up curiously. "A week before the chasm opened… then it must have been around the same time I had my vision, too."

"I suppose, although it didn't help me nearly as much as it did you." Owen cleared his throat and clapped his knees. "In any case, all that is to say that I don't claim to know how this world works. Perhaps somewhere, in some other time I did die. In any case, I'm open to your idea. But I'm afraid such a theory won't fly with anyone else, and I can't guarantee much support from my liege."

"All I need is a boat and some folks to sail it." Til said, "I think with some experienced sailors we could track down these raiders. And once there was any evidence of other land masses we would have proven my theory, right?"

"Yeah," Egil said, jumping out of his seat. "We wouldn't even have to find the pirates in the first place! All we need is to find another continent or island and we could bring back proof to convince the kingdom!"

Til nodded and said, "Assuming we do."

Owen didn't even hesitate. "I will send a man to inspect the boats to see if any could be made seaworthy. If we can, we will have you departing within the next few days. But I would warn you not to tell anyone your true intentions." He paused and turned to Egil, his voice suddenly taking on an official tone that made Egil stand up straighter. "Egil, from this moment on you are appointed advisor and soldier to the Prophet, Til Arrior. You shall answer to him in all things upon the start of this mission.

"Y-yessir."

"-Which shall be, until you leave port, a mission to survey our continent." Owen nodded to Til, "After which I shall have no further say or authority over your actions."

Til nodded, understanding. This was it. It was finally happening.

A ship was found, one which was relatively undamaged having been a larger vessel than they usually used and sitting as it was in a shed collecting dust. It was quickly inspected and reconstructed the following day. A crew of several willing and honest sailors were located and along with a few soldiers to assist in protection they were nearly prepared the following morning.

Til watched as the last of the supplies were loaded onto the ship. Beside him stood his mother, whom he had already explained the situation to in vague details, and with whom he had been spending his time for the whole day. She had not argued, but only insisted he take his father's coat: a brown vest with an embroidered pattern down the front, and Til, though nervous to even touch it, did not refuse.

"You act like you already know what I plan on doing." He had said to her as they spoke together that night. "I would have thought you'd at least be asking me what I was doing, or maybe seeing if you could come along."

"I will if you want me to." Tess replied, "But I'm not if you're only going to be worried about my safety and well-being. I would merely be a distraction."

Til didn't answer. He knew she was right. If she came he would be worried about her. But if she didn't, he would be worried too, because she would be in danger of being killed by the raiders if they returned.

"There's no safe place for you to be right now." He had said at last. "So mother, if you want to come I would be glad to have you." He chuckled, "You'd have us all in proper shape in no time."

"Heh. I don't know about that, but I do consider myself a good cook." She smiled, "You would never go hungry."

And so it had been decided. They stood there now, on the edge of the docks, waiting for the ship to be prepared. They had not been there long when around the corner came someone they did not recognize at first. His hair had been slicked back, and he wore very discreet, dark clothes. There was a reflection of chain mail beneath his cloak, and at his back was a greatsword.

"Egil." Til said when he recognized him. "You look very-"

"Epic? Awesome?" Egil struck a dramatic pose.

Til chuckled nervously, "I guess, I was going to say you looked, uh, uncomfortable…"

"It's been a while, Egil." Tess said, smiling at him.

"Aunt Tess!" Egil said with surprise, for he had not seen her in over a year. After a quick embrace, he saw that she carried a bag of her own. "Wait, you're coming too?"

"I am." She replied, "Someone has to be around to mediate when you two begin bickering again."

The two boys looked away guiltily and Tess shook her head, still smiling. "I'm sorry I couldn't give you a sibling, Til, but I'm glad you've found a friend that is close to being one."

"It's-" Til choked on his words, a strange feeling rising and falling inside of him. He chose to ignore it for the time being. "It's ok, mom. I'm not lacking anything. I'm even going to have you there with me on this big adventure! What more could I ask for?"

"Do the crew know what we're doing?" Egil asked in the silence that followed.

"No." Til replied. "We can't mention it until we're out on the water. But, Owen had hinted to them that there is more to this trip. They are all willing to come."

"Alright then. Are we ready?"

Having already bid farewell to Owen, the three boarded the boat. With little to no ceremony, they cast off. And as they drifted further and further from the main port of their homeland, they felt as if all that was familiar was being left behind. New things awaited.

"Sir!" A grey-bearded man saluted Til, "I am this vessel's captain, Alde Salt. Sir Owen had hinted that our directives might change once under your command. What are your orders?"

Til looked out into the horizon, the distant, blue horizon. He pointed in an easterly direction, for in that direction had the raiders' ships last been seen.

"Our mission is to explore the surrounding ocean, and to track down those who have invaded us. Let the crew know that we sail east, away from the Caldisla."