Realm Wars

"Plants?"

Jane swept her eyes over Seraphina. "That's a rare affinity you've got there."

"I don't even know what it does. Does it control plants and all?" Kai muttered.

Seraphina just smiled. "Somewhat."

Kai shrugged the matter off and said next, "My name's Kai, and I'm a Rank-A mercenary. I'm a swordmaster with affinity to ice."

And then he pointed at Ryu. "And this half-human, half-beast is Ryu. Well, now that we've got that out of the way. Should we ventured inside?"

"B-but. .. isn't it safe to wait here and look for our other companions?" Theodore asked and hid behind his sister's back when all eyes went on him.

"I think we have a better chance of finding them inside than here," Kai said.

Ryu and Seraphina nodded. Without a second glance or hesitation, Ryu went towards the door, followed by Seraphina and Kai.

Jane and Theodore just looked at each other before they followed the others' led.

As soon as Ryu stepped on the other side of the door, he was transported in a marshy swamp.

"W-what the–!" Kai lamented when half his body was soaked, and his feet were drenched to the bone.

"Where are we?" Jane marveled at the beauty of the portals, but she couldn't say the same with their current predicament. 

Ryu took in a whiffed. It was the typical smell of marches, rotten logs, and mosses mix with mud. But it was not only a swampy area, but it felt more like a jungle with a dense forest.

"Please don't tell me we will be facing Rusalkas again." Kai readied his scimitars. He felt a presence that was not mortal, and he bet they were beasts.

"Don't stop moving." Seraphina urged, staff in her hand. The more we idle, the more we become prey to the beasts and monsters here.

"I think we should also search every nook and cranny of this place," Kai said. "You know for treasure and items. Since the time here is very much different from ours, we could explore to our heart's content."

"W-what about the Leviathan?" Theodore whispered, voice shaking.

"What about it?" Kai swung his sword, and a flying creature with a large pointy needle-like mouth dropped dead on the swamp. "Like that Pink creature said, it's mostly asleep. As long as we don't cause too much commotion and avoid where it is, we should be fine."

Kai could only hope that was true. He also wished that the others wouldn't be idiot enough to cause too much disturbance here.

Ryu spotted a bunch of groups that were threading the waters as well. As Kai said, they were taking their time in searching the place.

Maybe he should look as well and see if the Jewel was in this Islet? Though he doubted it. If it was Tethy's Jewel, it might be inside a palace. In Tethyt's throne room, perhaps?

Ryu could only wish that no one acquired the Jewel yet. He was frustrated that he had no led about the Jewel whatsoever. He didn't even know what it looked like.

Jane and Theodore were feeling the same. Since they were here, they might as well search for treasures. 

Sensing the majority's wishes, Seraphina could only give up in urging her group to move along.

"How about we split up?" Jane suggested. "We can cover more grounds, and it'll avoid strife in the group when we stumbled upon treasures.

Seraphina vehemently shook her head. "The purpose of creating a group is so that we wouldn't be prey into this unknown lands. If we start to go on our own now, then why have we formed a group in the first place?"

Kai skimmed his chin. "Seraphina is right, but I also see the logic in Jane's suggestion." 

Seraphina wanted to increase their chances of surviving while Jane wished to maintain peace in the group by avoiding the inevitable argument when they stumbled upon a treasure.

Ryu didn't care about the treasures and items as long as he could get the Jewel to Ferris.

Kai looked over at Jane. "You're in a group, right? What do you do when you find rare treasures and items?"

Jane shrugged. "We split to who would benefit it the most. But since our group is only temporary and the three of us are mages, that rule doesn't apply."

Kai groaned.

"How about we just roll a dice on who to get it, then?" 

Everyone looked at Ryu. Ryu thought of it since the crew and mercenaries on deck gambled all night, and their favorite game was rolling the dice, and whoever got it right would win all the money.

Kai clamped his hands. "Why haven't I think of that?" He then flashed an obsidian dice in his hands. "Good thinking Ryu."

Seraphina nodded and beamed. "You can keep the loot of the monsters you kill, but if we stumbled upon treasures and items, well roll the dice. Do you agree?"

Jane sighed. "If the majority of you already decided, then I think we'll go for it." She then looked at her little brother. "How about you, Theodore?"

Theodore held his staff closed to his body. "I-I don't. .. think it's a bad idea," he said, voice lowering to a whisper.

As the group ventured deeper and deeper the more beast and monsters appeared. Mostly aquatic creatures, but with Ryu and Kai and three mages supporting their back, they easily passed the swampy areas. But still, there was no sign of the exit or the serpent nor the treasures.

"Is it me, or is the swamp getting deeper?" Kia looked at the water that was near his waist. Before, it could barely reach his knee.

"Not only that, the trees and shrubs lessen." Jane looked forward, but all she saw were marshes, swampy areas, and none endless water. "It's like we are being led into a river and after that. . ."

Everyone knew that what came after the river was the ocean.

Kai took in an inaudible breath. "Don't tell me that we're going underwater?"

Seraphina took a whiff and sighed. "I think that's our only option. I smell the ocean just ahead."

Ryu smelled it too. Though he only had one left of Faux's Mermaid Water Breathing Potion, the effect lasted thirty days compared to a rip-off over the shop Water Breathing potion that lasted only three to seven days.

"Just great. Glad I stuck a bunch of water breathing potion," Kai said. But still, he didn't know how vast the ocean they'd have to venture next, especially since they were finding treasure along the way. That would certainly take time. 

Sensing his distress, Seraphina smiled. "Don't worry. I have a spell that would allow you to breath underwater if you ran out of water breathing potion."

Kai's eyes sparkled. He'd grabbed Seraphina's hand if he could, but his sword prevented him from doing that. 

"Many perks of a water user," Jane muttered, and she breathed easy knowing that Seraphina had a spell that allowed them to breathe underwater. At least one of their problems underwater was solved.

Though she was beginning to felt distress at the thought that they'd be spending the night underwater. What about sleep and food?

Adding to that, the sky was getting dimmer and dimmer, but they hadn't stumbled on a single treasure nor item. 

Did that creature lie to them? Or the others already claimed it for themselves.

Jane clicked her tongue. If only there was a hunter in their group. They were usually good at finding traps and treasures.

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A/N

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