In the coastlands, Eli woke up early to help the Forgeworn Women tidy up their luggage and dress the kids.
Little Han obediently sat on Grandma Brygid's lap while the youths, Calderon and Elifas, along with Kayden joined the men in carrying the luggage back in the carriage.
At Little Han's example, Benson also called his cousins and the Farauld kids who were also sent by their parents to take refuge in the Green Wave continent.
They also obediently lined up on Grandma Brygid's side like kindergarten students who were waiting for their school bus to bring them on a field trip.
Seeing this, Grandma Brygid had a wide smile on her face. Just looking at the adorable kids behaving properly makes her heart warm despite the underlying chaos they were running from.
"Just wait for a little more, my little ones. You will see something fun later on." She told the innocent children with her gentle doting voice.
"Gwanma, mommi said we will go to the sea~~" Little Han blinked and replied to Grandma Brygid, initiating a conversation with her.
"Sea?"
"Sea?"
"Swimming?"
"We swimming?"
As soon as the kids heard the word 'sea' their eyes glimmered in excitement. The Seirende capital is far from the sea and there were only lakes and rivers for them to enjoy. So when they heard that they were going to the sea, the children looked at the elder and asked her excitedly.
Grandma Brygid could only chuckle and answer, "Yes, we will go to the seas. However, we will only travel through it. Maybe we can swim once we finish traveling for days."
But the kids only understood the part that they will go to the sea and it was enough for them to become happy.
"Yay! We will go to the sea!"
"Wittle Han! We will go to the sea!"
"Woooheee! No more scawy fowest!"
"Yay!"
The children were so delighted that they could not stop talking about it even as they boarded their respective carriages.
The sun was still gently shining, it was still early morning when the Forgeworn refuge group reached the rendezvous point with the merfolks.
The meeting place was not a port but rather a vacant shoreline that the humans do not frequent. Since the merfolks were also not keen on interacting with humans often, they had to arrange it like this.
"Huaaa!!! Sea!"
"Wittle Han, look! So many seashells!"
"Sheee shellsss…." Little Han followed the children in exploring the shoreline for a little bit. Eli and the rest of the adults also ensured that they were in their line of sight.
"I already sent a message to Uncle Havelok, the Merking, he told us that his strongest and most trusted men will fetch us within half an hour." Calderon approached Tyce who was temporarily acting as the head of the Forgeworns in Grandpa Andi's absence.
"Thank you so much for coordinating, young Calderon." Tyce replied gratefully. He was also relieved that the entire family was able to safely reach the shoreline without encountering any untoward forces.
He knew that the moment they reached the merland, their journey was already considered half safe.
"From here, we can only take around five days to reach the capital. However, I think Uncle Havelok would want us to stay for a few days in their territory. I heard they'd like to see Little Han and Lady Eli after all."
Calderon scratched his head. Almost all the leaders of each race were curious about Eli and Little Han whom the Guardians ordered them to protect.
"It is no problem. We are passing by their territory after all. It is only polite for us to stay a little while and appreciate their hospitality when they spent so much effort to prepare. Besides, I think that my daughter also needs to interact with them." Tyce did not mind being delayed for a few days.
He knew that Eli and Little Han needed to interact with the leaders and so he had no intention to hinder the Green Wave Alliance leaders.
"Woah! Big feeeesh!!!" Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by childish exclamations.
They turned their gazes toward the sea and saw several figures leap high in the air in a swoosh of the waters.
The big 'fishes' that leaped high in the air slowly descended into the shoreline but the moment they touched the ground, their forms were completely human.
Their skin tones were of the beautiful shade of brown, like the finest quality of shimmering bronze.
The men were well toned as half of their bodies were exposed by the one-shoulder white dress they were sporting.
The women were like the myths of the sirens, beautiful and captivating. All of them have eyes like pearls, and their wavy long hair was the color of the deep blue sea.
Eli could not help but gasp. If not for her knowledge that the guardians were unable to create offspring, she could surely think that they were Zale's love children!
They really look like their guardian protector, Zale!
"Greetings, Young Master Calderon, Master Tyce, and the great elders of the Forgeworn. My name is Wade and we are sent by the Merking to bring you to the merland and then to the main continent."
"Thank you for coming…" Tyce also greeted them with respect, since there were 'kings' in the Green Wave Continent, the kings of each race were part of the government alliance.
This also promoted equality among all races. The first rule that their government established was no race was inferior to another. And so every nonhuman race in the Green Wave treated the citizens of the other species with respect.
After exchanging some pleasantries, everyone started to move.
The mermaids raised the staff. They were holding a giant bubble wrapped around the kids and all the people of the Forgeworns. The bubble slowly descended into the sea as the rest of the merfolk also followed after ensuring that none of the crew were left behind.
With that, the underwater adventure of Eli, Little Han, and the Forgeworns began.
–
Meanwhile in the Lieutenant's tent of the unsuspecting middle army camp.
"Answer to the second and first camps that we will set off immediately as requested." The Lieutenant told his adjutant.
"Right away Sire!" The Adjutant saluted and proceeded to the communication tent.
The Lieutenant swept his eyes to the platoon captains and ordered, "Organize all the troops, weapons, horses, livestock, and the rest of our materials. Do our best to finish packing, we will go tomorrow before the sun shines!"
"Yes, Lieutenant!" The men also acknowledged his command and moved to organize their own troops.
In an instant, a sound of the bustling activity happened in the entire camp. As it was quite large and was designed to cater to over five hundred people in the midst of the wasteland, packing up is quite complicated as they set up camps that are semi-permanent.
But with the help of magic, the Lieutenant and the captains knew that they would finish disassembling everything within a day.
Everyone in the camp became busy, even the sentries who kept watch of the camp were quite distracted.
They did not know that a tiny group of invaders were already slowly approaching their proximity…
Leon and the men approached stealthily until they reached a certain area that is convenient for them to stay until sunset.
They quietly hid there, ate, and slept until it was already dusk.
When they opened their eyes, they were already hiding the killing intent emanating from their bodies.
In just a few moments, they were already facing five hundred men.
The knights who were with the blades gulped, although they were sure that they could pull this through, they were still shaken whenever they were reminded of the fact that they were only less than thirty.
"Don't be sacred." One of the blades felt their anxiousness and encouraged them, "You are with a mighty company!"
In the end, they managed to calm down. Finally, the waiting is over as the moonless night covered the area with darkness.
"Move to your positions and wait for my signal," Leon ordered.
The men nodded in reply, they held their breaths and flashed like shadows. The knights were startled, how fast were these crimson blades?!
"Don't be pressured, just go at your own pace. I'll know when you are ready." Leon saw the shock of the five knights and assured them.
And so the knights could only bitterly walk like normal knights would and go into their positions.
The sentries still had their eyes on their surroundings, but they failed to see the lone figure standing above them, seeing each and every move they made and how his own men were positioned.
"Biggie, time to roll." Leon looked down and patted the golem who was sitting on his shoulders.
"Vrrr!" Biggie's body shuddered and he jumped in acknowledgment.
He jumped directly at the center of the camp, so tiny and unsuspecting. However…
"Groaaaaaaaa!!!!"
A mighty shuddering roar startled the entire camp and before their eyes, a giant golem appeared.
He was so huge that his footprint crushed three tents!
"Go!" Leon looked at Biggie and signaled him.
The next moment, Biggie started to go on a rampage!