Chapter 1: 1.1 Overboard

The Iron Maiden despite being the one of the largest ship in existence, considered to be a floating city, was not immune to capsizing, or worse being torn apart if it was sailing though these treacherous waters.

The waves weren't violent, no, but they were incredibly large, wide, and tall. A difference of up to 60 ft from its crest to trough on some parts. The weather was likewise the same. Serene clouds, gloomy and dark sky, with no thunder or rain; but a sense of danger ever present.

It wasn't the waves nor the weather that the Iron Maiden had to be careful of, no. It was the seemingly benign and invisible current created by the tower of clouds that loomed in the distance. The currents were powerful, and it pulled one closer and closer, increasing in strength, until it was too late to turn back; and even the Maiden would not survive it.

In the Cassiopean Sea, between two continents, there stood the Eternal Storm that completely blocked the route by sail for all but the strongest of ships. It was a storm that covered a fifth of the sea, and affected two-thirds of it. Those who sailed the sea to get to the other continent, either had to sail past it, or sail far from it, to avoid its viscous and enormous currents, which took half a year, instead of the former of a week or two. At that point it was better to travel by other methods. But the Iron Maiden was an ocean liner, not a merchant vessel.

For most of the past, the sea was unpassable, people instead resorting to the other two methods of travelling between the continents. Teleportation, or through the upper layer of the Great Lyrien Labyrinth which ran under the sea itself.

That all changed when Estaria was blessed by the advent of otherworlders, who not only saved, but revolutionized the world. The ocean liners being one of them.

Such heavy and powerful mechanica became the first ones to be able to resist and survive much of the currents of the storm, making the sea-travel through the Cassiopean sea, very much an alternative.

Rob stared outside his window while eating his food. He stared at the infamous Eternal Storm, and it reminded him of a hurricane that consisted of no rain bands, and only an eye wall. It was a raging, spinning pillar of dark clouds, filled with thunder and lightning that rose straight out of the sea, and into the sky.

It had been just a tiny speck in the distance a few days ago, and now it was the most awe-inspiring thing he had ever seen till now. It felt much more violent which excited him.

He had been told the storm to be most likely artificially conjured and maintained by a powerful artifact from antiquity. Seeing it now, he could not help but lose all his doubts. Such things could never exist naturally, even in a fantasy world, he thought.

He wondered if the storms were taller than the Pillars in Zyre, but his thoughts were interrupted by a rogue wave splashing on his window, frightening him for but a moment. Even these turbulent waves too were mesmerizing to him.

Rob was currently in the lower decks— the left side of the vessel, staring outside his room's window while he ate his food. Sometimes, a rogue wave like this would hit his window from time to time, but he'd be safe behind it, and would instead be enchanted by the patterns the receding water would make. The waves too were a subject of much interest. The waves would be foamy white on the surface, surrounded by light blue, and then dark blue looming just under it; all eternally changing. And not only that, the magnitude of them left ones mouth agape.

He had just come back from the main diner after grabbing what he found salutary, and when he saw how everyone walked tilted sideways, like leaning tower of pisas, he had a good laugh about it with his friends that he almost puked what little he had eaten up to that point.

His floor currently was quite empty, since most were still upstairs attending some event which he had no interest in. So, he did not bother to close his door for privacy, assuming his teammates to be come back soon enough.

Sometimes he would hear sounds of gossips or laughter from across the hallway but that was about it.

It was then that while he was transfixed at the sight outside, he felt a pair of eyes on him. He turned to check what or who it was, and to his surprise, found an unknown man standing at the doorway staring back at him with the same wide eyes, as if caught in the middle of an act.

From the way he was dressed, Rob could only assume him to be some sort of nobleman, or someone with a standing akin to it. He looked at him with suppressed hints of wariness.

"Do you need something?" he asked after a pause. Perhaps he had just gotten lost, though the fact that he was already a step inside the room said otherwise. But the man without saying anything suddenly pounced at him with a dagger drawn and held close to his torso. Over the bed the man jumped and lunged straight at him with malicious intent.

Seeing this, he reflexively raised his hand and dropped his food. The swing came, but the dagger struck something else. A golden aura momentarily glowed where in between them.

An aegis?! the man eyes widened in shock. Why does someone like him have an aegis?!

The moment of respite was just enough for Rob to get some of his bearings back. And like he had been taught, he had to get away and run to safety. Even though he was a vanguard, in situations like these, it was best not to act on your own. Plus, he didn't even have his weapons anywhere nearby.

"Who the fuck are you?! Who sent you?!" He screamed as he kicked him in his abdomen, sending him back quite a distance. He hoped someone would hear him if he screamed loud enough.

But as soon as he got up, he found his assassin already back up, now blocking the doorway.

The assassin pounced at him once again. Rob tried to react, but was too slow in doing so, resulting in him being tackled to the ground.

The man mounted him and began stabbing him, again and again with all the strength he could muster. But contrary to his expectation, the golden aura protecting Rob did not dim in the slightest, indicating just how resilient the aura was.

How much hp does this aegis even have?! he cursed inwardly.

And Rob took this chance to break free, dropping him to the side. He began running for the door, but was grabbed by the foot before he could even make it halfway, falling to the floor as a result

"Help! Hel—" He screamed as loud as he could, but his pleas were interrupted by the man mounting on him, his arm around his neck. A viscous chokehold.

He tried to break free, his nails piercing the fabric of the man's suit and much more. Being a summoned hero and a vanguard, his strength should've been enough to crush trees or boulders to pieces, but his assassin wasn't a weakling either. Whoever he was, he was a strong.

"Aghh," The man grunted, the pressure being applied by him on his arm overwhelming. He was likely to end up with broken bones if he didn't let go, but he didn't loosen his grip. He was committed to kill him.

It was then that he heard hurried footsteps rapidly approaching towards them.

"Shit," he cursed his luck. This mess, and now this?!

This isn't over yet, I still have the whole journey to kill this brat, he rationalized. He let Rob go and dashed for the doorway. To his right he saw two people staring in shock back at him. He ran the other way.

"Hey!" One of them shouted and both chased after him. But when they got to Rob’s room and saw him on the floor grasping for air, they stopped.

" Rob, you alright?" One of them asked.

“Akhkah— no,”

"Hey, do something."

"I'm a battlemage not a healer, what do you want me to do?" Blowing up things is all I'm good at, the mage rebutted but didn’t say it out loud.

"Akh, I'm fine. Just out of breath." He replied, a bit fine now. "Where did he go?"

"Down the hallway, doubt we'll find him now." the mage replied.

"Don't worry, I'll inform others and the security after you catch your breath." The swordsman patted Rob on his shoulders. Rob nodded, massaging his neck, sitting on the bed and catching his breath.

It was then that the mage bent down and picked something up, "Hey," he held something in his hand, a stupid grin appearing on his face.

----

The assassin was currently calmly walking down the main hall as if nothing had happened. He tried his best to act natural, but he could not completely suppress his panting. His right hand was trembling in pain, and that part of the suit had been torn in some places. His suit disheveled.

He looked around, until he found what he was looking for. At one of the tables, one of his associates was leisurely talking to a group of noblemen.

Feeling a gaze, the man looked around, and both made eye contact. But when his associate saw the state he was in, a frown appeared on the man’s face.

Seeing this, he furrowed his brows, as if to protest that he still hadn't failed yet. Don't count me out yet you bastards, he grumbled inwardly.

Truth be told, he was scared, though he could not feel it yet because of the adrenaline.

The whole assassination attempt was botched from the start. It was supposed to be simple, but all he had to do was turn around all of a sudden and catch him before he could get closer. His nightingale profession’s stealth was high-grade, yet despite that, he was spotted immediately. He could not help but think his target’s identity, or that he was set up to fail in the first place.

"Akhh," It was then that he felt a burning sensation on his right wrist which made him winced in pain, it was one different from the pain of having his bones broken earlier. And when he saw what it was, his heart sank.

Shit! He cursed his luck. He had been marked by a witch! He felt his blood boil, and felt dizzy, even greying-out for a moment. The mark was from a high leveled tracking skill, and in the middle of an ocean on a vessel, it was a death sentence.

He tried to think what he could do, but nothing came to mind. He knew his fate was sealed but he didn’t want to accept it. But for a moment, he could not help but contemplate just stabbing himself and ending this turmoil of his.

And it was that thought that made him realize something. He checked his inner pockets, but it wasn't there. One of his daggers was missing.

Ahh, so that's how I was marked...

Concerned that he might use his own weapon against him, he dared not keep it with him, and threw it away. In the heat of the moment and he forgot about it. He dug his own grave. If only had he not lunged at him then and instead waited for another chance.

He looked around furtively. Any stares that fell on him felt to him to be of an enemy.

----

Though the waves were high, the Iron Maiden remained quite stable. On the deck, though it was more accurate to call it the roof; passengers, all wealthy individuals, a good proportion of them nobility, and a fewer, esteemed guests, royalties of nations, were all enjoying themselves. Mostly chatting amongst themselves, enjoying the unique and rare view in front of them. Crewmates, servants and guards all present on the deck all around.

Though the sky was always gloomy and dark, it never rained in the Cassiopean Sea; and so, the deck remained open throughout the journey.

On the bridge, the captain personally oversaw this particular stretch of the journey. It was one where they'd be the closest to the storm, and thus, where the pull would be the strongest.

Though the passengers couldn’t tell, the ship was currently drifting sideways to counteract the current’s pull.

Just a kilometer inwards lied the red line, where the pull would get so strong that even the Iron Maiden wouldn’t be able to escape it. A death sentence just looming nearby. The storm was not one to hand out second chances, which was also why the ship didn’t have any life rafts.

It was then that the ship violently shook as if it ran into something.

“Find out what that was,” the captain quickly reacted, and spoke into the intercoms. If he was concerned, he didn’t show it in his voice.

A reply came back soon after, “Captain, there is a fight on the main d—boom!” But was interrupted by what sounded like another explosion, the ship’s shaking right after confirming it.

Fight? On my ship?! The captain thought, increasingly frowning.

It was then that the deck of the ship exploded, followed by three figures all perfectly landing on their feet, who quickly began fighting again. From the looks of it, it was a one against two.

The deck quickly descended into pandemonium, people trying to get away from the scene of the battle.

One of them, behind a young man with a sword, conjured a spell. Blades of flames manifested, hurling towards its intended target but missing it narrowly and hitting a section of the railing, completely blowing it away. The flame then extinguished as quickly as it came.

At the receiving end was one man, perhaps in his mid-thirties, his suit all tattered and burnt in many places. He clutched his daggers tightly and focused intently on his two enemies in front of him.

“Sound the alarm! Get security on the deck!”, “Security!”, “Please, get back.” Panicked voices all around them.

Despite the odds, the fight was currently in a deadlock. When the sword would swing, supported by volleys of spells, the man would evade every one of them.

The ship’s security had arrived by now, but none were able to intervene. The fight in front of them was too out of their league. So instead, they began trying to containing the damage where ever possible instead. Starting by requesting the onlookers to back away further, while the rest went and set up a perimeter.

The battle was impressive and awe-inspiring, and many wanted to witness it closer. It was not always that one got to see such skilled individuals exchange serious blows like this. Such display of skill and talent were especially noteworthy if one was young. Many wanted to know their identity of the two youths, of the magic swordsman and the battlemage. Especially when they saw the youth’s sword, which was as beautiful as a national treasure. Perhaps it even was one.

“Sir, you can’t go—” But before the man could even finish, a youth ran past him and into the fray. He carried a kite shield on his left, and a one-handed sword on his right. Despite the weight those equipments should’ve been, he dashed in like the wind, as if completely unhindered by the weight.

And as quickly as she came, as quickly did the tides of the battle turn. No longer was it a stalemate but now a one-sided pummel. Not only were all of his moves being read like a book, so was his area of movement. Being unable to properly utilize his speed, his was quickly pushed back to the side of the deck.

And the mage and swordsman? Before, the swordsman did not attack him and the mage was the one doing all the damage, because the youth knew that if he tried to attack, the assassin would’ve just countered and rushed the mage instead. But now, they no longer have to worry about defense and could focus entirely on dealing a decisive blow, trusting their vanguard to hold the line for them.

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One against three, the man was getting more and more frustrated. Unable to think of a way out, he began quickly losing the little hope he had.

Then, he saw an opening to strike at Rob, and he leapt at it. But to his surprise, she not only countered it but dealt a heavy blow on him, right on his face with his large and heavy shield. It was a bait, and he took it.

Just who are these brats?! The man screamed internally.

He had gambled wrong in the heat of the moment, and one move in a fight like this decided the fight. He tried to recover, but it was already too late. The moment of weakness he showed was enough. He swung his dagger awkwardly, but in return, his hand was sliced clean off.

“Aghk,” He backed off even more, but stopped himself before he fell overboard. The railing had been burnt off and he was standing at the edge of the ship before a long fall into the water.

He clutched his severed arm and while grunting in pain, he bent down to his knees, his head down. “I surrender.” He declared. If a sword were to swing at him right now, he would be done in.

The other three stopped their onslaught seeing this.

“Get a healer.” The swordsman said after a pause, and the battlemage walked off without a word.

Rob sighed, “I’ll cuff him.”

The swordsman looked at the man in front of him, clutching his arm in pain, staring into the floorboards. “Who sent you.” He asked.

“…”

“Its best if you talk to me you know. Before the ‘experts’ take over and all.”

“…”

“Tch fine, your choice.” The swordsman turned around and was about to walk away when,

“You already know.” He suddenly replied.

The swordsman turns around and looks back, “That doesn’t narrow it down much at all.”

---

Seeing his associate get captured, the man blended in the crowd frowned and sighed, “A shame, I suppose this is the only thing that fool is left good for.” He made some gestures in the air.

“We will keep it down for now,” He said to someone else besides him, and both walked away inside. His last words, “After this…”

---

On the deck, the battlemage who was walking away suddenly felt a powerful mana surge from behind. For a moment he was petrified. The surge was too unstable, indicating that there was going to be an explosion soon enough. He turned around, the surge was coming from inside the assassin they had been fighting.

“Soul magic.” He muttered.

On the scene, Rob and the swordsman felt it too, though much later than the mage who was attuned and sensitive to those changes. The injured assassin looked up at the swordsman, his eyes pure black now, “For the order…”

“Rob get back!”

Boom, a destructive explosion of blinding light detonated from inside the assassin, and the two were caught in the blast.

The state of the swordsman unknown, but Rob who was facing the sea from the blast was thrown overboard. Though his aegis activated and protected him, coming off unscathed from the blast, he was now in a dire situation.

Finding himself in the freezing cold sea, his heart sank. His first thought was to swim back to the ship, but he did not have the strength to do so. Plus, he was currently at the bottom of two huge waves, the ship to be found nowhere.

After a few moments of struggling, he eventually found himself on a crest of a large wave; from there he found the Iron Maiden, far off in the distance, now but a speck of light surrounded by the vast expanse of water.

He suddenly became certain of his fate when he saw it. The moment he fell overboard, his fate was sealed.

Then, he was thrown back into the water. He tried to swim back up, but whenever he’d manage to do so somehow, he’d be thrown back in.

Eventually, his body became numb very quickly from the frigid water but also from the struggle.

In what was most definitely going to be his final moments, as his body became weak and his mind hopeless, he saw himself gradually be covered in a golden aura. Then he lost consciousness.

AUTHOR'S NOTE
I should clear things up more about some things. Firstly, the ship, the Iron Maiden is supposed to be an ocean liner foremost and a cruise liner second. Meaning its main purpose is transportation and not vacation. As such, the ship does not have anything like an indoor pool, slides or shops; but it does have a gymnasium, gallery, social hall, lounge, halls, an opera house, casino etc. Things where you could pass time on, which would also fit the fantasy setting criteria, whatever those are. And about Rob’s shield, look up Arknight’s Blemishine. And lastly about the journey in the sea, it’s basically like the orbital slingshots satellites do using the gravity of other planets.

---

PART 2

Rob opened his eyes. What greeted him next was a high-ceiling, one of beautiful and exotic marbles. A mural of what looked like a symbol in the middle of it.

Was he perhaps in heaven? He very well might’ve been. He had never felt so comfortable before.

He got up and sat upright and looked around. He realized he was currently in a large bed room. To his right was a balcony, where the morning light was shining through, bouncing and illuminating the whole room. To his left was a large dark wooden door with intricate design. And the bed he was on was a large and comfortable one with a thick blanket, comfortable mattress, lots of pillows, and a canopy with the same dark wooden frame as the door. Just in front of his bed was a circular table with a few chairs, and decors such as a painting and few more furniture scattered around.

There was much to admire here, but first, Rob had to know where he currently was. To begin with, he headed for the balcony. And what he saw, left his mouth agape.

Far off in the distance, beyond the shore and into the sea, large white clouds covered the whole horizon all around. From the sea, stretching all the way to great heights, where in flattened out and went outwards for kilometers. The white clouds, were peacefully moving and looked serene.

The clouds looked like they were taller than mountains, but where Rob currently was, he easily dwarfed it in terms of heights.

Straight below him was a beautiful garden of flowers and hedges. At the end of it, after steel fences was most likely a drop. Where ever he currently was, he was at a much higher altitude. For a second, he wondered why he didn’t have any difficulty breathing at such an altitude. He very well might be at a height where planes flew at.

“Where, am I?” he muttered to himself.

Clck, the sound of a door opening resounded behind him. Being lost in thought, he was startled and perhaps, could’ve fallen off just then.

“Oh, you’re awake.” A man in an attire both exquisite and professional greeted him with a smile.

“Who are you? Where am I?” Rob asked.

“There is no need to fret, you’re in no danger. Please, sit first. You meal should arrive shortly.”

Though still suspicious, having no other options, Rob decided to trust whoever this man was. Looking at him properly, he had sharp ears, indicating perhaps that he was an elf, but he had never seen an elf such as him.

“Are you an elf?”

“No, I’m a demon.”

Demon? Rob halted in his spot, frozen with eyes that indicated wariness.

“Ah my apologies, I must’ve just said something insensitive without forethought.” Seeing the change in Rob’s attitude, the man tried to calm him down.

“You’re from the outside correct? You came from the sea.”

The sea? Suddenly, an epiphany struck Rob. Yes, he had fallen overboard, and the last thing he remembered was of him drowning.

“Where you currently are, is Yggdrasil, the island inside the storm. And where you came from, is from the outside.” He pointed out of the balcony and towards the clouds in the distance. “Or so we presume.” He added.

“You needn’t worry about your safety. You are in no danger here.”

Rob nodded slightly and finally sat down on the bed, “Then, how did I get here.”

“We assumed you drifted through the storm. Lord Ryza found you adrift near the shores and brought you here. How you survived the four layers of barrier though, is something we’d like to know from you.”

“I am just as baffled as you are about that matter. I should’ve died…”

“So you don’t know…” He commented and went into deep thinking.

It was then that the door to the room swung open once more.

“Ah, so you’re the outsider.” The newcomer said, looking at Rob.

“I’m Robyn, the owner of your current abode.” He extends his hand for a greeting and Rob returns the favor. From the looks of it, this Robyn was a demon too.

“I’m Rob.”

“Pleasure to have you here Rob.”

---

“Is that so haha! Your journey is quite fascinating.”

“Haha, that’s one way to put it.” Rob answered back awkwardly.

For the past one hour, he and Robyn had been in this room having a conversation. Though he didn’t complain, getting much information out from his too, it was starting to get tiring.

Robyn with his legs folded had been conversing with him for the past few hours or so already. Though he didn’t complain as he got much information out of him too. Having dealt with many high figures before, he certainly was fitting in, but even he was getting tired of speaking after so long.

“Ah my apologizes, we never had an outsider here before.” Robyn said, seeing Rob’s haggard expression, finally, “But I’d like to ask one more thing. This aegis you say, can I see it?”

“Of course!”

The aegis manifested in front of him, Robyn looks at it intently with great interest. Finally, he raises his right hand, from which one of his nails elongate, and with that finger he gradually applies pressure on it. The aegis’ aureate glow fluctuates, first intermittently, then volatilely, until finally with a flash it cracks and the aura ceases.

“Hmm, perhaps it had been weakened from passing through the storm.” Robyn remarks.

But rob knew that was not the case. Sweat began to drop from his forehead. Just what was that inhuman strength right there? Just how strong is this guy?!

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