Chapter 20
T
he feeling of hands on her shoulders, gently shaking, pulled her from the depths of her sleep. “Hmm?” Peeling her eyes open, she saw that it was Xol, instead of Jayce.
Not that she minded, Xol had been fine to have by her side, and she quite enjoyed her slightly more depressing presence at times.
“We are coming up on Ilkiz, Jayce asked me to grab you, so you don’t miss it.”
“He… asked you?” There was no hiding the shock in her tone.
Xol sighed and rolled her eyes, “Overbearing hunk of meat.” Her hand was extended to Azahara then, giving assistance to her out of bed.
Swiftly donning an outfit more fitting than her nightgown, she gracefully exited the room accompanied by Xol. Without hesitation, she instinctively embraced herself, warding off the chill in the air.
A dense shroud of mist enveloped the deck, casting an icy ambiance.
It cocooned her in a gentle, damp embrace, creating an ethereal blur and muting the rhythmic sounds of waves colliding with the ship.
The moist air clung to her skin, eliciting a shiver as she felt the peculiar presence surrounding her.
It wasn’t ordinary fog; there was a mythical quality to it, an enigma that hung in the air.
This atmospheric shift was a stark contrast from the tropical weather of just days prior, leaving her contemplating the inexplicable transformation. As they strolled, Xol, with a thoughtful pause, retreated to her room and emerged with a blanket in tow, its soft drag echoing their footsteps.
“Thank you, Xol.”
Azahara skillfully maneuvered through the dense fog veiling the ship’s hull. Fortunately, her familiarity with the Neptune allowed her to navigate each step with confidence. Yet, the thick mist posed a challenge—how were they able to discern anything beyond it?
A subtle undercurrent of fear pricked at her stomach. How could they be certain they wouldn’t encounter obstacles like abandoned ships or the port itself? Clutching the blanket tightly, she briskly moved across the ship’s deck.
Soon, Jayce came into view, leaning over the edge and peering downward. Following suit were Alyse, Rowlin, and Théodore, each absorbed in their contemplation of the obscured depths.
Perhaps he had heard the pitter patter of her feet against the hull, because as she approached, Jayce leaned back with a smile on his face, extending his hand toward her. “Come see,” he invited.
She took his hand, and he pulled her to the ledge while coming to stand behind her. He wrapped his arms around her, offering another comforting layer from the chilly air that surrounded them. “What are you guys—wow—”
When she looked down into the water below, she was immediately mesmerized by the ethereal spectacle before her.
Bioluminescent lights danced across the surface and within its depth, casting an enchanting glow upon the waves.
There was every color imaginable, from beautiful hues of gold and orange to vibrant blues and purples.
In the depths, she could see sea life shimmering and gliding through the illuminated currents, leaving trails of radiant magic in their wake.
She could only imagine what it would look like at night.
The breathtaking display of nature in this part of the world was a form of celestial artistry, which completely captivated her.
There were creatures she had never seen before, and she wanted to swim with them.
The urge to do so was so strong, and she couldn’t quite place why.
It was like the sea was calling her to jump in and embrace its magic.
Thankfully, Jayce had a very sturdy hold on her, so she wouldn’t be going anywhere.
“This is—”
“Beautiful.” Jayce finished, and she knew he wasn’t talking about the water. When she gazed up at him, he was peering at her, not at the sea.
Hating that she couldn’t stop smiling, she shook her head and looked back. The fog was too thick to see anything ahead, and she wondered if the water was what Jayce wanted her to see.
Feeling him lean down, his cheek brushing against hers, “The fog will break, at least that is what the map projects. Everything so far has followed it, so if it holds, then…” He turned his head, which caused her head to turn slightly from the pressure of his cheek against hers, “We should be breaking through right…now.”
The fog parted as if it were a curtain, and the show was to begin. The ship cut through, exposing the beauty of the Isle of Ilkiz, home of what was once both the Spirit Riders and their great Dragons.
The Hydrox Port was a captivating sight.
The harbor itself was a spectacle, adorned with magnificent dragon statues standing sentinel at the water’s edge.
The colossal creatures, crafted with meticulous detail, had their mouths open, which spewed forth cascades of water, transforming into majestic waterfalls that gracefully fell to the harbor’s depths.
The roaring sound of the rushing water added an enchanting ambiance, echoing through the air and casting a feeling as if they would come alive at any moment.
As the Neptune broke through the harbor, she could see more towering statues depicting the legendary Spirit Riders.
Frozen in time, these larger-than-life figures captured the essence of a bygone era.
With their stoic expressions and ethereal aura, they evoked a sense of mysticism and stories untold.
Even the test of time stood no chance of taking the intricately carved statues down.
Amidst the grandeur, she couldn’t help but feel the eerie undertone that permeated around her.
As she expected, this once thriving city now lay abandoned, with dilapidated buildings standing as ghostly remnants of the forgotten times.
The structures, now weathered and worn, bore witness to the passage of age of time and lack of mortal interference.
Vines and ivy crawled up the walls, nature reclaiming its territory after thousands of years.
She imagined it was the only reason these buildings still stood and hadn’t fallen victim to time.
Azahara stepped away from Jayce, dropping the blanket and with a quickened pace, made her way to the ship’s helm.
Her arms pumping at her sides as she nearly sprinted.
When she reached the furthest point of the deck she could, she stepped up, holding tightly to the rope, and watched in awe as the place where they would port, came into view.
At the end of the harbor, where the Neptune would soon find its place, towering gates commanded her attention.
The colossal structure, reaching hundreds of feet into the sky, was a testament to the magnitude that was Ilkiz herself.
Crafted with jade and black iron, these gates stood as guardians, both welcoming and daunting.
She couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation and wonder as they began to slow.
This place was calling to her as if Ilkiz herself were beyond that gate.
It felt like when Helio’s Magic called to her, but this was different, less abrasive.
She didn’t feel out of control; instead, the power felt more complimentary to her, enhancing her rather than being a mere desire to possess.
Hearing footsteps behind her, she peeked over her shoulder, seeing that Jayce was already standing near her, but Alyse, Rowlin, Xol, and Théodore were now coming up behind him. She looked back outward, taking in every piece of Ilkiz as it showed itself to her.
Alyse began talking with them about what they should do now that they were there, going over details about porting in an abandoned place, which was way over Azahara’s head.
She tuned out the details of how they’d do it, listening to the sounds beyond the ship.
It was like she could hear a civilization of people, and it was as though this place was an island of ghosts.
“Jayce and I can go to shore, and make sure things are safe, then you guys can join us.”
Turning nearly immediately, she saw Jayce with his arms crossed over his chest and a wry smile on his face.
Xol, who had commented, glared from him to Azahara, who was trying to keep her heart in her chest and not throw it up as she spoke, “I think you are missing my name in that line-up, Xol.”
Her expression didn’t shift, “No, I said Jayce and myself—”
“And me.” Azahara jumped from her position at the head of the ship, Jayce stepping out of her way but watching to catch her if she slipped on the sleek deck.
With a low grumble in her throat, Xol shook her head. “Absolutely not. This ship is the safest place you can be—”
“Do not talk to me about where safety is for me!” Her voice was raised, and behind it, an echo shook the deck below them.
Her eyes burned; the anger flooded her entire being, and she couldn’t stop the tears brimming in them.
“Nowhere is truly safe for me, Xol. Let me choose where I risk my life. Not you, not anyone.”
Xol narrowed her eyes, but not with anger. She was reading her and quickly realized she would not back down, so she tore her gaze back to Jayce.
He was laughing, “You already know my feelings on that.”
“Do tell…” Xol’s tone was dull, and the snarl at her nose indicated she had already anticipated the answer.
Taking a step towards Azahara, he placed a reassuring hand on her back, “She’s coming.”
As she readied herself to disembark, she reached out to Illyan via the winnox.
Their response was swift, almost instantaneous, and she immersed herself in the events of the past several weeks, deliberately avoiding the incident with Goddrick.
She understood that revealing what had transpired would only prompt them to breach her defenses, determined to locate and retrieve her.
This was especially true if they told Zhal, and while she couldn’t imagine her getting on a ship, she knew she would.
There was also the fear that they would do something rash and try and find Goddrick themselves.
They stood no chance against a god, and she didn’t want to put them in unnecessary danger.
She told Illyan about Jayce and how he had helped her, making it easier for her not to fall into a dark place when they said there had been no changes with Kaed.
She wondered how long she would keep him tethered to this realm, or did she have some sick hope that she could somehow save him and bring him back to her?
There wasn’t much time to think about that, as both Xol and Jayce were ready to go and were just waiting on her. Bidding Illyan goodbye, she sent her love to them and Zhal and closed her window.
Dressed in pants for the first time since leaving the mainland, and a form-fitted long-sleeve shirt tucked into them, she stepped out of her room.
Her hair was tied back into a rubber band, making her realize that her hair was actually starting to grow.
Around her hip, loosely fitted to her, was the sword Jayce had given her for the Battle at Sunfall.
According to him, he’d brought it on board when he arrived, but wanted to wait for the best time to give it to her.
When she finally saw it, it almost brought tears to her eyes.
Not only because of the kindness behind the gesture but also because it reminded her of that significant day and how it had led her to where she was today.
In addition to that, she had one dagger laced around her thigh in its sheath and her long brown riding boots to round up her outfit.
Jayce was adorned with a black-on-black ensemble, with a longsword at his hip. Draped over his shoulders was a long, gray cloak that clasped over his chest. The shirt had a tie at its neckline, which was a shade of gold and had a star pendant hanging from the string.
When he saw her, he took one full look at her, and closed his eyes.
Xol smacked his arm, which caused him to startle and turn to her as if he was ready to hit her back.
“You did this on purpose,” he said through his teeth, “you know I can’t hit you.”
“It was strategic,” Relishing that she won in some game with Jayce, Xol smiled widely. “What can I say?”
“What was?” Azahara inquired, injecting a touch of humor into her tone. “Can I be in on the secret?” Her innocent expression, complete with a gentle smile, a tilted head, and fluttering eyelashes, caught both of them off guard.
They both became flustered nearly immediately, “Are you both going to secretly tell me that you are lovers and I’ve been the third wheel in this relationship?” She continued to stare at them expectantly.
Xol pointed at Jayce, and he blushed—wait, did he blush?! She couldn’t believe her eyes, it almost felt unreal. His cheeks darkening was both cute and endearing. An unfiltered smile crossed her lips, and a feeling of almost normalcy took hold of her heart.
Jayce and Xol both saw it, which made them both relax.
He crossed the distance to her, taking her hands into his. He looked as if he was going to cry when he said, “No, you just…” One of his hands came to the side of her neck, resting it there as it is his way of showing affection towards her, “You look strong, and I couldn’t be more proud of you.”
“Same.” Xol mirrored, “I just don’t get hard—”
Azahara swore the gravity around them dropped, and things became heavier. Jayce had his eyes on Xol, and any moment now, they would pull their swords out on one another.
“Why must you ruin this for me?” Jayce grumbled, though his tone was playful.
Azahara laughed gently, “Let’s go before you guys destroy Alyse’s poor ship.” And they worry about me… she commented to herself, “Sheesh.”