Humphrey was just about to respond when Ana spoke up. "I’m fine, just... not in the best state of mind."
"Is it because of the serpent?"
"I’d thought we could resolve things but... I guess I was just being delusional." She replied, her tone laced with an underlying sense of lancholy that was hard to ignore.
"You shouldn’t overthink things."
"I can’t not overthink things, Alex. He is my kin and he wants to kill ."
"If it’s any consolation, he’s gone," Ulysses remarked from behind with Ana sending a troubled glance his way.
"He will be back. That’s what scares ."
"You are scared you won’t know what to do when next he shows his face."
Ana nodded with Alex stepping forward to embrace her. "Don’t worry, I’ll be here to help you make that decision."
’And the decision would be death.’ He added inwardly while patting her back.
With that, he withdrew from the hug and remarked. "We should get going."
"Do you know how to leave?" Ulysses asked.
"I have a few ideas."
Saying that, Alex proceeded to snap, allowing them to teleport back into the palace before snapping again, causing an inky blackness dotted with white spots to leak out of his shadow, quickly staining the ground beneath his feet.
Utilizing Night’s Embrace, he manipulated the Palace, allowing them to quickly arrive at the entrance without issues.
When they stepped out the towering doors, they found that the lightning forest had dissipated, causing the land to be entrenched in darkness.
Of course, this was no trouble for all present as using their various physical improvents, they were able to make out the scorched earth and varying crater sizes, a reminder of the lightning punishnt Tyrant had utilized.
None said anything as Humphrey transmuted the air, allowing them to traverse space, quickly appearing on Athena.
"What now?" Ulysses inquired as he stared at the inverted whirlpool spinning above.
I should be able to help us navigate the whirlpool but we need to get up there first.
"I should be able to help with that," Ana remarked before proceeding to jump overboard, after which she transford into her dragon state which cast a great shadow over the ship.
Using her claws, she gripped the sides of the ship and began to flap her wings causing great gales that swept across the tiny island.
She picked the ship up with a bit of turbulence, though nothing that Alex couldn’t handle with Ulysses falling flat on his face.
The closer she got, the harder it got as she struggled to stabilize herself against the chaotic airspace of the whirlpool.
Humphrey was quick to act as he transmuted the air, allowing him to manipulate space as he pleased.
He protected her along with the ship as she plunged headfirst into the whirlpool with the ship following soon after.
***
It didn’t take long before Athena was once again able to bathe in the golden radiance of the Lightbringer, allowing all present to breathe out sighs of relief with Ana transforming back into her human form before collapsing on the ship’s deck.
Just as they were about to celebrate, Humphrey looked toward the sky along with Ana, with Alex also looking above a mont later, with Ulysses the last to do so.
There, they found a muscular man, dressed in attire that outed him as a mber of the Oceanic Enclave.
His figure was partially shadowed by the rays of the Lightbringer causing him to appear nacing.
For a mont, both sides exchanged looks, seemingly scrutinizing the other before finally, the muscular man floating in the sky turned and left.
"I’m guessing that was the one watching us when we entered." Alex calmly intoned with Ana replying.
"Yes."
"I wonder what he was after," Ulysses remarked at the side.
He appears to have a similar aura to Sinbad, though the latter has a much more domineering presence.
"Wait." Ulysses suddenly said, causing Alex and Humphrey to glance at him.
"What is it?"
"Sinbad," Ulysses muttered almost like he was trying hard to recall sothing.
"Heard the na before?"
And just like that, a bulb seed to light up in Ulysses’ head as he snapped. "It’s Sinbad!"
Alex and Humphrey exchanged looks as Ana turned to regard Ulysses.
"Are we supposed to know him?"
"He is known as the Conqueror of the Azure Seas, one of the rulers of the Oceanic Enclave along with the Sea Kings!"
"Wait, so you are saying the man that we rescued is the leader of the Enclave?"
"Sothing like that."
What is such an important figure doing in a place like this?... And alone to boot.
Ulysses shrugged. "I have no idea."
"Maybe it’s soone with a similar-sounding na?" Ana suggested with Ulysses shaking his head.
"The Enclave’s culture prevents two people from having the sa na. Unless the owner dies, a na cannot be used by another."
"And you just happen to know this?" Alex inquired with a raised brow.
"Sothing like that," Ulysses remarked while awkwardly scratching the back of his head.
"Anyway, it’s fine; it has nothing to do with us, so let’s focus on continuing on our journey, which brings us to the first problem on our plate. How the hell are we going to navigate this ship?"
"I think I might be able to do that," Ulysses replied, causing Alex to glance at him with an incredulous look on his face.
"You are joking, right?"
"No, like truly, I think I can do that."
"And you just happen to know how to ride a ship?"
Ulysses nodded. "It’s almost like I know it instinctively, sa as with the knowledge about the culture of the Enclave."
"Is that normal?" Alex asked as he glanced at Humphrey and Ana for answers.
Seemingly considering sothing, Humphrey inquired.
What is your family ancestor the god of?
"Exploration, Information, Communication, and Traveling," Ulysses replied with a sense of pride.
Humphrey nodded as he muttered.
It all makes sense now.
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