A few weeks later.
Siren's Sanctuary. Sunhaven.
A grand gazebo fashioned from rich redwood stood proudly in the backyard. It provided a breathtaking view of the endless sea.
The rhythmic lody of waves crashing against the shore created a soothing symphony.
The first light of dawn gently kissed the sky, painting it in hues of pink and gold.
A soft sea breeze, tinged with the tang of salt, caressed the air, imbuing it with a refreshing vitality.
Within this idyllic setting, Eren lay sprawled face-down upon a simple wooden bed, adorned with a plush mattress, positioned at the center of the gazebo.
His form was relaxed, his features obscured by the embrace of a cushion as if lost in a state of blissful repose. His upper body bare, save for the morning light that danced upon his skin.
With asured grace, Reen stepped over Eren's back, applying gentle pressure with each movent while humming a local sea shanty famous among the Sunhaven's locals, seeking out the knots and tension nestled within his muscles.
"Co gather 'round, hearties,
and heed the ocean's call.
For we'll sail upon her mighty waves,
where the bravest souls stand tall.
With the wind in our sails and the stars as our guide,
We'll let our ships glide forth on the ever-changing tide.
Ohoy!
La luh-la luh la. Lala lah luh lala luh la.
Lala lah luh lala luh la. La luh-la luh la."
Reen sang carefreely, matching her movents on Eren's back with the tune she sang.
It was as if she was squashing fantastical berries on Eren's back to make wine out of them, her movents speeding up as she sang the chorus.
"Mmm, right there," Eren murmured, his voice muffled by the soft fabric of the pillow, offering words of encouragent to Reen as she worked her magic.
With his free hands, he started hitting the wooden corners of the bed in beat, providing Reen's song with so background instruntal music.
Eren was in his altered, middle-aged appearance, assuming the fictional identity of Ren Roman Idril. Reen was as youthful as ever. As such, it looked like a father-daughter pair were spending their quality ti together.
"Erni, I see our ships," Reen inford Eren as she kept massaging Eren's back with her jolly dance moves, using Eren's back as a dancing platform. In the next mont, Eren lifted his head and looked at the horizon. "Oh yeah," he murmured as he looked at the two approaching ships, Freya and Tidebreaker.
Eren didn't get up even though he saw that Naya had finished her expedition and ca back to him. Even though he could see the ships from where he was, the nautical distances were deceiving. He knew that it would take the ships a while to get harbored.
Reen also didn't stop. She coated her toes in the lightning and fire mana, intensifying her back massage as she danced on his back with a new gusto.
The lightning below her feet crackled and the flas of orange and red hues intensified and dimd down at rhythmic patterns as Reen kept singing.
"Yo ho-ho-ho, hearties, let the sea set us free,
With the salt in our veins and the wind in our lee.
We'll sing of tales untold, and the treasures we'll find,
As we journey 'cross the ocean, leaving cares behind.
Hurray!
La luh-la luh la. Lala lah luh lala luh la.
Lala lah luh lala luh la. La luh-la luh la."
One could sense Reen's anticipation for her upcoming sea trip with Eren.
Sunhaven had been their haven for the better part of the last five years. While they occasionally embarked on demon-
hunting missions for the Demon Slayers Corps, they always returned promptly.
The imminent journey promised an exploration of the depths of Labh Salem, igniting her excitent. Moreover, Reen looked forward to the opportunity to test her powers. She longed for a battle that would push her limits as an Elder Seed Artifact Spirit.
The two reveled in the morning's tranquility until Naya approached them, her presence breaking the peaceful atmosphere.
"You two seem to be taking it easy," Naya remarked as she entered the gazebo and settled onto a nearby sofa. "anwhile, I was on the brink of exposing myself and eting my end at the hands of Sea God Raashim," she sighed.
anwhile, the crew from the Freya and Tidebreaker had landed on the shores. After anchoring the ships, they were granted a respite in Sunhaven before their imminent departure.
Eren had dispatched his fiends from Anfang, Harja l, and Darven, to accompany Naya on her sea voyage among many other subordinates. They had returned with her and now stood outside the gazebo, patiently awaiting the conclusion of the discussion between Eren and Naya.
Even the fiendish couple– Ashton and Hilda had managed to return safely, awaiting Eren's instructions.
"Sea god Raashim," Eren murmured the na under his breath as Reen diligently massaged his feet. "I have indeed heard of this god's na. But I wasn't sure he'd be the one I'd be planning against. Interesting. Alright, now that the target has been identified, there's no need to second guess. How was your recon mission, Naya? What can you tell about him?" he inquired, his eyes alight with curiosity as he turned to face her while maintaining his form.
Naya's expression shifted to one of solemnity at Eren's question. She drew a deep breath before offering her candid assessnt.
"Eren, I think we should drop the idea of stealing Sea god Raashim's faith. He has a powerful incarnation in the late-stage S-Rank. His higher Ranking Status should be enough of a concerning factor to you. But that's not all.
He also controls two confird S-Ranked sea dragons and at least six wyverns.
In addition, he recently promoted one subordinate to S-Rank status.
Apart from these assets, he has nurous A-Ranked practitioners and loads of low-level devotees.
Half the pirates in the Labh Salem's seas pray to him, bolstering his faith. I fear we wouldn't stand a chance against him," she concluded, her expression grave.
Naya had executed her recon mission as instructed by Eren, but her report held no positive news. She appeared daunted by the sheer power wielded by Sea god Raashim and his devoted following.
"Hah! That god is not the only one with S-Ranked allies," Reen declared confidently as she stomped and applied pressure to Eren's back. "We'll manage just fine, Erni," she assured him.
Eren groaned slightly in discomfort as he responded to Reen.
"Bet! But… hmmm… Just don't..."
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