The Refuge of Fate

Chapter 55 - Friend

“Harr!” A small child with a hook in his hand grinded his teeth. The rough and giant waves continued to clash against the ship they were riding on. “Thou shall not fear!” he yelled again from the front deck of the ship where water continued to roar.

“Steer the wheel to the left,” a man behind the little child commanded in which the latter repeated it again.

“Steer the wheel to the left!” and they did. All the people who manned the wheel as well as the other equipment followed suit.

Heavy rain poured from the melancholic clouds towards the sailing ship. In a second, they all felt the rumble of the heavens followed by a great light.

Flash!

The frightening scream of the loud skies echoed through the entire vicinity. “Eek!” the little child shrieked in surprise but he stood his ground despite the constant rocking of the enormous ship. “Keep your eyes out for something moving in the horizon.”

“KEEP YOUR EYES OUT FOR SOMETHING MOVING IN THE HORIZON! HARR!” He repeated the man’s words again while pointing his hooked hand to the sea in a threatening manner.

“Continue moving. Never let the ship steer clear from its path.”

“CONTINUE MOVING! NEVER LET-"

Flash! In an instant, the little pirate shrieked in surprise again.

“Raegan, go inside the cabin.”

“But father!” The little dragon prince complained wherein Ciaran only chuckled. “It is better to guard your dad in case something bad happens. You’re the only one I can rely on, little pirate,” Ciaran tried to reason out and it must’ve worked properly as Raegan’s ears perked up and he shifted his gaze towards the part of the ship where he can see the cabin door.

“Alright!” He huffed and pumped his fist in the air before dashing off of the deck and running towards the cabin door. Once Raegan was out of sight, Ciaran sighed before turning his attention back on the endless sea.
The waters continued to rage and the storm only got worse. It did not help the fact that they had already been travelling for five days now and could not still find what his husband desired.

Husband.

The thought suddenly had him blushing in the middle of nowhere. The other people who saw the reaction from him tilted their heads in curiosity. It was as rare as the birth of a sovereign did Ciaran blush and when they see it, they knew it had to be because of something extremely special about the young king.

Only the young king can make the vampire king look like a silly man in love.

“Something must’ve happened with you and his majesty again, master,” Fluffy commented from the side in which Ciaran responded with a huff before looking away. “Keep your nose out of my business, fairy.”

“As you wish.” Fluffy shrugged his shoulders before returning into keeping a watchful eye in the distant ocean.

‘It was very unlikely of me to ask him to marry me in the middle of the forest,’ Ciaran thought. It wasn’t really the type of marriage he wanted either but he simply got caught in the moment as he became too eager in letting the young king take his gift.

He did not know what to give Silas especially now that they could literally have anything they desired in a snap of their fingers so he collected the souls of the other candidates that he killed during his visit in the underworld and have Silas rule them.

It was hitting two birds with a stone as he got a gift and a protection for the young king despite Silas not needing them.

‘You never know. There could be a time he can use them,’ he shrugged his shoulders. What can Silas use his shadows for?

Getting coffee?

Cleaning the palace?

Transportation?

All the shadows inside the magic pearl that he had given had different capabilities and characteristics. There were giant ones that Silas could use as transportation when he’s too lazy to fly and there are those who wield magic that he can use for entertainment purposes.

‘It’s not the best gift but that’ll do for now.’ He hummed before returning into ordering the other people of magic around. They need to find the thing that Silas had been wanting or else they would forever wander in the endless sea.

They could fly, of course. They can use magic to float in the air and search for it but they had other people with them who could not do the same thing. Besides, the white-haired king was very eager in using a boat to explore the endless ocean with his people so Ciaran had no other options but to follow as well.

‘I wanna go home,’ he complained.

It was the first time he ever complained even just in his head when it comes to following something that Silas had ordered because after their ‘marriage’ in the middle of the forest, the young king ordered the ship’s departure immediately the following hours.

‘Where is the after-wedding-celebration? I did not even get to hold him after,’ he sighed again and the other people who saw his expression sweatdropped. Ciaran’s emotions were all showing despite him thinking the others could not see any of it. It was similar to how fast a chameleon can change its colors when desired.

‘A frustrated man is a hungry man. A man needs to eat.’ He chanted before going back into directing the vampires.

“CONTINUE TO LOOK OUT!”
---
Creak...

The door of the cabin opened and Raegan peeked inside. “Dad?” He called. There, he saw a man inside sitting on a hammock which rocked back and forth as the waves continued to hit the ship. The man inside the room turned his head to look at him. Immediately, Silas smiled at the look Raegan had on.

The Dragon Prince wore a white shirt that was opened at the neck and he also wore a scarf and a hat. There was a patch on his left eye and his right hand was that of a hook. He looked like the pirates Silas saw in the movies before.

“Come here, young man. Look at you, you’re so adorable!” He squealed in joy wherein Raegan huffed before proudly nodding his head in satisfaction. “I often read that pirates wore these kinds of clothes so I did the same, dad.”

“Mhm. You look just like them. A very cute and adorable pirate!”

However, instead of getting another proud look from Raegan, the dragon pouted. “Why? What’s wrong?” Silas inquired and Raegan looked at his outfit.

“I was supposed to look scary, dad,” his lips downturned even more making Silas chuckle. His little Raegan was quickly growing and before he knew it, he would be feeling old because the dragon had become too mature at this point.

“Why, I am sorry, Sir Pirate. Let me correct my words. You look scary. Very scary!” He faked a frightened expression and Raegan immediately beamed at it.

‘I wish he’d forever be this little gullible child of mine,’ the young king thought before opening his arms to embrace his son.

“What are we looking for, dad? I miss playing on land,” Raegan complained once he was sitting on the hammock with his dad. The young king swept his fingers through the child’s hair.

“I’m looking for an old friend of mine.”

“A friend?”

“Yup.”

“Dad has friends?”

The corner of Silas’ lips twitched at the remark. “Of course, I do,” he responded.

In fact, he has many friends. There’s Gideon, Caleb...

‘Uh... Martha... The citizens...’

Well, he is a king. He is also their friend.

Right?

Right.

“Then is your friend living in the sea? Are they a mermaid?” Raegan continued to ask endlessly.

“My friend is not a mermaid. She lived on land when I last saw her.”

“But why are we at sea if she lived on land, dad?”

“Well...” He turned his gaze away. “Your godmother told me she is here.”

“Who?”

“Melfar.”

“Oh...” Raegan went silent for a second and just looked at his hands. He knew he had a powerful godmother living inside of his dad right now and it was said to be a giant flaming bird that ruled the skies of the Eastern Continent.

“Well... If godmother says your friend is here then I guess she’s right...” Raegan mumbled. He had never seen his godmother before... As far as he could remember and he’s wishing he could meet her someday. His dad had told him that his godmother was resting so it would be hard to see her as of the moment.

“But what does your friend look like, dad? Is she pretty?”

“Yeah... Yeah she’s pretty.”

“Oh... Is she also my godmother like Godmother Melfar?”

“Uh... no?”

“Then what is she?”

“She’s... I’m not sure... Your friend?”

“Oh...”

“Then what’s her name, dad?”

“It’s-”

Slam!

The ship rocked so hard that Raegan almost fell out of the hammock if only it weren't for Silas catching him by the clothes. 'Phew', the young king brought the child back on the hammock before closing his eyes.

It's finally here.

---

"Your majesty!" One of the men who were tasked to steer the well called. "Something seems to have hit the back of the ship. The others are still investigating it but rest assured we will resolve-" he did not even get to finish his words when the ship violently shook once more.

"What is that?!" The man exclaimed as he was starting to get anxious. They were sailing through the endless sea. A territory that no one had ever conquered. He had heard many stories about sea monsters that were bigger than islands and continents roaming this place and he was slightly anxious that it might be one of those.

"Immediately inspect the rear-!"

"Wait," Ciaran ordered as the ship shook once more and the man almost fell out of balance.

"Gather," he whispered and the ship was instantly surrounded with darkness. Numerous magic circles appeared all around them and one by one, shadows groaned as they slowly got out of the void. There were many kinds ranging from fish monsters and other sea creatures.

"Y-Your majesty?" The man asked in a trembling voice as he pointed at the distant horizon.

Ciaran looked at the direction and both of his eyebrows rose when he saw what was in front of them.

"Heh," he had a smug look on his face as he raised his hand and pointed it at what's happening.

"Make sure the tidal wave never reaches the ship! Destroy it!" He commanded and his shadows raced to the tidal wave that was approaching them.