The Aether Hero: Awakening of the Elements

Chapter 9: The shatterd veil

The team stands around in the safehouse, tension thick in the air.

"So, we lost the only thing we know that can stop the Voidbringer," Elias says, his voice heavy with frustration.

Lysandra smirks, unfazed. "Yep."

"Dammit." Alex sighs. "So, what's the plan now?"

Alex looks down for a moment, lost in thought. "Guess we need to get to the Fair Islands before Voss does, huh?"

Maya grins, trying to lighten the mood. "Alright, let's do this."

Elias glances at them. "I've got a contact, a captain. He'll meet us at Edgewater Piers."

Later, Maya steps into Alex's room. "Big day today, huh?" she says quietly.

Alex just nods, unsure of what to say. "You ready?" he asks.

Maya takes a deep breath. "No," she admits, her voice trembling slightly.

"You'll be fine," Alex says, offering a reassuring smile.

Before he realizes it, he's standing closer to her than before, their faces inches apart. Without thinking, he leans in and kisses her softly. Her lips are warm and gentle. He holds her chin tenderly, savoring the moment. Maya smiles against his lips.

"I was waiting for you to do that," she whispers, "took you long enough."

She leans in for another kiss, but a knock on the door interrupts them.

"Guys, hurry up!" Elias calls out from the hallway.

They break apart, laughing. "Shit, sorry!" Alex calls back, grabbing their bags. "Come on, before he gets angry."

The sound of birds chirping fills the air as they approach the pier, the salty scent of the sea hitting them. A man steps out from a small boat, the name "Woodpecker" painted on the side.

"Y'all ready?" he asks.

"You're the captain?" Alex asks.

"Yep, Captain Davis," he replies with a nod. "Any of y'all seasick?"

Alex shrugs. "Guess we're gonna find out today."

Davis chuckles. "Alright, everyone on board."

The boat is modest in size, more like a fishing vessel than anything grand. Davis releases the mooring line. "Here we go!" he shouts. The boat begins to glide away from the pier.

Elias leans in, whispering something to the captain, and they're off. Lysandra stares out at the horizon. "You sure you remember the way to the Fair Islands?" Alex asks.

"Of course I do," she replies confidently.

Maya slips her hand into Alex's. He catches Elias smiling at them. "You okay?" Alex asks her.

"Of course I am," she says, smirking. "Just... don't throw up on me."

Alex laughs. "I'll try not to." She playfully hits his arm.

After hours at sea, the weather shifts. A large storm looms on the horizon. Maya is asleep on Alex's shoulder when he suddenly spots something massive moving beneath the waves.

"Shit!" Alex yells.

Maya jolts awake. "What's wrong?" she asks, following his gaze. That's when she sees it—a huge tail slicing through the water.

The captain's radar remains silent. "What's going on back there? Did someone get seasick?" Davis calls out.

"Yeah, just... don't look back here. It's nasty. Keep driving," Elias replies quickly.