Unspeakable Secrets The Alchemist Series (A Dark Medieval Progression Fantasy)

Chapter 55 Fire Hawk

Erik flew over the ocean in the form of a hawk. His magic gave his feathers a fiery nature and he trailed embers and wisps of smoke behind him as he soared through the sky.

Wind whistled over him, whipping his feathers. The salty tang of sea air filled his lungs. He closed his eyes and reveled in the exhilarating bliss of sensations.

He flew with incredible speed despite his form being slightly smaller than an ordinary hawk. He hoped his smaller size would make him harder for anything to spot. It was also why he dimmed his fire down to embers.

Not that he saw much of anything besides their ship upon the dark blue ocean.

There were some cliffs flanking a small cove but it was far away and the only thing of note were the countless storm wyverns that covered the cliffs.

The beasts were unlikely to even notice their passage and even if they did, they'd be little more than pests. What mattered was that there was no sign of any sentient species.

This was to be expected of course. Their route had been well planned.

But, every precaution was required when it came to the secrecy of their base of operations. If it were ever found, it would not be by his mistake. Their work was too important. The sacrifices too great.

The ship looked impossibly small from so high in the air, despite being a massive vessel.

He circled around it at a considerable distance, but never so far that it was entirely out of sight.

The sun was setting, painting the sky a fiery orange amid smatterings of blue and violet. Dark clouds were approaching, and the wind was picking up.

I'll have to warn the captain about that storm. It'll surely fall upon us tonight, Erik thought.

He saw no other dangers though. Not in the sky at least. Still, he completed his circle around the craft.

I'm probably being paranoid. There's not much I can't handle... he thought. He'd had that thought many times as he scouted repeatedly each day. But he'd been entrusted with the safety of the two young ones... could any precaution be too much?

He wished not for the first time that he could just enlarge his size and carry them in his talons. To race through the air to their destination... but the journey would be long, and a ship would attract far less attention than an enormous fiery bird.

He supposed it would be uncomfortable for his passengers too. Not to mention difficult... and who would watch them while he slept?

He shook such thoughts from his head. They would be safe and secure soon enough. Then, they could finally be told the truth of things.

It would be good to talk to Connor after that. Some of the things Connor had said had been bothering Erik. Just a tiny bit. Like an itch in the back of his mind.

I shouldn't blame him. He doesn't understand our cause. Not yet... but he will. Then, he'll apologize for ever doubting us... he'll see that everything we've done was a necessity, Erik thought.

But, somehow, it failed to dispel that nagging sense of unease that squirmed in the back of his mind.

It's necessary. It's all necessary, Erik told himself.

The unease was beginning to annoy him. Connor was beginning to annoy him... but he would understand soon.

Then, he would see as Erik saw. As all of them did. The world needed them to do what they were doing. Everything they were doing was done for the best of reasons. For the good of all. For justice.