Eren stood at the center of the room, a worn map spread across the wooden table. The others gathered around, their earlier casual expressions replaced with focus.
Henry stepped closer.
Drawn in dark ink, surrounded by jagged markings and warnings, lay a single island.
"This," Eren said, pointing to it, "is where we're going."
He paused.
"The Island of Miradur."
A silence followed.
"It lies far to the north of the Sea of Arath," he continued, tracing the map with his finger, "just before the Forbidden Line."
That alone was enough to raise tension in the room.
The red-haired boy leaned forward, his grin fading slightly.
"Sounds like a place people don't come back from."
Eren didn't deny it.
"The island was named after a powerful mage—Miradur. A man known for his mastery over barriers. It is said he could conjure defenses strong enough to withstand anything."
Henry's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then why is the island still dangerous?"
Eren looked up.
"Because even he didn't control what lived inside."
The room grew quieter.
"The island is rich," Eren continued. "Minerals, rare plants, ancient ruins—everything a treasure hunter could dream of. But it is also filled with creatures that have adapted to that environment. Strong. Unpredictable."
The broad-shouldered boy crossed his arms.
"Then why hasn't any fleet taken it?"
"Because they can't," Eren replied.
That caught everyone's attention.
"There was a joint expedition years ago," he explained. "The three kingdoms, along with powerful explorers, mapped the island. They documented its ruins, studied its past, and identified its resources."
He tapped the map again.
"But what they couldn't do… was take it."
The silver-haired girl finally spoke, her voice calm.
"The plants?"
Eren nodded.
"The plants and herbs of Miradur cannot survive outside the island. Many tried to cultivate them elsewhere. Every attempt failed."
Henry folded his arms.
"So the island is useless?"
"No," Eren said. "It's controlled."
A pause.
"By agreement."
The red-haired boy tilted his head.
"What kind of agreement?"
"A pact," Eren replied. "Between the three kingdoms and the Mage Association—formed under Miradur himself."
He took a breath before continuing.
"The plants of the island are powerful… but territorial. Removing them disrupts their nature. So it was decided—no one would plunder the island."
"Then how are they used?" Henry asked.
"The Mage Association distributes them."
A faint scoff came from the boy spinning the dagger.
"And no one tried to break that rule?"
"They did," Eren said calmly. "They failed."
That ended the doubt.
"The Mage Association doesn't hold military power like the kingdoms or pirate fleets," he continued. "But they possess something else—knowledge. They study mana, refine it, and make it usable for everyday life."
Henry listened carefully.
"They're like alchemists," Eren added, "but with far greater influence. And far greater control over mana."
The red-haired boy leaned back, thinking.
"And this Miradur?"
Eren's expression grew serious.
"He was a barrier mage unlike any other. The protective field around the island? That's his work."
Henry looked back at the map.
"So the monsters are trapped inside."
"Yes," Eren said. "And so is everything else."
A brief silence followed.
Then Henry spoke.
"And the plant?"
Eren's eyes met his.
"It's one of those that cannot be taken easily. It grows deep within the island… near the old ruins."
"And Eren needs it?" Henry asked.
Eren nodded.
"To create a special decoction."
The red-haired boy cracked his knuckles, a grin returning to his face.
"So let me get this straight," he said. "We're heading into a restricted island, filled with monsters, protected by ancient magic, to steal something no one else can grow?"
Eren didn't smile.
"Yes."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then—
"That sounds fun," the red-haired boy said.
A few chuckles followed, but the tension remained.
Henry looked at the map one last time.
This was no simple task.
Not a job.
Not a favor.
A risk.
A real one.
And yet—
He didn't step back.
Somewhere along the way, this had stopped being about melarium.
"Alright," Henry said quietly.
"When do we leave?"
Eren didn't hesitate.
"Soon."
"The annual expedition… it's about to begin."
Eren's voice was steady, but there was urgency beneath it.
The group gathered closer as he continued.
"By agreement, even the pirates are required to assist in the voyage. Ships from all sides will be present—kingdom vessels, mage escorts… and pirate fleets."
He looked up.
"That's our way in."
The red-haired boy crossed his arms.
"So we blend in?"
Eren nodded.
"Infiltration will be the easiest part. Many of those involved will be pirates. We won't stand out."
He paused.
"But once we reach the island… everything changes."
The room grew quiet.
"The mages take control there," he continued. "And not just any mages."
Henry's gaze sharpened.
"Miradur?"
Eren nodded slowly.
"Or at least… what remains of his legacy. The barrier, the rules, the system—everything on that island still follows his will."
A moment of silence followed before the red-haired boy spoke again.
"If this is so important, why not just ask your father?" he asked. "He could gather whatever you need."
Eren didn't respond immediately.
For a brief moment, his confident expression faltered.
Then he spoke.
"The pirates can't help."
That caught everyone's attention.
"Nor can my father."
Henry stepped forward slightly.
"Why?" he asked. "Why do you need this plant so badly?"
Eren hesitated.
Then, quietly—
"Because my father is dying."
The words landed heavily.
No one spoke.
"He was injured during his last voyage," Eren continued. "A bullet… it pierced deep. At first, it didn't seem fatal. He survived. He returned."
His voice tightened.
"But after that… his condition began to worsen."
The red-haired boy frowned.
"But he looked fine," he said. "When he addressed everyone—"
"No," Eren cut in. "He wasn't."
His fists clenched.
"Only a few know the truth. Even I didn't… not at first."
Henry's mind flashed back.
The balcony.
The captain's presence.
That subtle… unnatural feeling.
Now it made sense.
"I found out by accident," Eren said. "I tried to spy on him. I thought he was hiding something from me."
A bitter smile appeared.
"I was right."
The room remained silent.
"No one knows what the illness is," he continued. "Not even the best healers. They couldn't identify it."
Henry frowned.
"Then how do you know the plant will help?"
Eren reached into his coat and pulled out a folded letter.
"This."
He placed it on the table.
"It arrived weeks ago. No name. No origin. Just… information."
Henry leaned closer.
"The symptoms described in the letter matched my father's condition exactly," Eren said. "Whoever sent it knew what this illness was."
"And the cure?" Henry asked.
Eren nodded.
"A decoction. Made from a plant that grows only on the Island of Miradur."
The weight of the mission became clearer.
"Did you meet the sender?" the red-haired boy asked.
Eren's expression darkened.
"No."
A pause.
"They asked us to meet them… at a remote region in the sea."
Henry's eyes narrowed.
"The fourth commander," he said.
Eren nodded.
"He led the fleet himself. It was too important to ignore."
The room held its breath.
"But it was a trap," Eren continued. "When they arrived… the informant was already dead."
A heavy silence fell.
"The last piece of information was sent before their death," he said quietly. "It reached us… just before the fourth commander fell."
No one spoke for a long moment.
Everything connected.
The commander's sudden mission.
His death.
The urgency.
Henry exhaled slowly.
"This isn't just a mission," he said.
Eren shook his head.
"No."
His voice was steady now.
"It's the only chance I have."
The red-haired boy looked between them, his usual confidence replaced with something more serious.
"So we're not just stealing a plant," he said.
"No," Eren replied.
"We're saving the captain of the Fire Pirates."
Silence filled the room once more.
But this time—
It wasn't hesitation.
It was resolve.