A few days passed. Endless walking in solitude wasn't exactly pleasant. Vael tried to ignore it.
Eventually, he reached Elkmarrow. A naval city, big on exports and imports.
Elkmarrow could be classified as one of the most unique cities on the continent—perhaps even in the world.
Firstly, it was in the north, where the cold made agriculture hard. Borderline impossible.
Next, Elkmarrow was located in disputed territory. During the war, both kingdoms and rebels seized it back and forth like children fighting over a toy.
Finally, it was exceptionally large. However, it depended entirely on commerce to survive.
Vael chose not to bother with guards and backstories. He blinked past the gates, undetected, and melted into the crowd.
The city was alive, in sharp contrast to the silent wastelands behind him. Fishmongers shouted over each other to sell their catches. Dockhands hauled crates from ships that reeked of salt and sweat. Somewhere nearby, a bard strummed a tune that couldn't be heard over the chaos.
Vael pulled his hood lower, the weight of exhaustion pressing on his shoulders. He wasn't here to make friends, or to linger. He needed one thing: a ship headed east.
He wasted no time and headed straight to the docks. Spotting a lone fisherman, Vael chose to approach him.
The man was in his early thirties. Still young, but not inexperienced. Made him perfect.
"Excuse me, sir. Where is that ship headed?"
The man turned around.
Based on his reaction, Vael could guess just how out of place he was.
The man followed his finger. A cargo ship, wooden yet resilient. The Blue Ichor.
"That one, huh? That's the Blue Ichor. Headed straight for Travasli, Vasulina."
The ship was already leaving.
"Thanks."
Vael wasted no time, and blinked once in the air, and once more, landing on the ship's deck.
The fisherman's eyes were wide open.
"Teleportation?" he breathed, almost reverently.
Vael didn't answer. He was already walking across the deck, blending with the crew as if he belonged there. None of them had seen him arrive—too busy hauling ropes, shouting orders, keeping the ship steady as it sailed into the open waters.
For now, he was just another shadow aboard the Blue Ichor.
Headed to a new beginning.
The trip went smoother than expected. Most sailors were either manaless, or too weak to pick up on Vael's mana.
The only real struggle was getting food, but that could be done in the cover of night, by teleportation.
The ship housed about twenty-five people, making food plentiful. Enough that stealing a bit every day wouldn't be noticeable.
Boredom also set in quickly. Whenever Vael could, he would watch the sailors. The commanders. The fish.
He would also teleport inside the cargo hold, exploring the merchandise.
Most were just plants and herbs. The rest were metal goods or cloths. Nothing too crazy.
At some point, the lack of action had been too much. Vael snuck around the ship, entering the captain's quarters whilst he was away.
It was extremely basic. A small room. Just a bit of luxury, enough to separate him from his crew.
A polished desk bolted to the floor, maps pinned against the wall. An oil lamp still faintly warm. A half-empty bottle of dark liquor resting in the corner.
If there was one thing that stood out, it was a small glass bottle mounted on the wall. Inside? A miniature ship, sailing on water.
Vael wisely chose not to take it. He could get away with it, but an investigation might be launched on the ship. Who knew which direction that would go?
The rest of his days were spent in solitude. Until, on the twenty-ninth day, they arrived.
Vasulina. Up ahead.
Land, and on it? Tall rectangular buildings made of glass, stretching high in the sky.
Skyscrapers.