Chapter Eighteen: The Enchantress of the Sea

After listening to Hughes and learning the basic knight breathing technique he taught, Bors threw himself into relentless training. Hughes often accompanied him, acting as his sparring partner. Although Bors's attributes hadn't increased much, his swordsmanship had improved significantly. Life aboard the ship was rarely dull; many had already formed small groups, each minding their own business.

"Beep! Bors Elrin—Strength: 1.3, Agility: 1.4, Constitution: 1.3, Status: Healthy."

After more than ten days of training, Bors had gained 0.2 in strength and 0.1 in agility. He was keenly aware of the changes in his own body and persisted in his regimen. Even Leah had joined their training sessions.

Time passed quickly; ten days slipped away, and the ship drew ever closer to the Academy of Wizards. Yet Hughes grew increasingly uneasy. He was certain that Wizard Charlie’s words carried hidden meaning and weren’t spoken lightly.

Crack! Crack! Lightning flashed across the sea, accompanied by torrential rain. The sky, clear only moments before, was now overrun by a sudden storm. Towering waves, several feet high, battered the hull. Though some mysterious force dissipated the waves near the ship, the drifting vessel still filled everyone with anxiety.

In the dim world of storm and sea, a massive sailing ship drifted alone across the endless expanse. The ocean, majestic and wild, surged under the storm’s influence. Deep below, shadowy figures stirred, sending up sprays of water as they raced toward the Extraordinary.

No one dared set foot on deck in such a storm. The sky was so dark, the ship’s masts seemed to pierce the clouds, and flashes of lightning added to the foreboding atmosphere. All aboard kept to their cabins, waiting out the tempest.

Hughes listened to the howling wind and thunder, his unease mounting—as if something important was about to happen.

Then, a haunting song drifted through the storm, touching the deepest cords of his heart. The melody was gentle, ethereal, as if carried from a great distance. It fell into Hughes’s soul like moonlight, stirring emotions he couldn't name.

Gradually, the song changed, growing faster, more insistent. Hughes felt as though he were slipping into another world, an inexplicable force urging him to sleep.

Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream tore through the night, shattering the song and jolting Hughes awake.

"I—just now…" Hughes quickly realized he had fallen under some kind of spell.

"That song—could it have been a siren?" Memories of stories he’d read on Earth surfaced: creatures luring sailors to their doom with enchanting songs.

"In a world with wizards, surely sirens exist too!" Hughes shivered. If not for that scream, he might have been lost.

His expression changed. "A scream—something’s happened outside!" He leapt to his feet.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Hughes! Hughes, are you in there? Are you alright?" Bors’s anxious voice called from outside the door.

"It's Bors!" At the sound of his friend’s voice, Hughes opened the door immediately.

"You’re here, Hughes! I thought something had happened to you!" Bors sighed with relief. If anything had happened to Hughes, he wouldn't have known what to do.

"What’s going on, Bors? What happened?" Hughes asked urgently.

"I don’t know—someone started singing, and I just drifted off until a scream woke me up. A lot of people came out to look, but nothing seemed wrong—except there’s something following our ship, not far behind."

"As I thought," Hughes muttered. Things were definitely more complicated than they seemed.

"Let’s go see for ourselves."

Together, they headed for the deck, where many others had braved the rain. People were pointing out toward the sea.

Hughes and Bors squeezed into the crowd and saw, not far off, ripples moving through the water, following the ship's path.

"What are those things?" The stormy sky and distance made it impossible to see clearly.

Hughes looked around—the deck was filled with those who had passed the test, but the four wizards were nowhere to be seen, not even the usually present Wizard Charlie.

"They can’t possibly be unaware of this. And if it really was sirens just now, then the scream must have come from one of the wizards. Why don’t they show themselves? What’s going on?" Hughes tugged Bors’s sleeve. "Let’s find Leah."

They made their way to Leah’s cabin and found her huddled with her little group.

"Hello! I’m Laura Marks, and this is my sister, Zoe Marks. You must be Leah’s brothers, Bors and Hughes—I’ve heard so much about you! It’s nice to finally meet you." The elder sister, fair-haired and blue-eyed, introduced herself and her sibling. They looked remarkably alike, and their warm smiles were instantly charming.

"Chip!"

"Beep! Laura Marks—Strength: 1.9, Agility: 2.0, Constitution: 1.7, Status: Healthy."

"Beep! Zoe Marks—Strength: 1.8, Agility: 2.1, Constitution: 1.7, Status: Healthy."

"These two are no ordinary people," Hughes concluded, noting their impressive stats.

He glanced at their gentle faces and delicate demeanor, then at Bors, and couldn’t help but suppress a wry smile.

"Something may happen here soon. The three of you should stay put. I’ll keep to the second deck if I can, but please look after Leah." Hughes fixed Laura with a meaningful gaze.

Laura’s and Zoe’s eyes flickered, their composure slipping. They realized Hughes had seen through them.

Catching Hughes’s gaze, Laura felt a chill run down her spine. She was certain that if she refused, the man before her wouldn’t hesitate to kill them.

"Of course! We’re Leah’s friends, and friends look after each other, right, Zoe?"

"Yes, we’re friends," the sisters replied, voices slightly strained.

Leah, meanwhile, didn't understand why Hughes was speaking to Laura and her sister this way. All she knew was that Hughes would never harm her.

"The things in the sea are coming! They’re coming up!" someone shouted from outside.

"Let’s go see," Hughes said, leading Bors out.

"Big sister…" Zoe whispered to Laura as Hughes and Bors left, her eyes drifting to Leah.

Laura looked at her sister, then at Leah, biting her lip and shaking her head.

Returning to the deck, Hughes and Bors saw that many people had armed themselves, ready to face whatever was coming.

"We should stick together," said a voice.

Hughes looked up—it was Brad Ruskin.

Seeing Hughes hesitate, Brad continued, "We’re better off in a group. Whatever’s in the sea has been following us—it’s bound to show itself. Those four wizards surely know, but their absence means they don’t intend to act. So let’s join forces."

"Alright," Hughes replied, moving to the ship’s rail.

He noted the absence of Norman Cohen, no doubt hiding with his loyal sidekick.

Hughes had no intention of hiding; better to band together and stand a chance than be hunted down, one by one, in their cabins.

He peered over the edge. The shapes in the water were circling the ship, ready to strike.

"What are those things? Can the chip scan them?"

"Beep! Unable to scan."

"What?" Hughes frowned. This was the first time the chip had failed him.

"Unable to scan—could it be the power of the extraordinary? If so, no one aboard stands a chance but the four wizards."

"Damn!" Hughes hated this feeling of being prey, stalked by unknown dangers.

"They’re coming up—everyone, get back!" someone shouted.

With a great splash, the creatures that had trailed them in the water surged upward.