The Moonlight Swordsman



The moon rose as the sun set, bathing the water in its ethereal light as the night took over from the day. Its bright rays bounced off the water and lit up the seafloor. 

As the group stood on the deck, they could feel the arrival of their mythological destination, the "Beast Kingdom," getting closer and closer. 

*Yawn*

Aizel opened his eyes slowly, rousing himself from a restful nap. He stretched lazily, raising his arms to the ceiling, and felt the strain leave his body.

As he pushed himself upright, his fingers unconsciously went for his tangled hair and gave it an even more disheveled appearance.

The door creaked open under his gentle push, revealing the vibrant world beyond. Stepping out onto the deck, his eyes scanned the scene before him. 

There, in the distance, he observed the rest of the group, their gazes fixed upon a specific point on the vast ocean horizon. 

"And here I thought, I have to send Daisy to wake you up," Zareena said, after watching him finally come out of his room.

"Have we reached there yet, or will it take more time?" Aizel questioned her instead while stretching his arms.

"We have reached. Now that you are here, we can leave the ship now." She replied.

"Group up around Raven."

The princess gave the order, and the group quickly gathered in a circle around Raven.

Zareena's golden leaves shimmered into existence, twirling gracefully around their figures. 

The leaves were gaining speed until a soft force nudged them forward, defying the pull of gravity. Now that their feet were free to float in the air, they began to rise.

Meanwhile, Raven summoned a dense black veil that enveloped their airborne formation, shielding them from prying eyes and cloaking their movements in secrecy.

"With this veil, no one will be able to sense it or see us if we fly high in the sky. We can now enter the Beast Kingdom easily." Raven said.

"I hope we won't meet any Grade V mage," Edumont commented.

The princess directed her gaze toward the swirling golden leaves. 

The leaves obeyed her quiet command, accelerating their erratic journey. With a burst of energy, they propelled forward, soaring through the sky like a golden comet among the clouds.

Time seemed to blur into one continuous fabric as the party ascended higher and higher into the vastness of the sky. As the wind carried them closer to the mythical border of the Beast Kingdom, they were able to see the port town of the kingdom.

"Remember from now on, we are in the seafolk territory." Zareena reminded.

Everyone in the group immediately changed out of their institute robes into other clothing.

Aizel, ever vigilant and prepared, draped himself in a sleek black assassin's robe.

The group rose high above the busy port town, their presence hidden behind Raven's black shroud. 

The town lights below glowed like faraway stars, their importance diminishing as the explorers moved farther into the unexplored kingdom. 

They were going to a place far from any other people, where they could land secretly.

The group landed gently in the middle of a thick forest, off a winding trail that led away from the busy town. 

Their landing hardly rustled the leaves. The shadows generated by the thick treetops gave the impression that they had arrived stealthily. 

With cautious anticipation, each member extended their mana senses, reaching out into the surroundings to detect any hidden presence that might lurk nearby. 

"Now that we are here, let's head back to town and rent a room for ourselves. 

"We will rest today and wait for tomorrow to gather information," Zareena said, and everyone nodded.

The princess stepped forward imperiously, her demeanor radiating self-assurance and resolve. She led the way with grace and deliberation, like a lighthouse guiding the others. Slowly but surely, everyone began to move in her direction.

We have to agree on one thing, Sekki?"

[Which is?]

That the princess is not like other princesses who live in their castle and wait to marry some prince or rich noble. 

She is totally different from what I have seen and read in my world. I hate to say this but she is a good leader," Aizel thought.

[Don't tell me Master, this quality will impress you, and you will slowly fall in love with her]

I will rather prefer being alone in my life."

As the group journeyed for hours, the landscape gradually transformed, leading them to a town nestled along the southern coast of the kingdom. 

Stepping into the town, Aizel's keen eyes took in the familiar sights. 

He saw buildings and streets that looked very much like those in the Felgura Kingdom.

However, it didn't take long for him to notice the distinct difference: the people.

There were so many different kinds of people and races there, he could tell them apart just by looking at them.

Giant-like goblins, some with two heads and others with three, towered over everyone else. There were also wolf-like entities that exuded a wildness about them and feline beings that moved with the grace of cats. 

Aizel also saw kobolds scurrying about with their diminutive frames and beastmen whose animalistic characteristics blended seamlessly with their humanoid shapes. 

There were also humans in town, but they were a tiny minority compared to the many different kinds of people who lived there. 

Now this truly feels like fantasy, "Aizel thought.

The group followed the princess stealthily through the busy streets, their hoods hiding their identities.

Leading them to a modest inn tucked among the vivid tapestry of the town, owned and run by a human mage.

Aizel noted that the inn was an appropriate size for the group as they entered. Patrons were almost all humans, and their chatter filled the establishment. 

There was a nice restaurant off to the right where diners could hear the clink of their glasses and smell the delicious fare they were enjoying.

"How can we help you, madam?" The receptionist asked.

"We want two big rooms, each big enough to accommodate four people inside," Zareena replied.

"Sure, just give me a moment."