Level Up Legacy

Chapter 1261  A Potential Ally

Arthur watched the rest of the group hold each other back from lunging at the inspectors. Rain was escorted away from sight, which made her crew get restless. Although he could not see their faces, he could feel their emotions.

"This is all because of you, Alaric!" roared one of the young pirates as he pointed the finger of accusation. "You said this would work!"

"It always does, but random arrests were never uncommon," said Alaric as he held his chin in thought. "It seems like Miss Rain was targeted rather than arrested."

"Alaric is right," affirmed Arthur to the rest. "I have reasons to suspect that she was taken for reasons other than being a pirate. But do rest assured that I can save her at a moment's notice."

"Then, why don't you?" asked the old pirate with a frown. "You just told us to stand there and watch them take her away."

"Because I can free her whenever I wish," said Arthur toward the pirates, who seemed doubtful. In response, he raised a single palm. "I fought against the four empyreans, including the Empyrean of Force himself. Their combined forces failed to land a scratch on me."

His reverberating words shook the souls of the pirates. This seemingly ordinary young man was anything but that, and they could feel it in their bones. The scars on his eyes seemed not to limit his sight, but enhance it further to see a future where he prevails.

"Is there a plan?" asked Alaric with sparkling eyes, eager to uncover the mystical man's secrets.

"Our plan is to let them think they have the upper hand. They must have released us to learn what we want to do in Hikma, so expect constant monitoring from them."

"And what about Rain?" asked Diana in a rare sight of concern, which left a smile on Arthur's face.

"I created a connection with her that would let me learn of her whereabouts and state. She will be fine, having her own challenges to overcome."

"If this is the case, then we can enter Hikma. Your ship will be safe with my men, who will sell your merchandise as well to avoid detection."

"We will gather intelligence about the city's underworld," said a thin man from Rain's crew. "It will help us understand why the captain was caught."

"Then we can disembark and look for Deluge's whereabouts," said Alaric with a nod toward Arthur. The men rushed to work, and before long, the ship was anchored in a berth of the harbor.

Diana, Alaric, and Arthur left the group to begin their search. Although they should be monitored, it would not raise suspicion if they left their ship.

"Were you born in Sourna?" Arthur asked Alaric as the man was lowering his bags from the ship. "The story you told us about the origins of war is not a common one. Only people born here would know so much."

In order to fool the inspectors at the gate, Alaric told them the story behind West and East Sourna. The war between them seem to date a thousand years into the past, staring as rivalry between two brothers.

"Every sailor loves legends, and history is filled with them. Before being a pirate, I was a historian in one of the deserted cities of West Sourna."

"A scholar?" asked Diana with doubt, eyeing him from head to toe. She did not mean to be rude, but Alaric was the definition of a free spirit, almost intangible and ready to blow in the wind.

"Aye, m'lady. Many thought I was crazy," nodded Alaric with a grin. "There are two people who would enter the sea: mad men and adventurers. I happen to be both!"

Arthur could not shake the feeling that this man was a lot more than he let out, but he knew he did not carry any malice. But he was curious about his real identity.

"What do you hope to achieve, Alaric? What is your dream?" Arthur asked the young historian pirate the strangest question a person could ask, catching the man off guard. Alaric was surprised, raised his hat a little, but took a moment to answer seriously.

"I want to witness everything this world has to offer," said Alaric with an ambitious grin. "I was born to see this world."

Arthur and Diana were silent in response, which made the young man laugh awkwardly. As he mumbled something in embarrassment, he carried his bags away through the bustling harbor.

"What do you think about him?" asked Arthur as he turned toward Diana.

"I cannot explain it."

"Then just say it."

"I feel like he's like me."

"A multidimensional, gorgeous, and powerful woman?" asked Arthur with a grin, and he knew that it made her blush, although he couldn't see it.

"You are in a rather good mood even though your friend was arrested," she changed the subject, "aren't you worried about her?"

"I'm worried about whoever imprisons her. She will annoy them to death," laughed Arthur as he looked at Alaric turning to call for them. "How are the two of you similar, though?"

"It's a strange feeling," said Diana as she gazed at the man waving his hand toward them. "But it's almost like we both don't belong to this world."

***

As the flying boat unfurled its mast, the wind blew to guide it into the blue sky. Rain was handcuffed to the boat with several guards close enough to ensure that she would never escape.

"You can see your friends sailing away," said the female officer who arrested her as she pointed toward the ocean below them.

Rain followed her direction and looked down to see her ship cruising toward the harbor. Even from this distance, she could feel his gaze on her, which brought a sense of calm and a smile.

"You seem at ease for an arrested criminal," said the female officer with displeasure. Rain leaned back in her chair, her shoulders relaxing.

"I have nothing to fear, because I did nothing wrong," said Rain with a smile. "If I had to guess, you want something from me. That does not make me a criminal, but an asset."

"What makes you think that?" asked the officer while narrowing her eyes. "Don't overestimate yourself."

"I think I'm estimating myself just fine," said Rain with a shrug. "You did not state my crimes, nor did you arrest my crew. You want no trouble other than arresting me."

"You are a wanted criminal."

"Wanted for what?"

"You will know soon," said the officer with a smile as she turned toward the distant palace that hovered in the sky.

Rain turned toward the palace; an ominous feeling blooming in her heart. If they escorted her to prison, she would have been fine. But that floating palace belonged to no other than the Lord of Force himself.

"What do they want from me?"

"You don't get to ask questions," said the officer. "But you will learn everything soon."

Rain no longer felt the calm as she drifted away from her crew and friends. Instead, she felt threatened, alone, and a little bit disappointed that Arthur did not tear Sourna apart to save her.

What terrified her a little is that he could.

But she too knew that this was their best course of action. As long as they hid their intentions and Arthur being here in Hikma, they would still be ahead of Deluge, the royals, and the entire city.

Their flying boat navigated the sandy towers of Hikma, cutting a roundabout path toward the palace. Rain saw shimmering runes over the towers, scholars walking in the streets with their books floating behind them, and walking objects ­– lampposts, boxes, or clothes ­– that acted like humans.

"I never thought I would get to see that," muttered Rain as she looked at the moving objects. "I heard that people of Sourna mastered infusing their willpowers into force, or even their souls, turning themselves into inanimate objects."

"The souls of the departed never actually leave Sourna," said the officer with a proud smile. "They simply become a part of the Force that moves the city."

Rain tried to see more of this unusual phenomenon, but the boat flew higher into the sky. As they approached the floating palace, an invisible forcefield washed over them.

"I am Officer Zara, Chief Inspector of the Eastern Gate. Please grant us entry, almighty commander!"

Rain felt her breathing grow rapid as if something was crushing her chest. The forcefield seemed to deter anyone that entered its range. But after Zara announced herself, the force disappeared.

The gates of the palace opened for them, and the boat flew right inside. Rain found herself dragged in handcuffs through the sandy palace until she reached an ancient court room where three men sat inside.

"Officer Zara greets the Wise Men!" saluted the officer with Rain chained behind her. Then, she pulled on the chains and dragged Rain forward. "I have arrested the wanted criminal in the poster number two hundred fifty-two."

"Marvelous work, officer," said the old man sitting in the middle, wearing silver linen robes and jewelry. His skin was tanned and wrinkled, looking like a hardened pirate than a scholar. "You may leave now."

"As you command!" saluted the officer before turning around and leaving Rain with the three men. They inspected her with keen interest before one of them raised his hand, shooting a field of force that broke through her handcuffs.

"We apologize for how we brought you here, dear lady," said the old tanned man while narrowing his eyes in what seemed to be a smile. "It was never our intentions to antagonize a potential ally."