Chapter 1146: The Fleet Bound for the North

A human fleet unlike any before sailed across the distant seas toward ancient, uncharted lands. Powered by surging magical machinery that cleaved through the waves, the fleet was guided and protected by ancient deep-sea races and legendary dragons—an awe-inspiring sight that most believed existed only in the tales of bards.

Byron stood on the deck of the Winter’s Chill, gazing into the distance. The cold wind carried the briny scent of the ocean, a smell he had long since grown accustomed to, along with the overwhelming grandeur and awe that came from facing the endless sea.

Suddenly, the sound of beating wings echoed from above. Byron instinctively looked up and saw a massive black dragon approaching the deck like a dark cloud falling from the sky. Before it fully landed, the enormous figure shifted swiftly through the shifting light and shadow, transforming into a young man with short black hair, tanned skin, dark eyes, and a cheerful smile.

This was Mokorul, one of the “escorters” sent by Talrond to protect the fleet and guide its course.

The black dragon in human form stepped lightly onto the deck and came over to Byron, speaking in a relaxed tone, “We’re crossing the Eternal Storm Sea. Luck’s on our side—the weather’s been excellent all the way, and the sea conditions are good too.”

“The Eternal Storm Sea? The one with that terrifying storm?” Byron’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked around at the gently rolling sea under the breeze. Apart from some distant islands and reefs barely visible on the horizon, there was nothing else. “I don’t see anything…”

“That’s because the ancient power that once dominated this sea has completely dissipated, and the things that once stood here are no more,” the black dragon shook his head gently. His usually lighthearted expression grew solemn. “We’re now in an ancient launch site, where a fateful battle changed everything… but that’s all in the past.”

He lowered his gaze as if trying to peer through the layers of decks and cabins to the distant depths of the ocean. “Still, some remnants remain on the seabed—ancient ruins untouched by war, symbols of Talrond’s former glory. Perhaps one day, we’ll rediscover those ancient technologies.”

“To us humans with such short lifespans, that’s truly a distant history,” Byron shrugged. “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d never have guessed this world still hides so many forgotten secrets.”

“I heard you used to be an adventurer,” the black dragon smiled, curious as he looked at Byron. “I also heard that when you were young, you explored ancient ruins and searched forgotten forests for lost histories. Is that true?”

Byron paused briefly, a strange smile tugging at his lips. “Well… I was an adventurer, but in human society, adventurers and explorers aren’t the same. You understand?”

“Is that so?” Mokorul looked surprised. “I thought they meant the same thing… Sorry, I’ve never left Talrond before, so I’m not very familiar with human terms. What’s the difference?”

Byron thought for a moment, then shared a bit of hard-earned wisdom. “Simply put, adventurers risk their lives for money; explorers risk their lives for nothing and get no money…”

Mokorul’s expression turned thoughtful, and he casually asked, “What about those who want both money and life?”

“Those are the smart ones,” Byron straightened his ragged naval cloak and messy hair, speaking seriously. “They usually end up as admirals.”

…

The Ice Mary’s prow cut through the cold, choppy waves of the northern seas. Deep within the engine room, the low rumble of machinery filtered through multiple bulkheads and silencing runes, becoming a faint hum that drifted up to the deck. Leaning against the railing was an elderly man dressed in a black short robe and soft black cap, his eyes bright with excitement and anticipation as he gazed ahead. Beside him floated a heavy tome of parchment, and an unheld quill darted rapidly across its blank pages, leaving lines of text and symbols in its wake.

Footsteps approached from behind. A young woman dressed as an adventurer passed by, then paused curiously upon seeing the old man. “Old Modir… what are you up to now?”

“Can’t you tell? Observing and recording,” Modir replied without turning. “Noting every interesting detail we encounter on our journey and recording it accurately and promptly—that’s the basic skill of an explorer.”

“Is that so…? Too bad I’m just an adventurer. I don’t quite understand what you ‘explorers’ pursue,” the young woman said, waving a hand. “Just please don’t suddenly jump into the sea chasing sharks or take off flying to race dragons in the sky again… Although everyone on board now knows you’re a powerful spellcaster, please think of the ordinary crew members with fragile nerves. They’re not trained imperial soldiers like those on the Winter’s Chill.”

“Oh… yes, you’re right, Miss Lora,” Modir finally turned from the view outside and patted his head belatedly. “Don’t worry, I always go invisible before doing those things now.”

Lora’s mouth twitched. After spending some time at sea together, the adventurers aboard the Ice Mary had grown familiar with one another. Though not bonded by life-or-death battles, they were comrades in a large adventuring party. Over time, her initial awe and caution toward the powerful mage Modir had softened. Frankly, despite his occasional memory lapses, the old mage was easy to get along with—strong, yet without a trace of the arrogance or coldness typical of old-school wizards. Still, his unpredictable antics often kept everyone on edge.

As a self-proclaimed great explorer, Modir had done plenty of reckless things on this voyage—jumping into the deep sea when sensing a strange aura, suddenly flying up to fly alongside dragons in the sky. Honestly, if Lora hadn’t seen it herself, she’d suspect the old man’s main goal was to die halfway through the journey.

Suppressing some irreverent thoughts, Lora turned her attention to the floating tome beside Modir. As a seasoned hunter with decent living conditions, she had read some books before the empire’s general education reforms and considered herself one of the more learned among the burly adventurers. Yet as her eyes scanned the dense text and symbols on the pages, a wave of confusion rose within her—had all the books she read in her first twenty years been fake?

“What are you writing here…” Lora rubbed her eyes. “I can’t understand a single word.”

“Ah, yes, it’s not easy to grasp,” Modir chuckled, eyes sparkling. “I’m recording changes in the magical environment over the course of the voyage, the patterns of chaotic turbulence and disturbances in the upper atmosphere. This isn’t just random notes—you know there’s a team of scholars on board, right? They’re responsible for documenting weather and magical data for the empire’s ocean exploration project. I spoke with one of them recently; they really need my records. So, in a way, I’m serving the empire.”

Lora looked at the old mage with surprise. “I wouldn’t have guessed you have… what’s the trendy phrase? A strong sense of imperial civic duty.”

“Is that so? I suppose you could say that,” Modir scratched his white hair uncertainly. “I just feel I should do something for this country… some kind of… obligation? I seem to have a duty to do something…”

Suddenly, his eyes clouded with confusion, as if his fragile memory system had slipped into a loop. Something long forgotten but faintly imprinted in his instincts troubled him. Lora had seen this strange state before and quickly raised her voice, a little louder than usual, “Old man, you’ve been recording so much every day for so many years. Even if you never organize or compile it, it must already be an incredible work, right?”

Modir seemed to snap out of it instantly, smiling and shaking his head. “Calling it a work might be an exaggeration. I’m not the type to write books… but I have recorded a lot in my life. See this thick book? It’s already full…”

His voice faltered mid-sentence as the memory lapse returned. His brow furrowed as he muttered to himself, “I recorded many things, I remember… there was a record I lost, seems like it was lost many, many years ago… It contained many great adventures, but I think I lost it…”

Watching Modir slip into a daze again, Lora couldn’t help but speak up once more, “Old man, you…”

“Ah, no need to shout, young lady,” Modir turned to her with a faint smile, his eyes clear again as he waved a hand gently. “Thanks for your concern, but I’m fine. I’ve lived like this for so many years… Maybe I’ve lived too long, and my memory’s a bit faulty, maybe even my soul’s a little off, but overall, I’m okay. At least not so bad that a junior like you needs to worry.”

He exhaled softly, as if calming restless, hollow memories. Lora looked into his eyes for a long moment before hesitantly asking, “I heard… you’re heading to Talrond to find something?”

“Oh yes, I mentioned it to Mr. Azkar on the ship,” Modir smiled gently. “I’m going to Talrond to find something… something very important to me.”

“How could you have lost something in the land of dragons?” Lora said in disbelief. “That place was once cut off by the Eternal Storm on the other side of the ocean. No mortal creature can freely come and go there—only dragons.”

“I don’t know. I don’t remember anything,” Modir shook his head slowly and said, “I don’t even know what exactly I’m looking for, or where that… thing was lost. I just have this feeling that I left something incredibly important behind in Talrond… I have to go back and find it.”

His voice was slow but resolute, carrying a stubborn determination that seemed to come straight from his soul. The blazing sun poured down from the sky, and at that moment, the bright sunlight seemed to penetrate the old mage’s very being, making his entire figure appear faintly translucent. Through him, one could almost see the vast seascape stretching behind—

Rola’s heart skipped a beat. She blinked quickly, only to find that the vision had vanished like a mirage. The old mage stood there plainly, solid and real—no longer hazy or ghostlike, and certainly no sunlight streaming through a semi-transparent body.

…

On the continent of Talrond, along the shattered coastline of the southeastern shore, the newly built Seaside County basked under the endless daylight.

The red dragon Karador stood on a small floating island hovering just outside the city, squinting as he watched the sea and the shoreline for any signs of movement.

A newly erected wall encircled the residential area safely set back from the coast. Built from massive stones fused with molten metal, it lacked the intricate grandeur of the old palace walls and towers, but under the sun’s rays, it revealed a rugged kind of beauty. Compared to the hastily assembled “shelters” made from ruins and debris in the past, these walls were at least thoughtfully planned and properly constructed. Thanks to a recent influx of labor and freshly quarried materials from nearby islands, the walls were sturdy and orderly—true fortifications, not just piles of junk thrown up to block the wind.

At this moment, the hunting parties had already set out to sea, the warriors tasked with clearing the wildlands around the town had yet to return, and the dragons responsible for building homes and leveling the land were busy at work on the open fields at the edge of Seaside County. Not a single member’s time was wasted, nor was any energy squandered on trivial matters.

Karador withdrew his gaze from the town and suddenly felt a deeper understanding of what it meant to be “alive.”

This was an experience dragons had never known before, something unimaginable during their “cradle period.” It was hard, it was harsh, full of challenges and hardships, yet…

Labor could change the environment. Effort could secure one’s survival. The founding and upkeep of Seaside County required the contribution of every member of the tribe. Every individual had value; every bit of hard work had meaning.

This was truly what it meant to be alive—not always beautiful or easy, far from the romantic ideal, sometimes even painful—but… living was good.

(Recommended book: I Just Want to Be Self-Reliant, an urban realistic story about a protagonist who, after reincarnation, refuses to live off his family’s wealth and chooses to build his own path. I rarely recommend this kind of genre, but it’s been a while since I last did, so here you go.)

(End of chapter)