It was their first day at Arkenheilm, surprisingly calm and silent.

Calista was awakened by the sound of soft snoring coming from beside her. Outside was the crashing of waves and chirping of birds, which wasn't like her hometown. In the nation of Ravenbourne, she'd usually hear people's chit-chats from the market.

She realized that she had slept soundly last night despite being tired from her journey earlier, she immediately realized that Darius was sleeping beside her. His eyes were still closed as his arms were still around her, trapping her in an embrace.

The sunlight peeking through the window shone on their faces, bringing light into their bedroom.

Calista slowly opened her eyes and found herself gazing at the person laying next to her. Their faces weren't far apart because Darius always slept facing Calista. She could almost feel the heat radiating from his body despite the cool room.

Darius's eyes fluttered open as if he sensed the shift of Calista's gaze. When he saw her awake, his eyes softened, causing Calista to gulp and averted her gaze immediately. After clearing his throat to compose himself, Darius grabbed the pillow he was lying on and brought it closer to his chest.

"Morning, love," he said as he buried his face in the pillow.

Calista remained silent and Darius peeked over the covers when he received no reply from his lover. He immediately sat up in alarm before noticing that Calista was still wearing her shoes and walking briskly toward the door.

Her hands on the glass, she took a sip of water and looked out the window in silence. With just one look, Darius walked up behind her and gently put his hands around her hips. She was too deep in thought to notice him. She snapped around in surprise when Darius tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. Calista's cheeks flushed bright pink in embarrassment.

"Didn't mean to sneak up on you," Darius softly smiled, his tone filled with sincerity. "Now, what's on your mind, love? You seem tense."

"I'm just worried," she replied after a couple of seconds.

Darius frowned worriedly. "I figured you are. Were you worried that the leader of Arkenheilm would eventually end up with a judgment like Everfrost?"

They gazed intensely into each other's eyes for a brief moment before Calista finally broke eye contact and nodded, her stance stood still as her expression is filled with worry.

Darius tightened his grip on her hips a bit before loosening his hold a little. "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll come to some sort of agreement. We can reason it out with them."

"I hope you're right," Calista mumbled under her breath before pulling away from the embrace, softly kissing Darius on his cheeks and giving him a glance. "Are you hungry?"

"I can call the others and we can join them for breakfast," she continues as Darius nods and lets go of her. He then saw Calista going out, possibly telling the crew.

While Calista was preoccupied, Darius took the chance to sit down and take in everything he knows so far

Infrastructure made of stone and bronze. The castles were built with silver and gold. The citizens' attires are made with the finest silk. The ships were constantly combat-ready and loaded, much larger in size than the ships that Everfrost had made.

Arkenheilm was more advanced among the three nations. Riches and knowledge, they excel at both. Instead of swords, they wield guns. Some still use swords but most of them are only for emergencies like running out of bullets or sudden attacks they weren't prepared for.

Which rarely happens.

Arkenheilm was always prepared. Always set for other solutions if their initial plan fails to meet their expectations. They were trained to do so by their leader, Arsen. That's what is making this more nerve-wracking for them.

They don't personally know Arsen. They're new to this nation. The crew doesn't even know if the nation was wary or uninviting to new visitors. If Elysaria had protocols to follow, that would mean that their leader must be strict than the ones in Everfrost.

Darius' thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Calista finally came back and asked him to follow her downstairs, with Aloysius right behind her. They both exchanged looks before finally seeing the whole crew downstairs with some food.

It had seemed like the crew was waiting for them for quite some time now. It was hard not to have the nervousness eating away at their guts while everyone else is chatting with each other. Calista tried her best to hide how worried and anxious she really feels but there was a certain air of tension in the air.

No one dared to mention it.

Even Darius felt a little uncomfortable, but he managed to act like nothing was wrong. He knew that the crew was just getting used to the nation. After the encounter that had happened with Everfrost, most of them were cautious. For him, all of this seems like a normal reaction.

Darius decided to let them be like that for a bit longer. As long as they were all well-rested, things should be fine. For now.

The three finally went to sit down at one of the tables, asking the man at the counter for food. The bearded man, who Calista assumed was the innkeeper, nodded and went back to prepare some porridge just like the rest of them.

Aloysius and Darius then exchanged looks and asked the innkeeper if they have any meals with meat and fish. The innkeeper nods once more before telling them he'd serve after he got them the porridge.

As the innkeeper was about to leave, a voice rang.

"And could you give these visitors a glass of ale? Two wines, port, for me and Arsen as well."

The crew turned their heads towards the woman who had said that. It was Elysaria, her eyes scanning the room before finally taking a seat next to Aloysius. Her hands pushed the long red coat as she sat while Aloysius only took a sip of his water.

"You do drink, don't you?" Elysaria raised an eyebrow at them as Aloysius nods.

"We do. We just didn't expect..." he then trailed off, not wanting to seem ungrateful. Elysaria noticed this and just nods.

"I see. Well, Arsen had finally arrived earlier. She's at the dock and will be here shortly. We just need to ask you some questions but we, the nation of Arkenheilm, welcomes you folks," she said before she saw the wine glass on the counter.

She then excused herself to take the drinks. After a minute, the door opens. There stood a woman with a blue cap and long blue coat. The lines in the sides of her clothing coated in silver. She had a dark straight and shoulder length cut, her eyes reflecting the color of the deep shallow ocean.

Elysaria's emerald eyes took one single glance at the woman and bowed.

"General."