The days passed as fast as they came, time was just a concept now—Fin was drowning in the routine of it all. He technically knew how much time had passed but didn't feel it, his hands were callused now even though it took a lot of time for the hands of an awakened to look like that, his skin had been dried by the salty winds of the sea—he had not been able to take a shower since he came on the ship, he wanted one more than anything right now.
As soon as this thought came in his mind he realised that he had become posh, before the Godfall he used to take shower very sporadically if not at all.
"I need to be tougher" he mumbled.
He then grabbed his mop and cleaned the ship with double the intensity that he had before, and in the blink of an eye the part that he had to clean was done. He then looked at the people that were at the academy with him, they all looked broken, tired and hopeless.
"How did they survive their first trial if only that little breaks them?" he whispered
He then let go of his mop and prepared for his spotting shift, but before he could go on the high mast to do his job Harrow interrupted him.
"Hey no name. Captain wants to see you."
"Me? What about my shift?" Fin questioned why did the captain want to see him. In truth he had not seen Elevated Lysander since the day of the departure.
"How should I know. And I'll take your shift—just go already" Harrow did not look pleased with the fact that he had to do someone else's job, but he had to.
"Okay"
Fin started to walk across the ship to the captains quarter, he did not run—not because he was not in a hurry but because he had learned the hard way that you should not run on a ship except if you absolutely have to.
The wind was picking up again, slapping at his uniform like it was trying to shake him off the deck. He kept his head down and moved through the maze of ropes, barrels, and sailors barking orders at one another. The whole ship felt alive with motion—like it never slept. Like it was always just on the edge of something.
He'd never been to the captain's quarters before. No one had. Not unless they were called. It was a place whispered about during quiet meal hours, the kind of place you didn't ask to go. You were summoned. Like prey.
Fin reached the reinforced door—blacker than the rest of the ship, with steel brackets etched in old runes and a small brass plate engraved with a single word: Elevated.
He knocked once. The sound was eaten by the wind.
A pause. Then: "Enter."
The voice was unmistakable. Deep, steady, controlled like a blade still in its sheath.
Fin opened the door and stepped inside.
The quarters were... spartan. No bookshelves. No luxuries. Just a massive desk bolted to the floor, maps nailed down at each corner, and a single window behind it—round and rain-streaked, framing the endless grey sea. On the walls, two weapons hung like paintings: a longsword and a flintlock pistol. Both immaculate. Both used.
Lysander stood beside the desk, arms crossed, looking at a map that was far too big to only be decorative.
"Awakened Fin," he said without looking up. "Good. You're on time."
Fin stood a little straighter. "Reporting as ordered, sir."
"Why do you think you are here?" he asked
"I don't know sir." He responded instantly
"The first reason is rather simple, it's pay day" he paused handing him an envelope " the second one though is more complicated. You see I read your file, you have no family and you have been in a coma for five years only joining the Academy recently right?"
"That is correct."
"That brings me to my question. What do you really know about this world or at least this continent ?"
"Well, I don't know much," Fin said. "Didn't go to school much before the Godfall. My father wasn't exactly the kind of man who valued education."
Lysander didn't react to that. Just turned slightly, eyes still fixed on the map.
"Most people your age know about the first war. The one we lost. But knowing it happened and understanding it are two different things."
Fin stayed quiet.
"You've probably heard all the same stories. Ardun was proud. Ardun was strong. Ardun fought with honor. But the truth is simpler: we weren't ready. The Dominion outmanned us, outmaneuvered us, and bled us dry. We signed a ceasefire because we had no choice. And then the Godfall hit, and no one had the strength left to pick up the pieces."
Fin watched him closely now, unsure where this was going.
"Since then, we've been pretending we're still the same kingdom. Still that same Empire. Dressing the wound in flags and medals, trying to act like we're in control. But we're not. Not really. We're holding on by the edges. And the only reason we still have edges is because of people like you."
Fin frowned. "Awakened?"
Lysander nodded. "The war changed. No one fights clean anymore. Now it's essence and blood. And those who can use them are the only ones worth deploying."
There was a long pause. The only sound was the ship creaking around them like it disapproved of the silence.
"And me?" Fin finally asked. "Why am I here?"
"You're here because you survived your Trial," Lysander said. "And because someone, somewhere, thinks you might survive the next ones."
He pulled open a drawer and slid a thin envelope across the desk. "Mission folder. You leave in four days. Recon unit. Two others. You'll be briefed tomorrow night. Harrow will take over your shifts acting immediately"
Fin looked at the envelope but didn't reach for it.
"If I fail?"
Lysander shrugged, like the question barely needed answering. "Then you'll be replaced."
No threat. No drama. Just fact.
Fin exhaled slowly. "Understood."
"You're dismissed."
He turned and left the room, envelope in hand. Outside, the wind hit harder. Or maybe it just felt that way now.
Whatever came next wasn't going to wait for him to feel ready.