Luka stood in the middle of the pack of people. He was smiling, waiting for two specific people to show up, his arms loosely crossed as his eyes scanned the crowd.
Looking around, he made occasional small talk with passing soldiers and mages alike, exchanging nods and brief, friendly remarks.
'Ah, there they are.'
Luka's gaze softened as he spotted his beautiful wife, Celest, gracefully making her way through the tall grass, hand in hand with their young son Adam. Her radiant smile and Dark Black hair amplified her beauty.
'Oh, isn't it my lovely wife and son,' Luka thought, a smirk creeping onto his face. 'It seems they are a little late, though. It doesn't matter; it's not like I can be mad at my wife. Hahaha.' Luka let out a silent chuckle, which didn't go unnoticed by the man beside him.
"Lord White, why are you chuckling?" a man asked, raising a brow.
Luka turned to him, still wearing a small smirk. "Just seeing my lovely wife and son approaching. That should account for everyone, then?"
"Yes, sir. We can depart."
"Alright then. Javier, you will lead everyone to the ship," Luka instructed before striding toward the approaching figures. "And as you know, I will be protecting my wife as usual."
At the back of the crowd, Adam and Celest waited patiently. As they stood there, the people in front began parting left and right, creating a clear path. Luka emerged from the crowd like a king, his broad smile glowing in the afternoon sun.
"How are my lovely wife and son doing?" Luka asked as he approached.
"We're doing fine, dear. Are we leaving soon?" Celest asked with a soft smile.
Without hesitation, Luka pulled her into an embrace, holding her close.
"We will be leaving now. Javier will be leading everyone so I can focus on protecting you two," Luka said, directing a proud smile at Adam.
"Well, my lovely wife, why don't you enlighten me on why you're showing up late?"
Adam watched as the lighthearted reunion took a sharp turn. Celest's face twitched in response to Luka's teasing words.
"Well, can't I spend time with our son and teach him some magic?" Celest said coolly, a flicker of irritation in her voice.
"And would you like to enlighten me on this kind of magic?" Luka asked, his grin only widening.
"I was teaching him how to use a storage ring. Are you interrogating me, honey?" she replied, a smirk playing on her lips.
'This unbelievable man... why do I even love him?' she mused internally.
"Oh, storage magic, you say? But I know you've taken a liking to our son, yet you've completely neglected my nighttime needs, my dear wif—"
In a flash, Celest's leg shot out and struck Luka square in the crotch. He dropped instantly, both hands flying to his injury.
"AAAAAA. Fuck, that hurt!" Luka groaned, curled up on the ground.
Adam froze in shock, subconsciously shielding his own crotch in sympathy.
'I know that hurt. I couldn't even see that kick. And I thought Celest was all flowers… she's got a monstrous side too.'
Celest loomed over her fallen husband, her smile unchanged but her eyes sharp and deadly.
"My foolish husband, you know we are surrounded by other people—and a child, no less, than our own."
Some in the crowd couldn't suppress their laughter. The sight of the mighty Duke Luka White bested by his wife was an amusing one.
"Cough." Javier cleared his throat loudly to cut through the laughter.
All eyes turned to him.
"Everyone, we will be leaving now. We've been away from our families and friends for a year. It's finally time to leave this death continent and go home."
Javier's words were simple, but they sparked cheers of joy and relief throughout the group.
"Yay! Let's leave!" "I can't wait to see my wife!" "Finally, we're off! I bet we'll get to eat some real food once we meet up with the ship!"
With spirits high, the group began their journey. Adam stayed at the rear, walking alongside Luka—who had finally gotten back on his feet—and Celest.
Over the next few hours, they carefully made their way through dense forest underbrush. The tall trees swayed gently in the evening wind, and the canopy allowed golden light to stream through in scattered patches.
Adam walked with a growing sense of wonder. Celest continued her cheerful chatter, talking to him non-stop about plans for when they returned home.
"Sweetie pie, when we get back home, we'll go shopping for some clothes for you. Oh! And maybe some sweets too."
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
"Everyone, be on guard! Heavy footsteps approaching!" Javier shouted.
The group halted instantly. Swords were drawn, and they fell into a circular defensive formation, weapons pointed outward.
BOOM.
From the shadows, tall, greenish-gray monsters burst forth. Their faces resembled grotesque pigs, with snouts and tusks. Their bodies were mountains of muscle and rage.
"Orks!" several shouted in unison.
Adam stumbled backward and nearly fell, but Celest's hand reached out and caught him.
'Did they say Orks? Those things are tanks!' Adam's face paled.
"Don't worry, honey. We've got this," Celest whispered, her voice a balm that soothed Adam's fear.
The front lines clashed with the orks. Steel met flesh. Sparks flew. Warriors fought with discipline, cutting into weak points. Spells erupted—flames, bolts of lightning, and chilling frost—all striking with deadly precision.
It was over in minutes. The orks, despite their size and power, were overwhelmed.
Their massive corpses now littered the forest floor, blood soaking into the earth.
"Seems everyone is fine—no major injuries. Good. Store their bodies in your storage rings. We don't want to miss our ship."
In practiced movements, soldiers collected weapons, ears, and other valuable parts before storing the corpses.
The march continued, and Adam's thoughts raced.
'Wow, I can't believe that really happened. Real orks attacked us—and they were utterly crushed.'
As evening deepened into twilight, the twin moons began to rise in the darkening sky. The sun dipped lower behind the treetops, casting golden and purple hues across the clouds.
Finally, they emerged from the forest into a vast open clearing. Before them stretched a broad beach of soft white sand, and beyond it, a glittering ocean. The crystal-clear water shimmered like a mirror, reflecting the last light of the sun.
Anchored at the shoreline was a colossal ship.
It stood proud and regal, like a monument to ancient sailors and untold stories. A wooden galleon, likely more than a hundred feet long, with a hull of deep mahogany reinforced with silver-lined iron bands.
Three enormous masts loomed skyward, their rigging gently swaying in the coastal breeze. Carvings of dragons, sea serpents, and celestial symbols ran along the rails and bow.
Rows of cannon ports dotted the lower decks, and atop the stern stood a captain's balcony, polished and ornate. The sails—though currently tied down—were off-white and bore signs of age and experience.
A large flag fluttered from the tallest mast, bearing a crest of a silver phoenix on a crimson field.
"The ship seems to have arrived a little early," Luka observed.
As they approached, it became clear the ship was eerily quiet. The anchor was lowered, and the boarding ladder was down, but there were no crew members visible.
'Why does it seem so empty?' Adam wondered.
"I'll go up first," Javier declared. "No idea why no one's greeting us, but I'll check."
He climbed the rope ladder swiftly. As his head crested over the edge of the ship, a grinning man appeared.
"Welcome back, Javier. You're late."
"AAAA!" Javier nearly lost his grip.
"You old bastard! I could've fallen!" he barked.
The man laughed heartily as more crew members poured out from hidden doors, filling the deck with activity.
"All clear! Just some jokers trying to scare me. Get onboard, everyone!"
People laughed and shook their heads as they began climbing up.
Within moments, the deck was alive. The crew moved with purpose—hoisting the anchor, adjusting sails, and taking their positions.
Adam stood quietly on the deck, watching it all unfold.
The breeze tousled his hair, and the salt of the sea tickled his nose. The vessel began to drift from the shore, the sails billowing.
And just like that, they set off for Magna Frisia Kingdom—Adam's new home.