The city of Blume was one of the most important port cities in Shattercrown. This was due to the country's peculiar geography, consisting of five separate islands connected by government-built bridges reinforced by mystical and scientific means.
Ships were also used to transport people between the islands. Public and private ships were used, making Shattercrown's naval culture quite broad and diverse.
Blume was located on the southern island and was one of its main cities. Because of this, it was not uncommon for foreign ships to arrive at its ports. This was the case with the metal ship that was approaching its destination now.
The ship's enormous smokestacks spewed multicolored clouds of smoke due to the alchemical fuel used to power it. Although the ship was still an hour away from the port, Blume's coast was already visible in the distance, making the passengers on the deck eager with anticipation.
"Once again, we would like to express our gratitude for your timely assistance," said an elderly man in a captain's uniform. The gray hairs in his beard shook as he held a man's hand tightly.
The man he held was incredibly tall, his most striking feature, measuring over two meters in height. With his muscular build, he looked like an imposing tower. However, he had a simple smile on his face, making him seem more approachable.
"I didn't want to delay Nadia's trip," he replied affectionately. It seemed as if he were not accustomed to speaking the language of Shattercrown, but the old captain was already used to this, so he simply let go of his hand and patted the tall man on the shoulder.
"HAHAHA! I understand you. As a captain, I've also done many things to impress women. But you went too far by destroying that iceberg with a fire axe," said the old captain, looking several meters away at a woman in a black dress leaning on a railing.
With her brown eyes narrowed, she stared intently at the coast of Blume while her two drill-shaped, blonde pigtails swayed wildly in the sea breeze.
Apart from her figure, one thing stood out: the white witch's hat adorning her head, clearly indicating her identity. Because she was a witch, there weren't many people around her. After all, who knew how you might offend her with your attitude or actions?
Noticing the captain and the tall man staring at her, the blonde woman turned around and looked at them. She ignored the old man, not caring about him at all, and focused on the other man. With a smile on her lips, she waved to call him over.
"Come, Robert. Let me show you something interesting," Nadia said, causing Robert to look at the old man, who raised his eyebrows jokingly.
"Boy, if a witch calls you, you go to her without hesitation," the captain said with a smile. Robert could only give him an apologetic gesture before walking toward the woman.
"What's going on?" Robert asked Nadia. She had a mischievous smile on her face as she pointed toward the horizon, specifically the city of Blume, which was getting closer.
"Look, we're about to meet Séraphine. Imagine her face when she sees me 'invading' her territory! Hahahaha!" The witch began to laugh dramatically, putting the back of her right hand in front of her mouth. She had an arrogant expression on her face, and her drill-like hair tails waved vigorously.
Robert simply shook his head, knowing he couldn't interrupt his partner when she was like this. He understood rivalries; he was, after all, a gentleman familiar with feuds.
But what was going on between Nadia and Séraphine was more like a girls' fight than a serious rivalry. He couldn't understand how his older girlfriend could act so childishly.
Seeing her boyfriend's expression, Nadia stopped laughing, clicked her tongue, and dropped the subject. She leaned on the railing and watched the ocean pass by. However, she did not remain silent.
"That iceberg wasn't normal. Or rather, it shouldn't have been there," she said lightly. The content of her words made Robert's muscles tense up and put him on alert.
He may have been a knight from the Iron Continent, but he was smart, and he quickly understood the subtext of what Nadia had said. Glancing around, he noticed that they were somewhat isolated from the other passengers. He decided to continue the conversation.
"I suspected it at the time, but I dismissed it because the sea between Shattercrown and the Iron Continent usually has this kind of phenomenon, especially now that winter is approaching," Robert explained, causing Nadia to snort in annoyance and wave her hand.
"I know! The oceans are changeable and turbulent, but the appearance of this iceberg is unusual. Even... I feel like the ship itself headed straight for it." The witch looked at her boyfriend, but due to their height difference, she had to look up.
"You know what that sounds like to me?" the blonde asked with a slight smile, showing her teeth like a predator.
"There are many possibilities, ranging from human error to deliberate action. There are many motives, but I feel like you're ruling out the worst ones, right?" Robert asked. Nadia nodded before turning around and observing a couple of figures who, like them, were alone.
They seemed to come from the Eastern Continent, judging by their facial features and clothing. One of them was a tall man with long black hair and eyes to match. He wore a white tunic and had a strangely ethereal bearing.
Adding to his temperament, he had a folding fan, which he constantly waved. However, Robert noticed that the fan was made of metal and had a sharp edge. Therefore, it was not only a tool, but also a weapon.
The other person, a woman, was much more colorful and cheerful than her companion. Her particularly 'striking' appearance attracted more attention.
This was due to her tanned skin and blonde hair with pink tips that was tied back in a ponytail with a metal pin adorning it.
She was also wearing a short skirt and a partially buttoned shirt that showed off her voluptuous body. This attire made her stand out from the other passengers, who were much more modestly dressed.
However, Nadia and Robert paid attention to her because they had tried to act during the iceberg event. Due to their heightened senses, they also noticed that the woman and her companion were Resonants, people capable of using the ether.
"Do you think they've noticed?" Robert asked, watching the man with the fan closely. Feeling his intense gaze, the man turned and made eye contact with Robert.
"If they're smart, yes. If I were you, I wouldn't trust the ship's crew too much. Luckily, they haven't thought of trying to poison us," Nadia said, causing her boyfriend to nod in agreement.
"I don't think anyone can slip poison into your food," Robert said, shrugging his shoulders as if that detail weren't important.
"You're giving me too much credit. It's just the result of my research. If Séraphine studies the immaterial aspect of human beings, then I study their material aspect. If I weren't a witch, you'd have to call me Dr. Nadia." The blonde puffed out her chest with obvious pride, making the gentleman smile.
"I think we should talk to them. Don't you agree?" Robert asked quietly. Nadia pursed her lips before lifting her chin in a quick movement.
That wouldn't mean much to others, but he understood that she had given him her approval. He approached the couple he had observed earlier, who seemed ready for this encounter.
"Oh, it's our hero! You look really big up close," said the tanned girl, openly looking Robert up and down, her eyes shining with lust.
"Stop joking around. It looks like he's here for something serious," said the black-haired boy. He rolled up his metal fan and hit his companion on the head with it. The woman suddenly changed her demeanor and looked seriously at the visitor.
"I noticed the sharpness in your eyes when I made that joke, swordsman?" the tanned woman asked, causing Robert to nod. This brought a smile to her face.
"So there are three swordsmen on this ship," said the man, who began to fan himself, gently stirring his hair with the breeze created by his movements.
"I'd like to invite you both in. My partner has come to some conclusions that might interest you," Robert said bluntly. With his imposing stature, anyone unfamiliar with the situation might think he was threatening the couple.
"I suppose, as a witch, it was normal for me to notice the oddities of this ship, wasn't it?" said the woman, narrowing her eyes as she glanced sideways at the ship's crew, who were going about their work as usual.
"Witches and wizards are sensitive to those things, but we have our abilities, too," said the black-haired man before closing his fan again. He was no longer in the mood to relax.
The three walked over to Nadia, who was still watching the city of Blume with a mischievous smile on her face. When they were all together, she made a gesture consisting of placing her two index fingers on her ears.
A pulse of ether emerged from her body, covering the area around the four of them. Although it faded quickly, the spell's effect remained for the other three, who realized its function.
"Now we can talk freely without anyone listening in. I love magic," said Nadia in a singsong voice. She wrapped her arm around Robert's, which made their height difference quite obvious.
"Magic is really convenient. I've met a witch, and her spells are useful. But shouldn't we introduce ourselves first? I'm Nara Nanami; the surname comes first," said the tanned woman as she gathered her blonde locks and tucked them behind her ears.
"Wang Yun. Same as her, the surname comes first," said the black-haired man, fanning himself again with his metal fan.
When it was his turn, Robert bowed slightly and said, "Robert Mackey, at your service." Then, the trio's attention fell on the witch. Living up to her reputation, she put one hand on her hip and posed while still clinging to her partner's arm.
"And I am the stunning Nadia Gustav!" When she said her name, a small feeling of camaraderie was created between them. However, one of them had a much richer internal reaction.
Upon hearing the witch's name, the corners of Nanami's lips froze for a moment before returning to normal. However, her mind became chaotic at that very moment.
"Nadia Gustav! Isn't she Séraph's supposed rival? I've heard so many complaints about her that it's strange to see her in person. The world is so small," thought the tanned woman before paying attention to the others present.
"We're already very close to Blume, so if there are people who want to cause trouble, I doubt they'll jump again. But the city will probably become more chaotic in the future." After listening to Robert and Nadia's hypothesis, Yun pondered for a few moments before answering.
"However, people who do this kind of thing are sectarian. You have to be careful with those people because you never know what they might jump on," he continued, blowing air out of his mouth to help him think better.
"You're right about that. Although there are many different sects and cults, they all act similarly and always cause problems for some reason," Nanami added, frowning slightly at the complexity of the issue.
"Should we wait for them to make a last desperate attempt? I prefer that to them holding back so we can root them out before they cause more trouble," Robert commented. His point of view caused both Yun and Nanami to nod in agreement.
"Don't worry. I doubt they'll do anything. The pressure imposed by a witch like me will make them realize it's useless," Nadia said, sounding proud. Her boyfriend touched her shoulder, drawing her attention.
"Don't let confidence blind you, Nadia," Robert whispered. The blonde rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue, not taking the matter seriously and not wanting to respond to his comment.
"Due to the laws, our weapons are not with us. We must come up with a strategy, at least. After all, I doubt we're on this ship without alternative means of attack." Yun showed the metal fan in his hand with a mischievous smile on his face.
The other three present were puzzled for a moment. Wasn't it just an ornament to fan oneself? But soon, they sensed a change in Yun's temperament, which became sharp for a few seconds before returning to normal.
"I knew that thing wasn't just an ornament! Then let me show you my own option." Nanami giggled and brought her hand to her hair, untying her ponytail.
She ended up holding the long metal pin she had used to style her hair. She let her dyed hair flow freely. Surprisingly, it was quite long.
She skillfully waved the pin, causing the wind to whistle due to the power and speed of her movements. Having both shown their alternative weapons, Robert simply showed his fist.
"As a knight, I am well-versed in unarmed combat. I consider myself quite good at it. Luckily, Nadia has something of mine stored in her hat," he said. This prompted his girlfriend to remove her hat and rummage inside it.
She soon pulled out a hand weapon known as the "Wild Fist" due to its origin in the Wild Continent. Consisting of four connected metal rings, the object's shape suggested that it was meant to be placed on the fingers.
Nadia carefully placed the weapon on Robert's fingers, and it fit perfectly. The silver metal was engraved with intricate lines, which amazed Yun and Nanami because they realized the object was enchanted.
"Damn, that thing must have been expensive," Nanami asked curiously, moving her face closer to Robert's fist to get a better look at the alchemical circuits carved into the weapon.
"It seems that your destruction of the iceberg wasn't just luck," Yun commented admiringly, knowing it would be difficult to replicate that feat with only an iron fan.
"Actually, it didn't cost me anything. I recently won it in a knights' tournament on the Iron Continent. It only has one enchantment, but it's perfect for me," Robert said with a smile. He used his free hand to stroke the metal knuckles of the Wild Fist.
"From what I can tell, and I'm no alchemist, the enchantment on this weapon simply increases the impact of blows. With arms like yours, I have no doubt you hit hard~," Nanami said, flirting with Robert in a deliberately sensual tone. The man's cheeks turned a little red, but Nadia protectively stepped between them.
"Stop right there, you slut!" Nadia growled, tapping her foot on the ground. She even channeled ether from deep within her soul, causing a slight distortion in the air.
Although she was quite a bit shorter than Robert, the others didn't tease her because an angry witch was no small matter. Nanami, however, simply blinked several times playfully before shaking her hair.
"It's just a compliment!" Don't get angry, little witch. You look really beautiful when you frown." This time, the tan girl complimented Nadia, leaving her unsure of how to respond. She looked away slightly as a blush appeared on her face.
"How exasperating you are," the witch said with a smile, despite her annoyance. The ether boiling beneath her skin calmed down.
Thus, Nanami managed to dispel the slight discomfort within the group. They would not only have to act together to withstand a possible threat, but they had also forged the beginnings of a lasting friendship.