Later that day, the ships finally set sail. Arthur and Aziel stood at the porthole in their cabin, watching as the coastline slowly receded into the distance. The massive engines of the warship thrummed beneath their feet, a constant, rhythmic vibration that seemed to pulse through the very bones of the vessel.
The ocean stretched endlessly before them, its surface catching and reflecting the dying light of the day like scattered diamonds. Seabirds wheeled and cried overhead, following the ships for a time before eventually turning back toward the safety of land. Arthur found himself mesmerized by the sight—he had never seen so much water in his entire life, and the sheer vastness of it was both beautiful and slightly overwhelming.
