[Nala, Llyniel, Leira, Sera, Ella, and Halime's POV]
The six girls sat on board the Draconia Battleship sailing East in a meeting room with a few sofas they could relax on. While there, the tannoy sounded to life with the captain's voice, "Sailors! A storm is incoming, and we must make it through to save the king! Hold on tight."
When Ella heard this, she told the girls to be careful, but Nala questioned, "Won't the ship protect us?"
After speaking, everyone looked at the lion girl, who shrugged, "I don't use ships to travel; I've only been on two, including this one," she explained.
The others giggled, but Leira commented, "So what's the Orientia Continent like? I've never been there."
Before anyone could reply, Sera questioned, "What people make up the continent?"
Ella was the one who answered, "It is made up of four empires and many kingdoms, fox demi-humans, black dragons, tiger demi-humans, and nomadic orcs that room the Green Sea, which is a massive grassland that covers a lot of Orientia."
The five girls nodded, "Anyone hostile toward Archer and Draconia?"
"No. Aisha told me the kingdom trades with the fox and tiger demi-humans," the half-elf answered. "We shouldn't have problems with the realms, just the monsters who roam the land."
Everyone nodded in understanding. The snake girl Halime was about to speak but was cut off by the boom of thunder. This made some of them jump, but then they rushed to the main deck.
When the girls arrived, they witnessed a vicious storm building above. The sea was starting to become rough, and the air was thick with the salty tang of the ocean. The wind howled with an unsettling intensity.
Dark clouds loomed on the horizon, swirling and growing as they watched. The approaching storm was unlike anything they had ever seen. Nala, her lion ears twitching nervously, gripped the railing tightly.
"I've never seen a storm like this," she admitted, her voice barely audible over the wind.
Then the wood elf Llyniel remarked, 'Something beneath the water is causing this; I hope Kassandra's group is safe.'
The others nodded in agreement. "Demetra, Kassandra, and Teuila are skilled in the deep sea," Leira noted, "but I'm concerned for Hemera, given her affinity for sun magic."
With the storm intensifying, the group retreated inside the ship as the sun set, exhaustion creeping in. Ella and Nala remained awake, exchanging concerned glances. The lion girl commented, "Will Archer be okay?"
Ella looked at the blonde girl and nodded, "Yes, he'll be fine once we get back to Draconia with the ingredients Lucrezia will create."
The half-elf witnesses Nala's relief as she sighs before replying, "That's good. I wonder where they're getting all this poison."
''I'm sure it has something to do with the Terravain magic. Luce believes they are targeting his mana due to being a white dragon," Ella revealed. "She said once he wakes up, his anti- Venom skill will be leveled up, allowing him to fight the poison again."
The unexpected sight shocked her. Such monsters were unfamiliar to her, and their unsettling movement sent chills through her. The monster's eight legs left holes in the wall while it scuttled down the building.
It was black with red stripes running down its legs and body, but what caught her attention, even more, was the upper half of a human woman with jet-black hair and eight beady eyes
that watched her.
Sia poised herself to strike, but just then, a woman's strange voice reached her keen ears, "All hail the Al-Maseeh At-Tinyan. His wife has finally found us! The legends were true!"
That's when the spider monster approached and knelt as much as the creature could, "Where is he? Al-Maseeh At-Tinyan must be with you!"
Sia was confused but shook her head and assumed the creature was speaking about Archer. "He's dying. The swarm poisoned him, and his wives will heal him. That's all I know."' The humanoid spider woman stiffened, "They poisoned him? Who attacked him!"
Just as Sia was about to reply, the tattoo received a message that shocked her. It told her that Archer was dying due to poison, but the girls had split up while looking for the ingredients, and a group of them had to raid the Verdantia Continent for Holy Leaf.
When Sia heard this, a smile appeared, causing the spider to grab her by the arms as it spoke, "Something has happened? Your expression just changed."
Sia nodded, "My sister wives are searching for the ingredients to help cure him, but they are all found in dangerous locations."
The spider didn't respond but just looked at her. This caused Sia to question, "What is this Al- Maseeh At-Tinyan you speak off?"
That's when the monster shook her humanoid head and replied, "The spider goddess foretold that he freed our cousins and has helped them thrive in a new realm. We've been waiting centuries for his arrival."
Sia's eyes widened, 'Is there something he isn't involved in? Or are the gods up to their games
again?'
She shrugged as the spider spoke, "Wife of Al-Maseeh At-tinyan, come to our home, and you'll be safe. Many powerful monsters linger in this city."
"Another wife is resting; we must get her before leaving," Sia remarked, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil. "Anyway, what's your name?"
"Shila, My Lady," the spider woman replied with a slight bow. "I will call for aid to help with
the other one."
As she spoke, Shila emitted a peculiar sound that sent shivers down Sia's spine. Moments later, more spider creatures emerged from the shadows. Shila began speaking in their language, and when she finished, they all knelt before Sia, a sign of respect and allegiance.
Following that, Sia led the spider people to where Mary lay sleeping. As soon as Shila saw the gray-haired woman, she let out a piercing scream. Alarmed, Sia turned to the spider woman and asked, "Why are you screaming?"
Sia then noticed that all the spiders were pointing at Mary in unison. Shila's voice trembled as she spoke in a shakey voice, "A devil of the dark."
[Sorry for the one chapter today. I have family coming over for my birthday, so I won't be able to write the usual two. Will be back to normal tomorrow]