The mayor's house was one that still held the significance of the past within it, it was a home that Zedlis and Eliza's mother grew up in before their father found her and married her into royalty. It was carefully restored by Zed and Eliza themselves when she decided to live there, it now blended a rustic charm with quiet elegance, it reflected both its history and the royal touch that renewed it.
Lore had no choice but to go in with her head held down, she felt like she didn't belong with strong leaders after she failed as one herself. She was led to the living room of the beautiful home, it was surrounded by plant-like engravings on the walls and refurnished furniture done by one of the master craftsmen in the kingdom, Zed had already sat down and Eliza was right beside him. His expression and mood had changed inside the house as he had only family to face. His face was pale, his shoulders slumped, and his eyes were hollow, like within, he was vacant. Despair held him, but Eliza's presence clearly eased it.
"King Zedl…" Lore began before she was interrupted by Eliza.
"Dear… no formalities are necessary in this home."
"Uh… right…" she said, blank as Soran brought her a tissue to wipe her still streaming tears.
"Please sit." He added. She walked toward a comfortable couch on the opposite side of Zed and Eliza, placing her lance next to the chair as Soran sat by her right. Between the four of them, lay a table with an apple pie made by Eliza herself. It was Zed's favorite since they were children. A source of comfort for them really.
"Lore…" Zed finally spoke.
"Yes, Zed-san…" she answered.
"I'd like you to get stronger…" he raised his head to look her straight in the eye, she felt the tension in how serious it was and her tears dried up as a result.
"I know… I must…"
"Kal too, Qete as well, this kingdom has stayed in peace for generations, but it seems new threats are arising, and their business isn't just in the Eastern or Western seas, the South… the Calm Gale Sea has new problems, and I don't think it will be the last time something like this occurs."
"Zed…" Eliza began. "About the cheetah's head that Trogan's knights brought me…" Lore's heart was pierced yet again… she sullied herself deeper into the couch and her tears reactivated. Everyone had their eyes on her as they noticed it.
"I'm sorry, my dear…" Eliza comforted her.
"It's okay… please go on…" she sniffled. They paused for a moment before she continued.
"The drift used to create them… it wasn't from here."
"What??" He asked.
"It isn't from anywhere near Zephro, I don't think it was anywhere in the Calm Gale either…"
"What??!!" He urged.
"There's more…"
"WHAT??!!"
"Calm down… we will know if she comes anywhere near here. The cheetah's head still had her drift flowing through it, even after you beheaded it. With that, Qete and Naja helped me set up beacons with this drift's signature should they come near us again."
"Who would be that powerful??" Lore asked… wiping her tears a second time.
"The world is massive, Lore-chan… it consists of great continents that spread across the whole world," Soran began.
"And the continents split the world into four different seas with hundreds of thousands of islands. That much I know." Lore added.
"Yes. We are in the Southern sea, the Calm Gale. To the North, lies the Northern Drift. These two seas are believed to be the most calm out of the four, due to Shiun's lighter effect on them." Soran added.
"Shiun??" Lore asked.
"Yes.
(紫雲) Shiun – The Resonant Veil of the World
It is known as the energy that binds the current world together. It is the reason for why different islands are held in different time-periods, different climates, and even unnatural phenomena. However, it is less abundant here than it is in the Setting Tide, to the West, and even worse, the Fractured East."
"Shiun is quite abundant in those ends of the earth, causing more rough and near impossible phenomena happening on their seas and the islands there." Zed continued. "However, it also breeds strong people due to the harsh conditions and continuous hunt for survival. Only the strong can survive there."
"Still…" Eliza spoke. "Such a power is too strong to exist in the Calm Gale. If Alloy encounters her…"
"She will manage, we left it up to her to save her." Zed said. "And she won't do it alone…" This statement brought confusion to Lore's eyes.
"Brother Zed… that was why you gave her a guild mark… wasn't it??" Soran said.
Lore, shocked, had her mouth wide open. "WHAT??!!" She exclaimed. Clearly noticing that she was the only one who wasn't in the loop of what was going on. She faced Zed and Eliza.
"That's how you sent her off??!! With a guild mark??!!" She urged.
"Zed-san… why?" She asked him. Still in shock.
"It was the only thing she wanted, she always said she never wanted to be alone… she wanted to find her parents her whole life here, when Ivy arrived, it was easier on her… she was still a fledgling to go out into the sea, as she grew, so did her determination, I was to make her wait till she turned eighteen… but Ivy's now gone. No one could hold her back from saving her, even if we imprisoned her, I couldn't live like that."
The atmosphere in the room changed to a sentimental melancholy driven by the natural need to never want to be completely alone, each one of the members of the family along with Lore had either had such an experience before, or they were living it right in that moment. They all related, and most of the shock Lore experienced with the news was replaced with remorse for a father.
She sunk herself into the couch again, coming to grips with what Zed felt.
"So, that's why…" Soran chuckled, leaving his face with a smile across it.
"Why what?" Zed asked.
"When you left Alloy with me, we spoke about a few things… but she left me with a message for you."