Before long, a dirt-smudged young boy was brought in to join Ivan and the others’ team.
Baron Karl had someone inform the people on the ship.
On the deck of the dark ship, an apprentice dressed in a gray robe stepped out, standing behind the railing and looking down at everyone from a high position.
This gray-robed figure brought an inexplicable sense of oppression, causing the youngsters not to dare look too long.
Ivan also looked solemn, feeling this person was very dangerous. If there were no other apprentices on board, this person must have been the murderer of Old Orio.
“Come up.”
“Hurry up, remember to listen well and train well, do not cause trouble for Mr. Eckerz and Lord Lahr, understand?”
The gray-robed figure nodded, Baron Karl gestured for Ivan and others to board first and sternly warned them.
“Understood, Baron,” said one of the eight tested for sorcerer potential, a noble-born young man named ‘Laurie’. Laurie was the first to step onto the black vessel.
The others followed closely behind him onto the deck of the dark ship, including Ivan.
Apart from the gray-robed person, there were three others on deck, dressed like explorers, likely crew members or guards of the ship.
Rosyth and the others also reached the deck, and the two groups of youngsters stood on opposite sides, clearly divided.
With the gray-robed person not speaking, no one dared to make a rash move.
“Take them to where they should go.”
Ivan and the seven other people were led towards the rooms on the first level of the deck, whereas Rosyth and his group would enter the cabins below the deck, the difference in status and treatment was obvious.
A little green winged snake flew down from the second floor, its gaze sweeping over the two groups of people before settling on Ivan.
“Hey Rosyth, I didn’t expect you to actually come. Welcome aboard the Dark Lahr.”
Ivan was still wondering if he would encounter that winged snake magic pet from the other day.
Exactly what he feared had come to pass!
He awkwardly smiled, nodded slightly in greeting, and secretly his heart jumped to his throat.
Somehow, he felt this magic pet was even more dangerous than the gray-robed apprentice, as could be surmised from the previous title used by the baron.
On the other side, Rosyth thought he had heard wrong and was somewhat dazed and confused.
The little green winged snake chuckled, “Go on, the Dark Lahr is about to set sail. We’ll talk more once we arrive at Lahr Island.”
Hearing this, Ivan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed a crew member, everyone entering a larger bedroom from the stern with a door but no windows.
The most conspicuous thing in the bedroom was a large communal bed placed against the wall, similar to a heated brick bed, with both ends leaning against a wooden wall. The bed was topped with neatly piled blankets, and opposite it was a long table made of planks. Apart from that, there was nothing else, not even chairs.
As expected, this was the room where they would stay during the voyage.
Among the group of eight were many nobles’ children, quite a few of whom frowned upon entering, but out of the gray-robed figure’s imposing force, no one dared to utter a word of complaint.
Laurie stepped forward, standing opposite everyone, “Laurie, my name is Laurie Regoli, from the Regoli family. Since we are going to be fellow apprentices, I think it’s necessary to get to know each other, to facilitate communication.”
“Laurie is right, I am Finkel, Finkel Moore, from the Moore family.”
“Glen, from the Touchatt family.”
“Charlene, from the Martin family.”
Three young men and a young lady, all from noble families, spoke with a bit more confidence.
Seeing that no one else spoke, Laurie looked puzzledly at the girl in the green skirt, “Justine, it’s your turn.”
Justine, having no interest in Laurie, retorted with a pout, “Justine, from the Glatton family.”
Ivan had heard of the Glatton and Regoli families, both of which were nobility within Flying Fish Port, the former a Baron and the latter a Viscount, both officials in the governmental office. The other three families were likely nobility from outside of Flying Fish Port.
Laurie said, “What about you all?”
“Ivan.”
“Thomson.”
“Fe—Feyen.”
Like Ivan, the remaining two were commoners, evident from their attire. The nobility’s children dressed more elaborately, their decorative items with crests often inadvertently showing off.
Laurie nodded in satisfaction and continued, “Now that we all know each other, I, Laurie, am very pleased to meet you all. Being far from home with no support, I think it is necessary that we unite and help each other—-“
“Cough, cough.”
Ivan coughed loudly, interrupting Laurie’s grand speech.
He really didn’t understand what Laurie was thinking, putting on a leader’s airs as if he was mimicking the elders at home during a banquet, trying to pull some people to his side.
“The ship is about to move, let’s all find a spot to avoid any conflicts,” he suggested, glancing over the large shared area and choosing a spot closest to the door.
Seeing him act so dismissively, Laurie wasn’t happy, and snapped, “Wait, you’re Ivan, right? Don’t you know it’s rude to interrupt someone before they finish speaking? Where are your manners, or is it that commoners have none?”
Ivan didn’t indulge him, “That’s enough now. I presume everyone understands what’s going on here; each of us has an uncertain future, struggling to protect themselves, let alone help others.”
Moreover, were they really important direct descendants of noble families, they wouldn’t have been put on the ship. These people were merely expendable, trying to act more important than they were.
He looked around at everyone; no one showed a surprised expression, indicating they all knew somewhat of the dangers of this trip.
Justine also found him disagreeable and chimed in, “Exactly, still not thinking of keeping quiet here? Don’t bring trouble upon us if any problems arise.”
“It is because of the danger that we need to stay united, only with strength can we combat—combat—-” Laurie naturally wouldn’t speak his true thoughts, trying to argue but unable to articulate clearly, some things he dared not say outright.
No one was interested in hearing his long-winded lectures.
Everyone chose their places, and Justine, indifferent to others’ surprised looks, quickly secured a spot next to Ivan.
“Ow.”
The docks of Flying Fish Port, with the movement of a giant turtle’s limbs, the dark ship stirred up waves as it began to depart from the eastern shore.
On a bulwark outside the dock, the four siblings of the Marichadon family watched this scene unfold as the dark ship embarked.
“Brother Ivan is leaving.”
“Yes, when he comes back next time, he’ll be a sorcerer.”
“I really hope Ivan comes back safe.”
Peggy suddenly looked up at Beaman, her words sounding as if it would indeed be hard to return safely. Was there some great danger?
“Cough, cough.” Aware of his slip-up, Beaman quickly explained, “I mean, the sea journey isn’t safe, there are sea beasts, storms, and the possible run-ins with the ferocious Sea Race—I mean, it’s just a possibility, only a slight possibility.”
The more he explained, the more it seemed like Ivan was facing a life-and-death ordeal.
This only made Peggy even more worried, and she hung her head in sorrow.
Beaman slapped his mouth, cursing his slip. He sought help by looking over at Paul, who was staring at the departing dark ship, lost in thought, and didn’t pay attention to their conversation.
Beaman glanced at Sean briefly before skipping him, turning his head to look toward a nearby corner, knowing Leider was standing there.
Ivan did not let them send him off; in truth, his family had followed him out after he left the house.
“He’s gone.”
Hearing Paul’s words, Beaman and Peggy looked over to see the dark ship disappearing into the end of the sea.