Echoes of Fate: Isaki

Isaki hurried along the dock, his heart racing with anticipation. The ship bound for Moirai, the Seafang, loomed ahead, its masts towering against the fiery sunset. The last few cadets were boarding, and he could hear the low hum of conversation and excitement in the air. He adjusted the strap of his bag on his shoulder and picked up his pace. This was the moment he had been waiting for, the start of the next chapter of his journey.

As his boots thudded against the gangplank, he caught sight of a cluster of cadets gathered on deck. They were all facing the center, where a tall, broad-shouldered man with a thick beard stood, his navy coat adorned with gold trim. His presence commanded attention, and the cadets quickly fell silent as the captain began to speak.

"Welcome aboard the Seafang, cadets!" the captain's voice boomed, carrying easily over the sound of the waves lapping against the hull. His eyes swept over the group, taking in the mix of eager and nervous faces. "I'm Captain Dravos, and I'll be taking you across the seas to the region of Moirai. This ship's one of the fastest in the fleet, so rest assured—you're in good hands."

Isaki glanced around at his fellow cadets, seeing their expressions shift from excitement to curiosity as they listened. The Seafang was impressive. The deck was polished wood, gleaming in the fading sunlight, and the sails flapped gently in the breeze. Ropes hung from the masts, creaking with the rhythm of the ship as it swayed ever so slightly in the harbor. The smell of saltwater mixed with the fresh wood of the ship, creating an atmosphere both invigorating and calming.

"We'll reach the region of Moirai by tomorrow morning," Captain Dravos continued, his voice steady and confident. "Our destination is the city of Lachesis, one of the four great cities of Moirai. It's known for its history, its warriors, and its role in military strategy, so you'll have plenty to learn once we arrive."

"We'll be traveling through the night," Dravos went on, "so you'll be spending the night here on the ship. Each of you has been assigned a cabin, where you can rest and prepare for what's ahead. Dinner will be served in about three hours, so until then, feel free to explore the ship or settle into your cabins."

The captain motioned to a crew member who began handing out keys to the cadets. "Your cabin numbers are marked on the keys. You'll be sharing with another cadet, so get to know your roommate. The sea's calm tonight, so you should have a smooth sail. I'll call for dinner when it's ready, so enjoy your time aboard the Seafang."

With a final nod, Captain Dravos stepped back, and the crowd of cadets began to disperse, talking amongst themselves. Isaki took his key and glanced at the number: Cabin 14. He made his way below deck, following the narrow corridors lit by small lanterns hung on the walls. The ship groaned softly with the shifting of the sea, and the cool, salty air was a constant reminder that they were now on the edge of their journey.

As he reached Cabin 14, he pushed open the wooden door to find a small, compact room with two simple beds. One of them already had a bag tossed onto it, which meant his cabinmate had arrived earlier. Isaki claimed the other bed, setting his own belongings down and glancing around the cozy space. There was a small desk and a small porthole that offered a view of the sea, and the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against the ship was oddly comforting.

He sat on the bed for a moment, taking a deep breath. The reality of it all was sinking in now. Tomorrow, they would arrive in Moirai, and everything would change. But for tonight, he had a few hours to himself, and he wasn't going to waste them. Deciding to explore the ship, he stood, taking one last glance at his cabin before heading back up to the deck.

When he stepped back into the open air, the sunset had deepened into a rich array of purples and oranges, casting long shadows across the deck. The wind was cool against his skin, and the ship had already begun to drift away from the harbor, slicing smoothly through the waves. Isaki walked over to the railing, leaning on it as he stared out at the endless horizon. The sea stretched out in all directions, vast and mysterious, its surface shimmering like glass in the fading light.

For a moment, he was captivated by the sheer beauty of it all. This was his first time on a ship, and the sense of freedom was exhilarating. He could feel the pulse of the sea beneath him, the ship moving with a quiet power, and it made him feel small in the best way possible—like he was part of something much larger, something grand.

As he gazed out at the horizon, a cadet passed by him, pausing briefly to glance at the sea before continuing on. The boy had wavy, black hair and wore a crisp white shirt with simple pants. A dagger hung at his side, and his light violet eyes gleamed with a focused, almost calculating look.

Isaki hesitated for a moment but decided to make an effort. "Hey," he called out, "amazing view, isn't it?"

The cadet stopped, turning slightly to glance at Isaki. His eyes lingered on Isaki for a moment, as if measuring him, before he nodded curtly and resumed walking, not saying a word.

Isaki blinked, caught off guard by the cold response. Had he said something wrong? He frowned, feeling a bit foolish. Maybe the other cadet wasn't the social type, or maybe he had something else on his mind. Either way, Isaki felt an awkwardness settle in, and he briefly considered following him to apologize for the abrupt encounter. Before he could, though, two other cadets approached him, their faces friendly and curious.

"Hey, you're heading to Fate Academy too, right?" one of them asked with a grin.

"Yeah, I am," Isaki replied, turning to face them.

Rael and Lian approached Isaki with casual smiles, their steps light as they walked beside him. "I'm Rael," the taller of the two said, his eyes bright with curiosity. "And this is Lian," he gestured to the cadet at his side, who gave Isaki a nod in greeting.

"Nice to meet you both," Isaki replied, trying to shake off the awkwardness of his previous encounter.

"We noticed you looked a bit lost in thought back there," Lian said, a teasing smile on his face. "Don't worry, you're not the only one excited and a little nervous about Fate Academy. It's a big step for all of us."

Isaki chuckled. "Yeah, just taking it all in. First time on a ship, first time heading to Moirai."

"Same here," Rael said. "Though this isn't our first time trying to get into the Academy."

Isaki raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Rael and Lian exchanged a glance before Rael continued, his voice dropping slightly. "We're from the village of Valka, down south. It's a little place, just south of Delhi village. We tried to pass the third year of training last time... but we didn't make it."

Lian jumped in. "Failed it. But we gave it another shot this year and made it into the top 10 cadets from our village."

Isaki nodded, impressed. "That's an achievement. Most people would've quit after failing the third year."

"Yeah," Rael said, his expression darkening a bit. "But here's the thing—you're going to want to be careful once we get to Fate Academy, especially if you're from the south like us."

Lian nodded in agreement. "The cadets from Moirai, especially those from wealthy families, tend to make life difficult for cadets from the southern territories. They look down on us, treat us like we're not worthy of being there."

Rael's voice became more serious. "They're not just arrogant. They're strong. Really strong. The best from the Moirai region are trained from a young age with the finest teachers, and their families pour resources into them. When they get to the Academy, they're already leagues ahead. You'll see."

Isaki's heart raced at the thought. Strong opponents. That's exactly what he needed. His eyes sparkled with excitement as Rael and Lian warned him about the challenges that lay ahead.

"They sound tough," Isaki said, his voice calm but with a hint of eagerness that he couldn't quite hide. "But that's good. You can only become stronger by facing strong people."

Rael and Lian exchanged another glance, surprised by Isaki's reaction. They had expected more concern, maybe even fear, but the glint in his eyes told them otherwise.

"You're not worried?" Lian asked, curiosity lacing his voice.

Isaki shook his head, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "No. The stronger they are, the better. That's the only way to get stronger yourself."

Rael scratched the back of his head, a bit taken aback. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But trust me, you don't want to underestimate them. Even the top 10 cadets from our village struggle against them. We southern cadets have to stick together if we're going to survive at Fate Academy."

Lian nodded in agreement. "It's not just about individual strength. The cadets from Moirai... they work in teams. They'll target you if they think you're weak or if you're alone."

Isaki listened, but inside, he felt a quiet confidence. He knew the strength he possessed, though he wasn't one to boast. He had reached the second level of Aura, a feat that few could accomplish, and he had already mastered powerful sword techniques like the Lunar Sword. But he didn't share any of this with Rael and Lian. Instead, he just smiled at their warnings.

"I appreciate the advice," Isaki said, his tone friendly and reassuring. "But I'll be fine. We'll all be fine if we just keep getting stronger together."

Rael studied Isaki for a moment, sensing something different about him, but he couldn't quite place it. "Well, as long as we've got each other's backs, right?"

"Exactly," Isaki replied.

Just then, the sound of a crackling speaker interrupted their conversation. The captain's voice echoed through the ship. "Attention, cadets. Dinner will be served in the dining hall in five minutes. Please make your way there. Again, dinner will be served in five minutes in the dining hall. Thank you."

The three of them glanced at each other, smiles creeping across their faces. "Guess that's our cue," Lian said with a grin. "Let's go before the food's all gone."

As they made their way to the dining hall, Isaki couldn't help but notice the cadet from earlier—the one with the black hair and violet eyes—standing alone by the railing, gazing out at the sea. For a brief moment, Isaki considered going over to him again, maybe trying to start another conversation. But something held him back. Perhaps that cadet wasn't looking for friends, or maybe he just preferred to be alone. Either way, Isaki decided to let it go and continued on to the dining hall with Rael and Lian.

The dining hall was bustling with activity. Cadets were already gathering around the long wooden tables, the air filled with the scent of roasted meats, fresh bread, and seasoned vegetables. The low hum of conversation filled the room as everyone settled in for the meal.

Isaki, Rael, and Lian found seats toward the back of the hall. As they dug into their food, the conversation flowed easily between them, filled with shared stories of their villages and training experiences. Isaki enjoyed their company, though his mind occasionally drifted back to the challenges that lay ahead at Fate Academy. The excitement of facing stronger opponents still burned brightly within him.

After finishing their meal, Rael stretched and let out a satisfied sigh. "That was good. Better than anything I've had in a while."

"Agreed," Lian added, leaning back in his chair. "We'd better get some rest before tomorrow. It's going to be a long day."

Isaki nodded in agreement as the three of them stood and exchanged goodbyes. "See you tomorrow," Rael said with a wave as he and Lian headed toward their cabins.

Isaki watched them go, feeling a sense of camaraderie, but also a quiet anticipation building inside him. Tomorrow, they would arrive in Moirai.

With that thought in mind, he made his way back to his cabin, ready to rest and prepare for the journey ahead.