The squad arrived in the city in the evening. The city was bustling with carts, merchants, and distant foreigners. Huge ships were leaving and entering the harbour. The captain led them to the harbour, and they got their horses.

  “It is best to be fast. So, we will take a naval steamship. It wouldn’t be luxurious, though.” The captain informed Felmer.

  “It is alright. We need to reach the island.” Felmer said, looking at his horse. “What do we do about them?”

  “I will send them to the military garrison. They will be safe there. We can’t carry them on the ship.” The captain replied and signalled two sailors.

  They came and took the horses to the military garrison. The squad had their belongings. On the captain's orders, two more sailors picked up the bags and took them to the ship. The squad followed the captain to the harbour and now stood in front of the ship.

  It was a medium-sized warship. A cannon was mounted on the front deck. Behind the cannon was the control deck.

  They boarded the ship. Below the control deck were three rooms. Two were given to the squad. They got inside and waited for their departure.

  Soon, the crew arrived and prepared the ship for the voyage. They filled the coal and turned on the engine. The gunner and technicians checked the cannon and confirmed it was functional.

  “Rest well…This journey is going to take a month if the weather is well…” The captain said and went to the control deck.

  At sunset, the journey began. The ship left the harbour with black smoke rising from its smoke stack. The engine screamed at first, then settled into a rhythmic roar.

  “Relax and rest…This is going to be a long journey…” Felmer said, covered his face with his coat, and dozed off.

  The squad looked at him, and later all of them slept.

  The commander of the Northern Province entered the palace. He walked through the beautiful gardens and the grand corridors before arriving at the king’s hall. He had a bag in his hand. He stood before the door and took a deep breath. He opened it and entered the hall.

  Four commanders, Larnet, and the prime minister were inside the hall. The commander got near and kneeled. Larnet signalled him to talk, and he informed them about the war with Germaiyin. The commanders gasped. They were angry.

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  “If he had gotten the jewel, he should have returned to Falvaria.” One of the commanders said.

  “Sir…The prince of Cerfis sent this. Saying a gift for the king.” The commander said, taking out the head of Golfiz from the bag.

  He placed it near Larnet. And stepped back.

  The commanders looked at the head and then at Larnet. Larnet was smiling. He began to find the prince an interesting person.

  ‘Hmm…He knows how to fight,’ Larnet thought.

  “Sir, the special man you sent was successful in defeating the chancellor. But the prince defeated Golfiz.”

  “You can go…” Derif ordered.

  “They have two jewels now. This means their third location is your daughter’s island.” Derif spoke to Larnet.

  “Yes…We will not get involved now. The Twilight Queen will handle them…” Larnet said, smiling.

  He trusted his daughter.

  Three weeks had passed since the journey had begun. The weather was clear. So, according to the captain’s estimate, they would be reaching earlier than expected.

  “Ugh! It is so boring. There is nothing here. Just water and water.” Lelis complained. She was frustrated with this long journey.

  “Voyages are like this, ma’am. This is your first time?” A young sailor, sitting idly nearby, asked.

  “Yes…It is my first time,” Lelis replied with a weird face.

  “You people from Ceris, right? The kingdom with that big mountain.”

  “Yes, we are from Cerfis,” Felmer replied.

  “Except for me…” Lelis said. “I am from Russin-Solvo.

  “I have heard that the whole Falvaria is visible from the peak of that mountain. Is that true?” The young sailor asked.

  “I have heard that as well. I haven’t gone to the peak, however. It may be visible, but that view is seasonal.” Felmer said as he drank water.

  The young sailor nodded and then walked away at the call of a senior.

  “I doubt that. Falvaria is very big.” Lelis objected.

  “It is a legend. I haven’t been there,” Felmer replied.

  “From legends, I remembered a thing.” Captain Irnik said as he sat near them. “Some say that the Twilight Queen is the daughter of Larnet. She has the immortality magic like her father.”

  “Seriously?” Felmer was shocked.

  “It is just a legend.”

  Soon, the captain came out and stood ahead of the cannon. He looked in the distance through his spyglass.

  “I think…We have arrived…”

  Everyone got up and joined the captain. Felmer squinted his eyes and could see a vast piece of land, stretching from north to south.

  “It is an enemy territory. So, we will send you there on a boat.” The captain said and ordered his crew.

  The ship stopped, the squad got their belongings, and when the crew lowered the boat, they rode it.

  The sailor pushed the boat with the oars towards the island. After some time, they arrived. They unloaded their things and walked ahead. The sailor looked at them. He turned the boat and returned to the ship.

  The squad walked further inside and into the forest.

  “It’s unusually quiet…” Felmer commented.

  “Yeah…” The captain responded.

  As they walked ahead, the captain stopped them. He pulled up his sleeves and extended his hand. His hand moved through an invisible barrier. His instincts were true.

  “It is a barrier. Hence the silence…” The captain said as he pulled back his hand.

  “Be on your guard…” Felmer said and moved towards the barrier.

  The rest followed him and crossed the barrier. When they entered the barrier, they were left in shock.

  A vast settlement, with a huge castle in the centre, stood tall. The castle had a wall around it. And those were ruined.

  They were in the Mane of the Twilight Queen.