A Clueless Genius Wolf (BL)

The aftermath of the serpent attack brought an unexpected reward: peace. Thank the gods for that, because it would be too soon to see another sea serpent or another deep-lurking beast.

The sea, perhaps out of guilt or fear, remained calm. Smooth waves lapped against our hulls, and the skies stretched wide and clear, as if apologizing for the earlier chaos.

Besides a few kids wandering off and giving their families minor heart attacks before being found, always within ten minutes or so. They were usually hiding near the ice cream cart—the rest of our voyage passed in a near-idyllic rhythm.

People returned to their routines, but with a keener sense of community. There was more laughter in the mess halls, more spirit in the gyms, and even the magi corps joined in during evening concerts hosted on the deck. I didn't participate directly in the karaoke night, but I did sit in the back with Kyle, sipping a chilled chocolate milkshake and silently judging everyone's pitch. Mostly all the judging is done in my head because I know I cannot sing for jack shit. I leave that to the musicians and singers, back in the kingdom.

Fun aside, I kept to my usual structure—training with my guards in hand-to-hand, keeping up in my rune studies, refining my spellcasting, reviewing staff rosters, and checking on passengers and division leaders. Kyle, of course, had unofficially become the fleet's favorite healer-in-training, shadowing medics and assisting with everything from basic care to assisting in magical toxin extractions from a sea serpent gland. He was in heaven. However, I wouldn't burst his bubble that he will have a long way still to get his healers' or doctors' licenses. 

On the sixth day, I checked back in with the Ministerial Council using the mirror array in the Royal Horizon's command chamber. I wore my lighter uniform this time—navy jacket, silver embroidery, Dusklight's crest on my chest—and stood with my hands behind my back as the mirror lit up with the familiar roundtable.

Lyra greeted me with her usual professional poise. "Your Majesty. I trust all remains well?"

"Better than expected," I replied. "No more sea monsters, morale is high, and we'll hopefully be nearing some lands soon. Do to how fast we move, and Thanks to the engines and propellers. Once we do find any land. The fleet will anchor off its border to begin observation and scans before any disembarkation can occur." 

Minister Vasha, ever the hawk-eyed defender, narrowed her eyes. "Remind your officers we're still dealing with unknown politics in that region. Just because it is land and a new place to discover. It does not mean it's safe."

"Agreed," I said with a nod. "We'll proceed with caution. No unauthorized contact or landing until I give the word."

Rowan, the Court Magician, leaned forward. "And the sea serpent remains?"

"Secure, stable, sealed in my spatial inventory," I confirmed. "We've already begun magical scans. Kyle's been helping dissect one of the smaller heads under supervision. Looks like they are just normal beasts that are just stronger and hardier to live in the treacherous sunset sea."

That raised some surprised eyebrows.

"Kyle?" Minister Octavian asked, blinking. "The orphan boy?"

"Yes," I* said to their surprise. "He's proving himself quite capable and has the curiosity to learn."

There were no further questions.

We discussed a few other minor kingdom updates—some family disputes in the western mountains, updates from the Dusklight Military Academy, College of Twillght, and resource reports—but I wrapped the call quickly.

"I'll check in again on day eight," I told them. "Unless something urgent comes up."

"Understood," Lyra said. "Be careful, Your Majesty."

"I always am," I said.

As the mirror dimmed, I allowed myself a moment of silence before turning to the observation window. I was now thinking about what to do after all this work. Probably just out in the pool and drinking soda as I relax from all this hard work. By all the work I've done, mostly just talking and checking up. However, it is time to get my ass in a Speedo and into the pool, while this peace lasts.

Ahead of us, just beginning to rise over the ocean's horizon on the seventh day of the voyage, were faint, dark outlines of land.At the time, we didn't know the names, but we would later learn were the first, a dense island, was Bear Island. Beyond it, a massive forested mainland called Wolfswood. And farther inland, the shadowy ridgelines of the Northern Mountains.

For now, though, it was all still mystery.

If I were sailing on a normal ship of this age, the journey would've taken months. But bless thy magic, runes, electricity, engineering—and let's not forget luxury.

Nevertheless, what we faced now was the unknown.

Uncharted land.

And the first true step into what lies beyond the Sunset Sea.