The sea of oracles

Warm sea breeze The warm, slightly salty sea breeze from the inland sea caressed Austin's slightly chapped face, causing the young captain standing on deck to take an involuntary deep breath - it was the breath he had longed for in his childhood, and the breath of his hometown that he had thought he would never have the chance to bathe in again. A few years ago, Austin had set sail on a sea breeze like this. The runes on the alchemy power sail shone on his face, which had not yet been eroded by the wind and waves. His pale green eyes were filled with nothing but longing for the unknown, and he was full of boundless enthusiasm. As for the adventures in between, they read like a cheap adventure novel by a second-rate author. Now, under the same sea breeze, it is time to write the end of this novel. Colonel, it's time to go back to the cabin,' said the soldier in Alchemy Power armour, standing two metres behind Austin, respectfully. She is much faster than the Marianne," Austin said, lightly tapping the railing at the edge of the deck, "and the firepower should not be on the same level. As if in response to his words, a plume of black smoke rose from the ironclad's funnel, accompanied by the shrill whistle of the steam engine. The soldier stepped forward, his tone still respectful but with a hint of sadness, 'Colonel, we'll be arriving at Flemish Port soon, so you should go back to your cabin. Austin's eyes filled with nostalgia and relief. He squinted, trying to make out the city that was not yet in his field of vision, trying to see if the stake or the gallows awaited him in the town square. This is where I set sail on my first voyage," he said, before turning to reveal his bound hands and slowly walking towards the cabin. The soldier took an involuntary step back. Haha, you all put these on me, there's no need to be afraid of me,' Austin chuckled, lifting his hand to show the soldier the shackles inscribed with dense runes. Or do those old guys up there think I'm powerful enough to stand beside the gods and kill you, er, mortals, with ease? As he walked past the soldier, Austin cast a cold glance at the bridge captain's room overlooking the deck, which was fitted with newly developed colour-changing glass that only showed a dark area from the outside. Recovering his gaze, Austin sighed, glanced at the soldier's state-of-the-art alchemical power armour, and sneered, "The latest in alchemical technology, the pride of human ingenuity, technology powerful enough to fight the gods. Having said this, he walked into the cabin door without looking back. The soldier, who had been holding his breath for some time, let out a sigh of relief and white steam rose from the grate behind the armour. The ironclad's whistle sounded again, and Flemish, the largest port on the coast of the Kingdom of Melantia in the warm inland sea, appeared on the horizon. The ships anchored in the docks stretched along the shoreline, their white alchemical sails and iron grey chimneys obscuring most of the city, with only a few towering spires and many buildings under construction visible. As the darkness of the cabin threatened to engulf Austin, he tilted his head slightly and the port city, always washed by the warm ocean currents, was reflected in his bright green eyes. The harbour and the deck of the battleship where he had basked in the sun that afternoon came to mind. If I could start all over again, would I still choose to go to sea? Austin asked himself. The hatch closed, darkness engulfed his pupils, the clatter of mechanical operations replaced the sound of the waves, and the pungent smell of medicine dispelled the salty scent brought by the sea breeze. Boys, put on your turbans quickly. We're about to set sail against the waves in search of treasure. We'll charge through the eddies and hidden currents. Hey-yah! Hey-yah! The island's gold mine is our home. Don't be afraid of the sea monsters that lurk along the ship's sides. Hey, hey, hey! We have brothers, gunpowder and harpoons. Following the ship's song, we race towards the distant dark clouds. No storm can stop our pace...' Austin sings a shoddy sea shanty he learned from the pirates all by himself.