"Long, long ago, the Thousand Island Archipelago marked the edge of maps of the Old Continent. People believed this was where the world of Ereel ended."
"Back then, the High Elves held a monopoly on magical knowledge. Humans had no means of reaching the New Continent, and because of the violent magic surging through the ocean, almost no one could return safely. That was why people of the time also called the Storm Sea the 'Sea at the End of the World.'"
On deck, the Paladin of Tyr had already cleared away his tableware and the remains of his meal. Lectus rose, gave Renato and De Leon a slight nod each, then returned to his cabin to rest, keeping to his regular schedule.
The old Paladin seemed uninterested in the captain's dramatic storytelling. There was even a hint of resignation in his expression.
The table was a mess of cups and plates, littered with leftover bones and broken shells. Several gulls had already landed on the bow railing, tilting their heads as they inspected the scraps on deck.
None of this dampened the captain's spirits, however. De Leon recounted the legend of the Fountain of Youth to Renato with great feeling.
"And the hero of our story, a captain named Elijah, was one of the humans who migrated to the Thousand Islands in those days."
"He wasn't an ocean explorer, but an experienced coastal trader. He usually sailed an old vessel with a carrying capacity of less than a hundred tons, transporting grain, salt, and dried fish between the islands."
"What should have been an ordinary voyage went wrong when a storm that arose out of nowhere forced his merchant ship off course."
"Waves struck like moving hills. Dazzling lightning flashed across the sky, fierce winds raged, and the mast