NOVEL FROG Chapter 138: Educate
Elaine's brows wrinkled. It was another name she had never heard of before. Unlike the monsters that only existed within urban legends and children's nightmares in her original world, these malignant creatures were alive and deadly. Compared to them, humans appeared fragile, seen as only playthings or livestock to satisfy their blood thirst and hunger. She bemoaned the many holes in her knowledge of the book's world.
"The sea witches are groups of female leviathans with heights dwarfing the world's tallest mountain. They are chained to the ocean floor, damned for eternity to never see the light above."
"Restrained? Then how are they able to appear here?" she pressed. If these colossal Hëxia creatures escaped their confinement and swam to the surface, they would have created enormous tidal waves powerful enough to topple large vessels. How was it possible for one of them to lure a man to his death last night with no one noticing?
"The Olden Gods might have imprisoned their physical bodies, but their souls are free to roam." Elias' steadfast gaze focused ahead. "A Hëxia neither experiences fatigue nor hunger. However, in her boredom, she can shred tiny fragments from her soul and transform them into ghostly specters. These apparitions will then scour the ocean's surface for victims to toy with."
"These formidable beings, how can we defend against them? Surely, declining to open the door for the whispering woman would not suffice." Elaine referred to the list of rules.
"You are mistaken, Lady Estella." He shook his head. "The fifth rule has been a tried-and-true method of safeguarding us from these creatures for several millennia. All existence in this world has weaknesses and restrictions. Even the gods and demons are no exception. Aware of these creatures' vicious nature, the Olden Gods have placed several constraints on them. The Hëxia's specters cannot enter human-occupied domains and use magic to harm us without an invitation."
Everyone listened intently to the black-haired young man's modulated voice. His rendition of the sea witches had details even Rowan and his crew did not know.
"Thus, to circumvent these limitations, the soul fragments will transform into idealized illusions from their targets' minds and coerce them with seductive words to open the door."
Elaine stated in a matter-of-fact tone, "Sir d'Amboise, you possess extensive knowledge of monsters." From their first meeting traversing through the portal to during the joint expedition, Elias had always exhibited an extraordinary understanding of monstrous creatures and supernatural entities.
"I learned from my mother."
Lisette, the mystifying woman from the Wandering Wisemen.
It seemed she had exerted more influence on her son's upbringing than the original story revealed. "Thank you for indulging my ignorance, milord." Elaine expressed her appreciation. Her gaze then shifted to the raven-haired young girl behind him. "It has been a while since I last saw you, Miss Clara." She recalled the fleeting scene from the previous night. Though she guessed the maid's identity, she only confirmed her suspicion the following morning.
"Forgive my impudence for not greeting you earlier, milady." Clara bowed. Her gaze lowered, revealing dark, downcast lashes. Though no longer in a maid uniform, her fitted soldier attire accentuated her well-proportioned yet curvy figure. The young girl's features had become lovelier in the one year since their previous meeting.
"No need for formalities." Elaine gestured for her to rise. "I was not informed of your participation in this journey." Judging from the black-haired young man's stern expression the night before, she deduced he did not expect Clara's attendance either.
The candid comment surprised everyone on the premises, suspending the atmosphere. Colors drained from the raven-haired young girl's face as panic settled in. Clara's body trembled, and her knees almost dropped when Elias caught her shoulders, keeping her steady. "It is due to my lack of oversight, Lady Estella. I should have notified you of her involvement," he stated.
Elaine observed everyone's reaction and realized they had misunderstood her intention. The comment leaned more toward curiosity rather than dissatisfaction and admonishment. Elaine covertly sighed, unsure if she should be happy or woeful that Estella's infamous reputation had preceded her. "I have other matters to attend to. Please continue as you were, Sir d'Amboise," she said and turned her heels, not wanting to further complicate the situation. Despite not being blood-related, the male protagonist perceived Clara as his younger sister. She preferred not to antagonize him during the voyage, especially since it would heighten his skepticism of her movements in Léonas.
After separating a healthy distance from the scene, Elaine furtively glanced back at the pair. The male protagonist and Clara stood facing each other, deeply immersed in their conversation. The girl's countenance shined with bliss while her amethyst-colored eyes focused solely on the black-haired young man. Her admiration and devotion to him appeared to increase instead of diminishing. The development was expected and adhered to the original storyline. However, if she continued on her current path, the only ending that would await her was death. Elaine shook her head. Though she pitied the sweet and innocent Clara, it was not her role or responsibility to interfere with the raven-haired young girl's love affair. She returned her attention to touring the ship.
Elaine's group spent the next few hours walking around, sightseeing from the crew's quarters to the captain's cabin. When the sun achieved its highest ascent, they temporarily halted their tour and returned to Elaine's room. She again ordered Mariam to retrieve her meal from the kitchen instead of dining with others. After the young maid left, Cecil extracted from his sleeve and handed Elaine the ashen-colored paper she had given him the previous night. She accepted the item and tugged it into her dress pocket. A moment after their silent exchange, Mariam opened the door, carrying a tray filled with food.