At first, it was just a thin black line on the horizon.
But as time passed and the sun crawled across the blue sky, the line began to thicken and stretch, slowly taking on shape and weight.
By midday, the illusion was gone. The line had broken apart into distinct forms. There were dozens of ships at first. Then over two hundred, spreading across the sea in tight formation.
The dark hulls cut through the water in unison, sails drawn and steady, giving the impression of a single, advancing mass rather than separate vessels. The Summer Sea itself seemed crowded, as if it could barely contain them.
The Magi of Amberfall stood along the walls and towers, watching in tense silence. They had never witnessed such a scene in their lives. One could even argue that no one in the history of the city ever had.
