🌊⚔️ CHAPTER 10 — INTO THE UNKNOWN SEA 🌊⚔️
The morning sun hung low on the eastern horizon as Arden, Erik, and Rocky resumed their journey. The wind from Moonshadow Lake blew cold, rippling the water like fractured mirrors. Arden opened the magical map bottle once more—its pages now unfolded by themselves, revealing a glowing blue line that slowly traced south before sharply veering west. ✨đź§
> "We have to leave this lake… then sail across the sea," Arden murmured, his voice calm but resolute 🌬️.
Erik frowned, studying the map.
> "Sail? We don't even have a boat. And…" he glanced at Rocky, who stood like a living stone hill, "…we're bringing that."
Rocky lowered his massive head slightly, eyes glowing softly.
> "I can wait… or swim," he said plainly.
Arden allowed a thin smile.
> "No. We go together."
---
For three full days, they marched without pause. From roaring clear rivers to vast grasslands alive with wind and chirping insects 🦗, then across small red sand deserts that burned their feet. Nights were spent around small campfires; Erik kept watch with his Gewehr-43, Arden gazed at the stars, and Rocky stood sentinel, unwavering 🌌.
On the third day, the salty scent of the sea reached them. The distant roar of waves grew louder. Finally, they stood before an endless ocean. Waves crashed wildly on the shore, and the sky stretched blue and infinite 🌊.
> "We've arrived," Arden said softly, eyes shining.
Erik exhaled deeply, but his expression hardened.
> "The problem now… is the ship."
Silence fell. There were no docks. No fisherman's boats. Only the empty beach and the roaring sea wind. Rocky broke the quiet.
> "We can make one."
Erik smirked.
> "You sure that ship can hold your weight?"
Rocky patted his stone chest.
> "If not… I'll reinforce it."
---
The decision was made. They set up a basecamp on the beach 🌴.
Rocky snapped coconut palms with his massive hands—krek!—arranging the timber neatly. Coconut leaves became roofing, while the fruit was split and shared among them. Arden organized the fire area and supplies, while Erik worked meticulously, shaping stones into crude but sharp axe heads 🪓. Their first stone axes were simple, but effective.
They dug part of the earth to create a semi-underground basecamp—sheltered from the sea wind and night's chill. The campfire burned steadily, illuminating their tired yet determined faces.
Arden gazed at the roaring sea.
> "Once the ship is ready… there's no turning back."
Erik nodded.
> "I know. But this is the path."
Rocky loomed behind them, shadow stretching long.
> "I'll make sure we get there."
With a solid basecamp and a plan forming in their minds, they looked toward the coming day. One goal now stood clear: build a ship capable of carrying them across the unknown sea ⛵✨, a vessel that would take their destiny to horizons yet unseen.