Arsen's mind was filled with suspicion and curiosity as she observed Darius leaving the administry. As he was being led by Elysaria, Arsen turned around to face the elders, the other captains that were in the room with her. Based on Darius' answers, she sensed he was holding back crucial information.

There was something about the way Darius' crew arrived so suddenly that she felt that they still had a hidden agenda that Darius had not disclosed — which piqued her interest. She knew there was more to this than meets the eye, and she was determined to uncover it.

"You seem to be deep in thought, Miss Winterglade." Arsen glanced back to one of them as she narrows her eyes. It seemed that she was staring outside for quite a while. She sighed and nodded, pushing her coat back, and finally sat back down to her table.

"I need someone to give me a report of what we know about this territory so far." The elders then heard her mentioning three.

The elders widened their eyes at the mention of Gryndale, Malum Trench, and The Abyss. "We've only heard such tales, Miss Winterglade. We need further information and expeditions—"

"Yes, compile them. I'll study them later." They all agreed to this and excused themselves as Arsen was finally left with only her researchers in the room. The woman looked at her as her hands were clasped together in front of her as she was pondering. She'll have to be patient as she looks out, hoping Elysaria had done her part of the interrogation without Darius ever knowing.

Meanwhile, Darius was led on a tour of the city with Elysaria beside him. She was renowned for her vast understanding of Gryndale, Bridgeven Tides, and the Abyss—three regions that had held great significance in Darius' journey ahead.

Considering that she was a captain and the right hand of Arsen, she knew her way to these locations and he could easily gain information from her. Though, he knew the deal with Arsen would already serve them greatly as Elysaria would willingly answer his questions about what lies ahead before venturing to the vast waters of the Regimere.

As they strolled through the cobbled streets of Arkenheilm, Elysaria began pointing at the buildings, sharing stories of its history as Darius seem to take it in.

"And this is the way back to the tavern. You will see your crew there," Elysaria finally stops before glancing back at Darius. "Any questions so far?"

Darius hummed. "I do but not in the city. I figured you could give me some information about Gryndale and Bridgeven Tides. Solstice only gave us a brief one."

Elysaria puts her hands on her hips, her index finger rests under her chin as if she was thinking. "Hmm, I guess I could. Considering that you had a deal with the general, I'll provide you with what I know."

"Bridgeven Tides is a land filled with sirens and stranglers. It was long abandoned and often disregarded by sailors unless their main target is collecting resources," she began, her voice carrying a mix of caution and fascination.

"Stranglers?" Darius interrupted, his eyebrow raised in curiosity. Elysaria seemed taken aback, surprised that he had never heard of them before. Her head tilted slightly as if questioning him in return.

"Your crew never encountered one before? Lucky. Those nasty plants use their vines to grip unto sailors tight and pull them back underwater until their bodies float lifeless. Some are unlucky; they never float back up."

Darius listened attentively, intrigued by the new information. He had heard of sirens before, their enchanting songs luring sailors to their doom, but stranglers were a new and ominous revelation.

"Do you have any advice on how to avoid them?" Darius inquired, hoping to gain insights that might protect his crew during their future travels. Elysaria shakes her head and crosses her arms.

Her expression turned serious as she replied, "The best advice I can give you is to stay as far away from them as possible. Their reach is long, and once they have you in their grasp, it's nearly impossible to escape. Only the most skilled sailors stand a chance against them, and even then, it's a dangerous gamble."

"I'll make sure to pass that warning on to my crew," Darius said solemnly, realizing the gravity of the danger they might encounter. "We've faced many challenges in the past, but this seems to be another problem at hand."

Elysaria nodded, appreciating Darius's willingness to heed her advice. "Remember that knowledge can be your most potent weapon, Captain Thorren. The more you understand about the dangers you face, the better prepared you'll be. That's the Arkenheilm's way."

Elysaria's stories then seamlessly transitioned to tales of Gryndale. She recounted the bravery and tragedy of sailors who dared to venture into the island, cautioning Darius to be more wary of its dangers as well.

"Gryndale moves in certain ways. We don't know the reason why so far but it doesn't seem to stick on one location. It moves almost everyday, sometimes staying, sometimes disappearing. It's basically a fifty-fifty."

"Is that the reason why you want us to go?" Elysaria ignored this and continues to share information.

"The path to Gryndale is safer than Bridgeven Tides. However, make haste. You do not want to stay and reach until dusk," Elysaria explains before she stopped in her tracks, "Heard from the tales that there is a creature guarding that place. Two of a kind."

Darius nodded, the memory of their narrow escape from the sirens still fresh in his mind. It wouldn't be wise to be careless of their actions this time. Especially when he is unfamiliar of the place. He realized that Arkenheilm's knowledge about these regions could prove valuable to his crew's quest.

Elysaria then becomes dead silent before she decided to share the stories about Devon's Cradle, a place where most sailors call 'The Abyss' as most never survived.

She then proceeds to tell him how most never lived to tell anything about the location as Arsen prohibited them from doing any further expedition near it, to always find a way to maneuver around it, and to always stay as far as possible.

Listening intently, Darius couldn't help but feel dread. Questions plagued his mind. Was it really that bad?

"The Abyss is said to be the dangerous spot of the Regimere," Elysaria whispered, her eyes gleaming with intrigue. "Many believe that treasure lies hidden within its depths, guarded by a demonic entity. Though, this was just a hunch. We never know for sure but judging how no one survives at that place to tell us what they had discovered, we deem that it's possible."

Elysaria noticed Darius' silence and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You are brave, Captain Thorren. It's a quality that can lead you to both greatness and peril. Choose your path wisely."

Darius nodded thoughtfully, appreciating her wisdom. He knew that embarking on a journey to the depths of the Abyss or the wilds of Gryndale required careful consideration and preparation.

As much as he longed to uncover the fate of the Angelus and its crew, he couldn't afford to rush into danger blindly.

Back at the heart of Arkenheilm, Arsen continued her investigation into Darius and his crew in her office in silence.

Despite her mistrust, Arsen started to see them not as invaders with hidden motives, but as fellow seekers of knowledge.

There was a determination in his eyes, a spark of curiosity and resiliency that reminded her of her younger self. Though even if she had her doubts, she believed in giving people a chance, especially those with a passion for such venture.

She looked at the files thoroughly. At this point, the only way to know for sure if Darius was on their side is if he does not turn to his promise. Arsen stood up, her arms crossed and looked at her watch. It seems she still has to wait for Solstice to return with her findings to finally start discussing things with the Ravenbourne captain.