MARIN

Marin breathed a sigh of happiness as she brushed the last tangle from her tail. She put the brush down on the vanity and made one last check to make sure she was clean.

Paragon is an amazing vessel. She admitted to herself. All I have to do is ask, and she makes it.

She glanced around her private room, with its soft bed and bathroom. There's even hot running water! Her mind struggled to wrap her mind around the concept. On her father's ship, she only had a private room because she was the only female. But here, Costasiella also got a private room.

However, was still not used to the vessel's stability. She felt almost as if she had sea legs but on a boat. Marin still was not used to it with her many years at sea.

Her thoughts briefly wandered to the other passengers. A few other people had boarded for Verona after Marin and Costasiella, and they also received private rooms. However, Marin was sure that that was only for as long as there was space.

These amenities aren't in some homes on land, much less a merchant ship. I bet some royal ships lack this much luxury. She stepped out of her room and glanced around the hall. The familiar way the ship was decorated surprised her, appearing as if the ship was not magical.

She approached the map room door and knocked. To her surprise, the door opened on its own.

Travis looked up from the papers in front of him and warmly smiled at her. "Hi Marin, did you enjoy your shower?"

Marin nodded. "Yes, it was wonderful." She smiled at the two Ulven women. "Are you also members of the crew?"

"No, we're passengers," the older one explained. "My name is Garduni Irisva, but Paragon trusts you, so you may call me Irisva." She gestured to the younger Ulven. "This is my daughter, Garduni Hibisa."

Hibisca nodded her head. "You may call me Irisva."

Marin nodded. She could tell their culture revered their full names. "My father named me Marin Aerwyna, for the beauty of the sea, but if you like, you can call me Marin." She smiled at them, then looked to the paper-covered table. "Can I ask what these papers are about?"

"We're looking for a herb called Lillyfairy, which grows in the swamplands of Verona," Myrllen explained.

"Paragon can only go as far as Verona before the water is too shallow, even for her." We have to find our way there if it's not for sale in the market." Travis explained. "We're preparing in case it's not, it's rare according to the books we can find on it."

"We only need one plant," Irisva started, "or even some seeds would be ideal. We'll take it in any form we can find it, and the sooner, the better."

"Costasiella said she was from north of Verona, maybe she can help too," Marin suggested. "I know north can mean Fron or Stonus, but the way she said it made me think it was relatively close to Verona."

"We can ask her later. She's probably enjoying the herbal bath Paragon provided to soothe her dry skin." Travis nodded in agreement. "I may ask her once we dock if she hasn't finished by then."

There was a soft knock as the door opened. "H-ewllow," Costasiella nervously smiled, "may I come in?"

"Speak of the stars," Myrllen quietly chuckled to himself.

"Yes, of course." Travis smiled and welcomely motioned for the nervous draconian.

Costasiella nodded as she entered. Her skin looked much better, though it was still red in rings around her face and limbs. There were a few crack-shaped scabs, but whatever healing magic and medicine Paragon gave the being was working.

Costasiella approached the table, then blinked as she noticed the drawings. "Whitewawter cups?" She blinked in surprise. "Why are wyou loowking at these?"

"Yweah." Costasiella nodded. "They grow awround my howmelawnd."

"Could you lead us to some?" Hibisca's eyes sparkled with hope.

Costasiella hesitated, then nodded. "Ywes."

Hibisca squeed as she jumped over to the creature and gave her a big hug. "Thankyouthanktlyou!"

Costasiella blinked in surprise as Irisva glanced at her daughter with slight disapproval of her outburst, but soon silently chuckled and shook her head. The reptilian creature slowly returned the hug. However, just as she moved to wrap her arms around the bronze-skinned humanoid, Hibiscca released.

"Sorry." Hibisca blushed a hair out of her reddened face.

Costasiella suddenly grabbed Hibisca and lifted her off the ground in a hug. "Thank wyou." Costasiella made a purr-like sound as she hugged Hibisca.

Hibisca smiled softly, then hugged back. "Thank you so much."

Marin smiled softly to herself.

'We've docked in Verona,' Paragon's telepathic voice filled their minds. Everyone seemingly stared off into space as they listened. 'I prepared bags of supplies for each of you on deck.'

Marin admitted that it was a bit strange to have a telepathic voice in her head, but at the same time, it was nice to feel such a strong connection to the ship. It's almost like the connection I had to Ocean's Paw. She mused to herself. Though she couldn't literally talk back.

"Thanks, Paragon!" Travis called to the ship as he gathered the documents spread across the map table.

Marin gazed upon the massive map and marveled at the detal, at least for the coastline and lake. The entirety of Lake Atheros and the river to the ocean were displayed, even to the large boulders that pocketed the shoreline and are notorious for sinking ships. Many of the boulders had brown pins on them, though a few brown pins were in the middle. Some blue pins also marked various places on the map.

A red pin marked Iua's location, with grey and blue pins at its port. Kira and Verona similarly had a yellow pin and blue pins dotted around it, but Verona had an additional white pin.

Though Marin had plenty of experience with sea charts, Paragon's copy was far more detailed than any she had seen. However, the pins made her frown slightly. She knew they would slowly damage the paper.

"This is a beautiful map." She remarked as she gently touched the paper.

"You haven't even seen the best part." Myrllen grinned and double-tapped the table, a soft white flash appearing with each part.

The topography immediately rose into reality, lifting the still-remaining floral drawing. It looked like molded paper confomed to the proper shape. The canyon's walls were in seemingly perfect detail, with the sheer vertical eastern cliff and the slanted western wall. Where the map faded into white, the paper transitioned to its previous flat state. The little drawings of creatures that filled the white space remained flat, but they were animated as if they were traveling across the map

Marin briefly froze in shock and quickly studied the paper with wide eyes. Now the pins marked three-dimensional ships. Even the buildings rose out of the map and looked accurate from what she remembered.

With her new view of the land, Marin could see how people believed the land had once been flat but then torn apart. Though by what exactly, Marin was unsure. She had heard many tales of the canyon's origin: the largest dragon that ever lived created it by pushing the land apart; a mage blessed by the source of magic accidently made it when they first tried their new abilities; and most ridiculous: a star fell from the sky .

"Amazing, isn't it?" Myrllen grinned.

"Yes, I've never seen anything like this," Marin awed.

"Paragon's magic is amazing," Travis nodded as he picked up the last piece of paper off the table.

Costasiella approached the map and touched the blank space northwest of Verona. "This is where we need to gow."

"Outside of Paragon's knowledge." Irisva slowly nodded in a somber tone "But," the Ulven stood, "we need to depart. The sooner we return to Ulvaria, the more likely we can return in time to cure him." Her voice rang with undertones of urgency and restrained tears.

"We'll return in time, I'm confident. Paragon is the fastest ship in the water." Travis smiled in assurance. "Paragon, can you bind these together so we don't lose any of our notes?" He placed a neatened stack of papers on the corner of the map table.

The pages quickly shuffled themselves and reorganized before a leather cover rose out of the table and bound the pages into an unlabeled book.

'Done,' Paragon swiftly replied.

"Thanks, Paragon," Travis picked up the book, "now we're ready." He faced Marin with a soft smile. "Marin, you can join us, or stay onboard."

"I'll join." Main nodded. She was unconvinced the collage of people knew how to fight. The women seemed upper class, while Travis looked like a scrawny greenhorn, not that she didn't trust and respect him. Keeping a magic ship happy was no easy feat. Myrllen, as a mage, could potentially defend himself, but he still appeared to be young. Costasiella was the only person the seasoned ship woman believed could handle herself in the wilderness.

This close to the Sourcelands, there was no telling what kinds of non-sentient beasts roamed the land.

"Then let's head out," Travis exited the room and everyone followed him.

'I'll stay here until you return.' Paragon promised.

Author Notes!
Costasiella's accent is both amazing and a war against autocorrect.
I hope you enjoyed!