The majestic royal ship lay proudly in the shimmering light of the moon and the setting sun. A towering mast rose from the center of the vessel, adorned with a flag that bore the royal insignia and colors, fluttering defiantly in the wind. At the stern, a rounded captain's cabin was accessible via a mesmerizing spiral staircase. The bow of the ship was supported by stately pillars that crowned a small balcony, behind which were opulently decorated windows. Despite its grandeur, the ship was not particularly large. Severa could hardly believe this vessel was meant to ferry the army back to Brimsjá."

She smiled darkly. The prince of Brimsjá had sealed his fate; tonight would mark his end. Perhaps he should feel grateful that she reached him first. At least this way, he could perish in battle against his enemies rather than at the hands of his own people.

Severa tread carefully through the ruins of Sylvamarius and approached the royal ship. As the last rays of Himaya's sun faded into the sea, the symbol of Brimsjá came into view in the darkness: an imposing Jörmungandr emblazoned on the flag at the mast. Its golden scales gleamed like stars against the night sky.

The ship appeared deserted. No candlelight burned within, and the only sounds were the lapping of waves against the shore and the gentle flapping of the flag in the wind. Yet, Severa couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. She remained vigilant, wary of an ambush from Prince Eiran of Brimsjá.

She climbed the ship's scrubbed wooden planks and cautiously stepped onto the balcony to peer through the windows. Startled, she saw her own moonlit reflection in the tall glass panes. Inside, darkness prevailed, and she chastised herself to stay calm. To face Brimsjá, she would need to be stronger than her fears.

It was just a short climb to the deck. Once there, she found an unfamiliar setting. Though she had lived by the harbor, she had never seen a ship up close. The mast, sails, helm, and steel cables that controlled the anchor were all mysteries to her. Nevertheless, she was determined to steal the ship. It would ease her journey to Brimsjá and provide her the perfect opportunity to deliver a fitting surprise to Prince Eiran's father.

The thought of having the prince bound as a figurehead at the ship's prow was tantalizing. With such a powerful vessel and the prince as her trophy, she could subdue cities and even spark a war between Brimsjá and Finemici.

Satisfied, she turned to the spiral staircase leading to the captain's cabin. It was time to surprise the prince; if he wasn't on the deck, he had to be inside.

Carefully, Severa pushed the door to the captain's cabin open. It creaked ominously, and she hesitated, listening intently for any sounds. Inside, silence reigned. Moonlight bathed the charming interior, as luxurious as the ship's exterior.

Tall, ornate cabinets lined both sides of the cabin, filled with books. At the center stood an upholstered chair with elegantly carved legs, accompanied by a small table holding an intricately designed candelabra.

The room's floor ended midway, bordered by a decorative wooden railing. Beyond it, large windows stretched from the upper level to the lower one, flooding the space with soft moonlight.

Severa crept further in, the floor creaking eerily beneath her feet, and the scent of polished wood filled her senses. From the ornate railing, a spiral staircase descended to the lower level. Taking a final look at the elegant cabin, she made her way down.

The lower deck was equally impressive. A small table with two chairs stood before a grand window, and a large cabinet stored exotic fruits, unfamiliar pastries, and breads Severa had never seen before. The underdeck space was larger than she expected, and for a moment, she thought life at sea might not be as dreadful as she had imagined.

A massive canopy bed dominated the area near the large window she had peered through earlier. While the rest of the cabin was immaculately kept, the bed was unmade, its sheets tangled.

Despite her thorough search, Severa found no trace of the prince and began to wonder where he might be. Perhaps he had left the ship to gather provisions. If so, she needed to act quickly. She wouldn't have the satisfaction of parading him as her trophy, but an uncontested victory was still a victory.

Approaching the bed, she placed her hands on its divine softness, only to find it still warm. Someone had recently been here. She spun around quickly, convinced that the prince had noticed her. Her eyes darted through the room. Why wasn't he attacking? Where was he, and what was his plan?

Severa hurriedly left the cabin, ascending the spiral staircase with her half-broken machete clutched tightly, ready for a counterattack. She reached the door without incident, her tension unbroken.

The deck offered no place to hide. If the prince knew she was here, he wouldn't hold an advantage out in the open. She would see him coming. Without hesitation, she opened the door and stepped outside.

Her eyes fell on the mast. In addition to the flag, the sail had now been raised. He was somewhere there, seemingly trying to conceal himself behind the canvas. But the moonlight betrayed his silhouette.

"Stay back! Don't come closer! I warn you!" his voice thundered as she sprinted toward him with her battered machete. Fear rang clearly in his words. So, this was the prince.

His bare legs stuck out from under the sail as he clung to his sword. "I warned you!" he shouted as she stepped closer. In a swift motion, he struck at a rope that secured the sail to the mast. The sound of the blade slicing through the cord echoed sharply, and with a sudden swing, the boom supporting the sail pivoted toward Severa.

Reacting swiftly, Severa ducked, dodging beneath the swinging beam with practiced agility. The sail continued to whip around, leaving her face-to-face with the prince.

For a fleeting moment, their eyes met. A strange shiver coursed through Severa—not fear, not threat, but something unplaceable. Time seemed to freeze.

But reality intruded. The sail, moving with deadly force, caught the prince unawares and slammed him violently to the ground.