Bird calls echoed through the sky while thick, leafy canopies rustled in the warm breeze rolling off the nearby ocean. Hundreds upon hundreds of small islands dotted the vast blue expanse, each one covered in tropical trees while waves lapped at their sandy shores. Everything about this landscape was the definition of serenity, earning the Southern Isles their reputation for being a tropical paradise.

                Each island was a dream come true for those searching for a tropical retreat. Warmth radiated from the soft, white sand while animal calls echoed from the nearby undergrowth, flowers of every color speckling the greenery alongside an abundance of bright fruit. Some of the most exotic wildlife in the world could be found within the depths of these island jungles, and that was to speak nothing of the surrounding ocean!

                Just beneath the waves, coral communities thrived! Massive, orange coral branched in every direction while huge fan corals waved back and forth. Color swam all around them as vast schools drifted in tune with the current, larger fish sometimes disturbing the peace. There were strange creatures slinking across the ocean floor, bright eels hiding in the cover of rocks, and endless fish in seemingly every shape imaginable! The Southern Isles famously hosted the largest reefs in the entire world, and they were the perfect place for an explorer to discover every fascinating creature she could ever want!

                Bubbles erupted as Tearna plunged into the water. Sinking a few feet as her hair floated, she opened her eyes from behind her goggles and gasped. Fish floated all around her as she reached out, smiling brightly as many of them swam away. Turning one way and then the other, she finally began to swim down to the coral, “After several days at sea, we finally arrived at the world’s most premiere tropical paradise, and it was EVERYTHING it was promised to be!”

                Several frilly tube worms disappeared into their burrows as Tearna drifted close, looking at the holes briefly before turning her gaze, “The Southern Isles are defined as a collection of well over two hundred small islands. Some of these islands are several miles in length, but many of them are no more than a few hundred feet! Over the years, these islands have come to be known as the most beautiful place on the planet, a reputation largely assisted by the incredible reefs! Across the entire planet, there are no reefs like these, and the wildlife here has evolved to be just as unique!”

                Pausing, Tearna laughed as she drifted down closer to the ocean floor, “A perfect example of how strange and enigmatic life here can be is the odd, yet savory, Beelog!” Layers of ooze appeared to slowly move across the sandy floor. The layers constantly shifted and changed, a layer of pink forming its bottom followed by yellow, purple, and then another layer of pink on top, and while it looked like moving sludge, it was most definitely a creature!

                “Beelogs are a type of ocean slug,” Tearna continued, the small slug slowly moving. “They are bright, multi-colored organisms that can often be mistaken for living sludge. They have two eyestalks and small protrusions on their backs that house their eggs! These small creatures will travel for days on end devouring whatever detritus they can find.” Tearna smiled with amusement as she watched the slug clamber up a coral, “Typically, that means these slugs are disgusting, but there is another variety here that eats fruit, and those types are supposedly some of the tastiest creatures on the planet. While I’m willing to believe the rumors… I’m a little too cowardly to try one!”

                Water swirled behind her as she paddled along, looking over the coral one way and then another, “As I explored, I was stunned by variety of creatures! There were fish constantly swimming around me, most of which were about the size of common river fish, but there were others nearly as large as me!” Tearna looked over as a much larger fish swam past her, the dark fins on its top and bottom constantly waving, “Thankfully, none of these seemed too interested in me…”

                White tentacles flowed through the water as a small creature pushed itself along, seemingly unfazed as Tearna swam down beside it, “Another discovery I made shortly after arriving was that of a Naudilon! Naudilons are a type of ocean squid that have evolved large shells on their backs. These shells can take many shapes, but the most common is a sort of armored, wedge-like shape that makes them look quite sharp!” She smiled as she looked at the other naudilons around her, “These small creatures use their tentacles to push themselves along, and, if threatened, will release a concentrated electric pulse to shock the threat away!”

                Watching light from the surface shine across their shells, Tearna turned and swam away, “While I was making discovery after discovery, it wasn’t lost on me that I wasn’t going to be able to discover everything. Although unfortunate, I was still determined to give it my best effort, which meant twisting some arms to get some assistance!”

                “The frilled taskfish is a common schooling fish that is often yellow, but has been documented as purple and green as well,” Kai wrote with a sharp frown. Planks creaked beneath him as the galleon gently rocked with the waves, the sails currently furled as several expedition members dove into the water. Scratching his head, he chewed on his pen before continuing, “We managed to find these creatures in droves shortly after our first dive and were practically buried in a cloud of them. These fish swarm to protect themselves from predators, and, consequently, are fairly common on menus of seafood shops everywhere.”

                Pausing as he tapped his pen against his head, he glanced over as Tearna suddenly sat down on the create beside him, “So, how’s it going?”

                “Ehh, it’s going ok,” he said, frowning with a hint of disappointment. Shaking his head, he tapped his journal a few times as he looked back at her, “I’m really not good with words. I’m trying to emulate what I’ve seen you do, but you have a knack for it that I don’t possess.”

                “Aww, don’t be like that! I’m sure what you’ve written is good enough.” Taking the journal from him, Tearna looked it over carefully. Raising her brow, she barked a laugh, “Leave it to you to make notes about food for all of these!”

                “I couldn’t think of what else to write,” he said with a defensive huff. “You should know how difficult it can be to make a boring fish sound exciting!”

                “That’s completely fair,” she said, smiling at him warmly as she handed the journal back. “So long as you capture some bits about their appearance and habitat trends, that’s more than enough to cover what we need!”

                “Well… I’m glad I’m at least doing something right.” He frowned in thought before looking over at her, “How’s your search going? Finding anything worthwhile?”

                “Absolutely!” she said with an energetic nod. “As soon as I dive under the waves, I’m surrounded by a field of color more beautiful than any painting in the world, and the diversity here is stunning! I could stay here for years and never get bored!”

                “Glad to hear someone is having a good time!” With a start, they looked behind them as Farin strode up to them, “I take it then that this is proving to be a successful venture?”

                “Of course, captain,” Tearna said with a nod. “This was the perfect spot for us to anchor, and I’m excited to see what other places we get the chance to see before we leave!”

                Just in front of them, a small island poked up from the water. Most of the expedition was swimming around the galleon as it rocked gently, heads surfacing briefly before disappearing while splotches of color could be seen through the blue water. “There will be a couple of other stops,” Farin spoke, drawing her gaze back to him. “I’ll do my best to let us see the three reefs and two islands you requested, but we are on a tight schedule.”

                “How long do we have before we need to reach Aqua Narssada?”

                “Two days,” he said as he looked ahead of them. “There’s not much flexibility, so make sure to make the most of these stops while you can.”

                “I won’t waste a single moment!” Kai looked at her as she stood and moved over to the railing, “In fact, I think it’s time for me to get back to work!” With that, she dove into the water.

                “While exploring the reefs was certainly a highlight of the trip, that wasn’t all we explored!” Animal cries echoed as she pushed her way through the undergrowth, Kai and Bren following behind as they looked around curiously. Small insects fluttered while scant rays of light passed through the thick canopies, “We stopped at an island near the end of the second day, and what we found there was truly incredible! Every step we took, we found some new creature foraging for fruit or singing away, and the bird species we saw were truly fascinating!”

                A large, orange sac inflated and vibrated as a haunting tune danced through the canopies. High overhead, a fat, white and green bird was singing into the breeze, its neck constantly inflating and deflating with each verse. Hurrying up to the tree, Tearna stared up at it with an excited smile as she pulled out her journal, “The imperial pipebird was very quick to announce its presence! These large birds have an airsac on their necks that they can inflate to produce a song very similar to that of an organ. These songs are so powerful that they can even be heard out on the ocean, and led to many rumors of haunted islands and spirits.”

                Kai and Bren walked up beside her to stare at the bird while Tearna continued, “These birds are predominately green with white highlights, and will typically be found foraging for fruit high up in the canopies. While not a threat to our people, they can certainly cause a disturbance thanks to-“ Without warning, the pipebird suddenly blared what sounded like an alarm, making Tearna scream and practically jump out of her skin as it took off. Breathing heavily, she let out a growl of frustration as Bren and Kai began laughing, “their incredibly loud and sudden alarm calls…”

                Branches snapped as Tearna pushed through dense undergrowth. Looking around, she looked down with a start and gasped as she knelt to examine the column moving just in front of her feet, “Some of the sights we found weren’t exactly bright and large, but were still quite eye catching! In this case, I encountered a column of soldier leaflets!”

                Thousands upon thousands of small, crimson bodies continuously marched along the path just in front of her, their red color glinting as rays of light danced across them. “Similar to common leaflets, soldier leaflets are just a bit bigger than a pinhead and spend most of their time foraging,” she wrote, pausing to look down at them. “Red in color, these leaflets have the same six legs and thorn-shaped body of their cousins, but where they differ are their larger brethren!”

                Several larger leaflets moved through the column, almost an inch in length with a much sturdier appearance, “Some soldier leaflets are much, much larger and serve as warriors for these colonies. Thanks to their serrated jaws and powerful forelegs, they are quite adept at bringing down larger predators, earning them a reputation for being a hostile species. Thankfully, so long as you avoid their small roads, these leaflets will leave you alone!” Smiling happily, Tearna stood and peered into the undergrowth before continuing deeper.

                “I would be remiss in my responsibilities if I didn’t take at least a moment to acknowledge the plant growth.” A smile rested on her face as she admired the violet flowers sprouting across the trees, “Just like the animals, the plants I saw were incredibly exotic. I was able to catch glimpse of the violet star orchid, a translucent sapro plant, several bomber gourds, and even a forked whistletongue!” Writing in her journal as she studied the planet with a long, orange tongue, Tearna squinted as she eyed some of the fruit hanging from a nearby tree, “My favorite find, of course, was food related.”

                Stepping up to the tree, she plucked one of the violet fruits from its branches with an eager smile, “Iolas are a violet fruit native to these islands and have a bit of a star-shape. They can be found on many islands here and are quite popular. Around the world, Iola is regarded both for its suitably as a juice, side option for many dishes, and, of course, wine.” Smiling brightly, she took a huge bite out of it, “If you ever happen to find yourself in the southern isles, don’t hesitate to sample these amazing fruits!”

                Tearna hummed to herself pleasantly as she walked, writing in her journal before pushing through a large fern. “Oh, Tearna!” Tearna lifted her gaze curiously as Kai approached her from the right, a smile of relief on his face, “There you are. I thought we had lost you again.”

                “Lost me? I was right here the whole time,” she said with a confused expression. Reading the look on his face, she winced, “Which was just about everywhere but here… Sorry! I didn’t mean to wander off again.”

                “Ehh, I’ve long since given up on trying to track you.” Gesturing over his shoulder, he partially turned away, “Come on! We got a fire started on the beach so we can cook all those crabs that Bren collected.”

                “Crabs?” Tearna repeated as she tapped her chin. She suddenly gasped, “Did you crack them open yet, or can I still study them!”

                Salty wind blew over the shore of the small island as flames roared within a small firepit. Bren was kneeling beside it, studying the crabs roasting across the makeshift grill as she took an absent bite from the claw of one she had already cooked. A few feet away, several crabs were scuttling around in a makeshift trap. With a start, they scurried backwards, bubbles erupting from their mouths as they raised their claws at the giant face studying them, “Amusingly enough, one entry on our trip was catalogued purely because of Bren’s stomach, the scuttler crab!”

                One of the crabs snapped its small pincers as they continued to foam, “Scuttler crabs are a common crab that can be found on most southern shores, including Falador. These small crabs are grey and share many features with other crabs, but their most odd trait is the way they spew bubbles when scared. No one quite knows why they do this since the bubbles don’t seem to do anything, so one can only assume that these naturally panicky creatures are, simply put, scaredy cats.” Snickering to herself, she suddenly flinched as a loud racket erupted from within the trap, “Speaking of cats!”

                A flash of fur leapt from the top of the trap, Tearna looking over in shock as the small form darted towards the trees, “While we were cooking Bren’s catch, a rather odd burglar made off with one of our crabs. This was a bandicat!” Hurrying up the rocks, the small feline suddenly looked back at Tearna cautiously, as if making sure it wasn’t being pursued, “Bandicats are small felines with a noticeably grey and brown fur pattern that tends to blend well with fallen logs and rocks. Obviously, given how we found it, they are most known for being thiefs, hence their names.”

                Sitting back on her haunches, Tearna watched the cat carry the crab away, “I was quite pleased to trade the crab with the cat just to get the chance to study it! These cats are hard to catch a glimpse of, but it’s safe to say that if you’re camping on an island and your food goes missing, it was almost certainly one of these fuzzy bandits!” Chuckling to herself, she set her journal aside and looked over at the fire as she wandered over, “A bandicat just nicked one of your crabs.”

                “I noticed that,” Bren said with a small grin, gravel crunching as Kai wandered over with a handful of Iola fruit. Bren glanced at him as he sat down with a huff, “You trying to build yourself a five-star meal there?”

                “I just did what Tearna asked,” he said with a simple shrug. “Can you really blame us for wanting to get some fruit? There was a ton of it too, so feel free to help yourself.”

                “Don’t mind if I do!” Kai looked over with a start as a telekinetic rope lasso’d around one of the fruits and yanked it towards Bren’s waiting hand. Taking a massive bite, she chuckled, “Ahh, it’s been WAY too long since I’ve had Iola!”

                “It’s definitely nice to be back in a more friendly environment,” Tearna noted. Eyeing the crabs on the grill, she looked out at the water, “I’m surprised the captain has let us wander out here for so long. Surely he’ll want to take off soon.”

                “I’m sure ol’ frazzletails is getting antsy,” Bren snickered as she glanced over at the galleon. “But no one else has gone back yet, so he can’t be too antsy.”

                “It’s fine with me,” Tearna said with a shrug. Coating her hand in granite, she reached into the fire and plucked one of the crabs, breaking it in half to expose the tastier part, “It’s kind of nice just taking a moment to relax with friends! I think this is the first real chance we’ve had to just sit since… maybe Maldrezza?”

                “The volcanic island was not a fun experience,” Kai echoed. “I’m not sure I actually got any sleep those nights.”

                “I never understood what you all were complaining about,” Bren said with a shrug, Tearna and Kai both looking at her flatly. Looking at them both innocently, she shrugged again, “What?”

                “Nevermind,” Tearna sighed as she shook her head. Eyeing the crab, she took a bite out of it and absently chewed, “Back to business, I assume the captain will probably want to shove off within the next hour. That places us at Aqua Narssada… probably sometime tomorrow night.”

                “I’m looking forward to that,” Bren said with a large grin. Biting through another huge chunk of fruit, she beamed happily, “It’ll be good to see home again! I wonder if mom will be around.”

                “Meeting Bren’s family was definitely not on my list of expected things,” Kai noted, frowning at his own iola fruit before taking a bite.

                “It’ll be nice to meet the family that created someone so fond of lava,” Tearna laughed. “More than anything, I’m ready to see that city! It’s supposed to be even more beautiful than Orden, and if the rumors hold true… I might never want to leave.” Smiling at the thought, she waved her crab, “Let’s just focus on eating! We can admire the city when we get there!”

                Waves lapped against the galleon as it sped through the water. Mist erupted off its prow and sprinkled the deck as it rose and fell with the tune of the ocean, Tearna sitting near the back of the ship as she looked off at the islands with a small smile. Chewing on her pen, she began to write again, “It was rather sad to think of just how little time we would spend here. With so many possible creatures to document, it felt like a crime to leave so soon, but I was able to fill out a good portion of my journal, part of which involved another night excursion!”

                Shadows filled much of the shallow water, but there was still light to be found! Tall coral pulsed with light while small, glowing creatures scuttled across the ocean floor, illuminating the water with a more brilliant splendor than what it possessed during the day. Bioluminescent fish swam in every direction, including entire schools of lantern fish while larger fish drifted among them.

                “Much to my delight, the Southern Isles are just as beautiful at night thanks to all the bioluminescent species!” Tearna swam through the lights as her eyes sparkled, prompting her to roll on her back as she laughed over the lantern fish swimming all around her, “It wasn’t just the fish that had illuminated, but the coral as well, creating a scene that was just as beautiful as the night sky!”

                Her tails flowed out behind her as she swam closer to the coral, grabbing onto a rock as she carefully peered over the various creatures, “While not all life was bioluminescent, a huge portion of were, including the aptly named thistlestar!” Slowly moving across the rock was a rather large starfish, five large arms sticking off a thick, round core with neon lights pulsing across it, “Thistlestars are a bioluminescent nocturnal starfish that feeds both on detritus and shellfish. I was fortunate enough to find numerous examples of these bright fish, and it was incredibly satisfying to see all the colors they came in! Despite being so easy to spot, their predators are few and far between thanks to the number of thick spines curling off their arms, hence their name!”

                Bright, neon patterns flashed as Tearna swam into deeper water, “What I really wanted to see were some fish that can’t be encountered anywhere else. While that did prove to be trickier than I was expecting, I did finally stumble across a hypnotic galaxyfish!”

                Violet patterns pulsed through a ghostly shell as a rather odd fish floated along. The strange fish was rather thick, like a sideways bulb, and was entirely see-through, revealing a speckled interior. Six spindly fins trailed off the front of its body, and it had four glowing eyes on the four different quarters comprising its alien face. “Galaxyfish are a nocturnal fish that has fascinated scientists for thousands of years! Bearing some semblance to a jellyfish, galaxyfish are entirely see-through and support a beautiful, violet color enhanced by their white speckles. Despite their resemblance to jellyfish, they are not related and have no toxic properties!”

                Tearna paddled her feet as she swam in front of it, “These fish are entirely docile, and while they move slowly, they do move with a purpose! Thanks to their long, whip-like fins, they have a hypnotic property to them that allows them to lure in fish, something I got to witness!” Suddenly, the fish began to enlarge. Its back half began to sink into its front as it grew wider, it’s whip-like fins wiggling back and forth as it flashed with color. All four eyes fixated on the smaller fish in front of it, the hapless creature drifting closer and closer.

                Tearna flinched slightly as the galaxyfish suddenly swallowed the lantern fish. Tearna frowned as it began to deflate, but suddenly scrunched her face in disgust, “As I had the misfortune of learning, it’s see-through body means you can see its prey after it has been… swallowed…” Shivering at the sight, she turned away, “At the very least, I can mention that galaxyfish get their luminous color from the lantern fish they eat. While their eating habits are certainly unsettling, at the very least, they are truly artistic creatures!”

                High in the sky, the stars disappeared as day illuminated and the landscape shifted. Tearna’s footsteps echoed as she moved over to the railing alongside Bren, narrowing her eyes and peering ahead as the other shasheek bounced on her heels excitedly, “After a few days of travel, we finally arrived at civilization, this time in the famous, tropical paradise of Aqua Narssada!”

                Light sparkled across the rooftops of the colorful buildings scattered around the immense port city. Waves lapped against the docks sticking out from its large harbor, hundreds of galleons docked while sea phraits circled overhead. “As the name suggests, Aqua Narssada is a massive aquatic city,” Tearna narrated. “The city’s harbor was at least five times the size of Adecial’s, and the sheer number of galleons was stunning! It’s no surprise that it’s heralded as the center of naval development, and the city itself was just as incredible as its reputation claimed!”

                Tall, powerful, light red walls surrounded the city along the coast, tall towers segmenting it with the crimson flags waving at their peaks. Behind the walls, a maze of grid-like streets wove around tall buildings. Fresh scents from bakeries and flower shops wove down nearly every street, and there were people coming and going all over! Ghollon calmly pulled wagons while leaves rustled in the tall trees planted along the center of the roads, children running around laughing while crews worked to unload supplies from newly arrived wagons.

                “Aqua Narssada is like Orden in so many ways,” Tearna wrote, looking around with a dropped jaw as she slowly walked. She slowed to a stop as she stared up at a tree, “The landscaping was breathtaking! In no other city have I seen such harmony between civilization and nature, and the smells were overwhelming!”

                Drinks clinked in what looked to be a tavern as Tearna stopped in front of it, “Most of the buildings in Aqua Narssada are made from stone similar to that of Mercanta, but every building was colored differently. They had timber windows, timber doors, and their roofs were all shingled in tan tile, but apart from that, they were all stunningly different, creating a rather exciting experience since I never new what I would find.” She laughed as she noted the massive windows built along the top of a greenhouse, “Even the shops here were designed around the goods they sold, and the quality of what I found was second to none!”

                Tearna’s footsteps echoed as she slowly meandered onto a new road and peered at its center. Waves lapped against brick walls as she stepped up to the canal bisecting the road, “Another feature that caught me off guard were the canals! Branching through a good portion of the city were canals that split many of the major roads, allowing smaller supply ships to ferry goods deeper into the city.” One such gondola rocked gently within the water, numerous crates stacked across it lifting away as a wind wielder unloaded it, “Some of the streets were designed with small lifts to help unload the ships, but I also found sets of stairs that led down to small walkways. I knew that life in this city was heavily dependent on water, but I never really appreciated what that meant until now!”

                Steam rose from a large plate as it was set onto a counter. Picking up her fork, Tearna smiled eagerly as he dug into the pile of rice and fish, “Of course, the ships in these canals weren’t just for supplies!” Biting down, she squirmed with pleasure, other patrons lined up at the counter waiting for their own meals as the long ship gently rocked. “Several ships were actually floating cafes! Apparently its common for café ships to dock in different parts of the city on different days, keeping things fresh and exciting through what are effectively moving shops!” Writing in her journal, she looked up curiously as a ship heaped with fruit stalls slowly passed, “I would actually go so far as to say that Aqua Narsadda effectively has its own bazaar, except this one tends to move around wherever it pleases.”

                Birds chirped atop several poles lining a large, spacious park as Tearna strode into it, multiple rivers weaving across the large field, “Aqua Narssada is also known for its parks. These parks are vast, open areas covered in grass, and they are excellent places for one to relax the day away!” Tearna breathed a small sigh as she lay on a small hill, “I admit, I may have gotten a little sidetracked, but I wasn’t able to stay too long! After all, I had a place that I needed to be!”

                “Mom!” Bren exclaimed happily as she threw her arms around the tall, dark furred shasheek.

                “Ahh, my little ember! I wasn’t expecting to see you!” the larger shasheek laughed as she hugged her in return, ignoring the soot she was getting all over her. Waves of heat rolled through the large forge, numerous furnaces belching waves of fire as massive bellows continuously worked. Many other smiths were working at various forges while others carried parts and crates full of material to different stations, all the while smoke continued to pour through the holes of its tent-like ceiling.

                Watching thousands of embers erupt from the maw of a forge, Tearna and Kai both snapped their fingers and pointed with slight frowns, “That explains everything…”

                “I assume that your little adventure around the world must be going well for my little ember to have made it here,” the dark furred shasheek said with a happy smile, a steaming mug of tea resting between her large hands.

                “Mom, please don’t call me that in front of my colleagues,” Bren groaned with embarrassment as Kai snickered.

                “Oh, don’t be like that, you little cinderflea,” the shasheek laughed, Bren only frowning at her in response. She looked at Tearna and Kai warmly, “Thank you both for taking such good care of my little ember! I was terrified that something would happen to her, but it’s relieving to see that she’s doing so well.”

                “It’s gone quite well, surprisingly enough,” Tearna said with a thoughtful smile. Sipping on her tea, she leaned against the small glass table they were sitting around, “Though, we were afraid we were going to lose her in the Faladorian Mountains! Someone isn’t exactly fond of cold.”

                “Oh, First Archon, no,” Bren’s mom laughed heartily, Bren’s ears heating with embarrassment. “My little ember has never had a tolerance for cold. Why, I remember when she was little, she would come running into the living room and hide on my lap under a blanket! When her father tried to pick her up, she would just hiss at him and hide further under the blanket!”

                “I didn’t think this would turn into story time for every embarrassing memory I have,” Bren groaned as Kai burst out laughing.

                “Aww, I think it’s a lovely story,” the shasheek said as she smiled at her daughter. “You were always so fond of the forge, and I loved it when you came running for me because you knew your momma could help you stay warm!”

                “At least we know where her love of warmth comes from,” Tearna spoke up, deciding to spare Bren a little as the shasheek slammed her face onto the table out of sheer embarrassment. “We didn’t think we would get her to leave Garodar. I’ve never seen someone want to relax by lava before.”

                “That’s definitely my fault!” She smiled at her tea as flames licked the cup, keeping the water scalding hot as her eyes glowed with faint power, “I’m a flame wielder and a blacksmith by heart, so she got a double dosage of heat tolerance from me!” Chucking, she suddenly looked at Tearna curiously, “So, you’re the one who’s in charge of documenting everything?”

                “One of them at least,” Tearna said with a nod. She set her journal on the table, “I have a few journals now. It’s incredible the sheer number of things we’ve seen, and it’s hard to believe that this trip is only at its midway point.”

                “It sounds like you’re having quite the success though!” Blinking with a start, she suddenly leaned forward with a bright smile, “Hey, if you need suggestions, you should make a stop by the fisherman’s wharf!”

                “The wharf?” Tearna repeated, looking at her curiously. “That’s where all the fishersheek were sitting, right?”

                “That’s the one,” she said with a firm nod. “I know it doesn’t seem like much, but that wharf is a gathering place for everyone that fishes, including those returning from deep water! The fish market there is always selling fish from across the islands, and they frequently get incredibly rare catches! They’ve even have lux eel from time to time!”

                “Wait, what?!” Tearna exclaimed. “They get fish from that deep?!”

                “All the time,” the shasheek laughed. “The fish they get is random, but you can almost always count on them having at least one, rare abyssal fish somewhere!”

                Tearna’s jaw dropped slightly. Shaking her head roughly, she smiled brightly, “Thank you so much for the tip! Even if it’s already dead, just getting the chance to see such rare creatures would be an incredibly gift to my journal!”

                “I’m glad that I was able to help my little cinderflea’s friends!” Laughing with amusement as Bren groaned, the shasheek pointed at Teana and then Kai, “So, how long have you two been together for?”

                Blinking with a start, they both sat upright with startled expressions, “WHAT?!”

                Bird calls echoed as seaphraits circled over the harbor. Waves lapped at the thick, stone columns supporting the piers, several piers being solid stone all the way out to the depths. Huge crews were working to unload galleons across many of the piers while cranes operated closer to shore, but there were some more peaceful sights to be found. Amongst the chaos, fishersheek were dangling rods off the docks, some of them reeling in their catches while others were only just breaking out the tackle.

                On the south side of the harbor, however, hundreds of people were fishing together. Further out, boats were rocking with even more people fishing while other vessels were docked, unloading heaps of fish. The fisher wharf was a large area pathed in stone with a large market dominating its heart. Numerous stalls sat beneath a massive tent, crates of fish coming and going alongside heaps of traffic. The fish market was almost constantly active all day and night, and stood as one of the most visited spots in all the city, but today was proving to be a little special.

                “No way,” someone in a large crowd whispered, excitement ringing through the air as dozens of fishersheek gathered around the impressive trophy dangling from a large crane. Water dripped off the massive creature dangling from the hook, several fishersheek standing alongside it with proud expressions as they spoke to a journalist.

                “Excuse me!” a voice spoke up as someone pushed through the crowd. “Pardon me! Explorer here! Coming through!” With a gasp, Tearna popped out from the crowd, shaking herself off before looking up and gasping, “Though I hardly expected to find one on this trip, a tip from Bren’s mother, of all people, led me right to one of the most feared fish in all the seas! Though it was long dead, it was still breathtaking to encounter one of the legendary lux eels!”

                Dangling from the crane was the body of the massive eel, somewhere around thirty feet in length. The eel was covered in dark, leathery skin, a small fin running along its back and belly all the way to the end of its long tail. It had large fins up near its head and bright, splotchy patterns along its sides, and its thick teeth were still glinting. Staring with wide eyes, Tearna quickly pulled her journal out, “Lux eels are an apex predator know to inhabit the abyss. These massive eels are bioluminescent and extremely hostile!”

                “Despite their violent nature, these eels are incredibly fascinating. They are large than ghollon by several factors and have mouths full of extremely large teeth!” Tearna studied the beast carefully as she slowly moved around it, “What makes lux eels so sought after are their teeth. Lux eel teeth are well known for their sturdiness and flexibility, making them the best material for fishing rods. Their bones, blood, and skin also serve various industries in unique ways, so whenever one of these rare eels are found, it’s always a newsworthy event.”

                Light glistened off the large eel as Tearna stopped behind it and smiled up at it, “Getting to see one of these majestic creatures is truly an incredibly opportunity. I was incredibly grateful to get the chance to study it, and I can only hope that my notes are enough to show our people just what majesty lurks beneath the waves!” Breathing out a content sigh, Tearna squinted off in the distance, “With the lux eel documented, I felt as if my time in the Southern Isles was at its end, but that’s when I noticed the last thing I had to document.”

                Tearna slowly walked up to the railing of a small overlook tucked within the city. Rooftops shone around her on all sides, but her eyes were trained on the immense cliffs towering over the north side of the city, “While it was easy to lose ourselves in the city, I would be failing my duties if I didn’t mention it’s most prestigious resident. One of the five Archons lives within Aqua Narssada!”

                Towering atop the cliffs was a massive palace every bit as grand as the one they had encountered in Neruvar, five tall spires standing at its five corners. “The Archon’s palace in Aqua Narssada reminded me of the architecture in Orden,” Tearna continued as she took notes. “It was a massive, sprawling complex mostly dominated by timber with wavy green rooftops and a golden motif matching its current master. Seeing the light shining off its many, stained-glass windows was a true treat, but what really caught my eye was the sheer amount of construction going on!”

                Sprawling across the cliff facing the ocean was a massive structure made of scaffolding and foundational pieces. Laborers were moving up and down the mega-structure, placing walls and more support beams all the way up to the Archon’s very back door. Near the water, massive stone foundation had already been built, conveying the image of a harbor under construction, but the sheer amount of timber and scaffolding made it clear that it wasn’t just a harbor.

                “As it happened, the Archon’s palace was undergoing serious renovation,” Tearna wrote, studying the construction carefully. “From what I gathered, the council recently decided to turn Aqua Narssada into its naval base and make its resident Archon the chief expert on maritime activities. To accommodate this new directive, they were constructing what would be the largest shipyard in existence. Though I wasn’t able to see the plans, I was told that it would be a megalithic structure comprising the entirety of the cliff all the way to the grotto just below the palace. From here, the council would be able to help dictate naval development!”

                Finishing off her sentence, she looked back out at the palace with a fond smile, “Getting to see such a prestigious structure was a true honor! Knowing that the Archons are watching over us and helping to pave the way for future development makes me feel far more secure, and I was glad that I was able to lay eyes on two of the five palaces!” Thinking about it with amusement, she laughed and wrote, “I wonder if I’ll see another one before this adventure is over!”

                The next day, warmth rolled around Tearna as she slowly rose and fell in tune with the waves of the ocean, her smile shining as they sailed past small islands. “Enjoying it while it lasts?” Kai asked, stepping up beside her slowly.

                “Trying to,” she nodded, not looking at him as he awkwardly stopped beside her.

                Silence settled over them as he looked at the water, his ears preemptively heating with embarrassment. Closing his eyes briefly, he looked back at her, “Hey, I… I know it’s been awkward since… Bren’s mom flapped her big mouth, but… We’re… We’re still friends, right?”

                “Huh?” Tearna looked at him in abject confusion. Blinking a few times, she finally smiled, “Of course! While that was beyond mortifying, I’m not going to let a little embarrassment get between us!” Nodding for emphasis, she looked back out, “We’ll just forget that her mom ever made that comment. After all, it’s not like it was true or anything.”

                “R-right,” Kai nodded, rubbing the back of his head. Frowning at the railing, he finally shook his head before relaxing, “Yeah, there’s no reason for either of us to get sheepish. After all, we saw what she was doing to Bren there. I think she was purposely trying to embarrass all of us.”

                “It certainly felt like it,” Tearna laughed, looking ahead of the ship.

                Looking up at the shining blue sky, Kai leaned over the railing, “So… I guess this is it. Our time in the Southern Isles is almost over.”

                “Unfortunately,” Tearna echoed with a nod as she pulled out her journal. “It was a little too short for our liking, but duty calls, and that means its time to finish my entry.” Frowning in thought, she finally began to write.

                “Though it was far too short, our journey in the Southern Isles was spectacular. We got to see so many colorful sights and experience so many incredible things. These isles truly are a tropical paradise, and a part of me will always be jealous of the people who get to call this sprawling island chain home!” Thinking as she tapped her chin, she continued, “But it was time, once again, to look ahead at the new journey laid out before us, and it was set to be a bit nostalgic!”

                Gongs sounded as shouts rang out from the front of the ship, Tearna letting out a small sigh as the crew readied for landfall, “After venturing halfway around the world, we were finally returning to the shores where it had all started. Almost a month ago, we set off from the port of Randara along the north side of the continent, and now we were returning to the continent’s southeastern tip! Though we were close to home, our journey wasn’t even close to over yet. Thericia is a massive continent filled with wonders just waiting to be found, and the first stop on what would prove to be a long adventure was none other than the harbor of Nuvar!” Many miles ahead of them, a massive peninsula stuck out into the water, a huge, rocky mountain rising from its center with a large harbor thriving in its shadow…