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Chapter 314: The Phantom Joins the Flock
Chapter 314: The Phantom Joins the Flock
The sky above the Endless Ocean was a vast expanse of black and silver, stars gleaming like scattered gemstones. The white raven cut through the night air, its wings gliding effortlessly on the ocean breeze. Below, the waves shimmered, reflecting the moonlight in broken patterns.
Seraphis was on a mission once again.
Her keen silver eyes scanned the endless waters, searching. Somewhere out here, beyond the known trade routes and pirate-infested waters, was a man who had once been feared across the seas.
Captain Salvar the Phantom.
A Ghost on the Waters
Salvar’s ship was notorious—a phantom on the waves, appearing and disappearing like a ghost. No port could claim him. No fleet could capture him. Those who saw his sails rarely lived to tell the tale.
Seraphis knew he wouldn’t be easy to find.
But she wasn’t ordinary.
She closed her eyes, letting her magic extend beyond the physical world. Her raven senses sharpened, tuning into the shifting winds, the movements of the waves—until finally, she felt it.
A ship, moving in the shadows, hidden from the world.
She changed course, wings beating strong as she descended toward the darkened vessel.
A Tense Landing
As her feet touched the sturdy wooden deck, she let her magic shift her form. Feathers dissolved into flesh. Her wings retracted, and in their place stood a tall, silver-haired elf in midnight black armor.
Instantly, blades were drawn.
The crew of the Phantom were not ordinary sailors. They were killers, smugglers, and ghosts of the sea. Their hands went to their swords and daggers, eyes sharp with suspicion.
“Hold it,” Seraphis said, her voice calm but filled with authority. Not a single shred of fear.
“I don’t mean you any harm.” She lifted her hands slightly. “I just want to talk to your Captain.”
A silence fell over the deck.
Then, from the shadows of the captain’s quarters, a figure stepped forward.
The Phantom Appears
Captain Salvar was not a man easily intimidated.
Tall and draped in a long black coat, his face was obscured by a silver half-mask, leaving only his piercing dark blue eyes visible. His hat sat low, casting a deeper shadow over his sharp features.
“Talk?” his voice was deep, measured. “What does a Queen of Ravens want with a man like me?”
Seraphis smiled. “I want to offer you something bigger.”
His eyes flickered with amusement. “Bigger than this?” He gestured to his ship, his crew of elite cutthroats, the power he already wielded on the seas.
“Yes,” she said simply.
A New Future
Salvar studied her, his expression unreadable behind the mask.
“And why would I throw my lot in with you?”
Seraphis smirked. “Because you’re not the only one who’s joined me. Draven. Vance. Lysara. They’re all part of my Fleet now.”
At the mention of those names, a flicker of recognition passed through Salvar’s gaze. He wasn’t the type to show emotion, but she could tell.
He knew them.
And he was curious.
“What kind of fleet?” he finally asked.
“A Navy. My kingdom’s raven fleet.”
A soft chuckle left him. “A kingdom, you say?”
Seraphis nodded. “Yes. And I need someone like you. A phantom of the seas.”
He crossed his arms, still skeptical. “And what do I get?”
Seraphis didn’t hesitate. “Your own fortress. A thousand silver a month. A fleet that answers to you. And most importantly…”
She took a step closer.
“You get to be more than a ghost.”
A slow smirk curled on Salvar’s lips.
“I like the sound of that.”
Seraphis extended a hand. “Then come. Let’s go see your new domain.”
With a swirl of magic, a portal of deep blue mist formed beside them.
For the first time in years, Salvar stepped off his ship and into something unknown.
Arrival at Raven Island
As they stepped onto the docks of Raven Island, Salvar’s eyes narrowed, scanning the surroundings. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of salt and new beginnings.
His crew followed, their boots echoing against the wooden planks.
He turned to Seraphis. “Why is it so… empty?”
Seraphis shrugged. “It’s not populated yet. But we’re getting there.”
She led them toward the main headquarters, where the Raven Fleet’s leaders gathered.
Vance, Draven, and Lysara were waiting.
Salvar smirked. “Well. It seems I’m in familiar company.”
Lysara scoffed. “Just don’t slow us down, Phantom.”
Draven chuckled. “This just got a lot more interesting.”
The Left Side of the Island
Seraphis led Salvar and his crew toward another teleportation circle.
With a pulse of magic, they vanished—only to reappear on another part of the island.
This side was quieter. A smaller beach, a fortified dock, and a castle of dark stone built near the edge of a cliff.
Seraphis gestured toward it. “This is your domain.”
Salvar took a slow breath. He had never called any place home.
But this?
This was his.
He turned to her. “And what about the walls? How do we get through?”
Seraphis smirked. “Good question.”
She stepped forward, conjuring a small black crystal in her hand.
“This is bound to your ship. If your vessel touches any part of the walls, it will automatically teleport to the other side.”
Salvar arched a brow. “Only my ship?”
“Yes. And only you can activate it.”
She handed him a dagger.
He took it without hesitation, slicing his palm open and letting the blood drip onto the crystal.
A pulse of power surged through the air as the magic sealed the bond.
Final Oath
Seraphis turned toward his crew. “Here.”
She handed them naval uniforms, each adorned with the Raven Fleet’s insignia.
Then, she turned to Salvar and handed him his commander’s uniform—a dark navy coat embroidered with silver feathers.
And finally—
She stepped forward, placing a hand over his chest.
“Now, for the final step.”
A soft glow surrounded them, and within moments—
His form began to change.
Feathers rippled across his skin, his bones shifting, his eyes gleaming. In a matter of seconds, where he had stood now remained a phantom raven, its feathers dark as the abyss but its eyes glowing with spectral light.
As he stretched his new wings, a wild thrill ran through him.
He could feel it.
The power.
The freedom.
And the loyalty that bound him to this place.
Seraphis stepped back, a satisfied smirk on her lips.
“Welcome to the Fleet, Captain Salvar.”