The ancient vessel did not have the two steering oars like the original one Noctis had. Instead, it relied on a large steering wheel situated at the very rear. A runic circle was inscribed on the wheel itself.
The flying ship had to be controlled both physically and with soul essence. Invisible energy pathways spanned the entire length of the vessel, all converging at the roots of a beautiful tree growing around the main mast. It was this tree that produced the tremendous flow of essence required to propel the ship through the air—not the kybernetes. However, the pilot still needed to regulate that flow and serve as its nexus, meaning only someone at Awakened rank or above could operate it.
This beautiful tree was one of the saplings from the Heart God's Grove—something Klaus had obtained from Noctis during his second Nightmare. But unlike the Chain Breaker's tree used by the Fire Keepers, this one felt different. It felt alive... even conscious.
What truly surprised Hecate, though, was the sight of Lich sitting at the edge of the deck, calmly reading an ancient tome. Now it made sense who had completed the ship with all those intricate runic enchantments.
She took a few deep breaths, then glanced at Klaus, who seemed a little satisfied with the ship's design.
Hecate hesitated for a moment, battling with herself—then scowled and shoved the doubt aside. Without another thought, she jumped at Klaus, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.
"Thanks! This is the best gift ever!"
Klaus blinked, a little dumbfounded—then chuckled and ruffled her hair with amused fondness.
"Well, happy birthday... Since I'm satisfied with your training, here's your gift… Captain Jack Sparrow... Pftthh..."
Hecate didn't mind him laughing at her. Not this time. That's how happy she was.
She finally had a home—one that could soar through the skies and sail across the seas. A home of her own. Hecate had always dreamed of being an adventurer, of traveling the world... and now, that dream was beginning to come true.
Hecate quickly leaned in and kissed Klaus on the cheek, not minding the ghastly scar that marred his face. Then, without waiting for a reaction, she bolted off with the excitement of a child unwrapping their first gift.
Even though it was a bright, sunny day, the ship was shrouded in a dense, eerie mist. The air around it was damp and cold, carrying a haunting stillness that clung to her skin. Hecate shivered slightly, sensing that the temperature here was somehow lower—unnaturally so.
It had to be one of Lich's enchantments, she figured. Something to conceal the ship… or protect it.
What truly left Hecate speechless, however, was the size of the ship's interior. From the outside, it seemed large—but inside, it was something else entirely. The spatial enchantments were no joke.
She stepped into a grand chamber, its high ceiling arching above her like the vault of a cathedral. In the center stood five heavy chests, arranged in a semicircle before a massive, reinforced door. The air here felt charged, laced with old magic and secrets.
Curiosity tugging at her, Hecate opened the first chest. Her eyes widened—it was filled to the brim with soul shards, each one glowing faintly with dormant power.
The second chest held gleaming mystical ores harvested from the Dream Realm—rare materials that could be used to forge Transcendent Memories, or perhaps even something stronger.
The third chest was different. Long and made of dark adamantine wood, its surface was reinforced with dull, soulsteel bands. It looked more like a coffin than a container. Inside, she found a glittering trove of ancient jewelry and rare crystals, humming with potent energy.
And then came the last two.
Both were overflowing with gold—yet not ordinary gold. Hecate's senses tingled. There was soul essence infused within the metal itself, faint but unmistakable. What she didn't knew was that this wasn't just simple coins but currency that would be used in future.
The Lower Deck stretched from the bow of the ship to its midpoint, lined with crates and barrels neatly arranged in reinforced shelves. The air was bitterly cold—so cold, in fact, that frost clung to the walls like a second skin, and a thin layer of ice coated the floor beneath her boots.
Hecate's breath curled in the air as she explored, eyes widening slightly. This was no ordinary storage space. The food here—fresh fruits, dried meats, and even baked goods—was perfectly preserved. Not spoiled, not stale. Time itself felt… paused. Not in the sense that she couldn't move or breathe, but more like her body had stopped aging the moment she stepped inside.
It didn't take a genius to figure out who was behind this enchantment. Klaus, of course. He'd done this so the food wouldn't spoil. A practical enchantment, sure—but more than that, it felt deliberately designed for her. He could've just handed her enchanted bags with the same properties, but no. This space—this frosted little haven—was his way of saying it was hers.
And since Hecate was still technically a child in his eyes, maybe Klaus had thought it better not to make everything coldly efficient. Maybe, just this once, he wanted something whimsical. Something with a little magic and wonder left in it.
Near the stern of the ship, Hecate found various compartments—living quarters tucked away behind thick doors, two separate mess decks, and cozy sleeping alcoves with hammocks and built-in shelves. Everything was well-crafted, sturdy, and practical. But while those things were nice, they weren't what made her heart race with excitement.
No, what really got her blood pumping were the weapons.
As she continued her exploration, Hecate stumbled upon a long corridor flanked by heavy reinforced hatches. Opening one, her eyes lit up with childlike glee.
Cannons. Dozens of them.
Lined along the length of the ship, they sat silent but imposing, built of dark metal and etched with runes that shimmered faintly in the dim light. And it wasn't just cannons—there were massive scorpion ballistae, similar in design to the ones ancient Romans used. Elegant, terrifying constructs meant to pierce monsters and abominations alike.
Crates filled with cannonballs and thick, twisted bolts were stored nearby. But even without ammunition, Hecate knew the real magic of these weapons. Awakened like her didn't need steel to make them deadly. By channeling soul essence into the cannons, they could fire pure essence blasts—explosive and devastating. The ballistae worked the same way, launching essence-forged arrows capable of cutting through stone or hide.
She couldn't stop smiling.
"We're going to accomplish a lot of messed-up shit together, my dear Black Pearl," she murmured, running her fingers along one of the cannons, grinning to herself.
Now this was a pirate ship worthy of legends.
She opened the doors and stepped into a large war room. In the center stood a massive stone table—no, not just a table. It was a map of the Dream Realm, carved in stunning detail. She looked at it curiously. A small figurine of a ship floated above the surface, marking their current position: the Chain Isles.
To the south, both the Sword Domain and the Song Domain bordered the Stormsea, which was ruled by the House of Night. In the north, the Hollow Mountains stood like an impregnable wall in the path of human expansion.
The two Domains were separated by a Death Zone—or rather, several of them—stretching from the Hollow Mountains all the way to the Stormsea. This deadly territory widened in the south but was comparatively narrow in the north. That meant if the two enclaves were ever to be connected by land, the narrowest northern region had to be conquered first.
Far to the north lay the Death Zone, a place that had claimed the lives of many powerful Awakened. It had no official name, but people often called it the Godgrave.
The Forgotten Shore was as large as a continent back on Earth. It was one of the unique regions in the Dream Realm, located north of the Hollow Mountains.
East of the Forgotten Shore, tracing along the mountains, stretched a vast and terrible desert… What was it called again? Nightmare Desert? What kind of name was that? Hecate knew nothing about the region. Was it unexplored? Another Death Zone?
Her dad had a lot of mysteries surrounding his past. Klaus was like that—he wouldn't say shit, or he'd just make a few vague comments that drove you mad with curiosity.
"Bastard… saying stupid crap like, 'I'm creating crazy dad lore,'" she muttered, shaking her head in amusement.
Still, the map was beautiful. It was identical to the one inside the Lawless Tower. There were miniature mountains, a stunning castle—clearly the Bastion—surrounded by water. Yes, there was actual water on the map, forming a lake, and a forest encircling the Bastion.
Hecate then observed Ravenheart—the great citadel of the Song Clan. Volcanoes spewed fire and ash, lava flowed through their slopes, and snow fell gently from the sky in an eerie contrast.
She shifted her gaze to the Stormsea next. The water on the map surged with ferocity, and cutting through the waves was a colossal ship—clearly the Night Garden.
Then, her eyes wandered to a newly discovered region. There wasn't much to see there—just a dark city surrounded by oppressive walls, a black sea, and a gargantuan crimson spire that pierced the skies.
As for the Nightmare Desert... there was little besides a citadel called Black Skull and a towering black pyramid named Tomb of Ariel. Strange name... Why call a pyramid a tomb? Well, pharaohs did use them as tombs, but still—whatever. It wasn't completely barren either. She could see giant skeletons fighting across the map.
Huh. Klaus had interesting taste.
Anyway, Hecate was satisfied with everything she had seen. So this time, she decided to check out her cabin—which, of course, was the Captain's cabin.
She rushed toward it, passing several smaller cabins and a few service compartments along the way.
Taking a deep breath, she looked at the door and kicked it hard.
Only to fall flat on the floor, letting out a string of curses while clutching her leg, her eyes bitter with pain.
"What the hell is this ship made of!?"
Groaning, she stood up and reached out to touch the door instead. To her surprise, the moment her fingers made contact, the door recognized her soul essence and opened on its own.
Hecate blinked.
"…It was this easy?"
She grinned, walking inside—then stopped in her tracks.
"Woah…"
Hecate was pleasantly surprised. Her cabin, located at the stern of the ship, was far more spacious and elegant than the others. Large windows offered a breathtaking view of the sky, and a sternwalk balcony wrapped around the outside, inviting her to step out and feel the wind.
She wandered deeper into the room, tilting her head as her fingers trailed across a large wooden desk bolted to the floor. Charts, maps, and various navigation tools were scattered across its surface—along with a few golden coins casually tossed about.
The cabin was furnished with sturdy chairs, cushioned stools, and even a few plush seats that gave the place an air of lived-in comfort.
The atmosphere was a little chaotic, but undeniably charming. The air smelled of salt, wax, old paper, tobacco, and gun oil—a perfect blend for any proper pirate.
Nautical instruments and decorations adorned the walls: compasses, astrolabes, and weathered journals. And there, proudly displayed, was the flag of the Ascendancy.
To put it simply, her ship was badass! Still, Hecate felt a bit uneasy. Why was the ship so disturbing? The air was unnaturally cold and damp, and instead of candles, a sickly green-blue luminescence pulsed softly—as if the light came from the very wood itself.
"And why do I hear all these noises? It doesn't make sense," she scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Because it's a ghost ship," came a dry voice.
"Ahghh! What the fuck?!" she screamed, spinning around and summoning her weapon in panic—only to see Lich, Klaus, and Belial calmly watching her.
Hecate blinked as Lich let out an annoyed sigh, his hollow sockets narrowing with ancient irritation. He shot Klaus a bitter glance.
Klaus had once been his student—an insufferably curious and arrogant brat who barely listened. Lich had taught him runic sorcery and the hidden histories of the Dream Realm. And now, it seemed, fate had played a cruel joke: Klaus's children were just as troublesome. Worse still, they were his students too.
The ancient skeleton muttered a curse under his breath, grumbling with the timeless bitterness of an old mentor watching history repeat itself. Then, with a bony hand, he gestured toward an aged portrait mounted on the wall.
It was a painting of a middle-aged man with a long black beard and a tricorn hat. He wore a black coat, one hand resting on the hilt of a curved saber. His cold blue eyes gleamed with cruelty and ruthless cunning, as if daring the viewer to challenge him.
Hecate froze as the portrait erupted with booming, guttural laughter. The walls of her cabin pulsed unnaturally, and spectral figures began drifting through them—half-formed ghosts, sailors with hollow eyes and tattered coats, their footsteps leaving no trace as they passed through the room and vanished again.
The man in the painting leaned forward slightly, his head tilting as he idly twisted his black beard between his fingers. His eyes gleamed with cruel amusement, a pipe now clenched between yellowed teeth, smoke curling around the frame in unnatural shapes.
"Do you know who I am, brat?" he rasped, voice like gravel soaked in rum and blood. "Or what this ship really is?"
Hecate, still blinking in disbelief, shook her head slowly.
"No… I thought it was just a normal flying ship…"
The pirate in the portrait let out a scoff that sounded more like a bark, shaking the frame with its force. His smile twisted into something vicious.
"A normal flyin' ship?" he repeated with mocking incredulity. "I oughta toss yer bony little ass into the sea and let the Corrupted Ones pick yer guts apart, piece by piece!"
He jabbed a spectral finger toward her, smoke flaring like the breath of some ancient beast.
"It was that bony cunt and the smilin' prick with the silver tongue who defiled my ship—twisted her with runes and made her pretty for little girls like you!"
The pirate growled, his face twisted with rage and cold cruelty as he locked eyes with Hecate.
"You don't know who i am, huh? I fight not for crowns nor for lords, but for the fire burnin' in me chest and the wild winds fillin' me sails. I am Blackbeard— conqueror of the seven seas."
Hecate's eyes widened as she glanced at Klaus in disbelief.
"So this wasn't built...?"
Klaus grinned, shaking his head.
"Well, Noah and Isaac visited the Storm Sea while I was in my second nightmare. That region doesn't have just the Night Garden. So this isn't simply a ship, but a citadel as well. Noah found out about it, and with Isaac's luck, he managed to find and conquer it. Lich and I took care of the enchantments, while Tatiana and Diego handled the decorations. So, I guess this is a gift from the family."
Hecate blinked and remained motionless for a moment before taking a deep breath and then—
"THIS IS THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!"