Dorothy’s Forbidden Grimoire Novel - Chapter 423

**Chapter 423: Sea Fog (Paraphrased)**

The night stretched endlessly across a vast, open sea. Winds rolled steadily over the water, stirring the waves into a rhythmic pulse. Overhead, a heavy layer of clouds obscured the starlit sky, rendering the world above nearly invisible—only pitch-black darkness met the eye.

Amid that shadowed seascape, scattered glimmers drifted slowly forward, spread out from each other. On closer inspection, the light sources revealed themselves—lanterns swaying aboard several vessels. A modest but crucial fleet pushed onward through the inky waters.

This was the Church’s official escort group for the faithful. Having set out from Navaha, the fleet was headed for Iwigo, journeying non-stop. Now, well into their second night at sea, they were approaching the end of their voyage.

At the center of the fleet were three standard passenger ships filled with pilgrims journeying to the Mother Goddess’s holy sanctuaries. Most hailed from places like Pruitt, Faranor, and Ilmo—ordinary believers, driven by devout faith, charitable offerings, or respected conduct. Chosen and sent forth by local churches, these pilgrims carried the honor of representing the common devotion to the Mother on this sacred mission.

Alongside them were several clergy members from the Church—nuns and priests who had earned the journey through application or higher recommendation. Faniniya was one such traveler.

In a small cabin aboard one of the pilgrim vessels, Faniniya was finishing her nightly devotions. Once the prayers concluded, she opened her eyes and glanced at the wall-mounted clock.

“So late already? I should rest…”

Yawning lightly, she pushed herself up, her gaze wandering to the porthole where only shadows stretched across the ocean. Clouds devoured both stars and moon, leaving the sea pitch black.

‘Can’t see a thing… I’d hoped to catch a glimpse of fish jumping beneath the moon, like the stories said. Thought maybe a journey like this would grant the chance. But this weather’s been unkind for days…’

A little disheartened, she stretched and turned toward her desk. Books and a small map were spread across it. She leaned in to study the chart, tracing the course they’d followed.

‘We’ve sailed a long way from Navaha. The crew says Iwigo isn’t far now. Even with Jodd and his group absent, everything’s running without issue. Everyone seems to know their duty. I suppose my fears at the start were unnecessary.’

Her earlier unease began to fade, washed away by the fleet’s orderly progress. Jodd’s departure under the weight of an investigation had made her nervous, but the mission had carried on without fault.

“May Lord Jodd and his companions be safe. Let the Lord watch over them.”

Whispering her closing prayer, Faniniya tidied her books, splashed her face at the washbasin, and changed into sleepwear. She extinguished the lamplight and slipped beneath the covers.

The soft sway of the sea and the quiet lapping of waves soon drew her into a deep, peaceful sleep.

……

Elsewhere, the fleet continued gliding silently through the dark ocean. Though most onboard rested, assigned watchmen remained on alert, scanning the vast sea for signs of danger—be it unknown vessels or looming threats.

As midnight deepened, weariness spread. Even seasoned watchmen began yawning, bored by the stillness. Then, it began—mist rising from the black waters.

At first, the thin fog seemed harmless, easy to ignore. Such sea mists were not uncommon. But the haze thickened steadily, swallowing the horizon. Before long, alarms shrieked from the Glow Lamps rigged to every ship.

Startled guards rushed to their posts, weapons in hand, watching the Glow Lamps flare with matching signals—disturbances within the Cup and Lamp spiritual fields.

The fleet responded at once. Orders barked across decks. Crew searched frantically for the source of the disruption—until the acting commander recognized what they were truly facing.

“The fog! It’s not natural!” he shouted from the Boone’s deck, activating Second Sight to peer deeper into the creeping mist. “We’re under attack! All hands to stations! Ready Gale Summoning Runes—clear the haze!”

His command rippled instantly through the formation. Escort ships unleashed stored wind magic—using Shadow runes and spirit reservoirs to stir up fierce gusts. Designed specifically to fight off heavy mists and stormy weather, the Gale Summoning Runes earned their keep.

As winds howled and ripped through the fog, visibility briefly improved. The commander tapped into the Lamp’s night-vision abilities, scanning the waters for enemy ships or raiders.

Nothing.

‘No vessels. No movement. Where are they hiding? Where’s the threat coming from?’

The mystery deepened as fresh mist welled up from the sea, denser than before, curling in thick plumes. A chill crept down the commander’s spine.

‘That much fog… Only powerful spirit-wielders could conjure this. White Ash-class at the very least. Possibly more than one!’

The grim truth struck him. Their fleet lacked any White Ash defenders. If multiple Water Manipulators were behind this, the convoy was in serious jeopardy.

“Are there any Gale runes left?”

“None, sir. We only had five. All used.”

The commander’s heart sank. He turned toward the dark mass surrounding them. “If there are Crevice Chanters below us… alert Stone Step and Carved Tomb. Drop depth charges!”

The order made its way to the rear destroyers. Sailors hurried to the sterns, releasing cylindrical bombs into the sea. Water erupted behind them with deep, muffled booms.

But the fog didn’t budge. If anything, it thickened, pressing tighter around the ships. Whatever they struck below didn’t stop what was coming.

“These weapons are worthless… they’re made for sea monsters, not stealthy swimmers… they’re detonating too far out…”

His frustration boiled over.

“If Jodd’s team were here, they’d have burned these pests out in seconds!”

With no White Ash armor bearers onboard, they lacked the firepower needed to push back.

Somewhere beneath them, enemies might be closing in, completely unseen. The thick haze had swallowed everything—even the nearest ships now appeared as faint blurs in the gloom.

Determined not to be blind, the commander issued a final order.

“Light the Radiant Lamps! All ships—now!”

Powered by spiritual energy, the Radiant Lamps blazed like spears of light. Their beams carved through the fog, letting ships regain sight of each other—if only faintly. Through these radiant markers, the fleet stayed oriented amid the chaos.

Still, they were drawn further into the fog. Tension weighed heavy on the air. Sailors gripped weapons tightly, glancing nervously at every shifting shadow. Officers hovered near hilts, unsure when the blow might fall.

Time dragged. The thick gray hung over them like a smothering blanket. No attack came. No ship was struck. The silence remained.

Yet no one believed they were safe.

Suddenly, the fog began to lift. It didn’t burn away—it simply released them, like curtains parting. Within moments, the dense veil vanished. The sea returned to its natural stillness. The Radiant Lamps illuminated open water—revealing something missing.

“Why now? Why let us go?” the commander muttered, uneasy.

He turned, scanning the surrounding sea with the high beams. Then he froze.

Nine ships had left Navaha. His vessel counted as one. That meant eight others should have been within sight.

Only five lights now remained.

Three ships had vanished—without Radiant Lamps, they’d been consumed in the mist. The three passenger vessels, carrying the pilgrims, were gone without a trace.

Taken in the silence, stolen by the fog.

Their mission was a failure beyond recovery.

……

Far from the rest of the fleet, the three missing ships had been swept away—drawn by uncanny currents, snatched early on and carried off in another direction.

On deck, sailors scrambled in confusion, trying to locate the missing escort ships.

A sudden eruption broke the sea’s surface nearby—a geyser of water soared upward. But what followed wasn’t just seawater. Something hit the deck.

A man.

Shirtless, his soaked frame rose from the deck, water cascading down his well-built body. His tangled hair clung to his skin as he addressed the stunned crew.

“These ships are now under our control,” he said calmly but with firm authority. “Warriors of Radiance, lay down your arms. We do not come for blood. Comply, and no one will be harmed.”