BOOK 1: BEYOND THE ICE WALL - Chapter 21: Before the Departure (by Clive J. Welan)

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Chapter 21: Before the Departure

Night came faster than they expected, the sky above the harbor covered in dark clouds, the sea wind blowing stronger as if the world itself knew… something was about to change. Inside the warehouse, dim lights flickered, the map still spread across the table, the route south still visible, tomorrow night—just one day away.

Quianna sat in front of the screen, checking the data again—coordinates, timing, ocean currents—before letting out a quiet breath.
“This is insane…”

Pierre stood near the door, staring outside.
“I’ve stopped trying to find a better word.”

Rhevan entered quickly.
“We don’t have much time.”

Everyone turned.

“There’s been a change,” he said.

Eljireh stood immediately.
“Global Council?”

Rhevan nodded.
“They’ve tightened surveillance at the main harbor.”

Pierre exhaled.
“Just like we expected.”

Quianna asked,
“What about the outer dock?”

Rhevan replied,
“Still usable.”
“But not for long.”

Silence. Eljireh spoke quietly,
“That means we have to leave sooner.”

Rhevan nodded.
“Tonight.”

Silence.

Pierre gave a faint smile.
“Good. I don’t like waiting.”

But Quianna didn’t smile.
“Tonight is too soon.”
“We’re not ready.”

Eljireh looked at her.
“We’re never going to be ready.”

The words hung in the air.

A few moments later, they began preparing—small bags, basic equipment, water, food, navigation tools—no luxury, no guarantees, just enough to survive. Pierre stuffed something into his bag.
“If we die… I’d at least like to not be hungry first.”

Quianna shook her head slightly.
“Are you serious?”

“Always.”

But beneath that… he knew. This wasn’t a normal journey.

Eljireh stood alone outside the warehouse, staring at the sea—dark, calm, yet somehow deeper than before—until footsteps approached behind him. Quianna.

“You’re not helping?” she asked.

Eljireh didn’t turn.
“I’m just… thinking.”

Quianna stood beside him.
“Still about earlier?”

Eljireh nodded slowly.
“Eighteen years…”

Quianna didn’t answer immediately.
“Eljireh…”
“…maybe it’s just a coincidence.”

Eljireh shook his head.
“The Global Council doesn’t do something for eighteen years because of coincidence.”

Silence.

“Why do you think they did it?” Quianna asked.

Eljireh looked out at the sea.
“I don’t know.”
“And that’s what scares me.”

For the first time… he said it honestly.

Fear.

Not of the journey.
Not of The Southern.
But of himself.

In his mind, an old voice surfaced—his father’s.

“One day… you will search for something you cannot avoid.”

Eljireh closed his eyes. What did his father know?

“Eiran.”

Pierre’s voice called him—his new name. Eljireh opened his eyes and turned.

“We’re ready,” Pierre said.

Rhevan stood behind him.
“If we leave… we don’t stop.”

Quianna looked at them. Silence. Then she nodded.
“Alright.”

They walked together out of the warehouse toward the dock, their footsteps echoing against the wet wooden planks as the harbor lights swayed and the wind grew stronger, and in the distance… the ship waited—dark, still, and silent.

But on the other side of the harbor… a vehicle stopped, its lights turned off as several agents stepped out, one of them speaking quietly,
“The targets are moving.”

Inside another vehicle, Lucien Varkis sat calmly, unhurried, his gaze fixed on the sea.
“Tonight…” he said softly,
“…they will take another step.”

The agent beside him asked,
“Do we stop them?”

Lucien gave a faint smile.
“No.”

He looked toward the dock—toward the three figures walking, unaware.
“We’ll see… how far they can go.”

At the dock, Eljireh paused for a moment, staring at the ship, then at the sea beyond it, and for an instant… he felt like he was standing between two worlds—the one he knew, and the one he had never seen—he took a deep breath, then stepped forward, and without realizing it… that night was not just the beginning of a journey, but the beginning of something… that had been waiting for him all along.

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