Around them, another commotion rose. Someone shouting orders, a group preparing to try again.

Faint glow of aether gathered near the edge of the storm and then, lightning struck.

Atheline was left surprised. The lightning came from within the storm mixed in the cloud of wind.

It lashed outwards, precisely, tearing through the teleportation circle that had been created. The backlash threw two manipulators across the deck of a nearby ship.

Unfortunately, one didn’t get up.

The crowd whispered, everyone moving back again.

He exhaled softly.

"Yeah, that isn’t something you can walk through."

"Exactly, " Solaris said," which is why, everyone is just standing here without attempting anything."

"They’re waiting for the daredevils," he said.

Atheline briefly glanced behind him, before looking back. Solaris noticed his movements.

The wind picked up again, another wave crashing into them distancing their boats just slightly.

"If you’re planning to try, don’t rush it. Watch a little longer," the concern wasn’t missed," this thing... doesn’t behave the same way twice."

He nodded slightly.

"Got it."

They exchanged a few more words, nothing important, just enough to know about his family and what had been going on at home.

Solaris stepped back, returning to his group.

Atheline was left standing there his gaze on the circling storm. At some point, Lilith stepped towards him. Her hand finding his sleeve, holding it lightly.

Her gaze rested on the storm, observing quietly.

The storm roared ahead of them, restless and violent, yet it was still contained in that one area.

He watched it for a long time. Then quieter now, almost to himself...

"What if we don’t go through it..."

His gaze narrowed slightly, tracking the way the lightning curved along the storm’s edge. Like a guard.

"... but past it?"

Beside him, her fingers tightened slightly. He had gotten her interest.

"How?" She quietly asked.

He glanced at her then back to the storm.

"It’s still not concrete," he said," we should go back inside, I want to observe it from there."

They didn’t stay on the dock for long.

The noise was enough to push them away. People shouting, the lightning strikes, clashing opinions, and mourning.

A cycle had begun to form. Attack, fail them frustrations which led to people being driven back.

They would immediately be replaced by the next ones who thought they were the chosen ones.

Atheline and Lilith withdrew to their room in the upper cabin.

From the room, the storm stretched out in full view, circling the now almost visible island inside like a living wall.

He stepped towards the window first, resting a hand lightly against the frame.

"You can see everything from here."

Behind him, she closed the door with a soft click.

"Mmh"

She didn’t move to her seat, only poured two glasses of water, and drifted closer until she stood slightly behind him.

Atheline took the glass that was extended to him.

"Thank you."

Outside another attempt was underway. A group had gathered near one of the larger ships, their elements stacking in layers.

Fire, water wind, lightning, and body strengtheners wielded their weapons too.

Spears, arrows, and shields that had been enhanced by Aether.

"They’re trying to break through again, " he murmured.

"They’ll fail," she answered, almost immediately.

It was filled with certainty.

He glanced at her briefly, then back to the storm.

"Yes... probably."

The elements were launched. For a fraction of a second, the mash-up of elements looked beautiful cutting forward.

Then, the storm reacted. It shot out precisely, cutting through the elements and shattering the enhanced weapons that had been sent its way.

The backlash hit instantly, it struck its attackers. Two of them were thrown off their feet and into the water. Another slammed into the deck hard enough that the impact could be heard from a distance.

Chilling silence ensued for a moment, then shouting.

He exhaled softly.

"Thats the sixth one."

"They’re all the same," she said quietly.

He frowned slightly, "Not exactly. "

Her gaze shifted to him from the storm without him noticing.

"They’re using different methods," he continued, more to himself, " different elements combination, different attack formations ... but the result doesn’t change."

"Because they’re forcing it," she quietly said.

He paused.

’That... isn’t wrong’

His eyes narrowed slightly, focusing on the storm again. Watching the way it moved, almost selectively.

A smaller group approached next, more cautiously this time. No flashy attacks. Just three elements combined, one long spear, shields, and slow movements.

It was clear that they were trying to push through instead of breaking in.

"Let’s see," he murmured to himself.

They reached the edge safely. Everyone in their boat held their breath. For a moment, nothing happened, then the sea surged upwards.

A wall of water rose in front of them, too fast for them to even react. At the same time, a strike of lightning cut across.

To his surprise, it didn’t strike them directly but forced their boat back breaking their formation.

They retreated without any casualties, but still failed.

"... it reacts faster when they get closer," he said.

"Mmh."

"And stronger when there are more of them."

"Mmh."

He glanced at her again, faintly amused.

"You’re not even pretending to think about it are you?"

"I am," she said dryly.

He raised a brow.

"... and?"

She stepped closer, just enough that her shoulder brushed his arm.

"They’re loud."

"Loud?"

"In intent," her gaze finally shifted past him, towards the storm, " they want to enter. They push. They force. They demand. "

She was quiet, observing.

"It doesn’t like that."

He blinked once, then again. Slowly, his attention returned to the storm but this time, it was sharper and more focused.

’Intent’

He replayed what he saw.

The aggressive attacks were rejected immediately.

The defensive attacks were allowed closer then pushed back.

The large groups were met with overwhelming force.

"I understand... so it’s not just blocking entry," he murmured, " but also responding to how they try."

The words quietly settled in the space between them.

Outside, another shift of movement drew his attention. Two familiar figures stepped forward this time.

’Caius, Yander. What on earth are those two doing? I know protagonists are reckless but this...’

Atheline straightened slightly.

"Thats..."

"I know."