Nothing of note happened during the journey to Eastwatch. During the first few days, my companions and I focused on settling into our new identities, so we wouldn't attract suspicion when we arrived.

I was Ernest Rowe, while Anna was my wife, Gina Rowe. Leroy was Colson Rowe, my cousin, and Cally was Gwen Sommer, Anna's cousin. The four of us came from two families of minor nobles that had known each other for generations.

Like me, my companions also had disguise rings. Leroy's lightened up his hair, making him dirty blond, though he retained his brown eyes. Meanwhile, Anna and Cally's gave them black hair, green eyes, and plain features.

We decided upon a simple cover story. Anna and I, or Gina and Ernest, were a newlywed couple heading to Eastwatch for vacation. However, our families foisted Leroy and Cally (Colson and Gwen) on us like unwanted baggage. Gina and Ernest, of course, resented the intrusion, but dealt with it for the sake of maintaining peace. All in all, this made for an interesting dynamic.

Once the four of us became familiar with our respective roles, we left our cabins and started interacting with the other passengers, laying the groundwork for our new identities. Almost everyone else on board was heading to Eastwatch on vacation. It was the height of summer, so thousands of people were flocking there to enjoy themselves. Most of them were families traveling with their children, though a few were newlywed couples like me and Anna. I mean, Gina and Ernest.

Overall it took about two weeks to reach Eastwatch from Sunheart. They were among the best two weeks of my entire life. I got to act all lovey-dovey with Anna in front of others, which gave me a preview of what our married life would be like.

Not only that, as she stated during the meeting with Crawford, Anna took advantage of the situation to slake her thirst. The two of us spent more time in bed than out of it, earning us several sarcastic comments from Cally.

As a martial artist, my stamina surpassed that of most people. Despite this, Anna pushed me to my limits. I fell asleep most nights feeling wrung out but satisfied.

The airship we were on had a viewing deck that passengers could visit and gaze out at the landscape below. At the end of the two week trip, when we neared Eastwatch, my companions and I headed to the viewing deck so we could catch our first glimpse of the city. It was mid morning, without a cloud in the sky, so we had an unobstructed view of Eastwatch.

It was, in a word, gorgeous.

The city was located along the southeastern coast of the Solarian Empire. It sat atop a cliff made of white stone that jutted out towards the ocean. This also put it in a superb defensive position, since it was protected on three sides by sheer cliffs. A tall wall, also made of white stone, defended the city on the fourth side.

The city was wide rather than tall. Most of the buildings, which were also made from white stone, were only two or three stories tall. The only exception was a castle that stood at the end of the cliff. It was a gleaming edifice of thick walls and towering spires.

Sandstrike Castle, the home of House Sandstrike.

Below the cliff lay a sandy beach that stretched as far as the eye could see, in both directions, dotted with sparse vegetation here and there. Like the cliff and the city that stood upon it, the sand was also white.

At the bottom of the white cliff, just below Eastwatch, stood a small fish market. Stretching out from it lay a massive stone dock. Most of it was empty, since it was mid morning, but there were a few ships still moored there.

Beyond the beach was the ocean, which ran towards the horizon. Beautiful and unfathomable. The mere sight of it took my breath away. While I had seen oceans back on Earth, none of them affected me the same way as this one. Perhaps it was because this was Lumina, my home realm.

I wasn't the only one affected either. The other passengers let out exclamations of amazement, including my companions.

"So much water," Cally whispered.

"It's beautiful," Leroy said.

I glanced at the two of them.

"Have neither of you seen the ocean before?" I asked.

They shook their heads.

"I never got the opportunity," Cally said, a rueful smile on her lips.

"Neither have I," Leroy said.

Leroy made sense, since he spent almost his entire life inland. However, Cally surprised me. I assumed she was well-traveled, since she was a regressor and had lived an entire lifetime. Then again, she spent most of that fighting demons and struggling to survive. That didn't leave much time for leisure.

Unlike our companions, Anna maintained her composure. However, I saw a gleam of excitement in her eyes. I smiled, before I gazed back out.

Thousands of people occupied the beach at the bottom of the cliff, or swam in the ocean. I was too far away to pick out any details. However, they all wore colorful and vibrant clothing, making them look like bright dots against the white sand.

I saw dozens of ships, if not hundreds of them, out on the ocean. Most of them were fishing vessels, casting out their nets. However, a few of them were House Sandstrike warships out on patrol.

While the area around Eastwatch was peaceful, monsters existed everywhere. Sea monsters, in particular, were a serious threat to Eastwatch since the city relied on fishing for most of its food.

Our airship headed towards an airship dock located near the wall. Once it docked, my companions and I gathered our things from our rooms, before disembarking.

The moment we stepped outside, a wave of heat and humidity washed over us, accompanied by the faint scent of sea water. I took a deep breath, before letting out a satisfied sigh.

The disembarking area of the airship dock was a scene of organized chaos as people from all corners of the Solarian Empire crowded the area and got their bearings. However, despite this, it was easy to see who was a local and who was not.

The locals tended towards darker skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. This wasn't exactly unique to Eastwatch, since a lot of people in the southern half of the Solarian Empire looked like this. However, the people of Eastwatch favored looser clothing in bright and vibrant colors. The men wore vests, short-sleeved shirts, and loose trousers, while the women favored skirts, blouses, and wraps.

As a result, the locals showed a lot more skin. This was in contrast to the rest of the Solarian Empire, which was a lot more conservative.

The locals also spoke a regional dialect of Common Tongue, so their words had a slight accent to them. A long time ago, long before the Solarian Empire existed, this area had its own language. However, that was thousands of years ago. It died out a long time ago, to the point where few even remembered its name. Even so, traces of it still existed.

My companions and I found a quiet corner, before we discussed our next move.

"What do you think?" I asked them, raising my voice a little. "Should we visit our friends first, or should we find an inn?"

Friends, in this case, meant Crawford's people. He gave us an address, as well as the secret phrases necessary to get into contact with them.

"Inn," Anna said right away. "I don't want to carry my luggage around in this heat."

Cally and Leroy nodded in agreement.

"Very well," I said. "Let us be off then."

We headed out of the airship dock and looked around for a nearby inn. However, before we got very far, a local boy stepped into our path. He was around fifteen or sixteen years old, not that much younger than me. He wore a short-sleeved shirt and loose trousers made of course linen, as well as a blue cotton vest.

I didn't sense any mana from him, so he wasn't an Awakened.

"Friends!" the boy said, giving us a bright smile. He spoke with a slight accent. "Welcome to Eastwatch. My name is Emil. Is this your first time here? If so, let me be your guide. I have lived in this city my entire life, and I know all the best places. You can hire me for the low price of a single gold sol."

I raised an eyebrow at him. For a moment, I didn't know if this was a legitimate offer, or a potential scam. I glanced around and saw more locals making similar offers to other tourists. It seemed legitimate, so I decided to give Emil the benefit of the doubt.

"You find us an inn in a quiet area, and I'll pay you two gold sols," I said.

Emil's smile widened.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"You, sir, have a deal," he said. "Might I know your name, esteemed one?"

"I am Ernest Rowe." I grabbed Anna by her waist and pulled her closer. "This is my wife, Gina." I gestured to Leroy and Cally. "These are our cousins, Colson and Gwen."

"Newlyweds, I presume?" Emil asked.

I nodded.

"Then may I congratulate you for marrying such a beautiful woman, Lord Ernest."

"Just Ernest," I said, shaking my head. "I'm a minor noble, not a House scion."

Emil nodded in acknowledgment.

"Now then, shall we be off?" he asked.

"Lead the way," I said, pulling out a gold sol and handing it to him. "I'll give you the other after we reach the inn."

While I didn't think Emil was trying to scam us, it was better to be safe than sorry. If my caution offended him, he didn't let it show.

"Follow me then."

Emil led my companions and I to a nearby street, before he hailed an open air carriage. He helped us store our luggage, before he climbed up next to the driver and gave an address. The driver nodded, before driving forward, heading south.

The streets of Eastwatch were wide, so there was plenty of room for maneuvering. Uniformed guards patrolled the streets. While many people walked, a lot rode around in open air carriages. I noted that most of the latter were tourists who gawked at their surroundings, like me and my companions.

Like the people of Eastwatch, the white stone buildings were painted with bright and vibrant colors in intricate patterns. I hadn't noticed this from the air, due to the distance. They favored reds, yellows, and oranges.

The smell of spiced foods replaced the scent of sea water, making my mouth water. The smell came from the many food stalls set up along the sides of the streets.

The sound of music and laughter filled the air. I noticed several musicians busking to earn coins from tourists. Some of these musicians worked with dancers to put on an enchanting performance.

The musical culture in Eastwatch differed from most of the rest of the Solarian Empire. It reminded me a lot of Spanish music, back on Earth. It was energetic and full of passion.

As for the food, from what I knew, all the cuisine in Eastwatch was seafood in some form or another. The people here also enjoyed spices, so the flavors were quite strong. Despite the seriousness of the situation, I looked forward to enjoying some local dishes.

In addition to the beaches, the food and the music were the main reasons why Eastwatch was such a popular vacation destination. If it weren't for the disappearances, I would've focused on enjoying myself. So far, Eastwatch proved to be an experience for the senses.

"While we have some time," Emil said, glancing back at us. "Is there anything you would like to know about our fair city? Anything in particular that you're searching for?"

"Do you know of any good places to eat?" Anna asked.

The scent of food must've affected her as well.

"But of course!" Emil said. "What would you prefer? Authentic Eastwatch cuisine? Or something more suited for outsiders?"

Anna raised an eyebrow at that.

"What's the difference?" she asked.

Emil gave her an apologetic look.

"Outsiders tend to find Eastwatch cuisine… too strong for their tastes," he said. "They prefer more mild flavors."

The driver grunted in agreement.

"I'm no stranger to strong flavors," Anna said with a snort. "I want authentic Eastwatch cuisine."

Emil made an acquiescent gesture.

"Then you're in luck!" he said. "The inn I am taking you to has some of the best food you'll find in the entire city! Once you're settled in, you can enjoy authentic Eastwatch cuisine to your heart's content."

As he spoke, I heard Cally mutter something.

"Thank you for asking the rest of us before making a decision," she said. "I would've liked to eat at a proper restaurant."

I gave her a sympathetic look.

"We'll make it up to you, Cousin," I said.

Cally crossed her arms and pouted.

"You better," she said.

We spent the rest of the trip in silence. After a while, the sounds died away and we found ourselves in a less populated area of the city. Rather, the number of locals remained the same. However, there weren't as many tourists. In fact, my friends and I were the only ones.

Soon, we stopped in front of a small two-story building. Like the rest of the city, it was built from white stone. It had a red tiled roof, with intricate designs painted in yellow and orange. A small stone courtyard stood in front of the building, surrounded by a chest-high wall with a single entry way. A wooden sign hung above the entryway with the words "Southside Inn" painted on it. All in all, I thought the place looked rather cozy.

As soon as we stopped, Emil paid the driver before hopping off. The rest of us followed suit. Emil helped us unload our luggage, before leading us inside. The open-air carriage drove off, heading back to the airship dock to pick up new fares.

As we passed through the entryway, I noticed that the courtyard had several benches. They were perfect for basking in the sun, while still enjoying a degree of privacy.

When we entered the inn itself, my companions and I found ourselves in a large common room. The walls were unpainted stone, though they were decorated with a few landscape paintings that depicted beaches and the ocean. Glowstone lamps protruded from the walls, though they were dark since it was still early in the day. The floor was a light hardwood.

Like many inns, this place offered food and drink as well as rooms. Several round wooden tables filled the common room, covered with red tablecloths. Some of them were already occupied by guests enjoying their meals. A wooden bar ran along the far wall, just across from the front entrance. Next to the bar stood a door leading to a room in the back. The kitchen and/or storage, I presumed. A staircase along the right wall led to the second floor.

The people at the wooden tables noted our arrival, but soon focused on their meals. I didn't blame them. The smell of cooked seafood, accompanied by a myriad of other delicious scents, teased my nostrils. My mouth watered even more, to the point that if I opened it, I feared a waterfall would come gushing out.

Standing behind the bar was a middle-aged man who somewhat bore a resemblance to Emil. He wore a similar outfit, short-sleeved shirt with a pair of loose trousers, though he wore a thick apron instead of a vest. Like Emil, he wasn't an Awakened.

"Uncle Marcio!" Emil called out towards the man behind the bar. "I bring guests!"

Uncle? I gave Emil a sideways glance. Was that a term of endearment, or was he actually related to the innkeeper?

If the latter, then that meant this family had a good little set up going on. Emil would guide tourists, and earn coin that way, before bringing them to his uncle's inn. Talk about double dipping. After mulling it over, I shrugged. Eh, as long as the service was good, I didn't mind.

Our little group walked up to the bar.

"Friends!" the man behind the bar, Marcio, said in a boisterous voice. "This innkeeper welcomes you to this humble establishment. How may I help you?"

"We'd like to rent three of your rooms for the next…" I paused, pretending to mull it over. "Month?" I glanced at the others. "Does that sound good to the rest of you?"

My companions nodded.

"At least," Anna said, pressing against my side and leaning her head against my shoulder. "Maybe longer, depending on how much we enjoy ourselves."

Marcio's eyes lit up with excitement. I could almost hear his thoughts. A group of tourists willing to stay at least a month? He'd earn a lot of coin from us from rent alone, not to mention food and drink.

"That can be arranged, Dear Guests," Marcio said, before looking at Anna and I. "Newlyweds?"

Anna and I nodded.

"We came to Eastwatch to celebrate our marriage," she said. "At first we planned to come by ourselves. However…" She gave Leroy and Cally a sour look. "Our families insisted that we bring our cousins along."

Marcio let out a hearty laugh.

"Well, you know what they say, the more the merrier," he said. "Besides, I'm sure you and your husband will be able to find ways to spend time alone during your stay here." He looked at Emil. "What are you waiting for, boy? Take their luggage upstairs. Give them eastern rooms."

I shook my head.

"No need for that," I said. "We can handle that part ourselves. It was a long journey here and we need some rest. While we're up there, can you prepare a meal for us? My wife wants a taste of authentic Eastwatch cuisine."

Marcio glanced at Emil, who nodded.

"Very well," Marcio said. "Do you have something in mind?"

I shrugged, before smiling.

"Surprise us," I said.

Marcio chuckled.

"In that case, I'll have my wife make some Southside Surprises," he said. "It's our inn's specialty. I guarantee that you'll enjoy it."

I glanced back at the other guests, who were digging into their meals. Given their enthusiasm, Marcio's claim had some basis.

"Can you give me something mild?" Cally asked. "Unlike these three, I prefer lighter flavors."

Marcio nodded.

"That can be arranged," he said.

After that, I negotiated a price with Marcio for a month's stay. To my surprise, he didn't overcharge us. Rather, he quoted us a fair price, which I appreciated. It was still expensive, but that was to be expected. We were pretending to be minor nobles visiting a popular vacation destination. Everything was more expensive.

Afterwards, Emil led us upstairs and guided us to our rooms. While the other settled in, I stayed outside with Emil and gave him the other half of his fee.

"Quite the clever scheme you and your uncle have going on," I said.

Emil shrugged, before giving me a rueful smile.

"Not quite," he said. "I am a genuine guide. Most of the time, I bring guests to other inns or restaurants. However, if I find ones that I like, I bring them here."

I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Oh?" I asked. "What makes us so special?"

Emil sighed.

"Many outsiders are loud, rude, and entitled," he said. "You and your companions were polite and respectful."

I snorted. Right, I had forgotten. Back on Earth, during the few times I went on vacation, I visited popular destinations in Europe and Asia. A lot of the other tourists I encountered were just as Emil described: loud, rude, and entitled. I guess Luminians weren't all the different in this regard.

"Now then," Emil said. "I shall be off. If you ever need my services again, just let Uncle Marcio know."

I nodded. With that, Emil ran off. A part of me wanted to ask him about the disappearances, but I decided against it for now. Right now, he considered us outsiders. If I questioned him about the disappearances, he'd get suspicious of us. The same went for Marcio.

I wanted to wait a little bit, so they would let their guards down. Besides, we had other avenues to explore in the meantime, such as Crawford's people.

After Emil disappeared from sight, I headed towards the room I shared with Anna. The moment I opened the door, my fiancée pulled me inside and pressed me against a nearby wall.

"We have at least half an hour before we need to go downstairs," she said, her eyes filled with a predatory gleam. "I intend to make the most of it."

With that, Anna and I closed the door to our room, before we fell into our bed.

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