"I see the port!"

A cry from Moriel immediately attracted the attention of all the witches on board.

"Where, where?"

"Eh, is it finally here? It's been almost a month and a half......

"That silvery-white spot of light is another sailboat, right?"

"Didn't you say that this route was only traveled by the Pretty Beauty?"

"Fishing boats, fishing boats. ”

Everyone fell to the side of the boat and tiptoed in the direction of Moriel's finger.

Seeing the scene in front of him, the old captain Jack One-Eye shook his head with a smile and said to Camilla Darey, who had a solemn face, "You don't seem to be very happy? ”

"What's so good?" replied the latter, somewhat absent-mindedly.

"It's good to be home," Jack shook his pipe, "isn't it worth celebrating to be back in your homeland after so many absences? Don't think I can't see that you don't call Sleepy Island your home—I'm not saying you hate being in the fjord, but shelter and home...... After all, there is a difference. ”

Camilla was silent, she didn't know if what she said was correct or not, only that when Tilly's letter came back, the number of witches willing to go to the west of the Grey Keep had increased considerably, from 50% to about 80%. If the first witches were properly housed, she couldn't say how many would end up wanting to stay on Sleeping Isle.

It was supposed to be their home—there was no hostile secular environment, no hostile church, living conditions would have been much worse at first, and the customs and habits would have been very different from those of the land kingdoms, but if you persist for a decade, the Sleeping Island will surely get better and better. It doesn't take even a generation for the newly awakened witches to make that island their true homeland.

It was a long time before she whispered, "If only it were as you say." ”

"Oh?" said Jack, rubbing his beard, "don't believe in the king?"

"You know?" Camila looked up.

"Ha, you've written 'I'm not at ease' on your face," the old captain laughed, "remember what it was like when you first sailed three years ago?"

Three years ago...... The Grand Butler pondered for a moment, it was when His Royal Highness Tilly secretly contacted the witches to evacuate the Grey Keep, and as one of the few captains who had no prejudice against the identity of witches, Jack and his Pretty Beauty took a large number of witches from the port city at the risk of being prosecuted and judged. Because of this, Sleepy Island has formed a deep friendship with the one-eyed captain.

"Embarrassed, huh?" she hesitated.

"Embarrassed?" Jack snorted, "how can it be so simple." At that time, you were disgraced and your eyes were dull, and it was all right to say that you were the living dead. So the past is the past, the present is the present, and it's always right to look forward. Several of the witches had been to Neverwinter many times, and if it was a bad place, they couldn't have laughed so easily, right?"

"But the aristocracy is fickle—"

"And you?" interrupted the old captain, "if I'm not mistaken, you're also from a noble background, aren't you?, and the day you left the Grey Keep, you were dressed more elaborately than most of the people who boarded the ship—the average commoner could not afford to make silk clothes. Think about it, what would happen if I hated the nobility as much as you did?"

"......" Camilla opened her mouth, but couldn't answer.

Jack One-Eye slowly exhaled a puff of white smoke, "I don't think that a person's merits can be judged by their identity alone, and who can decide their origin except for the three gods? The same goes for witches...... Don't you think that hating a witch simply because of who you are is is not fundamentally different from the prejudices you hold?"

The Grand Butler of the Sleeping Island felt a tremor in his heart.

"You might say that because you're a nobleman, you know what they're like. But don't forget that if anyone is not like that, your prejudices will cause them injustice and harm. The old captain paused, "I'm sorry, kid...... I probably shouldn't be saying that, but I don't want you to be blinded by past experiences—and not just in this matter. Well, people always have to look forward. ”

No, no one would say that except him, Camilla thought to herself. Her Highness Tilly must have understood this truth a long time ago, so she took the initiative to go to Neverwinter. But she would not utter these blunt words, especially the almost reproachful sentence that "there is no essential difference between the two", not because of the estrangement of the relationship, but because of the closeness, and even the respect of His Highness for herself, hindered her further exhortation.

In the whole of Sleeping Island, I am afraid that only the old captain will call her a child.

Camilla let out a long sigh, "Maybe you're right. ”

"Really?" Jack smiled, "I can always meet similar things when I'm older, and I can't stay at sea for so long without an optimistic heart." But the rest of the day wasn't going to be easy. ”

"Why?"

"You've all returned to the Continental Kingdom, and who else is going to board the Pretty Beauty? I heard from the people of the Great Chamber of Commerce that a new ship that does not need sails will soon replace the existing ships and become the main merchant ship of the fjord, both in terms of load and speed, much higher than that of my old fellow, and I am afraid that no one will want to use her to transport goods. ”

"Maybe I can talk to Her Highness Tilly......"

"What are you talking about, will I be able to spend the rest of my life with?" the old captain waved his pipe, "it's too early, I can still run!, in fact, I'm going to try my luck with Lord Thunder's expedition after sending you all to Grey Keep." ”

"Expedition?" Camilla surprised.

"That's right, crossing the Shadow Islands and going to the untouched seas, as long as you find something new, not to mention the money for retirement, even if you start a new business group. Jack One-Eye turned and looked at the sea, and said, "Don't look at my age and lack of dexterity, when it comes to discerning the wind and taking the helm, there are few more competent captains in the whole fjord!"

Really...... Camilla found that it was as if she had met this ordinary-looking old man of the fjord for the first time, and his expression at the moment was simply the best portrayal of "looking forward".

"Chief, we're almost on the shore!" shouted the lookout on the mast.

"Do you want me to teach you next?" said Jack, looking up and glaring, "Collect the sails and slow down!"

Camilla looked over the harbor area and saw a variety of red banners hanging around the pier that read "Welcome to Neverwinter." Among those who greeted were not only witches, but also many ordinary people. She even saw a procession of eleven or twelve-year-olds, holding a bunch of flowers, standing by the pier waiting for their arrival.

"It's a big deal," the old captain whistled, "and with this sincerity alone, you should trust him a little more, shouldn't you?" and then he waved his arm at the busy sailors on deck, "Boys, get ready to dock, we're in Neverwinter!"