Reborn as the Last van Ambrose-Chapter 121: Coastal Ruins

Morning came with clear skies over Port Velmira, the largest port city on the southern coast of the Celetis Empire. Grim put on his boots one at a time and tightened his robe.

A knock at his door announced Huangyan. "The Harbour Master is waiting below," she said.

Grim nodded. "Where’s Lianna?"

"Already downstairs. She’s been awake since dawn, asking the local merchants about the ruins."

They descended to the main hall of the Warden’s Residence, where Lianna stood with an older man, whose face was covered in white facial hair. Princess Liona was also there waiting for Grim.

"Lord Ambrose," the man bowed, "I’m Harbour Master Rennick. I’ll be guiding you to the ruins today."

"I’ve been looking forward to seeing these ruins since we set out from the capital," Liona said, excitement clear in her voice.

Grim turned to her. "Princess, I must ask you to remain here today."

Her smile faded. "I beg your pardon?"

"After what we encountered at Southridge, we don’t know what dangers are around. If there’s a connection to the Jiaolong, it’s too risky."

"But I’ve studied every account of these ruins in the imperial archives," Liona protested. "I might notice things others would miss."

"Your safety must be my priority," Grim said, his voice firm but gentle. "The Empress would never forgive me if something happened to you. We don’t know what we’re facing yet."

Liona’s eyes flashed with disappointment. "I didn’t travel all this way to sit in a room while others make discoveries."

"Princess," Huangyan interjected respectfully, "allow us to assess the dangers first. Lord Ambrose will share everything we find, and if it’s safe, you can visit the ruins tomorrow."

Liona looked from Huangyan to Grim, then sighed. "Very well. But I expect a full account upon your return."

"You have my word," Grim promised.

"If we’re all ready," Rennick said, "we should move quickly. The tide is high now, but it will begin to recede by midday."

They set out through the streets of Port Velmira. They could see that merchants were opening their stalls and sailors were preparing ships for departure. Rennick led them along the harbor front, pointing out notable landmarks.

"Port Velmira has stood for over three centuries," he explained. "Built on the ruins of an even older settlement. The harbor is naturally deep, which made it ideal for trade ships."

"And the ruins?" Lianna asked. "How old are they?"

Rennick shrugged. "No one knows for certain. They were ancient when the first imperial settlers arrived. Some say they’re older than the Empire itself."

They passed the harbor’s edge and continued along a coastal path that wound around rocky headlands. After an hour’s walk, Rennick pointed ahead to where the coastline curved into a sheltered bay.

"There," he said.

What remained of the ruins was partially submerged by the morning tide. Stone columns rose from the water, carved with symbols that time had nearly erased. Circular structures and broken walls were most of what could be seen. The entire site covered several acres, stretching from the beach into the shallow waters of the bay.

"The sea has claimed much of it over the centuries," Rennick said. "At low tide you can see more, but alot of it is left undiscovered."

Grim stepped forward, studying the partially submerged stones. There was something about them that felt familiar, though he couldn’t place why.

"Harbour Master," he said, "you mentioned strange occurrences here recently. Lights and voices?"

Rennick nodded, his expression turning grave. "Fishermen who pass by at night report seeing the stones glow with a blue-greenish light. And some claim to hear whispers or songs."

They spent the next few hours exploring the accessible portions of the ruins.

By midday, the tide had begun to recede, revealing more of the stone structures. Yet despite their thorough search, they found nothing to explain the strange reports.

"No signs of anything," Huangyan reported. "If something has been happening here, there’s no evidence."

Grim looked out across the bay. "The tide will continue to drop until evening. I want to see it when it’s at its lowest."

"That would be well after nightfall," Rennick warned. "It’s not wise to remain here in the dark."

"Then you should all return to Port Velmira before sunset," Grim decided. "I’ll stay and continue the investigation."

"Alone?" Lianna asked, surprise evident in her voice.

"I’ve faced worse than some pretty lights and music," Grim replied with the hint of a smile.

"If you think I’m leaving you here alone after what happened at Southridge, you’re more of a fool than I thought," Lianna crossed her arms.

"We both stay or we both go," Huangyan said firmly.

Grim recognized the stubborn set of their expressions. "Your concern is unnecessary but appreciated. The princess would be better served with you two protecting her, especially if the Jiaolong decides to visit the harbor."

Huangyan and Lianna exchanged glances, clearly reluctant.

"Give me until midnight," Grim added. "If I haven’t returned by then, you can mount a search party."

After further debate, they reluctantly agreed. Rennick seemed relieved to be leaving before dark.

"Be careful, Lord Ambrose," the Harbour Master cautioned.

Grim found a small hill overlooking the bay and settled there to watch as the tide gradually retreated.

The afternoon passed slowly. Grim sat motionless, his eyes fixed on the gradually receding water. Occasionally, he would walk among the newly exposed structures, examining the carvings.

As the sun began to set, more of the ruins emerged from the sea. What had seemed like scattered columns and broken walls now revealed itself as a coherent layout—the skeletal remains of what must have once been a substantial settlement.

"It’s larger than I thought," Grim murmured to himself.

Darkness fell, with the only light being moonlight and the stars. The tide continued to recede, exposing more of the ancient stones with each passing hour.

"I’m going down for a closer look," Grim said.

The night was quiet except for the gentle lapping of waves as they withdrew further from shore.

Grim moved among the exposed structures, noting how the receding tide had revealed some new passages. In the starlight, he could make out more detailed carvings than had been visible during the day—spiraling patterns that reminded him of water currents.

He had reached what appeared to be a central area when he heard it—a soft, melodic whistling. The sound seemed to come from deeper within the ruins.

The water around the submerged ruins began to change. A faint blue-greenish glow spread beneath the surface, growing stronger until it illuminated the entire bay. In this new light, Grim could see that the ruins extended much further than anyone had realized.

It wasn’t just a settlement that lay beneath the waves—it was an entire city. Streets and buildings stretched into the distance, now partially visible through the glowing water. The sight was both beautiful and unsettling.

Grim stood transfixed, trying to comprehend the scale of what he was seeing. Then, abruptly, the whistling stopped. The light continued to pulse gently beneath the water, but the stillness that followed seemed even more unnatural than the noise had been.

The hairs on the back of his neck rose. Slowly, Grim turned around.

Three figures stood behind him. They weren’t human—their skin had a faint blue cast to it, and their eyes were entirely black. They wore what looked like armor made from overlapping scales, and each carried a weapon that resembled a trident.

One of the figures spoke in a language Grim didn’t recognize.

He reached slowly for his sword.

The creatures exchanged glances. Then the one who had spoken took a step forward, its black eyes fixed on Grim.

From the hill above, Grim heard Lianna call his name in alarm. The creatures’ heads snapped up at the sound, and the leader made a quick gesture to its companions.

Before Grim could react, all three dove past him into the glowing water and disappeared beneath the surface.