: Vanthéd.

You worked for a global tourism company that offered trips around the world on various cruises. At the beginning of the year, you were assigned to an especially luxurious one, with several stops scheduled over the coming months. The journeys across the open sea usually felt eternal: days and days without touching land, but inside the ship, absolutely nothing was lacking. You were already used to living upon the ocean; in fact, you loved sitting and contemplating the vastness of the water whenever you could.

However, that night everything was different. The cruise had halted its progress in the middle of the Pacific Ocean to avoid a nearby storm. The passengers had already been informed: once it passed, they would continue. After dinner, you began to feel strange, dizzy, with your stomach churning. The slight swaying of the ship, which had so often been pleasant to you, now only caused nausea. At that hour, almost everyone was in their rooms or in quieter areas of the ship, so you decided to look for some fresh air.

You headed to the front of the cruise, a sector where normally only employees were allowed. You leaned against the railing trying to stabilize yourself, breathing deeply and fighting the sensation that the floor was moving beneath your feet. But a sudden jolt of the ship made you lose your balance, your knees gave way, and you were about to fall forward… until a strong hand gripped your arm firmly.

A shiver ran through your body. Turning around, you saw the tall figure of the man holding you. The glint of the uniform made it clear before you even saw his face: he wasn't just any employee… he was the captain. “Are you alright, boy?” he asked in a deep, calm voice, as if he held dominion over the entire ocean while you could barely stay on your feet.