Chapter Nineteen: Secrets, Spies, and That Time Elric Almost Exploded
The atmosphere aboard the Hollow Dream had shifted.
The sky was clear, the sea was calm, and yet… tension simmered beneath every glance, every whispered word.
Because after the pirate encounter, one undeniable truth had surfaced:
Someone on board was a spy.
"Let's all just calmly, rationally accuse each other," Seraphine suggested, spinning a dagger between her fingers. "I'll go first. Elric looks suspicious."
"I always look suspicious," Elric replied. "It's called 'being anxious and alive.'"
Dorian scowled. "The Hollow King knows our moves. Knows when we get shards. Someone's feeding him information."
Marlow nodded grimly. "And we better find out who before they sell us all out."
The Interrogation of the Century (Sort Of)
The group took turns questioning the crew.
They started with Captain Frix, who simply rolled her eyes and said, "Kid, I'd sooner sell my own ship than work for that walking corpse."
The storm gulls were briefly considered suspects, but their alibis mostly consisted of squawking and aggressively pecking at Elliott's hair.
"Honestly," Elric whispered, "they could be spies."
"They're birds, Elric."
"You don't know their lives!"
A Magical Slip-Up
While Marlow scanned the ship with detection spells, Elric fiddled nervously with a small crystal in his pocket—a minor magical trinket he'd "borrowed" from their last stop.
The trinket promptly detonated into a burst of neon smoke.
When it cleared, Elric stood charred and wide-eyed, a tiny pink mustache now adorning his face.
Seraphine snorted. "You are the spy… for the comedy department."
Despite the humor, Elliott's gaze stayed sharp. He couldn't shake the relic's hum—the quiet warning that danger was near.
The Real Traitor
That night, it all came crashing down.
Elliott caught movement near the relic's hiding place.
Slipping from his bunk, he followed the shadowy figure below deck.
To his shock—it was Marlow.
She knelt by the relic's satchel, fingers hovering over it, whispering softly into a glowing crystal communicator.
"They've almost got all five shards. I'll lead them right to you. Just… just hold your end of the bargain."
Elliott's heart sank.
A floorboard creaked beneath him. Marlow spun, eyes wide.
"Elliott—"
"You're working for him?" Elliott hissed, betrayed.
"No!" She stepped forward, voice cracking. "I—I'm trying to save someone."
Dorian, Seraphine, and Elric arrived seconds later, blades drawn.
The Truth Revealed
Cornered, Marlow confessed.
Years ago, her younger brother had been taken by the Hollow King. The price for his safety? Information. Sabotage. Spying.
"But I never meant to hurt you," she whispered. "I was trying to protect you… and him."
Elliott clenched his fists.
"We trusted you."
"I know."
A long silence.
Finally, Elliott turned away.
"We'll deal with the Hollow King. But after that… we deal with this."
A Storm Approaches
As the group wrestled with betrayal and fractured trust, the relic pulsed again—louder, sharper.
The final shard was calling.
And so was the Hollow King.
The endgame had begun.
End of Chapter Nineteen