Aaron, who was confused by Eleanor's reaction, sat on the extremely blue bed contemplating everything he had learned that day.
First, I met Eleanor, which led to the sea terror heart bonding with the Ghostship. After that, my mind was dragged into some freaky world, and right in front of me stood that creepy old guy who made me feel like I might get killed at any moment. Finally, the ship changed dramatically, and weird smoky vines attacked me…
He sighed, remembering the peaceful few weeks that he spent aboard his ship alone with only Mr. Crab and his pustule fish to keep him company.
"Why am I the one suffering while that dumb crab's out here acting like life's a beach?"
…
As days passed aboard the vessel, Eleanor and Aaron investigated the other rooms of the ship, discovering a small laboratory with strange vials containing a blackish-green substance.
Eleanor guessed that the black liquid was some sort of byproduct produced by the Ghostship; however, they didn't know what use it had, so they refrained from doing anything with it.
Other than the laboratory, they discovered another bedroom. Unlike the first one, this room was decorated with purple banners that hung from the low ceiling.
Aaron had claimed the first bedroom, with Eleanor claiming the second one.
During the day, Aaron sat near the edge of the ship with a fishing pole in hand, gazing out at the ocean, while Eleanor studied the map in the captain's cabin.
Mr. Crab fished alongside him, albeit with much greater success than Aaron.
"Dammit, how the hell do you catch so many more than me!"
Aaron shouted at Mr. Crab, who had just pulled up his tenth fish in that hour.
On the other hand, Aaron had only caught a single fish, badly deformed and barely the size of his palm.
Mr. Crab turned towards him, snapping his claws in a seemingly taunting gesture.
"Why you…!"
Aaron was about to turn Mr. Crab into a delicious crab cake when the door of the cabin burst open, revealing the blonde-haired priestess smiling ear to ear.
Taking his chance to escape, Mr. Crab vanished into the air, but not before tossing one last smug gesture Aaron's way.
Map under her arm, Eleanor scanned the scene, wondering what nonsense those two had stirred up this time.
Aaron turned to her, his face flushed with anger at Mr. Crab and his constant torment.
She couldn't help but laugh at his childish tantrum, her voice light with amusement.
"Do you want me to come back later or…"
Aaron rolled his eyes and said flatly.
"It's fine… I'll turn him into my dinner one day. Anyway, what's the deal with the map?"
Looking at him, Eleanor pulled the parchment from under her shoulder and unrolled it in front of Aaron.
"The city of Sea Fallen is only one day away if we continue at this speed; however, we should discuss what to do once we get there."
She spoke in a tone that made Aaron wonder if she had some goal that she desperately wanted to accomplish within the city.
They hadn't spoken much about their personal lives, especially avoiding the topic of Eleanor's kidnapping, which left Aaron wondering if her plans for Sea Fallen were somehow connected to it.
Aaron had been thinking about the future for some time, but he hadn't accounted for Eleanor being there, not knowing whether she'd stick around.
"Well, I plan to join the Hunters' Guild and take missions in the waters around Sea Fallen, so I can collect more sea terror cores and get stronger."
He had thought of the safest path forward, gradually taking on increasingly dangerous creatures until he could one day rival the Sea Kings in power.
Once I get stronger, I might be able to go find out about the man who asked me to save him…
Eleanor simply nodded before revealing what Aaron had been wondering about for the few days they had known each other.
"I will return to the Church and deal with the man who sold me to those filthy criminals, before leaving Sea Fallen and travelling to the Sea of Wishes to serve the holy angels themselves."
Aaron was surprised by her determination to return to the sea; however, he was disappointed that she wouldn't continue travelling with him.
While they hadn't known each other for long and couldn't exactly be called friends, he felt that without someone else to talk to, he would eventually lose his mind and start a crab-worshipping cult.
He spoke in a calm, collected tone, with subtle kindness that Eleanor had come to recognize whenever he addressed her.
"So… I guess we're parting ways at the port. Good luck with your mission, and I hope we meet on dry land next time."
She groaned and shot him a look.
"Bold of you to assume I'd ever want to meet with you again after this. The amount of food you ate was… inhuman…"
Aaron laughed as the sun began to set in the distance and the Ghostship sailed steadily towards the city of Sea Fallen.
…
Meanwhile, in a chamber buried deep under the city of Svall, a man sat reclined in a golden chair cushioned with bright crimson pillows.
At first glance, he looked like an ordinary human, except for the two horns that jutted from his jet-black hair and radiated a deep, shadowy hue.
He spoke plainly, making no effort to hide his irritation.
"When is that foolish boy going to return with my merchandise? I paid good money for him to fetch me a worthwhile product this time…"
Rasping his fingers across a small table, he beckoned for one of his servants to enter the room.
"You there. Come to me now."
The servant, obeying his master's command, darted forward and knelt at his feet.
Watching the young man prostrate himself, the horned man laughed and spoke in a calm, almost casual voice.
"I don't care how, just find out what happened to Berwyn and report to me immediately."
The serving boy nodded and stood up, then bowed to his master again before rushing outside to complete his mission.
The pale-skinned man with horns leaned back in his golden throne, interlocking his fingers as he mumbled under his breath.
"This feeling… It's the same as fifteen years ago. I wonder what the waves shall bring in this time."
He tilted his head back and roared with laughter, shaking the chamber with nothing but the echo of his voice.
…
Sitting on the deck of the ship, Aaron spoke to Mr. Crab, who was trying to ignore him.
"So, is there any way you can disguise this ship? I know I'm asking a lot of you, and I'd probably cook you if I had the chance, but if people discover this is a Ghostship, then we will be pursued by possibly even one of the Sea Kings themselves!"
Eleanor, watching from the side, snickered as he groveled before the crab.
"Do you think he'd help you when you say you want to cook him?"
Aaron scoffed at her and resumed his pitiful excuse for a plea to Mr. Crab.
"P-Please, Sir, I'll do anything for you if you help me."
For the first time in the conversation, Mr. Crab removed his gaze from the water and turned towards Aaron.
He leapt toward Aaron and vanished mid-air, leaving the boy speechless.
"Huh?"
Moving closer to where the crab disappeared, he noticed a small ring on the floor.
"That's odd… What is this doing here?"
Picking up the ring, he noticed a glowing sapphire gem in the center and a small engraving on the band.
Eleanor stepped closer and examined the ring in his hands, trying to decipher the strange runes etched into it.
"I don't know this language… Try putting it on, maybe you will feel something."
Aaron nodded and slid the ring onto his left index finger, making sure it wouldn't slip off.
He stared at the ring, then glanced at Eleanor.
"Uh… Should I chant or wave my hand or—?"
The moment he said that, he felt a searing pain engulf his finger, causing him to yelp in shock.
"What the hell! It burns!"
He yanked at the ring, but it clung to his finger like it was fused to his skin.
Aaron groaned, curling up on the floor as the searing pain from the heat gradually faded.
Eleanor stood frozen, unsure how to help but watching closely, trying to make sense of it all.
Aaron slowly sat up and studied the ring that had burned him.
"I-It seems to have been forcefully attached… I don't think I can remove it."
He touched the sapphire centerpiece and felt a sudden pulse of electricity flow through him.
The ship groaned and creaked as the flames on the masts were snuffed out and the cannons lost their purple radiance.
Aaron watched with curiosity until the deck split beneath his feet and the boards began to rise, vanishing into thin air one by one.