Henry, now settled on the Land of Fire, had little time to take in the wonders of the island before duty called once again.
The island itself was unlike anything he had imagined. People of different races and lands lived together—elves with their sharp features and calm expressions, dwarfs with their sturdy builds and loud laughter. They worked side by side, forging, trading, and living as one. There was a strange sense of unity in the chaos, and despite the harsh reputation of the pirates, the people here seemed… content.
After a single day of rest, Henry and the rest of the crew were summoned.
The fourth commander stood before them, his presence as composed and unreadable as ever.
"We sail," he said simply.
No destination was given.
No questions were asked.
Soon, the fleet departed from the Land of Fire, cutting through the sea in a triangular formation. The fourth commander led from the front, his ship guiding the others into the unknown.
Henry was assigned to the fifth ship—one positioned at the outer edge of the formation. It was the most vulnerable position, often the first to face attacks from the creatures of the sea.
And the sea did not disappoint.
Before long, shadows moved beneath the water. Creatures surged upward, striking at the ship with relentless force. The pirates struggled to keep them at bay, their movements growing chaotic under the constant assault.
Henry stepped forward.
What began as instinct soon turned into control. One by one, he dealt with the creatures, his movements steady and precise. The chaos around him began to settle.
Unseen by him, a pair of sharp eyes had taken notice.
The fourth commander.
Not long after, a commotion broke out near the lower deck. A pirate dragged out a young boy, gripping him tightly by the arm.
"A stowaway!" the pirate shouted. "Found him hiding in the barrels!"
The crew gathered quickly. The boy looked no older than Henry himself, his face pale but defiant.
All eyes turned to the commander.
But instead of anger, there was only silence.
The fourth commander stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the boy. Without raising his voice, he gestured toward his cabin.
"Bring him."
The crew exchanged uneasy glances as the boy was taken inside.
Minutes passed.
No one spoke.
When the commander finally stepped out, his expression had not changed—but something in his eyes felt different.
"The fifth ship will return," he ordered. "Immediately."
A ripple of confusion spread through the crew, but no one dared question him.
Within the hour, the fifth ship broke away from the fleet, turning back toward the homeland. The rest of the ships continued forward, disappearing slowly into the horizon.
The boy remained locked in the cabin.
No one was allowed to speak to him.
No one—except Henry.
Henry was assigned the task of delivering meals to the boy. At first, their interactions were silent. The boy refused to speak, watching Henry with guarded eyes.
But over time, silence gave way to words.
"What's your name?" Henry asked one day.
The boy hesitated before answering.
"…Eren."
It was a simple beginning.
Days passed as the ship sailed steadily back toward the homeland. With each meal, the distance between them grew smaller. The boy, once quiet and distant, began to speak more freely. There was intelligence in his words, and something else—something hidden.
Rumors spread among the crew.
"They say he's the captain's son."
Henry didn't know whether to believe it.
But the way the commander had acted… the sudden decision to turn back… it all pointed to something far greater than a simple stowaway.
Finally, after what felt like an endless journey, the homeland came into view.
The ship docked.
But something was wrong.
The port, usually loud and alive, was filled with tension. Pirates gathered in clusters, their voices low and uneasy. No one celebrated their return.
As Henry stepped onto the dock, a whisper reached his ears.
Then another.
And another.
Until the truth spread like wildfire.
"The fourth commander… has fallen."
Henry froze.
For a moment, the world around him seemed to lose all sound.
The man who had stood unshaken before beasts…
The man who commanded fleets with unmatched precision ....was gone.