What Lucius did during the storm still puzzled the crew. Even Captain Harlan found it hard to believe that a ship could repair itself in the middle of chaos. The torn sails had mended. The tilting hull had righted itself when it should have capsized. The flooding had slowed when the ship was moments away from sinking. But no one talked about it. They were as silent as a graveyard, stealing glances at Lucius when they thought he wasn't looking.
Despite the crushing pain in his body, ribs aching with every breath, hands raw and blistered from the ropes, legs sore from climbing the rigging, Lucius did not mind. What he had done during the storm had melted the ice in Dave's heart, even if only a little. That small shift was worth more than any pain he felt.
The morning sun rose in the west, shining brightly toward the ship and blinding his eyes. For the first time in many days, Lucius felt a quiet warmth inside. It looked like the sun was smiling at him. Even the crew members who had been gossiping before now kept quiet. He had proved them wrong with his actions, and the silence that followed felt like a small victory.
One quiet evening, after the day's work was done and the crew had settled into their usual routines, Captain Harlan called Lucius to the quarterdeck. The air was still damp from the earlier rain, the deck slick underfoot. The captain stood with his arms crossed, his face serious under the lantern light.
"Lucius," Harlan said, his voice low so the other crew members couldn't hear. "I saw what you did during the storm. That sail didn't fix itself. The ship didn't right itself by luck. You did something up there. Something no normal man could do."
Lucius froze, his heart pounding. He had expected this conversation, but hearing it out loud still made his stomach twist. The dark energy inside him stirred faintly, but he kept it locked down.
"I… I just helped where I could, Captain," he replied carefully, keeping his voice steady.
Harlan stared at him for a long moment, eyes sharp. "Don't play dumb with me, boy. I've been sailing these waters for twenty years. I know when something unnatural happens on my ship. You saved us today. I won't deny that. But I need to know what you are. Are you going to be trouble?"
Lucius met the captain's gaze without blinking. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I just want a safe passage for the boy and me. That's all."
The captain grunted, clearly not fully satisfied, but he didn't push further. "Fine. For now. But if whatever power you have brings danger to my crew or my ship, I'll throw you overboard myself. Understood?"
"Understood," Lucius said quietly.
Harlan nodded once and walked away, leaving Lucius alone with the sound of the waves and the creaking of the ship.
Two weeks passed.
The ship had settled into a steady rhythm. Lucius continued working hard, learning the ways of a merchant, how to read the stars for navigation, how to bargain with port officials, and how to spot good trading opportunities. He spent long hours on deck, coiling ropes until his fingers bled, scrubbing salt from the wood, and standing watch under the stars. The physical labour helped distract him from the heavy silence that followed him everywhere.
Dave stayed close, doing his small chores in silence, carrying light supplies, sorting goods, and helping with minor cleaning. He never complained, but he never smiled either. The wall between them had a hairline crack, but it was still there.
One morning, Lucius was called into Captain Harlan's small office again. When he entered, the air inside turned cold and chilling. Captain Harlan sat behind his desk with serious eyes, fingers steepled.
"Lucius," the captain said, voice flat. "I have investigated you. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Lucius met his gaze without blinking. "Captain, since you already know, why ask me again? Or are you afraid of the kingdom?"
Harlan let out a cold, menacing laugh. "Ahh ah ah… How come I never knew you were like this before?"
"To survive here, I had to behave as everyone would expect," Lucius replied calmly. "Someone weak. Someone who scares easily. But since you investigated me… I have nothing to hide anymore."
A slow, cold smile spread across Lucius's face, never reaching his eyes.
The captain leaned back in his chair, studying him for a long moment. "You're the fifth hero, aren't you? The one the King is offering 500,000 gold for. The mistake. The extra one who should never have been summoned."
Lucius didn't deny it. He simply nodded once.
Harlan exhaled slowly. "You're dangerous, boy. I can feel it. You also saved my ship and my crew, but that doesn't mean I would save you if you were arrested. It buys you some silence from me. Just don't bring trouble on my ship. Understood?"
Lucius nodded once. "I won't."
As he left the captain's office, a very small change had begun between him and Dave.
When Lucius returned to their small corner of the ship, Dave didn't immediately turn his back. Instead, the boy glanced at him for a brief second before looking away. When Lucius offered him a piece of bread later that afternoon, Dave took it without hesitation, though he still didn't speak.
It was tiny. Almost nothing.
But it was something.
The days continued.
Lucius worked harder than ever, helping with every task the crew gave him. He learned how to read the stars for navigation, how to bargain with port officials, and how to spot good trading opportunities. He spent long hours on deck, coiling ropes until his fingers bled, scrubbing salt from the wood.
Dave stayed close, doing his small chores in silence, carrying light supplies, sorting goods, and helping with minor cleaning. He never complained, but he never smiled either. The wall between them had a hairline crack, but it was still there.
During the storm, Lucius felt a surge of dark energy within him. It had begged to be released, promising easy escape from the danger. But he had held it back. The power only truly broke free when a crushing headache came — the kind triggered by those painful memories of the monsters and cursed lands. Without the headache, he could control it.
He remembered the moment clearly. Hanging from the rigging, rain lashing his face, the ship was tilting dangerously. He had to use only the smallest thread of power to mend the sail and right the ship. The effort had left him dizzy and exhausted.
That small victory gave him hope. Maybe he could learn to master it without the memories forcing his hand.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and painted the sea in deep oranges and reds, Lucius stood at the railing. Dave walked up and stopped beside him, not touching nor speaking, but closer than he had been in days.
Lucius didn't push. He simply stood there, letting the silence stretch between them.
After a long while, Dave spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
"…The storm was scary."
Lucius nodded slowly. "It was."
Dave hugged his arms around himself. "You… you helped save everyone."
"I tried," Lucius said softly.
Dave didn't reply. He just stayed there for a few more minutes before turning and walking away.
It wasn't much.
But it was the first time in weeks that Dave had chosen to stand next to him without being told.
Lucius closed his eyes, letting the sea wind wash over him.
But for the first time since the confession, a tiny spark of hope flickered in his chest.
Maybe… just maybe… the distance between them could one day become smaller.
The ship sailed on toward Westridge, carrying two broken souls, a fragile truce, and the weight of secrets that refused to stay hidden.
As the days passed, Captain Harlan began sharing more details about their route. One evening, while Lucius was helping secure the cargo, the captain approached him quietly.
"Next stop is Westridge," Harlan said, voice low. "After that, we'll head toward the edge of the known maps. There are rumours of untouched lands there… places where the old curses still linger. Some say the air itself is poisoned with corruption. The merchants who go there either come back rich with rare herbs and some kind of crystal those high mages buy… or they don't come back at all."
Lucius's grip tightened on the rope. A faint headache began to pulse at the back of his skull, the first sign of those cursed memories stirring. He pushed it down, forcing his voice to stay calm.
"Sounds dangerous," he said.
Harlan nodded. "It is. But the profit is high if you know what you're doing. You interested?"
Lucius glanced toward Dave, who was sitting quietly a few feet away, watching the horizon.
"I am," he replied softly. "We'll be ready."
The captain walked away, leaving Lucius alone with his thoughts.
That night, as the ship rocked gently under a clear sky, Lucius lay awake while Dave slept a few feet away, back turned as always.
He stared at the wooden beams above him, the weight of everything pressing down.
Westridge was close.
After that… the cursed lands.
The place where the old corruption still breathed.
Lucius closed his eyes and whispered into the darkness, so softly he wasn't sure if the wind would carry the words away:
"I'll make this right, Dave. Somehow."
But deep down, he wasn't sure if those words were still for the boy… or for himself.
And somewhere in the back of his mind, he couldn't shake the feeling that the real storm was still coming, one that no amount of power or control could stop.