The secondary dock of Dead Ledger looked like a place where old things go to die than a marketplace. The ships tied up there were not being sold because they were beautiful or had a lot of history. For one simple reason: they could still stay on the water.
Caelum walked behind Nami and Carina his hands in his pockets looking at the ships with a feeling of unease. To him they all looked like they might break apart at any moment. After living on scraps and driftwood for months it was not easy for him to trust his life to another piece of wood.
Nami said, "That one is too big." She pointed at a caravel. "Three people cannot handle something like that.. It will attract too much attention."
Carina added, "And that one is too expensive." She looked at a well-maintained boat. "We need something that looks like junk. Is not really junk."
Caelum did not say anything. He was not a sailor. He knew it.. He had learned to pay attention to small things. The way things felt the way they were put together.
At the end of the dock they found a small boat that was almost forgotten. It was a sloop tied up with a worn rope that looked like it might break if the wind picked up. The wood was dark from salt and time. The sail had been fixed so many times it looked like a patchwork quilt.
Caelum walked closer to the boat. He did not look at it like an expert. Instead he put his hand on the railing. For a moment he just stood there feeling the boat. He recognized the humming sound that came from the metal parts.
The humming sound was not loose.
Caelum said, "This boat feels steady."
Nami looked at him then jumped without waiting. She walked across the deck testing the planks pulling lightly at the ropes. Carina followed, looking into the cabin.
Carina said, "It is ugly but it works."
Nami replied, "Ugly is good."
The man who was selling the boat showed up soon. He smelled like tobacco and bad luck. He started talking about the price. Nami did not let him finish.
Nami said, "The mast is crooked. The sail is fixed many times.. The paint? I have seen paint on a broken barrel."
Carina leaned against the railing her arms crossed, looking unimpressed.
Carina said, "Honestly we are doing you a favor by taking this boat off your hands."
Caelum stayed quiet standing nearby. He was not trying to look scary. The seller kept looking at him because of his height and calm face.
After a minutes the seller lowered the price. Then he lowered it again.
In the end they got the boat for less than it was worth. The boat did not have a name, a faded registration number on the back.
They set sail that night. The sea was calm. The boat creaked with every movement making Caelums shoulders tense up a little. Old habits, like listening for things going wrong were hard to break.
Nami took control of the sail without waiting adjusting it with practiced hands. Carina handled the ropes moving quickly and efficiently. They did not need to explain things to each other.
Caelum watched for a while then went below deck. The space was small. It was usable. There was a place to sleep a corner for storage and just enough room to sit without hitting your head.
He crouched near the base of the mast running his fingers along the metal fastenings. They were worn, not broken, but not perfect either. He focused, letting a heat gather in his fingertips just enough to make the metal expand slightly and tighten its grip.
He moved to the one, then another. It was not about being powerful it was about making improvements.
By the time he was done the boat felt quieter.
Caelum said to himself "Better."
Not perfect,. Better.
When he returned to the deck the sky was starting to get light. Nami stood at the helm looking at the horizon.
Nami said, "You did something there."
Caelum leaned against the railing.
Caelum said, "I just fixed a few parts."
Nami adjusted the sail slightly. The boat responded more smoothly this time.
Nami said, "Huh."
Carina came up from below stretching as she yawned.
Carina said, "So this is our home? Not bad I have seen worse."
She leaned on the railing smirking at Caelum.
Carina said, "Now that we have a boat I hope you are planning to be useful Caelum. Because unless you have been hiding a talent we have a long trip ahead of us."
Caelum exhaled softly looking out at the sea. A months ago he would not have imagined this. Not the ocean, not the danger, not the strange energy in his body. And definitely not this. Two girls who did not trust him but did not push him away either. A fragile boat that somehow felt like a step
Caelum said quietly "I will figure something out."
Nami gave a small almost approving glance. Carina just smiled.
The wind shifted slightly filling the patched sail. The little boat moved forward cutting through the water. Not fast not impressive, but steady.
For now that was enough.
Caelum rested his hands on the railing feeling the rhythm of the sea beneath his feet. He was not lost anymore. Not completely.. For the first time, in a long while that was enough to keep moving forward.