3

 

Dai sank into the smooth wooden planks of Captain Roland’s ship, letting his legs dangle over the edge. The sea stretched out before him, its vastness seeming endless as he gazed out at the horizon. The rhythmic creaking and gentle swaying of the boat beneath him had quickly become a familiar comfort, lulling him into a sense of calm. He closed his eyes and breathed in the salty sea air, feeling the mist from the waves as they broke against the hull. The sound of the water lapping against the side of the ship and the distant call of seagulls filled his ears, immersing him in the peaceful solitude of the sea. Despite the uncertainty of what lay ahead, Dai couldn’t help but feel a sense of adventure stirring within him as he began his journey across this vast expanse of blue.

He looked up and was awestruck by the sky that stretched out before him. The clouds were ablaze with fiery oranges, deep pinks, and soft purples that contrasted beautifully against the soft blue of the sky. The water, meanwhile, shimmered in the light, with each tiny ripple catching the colors of the sunset and casting a glittering reflection back at him. The golden light of the setting sun danced over the waves, illuminating the gentle ripples and casting shadows across the surface. Dai was struck by the sheer beauty of the world around him, and he felt a deep sense of peace wash over him.

Dai couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder and amazement at the world he had been missing out on for so long. He turned to Roland, who was hard at work, and couldn’t help but express his awe. “Do you get to see views like this every day?” Dai asked, his voice tinged with excitement and admiration. Roland smiled, his weathered face creasing with lines of experience. “Aye lad, I’ve seen more sunsets than you’ve had hot meals. But that don’t mean it ever gets old. It’s a reminder that there’s still beauty in the world, even when things get rough.”

Dai nodded thoughtfully, taking in the wisdom of the sailor’s words. He realized that he still had so much to learn about this world, and he was eager to soak up every bit of knowledge and experience that he could.

“Captain!” a voice suddenly called out.

Dai turned gaze towards the voice and noticed a group of sailors gathered near the mast.

“What’s wrong?” Roland responded to the voice, as he got up and approached the group of sailors.

Dai didn’t want to stick his nose somewhere it didn’t belong, so he turned around again and walked towards the edge of the deck, he could feel a cool breeze on his face as he was watching the waves crash against the side of the ship. His first time being on a ship filled him with a sense of wonder and excitement at the thought of exploring the world beyond Saltwater Island.

As Dai was leaning over the railing, lost in thought, he heard a voice beside him.

“Is this your first time being on a ship?”

Dai turned to see a boy about his age with a mischievous grin on his face.

“I’m Topias,” the boy said, holding out his hand. “I’m a cabin boy on this ship. What’s your name?”

“I’m Dai,” he replied, as he shook his hand.

Topias leaned against the railing, looking out at the sea. “So, Dai, what do you think of life on the ship so far?” He said.

Dai smiled as he looked at the sunset. “It’s amazing. I’ve never seen a view like this before.”

Topias nodded. “Yeah, there’s a lot out there to see. I’ve been on this ship for a few years now, and I’ve seen more than my fair share of ports and cities. You’ll get used to it, though. The world’s a big place, but it’s not as scary as people make it out to be.”

Dai felt a sense of comfort in Topias’ words. He was glad to have made a friend on the ship.

“By the way, where is this ship heading?” Dai asked.

“We’re heading to the city of Calendria, where we’ll be trading goods and supplies. Have you ever been there?”

Dai shook his head. “I’ve never been anywhere outside of Saltwater Island before. What’s Calendria like?”

Topias chuckled. “Well, it’s a big city, full of people from all walks of life. You’ll see merchants hawking their wares, street performers putting on shows, and all sorts of interesting characters. Just make sure you keep a close eye on your belongings, the city’s known for its pickpockets.”

Dai nodded, taking in Topias’ words, and they continued to talk. Dai felt like he was starting to understand more about the world and the people in it.

“Say, do you want to explore the ship?” Topias said.

“Yeah!” I said, eagerly.

Topias and Dai walked around the ship together, Topias showing Dai all the different parts of the vessel. He showed him the galley, where the crew cooked their meals; the storage holds where they kept the cargo, and the captain’s cabin at the back of the ship.

As they were passing by the crew’s quarters, Dai noticed a small group of sailors playing a game of cards. One of them, a wiry man with a tattoo of a serpent on his arm, caught Dai’s eye. He had a rough look about him, but Dai couldn’t help but feel drawn to the sailor. There was something about him that was different from any of the other sailors.

“Hey, Topias,” Dai said. “Do you know anything about that sailor over there with the serpent tattoo?”

Topias followed Dai’s gaze and nodded. “Yeah, that’s Kael. He’s been with us for a while. He’s a not a great sailor, but apparently he’s really strong, unfortunately he keeps to himself, mostly. Why do you ask?”

Dai shrugged. “I don’t know. There’s just something about him that seems different from the others. I was curious, that’s all.”

Topias raised an eyebrow. “Different how?”

“I’m not sure,” Dai said, shaking his head. “It’s hard to explain. I just feel like there’s more to him than meets the eye."

Kael noticed the two boys talking about him and walked over to them.

“What’s up Kael!” Topias said excitingly.

Kael put his massive hand on Topias’ head. “What’s up buddy? Are you showing the newcomer around?”

“Yup! His name is Dai… ehmm” Topias moved closer to Dai and softly tapped his elbow against Dai’s stomach. “I don’t know your last name. You introduce yourself!” Topias whispered.

“Ahh- ehmm, I’m Dai Narcisse, nice to meet you,”

Kael’s expression turned slightly more serious. “Narcisse, you say?”

“Yes, sir.”

Kael came closer to Dai and stared at him intensely. “And you’re from Saltwater Bay, right?”

 “I am.”

“Then, do you know Galen Narcisse?”

Dai nodded, wondering why Kael had reacted so strongly to his name. “Yes, sir. Galen is my father’s name. He was a fisherman on our island, but left to become a merchant.”

Kael suddenly burst out laughing. “Hey Roland, c’mere!” He shouted.

Roland quickly came, thinking something was wrong. “What’s wrong?”

“This kid, he’s Galen’s son!” Kael said excitedly.

Topias and Dai looked at each other, both confused.

Kael’s grip tightened on Dai’s shoulder, his eyes filled with nostalgia. “Ha ha! Your father and I have been through a lot together,” he said. “He’s a good man, your father. He taught me a lot about this world and how to survive in it. I owe him a great deal!”

Dai felt a deep sense of pride and admiration for his father. For years, he had been living in isolation on Saltwater Island, never knowing that his father had connections to the outside world. “What was he like? My father, I mean,” Dai asked eagerly, wanting to know more.

Kael smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Your father took me under his wing when I was about your age. He’s honest and fair, and he has a way of making people feel at ease. He also never backs down from a challenge.”

“My father took you under his wing?” Dai repeated.

Kael looked at Dai and let out a deep sigh. “You know, where I come from, things are different,” he said, his voice tinged with bitterness. “It’s called the Nebula Settlement. There’s no government, no laws, nothing like that. It’s every man for himself - survival of the fittest, as they say. I grew up there, surrounded by gangs and criminals. I didn’t have much of a choice.”

He shifted in his seat, the memories flooding back. “One day, I got caught up in something I shouldn’t have. I won’t go into details, but let’s just say it didn’t end well. I was on the verge of death when your father found me. He saved my life, but I think he pitied me, too. Before I knew it, I was traveling with him for two, maybe three years.”

Kael paused, lost in thought. “But then, suddenly, your father told me it was time for me to live a normal life and get a job, so he forced me to come work for Roland, and now I’ve been stuck with that old geezer for four years,” he said, shaking his head. “I owe your father my life, and I’ll always be grateful to him for that. But I can’t say I’m thrilled with how boring my life has been lately.”

“Shut up before I make you shut up, you ungrateful man-child!” Roland said, as he bonked Kael on his head.

Dai laughed after he listened to Kael’s story intently, taking in every word. He was proud to be Galen’s son and wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. “Do you think I could be like him?” Dai asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Kael chuckled, ruffling Dai’s hair. “Of course you can, kid. You’re Galen’s son, after all. You have his blood running through your veins. You just need to believe in yourself and have the courage to chase your dreams.”

Dai smiled. He was ready to explore the world and learn from his father’s legacy.

“You really are his child…” Roland said to himself, before taking a deep breath. “I met your father the same way I met you, and funnily enough—you even said the exact same thing: ‘I don’t want to be a prisoner to this island.’,” Roland said.

Dai’s eyes widened. He thought about what he would do when he would see his father again. “Where is my father now?” he asked hesitantly.

Kael and Roland made eye contact and they’re expressions saddened. “I’m sorry, but Galen asked us not to tell you if we’d ever meet you before he did,” Roland said.

Dai was confused. Did his father not want to see him anymore? He was too scared to ask.

“D-don’t worry, It’s not because of you, Dai! It’s just that you’re dad… let’s just say he has a lot of enemies, so he probably doesn’t want to meet you again until you are able to find him yourself, that way Galen would know you’d be safe even after meeting him.” Kael continued, as if he knew what Dai was thinking.

“Dad has a lot of enemies? Are you talking about other merchants?” Dai asked, eager to learn more about his father.

Kael and Roland looked at each other once again, as if they were telling each other “who’s telling him”.

Kael glanced around the room before his gaze settled on Dai. He reached over to the desk, grabbing a pen and a piece of paper. Scribbling something down, he turned to Dai and asked, “Do you have a phone?”

Dai shook his head slowly. “N-no… I never needed one.”

Kael nodded in understanding. “Well, if you’re going to travel the world, you’re going to need a phone,” he said, holding out the paper with his number written on it. “Here, this is my number. Call me once you’ve learned more about the world.”

Dai took the paper from Kael, examining it for a moment before tucking it safely into his pocket. “Once I’ve learned more about the world? How do I know when that is?” he asked, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the task ahead.

Kael placed a comforting hand on Dai’s shoulder. “Trust me, it’ll be obvious once you know,” he said with a small smile, giving Dai a friendly pat on the shoulder before indicating for him to get some rest.

Dai stepped out of the sailors’ cabinet, his mind racing with thoughts of the strange encounter he had just experienced. Topias, his new friend and guide, followed close behind, looking concerned. “What was all that about?” he asked, clearly trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Dai sighed heavily, feeling the weight of his newfound responsibilities bearing down on him. He knew he had a lot to learn about the world, and even more to discover about his own identity and past. As he spoke to Topias, his voice was tinged with weariness and uncertainty. “I’m not sure,” he admitted, “but I know I have a lot to figure out. I need to find out more about my father.”

The enormity of the task ahead of him was overwhelming, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of exhaustion creeping in. “I’m sorry, but could you show me to my room, please?” he asked Topias, hoping to find some solace in the comfort of his bed. “I’m feeling pretty tired.”

 Topias nodded understandingly, trying to hide his disappointment at not being able to help Dai more. “Ahh… yeah, follow me,” he said, leading the way down the narrow corridor towards Dai’s room.

Dai stumbled into his small cabin, barely taking notice of the simple furnishings around him. It had been so long since he had slept in a proper bed that the soft mattress and cool sheets felt like a luxury. He climbed under the covers and let out a contented sigh as he allowed himself to sink into the embrace of the mattress. The weight of the day’s experiences had caught up with him, and his mind was a whirlwind of unfamiliar sights, sounds, and ideas.

As he closed his eyes, he couldn’t help but think back to his time at the orphanage, where sleeping on a mattress had been nothing but a distant dream. With a sense of gratitude, he whispered to himself, “I never want to take this for granted again."