The Forsaken was enormous—astonishingly so. For a sailing vessel relying purely on wind power, its sheer size seemed well beyond necessity.
Such a grand scale meant larger cargo holds, more artillery, sturdier construction, and greater stability amidst turbulent seas. It was built to confront the harshest voyages head-on.
Yet Duncan had no intention, at least for now, of embarking on any long journeys. Instead, the ship's immense emptiness served only to magnify his isolation. Having another crewmember aboard—one capable of conversation, at the very least—was undoubtedly welcome.
Besides, the Forsaken was certainly not short on vacant cabins.
Their footsteps echoed down the deserted corridor. Duncan led Alice, the peculiar gothic doll, down the creaking wooden staircase into the lower deck beneath the captain's quarters. This area clearly served as upper-level accommodation for senior crew members, and compared to the lower decks' shadowy and unsettling depths, it was positively bright and welcoming.
Stopping at one of the cabins, Duncan gently pushed open a partially ajar wooden door, revealing a modest yet tidy room within.
There were several single cabins just like this, all long-abandoned. Yet strangely, there wasn't the slightest trace of previous inhabitants.
When Duncan had first explored the Forsaken's upper decks, he'd noticed these empty rooms but hadn't given them much thought. Now, as captain of this ghostly ship—knowing firsthand it needed no crew—he couldn't help but feel puzzled.
If the ship required no sailors at all… then who were these cabins designed for?
These upper-deck single cabins clearly belonged to senior officers like first mates, quartermasters, or boatswains. Further below, there were sleeping quarters for ordinary sailors, a mess hall, and even a recreation room filled with tables and chairs—all unmistakably intended for a human crew.
But the Forsaken had no need for a crew.
Duncan's brows knitted slightly. He realized this now-desolate ghost ship must have once sailed with a full complement of sailors. When the Forsaken was first built, she was clearly designed to house real people.
So, what had happened to all those people? Where had the original crew disappeared to? Was the mysterious "Captain Duncan" always her master, or had he claimed the ship from others? And what exactly did that bizarre, wooden goat-head know about all this?
"Captain?" A tentative voice from behind suddenly broke Duncan's train of thought.
Startled, Duncan turned quickly, only to see Alice staring at him curiously. He had momentarily forgotten she was there. After spending so many days alone aboard this eerie vessel—with only that irritatingly talkative goat-head for company—he found Alice's presence unexpectedly disconcerting.
"I'm Duncan. You can address me as Captain Duncan, or just Captain if you prefer," he swiftly composed himself, gesturing toward the room. "This will be your cabin from now on. Go inside and have a look."
"Oh, thank you!" Alice eagerly nodded, first leaning over Duncan's shoulder to peek inside, then promptly turning to retrieve the ornate coffin-like box that hovered persistently behind her. Hoisting it carefully onto her shoulder, she stepped delicately into the cabin.
Watching Alice carry her ever-present "coffin" around made Duncan's lips twitch involuntarily. He observed silently as the doll set her "bed" beside the simple bunk, meticulously inspecting the velvet lining before finally turning to survey the rest of the sparse furnishings.
"You plan to carry that box around with you everywhere?" Duncan asked dryly, breaking the silence.
"Of course," Alice replied naturally, patting the coffin gently. "Where else would I keep it?"
"That box was meant to imprison you. I assumed you'd resent it more," Duncan said, eyebrows raised slightly. "Instead, you seem rather attached."
"The people who imprisoned me deserve blame, not the box itself," Alice explained simply, then offered politely, "Would you like to come in and sit?"
"No need," Duncan shook his head, changing the subject quickly. "So, how do you like your room?"
"It's wonderful!" Alice appeared genuinely pleased, her bright gaze scanning the cabin as if it were a luxurious palace chamber rather than a modest sailor's quarters. "Is that a wardrobe? I don't have spare clothes… but it's nice to have a wardrobe. And the desk—perhaps one day I'll have something to put on it. Or maybe I could keep my head there while brushing my hair, it might be convenient…"
"As long as you like it," Duncan said slowly. It was admittedly surreal to watch a gothic doll perched comfortably atop her coffin, cheerfully imagining a new life—especially given some of her more unsettling ideas—but he found himself smiling faintly despite himself. Quickly regaining his composure, he stepped back, continuing calmly:
"You can rest here and settle in. Aside from the stairs leading to lower decks, you're free to roam this deck and the top deck as you please. The layout isn't complicated, so you should quickly become familiar with it."
"If you need me, I'll usually be in the captain's quarters. If I'm not there, the wooden goat-head on the navigation table can speak—it's my first mate."
Alice, who had been nodding along happily until now, froze abruptly at Duncan's final statement. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "The goat-head?! That creepy black carving?"
"Seems you've already noticed it."
"Yes, but—it talks? And it's your first mate?!" Alice stared incredulously, astonished. "I thought it was just decorative—that's extraordinary!"
"You're a walking, talking doll," Duncan reminded her flatly. "Yet you find a talking goat-head extraordinary?"
Alice blinked slowly, suddenly looking down at her own porcelain-like hands, as though just realizing what she was. "Oh… right. I suppose you have a point."
Duncan shook his head with faint amusement, turning to leave. "Get some rest. Let me know if you need anything."
"Yes, Captain!" Alice called cheerfully from behind.
Once he'd left, Duncan didn't linger, heading straight back to his quarters. He settled into his large chair by the navigation table. Immediately, the carved goat-head creaked and twisted, directing its wooden gaze toward him eagerly.
"Ah, Captain! Welcome back. I see you've settled in the young lady—I told you she was gentle and harmless, didn't I? Certainly no trouble for your voyage. A pleasant companion for conversation, too! Have you decided what duties she'll perform? The Forsaken doesn't require cleaning or manual labor. The deck scrubs itself, the cannons polish themselves, the water tanks maintain themselves—perhaps she might run the kitchen? You've frequently complained about the ship's food. Ah, speaking of food, perhaps we ought to replenish our stores first—our salted meats and cheeses may have gone a bit stale. Although ordinary sailors wouldn't fuss about provisions, the distinguished Captain Duncan certainly…"
Duncan felt his head throbbing. At that moment, he reaffirmed a crucial truth: with this endlessly chatty goat-head on board, having Alice as a more "normal" conversation partner was truly a blessing.
"Quiet!" Duncan snapped sharply, silencing the goat-head instantly. "You were strangely quiet when Alice was here. I almost thought you'd learned some restraint."
"It's customary not to interrupt when the captain interviews new crew members, even for a loyal first mate like me…"
Interrupting hastily, Duncan leaned forward seriously. "Keep an eye on that doll, especially over the coming days."
"Hmm? Keep watch on the young lady? You still don't trust her? Ah, well, caution is an essential trait for a captain…"
"She has secrets," Duncan stated evenly, cutting through the goat-head's chatter. "Secrets even she may not fully understand herself. There might be more she hasn't revealed, intentionally or otherwise. She's still a cursed doll—'Anomaly 099,' according to her previous captors."
He paused thoughtfully. "Those men sealed her meticulously, clearly desperate to contain whatever danger she posed. Yet here she is now, freely wandering aboard my ship. I intend to spend some time ensuring Alice really is as harmless as she appears… at least while aboard the Forsaken."