The sky burned crimson as the ship docked beside the boy, its arrival marked by a chorus of creaking wood and haunting silence. All kinds of pirates stepped off the vessel half-humans, rattling skeletons, and even those long since passed into the realm of the dead. The boy's eyes darted through the crowd, frantically searching for a familiar face. But as he looked up at the glowing red sky, the truth hit him like a crashing wave. He lowered his head and let out a quiet sigh. "Father… I miss you so much."
The boy was handed a pendant its surface cold and ancient. Eagerly, he rushed to open it, but just as his fingers touched the clasp, a sword came crashing down onto it, halting him in his tracks. "What…?" he muttered, startled. An undead pirate stepped forward, his voice gravelly and laced with centuries of sorrow. "Boy… you are not yet worthy of that pendant. You cannot open it now. First, you must find your true solace. Only then will your fate be revealed within." The boy's face fell, the hope that had briefly flickered in his heart now dimmed. He had thought just for a moment that he might see a glimpse of his father. He clenched the pendant in his hand, his voice trembling. "Oh God… why have you done this to me?" A single tear slid down his cheek.
Ten years had passed since he last saw the daring crew. Perhaps, he thought, they too had found their solace. As morning light spilled across his room, he awoke from bed and wandered to the window. There, in the distance, cutting through the misty horizon, was a ship the ship he had waited for all these years. The sky gleamed with the brilliance of the sun, casting golden rays over the vessel's sails. It was the Sunsetter once a feared warship of the Navy, now repurposed as a humble trading vessel. His heart pounded. "This is it," he whispered to himself. "My chance to finally reach the seas."
"So, you're Elric? Jonathan's son?" an old man asked, his voice rough like salt on stone. "Yes… I am," Elric replied softly. As he stepped toward the helm, two guards blocked his path. "Listen, boy," one of them said, "you're only here because of an old bet our captain lost. We're sailing as far as the Coast of Sylvia. From there, you're on your own." Elric nodded and turned to walk away, but a voice called out behind him. "Elric, right?" the captain said with a grin. "Come on, don't be shy!" Nervously, Elric stepped closer to the helm. A rush of excitement spiraled through him, tingling in his chest and fingertips. The captain watched him for a moment before speaking, "Not much work for us these days. So, we'll take you wherever you need to go. Just say the word." Elric unfolded his map, his finger landing on a marked spot. "The Hollow Waters." A heavy silence fell over the crew. All eyes turned to him. The sea, for a moment, seemed to still.
The captain's grin faded, replaced by a shadow of something deeper regret, perhaps, or fear. He leaned closer, voice hushed. "You don't just sail to the Hollow Waters, lad. That place… it finds you." A murmur rippled through the crew, and some backed away, making warding signs with their hands. Elric remained still, his eyes unwavering. "I've waited a decade. If that place wants to find me, I'll be there waiting." The captain let out a low whistle, then laughed. "You've got your father's madness, I'll give you that." He turned to the helm and barked, "Set course for Sylvia, then onward to the edge!" As the ship surged forward, cutting through the waves, Elric stood tall at the bow once more. Behind him, whispers stirred. Ahead of him, destiny loomed. And beneath him, in the dark heart of the ocean, something began to stir.
Aboard a black ship, a group of men huddled in the dim light, their voices low and cautious. "So, the boy has finally set sail?" one of them asked, his eyes narrowing as he stared into the distance. "Yes, according to our intel, he's aboard the Sunsetter," another man replied, scanning the horizon. "What shall we do now?" a third man spoke, his tone filled with uncertainty. Before anyone could answer, a bottle shattered on the table with a deafening crack. Sitting at the far end, a man with a dark, flowing beard and eyes as cold as death spoke. "I will achieve immortality," he said, his voice calm but menacing. "And when I do, that boy will be mine." The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Meanwhile, aboard the Sunsetter, the crew prepared to dock on the coast of Sylvia. The ship creaked as the anchor was dropped, and the crew worked swiftly to ready a small boat for Elric's journey. Elric stood at the edge of the ship, his heart racing. His eyes scanned the shore ahead, where the Hollow Waters awaited. "This is it," he whispered to himself. "The next step on my path." With a deep breath, Elric climbed into the small boat, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
As the boat cut through the misty waters, Elric felt the chill of the sea air creeping into his bones. The coast of Sylvia loomed closer, its jagged cliffs rising like ancient sentinels guarding the path to the Hollow Waters. The crew of the Sunsetter waved from the ship, their faces tense, knowing the boy's journey was one that would test more than just his courage. Elric's grip tightened on the oars, and the rhythmic sound of the water against the boat filled his ears. But as he drew nearer to the shore, the sea began to stir unnaturally. Waves grew restless, and the wind howled as if warning him. Suddenly, a dark shape emerged from beneath the surface, breaking the water with a force that sent ripples crashing across the boat. Elric froze, heart pounding in his chest. The shape rose higher, revealing itself to be a creature of myth an ancient leviathan, its eyes glowing with an eerie, otherworldly light. It was clear this creature was no ordinary beast of the sea; it was a guardian of the Hollow Waters, and it was waiting for him.
Elric stood frozen, his mind racing. He tried to turn back, but the world around him had changed. The Sunsetter, the crew, even time itself seemed to slip away, leaving him stranded in an unfamiliar place a world that felt as though it existed outside of reality. His heart pounded, the air thick with the weight of something unnatural. But he couldn't let himself falter. To see his father again, to understand the truth, he had to defeat the beast. His eyes scanned the chaos before him, landing on a bow and arrow lying within reach. A sense of resolve flooded through him, cold and sharp. He had one shot—one chance to shape his destiny, his life, everything. The weight of it pressed down on him, but he stood tall, steeling himself for what was to come. With a swift motion, Elric grabbed the bow, nocking the arrow. His breath quickened as he raced up the massive, twisting body of the Leviathan, dodging its vicious strikes. The creature's enormous jaws snapped at him, the air heavy with the scent of salt and blood. He climbed higher, adrenaline coursing through his veins. The head was within reach, the arrow ready to strike, but the beast's tail whipped around, throwing him off balance. Elric's grip faltered, and with a heart-stopping moment of terror, he slipped. The bow flew from his hands, plummeting into the dark waters below. His body followed, hurtling downward but his fingers managed to catch the last arrow, his only hope, as he dangled from the Leviathan's massive body. The beast turned slowly, its glowing eyes locking onto the boy, who hung on by the slender shaft of the arrow. The world seemed to hold its breath as the Leviathan's gaze burned into him, unblinking, unyielding.
Time stretched thin as Elric dangled, his pulse loud in his ears. The Leviathan's eyes were like twin suns, staring deep into his soul, as if it knew all his fears, his hopes, his desires. The weight of its gaze was suffocating. Elric could feel the beast's immense power radiating from it, the centuries of ancient wisdom, of untold horrors. And yet, beneath it all, there was something else something fragile, something almost human. With his strength waning, Elric knew that if he didn't act, it would all be over. His fingers, raw and aching, held the arrow tight. As the Leviathan's massive head tilted ever so slightly, a small spark of insight flashed in his mind. He wasn't just fighting for his father. He was fighting for his future, for everything the sea had taken from him and everything it would give him in return. The creature wasn't just a monster to be slain; it was a key, a guide, a test. Summoning every ounce of willpower, Elric pulled the arrow back and aimed for the glowing, almost imperceptible weak spot beneath the Leviathan's jaw. He exhaled, steadying his trembling hands, and let the arrow fly. The world seemed to pause as the arrow sailed through the air, the shimmering point of light trailing behind it. It struck true, plunging into the beast's tender flesh with a sound like thunder. The Leviathan let out an ear-splitting roar, thrashing violently. Elric held on, his body jerking with every strike of the creature's tail. The beast convulsed one last time, before it sank beneath the waves, taking Elric with it. But before he could be swallowed by the depths, something strange happened. A light a soft, golden glow flickered in the water around him. Elric gasped, his mind struggling to comprehend what was happening.
Just before he lost consciousness, the last thing he heard was the soft echo of a familiar voice calling his name.
"Elric! Elric!"
The voice snapped through the fog of his mind, and Elric jerked awake, his breath shallow. He blinked, disoriented, and found himself staring up at his father, who was leaning over him with a concerned expression.
"You have to stop waking up late!" his father chided, his tone light yet full of that familiar warmth.
Elric's chest tightened, the world spinning. Just a moment ago, he had been at the Hollow Waters, facing that beast… and now, here he was, in his childhood bed. His father was alive, right in front of him.
"Have I come back in time?" Elric thought, his mind racing.
His father kissed him on the forehead, the gesture grounding him, bringing him back to the present.
"I'm going out to the seas, with my friends. With the Tidecaller," his father said with a smile, his eyes full of quiet resolve.
Elric's heart sank. "Wait, don't go!"
"I'm sorry, son. I was born for this life. I can't abandon it."
Before Elric could protest further, his father had already left the room. Elric ran to the window, watching helplessly as the man who had always been his anchor sailed away.
As he stood there, trying to steady his breath, memories began to resurface. There were only three years until his father would vanish.
Elric's heart clenched. He had only three years to save his father from a fate worse than death. Three years to uncover the mystery behind the tall, bearded man and the dangerous bet made with the Sunsetter.
There was no time to waste. His journey had just begun.