The next few days I fell into a schedule filled with what I would call training, but it was unguided. I did what felt natural, and could only hope I would make any type of improvement. A majority of the day was spent sleeping, and during the night I monitored the flame of the lighthouse and activated [Spectral Hand].

Using it in as many ways as possible, I still only saw progress on the third night as the range of the hand increased, and it could now move all along the first floor of the lighthouse.

It was harder to manipulate and get the hand to perform specific actions farther away, but it was still a step forward.

On the fourth night, I focused on concentrating on the power of the skill instead of focusing on the range of the skill. So, I activated [Spectral Hand] right in front of myself and began to pour mana into it, more than what was needed.

The hand did not solidify, as I wasn’t trying to interact with the natural world around me. However, it did begin to change. The fingertips elongated, tapering down to points like claws. Next, its fingers narrowed, the immaterial bones becoming more prominent as the skin seemed to stretch.

A wrist began to form, a smoke-like substance swirling up to create half of a forearm. My breath caught—it looked disturbingly familiar.

As if to confirm my suspicions, a hand gripped my shoulder tight. I looked up at the priest, whose hidden face was firmly directed at the invisible hand.

"Does this mean…" I began.

"I can feel it," his raspy voice said simply. Then, as if to prove his point, the fingers of my skill flexed, before the hand rolled in the air; I hadn't directed it at all.

My heart began to pound. For most of my life, the priest had been… mine, for lack of better words. He was the result of a deformity in my brain, a mere delusion.

In this world, it now seemed that was no longer the case. The priest was behind me, unreal, but also beginning to materialize in front of me.

He was the one who had pushed me forward when I had hung onto the edge of the cliff with only one arm—I had gained [Spectral Hand] as a result. What had he said, then?

Reality is whatever we decide it to be.

What would happen when [Spectral Hand] continued to expand? Would I see a second priest?

No, not a second. It would be him, the same, but now a part of this reality.

The priest bent, head by my ear. "Just a bit farther," he whispered. Until I can truly stand next to you. I could hear the unspoken words.

I let [Spectral Hand] dissipate, my mana practically gone, but with just enough left to keep the lighthouse flame lit. It wouldn't be now, I knew, but soon. Soon, my priest would affect this world.

[Intelligence +1]

***

After sleeping for a few hours following the arrival of dawn, I took a bag and headed to town. My food stores were depleted, and Gaven had said supplies would be provided for me each week if I went to the small village.

Approaching the main street, I could feel the liveliness. So many voices and laughter rang out, tones familiar. As it seemed to be around lunchtime, based on the intensity of the sun on my skin, I could smell many unfamiliar foods mixed with the smoke of fires.

This time, when the dirt turned to the stone of the street, nothing stopped, and no one paid me any mind. I didn't know exactly where to go, so I followed the closest scent of meat cooking.

It didn't take long to sense a line formed in front of what I assumed to be a food stall, voices chattering as they stood still before moving slightly forward periodically towards the smell of meat.

I stood behind the last in line, hand gripping the strap of my bag. The line moved quickly, and soon I stood in front of the rumbling voice that was handing out the food..

"How much do you want?" the man asked me.

"Sorry, I didn't know who to ask, but I'm currently managing the lighthouse," I began. "Gaven said I could refill my supplies weekly here in town."

He hummed. "Oh, you're the man he told us about. I'll show you to the right spot." He stood quickly, calling loudly to the people that had formed behind me. "Be right back, I promise!"

There were groans, but the man clapped me on the back, leading me away with his strong hand.

"I'm Ansel. Cain, yes?" he asked, and I nodded my head. "Well, Cain, we've got a storage shed at the end of the street, and it's connected to the main food store. We usually set aside supplies for Gaven himself, and now you as he directed. So next time, you can head straight there and get what you need."

"Thank you." Ansel simply grunted and clapped me on the shoulder again. I thought for a moment, then said, "I did have a question."

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Oh? Go ahead."

"How long has Gaven been here?"

Ansel laughed. "Longer than me, and I was born here. How much farther back, I don't know."

I hummed at that. It was a bit surprising, as I estimated Ansel to be around forty. But it also wasn't surprising at all, as I knew Gaven was an old man, perhaps with the appearance of an eighty-year-old—guessing by his voice and his aged hands.

Whether Gaven had lived beyond the limits of ordinary humans, like Davion, I didn't know. But I believed his methods to increase his lifespan wouldn't be as nefarious as the patriarch's.

I wondered if this was where Gaven had first landed when taken from Earth, like how I had landed in the forest near the Federation. It seemed likely, as from what I had experienced, Gaven's powers were considerably related to the ocean, and a temple dedicated to the God of the Sea had been built—it only seemed natural that Gaven had constructed it.

As the first human I knew from Earth, I felt the desire to know his experiences and how they differed from mine.

Ansel announced our arrival at the storage building, breaking through my contemplation, so I pushed thoughts of Gaven away. A woman with a soft voice greeted Ansel as we walked inside, then directed us toward shelves near the door.

"I think you'll be able to carry all of it by yourself," he observed. "Everything on this shelf is for you, so help yourself." That hand once again found my back, and I gritted my teeth. "I've got to get back, but don't hesitate to ask me if you got questions."

I nodded my head, and he was gone.

Starting from the right, I put the smaller packages in my bag. Most of the food I'd had during the last week had been grains—cooked over a fire pit in a pot outside the lighthouse—and dried meat and fish. The packages here seemed to contain the same.

The meat fit in my pack, but I had to carry the two sacks of grain in my arms before I stepped out of the building. Outside, I paused. The sounds of conversation had stopped entirely, though I could still hear the shuffling of feet.

I inhaled, then winced at the overpowering scent of salt. It was like the ocean had raised and covered the island completely before receding just as fast and leaving behind the smell of seaweed and that tangy sea salt.

Footsteps from the opposite side of the street from where I had entered grew louder—the sounds were different and lighter than the footsteps of the island's inhabitants.

Those steps were like a hypnotic swaying, like the gradual approach of a wave. Sirens, I immediately figured.

I stepped back, leaning against the outer wall of the storage building. My jaw twitched—I did not want to interact with that species again, as it had turned out quite disadvantageous for me the last time.

However, the fact we were on land this time gave me some reassurance.

As if to mock my resolution, a mystical yet rasping hum escaped the mouth of one of the sirens that were passing by, and the owner of the voice broke away from the pack to approach me. I wouldn't forget that voice, even when I die.

The salty smell grew harsher, and the siren laughed. "How pleasant to see you here, sailor." It was like two voices speaking at once—the alluring one trying to disguise the grating of the other, but the unsettling harmony couldn't hide from my senses.

"Do you have some business with me?" I asked, trying to end this as fast as possible.

She let out a fake mourning sigh. "Oh, so cold. I'm only trying to make conversation with a familiar face. How surprising you ended up here."

"Wasn't it by your design?"

She laughed, and I winced at the loud noise. "We left you near the ship. The Sea God must have pulled you here," she whispered the last part, like a sharing of a secret.

"Why did you leave me alive?" So many questions I seemed to have.

"Ah, but you were just so interesting. Fighting before you even hit the water. I wonder why my beautiful voice doesn't work on those ears of yours," the siren cooed, the top layer of her voice trying to wash over me like silk.

"Beautiful? Such unpleasant screeching is like nails to these ears," I evenly replied. That only made her laugh more. When she finally quieted, she made a curious sound.

"Hm, you seem to be carrying quite the treasure." I stiffened, shifting the grain bags to one arm as hers swished through the air toward my pocket.

I caught her damp wrist, wet from the ocean. I'd grabbed the marble when I'd woken earlier, inspecting it to see if I could feel anything I hadn't before. Then, almost as an afterthought, my hand had slipped the artifact into my pocket before I left for town.

The siren gasped in fake surprise. "So fast, sailor! I was only curious, promise."

Releasing her, she pulled back.

"You know of the Trinity?" I asked, slightly startled.

"Well, of course. I can feel the power of it now that I am close to you," she replied. "Such a gorgeous trinket," she sighed. "I'd love to take it off your hands."

My arms tensed, and she chuckled.

"Not without something equal in return, I assure you."

"It's not for sale."

"Oh! Then are you perhaps… interested in finding the other two?" she asked, luring me in like a fish.

"You said 'of course,' like it was impossible to not know about the marbles. You know the locations of the others?" I deduced.

"How quick of you!" she leaned towards me, her jarring voice sounding too pleased. "You're quite correct; however, I only know where one is."

I tensed further, my following question burning my throat.

"Oh, should I tell you where?" the siren teased. "You seem so eager. I could lead you right to it," she sharply tempted.

Nothing came free in any world.

"In return?" I forced out, falling right into her hands.

She softly hummed, fingers dancing up my free arm. "I have no idea!" she declared, hand drawing away. "I'll bring you to the orb first, then decide my wish."

I shook my head immediately. Who knows what the siren could ask for? Even the second marble wasn't worth that much.

"It'll be fair, I swear on it. An equal exchange," she reasoned. "If you don't think my request is equal to the price of the orb, I'll change it. I vow on that."

I shook my head again. "I need time to think." Who knew where this siren would lead me and if she was even telling the truth about knowing the orb's location?

"Then! I'll come back tomorrow, for your response. Where will I find you?" she softly asked.

"The lighthouse."

She laughed one last time. "How intriguing—I'll see you then. I'm Matilde. Give me your name, sailor," she demanded, voice lilting.

"...Cain."

"How lovely to see you again, Cain," Matilde said, a smile evident in her voice.

I couldn't say the same.