The churning waters of the Global Ocean caused Serenity’s Song to bob up and down, much like a slice of lemon dropped into a glass filled with cold liquid. The clouds above it were thick, grey, and all-encompassing. Relentless cloudburst pelted the vessel for hours and hours on end, as if the water within was being squeezed from the clouds like a hand pressing down on a damp sponge, forcing the crew to retreat below deck until it was safe enough to emerge and carry on with their work. Storms of such intensity were not unheard just off the coast of his homeland, but being so far offshore made it incredibly nerve-wracking. In fact, it was only due to Stefan and Ivan’s Reserve that it stayed on course, temporarily sacrificing the capability to remain stable in order to do so.

High up in the crow’s nest, however, a soul remained atop the Serenity. Leaning onto the rail in front of him, the man silently relished in the rainfall, getting soaked to the bone. He was unphased, though. Never before had he experienced such a phenomenon in his life, remaining above deck during a rough storm with both the heavens and sea battering his vessel, in an area of Terra so incredibly far from home. It had been two months since he left Yeupis, and although he missed it dearly, he took every opportunity he could to take in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Fear and caution had once calculated every one of his moves, with the arrival of the two Reserve-wielding northerners, but now he’d put everything in their hands and trusted them to keep him and everyone else safe. That’s why, despite a fairly realistic chance of suddenly being thrown yards below onto the top deck, Rohan remained steadfast, keeping a watchful eye on the sky and sea around him.

His thoughts turned to the reason he became a sailor in the first place. Many sailors had been on the sea from their tender years, but Rohan had only been in its domain for barely two decades, already a grown man. Originally working as a shipbuilder, his career took a change in trajectory when he received the terrible news that someone close to him, the one he provided for and cherished, had come down with an illness that ravaged her lungs, taking away her ability to breathe or even speak properly. On a shipbuilder’s salary, he hardly made the income needed to care for her. He took a risk, finding work as a sailor through an acquaintance. His knowledge on the capabilities and design of seafaring vessels took him far.

In two years he became a second mate, and two years later he became a first mate. Only two years later, he finally earned the title of captain, and leased his own mighty ship. In only a few short years, he had gone from putting vessels together, to commanding them as they shuttled around south Yeupis. But time wasn’t so kind on his sweetheart. Her disease progressed into a terminal stage, beyond the point where any medicine could have effect, and her soul finally gave up. Since the day he laid his beloved to rest, Rohan had nearly non-stop explored the seas, and knew every inch of the waters within the permitted zone like the back of his hand. He developed amiable relationships with his crew, providing for them and making sure they were safe and secure on his voyages. In return, he was given their limitless loyalty and complete trust. He had developed a web of companions to rely on at sea, but unlike them, no one was waiting for him at home. He had no one to return to. Perhaps realizing that was the reason he finally relented, giving into Manisha of Chitran’s demands to take her and her companions far into a region unknown. If something happened to him, would anyone mourn for him?

“Namrata… I’m not sure if you’d kick me in the balls or give me a real warm kiss on the cheek for listening to that crazy woman. But… one thing’s for sure,” he spoke to the sky like it was his late love. “I’m only here ‘cause of you.”

“Rohan, there you are!” a voice like honey belted from below. Rohan looked over the side of the crow’s nest, almost expecting it to be his Namrata. To his disappointment, he saw Manisha’s face peering up at him as she was halfway up the top of the Serenity’s Jacob’s ladder, clambering up as the ship swayed from side to side.

“Get your ass back down!” Rohan exclaimed as the seasoned navigator rapidly made her way up.

“I’m already here. Could’ve said it earlier.” she shrugged, as she climbed over the wooden rails of the lookout.

“You shouldn’t be out here in this storm!” Rohan grumbled, stepping back as much as he could in the confined space to give himself whatever little room he could. “Ya don't see how bad it is?”

“It’s too noisy down there, you get me? Just need to escape for a bit. And ain’t that the reason you’re here too?”

“I… fuckin’ hell, guess you’re right,” Rohan sighed, relaxing his tense shoulders. “What are you here to annoy me about?”

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“Nothing. I just wanted to enjoy the view as you are, in peace.” Manisha shrugged.

“Fine, then.” Rohan turned around, looking out in one direction, while Manisha kept her back to him, gazing in another.

The skies had only darkened after she arrived, and the flashes of lightning only seemed to get brighter. The rain’s battering did not falter one bit. It also didn’t help that the crow’s nest was situated away from the ship’s centre of gravity, a recipe for terrible seasickness upon even the most experienced of sailors. The waves looked ever so turbulent, and remaining still on the highest point on the ship was impossible. To be quiet in such a chaotic moment was unsettling.

Suddenly, a powerful wave crashed into the stern of the ship. It cause everything on the vessel to jolt forward. Anything not tethered to the ground nor any person grabbing onto something would be flung by yards. In the corner of his eyes, Rohan spotted a shape flying away from the crow’s nest, accompanied by a shriek of surprise. His reflexes, tempered by his intuitions as a captain, took control of him. Without even properly getting a look at what he grabbed, he found an ankle in his tight grip, connected to Manisha’s dangling body. The damp bandana on her head was not as fortunate, falling off her scalp and floating away into the abyss that was the Global Ocean, a lost cause. Her curly locks flowed below her, and that moment she looked more like an ordinary southern maiden than a hardened sailor. Rohan used his sinewy arms to pull the woman back into the crow’s nest, after which a smirk manifested on his face.

“For someone as tenured as you, you’re awfully scared of heights.” he snorted.

“I’m ain’t scared of heights!” Manisha snapped, this time firmly gripping onto the railings behind her. “I’m scared of… falling. Yeah, that’s it. I’m scared of falling.”

“Ain’t we all?” Rohan shrugged.

“So what if we are?” she muttered, before turning away from him, taken over by shyness. She squeezed the railings hard, embarrassed out of her mind. She had already put that man and his crew in terrible peril by dragging them out to the middle of nowhere, and now she owed him once more for saving her from a grave injury, or worse. “Th-Thanks, though.”

Rohan wasn’t a fool, though. He knew the woman felt ashamed of her circumstances. He was surprised by it, though. He’d always known her to be the toughest, most stubborn, and frankly the craziest woman he had ever known. That was all he had known her to be, and why he shunned her. But as realization crept up his veins, he remembered just why he never wanted to associate with her.

She was just like Namrata. Rohan’s late wife was a daring woman even well into her illness. It was she who convinced him to become a sailor despite the uncertainty and his lack of experience and qualifications. Manisha had that exact same fire in her as Namrata did. They thought the same and in some ways acted the same way. Rohan even saw that they had the same exact smile.

Why again was he so vulgar to her? There was no reason, none at all.

He approached her, placing a gentle palm on her shoulder.

“Manisha… I’d like to apologise to you.” he spoke with uncharacteristic warmth.

She turned her head slightly in his direction.

“What for?”

“I've treated you terribly. For this entire time we’ve known each other. I hardly treated you like an equal even though you’re probably more fit for this kinda job than me. I never should’ve doubted you for any reason.”

Manisha snorted as she giggled, a tinge of melancholy laced into it.

“Apologise? What do I deserve an apology for? I’m just the same psycho gal everyone and their mama on the southern coast knows for having a kid whose daddy she doesn’t know. The hell do I need an apology for all of a sudden?”

“Them landlubbers can say whatever the hell they want, but they don’t know the kindness you’ve shown, nor how good of a mama ya really are. I’ve seen it all throughout this trip. You took care of those three northern terrorists like your own family, and you never let your son be treated any differently from a southerner. You’re… you’re a good woman, Manisha.”

Manisha’s arms shook, her grip on the rails failing as she was overwhelmed by the unexpected show of gratitude. She spun around slowly and looked Rohan right in the eye, her face damp not only from the rainwater, but her tears as well.

“Not one damn person has ever said anything quite like that to me, Rohan. You’re one hell of an orator.” she stepped closer to him.

“I ain’t no orator. I really do mean these words.” he smiled softly. Manisha leaned into his body, pressing the side of her face into his bare, soaked chest and wrapped around him tightly.

Manisha was out of words to speak as Rohan squeezed her back for a long moment.

“Here's a thought. How about I take Ilias in as an apprentice after we return to Yeupis? I mean, I’m not sure what the situation will be like when we get home, but I assure you we’ll make something work.”

Manisha’s heart exploded with joy as she heard his promise. She stepped back, a huge grin plastered on her face.

“I’d—I’d love that! No, he’d love that!” she clasped her hands and jumped on the balls of her feet like a child. A chance for her son to finally leave her dull, bigoted town was the absolute best she could ask for. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! Rohan, you're a godsend!"

After a short pause, she spoke again.

“Rohan, could ya promise me one more thing?” she asked.

“Of course, my dear navigator. What would you like?” he smiled.

“If… if something happens to me on the way there, or on the way back, or at any time… would you please take care of Ilias for me?”