A few days later, In the captain's cabins, the sight unfolded before us.

Excitement surged through Julie's veins as she held onto a parchment, while the aged Howarding diligently worked on his map.

"This is what Ah've been searching for mah entire life, the reason I became a pirate.

Nothin’ will stand in Mah way now, Howarding," Julie proclaimed with determination.

Montessori entered the room with a sense of urgency.

"Ahoy, Montessou," Julie greeted.

Montessori couldn't contain his shock as he gasped, his expression filled with fear.

“ The boy, we have a problem captain”.

****

Julie briskly walked through her vessel, disbelief written all over her face. Upon reaching the deck, a small commotion caught her attention. Her crew members were proposing to cast out a boy from the ship.

"He's useless, Captain. He doesn't even have a name!" cried Jackson, a man with long dark hair and a tanned face. He continued, "I suggest we vote on whether to kick him out at the next port."

Approaching Jackson nonchalantly, Julie retorted,

"How disappointing, Jackson. I never took ya for that type."

"What do you mean by 'the type', Captain?"

"Ah mean the type who harbors insecurities. So, what is it ‘bout the boy dat torments ya?"

Julie moved closer to Jackson's face.

"Does he get ‘is head more patted than ya? Would you like some Pat as well?"

Laughter erupted, turning the matter into a joke, thanks to Julie. However, Jackson remained persistent.

******

Julie stepped into the confined room, its windows shut tight. A handsome man lay on the bed.

"He hasn't eaten since you visited him, Captain."

Julie was taken aback when she realized that it had already been five days since she had visited him.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Howarding approached her.

"I have mah reasons, old man," Julie defended herself to the silent elder.

"I didn't question you, lass," Howarding reassured her.

The boy suddenly woke up, using all his strength to rise. His sudden change of mind led him to cling onto Julie's legs.

She let out a sigh.

"Close the doors," the captain ordered.

"Yes, Captain,"

Howarding left and the young sailor closed the doors.

"Don't ya have any memories?" Julie thought.

Sitting on top of the boy, she immobilized him and gently touched his bare chest.

"I am no savior, ya see? Nor do I believe ya to be one oh us. Therefore, I won't hold back een any way. Nor will I hesitate to use ya," Julie warned, her eyes piercing into his red gaze. She grabbed his neck, immobilizing him against the floor, and continued.

"Ah wouldn't hesitate to kill ya either"

After a few moments of staring at the helpless boy, Julie felt a wave of sympathy overwhelming her. He truly seemed to have no memories, no pride, nothing but fear. Sighing, Julie stood up and walked toward the exit.

Desperately, he reached out for her boots, attempting to impede her from walking away, his lips moving in futile attempts to speak. Although words evaded him, his eyes conveyed a single message: "Stay."

His clearly displayed signs of submission, of being utterly broken. Julie sighed once more, convinced of his sincerity.

"It seems that ya truly have no memory. Is ya afraid of bein’ alone?"

He cast his gaze downwards, releasing his grip on her, just as he opened his hands, setting her free.

"Captain, I apologize for interrupting, but there is a message," announced someone.

Julie raised her hands dismissively.

"Montessori, ah will dispose of him, of Sir Aiden once ‘is memory returns. ‘til then, we shall make him useful, shouldn't we?!"

Having said that, Julie departed, leaving Montessori visibly discontented.

"Heartless and unyielding woman," he murmured to himself upon her departure, feeling pity for the boy who remained once again on the floor, completely lost.

Montessori then offered him a peach, which he had been carrying along.

“Ainden, so that is your name! “

The boy turned his gaze towards Montessori, who did not easily give up.

"If you are weak, you will only burden others and be of no use to the captain whatsoever."

Montessori extended the peach towards the boy once more, the boy snatched it away from him, devouring the fruit with a fierce determination. This left Montessori worried that the boy would have a stomachacche.

***

In the following days, the boy exerted great effort to stand, walk, and even carry heavy objects. He observed as a man cleaned and sailed and clumsily attempted to imitate his actions.

Of course, Julie noticed the boy's persistence.

As she passed by him, he gasped, "Julie," not referring to her as "Captain" or "Emerald" like others did, but as Julie.

Julie chose to ignore it, feeling incapable of dealing with someone clinging onto her legs again, thus quickening her pace.

After being ignored by Julie, the boy sat down, feeling despondent, caught in his sadness. From afar, Jackson noticed him, seizing the opportunity.

"Mate, why do you appear so dejected?"

Deep inside, Jackson despised the mere presence of the Red-eyed man.

Startled, the boy, now called Aiden, recoiled like a frightened wild animal, causing Jackson to feel a slight sense of fear. It seemed their feelings were mutual.

"Captain Julie is beautiful, isn't she, lad?"

Aiden's expression lit up slightly, and he approached Jackson.

"I know exactly how you could win the captain's favor, Aiden. Perhaps you could become a member of the crew."

Aiden's face said everything, he would do anything Jackson said if that meant being accepted by the captain.