The Ocean fell from the heavens many years ago. It was said that our world had no water before. That it was an alien substance that dropped from the sky. Some historical accounts depict it as the god of the sky’s blood that he coughed up after being defeated in an unworldly battle. Other accounts say that the water rose from the ground as if the world itself was tired of being dry. Many saw the water as a living thing that swallows everything into an endless abyss. Which wasn’t entirely fictitious. Very few of the people that had dared to brave the sea had ever returned.
It took hundreds of years after its appearance for people to feel comfortable near it, let alone the hundreds after to learn how to transverse it. For over a thousand years, no one knew if there were any lands left, except our own. That was until a band of misfits set out to sea to find new land. They were gone for months. Many believed they became victims of the merciless Serpent. But one day, a dove flew from off the shore with a note attached to its leg. It said:
Land Ahoy! We did it! The Misfits of Xerra conquered the Serpent that’d swallowed many of our ancestors. It tried to slither around us numerous times, but we succeeded in avoiding the abyss. Forty days and forty nights. That’s how long it took us to find new land. Our ship is busted and unfortunately, at the time of writing this, we’ve not found any new people. But there are plenty of resources here that’ll make it possible to not only build a new ship but a new city. The Seven of us envision this land becoming a hub for sea exploration, however, we can’t do it alone.
We are sending this message to not only confirm our safety but as a call of destiny as well. Any who wish to find what is beyond Xerra’s shores and are brave enough to surf on the scales of the Serpent, we recruit you to our crew! Travel North for forty days and forty nights and we’ll be waiting for you! Come join us at Aqueden!
That letter got reproduced and showered on the people in each district of Xerra. Reporters from every town stood on boxes and repeated its words day and night for weeks. There was a buzz like never before. The shipwright industry flourished overnight as more and more people, men and women alike, heeded the call to action. Hundreds of grand ships left the shores in a thunderous celebration. I remember beaming with excitement as I watched a fleet of massive hulls and masts journey fearlessly into the unknown. Each one of them was a sleek hybrid between water-wood and metal. Ships more advanced than the ones that the misfits took on their journey.
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By all logic, most of them should have made it to Aqueden. But the Serpent does not value logic. Three days after their departure, all the ships returned looking much less glorious. They washed ashore, splintered and battered. Of the valiant thousands, only thirteen sailors were found alive in the wreckage. Twelve of the thirteen were unable to speak from the experience. The one that could speak repeated only two words: “Serpent’s tail.”
All of Xerra’s hopes and dreams were buried that day, and the misfit’s successful voyage was chalked up to luck. “Somehow they had avoided the gaze of the Serpent,” was how people put it. Very few crews tried sailing after that catastrophe, and it’s unknown if any of them succeeded. No more than three ships sail out at a time now from fear that too many will draw the Serpent’s attention.
The land of Aqueden has yet to be discovered again and the misfits of Xerra are still waiting for our arrival. Communication with them is limited to messenger birds and after the disaster, they haven’t sent another note. It’s unknown if they are still doing well, and many believe they have died. Some say we should give up and submit to the Serpent. Accepting our fate as being trapped on the land of Xerra forever. Some also worship the Serpent, believing that it is keeping us safe from something much more dangerous…
What do I believe?
I don’t necessarily believe in anything. If the sea is a serpent or some other living thing, it doesn’t matter to me. All I wish to do is reach Aqueden and achieve the misfit’s dream. No matter if they are still alive or not. I was too young to sail out when the incident occurred three years ago, but now my time has come. I’ll build a crew and conquer the—
“Sir,” a meek female voice broke me away from my thoughts.
A young, teenage girl with glasses and short, elbow-length green hair was standing in front of me. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and she fidgeted with her fingers beneath her waist. She seemed to be wearing a school uniform—a white polo and a black, knee-length skirt. The sun was still high in the sky on a weekday, so if she was a student, she should be in school. Not that it is my place to say anything.
“You’re a trash collector, right?” she asked me.
“Yeah,” I replied.
“Oh, awesome. I, umm… just wanted to tell you that I saw some litter on the road further down.”
The girl pointed in the direction she came from.
“Oh, thanks. I’ll make sure to get that. Have a good day.”
I walked past the girl, trash-grabbing stick and trash-collecting bag in hand.
“Thanks. You, too!” I heard her respond as I left.
A few moments passed after that exchange before I let out a sigh. Unfortunately, I still needed a bit more money before I could conquer the Serpent.