For the next few hours, all of the crew rested save for Rosemary who diligently worked on rebuilding the ship. Once she had the bowsprit in place, the boat was far more balanced and bobbed happily once more with the sea. Rosemary then went to the task of painstakingly creating an entire mast on her own. The longer the timber grew from her, the more Zalan grew to appreciate the utility of the Elemental Plant Power. It really seemed like they could build anything they imagined.

Rosemary often needed to take a break and could only create one or two things in a half hour time span. She was constantly breathing hard and drenched in sweat.

“Rosemary, it may suit you to save your strength,” Enzo said, looking over her with worry. “We could be attacked by another monster while you are too tired to repair the damage they deliver.”

“Captain Buttonwillow McKittrick would never strive for anything less than absolute diligence with all the energy within him,” Rosemary replied.

“Perhaps,” Enzo said with some skepticism, “but you are not Captain Buttonwillow.”

“Do not remind me of my faults,” Rosemary snapped.

Enzo backed off, a mix of concern and confusion on his face. He turned to Captain Buttonwillow for advice. The captain was resting against the door to his private quarters, fading in and out of sleep. He was exhausted by the day’s events, but refused to be carried to bed while the ship was still in need of repairs.

As the day turned to night, the deck was piled with several pieces of thick timber to be bound together and hoisted once the sail was created. Without prompting, Nold began working on putting the pieces of the mast together. Rep and Zalan watched him closely. They didn’t want to offer to help him and he didn’t look like he expected anyone’s help.

“I suspect he is eager to get moving,” Rep said.

“You think I should suggest that we go back to Oriton now that the Homeseeker is lost in the sea? If the ship goes down, we’re going with it,” Zalan mentioned.

“I will support you either way. To go home is likely the safer option. On the other hand, plenty of adventurers go on grand journeys without the assistance of a Homeseeker.”

“That’s good to consider,” Zalan said, feeling a bit better.

“Of course… Many adventurers never come back home alive,” Rep added.

“Right…”

Zalan considered his options. The more he thought about it, the more he convinced himself it wasn’t a good idea to turn back home. What would he be looking for back home? Another Homeseeker? There was no guarantee he would find another one. And the last one he got was at the feet of an Elemental Dragon. He wasn’t sure he would survive taking on another set of massive monsters to get a rare Artifact. If he failed to find another Homeseeker, he would just find himself back in this same situation. On a boat with a crew at sea. And he wasn’t even guaranteed to get another ship out to sea now that they’d given over ownership to Captain Buttonwillow. Unless maybe Zalan asked Ma for another vessel. He didn’t want to risk another audience with her.

“I think we should stay out at sea,” Zalan decided. “The Island of Remains feels like it’s closer to us than Oriton.”

“Very well,” Rep nodded. “We had best keep this ship afloat, or we will have no means of getting back home after challenging another Monster of the Mindscape.”

“I forgot we needed it for the way back too. Not our best timing on doing the giveaway. We definitely jumped the gun on granting Captain Buttonwillow the ship,” Zalan said.

“Jumped the gun?” Rep repeated the phrase, confused.

“We did it too soon.”

“Ah. Indeed. The gun was jumped.”

Rep and Zalan looked up at the evening sky. The stars were bright, unhindered by any amount of light pollution. Zalan stared at the moon, scrutinizing it. He wished he knew more about his own moon. He looked at it thousands of times in his life, but still couldn’t tell if the moon he was looking at was the same as the one back in his world. Zalan noticed Enzo staring up at the stars like them and made his way over with Rep at his side.

“Can you read the stars to tell us where we are?” Zalan asked him.

“Not at all,” Enzo sighed, sounding disappointed.

Zalan looked at Rep. Rep shrugged, not knowing what was on Enzo’s mind. Zalan cleared his throat and asked a question quietly.

“Is it true you’re afraid of the sea?” Zalan asked.

Enzo looked at him sidelong, then sighed and closed his eyes in frustration.

“Open waters are too mysterious. My father was the one who adored the discoveries to be made, but I find that each creature is worse than the last. We have almost lost this ship over a dozen times on several journeys.”

“Forgive me for asking, but why do you still travel by sea if it does not please you?” Rep asked.

“My father is rather… immobile. He lost function of his arms and his legs are old and withered. Every time I go home, I tell him of my most recent tale. And… every time I tell him a new tale, his face lights up like he is a young man once more. I know for certain he lives vicariously through my stories at sea. My mother does what she can to care for him, but he excitedly waits for my next visit. And I do not wish to deprive him of that. As much as it pains me to be here. He will be very excited to learn what a Thalassic Terror looks like up close.”

A slight smile appeared on Enzo’s face as he imagined the scene. The smile grew to a low chuckle and he shook his head to himself. It was clear to Zalan that the love for his father was far greater than his fear of the sea. Zalan felt ambivalent. He felt bad for Enzo having to live in a constant state of stress, but Enzo clearly enjoyed some part of it. It kept him close to his family.

“Have you ever told your father that you do not enjoy your time out here?” Rep asked.

“I told him once, before I gained my Elemental Water Power. And I could see how it broke his heart to hear me say such a thing. But then I lied to him after I gained the power and told him that the power over water was all I needed to get over my fears,” Enzo replied.

“Could you not simply tell him that you go on fantastic journeys without actually going on them?” Rep asked.

“No, that would be far worse. It is one thing for him to believe I do not like my time at sea. He could live with that idea, for he does not believe a man has to love his job to provide for his family. He only needs to have a job. But if I were to tell him made up stories, I would know that every single smile I saw was not one I earned. Every follow up question would net me in a web of lies. And, truth be told, I like to talk about my experiences. I only do not like being part of them. He loves to know everything about me. What I did and how I fared against each creature and every tribulation of the seas. He respects me so much, and I love him for it,” Enzo said, looking embarrassed at having said so.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“You are a good son,” Rep said.

Zalan found Enzo’s relationship with his father complex. He couldn’t think of anything that his mother had forced him to feel was necessary like that. She had been so supportive when he decided to major in physics, despite being told by his uncle that there were no jobs in that field. And when he later decided to take a minor in Computer Sciences, she said that he could take all the time he needed to complete his schooling. He came from a very different home than Enzo. Yet, they both loved their parents. Zalan wished he could see his mother right then to thank her for all she did for him. The thought sent a bittersweet pang through his heart.

Enzo looked like he wanted to be left alone with his thoughts, and Rep steered Zalan away from the conversation. Zalan noticed that Magnolia was holding one hand up to the stars a few steps away from them. She didn’t look zoned out like Enzo did earlier, she looked like she was trying to navigate. He nudged Rep to help him notice, and they made their way over to her.

“Can you tell where we are?” Zalan asked her.

“If we want to go back to Oriton, it is that way. Otherwise, the Island of Remains is in that direction,” she pointed in two opposite ways.

“You can tell all that from the stars?” Rep asked.

“Indeed. The stars are the best way to navigate the sea. A clear night is better than a clear day to know where we are,” Magnolia said. “In fact, I even know that we are in dangerous waters.”

“What does ‘dangerous waters’ mean for us?” Zalan asked.

“Run-ins with the Thalassic Terror and Leviathans.”

“Is there just one Thalassic Terror?”

“That we know of.”

“Should we get back to the safe part of the sea and then continue our trek?” Rep asked.

“That would be up to our captain,” Magnolia said. “But it would be a large expenditure of Enzo and Xavier’s energies to simply put us on a different part of the sea. We would not make much progress to either destination. Not that I care either way.”

“You’re not really part of this crew, are you?” Zalan asked.

Magnolia raised an eyebrow and looked at him.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You don’t seem as… Invested? Like, it seems like you hear the captain and don’t…”

“Worship his every move?” Magnolia asked, amused.

“You do not revere him the same,” Rep corrected politely.

“Perhaps it is because I have not been in his company for very long. I am newly hired help,” Magnolia offered in explanation. “Or perhaps I do not have the personality that is required to become a close member of the crew. I am not Enzo, who seeks his approval so that he may continue to travel by sea despite his disgust toward it. I am not Xavier, who I believe once had his life saved by the captain. And I am not Rosemary who is madly in love with the captain.” Magnolia sized them up.

“Yeah, that last one was pretty obvious at dinner,” Zalan said, smiling.

“Oh… yes, indeed,” Rep said, only then piecing together several interactions between Rosemary and Captain Buttonwillow.

“I admit, he is growing on me,” Magnolia said. “I had heard of Buttonwillow’s eccentric reputation, but I did not expect it to be understated. All I seek is to be paid for my service.”

“That sounds reasonable. An occupation is not all faculties of one’s life,” Rep nodded to Zalan’s surprise.

Zalan felt weird about it. He thought that the people traveling together should form some sort of rapport. Like he had with Gorb, Yelsa and Fran. He even felt like he had some connection with Nold, of all people. But Magnolia was totally disinterested. And Rep encouraged that behavior.

“What is it you seek in the Island of Remains, anyway?” Magnolia asked. “You do not seem the usual type.”

“We’re looking for someone as part of a quest given to us by Madam Hikma. What’s the usual type?” Zalan asked, interested.

“Pirates and looters, mostly. They go in search of the treasures that can be found ashore. Or adventurers in search of a windfall of fortune. The island’s reputation precedes it, but I have never escorted someone that successfully did a round trip before.”

“People want to stay on the island?” Zalan asked, confused.

“They stay on the island whether they wish to or not,” Magnolia corrected.

Rep shuddered as Zalan took a moment to swallow the information. A lot of people died on that island.

“Any way we can avoid joining them?” Rep asked.

“Do not engage with any of the pirates on the island unless you have nowhere else to go. And even then, expect to be taken as their prisoner. And try not to let a Leviathan destroy your ship while you go ashore,” Magnolia shrugged, not having succinct advice on the subject.

Rep nodded, appreciating what little she could impart. Magnolia looked like she was warming up to them, the cold exterior of fulfilling tasks of a job fading slightly.

“Guests and crew! Come to me, I wish to address you all!” Captain Buttonwillow called.

Magnolia rolled her eyes and made her way, Rep and Zalan along with her. Captain Buttonwillow was sitting his back on the closed door to the captain’s quarter, a faint smile on his face. He was barely visible in the darkness, illuminated only by the rays of the crescent moon above them. He looked between them pleasantly, waiting patiently for everyone to stand in front of him. He craned his neck to try and get a look at Nold. Nold was too focused on beating timber together, not interested in Captain Buttonwillow’s words.

“Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my vessel, The Aegeusson. I want to express my deepest gratitude to Rep and Zalan, who have granted me…” Captain Buttonwillow suddenly choked up, his expression breaking for a split second. He quickly regained his composure and bravado. “They have done me a great honor. I wanted to make it clear that despite my injuries, I intend to take them all the way to the Island of Remains. If that still would please them.”

Seeing Captain Buttonwillow’s gratitude made Zalan feel like he made the right call in giving him the ship. He didn’t care about the vessel nearly as much as the captain did.

“Yeah, a trip to and from the island would still be much appreciated,” Zalan replied.

“Excellent choice,” Captain Buttonwillow said. The speed at which he replied made it sound like he was going to say “Excellent choice” no matter what the choice ended up being. “We will depart first thing in the morning.”

“Why not sooner?” Nold called over the mast he was working to repair.

“I beg your pardon?” Captain Buttonwillow said, offended.

“I can rebuild this rather quickly. Can we get moving sooner than daybreak?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“We are in need of rest,” Captain Buttonwillow spoke for the crew.

“Maybe you are, but the rest of us are doing fine,” Nold also tried to speak for the crew.

“Nold,” Zalan said, annoyed.

“What? Do you wish to delay your quest to the island? What reason is there to wait hours more?” Nold said eagerly.

“We’re all tired!” Zalan said. “We all barely survived a tsunami and a Thalassic Terror. Let’s just have one night off, all right?”

Nold pursed his lips in thought. He looked at the mast he was beating together, then back to the crew.

“Very well,” Nold grumbled, disappointed.

“What is a tsunami?” Rep asked.

“It must be one of those names for a group of creatures,” Captain Buttonwillow answered. “Like a murder of crows. A tsunami of Slaughterfish!”

“No, it’s just a really big wave. I was being hyperbolic,” Zalan explained.

The crew looked at him with mild amusement.

“Hyperbolic?” Xavier said, scratching his head.

“Zalan wishes to explain the first made-up word with a second word he made up,” Captain Buttonwillow said, smirking.

“All right, yeah, good night,” Zalan said, escaping the deck before he grew more embarrassed by their stares.