It had come to Terin that he attracted trouble. Omens that are relative to what he was going. For others could not see that ‘light’ that was attracted to him. It made them unable to understand what he was going through.

  The world was strange to him. Terin has traveled many miles from his home. Along the way he learned who he was and what was he meant to do. It was his ‘fate’ to reach the eye of the world and blind it.

  To do that he needed the help of others. No man was an island. He will not reach the eye of the world if he was the only person who travels. Terin believed that he was strong. So strong that it baffles him how he could become a giant of light sometimes. Whether it was the blood that allowed him to fight. But this power he possessed was fragile. He was a cannon made of glass the moment he turns to fighting with his ‘light’.

  The voyage has taken Terin to the still seas. In front of Terin right now was a gigantic shelled-back creature that was taller than the trees. Larger than the small mountains he had come across in his journey.

  “You seen anything like this?” Mardon asked.

  The entire fleet was anchoring on the surface of the shelled island grown trees. Roots were being controlled by the Ark that has attached itself to the neck of this gigantic creature. The ships are being towed by the gigantic creature and from Terin’s point of view it was just strange.

  “Do you think they’ll make this as fortress? Makes me wonder how much crazy thing that we have to witness before reaching the islands.”

  “I don’t know,” Terin knew nothing. Though he believed that Caldor Ando and Lady Rosalve knew things that they wouldn’t share to him. ‘You are not ready’ was the reply he always gets from them.

  “Where is the Princess, anyway?”

  “I don’t know, ever since she got her powers to another circle. She has been a stranger to us. I think she’s trying to talk to the Lady of the Ship. If it wasn’t for the Lady being generous, she wouldn’t even speak words together.”

  “Hmm, well she was always of different class. Damn, I wonder if this thing shits as well?”

  Mardon looked around the surface of the shell. Strange floras and faunas were growing on top of this beast. Each one was far too strange to even call them as ‘trees’ or ‘weeds’ any longer.

  “Oh,” Terin stopped on his tracks. He saw the Doctor of the ship covered in blood again.

  “Doctor,” Terin called.

  Doctor Gabrio turned around. He nodded at Gabrio, then the Doctor returned to attending his patient. Among the crew he was one of the bloodiest. His coat was red and there were black bags on his eyes.

  “Doc seems always busy” Terin said.

  Mardon folded his arms. He had a bland look on his face. His right eye looking away.

  “He does. Almost like he doesn’t rest at all.”

  Mardon rolled a pebble around his knuckles. Terin stared at Mardon before shaking his head. He eyed the approaching fleet. Small to large boats were roaming encircling the giant, keeping an eye of the still sea. Though they captured this floating island. The amount of people that have been injured by the sudden turn was unexpected. Usually, there was a whisper in the ears that would alert the sailors.

  But this place was barren of the spirits. Terin could not hear the voices of the spirits. Even the ones who attached themselves to the fleet were eerily silent. Terin heard a whisper and when he turned, he saw a glimpse of the lady looking over the shelled giant.

  People crawled out of the hatchway into the deck. When they got out of the deck, they looked at the shelled giant in awe. Some of them went to the Doctor, the Doctor stopped them, his hands expecting their wounds. He was a father scolding his children as they all quieted down.

  “I wonder if they’re going to allow us in that place?” Mardon asked

  Soldiers were standing by as the fleet was getting close. Each of them was armed with rifles equipped with bayonets and strapped with gunpowder and carries packets of paper cartridges on their waist and around their torso.

  Some of the soldiers wrapped their head with bandages. Terin noticed that the Doctor was checking some of the soldiers as well. Some of them were helping the Doctor heal the others.

  “I wonder if we can help,” Terin said.

  Mardon swiveled his head to him. “Let’s leave it to them,” he caught the pebble he threw up. “We’d be getting in his way if we act now. Let’s not.”

  Terin could only nod and agree. The ships continued docking on the side of the shelled island. The Ark itself was forcing the giant fresh roots that came from the Arc into convenient piers that the fleet can anchor it. It was a strange scenery to the crew and passengers of the ship. Even the hardened soldiers of the crew were amazed by the sight of the Ark. No matter how many times they see it. It was still a wonder to see. There were about forty ships that have docked around the Ark-shelled island. Troops poured out of the ships carrying axes and lumber saws as they rushed to clear the beaches from the strange trees blocking the landings.

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  Only the Grand-Galleons were on stand by as it watched the rest of the ships docked on the shelled-island.

  “Are you two, okay?” the Doctor walked to them. His hands reached out to inspect them. Mardon felt weird but he didn’t move around. Terin let the Doctor checked him for injuries.

  The Doctor took his hands off them. “Good, no injuries,” he reached out to the small book he carried on his pocket. His writing stick scratching the surface of the pocket book.

  “There must have been a lot that got injured, Doc.”

  “It can’t be helped, there are a lot of things that goes wrong in an uncharted journey like this. I am just glad that people are not dead yet. The morgue isn’t full or that I don’t have to deal with weeping widows.”

  Doctor leaned the back of his waist on the railing of the Galleon. His eyes flying over the ship and the soldiers that have been cutting down the shelled island trees.

  “Quite the beast.”

  “Larger than the last ones.”

  “Doctor, have you talk about Miss Zyra?”

  “I did. I told her to not let me know whatever you guys are trying to do.”

  “Huh?”

  Doctor stared at Terin. His shoulders squared. His eyes digging into Terin. There was no light in the Doctor’s eyes. It made Terin feel like staring at something cold.

  “I choose to be ignorant, Terin.” Doctor said with an insipid voice. “Right now, my only goal and purpose is to deal with whatever comes to this Galleon. I can tell that there is more than meets the eye. You, Caldor Ando, and whatever it is you’re trying to do is beyond my capabilities. When great men gather it's usual meaning is that there is something they gather for. Zyra, I can see that she wants me in this task of yours, but I choose the people of the Milostiv first. It is stupid to stay ignorant, but to keep it out of mind will help me focus on whatever it is that keeps you.”

  “Are you afraid?” Mardon cuts in. The Doctor nodded with a tired look on his face.

  “There are hundreds of people here and there are about twenty that are good at taking care of minor injuries. I can train two more, but still, it wouldn’t be enough to take care of them when there comes a time that they really need my help. I can’t be everywhere and if I do help you in whatever quest you have. Then it means that I would have less time. You underestimate how fragile the human mind can be, and how many are losing themselves in these still seas. This has been a chance, but it would do if none were injured. So yes, you can say that I am afraid, Mardon Lam. I am not good enough to help everyone. Training takes time and if I do train them then it means that I am shaving my time off to train others. You understand this, right?”

  “I do,” Terin nodded. It was simply the truth. There was no way to deny it and even if Terin could, he had no reason to. He was not obliged to join them in their quest to blind the eye of the world. He cannot just ‘hey we’re trying to save the world and now you must bear the weight of the world with us as well’ and just think that someone would accept.

  “Doc, do you have a gist of what we’re doing?”

  “I do, but I do not wish to know more,” Doctor shook his head. He looked around and countered the sailors climbing the rigging of the Galleon. His eyes scanned the ship boys, the sailors, and the gunners who were staring stone coldly at the sea. The sea has returned to its flat seas. But the reminder of that certain predator that bit the side of this shelled beast kept the gunners stirring.

  “Looks like they are going to allow us to dock soon.” Doctor observed. Terin looked at the shelled island. The pier made of giant root that extended from the Ark was astounding.

  Sailors started to throw the anchor line. The Bosun of the ship roared as he told the crew to the fold the sails. In a few minutes the Grand Galleons were anchored on the Ark-Shelled Island.

  “They should let us explore the island now,” Doctor Gabrio said. He pocketed the pocket book that he has in his coat, and double-checked on the pistols holstered under his coat.

  “You going in there, Doc?” Mardon seems like he wanted to bark at the Doctor. Maybe it was pissing him off that the Doctor doesn’t take his bark seriously. It was as if he was passing air.

  “I need to. Some of the soldiers are going so it means that I have to go in there. Where’s Caldor Ando? He should be heading on that island as well.”

  “Doctor,” Caldor called. Doctor Gabrio turned. Sir Caldor stood with that sharp look he always carries. His left hand was holding on to his sword. Across his belt was a pistol on a leather holster. “Are you coming to that place?”

  “I need to be there for the soldiers.”

  “I see,” Sir Caldor Ando nodded. “Would you mind following my lead?”

  “I don’t mind.”

  “Good,” his eyes were on Terin and Mardon. “There might be nefarious creatures hiding on the back of that beast. We have soldiers that are able to defend themselves, but if the Lady is right then we’re going to deal with parasites.”

  “Parasites?” Mardon tilted his head.

  “Creatures that lives on the back of the island. We better prepare for the worst, you two.”

  Mardon clicked his tongue. He pulled on the tip of his hat and looked eastward where the wind was coming from.

  “What about the Princess?” Mardon asked.

  Sir Caldor Ando glared hard. “She will not be coming. She has to stay with the Madam.” He then takes a step to the Doctor. “I hope you ready your pistols. We are sure that there are enemies.”

  Doctor Gabrio nodded silently. Sir Caldor Ando led them to the pier by using the ramp. Once they took a step on the Ark-Shelled Island. They could feel under their boots the heartbeat of the beast. They walked for a few second until they reached the muddy shell of the beast. Sir Caldor Ando turned around with a hardened gaze.

  “The Captain, the Admiral has ordered to clean up the Ark-Shelled Island. We find a way inside the beast’s innards and turn this into a moving fortress. But from what the elven-lady has gathered. There are going to be enemies. Mardon, don’t get too close. Terin, make sure that you cover Mardon’s back.” He turned to the Doctor. “Doctor, always be near me. Do you understand?”

  “I will unless there is someone that needs my help.”

  “Good.”

  When that was settled, Terin and the others went further inside the strange forest that was covering the back of this beast.