[Scene: Whisper's Light – Captain's Room, Later That Night]
A lantern flickered at the center of the table.
The whole core team was present now — gathered in a circle around the ocean map.
Master Madhav sat at the head, coat draped loosely over his shoulders, eyes shadowed by fatigue and fury.
To his right: Solis and Katrina — unreadable.
To his left: Kael, Rhask, and Arjun — listening, silent.
Opposite: Eron, elbows on knees.
And lastly — Ashen, seated near the corner, quiet… but watching.
Madhav (gritting his teeth):
"Damn marine pests. Not only did they discard the distress call like it was static—"
"They told us we can't enter Quinster at all."
He tapped the map once. Hard.
Madhav:
"According to their report, the island's closed its borders. No visitors. No contact. Nothing."
Solis (arms crossed):
"The ruler did it. You think he's the one behind this?"
Madhav (flat):
"Can't say. But if someone is behind this... they're smart enough to bury it behind politics."
Kael (leaning forward):
"So what now?"
No one answered.
The room stilled.
The tension wasn't loud — but it clung to every face.
Resignation.
Frustration.
Walls closing in.
Until—
Ashen's eyes dropped to the map.
Lines. Routes. Currents.
And one small detail.
His eyes widened slightly.
Then glowed.
Ashen (internal):
"...I think I have an idea."
[Scene: Whisper's Light – Captain's Room, Same Moment]
Ashen leaned forward, lips parting as his finger hovered just above the edge of Quinster's reef on the map.
But before he could speak—
Arjun (calm, cutting in):
"There's one way."
Every head turned.
Even Madhav stilled.
Arjun (pointing):
"See that island over there? Wahana. It's only a few hours from Quinster."
Arjun (thinking aloud):
"If we dock the ship at Wahana… we could use a small boat to sneak toward Quinster."
A pause.
Madhav's face broke into a grin — wide, proud, unrestrained.
Madhav (laughing):
"Knew it, Arjun. You always were sharp."
He clapped the table once, decisively.
Madhav:
"So that's what we'll do. We sail for Wahana first light."
A ripple of energy moved through the room.
Kael and Eron exchanged a nod.
Rhask cracked his knuckles.
Solis exhaled through his nose — almost a smile.
Even Katrina leaned slightly forward, her eyes flickering with new momentum.
Hope had returned.
But—
Not for Ashen.
His face still held a faint smile.
But it didn't reach his eyes.
Because that smile was fake.
And no one noticed.
No one—
Except Katrina.
She met his gaze for a second across the map. Just long enough to see the flicker behind the eyes. Just long enough to feel the dissonance.
Katrina (internal, watching him):
"…What is he thinking?"
Ashen looked down at the map again.
Not at Arjun's island.
Not at the new plan.
Just the empty corner where his own idea once lived.
Ashen (internal, quiet):
"Stupid of me to even think I could contribute here…"
"Arjun's plan was better. Smarter. Cleaner."
He clenched his jaw lightly.
Ashen (internal):
"…Maybe I should just stick to being dragged around like dead weight."
Katrina didn't speak.
But she saw it.
Something in her eyes shifted.
Not pity.
Recognition.
[Scene: Whisper's Light – Upper Deck, Late Night]
The stars hung heavy in the sky — thousands of silver pinpricks carved into the ink-black heavens.
Waves lapped gently against the hull. The sails barely shifted, as if even the wind was asleep.
Everyone else was.
Wrapped in blankets. Dreaming of land, of battle, of triumph.
Everyone — except two.
Katrina, stationed for her turn on night watch, leaned silently against the railing… until her eyes caught a shape near the helm.
A person.
Barefoot. Hoodie half-zipped. Silhouette dimly lit by moonlight.
Ashen.
Standing still, arms folded against the breeze. Looking out — not at the stars, but past them. Somewhere deeper.
She narrowed her eyes. Stepped toward him. Soft footsteps across the deck.
Then —
A light pat on his head.
He blinked.
Katrina (softly):
"Feeling low?"