"I know you have many questions… but time is not on our side."Ocean's voice drifted through the light, soft yet unyielding. Then she came into view—not as James remembered her.This time, intricate markings flowed from her face down to her chest, shaped like waves that shimmered and swayed as if alive.
"What do you mean, we—" James began, but his words faltered as Ocean raised a hand and pointed.
His gaze followed—and froze.Cracks ran across his skin, faint at first, then spreading like fractures in glass. Beneath them glowed a dim light, pulsing weakly with each heartbeat. He looked as though one wrong breath might shatter him entirely.
"You were reckless," Ocean said, walking closer. "You used power far beyond your limit. Keep this up, and you'll end up broken… or worse."Her steps illuminated the ground with each movement, soft rings of light rippling outward like waves meeting shore.
"But don't worry," she whispered as she reached him. She stopped only inches away, her pale skin shimmering faintly. Her white hair fell past her knees, floating as though underwater. Her garments weren't fabric—they were made of flowing, levitating water that curled and swirled around her form.
"Just who are you…" James breathed, unable to look away. She didn't seem human anymore—"something of an Angel", James thought.
Ocean tilted her head."I am Ocean, I told you already silly" she murmured, her tone softening as she stepped behind him.James felt her presence against his back—cool, serene, but heavy."Close your eyes."
"What?"
"I said…" Her whisper brushed against his ear like mist. "…close your eyes."
He obeyed.
Something cool pressed against his lips—soft at first, then warm. For a heartbeat, the world felt serene and calm, all his worries fading away. The chill that had been crawling through his veins receded. His body felt light, once more.
When he opened his eyes, Ocean was already gone.
"You'll find one of the Keys when you reach port, stay close to Cedric" her voice echoed, distant now, like a song carried by the tide.
"Ocean?" James reached out, but she was gone. He touched his lips, still warm, confusion flickering in his eyes."What the hell was that…" he whispered.
Just then,
His vision dimmed, his consciousness slipping away again.
"Where will it be?" he tried to call, but no sound came. The last thing he heard before the world vanished was her fading voice—soft, sorrowful, as if she was in pain.
"Cough! Cough!"James tried to open his eyes, but his vision was blurry. Everything around him was dark, washed in an orange under glow.
"Ah, bloody hell—mate, I thought you were dead! Hahaha! That would've been a lot of wasted effort," Cedric laughed, smacking James on the shoulder.
As James's sight cleared, he sat upright. The cabin around him came into focus—wooden beams overhead, a sturdy post in the corner, and orange-green lamps that filled the room with a dim, flickering glow.To his left stood Cedric, grinning with a bottle in hand.To his right sat a girl, perhaps seventeen, her skin flushed with a reddish hue under the lamps. She wore a simple red robe, her dark hair tied back with a white cloth. A damp towel hung loosely from her hand.
"It seems she's been taking care of me all this time," James thought. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion—clearly she hadn't slept in a while.
"Hey—wh—" James began, but before he could finish, the girl stood abruptly and rushed out.
"Wait—wait where are you going?" James called after her, but she didn't stop. The cabin door closed behind her with a soft thud.
"Hahahaha… would you look at that? scared her off, with that mug of yours" Cedric said, laughing as he took another swig of rum.
He tossed the bottle toward James. "Here, drink this—you'll feel better."
James caught it with one arm. The bottle was square-shaped, with a faded paper seal across it that read Walker Roy.
"Where the hell did you get such expensive rum?" James asked, pouring some into his mouth.
Cedric grinned. "Hahaha, I have my ways. Now get dressed and follow me—I want to show you something."
And with that, he left the cabin.
James tossed the blankets aside and glanced down at himself. His wounds had been carefully cleaned and patched."What an odd person," he muttered. "She takes care of me, then runs away. Am I truly that frightening?"
Beside him lay a fresh set of clothes — finely made garments bearing the style of Nordau, a region in the west renowned for its craftsmanship. James recognized the design; he had worn Nordau's tailoring as a boy.
"Cedric is really rich." James thought.
He dressed quickly, the three-piece set fitting him surprisingly well. Once he had laced his shoes, he stepped out onto the deck.
Moonlight spilled over his skin. The moon was enormous tonight — the largest he had seen in a long while — and just beside it gleamed Sapphire, the brightest star in the heavens.
Ahead, Cedric was already dancing with his crew, laughter rolling over the waves. Near the cabin doors, the ship's musicians played a lively shanty, their instruments weaving a melody that filled James with a strange, fuzzy warmth.
"Ohhh… I left my wife, I left my children, they ask their mother, where their father be?" the crew sang, voices rough and spirited.
"Ahhh! He's here!" Cedric cried, spotting James. The music softened slightly as the captain pulled him forward.
"Come, come!" Cedric shouted, slinging an arm around him. "Here we have James — son of Stars! From today, he sails with us!"
"But I never said I was going with you," James murmured, though Ocean's words echoed in his mind. It was true — he had nowhere else to go, not with the law hunting him now.
So, with a faint smile, James raised his hand.
"To James!" one of the men toasted.
"To James!" the crew roared in unison.
"Now let's party and celebrate our new arrival!" Cedric bellowed.
Cheers erupted. The music swelled again, and the crew sang, drank, and feasted deep into the night.