It had been a week since Zay entered the zone known as Hell Storm—a violent region of the ocean that separated Gyro from every other continent.
His eyes wandered across the control room, scanning for any buttons, switches, or mechanisms he might've missed. After a moment, he turned back toward the ocean, watching as monstrous beasts clashed, waves battered the ship relentlessly, and the sky remained locked in an eternal storm.
He exhaled slowly. "This place is terrible," he muttered under his breath, irritation lacing his tone.
"I knew I'd have to cross this region eventually to reach Gyro, but damn... this is even more annoying than I remembered, the darkness with the storm doesn't help." he added, his hands tightening on the armrests just as another massive wave slammed into the hull.
His eyes suddenly narrowed, through the veil of rain and mist, something emerged.
A massive ship, blacker than clothing black, glided silently across the water. Forest green banners fluttered from its masts, their fabric immune to the storm's violence. Stamped onto each banner was a strange symbol: a feather intertwined with a claw, its edges soaked in deep, dark red—like dried blood.
Zay blinked at this sight and when he looked forward at the ship, it became further.
"The hell?" he asked himself, thinking it had something to do with blinks, he blinked again, and the ship appeared further.
Now it was barely a silhouette on the horizon.
He did one last blink and when his eyes opened, the ship was no more. Vanished without a trace.
He leaned forward slightly, his heart slow but deliberate in its thump. "I might be tired... but not tired enough to be seeing hallucinations... am I?" he murmured, confusion threading through his voice.
Zay yawned softly and stretched his arms before rising to his feet. Waves continued to slam against the ship as he gripped the back of the chair for balance, waiting for the rocking to subside.
He made his way to the control room door, opened it, and stepped through the frame, leaving it ajar. Turning left, Zay entered the bedroom and approached the bed. The moment he reached its edge, his body gave out—collapsing onto the mattress without resistance.
"Maybe... I am tired enough," he murmured, barely audible, as his eyes drifted shut and sleep took him instantly.
—
The chamber was cold, clean, its windows stained with blood. Lightning struck outside, illuminating the streets with a red glow. Guards stood on either side of the throne room—thirty on each side—while a lone figure rested upon the throne. He wore a black trench coat, blood splattered across it, twisting into flames that lined the fabric. With a dark laugh, his grip tightened, and from the side of the throne, a head was raised into the sky. A head covered with a vail dangled from the man's grip.
Crimson aura radiated from his presence, causing the guards to swallow hard beneath their helmets.
"It's been a swift, delightful year, hasn't it?" he asked, his voice dripping with dark amusement. He slammed the head onto the stone floor, the impact echoing through the chamber. Leaning back, he sighed deeply. "So much can change."
Lightning flashed again, and one guard dared a fleeting glance at the throne before snapping his gaze away.
—
Hours passed and waves continued crashing against the side of the ship, shaking Zay until he was thrown from his bed, rocked violently by the swells. His eyes opened with a groan. After a few seconds, he pushed himself up off of the floor.
He cracked his neck, rolled his shoulders, and extended his arms forward, glancing at his palms. Brushing them together to wipe off some of the dust he had fallen into, he sneezed lightly and scratched his nose.
Zay looked around and noticed he hadn't closed the door when he entered the bedroom. 'At least I got some sleep,' he thought as he took five steps forward, crossed the doorframe, and turned right. He entered the control room and shut the door, which had been left ajar, behind him. Walking forward, he slumped into the chair and exhaled deeply.
A low rumble of thunder echoed nearby, followed moments later by a blinding flash of lightning that lit up the control room. Zay narrowed his eyes, watching the storm brew outside in silence.
"Damn, I'm bored as hell," Zay muttered aloud, unable to hide his restlessness as he sat watching the storm rage beyond the glass.
Then his eyes widened. He shot up from his seat and rushed out of the room, heading left into the bedroom, down the staircase, and into the small library. His gaze darted from shelf to shelf as he searched.
"Where did it go… it was a deck of cards me and… Renzo used to play with whenever we got bored at sea. From—" He cut himself off with a sigh. "Oh, who am I kidding," he whispered, the energy draining from his voice as he resumed searching in silence.
After a moment, he spotted it—a small wooden box tucked on a lower shelf. He pulled it free, opened the lid, and retrieved the worn deck of cards inside. Giving them a quick shuffle, he felt their familiar weight in his hands.
Zay crossed to the stone table and sat down. One by one, he laid out the cards, setting up a solo game of Blades & Crowns. It wasn't the same without Renzo's laughter or their playful banter, but it was something to fill the endless hours of the Hell Storm region.
About an hour passed. Zay had barely noticed the time until something odd made him pause—the thunder had stopped. The deep, rolling growls that had shaken the ship for several days were suddenly gone. Even the sound of lightning that once slammed across the ocean had also came to stop.
He stood from the table, leaving the unfinished game of Blades & Crowns on the stone surface, then made his way back through the small library and up the staircase to the bedroom. His steps were slow, savoring the stillness. He passed through the bedroom doorway, turned right, and approached the control room. The door creaked faintly as he pushed it open and stepped inside.
Zay moved to the chair, lowered himself into it, and stared out the large glass window. There was no land in sight—just the bright sun beaming down directly above him, the endless ocean, and the salty sea breeze.
Zay leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing.
'I'm almost there now,' he thought. 'Just a few more hours of dreadful calm waters... and then I'll get some food. Well, first thing's first—dock at the port. Then, food. Definitely food.'
He exhaled softly, resting his hands on the armrests, trying to enjoy the quiet and stillness compared to what it had been.