After days of pursuit with Trunks' soldiers, the White Ship needed a new home. On the old map Antigone had given her, a small island appeared to the south, surrounded by cryptic notes: "The Land That Drunk Blood."
"This is the Red Island," said old Nikos, staring at the map. "No one has dared to land there for decades. The sands there are not naturally red… but from the blood that has been spilled upon them."
A heavy silence fell among the men, but Linus said firmly, "If they hold secrets from the past, they may also hold something to help us in the future. We shall land."
*
As they approached the island, the sands were already a deep red, as if saturated with ancient memories. The trees were few, the air still, but the whole place exuded a sense of dread.
"It's as if the earth itself remembers," Darius whispered.
"The earth does not forget blood," Romulus replied.
They went down to the shore and began to wander. They soon found the remains of rusty weapons buried in the sand: broken swords, shattered shields, and even ancient bones.
"A great battle was fought here," said Callias, holding up a half-broken shield.
"A battle from which no one survived," replied Linus, looking around.
*
As they explored, they found ancient stone ruins in the center of the island. Half-collapsed walls and leaning pillars, as if it had been a camp or a fort.
They entered the ruins and found a faded inscription on a stone wall. Romulus approached and read aloud:
"Here fell the armies of the Fourth Sea… Here the reign of the first pirates was broken."
The men froze.
"So this island was the final battlefield of an ancient war," said Linus.
Nikos replied, "Yes... the Fourth Sea War. The war in which Lamor is said to have been defeated. He may not have died, but he left his mark here."
*
As they inspected the place, Darius found a small box buried under the sand. They opened it and found another ancient map, but a different one. It was drawn in shaky handwriting, showing secret sea lanes and islands not found on any other map.
"This isn't just a map," Romulus said, staring at the map. "It's a record of ancient battles. Each mark marks a place where blood was shed."
"And that means the sea is filled with undiscovered graves," Linus replied.
*
But the place wasn't as empty as they thought. Suddenly, they heard footsteps behind them. Turning, they saw a group of men emerging from the ruins. They wore tattered clothes, their faces tired, but their eyes sharp.
One of them said in a hoarse voice, "Who are you... and why have you desecrated our land?"
Linus stepped forward firmly and said,
"We are not enemies. We are travelers, searching for a way to Athens."
The man laughed sarcastically.
"Athens? All who seek it find their end here. We are the children of the Red Island... descendants of those who fell in war. We have not left this land, and we will not allow anyone to take its secrets."
At the height of tension. Callias raised his axe, but Linus stopped him with his hand.
Linus said to the man,
"We are not seeking your secrets to steal them. We are seeking the truth... the path that will lead us to a better future."
The man looked into his eyes for a long time, then said,
"If you are honest, carry this map, but remember: every blood spilled here demands a price. The sea will not give you anything for nothing."
Then the men withdrew silently, leaving the crew stunned.
*
When they returned to the ship, Linus sat with Romulus contemplating the new map.
Linus said, "Every step we take reveals to us that the sea is not just a road… but a bloody history we carry with us."
Romulus replied, "And those who know history know how to shape the future."
Linus raised his head toward the horizon and said in a deep voice, "We will not be merely heirs to this blood… We will be the ones to stop it."