The captain opened his eyes. The commotion of the crew made more noise than the waves crashing against the immense chest of Mr. Curious. The lanterns shone brightly, emanating a yellow light from the candles carefully held in their glass cells. The cabin was nothing more than a small space with a straw mattress, a table, and a barrel of alcohol. If he jumped, the captain would hit the top of his head on the ceiling; he barely didn't have to walk hunched over. He had taken over the ship not long after celebrating his twentieth year of life, defeating the former owner in a competition of who could take the most shots of alcohol. Since then, his wooden companion kept him company wherever he went. The memory was good, but it was nothing more than a very distant past; today, the captain boasted of being the crew member with the most white hairs on his head. The old man opened his eyes wide to make sure he wouldn't leave his bed lazily, then quickly put on his long brown leather boots and his large black hat, which made him easily recognizable among the crew.
When he left the cabin, dozens of men seemed to be running desperately back and forth. The deck shimmered under the moonlight, and raindrops resembled silver coins falling from the sky. Bottles of liquor rolled from side to side, while others shattered nearby. Sailors bumped into each other, causing ropes and pieces of clothing to fall. Judging by the commotion, it seemed like someone had just spotted the dreaded sea monsters that the stories told about. The idea made the Captain catch his breath for a second, simultaneously feeling his guts turn to liquid and his beloved hat flying away too fast to be caught. The atmosphere was strange. The greatest fear of a seafarer was encountering the sea monsters. There were so many of them, so strong and indestructible, that they would bring certain death to anyone who crossed their paths.
"Parrot, what the hell is going on?" the Captain asked as he pulled his newest rower, an ugly man with arms as long as his legs.
"I can't believe it, sir, we don't... we don't know what... where... we don't know," replied the young lad, with chubby cheeks and teeth protruding from his lips, making Parrot look like a court jester. The boy ran off.
The Captain furrowed his brow.
"Someone tell me right now what is happening!" he shouted, but his voice seemed like mere words amidst all the commotion. His companions continued to run back and forth, appearing disoriented. The rain caused their long hair to fall over their faces, making it difficult to distinguish each one in the moonlight. In the distance, lightning seemed to tear fissures in the sky, just before the flashes disappeared. The rain must have been the strongest he had ever faced in his life. He could no longer accurately recall how many times he had traveled along the coast of Pangea. Four nights ago, he decided to gather his best men to venture perpetually north from their lands, hoping to reach the southern lands faster. The news pleased everyone, for the ladies of Ard Alsina, with their fair and smooth skins, never left a man's mind, not even in his last moments of life, as the stories said. Although they were all drunk when they accepted the idea, it didn't seem like a bad one. The lands to the north were bathed in a mild sun for almost the entire year, guaranteeing rich harvests of grains and foods that could never be naturally obtained in the south. It was the navigators' duty, by order of the King, to transport provisions from one side of the lands to the other, always keeping an eye on the coast as they circumnavigated the continent. The Captain hoped to make some money with his new discovery. He always saw the sun moving from one side to the other, so he always had in mind that he would be able to, like it, circumnavigate the royal lands. Fifty crew members stepped aboard the Lord Curious, and the immense caravel did not falter; it seemed to gain even more power as the winds grew stronger.
When he climbed the side stairs to the stern, he found a space where there was not as much commotion. Only one man was huddled in a corner of the railing, crying loudly.
"Tell me the reason for all this commotion, Crooked Finger!" the captain insisted as he grabbed the man by the shoulders and helped him to his feet.
"The old legends, captain. My father used to tell me those stories," the man trembled and nearly fell. Only after holding onto the railing did he point to the front of the ship. "It's real."