Jacine arrived at the dock overlooking the ocean, where a small cabin stood just east of the pier. The breeze felt refreshing against her skin as she stepped onto the open shore.
On the dock lay a yawl that looked brand new.
Approaching the cabin, Jacine knocked on the door, and it flung open almost immediately.
Standing there was a middle-aged man with red hair, his expression glum. "What do you want?" he asked.
"Uh, hi, you're Omri, right?"
"Who's asking?"
"My name is Jacine. I wanted to know if you had a ship or boat—"
He cut her off, "For what?"
Jacine was startled by his sudden outburst and began to second-guess her visit. "Well... never mind."
"No, no, it's too late now. What do you need?"
Jacine took a deep breath. "I wanted to go to Zosma."
"...?" He gave her a puzzled look.
"To find the Golden Sheep."
"The Golden Sheep? How old are you, dear?"
"I turned twenty not too long ago."
"Way too old to believe in fairy tales," he said, turning to close the door.
Jacine quickly grabbed the door before he could shut it. "Please, I'm begging you. I see you have a ship out there and—"
"Yeah, and it's mine."
"Where are you going? Are you going to sea anytime soon?"
"Of course. I'm not going to let that bastard get away with what he did."
"The Giant Squid, right?" Jacine asked, feeling sorry for him as she recalled the story of what had happened.
"Yeah."
"I can join you across Makemake. That's where it happened, right? I don't mind; let me come along."
Omri stared at her, flabbergasted, before saying, "Come in."
He stepped back into the cabin, and Jacine followed.
"Have a seat over there," he said, pointing to the couch in the living room.
She obeyed, and he sat down on a couch to the side.
"The Monster of Makemake—I encountered him seven years ago," he began. "My companions and I decided to go to Regulus on a yawl—not the one out front you saw, but a completely different one. It's no longer of any use. We wanted to see the elves, known for their exceptional beauty. As we made our way across Makemake, it was smooth sailing—mostly—until the next week out at sea. I was in the sleeping quarters when I was awakened by sudden turbulence, and I heard screams from above. I ran up to see a sight I'd never forget. There it was, big and orange…" Omri paused, taking a few deep breaths. His hands shook, and he began to gnash his teeth.
"Hey, if it's too much, you don't have to tell me," Jacine said gently.
"No. It's fine," he replied, taking another deep breath before continuing.
"It's head was still in the water, but its long tentacles sprang out and started attacking the ship and the crew. The tentacles pierced through their bodies. One of the other sailors and I did everything we could to change our course. He left me at the helm while he went to fight the squid with a harpoon gun. He managed to fend it off but later died of a heart attack moments after the fight. Since then, I've vowed to be the last one standing and to kill it. I don't think my survival was mere luck; I'm meant to kill it. I know I am."
Jacine listened quietly, feeling a deep sympathy for him.
"Well," she said, "I don't know how I'll be of any use, but I want to tag along. I don't mind fighting it, as long as I can make it to Zosma."
Omri didn't respond immediately. He simply stared at her until a smirk appeared on his face. "I've never met a woman with guts like yours. I'll be setting sail tomorrow with another crew. Would you like to join?"
"Absolutely," she said, her resolve unwavering.
"Are you skilled in magic?" he asked.
"I never learned it."
"Me neither, and none of my friends were interested in magic either. We were always more fascinated by the natural world. The new crew members are like that too."
"But I feel like a monster like that might need to be fought off with magic."
"Nonsense. I'll use weapons and sheer strength to fight it off. In this world, magic is everything, but I want to be the first person to take down a foe without it." He said this with a prideful smirk.
"Well, if you think it's possible, I'll see what we can do."
"That's the spirit," he replied with a smile.
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