The sky above Driftmoor was a canvas of dusky purple, its fading light reflecting off the waves like scattered jewels. Blake Tideborn stood at the edge of the wooden pier, leaning against a post as the salty wind whipped through his dark hair.
His eyes were fixed on the horizon, where the sea met the sky in a seamless blur, as though the world beyond was an unreachable dream. But Blake had never been one to settle for dreams. He had been raised on the stories of the legendary mariners who had sailed beyond the known world, seeking treasure and glory, and he longed for that life.
Orphaned by the sea when he was just a boy, Blake had grown up in Driftmoor, a bustling port town on the edge of the kingdom. He had been taken in by old Captain Harlow, a retired sailor whose tales of grand adventures had shaped Blake's childhood.
From the moment Blake could walk, Captain Harlow had put a map in his hand and a compass in his palm, teaching him to navigate the stars and chart a course through the unknown. But the old man's teachings were never enough for Blake. He had always felt the pull of the horizon, that distant promise of freedom and adventure, calling him to something greater.
"Blake, don't tell me you're still out here."
The voice of Maris, the town's blacksmith's daughter, broke through Blake's thoughts. She was walking down the pier, her boots clicking against the wood with each step.
She had a way of moving, purposeful and sure, like someone who knew exactly where they were going in life. It was something Blake envied, though he would never admit it.
"Just thinking," Blake replied, his voice distant as he turned to face her. "About the sea."
Maris gave him a knowing look, her arms crossed over her chest. "You've been 'thinking' about the sea since you were old enough to talk. Maybe it's time to stop dreaming about it and start living it."
Blake smiled, but it was a bittersweet smile. "Maybe one day."
"One day is just a day," Maris said with a shrug, "but don't wait too long, Blake. The sea doesn't wait for anyone."
He didn't respond. She was right, of course. The sea had always been a part of him, but lately, it felt like it was pulling him in, urging him to finally step beyond the safety of Driftmoor's shores.
But there was something more. A nagging feeling that had been growing in him for years. Something was calling him, not just to sail, but to do something greater. Blake couldn't shake the feeling that his destiny lay far beyond the horizon.
"You're still the same," Maris added, her voice softening. "You're not like the others here. The rest of them are content with their lives, working in the shops, raising families, staying safe. But you… You're always looking for something more."
"I don't want to be like the others," Blake said, his gaze returning to the sea. "I don't want to stay here, working the land, keeping my head down. I want to live."
Maris studied him for a moment, her brow furrowed. She had been Blake's closest friend for years, though she often didn't understand his need to chase after some distant dream.
"What will you do when you find it?" she asked, the question sharp with curiosity.
Blake hesitated. It wasn't that he hadn't thought about it. But the truth was, he didn't know. All he knew was that the sea called to him, louder than anything else in his life. And maybe, just maybe, he was ready to answer.
"I'll find my place," he said quietly. "And maybe… Maybe I'll change things."
Maris studied him for a long moment before shaking her head. "I'll never understand you, Blake. But I hope you find what you're looking for." She paused, then added, "Just don't forget where you came from."
Blake nodded, though his thoughts were already drifting far from Driftmoor. The sound of gulls crying in the distance echoed in his mind, and with it, the memory of something more, something ancient and powerful that had been buried deep within the sea. Something that called to him in ways he couldn't explain.
"Goodbye, Maris," Blake said, turning back to the horizon. "I'll come back, I promise. When I find what I'm looking for."
With a final glance over his shoulder, he stepped away from the pier, walking down the cobblestone street toward the docks. His heart was heavy, but there was also a sense of urgency in his step.
It wasn't just the call of the sea; it was something more—a deeper pull, one that Blake couldn't ignore. The world beyond Driftmoor was waiting, and he was going to find it, no matter the cost.
As Blake walked through the narrow streets of Driftmoor, he passed shops selling fish, barrels of salt, and the occasional merchant hawking trinkets from faraway lands. The town was busy, but it didn't hold the same appeal for him anymore. The bustling activity, the familiar faces, the routine—it all felt so small now. Like a cage, trapping him in place.
He reached the dock where the Eclipse was moored. It was an old ship, its once proud sails now patched and faded, the wood creaking under the weight of time. But to Blake, it was home. He had spent countless hours aboard, learning the ropes and studying the stars, imagining what it would be like to sail out into the unknown.
The crew had been small in the beginning. Captain Harlow, before he passed, had taken Blake under his wing, teaching him the ways of the sea. But the old man had never shared the full story of the Sea Crown—the fabled artifact that granted dominion over the oceans.
Blake had always wondered about it, the way Harlow would drop cryptic hints about the crown's power. It was a tale that had been passed down through generations, though most dismissed it as mere legend. But to Blake, it had always felt real. And now, with the shard he had found, he knew the legends weren't just stories.
Blake paused before the Eclipse, his eyes scanning the ship as though seeing it for the first time. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the deck, and Blake felt a stirring deep inside him.
He was ready. He wasn't just looking for treasure or adventure anymore. He was searching for something much more powerful—the Sea Crown.