The ship rocked gently on the dark sea, the moonlight shimmering over the vast expanse of water. A boy stood at the edge of the deck, hidden in the shadows, his dirty black robes fluttering lightly in the wind. He wasn't meant to be here. He wasn't meant to be anyone. To the world, he was just another face among many, blending into the crowd of high-society passengers.

Handsome but not striking, lean but not strong, Alric had learned long ago how to disappear. His eyes, the color of emeralds, seemed too sharp for a common man, but no one noticed. They never did.

He was royalty, but only he knew it. His true identity was a secret, locked away and hidden beneath his humble appearance. The name of his empire, his family, and his title were all buried deep within him, known only to himself.

The wind was soft, almost comforting, and yet a feeling gnawed at him—something was wrong.

Alric's hand tightened around the railing, his heart skipping a beat. He wasn't the type to throw himself into dangerous situations. He thought carefully, weighed every decision, calculated every risk. He didn't take chances. Not unless he had no choice.

A scream shattered the quiet of the night. Alric froze.

"Pirates!" someone shouted from the bow.

The crew erupted into frantic movement. Sailors scrambled to their positions, shouting orders, while passengers stumbled around in confusion.

Alric's mind raced. Pirates. This wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to be involved in this. He should stay hidden, stay out of the way.

But—

A loud crack. The ship jolted violently. Alric stumbled, catching himself on the railing. His heart pounded in his chest, but his mind remained eerily calm. Panic wouldn't help him now.

A man rushed toward him, a crew member with wild eyes. "We need everyone below deck, now!"

Without thinking, Alric nodded, slipping into the shadows. But his feet moved faster than his thoughts, his body reacting without hesitation, almost instinctively.

He ducked into the nearest hallway, his pulse pounding in his ears. Behind him, the chaos of the deck grew louder. The ship shuddered again, followed by the unmistakable sound of metal against wood.

Pirates. What did they want? Why target a simple cruise ship?

Alric's hand went to the dagger at his side, an impulse. He wasn't a fighter, not in any way. He was smart, calculated, a man who took risks only when necessary. But tonight, the necessity was clear.

He glanced over his shoulder. The crewman was gone.

And there—just ahead—another figure emerged from the shadows.

A woman, tall and imposing, her eyes glinting with the kind of dangerous confidence Alric couldn't ignore. She stepped forward, blocking his path.

"Well, well. What have we here?" Her voice was low, amused, but it carried a threat.

Alric stood frozen for a moment, trying to control the racing thoughts in his head. His body screamed to flee, to hide—but that wouldn't solve anything. He wasn't a coward. Not entirely.

"I'm not a threat," he said, his voice steady. "Just a passenger."

The woman studied him for a long moment, then smiled, sharp and knowing.

"We'll see about that."

And just like that, Alric's fate shifted.