LightReader

Chapter 1 - The Boy Who Asked Too Much

The port of Eldhollow was cloaked in a dense fog, the kind that seemed to swallow sound and light alike. Ships loomed like specters, their masts piercing the gray veil. Among them stood the Vigil's Wake, a vessel both revered and feared.

Cilian, a boy of sixteen summers, stood at the dock, clutching a worn satchel. His eyes, wide with wonder, traced the intricate carvings on the ship's hull—depictions of sea serpents and ancient runes. He had heard tales of the Vigil's Wake, of its voyages to uncharted waters and encounters with the unknown.

"You there, boy!" a gruff voice called out. Cilian turned to see a man approaching, his gait steady despite a wooden peg leg. His weathered face bore the marks of countless storms, and a tricorn hat sat atop his graying hair.

"Captain Halgrave?" Cilian inquired, his voice tinged with awe.

"Aye, and who might you be?"

"Cilian, sir. I've come to join your crew."

The captain eyed him skeptically. "You're young."

"I may be young, but I'm eager and willing to learn."

Halgrave studied him for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Welcome aboard the Vigil's Wake."

As Cilian stepped onto the ship, he felt a shiver run down his spine. The deck creaked beneath his feet, and the air was thick with the scent of salt and something else—something ancient.

He was introduced to the crew, a motley assembly of hardened sailors. Among them was Old Arthur, the helmsman. His eyes were clouded, one completely white, yet he navigated the ship with uncanny precision.

"The sea speaks to me, lad," Arthur said, his voice a raspy whisper. "You just have to listen."

That night, as the ship set sail, Cilian stood at the bow, the wind tousling his hair. The horizon stretched endlessly, and the stars began to pierce the fog. He felt a mix of excitement and trepidation. Unbeknownst to him, their journey would lead them into the heart of legend, where courage, grit, and redemption would be tested against the abyss.

More Chapters