Mel felt the atmosphere cool. There was something layered in Captain Halen's voice that whispered of some unknown animosity, of that she was sure. After being trained by the captain for several months in Asamaywa, Mel was confident that she could pick up on the various moods that were hidden underneath her superior's highborn exterior.

Of course, if she had any doubt that the name of the former commander of the Vengeance's ground forces—Korvus Maranai—meant something to the captain, that doubt was quickly eliminated by a glance at her disguised friend. Amelia's eyes had grown as wide as saucers. Her mouth had clenched, and her gaze was fixed on the captain, full of recognition and surprise.

"What an… unexpected pleasure," Serena said in a calculated voice.

"Hmm… you know him?" Tariq asked.

"He served under me on the Vengeance, for a time."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

Captain Halen's eyes flicked to Amelia. In that short moment, Mel was certain some hidden communication had taken place. Footsteps sounded, and Dagon reappeared with the papers Dockmaster Tariq wanted. As the massive Arakian flicked through them, the captain turned to the group.

"Given the superstitions of the locals and the heat," Captain Halen said, "I want those with liberty to dress casually. Officer Bright, Mori, get changed and return here. Miss Liona here has some tasks to undertake in the city, and I'd rather not delay her any longer. Dismissed."

Mel saluted, and together, she and Finella hurried back up the gangplank, where Tomes was processing the remainder of the crew. As they passed, Finella shouted, "Tomes! Casual dress for those on liberty. Captain's orders."

Tomes grunted his acknowledgement and went back to writing in his fancy new notebook with his expensive-looking pen.

Once they returned to the Officers' Quarters, they carefully removed their uniforms and began changing into casual, everyday clothes. Mel had been maintaining red aura as much as possible, seeking to emulate Finella and the captain's capabilities. Unfortunately, it hadn't protected her from all of the South's overwhelming heat and humidity. Her clothing was damp with sweat. She had to peel it off her body—a sensation that was both grim and satisfying.

"Moons… this damn humidity," Finella complained. "How do they live like this?"

"I imagine you get used to it," Mel responded. "Is it worse for you? Being a Northerner?"

Finella shook her head as she slipped into fresh clothing. "Not really. The North is only cold in the, well, in the north. About half of it is temperate, similar to Centralis. Where I'm from, we call those who live in places like Driss Northerners, and they call us Southerners."

"Confusing."

"Mmm."

Mel slipped into her trousers and began threading her belt around her waist. "So…" she began. "What's the story with Korvus Maranai? I knew he was serving on the Vengeance half a year ago, but the captain's response made it seem like they…" Mel trailed off, choosing her words carefully. "...Didn't part ways amicably."

Finella snorted. "You could say that. Speaker Maranai is well-known in the Northern Terra-Firma. During the outbreak of the conflict, when the fanatics sailed into the Empire and started raiding Northern lands, rumour has it that his family was caught up in it. All dead, betrayed by the Republican traders and merchants that he used to work with. They say he Spoke Bayle for the first time when he returned to his destroyed village. A completely spontaneous Speaking. At the time, he'd only been communing Bayle for a year."

"A year!?" Mel spluttered. Unbelievable! Even a talented warrior or mage would take at least five years before being able to Speak a First-Word. She knew the theory that extreme emotional states could sometimes result in advancement, similar to how she'd broken into orange for the first time against the ochimusha, but those advancements were often more likely to kill the individual than help them.

If… If I put myself into dangerous situations, Mel found herself thinking. Could I catch up with Amelia?

"Aye, a year," Finella clarified. "Then he spent a good four years rampaging on the front lines, until he eventually found himself as a commander on the Vengeance. This was when Captain Halen was a squad commander herself, along with Dagon. They all served under Captain Teach. Now, I only joined after the captain became captain, but there was always friction between them. Apparently…" Finella leaned in, her voice growing excited and quiet. "Apparently, the former captain preferred Speaker Maranai, but the ship refused to allow him to take the position."

Like a magnet, Mel felt herself being drawn in by her superior's gossipy attitude. "What do you mean, 'The ship refused'?" she asked.

"From what I heard, it wouldn't let him into the Captain's Quarters," Finella whispered. "As in, the door wouldn't budge. I heard it even resisted a punch from him, and let me tell you, a punch from a Bayle Speaker isn't something a door—wooden or metal—can resist." Finella punctuated her words by mocking a wild swing. "Next time the captain calls for you, have a look at the brass lettering. Some of the letters are dented and skewed. That's from Korvus' punch, I swear. It did eventually open, but that was only when Captain Halen tried. That's how she was chosen. You see, we're all chosen." Finella tapped her chest, her voice growing louder with pride. "The ship won't let you board if she thinks you're a threat."

"And… what happened to the former captain?" Mel asked. "Captain Teach?"

"Oh, now that's a scary story," Finella said, the edges of her mouth curling. "You've passed the door to the Fourth Deck, haven't you?" After Mel nodded, she continued, "You know that moment when you're walking up the steps, with your back to the door, and you get the shivers? That sensation of coldness and vulnerability, like something's watching you through the keyhole?"

"...I know it," Mel said, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck rise. She'd been instructed firmly by First Officer Dahlberg not to approach or loiter around the door to the Fourth Deck, and to report to him or the Captain if she had any weird dreams regarding it. Mel didn't have much occasion to go to that part of the ship, but when she did, she was conscious of her quickening feet when she passed the door. And, once…

"I once heard music…" Mel said quietly. "I reported it, but was told not to worry."

Finella nodded, her eyes glinting in excitement. "That happens a lot now! When I was last here, I never heard the music. Now I hear it frequently. Something's changed with the ship. It's like…" Finella reached out and placed her palm against a wooden pillar. "It's like she's waking up. Or… It's like she's becoming more alive. It's exciting stuff, don't you think?"

"You don't find it strange?" Mel asked, tilting her head. "Before I arrived, I'd never spoken to a Formless. I'd never stepped foot on a living ship. Honestly, I thought they were ghost stories, told by my parents to scare me." It was strange that her life had now led her to take part in the type of ghost story she'd used to hide under the blankets from.

"A living ship?" Finella laughed. "It's not so much different from living snow and ice, is it? And in the North, and I mean the north North, there are plenty of ice spirits roaming the snow fields. I've seen them a few times; they occasionally roam southwards in winter. They're beautiful…" Finella's eyes took on a faraway look, as if remembering a fond memory. "They sparkle, you know? It's because of the purple crystal in the ice. They're amazing creatures. Always moving. Always searching…"

"Aren't there spirits in the South, too?" Mel asked, remembering that it was one of the things Amelia was excited about seeing.

"That's right. It's hard to get the ice spirits to listen to you or do any useful work. But down here, they use rock golems for labour, as long as you're rich enough to keep them supplied with red crystal. Or"—Finella scratched her chin—"so I'm told. I talked to Anathor about it. Anyway, we're going off track. You asked about Captain Teach, right?" Finella cleared her throat and brought her voice low. "The reason I asked you about the Fourth Deck is that the story I was told is that Captain Teach was last seen going through the door. After it closed, no one has seen the former captain since. That is to say… he never left."

"Surely…" Mel swallowed. "Surely he's not still in there?"

Finella grinned, as if entertained by Mel's nervousness. "The reason the First Officer instructs the new crewmembers not to loiter around the Fourth Deck is that if you do, you can sometimes hear the voices of the former captains. Not just him, but every captain that the Vengeance has ever had." Finella's expression turned serious, and, in a solemn voice, she said, "They say you never retire from captaincy of the ship. Instead, when it's your time, the ship will call you to the Fourth Deck, where no one will ever see you again."

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"But Captain Halen…" Mel trailed off, not knowing what to say. "Surely she won't…?"

"Who knows?" Finella shrugged. "That's what they say."

"Who says?"

"I don't know, people."

"Which people?"

"Bah!" Finella waved a hand. "Stop questioning a good story."

"Mmm…" Mel hummed.

I feel like I've been told a ghost story, she thought. But is there some truth to it?

"So that's the reason there's animosity between the captain and Speaker Maranai?" she asked. "Because the former captain chose him as a replacement, but the ship chose Captain Halen?"

"That's part of it, but you know how professional the captain is; the very pinnacle of an Imperial Officer?" Finella asked.

Mel nodded. Captain Halen was someone she was consciously trying to emulate. She wasn't sure how the captain managed it, but she had such sheer presence every time she entered a room. Even when things were chaotic—and they often were with Amelia in the picture—the captain always appeared in control and unfazed by what was happening. Her posture, her swordplay, her grasp of naval tactics and her ability to innovate on the spot. It was all Mel aspired to be and more.

Captain Halen was the perfect captain.

But…

There was that thing, wasn't there? That thing that Mel could never get out of her head. That thing that, once Mel had realised it was there, she was noticing it everywhere, especially in Amelia. Mel didn't know what to do with the information. Should she bring it up with Officer Bright? What if she was wrong, or Officer Bright reported her? It would be catastrophic to Mel's military career if she locked horns with the captain over something like that. She could get in a lot of trouble interfering with the life of the captain, who was a highborn Cascadian Lord and Speaker.

"Well," Finella continued, seemingly unaware of Mel's internal turmoil, "during the time I was serving a deployment in one of the strategic aetherscopes, I heard a few whispers of a fight happening between the captain and Speaker Maranai. When I returned here, I found it wasn't just a fight, but it was…" Finella leaned once more and said in her quietest voice yet, "...a mutiny."

"A mutiny!?" Mel cried.

"Shush!" Finella raised a finger to her lips. "You know about the Battle of Port Highwind, right? I heard Speaker Maranai took some of his men and tried to mutiny against the captain once the battle was won. They fought in the port, and they even Spoke against each other. But listen to this, I heard from others-who-I-will-not-name on this ship, that the fight wasn't about old grievances about the captain position." Finella shook her head and continued, "It was about a certain human healer that the Captain had snuck onboard."

"Ame—!" Mel began to exclaim before catching herself. Forcing herself to talk quietly, she asked. "They fought over Amelia? Speaker Maranai led a mutiny for that?"

Finella looked up and shrugged. "Not surprising given his history, but what I don't get is this: Why did the Empire, finally achieving their long-desired goal of nursing a friendly human healer, decide to put her on the Vengeance and take part in the strategic battle? It doesn't make much sense to me, and from what I understand of Amelia's personality, it's not something she would agree to. But what if, what if—" Finella's eyes glinted mysteriously—"what if Amelia wasn't sent to Port Highwind on the Vengeance. What if she were discovered at Port Highwind? What if the official story we were told isn't the full truth? Maybe Amelia did travel from Karligard, but the Battle of Port Highwind was where she was first introduced to the Empire?"

Mel thought for a moment before shaking her head. "That wouldn't make sense," she said. "That wouldn't explain why she can speak Imperial natively, and in such a perfect Centralis accent. She must have been raised in Centralis. So…" Mel thought for a moment. "So she must have been raised in Centalis, then went to the human continent and then encountered the Vengeance at the port, after which Speaker Maranai fought the captain." Even as she said it, it didn't sound right. Something was missing. There was something else tying it all together.

"What if she has a blessing?" Finella suggested, her voice growing more earnest. "What if a blessing gave her native speech? I once saw her with a workbook for intermediate learners of High Imperial. As in, a workbook for writing. Isn't that strange?" Finella's eyes widened in encouragement, and she continued, "If she was really brought up as a native speaker in Centralis, then it doesn't make sense for her writing to lag behind, does it?"

Mel felt a headache coming on.

"I guess it's possible…"

"It's more than possible," Finella affirmed. "There are records of blessings granting language before. A talented human healer, blessed to speak the language of demonkind. It makes sense why she might then go on a pilgrimage to Cascadia to find out why the gods chose her. That would explain why she was at Port Highwind, and it explains why Speaker Maranai took such umbrage to her presence." Finella nodded, as if assuring herself of her own theory. "There's one more thing I heard. During the fight, I was told the observers of the ship saw a ball of golden light moving through the battlespace, striking with golden lightning tinged"—Finella's eyes glinted—"with royal flecks of blue."

Mel took a deep breath. "Amelia fought Speaker Maranai? Her and the captain? Together?"

"Maybe." Finella shrugged. "Or maybe not. But we both saw how a certain individual's expression changed when the dockmaster mentioned his name just now. There's something there, I know it. I just feel like I'm missing one piece of the puzzle…" Finella trailed off before mumbling, "Or maybe two… or three…"

"Is it wise?" Mel asked. When Finella gave her a strange look, she clarified, "Is it wise to dig into Amelia's past? It's clear the captain is, uh, protective of her. Given her value to the Empire, you might uncover something that should stay hidden."

Finella laughed and gave a dismissive wave. "Oh, believe me, I'm not going down that route. The last thing I want to do is get my horns twisted by the captain and be thrown overboard. I just can't help putting together a theory or two. After all, there is something more to the story, and I just know both Amelia and the captain know what it is. I don't know if it's just you, but I have a strange feeling that the reason we've been sent to the South has something to do with it." Finella shrugged and said, "Whatever it is, I'm sure the captain will tell us when it's time. Just see this as a bit of gossip between women, alright?"

"...Alright," Mel said.

In silence, they finished dressing in casual clothes. Mel couldn't help but ruminate over the conversation. While Finella had hand-waved it as just gossip, Mel knew there was an underlying seriousness to the subject. After all, Amelia was more than just a human healer. She was a human healer who could Speak not only Aseco and Taranis, but she also managed to embody Suijin—the lost water god of the South.

Even now, she could still see the embodiment in her mind. An ethereal feminine figure, towering over the Asamaywa slums. A flowing blue dress inscribed with glowing symbols, dark blue hair that floated as if underwater, and a tranquil expression that captured the essence of the word serenity. Despite being Spoken by Amelia, a human, the embodiment bore three sets of black horns. Why was that? Was it because Suijin was a demon god?

Mel didn't know too much about Second-Word embodiments. What she did know was what she suspected Finella knew as well: There was something more to Amelia. Her friend was simply too powerful to make sense. As a Speaker of Suijin, Amelia would easily rival a greatlord. Perhaps… Perhaps even an overlord. Amelia was a box of mystery, wrapped up in bountiful smiles, smug grins, and enthusiastic thumbs up that just made you want to be her friend.

And a friend she was.

Mel felt herself come to a decision.

If Amelia ever wanted to share more about herself, she could. Mel wouldn't force her, nor try and dig into her past. That wasn't what friends do. Even if she did, Mel would only be a hypocrite. Mel knew about Amelia and the captain's mutual… disposition. What right would Mel have to ask for more of Amelia's secrets when she already had one? When the time was right, Mel would let Amelia know that she knew, and only then, if that went well, would she consider—

"Still hot?" Finella asked, her voice breaking Mel's thoughts. "You're flushed."

"Oh? Oh…" Mel coughed into her hand. Pulling out a handkerchief, she dabbed her forehead. "It's this humidity," she said. "You can't escape it on the ship. I hope the captain takes the dockmaster's advice and paints it white."

"I hope she does too," Finella said. "It would be weird. It's always been the black ship, you know? Maybe it makes sense to change to the white ship, given that the Blackhorn's Chameleon is stalking the Passage, causing all kinds of mischief."

"Do you think we'll encounter it?"

"At some point? Probably."

"If we do…" Mel trailed off. "We'll be fine, right?"

"Under the command of the captain?" Finella raised an eyebrow. "Absolutely."

"I see."

"Let's head back."

Returning to the first deck, they crossed the gangway onto Ishaq's docks. Dockmaster Tariq had left, and only the captain and Amelia remained. Amelia was leaning over the railing, looking excitedly at everyone and everything. The captain was talking to her, wearing an expression that Mel could now decipher, having learned about their hidden relationship.

Seeing them, the captain clicked her tongue and chastised them for taking so long. Finella apologised and was quickly sent off to gather her squad, minus Mel, to undertake her duties in uncovering the pirate situation in Ishaq. Giving Mel a wink, Finella vanished, leaving her along with Amelia and the captain. Mel did her best to stand with perfect posture as she received her final orders.

"Remember what I said," Captain Halen mused. "Don't let her get into any trouble. As for you…" The captain turned to Amelia. "Don't make any trouble for Officer Mori, or for me."

"Mmm!" Amelia nodded happily. Turning to face Mel, she chirped, "Aren't you excited? A whole new land, full of mystery and adventure!"

Mel felt herself smile. While she'd promised herself not to pry into the mystery of her friend's origins, she could make do with exploring the mystery of Ishaq and its brightly dressed buildings and inhabitants.

"I'm ready," Mel said. "Let's do our best to—"

She was cut off as Amelia grabbed her hand, pulling her to the steps leading downwards.

"Less talking, more exploring!" Amelia declared, practically dragging Mel.

"R-right!" Mel nodded.

As they continued down the stairs, Mel could swear she heard a quiet 'Good luck', uttered from above. Steeling her nerves and sending a quick prayer to the Empress and the Five Moons of Cascadia that nothing dramatic would happen, she quickened her pace and fell in beside Amelia.

It was time to explore Ishaq.

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