Echoes of Fate: Isaki

As Isaki made his way back to his cabin, the cool night air swirled around him, carrying the salty scent of the sea. The deck was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the ship as it rocked gently on the waves. Just as he was about to turn the corner, he noticed the captain standing near the bow of the ship, his voice cutting through the stillness. He was barking orders at his crew, his tone sharp and filled with urgency.

"Reinforce the sides! Make sure every plank is secured and every rope is tight. I don't want any weaknesses if the sea decides to turn rough on us tonight!"

Isaki, ever curious, felt a twinge of concern. He changed direction and walked toward the captain, the wooden deck creaking beneath his feet. "Captain," he called out as he approached, "is everything alright? The ship seems... tense."

The captain, a seasoned man with a thick beard streaked with gray, turned toward Isaki. His eyes, sharp and experienced, softened a little at the sight of the young cadet. "Ah, it's nothing too serious, lad," he said with a wave of his hand. "Just the sea getting a little more restless than I'd like. Nothing I haven't handled before, but I like to be prepared."

Isaki nodded, glancing toward the crew who were scrambling to follow the captain's orders. "Precautions, then?"

"Aye," the captain said, his tone grave. "The sea can be a fickle mistress. One moment, she's calm, and the next, she'll throw a storm your way without warning. It's always better to be ready than to regret later."

Isaki admired the captain's composure. There was a sense of controlled power about the man, someone who had faced countless dangers and still stood firm. "I understand. You must have seen your fair share of storms."

The captain gave a wry smile, the kind born of hard-earned experience. "More than I care to count. But it's not the sea that worries me, not really. It's when the men on board lose their nerve. A ship can survive rough waters, but a crew in panic? That can sink even the sturdiest vessel."

Before Isaki could respond, a young apprentice rushed onto the deck, panting heavily as if he'd sprinted across the entire ship. "Captain!" he called, his voice strained. "There's trouble below deck. Some of the girls... they're sick. Seasickness, I think."

The captain let out a frustrated sigh and rubbed his forehead, clearly not pleased with the news. "Of course," he muttered. "Just when things couldn't get any better…"

He turned to the apprentice, his voice now gruff but controlled. "Alright, boy. Head down to the storage room. There should be some anti-seasickness berries in a pouch on the top shelf. Bring them to the sick girls."

The apprentice nodded quickly and darted off, but the captain paused, watching him go with a frown. He glanced at Isaki, who had remained nearby.

"Mind doing me a favor, lad?" the captain asked, a note of urgency creeping into his voice. "That apprentice is a good boy, but he's a bit green around the gills, if you catch my meaning. I'm short on hands right now, and I could use someone steady to help him. Could you go with him and make sure those berries get delivered?"

Isaki, sensing the captain's concern, nodded without hesitation. "Of course, Captain. I'll make sure everything gets to where it needs to go."

The captain gave him a grateful nod. "Thank you. The last thing I need is more chaos on this ship."

With that, Isaki hurried after the apprentice, finding him in the storage room, nervously rummaging through the shelves. After a moment of fumbling, the young man finally found the pouch of berries and held it up triumphantly, though his hands still shook.

"Got them!" the apprentice exclaimed, looking both relieved and nervous.

"Let's get these delivered, then," Isaki said, offering a reassuring smile. Together, they made their way toward the cabins where the girls were staying.

As they walked, the apprentice glanced at Isaki, his nervousness evident. "Thanks for helping out. I'm, uh… not really great at this kind of thing. First time working on a ship this big."

Isaki smiled at him. "Don't worry about it. Everyone has to start somewhere. You're doing fine."

The apprentice seemed to relax a bit, his shoulders loosening as they reached cabin number 8, where the sick girls were supposed to be. Isaki stepped forward and knocked on the door, the soft sound echoing in the quiet hallway.

They waited a few moments, but there was no response. Isaki exchanged a glance with the apprentice, whose brow furrowed in concern.

"Maybe they're asleep?" Isaki suggested.

The apprentice's face grew more worried. "Or… what if they've fainted from the seasickness? Should we try to force the door open?"

Before Isaki could respond, the door creaked open, revealing a striking figure in the dim light. A girl with short, raven-black hair that reaches down to her neck and piercing red eyes stood in the doorway, dressed in a simple nightgown. Despite her casual attire, her presence was commanding.

The apprentice's face immediately flushed crimson, clearly taken aback by her beauty. He stammered, looking utterly flustered.

Isaki, however, kept his focus and asked, "Are you the one feeling unwell?"

Before the girl could answer, another figure stepped into view—a girl with a sharper expression and an air of confidence about her. "Arya," the second girl called softly, stepping closer. "What's going on here?"

The apprentice, still trying to gather his thoughts, finally managed to speak. "W-We brought some berries for seasickness. We were told someone in this cabin was feeling sick."

Arya narrowed her eyes, looking between Isaki and the apprentice with a cool, calculating gaze. "Neither of us are sick," she said, her voice steady and calm.

Isaki blinked, confused, and turned to the apprentice. "If you're not sick, then…"

Before he could finish, a sound from the adjacent cabin caught their attention. The apprentice's eyes widened in realization. "Oh no… I must have gotten the wrong cabin!"

Hurriedly, he rushed to the neighboring door and knocked. This time, when it opened, two girls stood there, both pale and clearly suffering from seasickness. The apprentice quickly handed them the berries, apologizing profusely. They accepted the remedy with grateful smiles.

The apprentice returned to Isaki, his face still red with embarrassment. He stood in front of Arya and the other girl, bowing his head apologetically. "I'm really sorry for disturbing you. I, uh, made a mistake…"

Isaki gave a small smile, nodding politely to Arya. "Apologies for the confusion. We didn't mean to interrupt."

Arya's eyes remained cold, her gaze unwavering as she stood silently in the doorway. Without saying a word, she reached out and slowly closed the door, leaving Isaki and the apprentice standing in the hall.

The apprentice let out a long, exasperated sigh, clearly mortified by the whole situation. "That was… awkward."

Isaki chuckled softly, patting him on the shoulder. "It happens. Don't beat yourself up over it."

The apprentice offered a weak smile. "Thanks for being so understanding. I really appreciate it."

"Anytime," Isaki replied with an easy grin.

With the task finally complete, they parted ways. Isaki headed back to his cabin, his mind briefly lingering on the strange encounter with Arya. There was something about her demeanor, something distant and unreadable, that intrigued him. But he brushed the thought aside. He had bigger things to focus on.

Isaki reached the door of his cabin, the weight of the day's events still heavy on his mind. The ship swayed gently beneath his feet as he placed his hand on the worn brass handle. Pushing the door open, he stepped into the dimly lit cabin.

His eyes quickly adjusted to the soft light, and there, on the bed opposite his, lay someone reading a book. The figure was reclined with an air of complete ease, one leg lazily crossed over the other, the book balanced on his chest. Isaki blinked, taking a second to recognize him—the boy from earlier—the one who hadn't acknowledged his greeting on the deck and later sat alone in the mess hall, gazing out at the sea

He didn't even look up. His entire focus seemed absorbed in the pages, as if the world beyond the book was of no consequence. Isaki hesitated. He had half-expected a nod or a glance, but the boy remained impassive, deeply engrossed in whatever he was reading.

With a soft sigh, Isaki crossed the small room to his own bed. The cabin was small, intimate, with barely enough space for the two beds, a wooden desk, and a porthole that showed the sea. He glanced over at the boy again, studying his sharp profile, his calm demeanor. There was something about him that intrigued Isaki, something beyond the aloofness.

- I can't just ignore this anymore, Isaki thought. - If we're sharing this cabin, I should at least introduce myself. Taking a deep breath, he finally broke the silence.

"Hey," he started, keeping his voice light but friendly, "I'm Isaki. Nice to meet you again."

For a long moment, there was no response. The boy didn't even flinch, his eyes continuing to scan the lines of the book. Isaki waited, his confidence starting to waver as the silence stretched uncomfortably. He wasn't sure what he expected, but this certainly wasn't it. Maybe the guy just wasn't in the mood for conversation, or maybe he was the quiet type. Either way, it seemed clear that the boy had no intention of replying.

Isaki shifted awkwardly on his bed. "Well... never mind then." He muttered under his breath, feeling slightly foolish for having tried. He lay back, staring up at the low wooden ceiling, listening to the soft creaks of the ship and the distant roar of the waves. - It's fine, he told himself. - Maybe he's just one of those people who prefer to be left alone.

Minutes passed in silence. The rhythmic sound of the sea filled the cabin, and Isaki began to relax, letting his thoughts drift. He was just starting to close his eyes when a quiet voice interrupted the stillness.

"Ray."

Isaki blinked, startled. He turned his head toward the boy, who had now lowered his book slightly, his gaze still distant, but his lips had finally moved.

"My name's Ray," the boy repeated softly. His voice was calm, smooth like the steady flow of a river. "Sorry for not responding earlier. I was... lost in thought, staring at the sea."

The unexpected apology took Isaki by surprise. He hadn't been expecting Ray to speak at all, let alone to explain himself. Isaki had met plenty of people on the ship already, but none had left him feeling as unsettled as this boy. There was something about him that was different—something unreadable and elusive.

Isaki sat up slightly, propping himself on one elbow. "It's no problem," he said, trying to keep his tone casual. But he couldn't help the curiosity gnawing at him. "You seemed pretty deep in thought."

Ray glanced at him briefly, "yeah," he murmured. "I often get that way when I look at the sea. It's... calming, but also distracting."

Isaki didn't know how to respond. Ray seemed so... peculiar. He wasn't like the others Isaki had met, either here on the ship or back in Dawn. The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable, but rather thoughtful, like Ray was carefully choosing his words.

Then, just as Isaki thought the conversation might be over, Ray spoke again, his voice slightly lower, almost as if he was offering a personal piece of advice.

"Be careful at Fate Academy."

Isaki furrowed his brow, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. "What do you mean?"

Ray closed his book and set it aside, leaning back against the headboard. "Don't rush to help people immediately. Observe first. Always observe the situation before you act."

The words hung in the air like a cryptic warning. Isaki sat up fully now, his curiosity piqued. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked.

Ray's dark eyes met his, calm yet penetrating. "I saw you earlier. With the captain. The moment he asked for a favor, you ran off without a second thought. That kind of behavior... it can get you into trouble at the academy."

Isaki's mind raced as he remembered the incident. He had been eager to help, wanting to prove his usefulness. But now, hearing Ray's words, doubt crept into his mind. "I didn't think it was a bad thing. I just wanted to help."

"I know," Ray replied softly. "But sometimes, rushing in can make things worse. You won't always know the full picture, and at the academy... not everything is what it seems. Trust me."

There was something unsettling about the way Ray spoke, like he had already experienced things that Isaki couldn't begin to understand. Isaki looked at him, unsure of what to say, when Ray continued, his tone more relaxed now.

"You're confident in your abilities, right? I can tell just by looking at you. Probably one of the best swordsmen around."

Isaki blinked, caught off guard. "How can you know that? We've never even talked before today."

Ray gave a small, knowing smile. "I pay attention to details. Your sword, for example. The hilt looks new. You've probably just replaced it recently, which means your old one was worn out. That only happens when someone practices hard, and practices well. Most cadets don't have enough Aura to wear out a sword that fast. That tells me you've already reached the second level of Aura, haven't you?"

Isaki was stunned. It was as if Ray had read him like an open book, piecing together his abilities from a single glance. "Y-yeah... I have. But how did you figure all that out?"

Ray shrugged, his demeanor still calm, almost disinterested. "It's not that hard. Once you know what to look for, the details speak for themselves. You're probably a genius with the sword."

Isaki was left speechless. - This guy... he's sharper than I thought. Maybe even sharper than me. The realization brought a small, almost incredulous smile to his face. He hadn't expected Ray to be this perceptive, this intelligent. It was like he had peeled back the layers of Isaki's character with ease, something no one else had ever done.

Ray stretched, glancing out the window again. The sea had started to churn a bit more now, the waves growing stronger.

"We should get some sleep," Ray said, his voice returning to its earlier calm. "The sea's getting rougher. If we don't rest now, we'll end up too tired for tomorrow."

Isaki nodded, still absorbing everything Ray had said. "Yeah... you're probably right."

Ray lay back down, pulling his blanket over himself as he turned to face the wall. Isaki, still thinking about their conversation, settled into his own bed, pulling his covers up as well. The gentle rocking of the ship lulled him closer to sleep, but his thoughts remained on Ray.

- He's not like anyone I've met before, Isaki thought as his eyes grew heavy. - There's something different about him. Something... strange.

But whatever it was, he was sure of one thing: Ray was someone worth watching.

With that thought, Isaki let sleep take him with the sound of the sea lulling him.