Isles of Eternity

The crew of the Driftfire worked tirelessly to repair the damage left by the veilstorm. Broken railings, snapped ropes, and waterlogged supplies painted a grim picture of the battle they had just survived. Kael sat on the deck, his back against the mainmast, the shard heavy in his pocket.

"You look like you've aged a decade," Lyra said, crouching beside him. She handed him a tin mug of steaming tea.

"Thanks," Kael muttered, taking a sip. The warmth eased his trembling hands, but it couldn't shake the weight in his chest. "I didn't think we'd make it out of that storm."

"Well, we did," Lyra said. "And that's thanks to you. Don't sell yourself short."

Kael glanced at her, unsure if she was trying to comfort him or herself. Before he could respond, Orin's voice cut through the air.

"Everyone on deck! We've got company!"

Kael shot to his feet, the mug clattering to the floor. He followed Lyra to the ship's edge, where the crew was gathered. A small vessel was approaching, its sails bearing the mark of a crimson kraken.

"Pirates," Orin growled, his eyes narrowing. "And not the friendly kind."

The crew armed themselves quickly, readying swords, pistols, and crossbows. Kael's heart raced as the smaller ship drew closer. Its crew shouted, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight.

"What do they want?" Kael asked, his voice tense.

"Whatever we've got," Orin replied grimly. "Including that shard of yours, if they catch wind of it."

The pirate vessel pulled alongside the Driftfire, and a grappling hook latched onto the railing. With a loud thud, a figure leapt onto the deck—a tall woman clad in dark leather armor, her hair braided with small silver charms. Her eyes glimmered with a predatory gleam.

"I am Captain Selene of the Red Maw," she announced, her voice smooth yet dangerous. "Surrender your valuables, and no one gets hurt."

Orin stepped forward, his cutlass gleaming. "You've got the wrong ship, Selene. This crew doesn't surrender."

Selene smiled coldly. "Then we'll do this the hard way."

The Red Maw's crew swarmed onto the Driftfire, and chaos erupted. Steel clashed against steel as the two crews fought. Lyra darted through the fray, her twin daggers a blur, while Orin held his ground, commanding the Driftfire's crew with sharp, precise orders.

Kael found himself cornered by two pirates, their grins feral. He drew his blade, but his hands shook, the weight of the shard and his exhaustion from the storm slowing him.

"Little boy lost," one pirate sneered. "Should've stayed below deck."

As they lunged, Kael instinctively reached for the shard. It pulsed, and the threads of reality shimmered before him. He wove them quickly, creating a shimmering barrier that deflected their blades. The pirates stumbled back, their expressions turning to fear.

"What the hell—" one began, but Kael didn't let him finish. With a flick of his hand, he wove another thread, this time forming a whip of light that sent them sprawling.

The sudden surge of power left Kael reeling, but he forced himself to stay upright. Across the deck, he spotted Selene locked in combat with Orin. Her movements were fluid and deadly, her blade dancing around Orin's defenses.

Kael gritted his teeth. If Selene overpowered Orin, the fight would be lost. Summoning what strength he had left, he focused on the threads around her. They shimmered faintly, resisting his control.

"Come on," he muttered, pouring his will into the shard.

The threads responded, and Selene faltered, her blade missing its mark. Orin seized the opportunity, driving her back with a flurry of strikes.

"Enough!" Selene shouted, leaping back. She raised a hand, and her crew hesitated, pulling away from the fight.

Orin held his blade steady, his breathing heavy. "Calling it quits already?"

Selene's eyes flicked to Kael, narrowing as if she had finally noticed him. Her lips curled into a dangerous smile. "This isn't over," she said. "I'll be seeing you again, boy."

With a sharp whistle, she and her crew retreated to their ship, cutting the grappling ropes and sailing away. The Driftfire's crew cheered, but Kael felt no relief.

"She knows about the shard," he said quietly.

Orin placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then we'll be ready for her."

As the crew returned to their duties, Kael retreated to his quarters. He sat on the edge of his bunk, turning the shard over in his hands. Its glow was dim now, as if it too was exhausted.

"Why me?" he whispered. "Why did you choose me?"

The shard didn't answer, but its faint pulse seemed to echo a single word: Destiny.

Kael sighed, the weight of the day pressing down on him. He knew Selene wasn't the only one who would come for the shard—and he wasn't sure if he was strong enough to face what lay ahead.

But one thing was certain: the threads of fate were pulling him deeper into the loom's design, and there was no turning back now.