The passage finally gave way.
What had once been a narrow, pressing corridor suddenly widened into something vast enough to steal Luke's breath. The cave opened like a hidden cove carved by patience rather than force, its ceiling soaring high above, uneven and jagged, yet unmistakably deliberate. The stone walls curved outward, forming a natural harbour cradled within the mountain itself. Beyond the opening at the far end, the sea stretched outward—endless, deep blue, and quietly breathing against the rocks.
Light filtered in from several openings above, narrow shafts cut through the stone that allowed sunlight to spill down in pale columns. Dust drifted lazily within them, glowing gold for a moment before vanishing again into shadow. The water below reflected that light in slow, rippling patterns that danced across the cave walls, making the stone seem alive.
And there—anchored at the heart of it all—was Hope.
VNS Hope. Virencian Naval Ship Hope.
She was massive.
