Thalassia Island
Dermala sat facing Arthur and Sean on the veranda of her wooden house. The sea was calm—too calm—as if holding its breath.
"So," Arthur began, his voice low but firm, "before we go any further, I need to know one thing. Where are we?"
Dermala looked out at the sea for a moment, then back at Arthur. "Thalassia…"
Arthur nodded slowly. "And what happened to us?"
Dermala didn't answer right away. She poured water into a clay cup and handed it to Arthur. "Your ship was struck by a storm from the west. The current dragged what remained of it into our bay. Our fishermen found it three days ago."
"The entire crew?"
"Alive," Dermala replied shortly. "Injured, exhausted, but alive."
Arthur let out a breath of relief. "This island… it looks like a village that's been here a long time."
"It wasn't, once," Dermala said. "Thalassia used to be empty. People came later—those who survived the sea and chose to stay."
Arthur looked around. "Why choose to stay?"
Dermala gave a faint smile. "Because the sea here provides."
Sean, who had been silent until then, frowned. "Provides?"
"Fish are easy to catch. The winds are kind. Wounds heal quickly," Dermala answered. "But every gift always has a shadow."
Arthur caught the tone. "What kind of shadow?"
Dermala looked at Sean longer than necessary. "A shadow that isn't always visible."
Sean was about to ask, but Dermala raised her hand, stopping him gently. "Not yet."
Sean fell silent. Arthur leaned forward. "Did you know us before?"
"Only in part," Dermala replied. "The sea brings many faces. Some return. Some do not."
Silence settled. Small waves broke beneath the veranda.
"Are we safe here?" Arthur asked.
"For now," Dermala said honestly. "This island does not oppose guests. It only… remembers."
"Remembers what?"
Dermala stood and looked out at the sea again. "That is a question answered slowly. Too quickly, and memory can wound."
Sean felt something pulse faintly in his head—like a door being knocked from the inside.
Arthur stood. "Very well. For now, we'll stay and recover."
Dermala nodded. "A wise choice."
As they turned to leave, Dermala added, almost in a whisper, "And one more thing—on Thalassia, do not force the sea to answer. Listen first."
Sean turned, wanting to ask. But Dermala had already gone back inside the house, leaving the question hanging in the salty air.