The cargo bay breathes with a steady, rune-lit pulse. New cannons rest in their mounts, and the deck’s deeper vibration makes the whole ship feel alive beneath Kael Umal’s boots.
Miles waits in the corridor, fidgeting with her tunic hem and clutching a handwritten list. When Kael appears, she straightens at once, trying to look useful instead of nervous.
Miles
I, ah, watched what needs doing while everyone was busy. If you want, I can keep the lower decks in order.
Anna lingers near the bay entrance, one hand dusted with fresh wood shavings, her gaze moving over the cannon mounts with quiet approval.
Anna
They sit true. That helps. A ship is less temperamental when every piece knows its place.
Sophie
The new weight changes the ship’s balance, but not its spirit. It accepts the additions, for now.
Miles glances from Anna to Kael, then lowers her list a little as if afraid of being laughed at.
Miles
I wrote down the repairs I noticed. If you want, I can start with the worst of them.
The corridor settles into an easy stillness, the kind that only comes after work is finished and no one is rushing. The ship hums around them, patient and listening.
✓ Quest Accepted
Establish Miles's daily ship duties
“"That sounds good, Miles. Outside of your normal duties of cleaning, you can help Anna if she needs help and also Julia in the galley." The captain informs her. They continue to talk and Miles asks the captain about his origin. Where did he come from? Where are they going? Why? The captain smiles and tells her with all honesty that he doesn't remember where he's from or even how he got aboard the ship. He justknew he needed a new crew and had the urge to leave port.”
SUCCESS (Superb Willpower, rolled +0)
Kael Umal
That sounds good, Miles. Outside your cleaning, help Anna when she needs it, and Julia in the galley.
Miles’s shoulders ease a little at the order. She folds the list once, twice, tucking it against her chest like it is something precious.
Miles
Aye. I can do that.
Miles
Captain... where do you come from? Where are we going? Why?
Kael answers plain. He does not know where he is from, and he does not remember how he came aboard. He only knows he needed a new crew, and that he felt driven to leave port.
Miles
Not even he knows. Then he is choosing this as much as we are.
Miles studies him a long moment, the earlier nervousness thinning into something steadier. The ship’s low hum passes under their feet, and the cannons give off their slow, runic glow behind them.
Miles
Then I will keep doing my part, and you can keep leading us.
Quest Complete
Establish Miles's daily ship duties