Chapter 4 — Unspoken Tides

Adrian

The Grand Observation Lounge was a sanctuary of light and soundlessness, its glass walls stretched like a prism against the darkening canvas of the evening sky. Captain Adrian Voss stood alone at the far edge of the room, his back to the ship’s interior, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the sea merged imperceptibly with the heavens. The antique compass rested in his palm, its brass casing warm despite the cool air conditioning. He flipped it open, the needle quivering faintly before finding true north, as steady as the stars above. His thumb, roughened from years at the helm of vessels, dragged across the etched silhouette of a ship on its surface. It had been a gift from his naval mentor—a symbol of trust and responsibility—but lately, it felt more like a reminder of every course he had failed to correct.