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Thalassia Island
Dermala sat across from Arthur and Sean on the veranda of her wooden house. The sea was calm, as if it were holding its breath.
"So," Arthur began, his voice low yet 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 turned back to him. "Thalassia…"
Arthur gave a small nod. "And what happened to us?"
Dermala did not answer immediately. She poured water into a clay cup and handed it to Arthur.
"Your ship was struck by a storm from the west. The current carried what remained into our bay. Our fishermen found it three days ago."
"The entire crew?"
"Alive," Dermala replied briefly. "Injured, exhausted, but alive."
Arthur let out a quiet breath of relief. "This island… it looks like a settlement that's been here for 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 glanced around. "Why choose to stay?"
Dermala gave a faint smile. "Because the sea here provides."
Sean, who had been silent until now, frowned slightly. "Provides?"
"Fish come easily. The winds are kind. Wounds heal quickly," Dermala answered. "But every gift has its shadow."
Arthur caught the shift in her tone. "What kind of shadow?"
Dermala looked at Sean longer than necessary. "The kind that isn't always seen."
Sean was about to ask more, but Dermala raised her hand, stopping him gently. "Not yet."
Sean fell silent. Arthur leaned forward slightly. "Have you known us before?"
"Only in part," Dermala replied. "The sea brings many faces. Some return. Some do not."
Silence settled between them. Small waves broke beneath the veranda.
"Are we safe here?" Arthur asked.
"For now," Dermala answered honestly. "This island does not oppose its guests. It simply… remembers."
"Remembers what?"
Dermala stood, looking back toward the sea. "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 on from within.
Arthur stood as well. "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, about to speak.
But Dermala had already gone back inside, leaving the question hanging in the salt-filled air.