Seaflower - 1

  Two new recruits stood in front of the aquarium that took place of a wall.  Only this aquarium wasn’t filled like normal ones.  It had seemingly hundreds of thumb size tear drops floating evenly spread out, though it seemed a bit crowded.

                “I wonder what this is for. It looks like they are floating.” The bigger of the two said thinking out loud.

                Tye walked up and noticed the two of them.  Nobody looks at this wall unless they know somebody or they are new. “You boys know what this wall is for?”

                Tye chuckled when they both jumped and popped to attention.  “No clue sir.”

                “Look closely and you will see the face of every man who has died while serving for our great navy on this ship.” Tye touched the case, his face full of pain.  “Every ship has a wall such as this.”

                “Why does it look like they are floating?”

                “Magic, the goddess arranged it to be such a way.”

                The bigger of the two recruits snorted. “He is a god, not a goddess.”

                “The one who rules the land is a god, yes. The waters are ruled by a goddess.”  Tye touched his amulet through his uniform.  “Very few even know about her anymore.  It was only 30 years ago that she would openly walk among us.”

                “Common people do not see or speak with god, only those of the church can.”  The smaller recruit face had turned negative. 

Both of the young men bowed up in defense when Tye mumbled “Once they did.”

“This ship is only 50 years old, this looks like an entire crew died. That’s not possible.”

“About 80% of the crew died rather suddenly…” He bit his lip as tears filled his eyes threatening to pour.  He lipped a short prayer.

“Rather suddenly? I’m sure we would have been told about it in Training.  But I’ve never heard anything about it.” The smaller guy eyed the teary sailor in suspiciously “Mankind as a whole seems to ‘Look over’ its bigger mistakes.  Once it happened, magic was forbidden and they stopped talking about the goddess.  Not that talking about her was forbidden, it’s just that nobody wanted to chance offending her again.” Tye smirked. “If you paid attention to the evening prayer the first night we pulled out, it was to the goddess. Every ship does it, just encase.  The fights that happen every night at 2100 use to be her testing one student or someone who wished to become one.  Almost all of the survivors that would remember that … day have either changed ships or retired.”

“How do you know so much about it then?” The smaller or the two asked with a cocky tone that Tye ignored.

“I’ve been in service long enough to have a seaflower.” Tye smiled softly.

“What?”

“The first time you meaningfully pray to the goddess you would be gifted with a seaflower.  The seaflower would hold its shape for as long as you faithfully serve her, not many are left.”

“And you have one?”

“The last one made, I believe.”

“Why is that?”

“The next day something terrible happened.”

“The sudden deaths?”

“Yes.”

“Can you tell the story?”

“I’d almost rather not.”

“Why?”

“It’s a painful memory.”

“Wait, memory?”

“Yes, one day it will be told though, if not by mouth, then by pen to paper.”

“Is it true there is a female ghost on this ship?”

“I do not think she is a ghost, but yes, there is a girl on this ship.  Nobody knows her name or age, she has been locked up a few times and just reappears where they found her.  She’s always cleaning the ship, and she always has extra supplies.  So if you come across her you should help out for a few minutes.”

“Why?”

“It gives you some pride knowing that you are part of the reason why your ship looks so good and it also brings you luck.”

“Have you ever cleaned with her?”

“Every chance I get.” I only wish she would speak, the day she speaks is the day I’ll tell my story. Tye promised himself as he went looking for her.