Destination

Here we are, looking at the ocean. Isn't it beautiful?" said Karl.

"Truly magnificent. As far as my eyes can see, it's all water. Just how big is the ocean?" asked Julius.

"Oh, the water is so salty," said Elric.

"Did you try to drink it? Don't drink it; it's very salty and drinking too much seawater can be harmful," said Karl.

"Where is the ship?" asked Julius.

"There, behind that rock. It's hidden there because at the port they charge money to hold ships, so I hide it here to avoid port charges," Karl replied.

"Isn't it smaller than the other ships over there?" asked Elric.

"My grandfather was a sole traveler. He only had a few members on his ship, all hand-picked by him for special purposes. It works well and don't go by its size; it's strong and faster than many bigger ships. And do you know what those big ships don't have that this ship does?" said Karl.

"What?" both asked.

"Obviously, me! I am the best shipwright in the world, hahaha!" Karl laughed.

"Look, Julius, here's some wood," said Elric.

"Why are you there? I am saying something," said Karl.

"We heard you, the best in the world. Now let's move this ship into the ocean," said Julius.

"We are not ready to set sail yet; we have to do some preparations," said Karl.

"What kind of preparations?" asked Elric.

"We don't know how long we are going to be at sea, so we should have enough food to last for months. Also, it needs some repairs. You guys go collect as much food as you can and make sure to buy food that has a long shelf life or can be preserved for a long time. I will fix this ship by tomorrow morning," said Karl.

"Okay, we are going to the market. Do you need anything?" asked Julius.

"No, I am fine. Meet me here tomorrow morning with food, water, and all necessary items," said Karl.

"I can't wait for tomorrow! We will be going overseas," said Julius with excitement. "Let's just sleep; tomorrow is a big day."

The next morning, both were ready and went to the place where they had decided to meet, with all the necessary goods for their journey.

"Hey Karl, we are here. This is all we were able to gather," said Elric.

"Looks like it's enough. Now, Elric, you load this on the ship and Julius, follow me. I will teach you how to set sail," said Karl.

After hard labor by Elric, he was now tired. Meanwhile, Karl taught Julius how to manage the sail and other tasks required to move and change direction. With all that done, they were now ready to go.

They all cheerfully shouted, "Here we go!" and embarked on a journey they had never imagined. But after a few hours, all their energy vanished as the vast, silent ocean became monotonous. Elric kept asking, "Where are we?" and "When will we be there?" Julius slept well while Karl handled the controls.

As days passed, they talked a lot and became very close friends, sharing their stories with each other. One day, out of curiosity, Karl asked Elric why he wanted to go on this journey. Elric told him the reason, trusting Karl. One day, they faced a storm. It was their first time seeing how destructive and dangerous nature can be, realizing the difference between land and sea storms—it was like experiencing hell and sky.

Months passed without sighting land. When their food was about to run out, they decided to fish, but none of them knew how to fish. So, the only option left was to eat sparingly to make their food last longer.

Elric shouted, "There's land! I can see it!" They all became happy, but their luck ran out. As they got near the coast, they saw a tribe. Suddenly, Karl turned the ship's direction back toward the ocean.

Elric shouted, "Are you mad? We could get food there!"

"Food? We would have become their food! Didn't you see those broken ships and skeletons? The man standing behind the bushes with a spear in his hand? My grandfather told me about islands that worship devils and capture humans to either eat or execute them for their devilish rituals," said Karl.

"What will we do now? Our food won't last longer than two days. How are we going to eat?" said Julius.

"We can do nothing but head south," said Karl.

A week passed, and it had been four days since they ran out of food. They were losing hope and consciousness. Karl came forward and said, "Let me tell you a story.

"Once upon a time, in the heart of the vast, azure ocean, there lived a tiny, determined sea turtle named Kai. From the moment he hatched on the warm sandy shore, Kai had a dream—to reach the legendary Coral Kingdom, a place of unmatched beauty and wonder beneath the waves. Many had tried, but none from his small island had ever succeeded.

Kai faced numerous challenges. The currents were strong, pushing him back toward the shore. Predators lurked in the depths, their shadows causing his heart to race with fear. His flippers ached from endless swimming, and at times, the Coral Kingdom seemed like a distant, unattainable dream. But Kai had a heart full of hope and a spirit that refused to give up.

One day, as he struggled against a particularly fierce current, he saw a school of dolphins gliding effortlessly through the water. They noticed his struggle and swam to his side. The leader, a wise old dolphin named Luna, offered to guide him part of the way. 'We see your determination, young turtle,' she said. 'Let us help you, for no great journey is meant to be traveled alone.'

With the dolphins' help, Kai made significant progress, learning to navigate the ocean's challenges with greater skill and confidence. Even when the dolphins left to continue their own journey, Kai felt a renewed sense of strength. He remembered Luna's words and pressed on, knowing that support and perseverance were his greatest allies.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of swimming, Kai saw a brilliant glow ahead. The water around him shimmered with colors he had never seen before. As he swam closer, he found himself amidst the vibrant, bustling life of the Coral Kingdom. It was more beautiful than he had ever imagined, a paradise of coral reefs teeming with exotic fish and plants.

Kai's journey had been long and arduous, but he had made it. In the Coral Kingdom, he shared his story, inspiring others with his tale of perseverance and hope. He learned that the greatest treasures are often hidden behind the toughest challenges and that with hope and determination, even the smallest creatures can achieve the most extraordinary dreams.

And so, the legend of Kai the sea turtle spread across the ocean, a beacon of hope for all who dared to dream and never give up."

Though the story was motivational, they didn't have the energy to be motivated. Suddenly, out of nowhere, they started feeling a chill in their bodies. As the ship moved further, the environment grew colder and colder. They were surrounded by fog everywhere. After a few hours of moving the ship forward, the fog began to lift, and what they saw, they couldn't believe—the vast, invinsible ocean was frozen.