The Sovereign's Sigils

ASH caressed his thumb, anticipating the next delivery of ice. The frostbite gnawed at his hand all day, yet he bore it in stoic silence, his mind drifting to the evening's gathering around the old man, Ages who told them stories and legends that made them dream.

With a swift motion, the next bag of ice landed before him, and without hesitation, Ash hoisted it onto his shoulders, navigating the bustling deck with practiced ease. Dodging oblivious sailors and cruisers, he made his way below deck to the chilled sanctuary of the cold room.

Finally, Ash arrived at the cold room and dropped another bag of ice in it. He exhaled as he felt a slight tinge run down his spine, exhaustion creeping in. He ransacked his pockets for his only genuine possession; a silver watch with the insignia of his family embroidered on it. He checked the time and discovered he should have already clocked out thirty minutes ago.

He exhaled and just sat down on the cold metallic floor, allowing the frigid atmosphere to seep into his bones and revitalize them. His eyes roamed the room, taking in the array of vials neatly arranged on shelves, each containing potent Cryptologic potions. As he surveyed them, a daring idea sparked in his mind. What if he dared to sample one of those concoctions? Perhaps he'd unlock powers beyond human comprehension, transforming into a Cryptid himself, mastering abilities that transcended ordinary existence.

He however shook his mind off it immediately, the idea as tempting as it was would most certainly lead to his death. While Felis, his boss trusted him so much and might not even believe if they said he stole, it still wasn't in Ash's nature to steal. He stood up from the ground at last and then he shut the door to the room and left.

The next few minutes found him drawing a bath for himself before departing the public bath for his room. As he opened the door, it creaked in response. His room was modest, housing only two pairs of bunk beds situated at each corner, suggesting four occupants. Besides the beds, there was merely a small shelf affixed to the wooden wall, holding a handful of essentials: a mirror, hair cream, a pair of scissors, needle and thread, and other necessities for their daily routine.

Ash stepped forward and lifted the mirror, gazing at his reflection. His eyes, a lighter shade of brown, contrasted against his darker skin, while his hair resembled gray ashes, earning him the nickname "Ash." Among sailors, there was little interest in learning the name of an insignificant cabin boy; from the moment he set foot on the ship, they simply referred to him as Ash.

He set down the mirror and swiftly changed into fresh clothes, though they weren't necessarily an improvement over the old ones. Like his previous attire, this set also bore signs of wear, with cuts and mended areas, but at least they were cleaner. Carefully folding his old garments, he placed them in the corner of his bed.

He retrieved his pocket watch and glanced at the time; it was already seven in the evening, signaling that soon everyone else would be retiring below deck for the night. Once eight o'clock struck, the above deck curfew would commence, and anyone daring enough to venture out after that hour would likely disappear without a trace.

In the darkness of the night evil things happen and not just those inhumane stuff, but really malefic things. Ash had never ventured outside after dark, yet he had heard the tales. Whispers of dark entities descending upon the night to indulge in feasting and harvesting of souls. Rumors were that it was even more dangerous out here at the sea. The entities regarded everyone sailing as a Cryptid and would personally bring about their end.

The door creaked open, jolting Ash from his thoughts as three figures entered. Among them were two boys, their torsos bare and lower bodies wrapped in towels, while the girl was fully dressed, her face lit up with a cheerful smile upon seeing Ash.

"Hey Ash!" she exclaimed, bounding toward him with enthusiasm. "We discovered another Sigil today," she announced with a beaming smile.

"Why is that making you exceptionally happy," Ash asked her with a curious expression.

"Because I found it. I, Glit, found a Sigil and it wasn't just any kind of Sigil, it was an Asterisk," she said with a joyous laughter.

Ash giggled happily, he was so happy for her. Glit was a bright young girl and everyone on the ship knew this. Despite her seemingly ordinary appearance; short, dirty brown hair, gray eyes, and a sprinkling of freckles, everyone recognized her uniqueness.

She settled comfortably on Ash's bed, a privilege none of the other boys dared to attempt. Ash reserved this space solely for himself and his thoughts aboard the entire ship, allowing no one else access. Except for Glit. Since his arrival on the ship, they had been best friends, partners in mischief, to the extent that he now regarded her as a sister; someone he couldn't imagine living without.

"Hey Ash," one of the boys tapped him on the shoulders from behind.

Ash spun around with a grin, recognizing the voice before even turning. "Kay, how was it today? I heard you were the one who had to dive into the whale to get the oil."

"Disgusting, I dove into the bath immediately, I even had an extra change to pay one of the maids. She scrubbed me so hard," he said the last bit with a dreamy look on his face. "It was like paradise."

Ash smiled and then waved at Mute who just smiled back at him. Kay and Mute were best friends and they did get along with Ash and Glit. Kay was a scrawny looking boy with a newsboy hat always perched on top of his head. While Mute was a deaf boy with blonde hair and blue eyes who had an uncanny sense of smell.

They made small talks and after a while Glit checked Ash's pocket watch and screamed in excitement. "It is time for Ages' stories, I am getting the closest seat today," she said, jumping out of the bed.

"Oh, no you aren't!" Kay screamed after her and they all rushed out of the room together, almost knocking each other down.