“What did you find out?” Charles asked the doctor.

  “I’m not sure. At the moment, your body seems normal.”

  “But my head still hurts.”

  “Don’t come to me with this trouble; you brought it upon yourself. Frequent sailing, and a headache is mild. If anything unusual happens again, notify me immediately. I can’t see any problems right now. By the way, nice new tattoo.”

  The doctor stood up, preparing to head for the door.

  Charles shivered at the doctor’s last remark. “I have a tattoo? Where?”

  The puzzled doctor pointed to the junction of Charles’s neck and collarbone. “Isn’t this something you just got?”

  Charles quickly grabbed a mirror from the drawer and, upon inspection, discovered the strange new addition on his body.

  It was black, shaped like a curled-up dead spider, but the “spider’s” legs bore spiral patterns and were somewhat twisted. It looked less like a tattoo and more like some sort of corrosive mark, feeling akin to pockmarked fine gauze.

  “Are you sure you didn’t get this done?” The doctor pulled out a small dagger and scraped at it. The black mark appeared to be part of his skin, with no color flaking off.

  “Why would I get this? Could it be some kind of skin disease?”

  “Doesn’t seem like it. Is it itchy or painful?”

  “Not really, just my head hurts a bit.”

  “The… Great One… has already noticed you…”

  Both Charles and the doctor turned toward the door, where a damp figure wrapped in bandages stood, staring directly into the cabin.

  “Do you recognize this thing? Why are you wet?” Charles, regaining some strength, sat up.

  The bandaged figure nodded silently and slowly walked in. “This is… the mark of the Great One. I just… noticed Him looking this way… I thought He was coming to take me, but He is not… He is drawn to you…”

  “Furtan? Why do I have His mark? Has someone cursed me?” Charles’s face paled as he looked at the bizarre thing in the mirror.

  “No… this is… a blessing… Captain… Do you also believe in the Great One?”

  “Impossible.” Charles never imagined he would have any connection to such a disgusting cult.

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  “Then why… do you have… this blessing? In my teachings… this ritual is a great… honor… only those who are anointed have the opportunity… to receive such a blessing.”

  “What is the use of this?” Charles touched the scar on his neck. If this was a blessing, it should come with some benefits, right?

  “Your soul… now belongs to Furtan…”

  “What does that mean? Can you be more specific?” In response to Charles’s questioning, the bandaged figure remained silent, standing still.

  Charles suddenly had a thought and reached out to pull away the bandage around the figure's neck, discovering that he bore none of these marks.

  “This blessing… is precious. I do not have it… but I have seen the ritual. The high priest… must not only sacrifice a large part of their own body but also offer many… offerings to please our God…”

  “Do you know anyone from this cult? Why would someone give you this mark?” The doctor raised his head to take a sip of water.

  Charles shook his head. “That can’t be. I have no connections with them. The only interaction I had was a long time ago on a very strange island, when I found something for them…”

  At this point, Charles's pupils constricted. He suddenly recalled the temple murals depicting the monstrous, tentacled creatures worshipping Furtan. A thought flashed in his mind: “Do mindless monsters have faith too?”

  “What’s wrong? Did you think of something?” the doctor asked.

  “It’s nothing; you can leave now.”

  Charles’s abrupt shift surprised both of them, but they said nothing and turned to leave.

  The flickering light of the oil lamp cast shadows across Charles’s face as the ship swayed gently.

  “Mr. Charles, what’s wrong?” Lily jumped onto his lap, looking up at him.

  Charles remained silent, stroking Lily’s fur, his gaze lost in the portrait of Anna from his journal.

  “Mr. Charles, are you thinking about that monster lady?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then why don’t you go find her? Be with her?”

  “Because I can’t.”

  “Why can’t you? That lady likes you too. Why can’t two people who like each other be together? Is it because she’s a monster? Do you only want to be with humans?”

  “Yes, why can’t it be so?” Charles gently set Lily aside and lifted the bedspread, heading toward the deck.

  The cool sea breeze refreshed Charles, clearing his mind.

  “Is it you? Are you still concerned about me?” he quietly asked the darkness ahead.

  Of course, the environment offered no reply, only the sound of waves breaking against the bow of the ship echoed back to him.

  Touching the tattoo on his neck, many images flashed through his mind, and gradually, Charles’s expression grew resolute.

  “Why not? Maybe it’s possible. Wait for me; I’ll come back for you once I find a way out!”

  As soon as he voiced this decision, Charles felt a weight lift off his shoulders, the troubles that had haunted him for so long dissipating.

  Lily was right; since they both cared for each other, there was no need to be entangled in doubts. His journey at sea was nearing its end, and he didn’t want to leave with regrets.

  As for Anna’s physical issues, Charles decided to think of a solution once he got out. Even if he couldn’t find a remedy, changing her diet wouldn’t be a big problem.

  Imagining a bright future, Charles’s mood gradually improved, a slight smile forming on his lips, even feeling like humming a tune.

  Suddenly, a strange sound from beneath the bow made Charles quickly draw his revolver.

  “Mr. Charles, it’s me, the captain of the Razor Wave behind you!”

  A damp figure climbed up the side of the ship, a dark object clutched in his mouth. Upon closer inspection, Charles realized it was a sea turtle.

  This newcomer, just emerging from the water, sported a head of dark green hair resembling seaweed, paired with sunken features that were far from attractive.

  “Hello, hello! I’m Feilbaha. I introduced myself before; I’m glad to join this voyage. So, you are our captain? You look quite young!”

  Before Charles could respond, Feilbaha pulled out a dagger and began to clean barnacles off the turtle’s shell.