Ethan jolted awake, feeling the warmth on his wrist. A middle-aged man with brown hair turning white, clear blue eyes, and a focused expression was checking his pulse. His brow was furrowed as he concentrated on his task. This must be one of the doctors Queen Nyla had mentioned.
Standing just a few steps behind the man was a girl, about 13 or 14 years old, who made Ethan feel uneasy in a strange way. The girl had bright yellow hair and clear blue eyes, just like the man's. She couldn't be a doctor; she was probably just an apprentice.
After completing the basic checks, the man spoke in a fatherly tone, "My name is Koa. What's yours, young man?"
Ethan glanced at the girl and then cautiously replied, "I'm Ethan." He then looked back at the girl. "Who is she?"
Koa smiled and said, "She's my daughter, Rowena. She'll come to check on you once we reach the kingdom."
Ethan nodded, acknowledging the information.
After Koa and Rowena left the room, Ethan sat there, thinking about what to do next and whether anyone had been talking about him.
He had lied, and now he had to continue the lie. What else could he do? What would happen if he confessed that he'd been thrown off a pirate ship? Who knew?
So far, everyone he'd met aboard the Ravenna ship had been kind, polite, and good-natured. They possessed qualities of humanity Ethan wasn't used to. As a result, Ethan was more on edge than usual.
Each time Rowena came for her checkups, she smiled brightly at him, asking how he was doing and if he needed anything. Ethan felt a strong urge to trust the girl, but he resisted and continued to be cautious, just as he had been before he was thrown off the pirate ship.
Ethan's journey into the unknown lasted about three days. Rowena came four times a day, asking the same questions. A few times, she tried to engage in conversation, but she wasn't successful. Ethan had learned not to trust anyone throughout his life.
When they reached Ravenna's large harbor, Ethan packed his old pirate clothes into a backpack, along with the dagger, and the eye patch that One-Eyed Willy had given him. These items were treasures to him.
As they disembarked, Ethan watched the silver and blue-uniformed guards who greeted the King and Queen with admiration. If he had come from a noble family, he thought, he would likely be a knight by now.
At that moment, Ethan remembered that he didn't even know who his family was. The only thing he knew was what Blackbeard had told him. In fact, Blackbeard hadn't told him much.
All he knew was that Blackbeard had found him when he was about one year old, drifting in a small boat while the ship sailed through the sea.
Lost in these thoughts, a frown formed on Ethan's face, but he quickly composed himself. To him, everyone in Ravenna, including the King and Queen, was far too inquisitive.
"I'm sure in a day or two, they'll stop caring about me and throw me back into the sea," he thought.
Five days passed. During this time, Ethan was given a room at the palace, and all they asked of him was to get settled. On the sixth morning, he was summoned to the King and Queen's presence.
As he stepped through the massive doors of the throne room, he was awestruck by the grand and majestic space. He had never seen a throne room before and had no idea how to behave.
He tried to put a smile on his face, but the forced expression revealed his nervousness. He quickly stopped smiling and adopted a serious look instead.
He walked toward the two thrones at the opposite end of the room, making sure to observe the distance between them. He bowed his head and waited for King Marlon and Queen Nyla to speak.
The King spoke gently, "Lift your head, Ethan. You haven't done anything wrong."
At the King's command, Ethan lifted his head.
Queen Nyla asked, "How old are you?"
"I'm 15, Your Majesty," Ethan replied.
Ethan didn't understand why she was asking this question. He still thought he would be thrown back into the sea. He thought it didn't make sense to ask his age. Were they wondering if he could handle being thrown back into the sea, since he appeared younger than other kids his age?
King Marlon spoke thoughtfully, "You're shorter and skinnier than your peers. It's clear you haven't been well-fed. Didn't your parents take good care of you?"
Ethan's eyes welled up, and his voice trembled slightly as he answered, "I never knew them. The only thing I know is that when I was about one, the crew of the Black Wave ship found me."
King Marlon nodded, "Then it seems we made the right choice, didn't we, Nyla?"
The Queen nodded in agreement. "Ethan, you will stay here at the palace from now on. What can you do?"
Ethan thought for a moment. Having spent most of his life at sea, he didn't have many skills. The only things he knew were how to defend himself and how to tend to small injuries.
"I don't have a special talent. I can only tend to small wounds," Ethan said.
King Marlon asked, "Would you like to learn healing? Koa would be a good teacher for you."
After thinking for a moment, Ethan agreed. He wanted to stay at the palace.
Queen Nyla instructed a knight named Raden to take Ethan to the healer's quarters. On the way, they talked briefly. Raden was only a year older than Ethan. He came from a noble family, tall like the other knights, and in good shape. Ethan secretly began to despise and envy Raden. "Why is this palace so huge?" he thought irritably. He just wanted to get to the healer's quarters and be rid of Raden.
When they arrived at the healer's quarters, Raden went back to his duties. Ethan entered the room and explained the situation to Koa, who was preparing medicine.
Koa smiled warmly and nodded, "So, you'll be staying here now, huh? That's great news. We'll be happy to have you here."
Koa showed Ethan a small workspace. "This will be your corner. You'll work here and start learning. Healing requires patience and focus. But someone like you will get the hang of it."
As Ethan looked around at his new workspace, he felt a spark of hope inside. This was the first time he truly felt like he belonged somewhere. When Koa gave him his first task—preparing a simple herbal mix—Ethan was thrilled. Even such a small task made him feel important.
When Rowena came to see him later, there was a sparkle of curiosity in her eyes. "How are you today, Ethan?" she asked, as kind and sincere as ever.
Though Ethan wanted to trust Rowena's sincerity, he was still cautious. "I'm fine," he answered briefly.
As the days passed, Ethan quickly picked up the skills Koa was teaching him. He was learning how to use herbs and treat wounds. Koa was a patient teacher and answered all of Ethan's questions in detail. Rowena also occasionally helped him, explaining the properties of various plants.
One day, Rowena showed Ethan a small bottle. "This is a special healing elixir," she said. "My father and I made it together. It's very powerful and should only be used for serious injuries."
Ethan looked at the bottle in awe. "Really? When would I need to use it?"
Rowena smiled. "I hope you never have to. But if you do, this elixir could save your life."
During his time at the palace, Ethan spent more time with Rowena and Koa. His friendship with Rowena grew stronger, and he slowly began to overcome his distrust. However, he still struggled with the fears and anxieties that his past had left him with.
One night, before going to bed, Ethan fell into deep thought. "Can I really stay here? Can I truly trust these people?" he wondered.
The stories Blackbeard had told him and the pirate life kept running through his mind. But his time in Ravenna had given him a new perspective.
Thanks to the trust shown by King Marlon and Queen Nyla, Rowena's friendship, and Koa's guidance, Ethan began to look toward the future with hope for the first time. Still, he knew he would have to confront the pirate spirit inside him and the shadows of his past.
Ethan gathered his resolve and decided to adapt to his new life. This decision would shape his future and could lead him to become the strong and capable healer he had always hoped to be.