Below deck, the quarters were quiet, and the low hum of the ship's creaking seemed to blend with the gentle swaying of the sea. Ramla, Adea, and Nea sat together, a few scattered pieces of fruit in front of them, enjoying a moment of calm during the long journey.
As they conversed softly, the door creaked open, and Ramla looked up. Her eyes immediately landed on the man standing in the doorway. At first, she hesitated, trying to place him, but then the memory clicked—he was the one she'd met in the market.
"Wait..." Ramla stood up, her eyes wide with recognition. "It's you! You helped me with my fruit basket."
Jason froze for a moment, surprised at the immediate recognition. He had known the encounter would likely be brief, but the last thing he expected was to run into her again like this.
"That's right," he said, offering a small, rueful smile. "I didn't think I'd see you again."
Ramla's expression softened as she recalled the memory. "I remember now. You... you helped me pick up my fruit, and then you left a pouch with fifty gold coins in my basket." She paused, a slightly confused expression crossing her face. "I never understood why you did that... but now that you're here…"
Jason nodded, his expression growing more serious. "I wasn't expecting anything in return. I gave it as an act of charity. I just saw you struggling with that basket and thought it might help."
Ramla's brows furrowed slightly, but she smiled at him, her voice quieter. "It was unexpected... but kind. I didn't get a chance to thank you properly. I didn't even know why you did it."
Jason shook his head. "You don't need to thank me. I didn't do it for any kind of recognition."
Ramla's eyes softened, but then her curiosity seemed to take over. "But after you left me with the basket... I saw you heading toward the red light district. I wasn't sure if—"
Jason quickly interjected, a slight edge of urgency in his voice. "No, no, I wasn't there for what you might think." He paused, lowering his tone. "I was trying to find information. About a ship—*The Dalyla*. I needed to know where it was heading, and I thought... well, I thought someone there might have answers."
Ramla blinked, surprised by his honesty. Her expression softened as she realized the misunderstanding. "Oh... I see now. So you were looking for information, not..." she trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence.
Jason gave a small smile, grateful for her understanding. "Exactly. I wasn't there for what most people would expect. Just looking for answers."
Ramla's gaze lingered on him, the warmth in her eyes returning. "I'm glad you told me. I thought..." She trailed off, feeling embarrassed for assuming the worst. "I thought it was something else, but I can see you're not like that."
Jason nodded, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. "Thank you for understanding. I never meant to cause any confusion. And I wasn't expecting to run into you again, let alone explain myself."
Adea, who had been quiet up until now, tilted her head, observing the exchange. "It seems like fate brought us all together on this ship, doesn't it?" she said softly, her tone distant but not unkind.
Nea, who had been eyeing Jason warily, finally spoke, her voice tinged with caution. "I believe you," she said, her gaze never leaving him. "But if you're really not here to cause trouble... then you're welcome to stay and talk. I don't mind."
Jason smiled gratefully, his eyes meeting Nea's for a moment before glancing back at Ramla. "I'd appreciate that. I don't want to intrude... but I think we could all use a bit of conversation."
Ramla smiled back warmly, her kindness evident. "You're not intruding. We've all been talking about what's ahead of us, and... maybe having you join us would make the conversation a little more interesting."
With the tension between them easing, Jason finally felt as though the weight of his situation had shifted. It wasn't just about finding a ship anymore. It was about meeting people who understood the uncertainty of this journey, and maybe—just maybe—he wasn't as alone as he thought.
The sound of the waves outside was a reminder of the vast unknown, but for the first time in a while , Jason felt as though the road ahead might be a little less lonely.
The quiet hum of the ship filled the room as Jason sat with the sisters. It wasn't long before the awkwardness of the situation started to melt away, at least a little. They had spoken of lighter topics—mostly about the journey ahead, the ship, and the mysterious Leviathan—but Jason couldn't shake the curiosity about the three sisters that had been on his mind ever since he first laid eyes on them.
They didn't look alike, despite the shared hair and eye color. Ramla's beauty was striking, Adea's grace otherworldly, and Nea's quiet charm a force all her own. Yet the common thread between them was undeniable. After a few moments of casual conversation, Jason felt the air grow a little more relaxed. He could sense they were warming up to him.
Once the tension was lower, he finally asked, in the most casual tone he could manage, "I have to ask... you all look so different from one another, but you share the same hair and eyes. It's not something you see every day. I'm curious—how is that possible?"
Ramla's smile faltered for a brief moment, and she exchanged quick glances with Adea and Nea. Jason's innocent question hung in the air, and he could feel a shift in the mood.
Adea was the first to respond, though her voice held a slight edge to it. "What are you implying?" Her gaze was sharp, though it softened slightly when she realized Jason wasn't trying to provoke them.
Jason shifted uncomfortably in his seat, realizing he had perhaps asked too soon, but he continued, "I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that... well, you're sisters, but you don't look alike. I guess I was just wondering why you share the same features and yet look so different. I don't want to make things weird."
Ramla exhaled softly, her gaze dropping as if she had expected this question to come sooner or later. She turned toward her sisters, silently signaling them to let her handle it.
"It's fine, Jason," Ramla said after a beat, her tone soft but laced with a quiet sadness. "We share the same mother. But we all have different fathers. Our mother... she was a prostitute. We were born at different times, by different men. That's why we don't look alike."
Jason immediately realized the sensitivity of the matter, and his face softened with sympathy. He had no intention of bringing up painful memories, but now that he understood, he didn't want to make them uncomfortable any further.
"I didn't know," Jason said, his voice quieter now. "I wasn't trying to intrude. I'm sorry if I made things awkward."
Ramla gave him a small, understanding smile. "It's alright. You didn't know. We just... don't talk about it much. People tend to make judgments, and it's easier not to explain."
Nea, who had been unusually quiet, crossed her arms and leaned back against the wall, her expression defensive. "It's not just the questions... it's how people look at us. They think they know our story just by looking at us, but they don't. And that's the part that stings."
Jason nodded, taking in her words. "I get it. I wasn't trying to pry. I just... was curious."
Adea, still somewhat distant but less guarded than before, spoke up. "People ask, but they never listen. We don't need pity or questions. We've learned to keep things to ourselves."
Ramla looked up, meeting Jason's gaze again, this time with a softer expression. "It's alright. We know you're not trying to be cruel. But it's just... part of who we are. We've made peace with it."
Jason didn't press further. He understood. It was a complicated and painful history, and though he hadn't intended to open those wounds, he could see now that they had learned to protect themselves from the world's judgment.
"I'm sorry for asking, then," Jason said sincerely. "I didn't want to make things harder for you."
Ramla smiled again, this time more genuinely. "Thank you, Jason. It's not something we talk about often, but... we appreciate you understanding."
The conversation lingered for a moment before shifting to other, lighter subjects. Jason could tell the sisters appreciated his sincerity, and though they hadn't shared every detail of their past, there was a quiet understanding between them now. Jason respected that they didn't need to share everything to find common ground.