Chapter 5: Spirit of man

As Solan opened his eyes he was surrounded by the crew and his head resting on Sarah's lap. Coughing up water as Sarah had just saved him from drowning along with the Leviathan they had fought.

"...Hm? "Sarah?" he asked confused and his eyes groggy. 

"Dont you ever do something reckless like that Solan!" she shouted, tears coming from her eyes. 

Solan was a bit confused. She was crying? They had just met one week ago. 

It seemed Katama was right regarding Sarah having a soft spot for kids. 

"...I'm sorry…". Solan huffed and exhausted. 

Shortly after the galleons had the passenger ship connected in-between the unit. 

Talking with the commander the guarding brigs that were supposed to be with them had separated with them inside a mist a few days ago leaving the passenger ship unprotected. As for casualties there were about 5 dead people amongst the marines. 

They held a fast funeral onboard Solan witnessing their sorrowful expressions.

After a while when everything was settled down Admiral Sarah knocked on Solan's door.

"It's me….". Sarah opened the door. 

"...How are you doing?" She asked curiously with a smile. 

"...I'm doing fine…".

She stretched her arms a bit before yawning

"...Ah, work's finally done for today….". she said happily. 

Solan looked at her with a knowing look. 

She saw his expression and didn't hide it, she sat on a chair across from his bed.

"I need to talk with you regarding what you did today".

"...What did I do?"

"That power…." Her expression was dead serious and her eyes were cold. 

Seeing the soft woman like this, Solan froze just a bit due to surprise.

"...Just right before you killed the Leviathan, I could hear echoes in my head… and that power you emitted, it felt familiar… yet uncanny…". 

She then asked the question.

"...Solan… You have a vessel of elder blood inside of you… don't you?" her expression was deadly.

Solan didn't know what to say before he told her.

"...Sarah, can I show you something?" 

Next moment the two of them were walking towards the lower decks.

"You want permission to see the dead bodies….?" She asked curious.

Solan didn't say anything and just continued following her. Arriving at the lowest deck Sarah opened a door with some keys and the stench of dead could be smelt.

"Those shadows…. said I held the power of resurgence…".

"Those shadows? "Resurgence?" she asked. She didn't seem to know the words and was specifically interested in the "Shadows" 

Solan approached one of the bodies before his hand reached above the dead man. 

"I think… It was like this": 

He took a few deep breaths and focused his mind. Weird visions and words that he had never seen nor heard, his head starting to give a headache again. 

"...Heed my call…". Suddenly a calming energy was running through Solan's body, leaving into the dead corpse that he stood behind. A phantom of its former body now just a skeleton still with its marine attire on. 

Solan was terrified as he fell down and tripped. It was the first time he had witnessed his own powers. Sarah stood there, terrified and entirely shocked. 

"....You can… Resurrect the dead?" her eyes were baffled and her jaw was open. 

":..I-Is this.. my power?" Solan asked himself. 

The skeleton approached him slowly. Solan backed up a bit until his back hit the wall. 

Just as it reached for him Solan closed his eyes thinking it would attack him.

But opening his eyes again after a short silence the skeleton reached his hand to him.

"...That's right… I'm the one… who ressurected it…". Solan took his hand, being lifted up again. Solan looked at his creation "....This is what I'm able to do Sarah….". 

She looked at him before suddenly smiling in a twisted manner.

"...Is this your power? I have never heard or read about someone being able to resurrect dead… what a power it is… No… It's a curse…". 

She approached him before she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"...Solan… From now on, you will be my disciple… You will train under me… and with my help and your help, we'll fulfill your dream right? to annihilate the leviathans". The moonlight shone through the window of the deck. 

***

(next morning)

"Alright! all men on deck! we are entering the Soldat's port!" 

Solan stood by deck, watching as the gates opened before them letting them enter. 

Soldat was a huge sized island inhabited by tropical trees, being used both as a base for the marines and home for thousands of civilians. The Island had a long gulf stretching from within, many ships docked by the different ports. Far in the distance behind the city was the marine's base, a huge wide towering castle. 

"Beautiful right?" Sarah asked, approaching Solan's side.

 "...Yeah…": 

Back on land the people of Soldat saw the returning ships and started informing everyone.

"Hey! The Admiral ships are returning!" The common people surrounded the coastlines awaiting their arrival. As they docked they were met with warm welcome and the smiles of the citizens. 

"Welcome back soldiers!" one of the elderly said.

"What kinda beast did they slay now!" one of the kids said trying to get a good look. 

Sarah and Solan got on land, meeting with Katama one last time.

"Alright, I'll have to report back to HQ". Katama said, sighed and tired. 

Solan had never seen so many people in one place before, for the first time… he was anxious as he grabbed Sarah's hand. 

"...Hes just a kid after all….".

As they walked through the crowded streets Solan saw the many foods and different people. Everyone seemed different, such as skin tone, clothes, etc. 

"Soldat is known as a cultural city, since we have amongst one of the biggest ports in Endia many mercenaries come to sell and settle down here, of course they need permission first…Im actually the only admiral who currently live here, there's 5 other admiral like me who lives on other islands…"

A carriage awaited them after a short walk. "Welcome home master Sarah" a butler bowed down before her. 

"Its good to be back Alfred…". she said. 

"This is Alfred Solan, he's one of the servants taking care of my manor while I'm away…".

She then turned to Alfred. "Alfred, this is Solan… He'll be living with me from now on".

"Oh? have you finally found a disciple young miss?" 

"Hehe, Maybe I have" She chuckled a bit before entering the carriage along with Solan. 

A short while later they arrived at a beautiful manor near the outskirts of the huge town which was built by a huge plain area for only the admiral herself. Overlooking the sea, Solan stood captivated by the scene unfolding before him. 

"Come in Solan, you need to meet my other servants". 

All the maids and workers in the manor warmly welcomed Solan in, learning of his situation. 

"Hm? they found him inside a leviathan?" one of them whispered amongst.

"What a traumatizing experience…". 

"Its our job to make sure that he's comfortable here…". 

***

"This is your room Solan…". Sarah said, opening the doors. 

It was a neatly sized room, with a big bed in the corner. ordinary interior with a desk across the bed, closets and even a private bathroom. 

Solan walked to his bed and sat down inspecting his room.

 "...I'll have headed to the palace to report to the Master, don't make any problems while I'm gone". 

"...Can I ask, who is the master of the marine?" Solan asked curiously.

"...Our master? She's our boss, the one who gives us the admiral tasks… Lumine Terratorn".

"Lumine Terratorn…". Solan asked himself. 

"I'll have to inform her about you. You're currently the 6th Vessel the marines have…When I'm back I'll have important news to share with you most likely". Sarah said before taking her leave.

Solan looked out to his balcony before looking at the sea again.

"...:Dad, I think.. You would be shocked.. if you were to see me now…". he smiled softly.

To keep the story short. After my arrival here in Soldat, I became the confirmed 16th Vessel user on the continent. The ability to control the nature of the world with our own hands. These warriors held immense responsebility in taking on the most savage of tasks, such as slaying a Murder class Leviathan or travelling to the unknown reaches at the edges of Endeia. 

From what Sarah told me, I was supposed to die inside of the Mud cat that had eaten me.. but a greater force held me alive. The power of resurgence.