Chapter 351: chapter 350: Wanderer. (2)

The first thing that greeted Wanderer when Yi Sao pushed him out of the room was a gust of warm air and blinding light. The sun was terribly bright, there probably wasn't a single cloud in the sky to cover its brilliance, giving the world nowhere to hide from its rays. The light was technically warmer than the air, he could feel it on his skin, but the air was still the more bothersome of the two.

It was coarse, if air could even be described like that. Each breath felt like it brought with it gravel and dust, a grating and uncomfortable sensation filling his throat. The more he breathed, the more his throat filled. It was as if the wind wanted to suffocate him, filling his lungs with debris as it forced him to take in each breath faster and faster. He suddenly felt Yi Sao's hand land on his shoulder, patting it heavily to focus his attention.

"Don't panic, Kiddo. Calm and slow breaths, that's how you get through it. If you panic and hyperventilate then you'll end up drawing in too much residue all at once and then you'll really suffocate. Calmly, slowly, give each breath time to pass through you, you'll find that it ain't as bad as it seems."

Her voice was the only thing he could rely on right now so he could only force himself to calm down, which he managed so easily that it surprised him. One breath. Two breaths. Slowly, calmly. Debris still entered his throat, but now that he gave it time to pass it slid down his through, dissipating as it reached his stomach. Slowly and steadily he breathed, slowly and steadily he acclimated.

"Yes, that's the way. Panic and irrationality in a strange situation will just kill ya. Breathe deep and breathe slowly, that'll get ya through most situations."

Yi Sao patted his shoulders once more, Wanderer slowly blinking a few times as his eyes got used to the bright sun above. Slowly but surely he became aware of his surroundings, of the vessel he was standing on.

Galleon. That was the word that rang in his head as he looked at the thing, the ship, he found himself on. Four large masts hoisting white sails covered in markings that released a dim glow, wooden railings preventing you from falling overboard, an elevated deck behind him and a slight upwards curve ahead of him.

People were milling about on the deck, most of them were just chatting as they relaxed but some seemed to be acting as lookouts, each one focusing on a different direction. But strangely enough, despite this being a ship, Wanderer could still feel the thumping that had awoken him from the darkness. There was something beneath the ship, connected to it.

But it was hidden by the land around them, by the Wandering Desert. And what an apt name it was. Sand as far as the eyes could see, stretching all the way to the horizon and beyond. Dune upon dune of pale golden grains, each one shifting like waves, tossing and turning like the turbulent ocean. It was a desert, but it acted like the sea, it felt alive in the wind.

"Majestic, isn't she? She stretches out further than you can imagine Kiddo. Even if ya wandered all the way over to that horizon, you'd just find that she stretches all the way to the next horizon, and then she goes even further beyond."

Yi Sao's voice reached Wanderer as he gazed upon the land around them, the roiling desert that they sailed. Her eyes gleamed reverently, warmly, like a child looking up to their mother. But Wanderer couldn't share her emotions. Was it really that special? Transcending the horizon and continuing onwards, was something so small really worthy of such reverence?

But as the thought struck him, he couldn't help but wonder. Small? Why had he thought it was small? It was infinitely larger than him, he could probably spend years walking and still not reach the end. And yet he thought it was small. Why?

"Come on, Kiddo. We can continue admiring her beauty later, let's head to the Cap first."

Yi Sao tugged on his shoulder as he questioned himself, pulling him out of his thoughts and guiding him across the deck. The people they passed greeted them, Yi Sao introducing Wanderer to them and giving a very short description of his circumstances. He received quite a few looks of pity, and more than a handful of insurances that he could come to them if he ever needed help. Or as they said, part of the crew, part of the family.

They crossed the deck and ascended the front of the ship, the bow from which you could see the entire stretch of land ahead of them. The area at the very edge of the bow was abandoned, save for the one person standing there, hands behind their back as they quietly gazed upon the endless sand of sea ahead of them.

"So our little caged bird has awoken?"

The voice that came from the person was soft and calming, it was a perfect match for the slim and delicate frame that was slightly visible thanks to the tight-fitting red and brown clothing they were wearing. But as the person turned their head, a few strands of their black hair trailing over their green eyes, Wanderer saw that this person actually had a rather pronounced adam's apple. They looked delicate and graceful, effeminate even, but they were undoubtedly a man.

"Aye, just pulled him up actually. But yeah, he's fried on the inside, can't remember a thing, be it about himself or how he got where he was. I've dubbed him Wanderer for now, and he's already expressed his willingness to work on the ship, at least until he manages to unscramble the mess in his head and remember a damn thing."

Yi Sao pat Wanderer on the back to push him two steps forward, a quiet indication that it was his time to step up. But the voice of the man in front of him sounded out the moment he tried to bow.

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"There's no need for that level of formality. You're part of the family as long as you're part of the crew. Just look me in the eyes and introduce yourself, anything more is overdramatic."

Wanderer gave up on the bow and raised his head slightly, matching the gaze of the captain. Green eyes, like a verdant field stretching out in front of you, a twinge of tiredness lurking within each blade of grass. He looked soft and calming, perhaps that was why he was the captain.

"I don't know who I am or where I'm from, but I've been given the name of Wanderer. I have nowhere else to go, so please allow me to work on this ship until I regain my memories."

Once again, polite yet casual. He had lost everything so he really didn't have anywhere else to go, he could only wait until the day his memories returned, or until he found something that triggered them to return. The captain's smile softened slightly as he nodded his head, stretching out his arm.

"Yes, that's much better. I'm Ching Shih, Captain of the Sand Sovereign. Wanderer, you can stay here as long as you want, until you've regained your memories and beyond should you choose to. Welcome aboard, I hope you can break free from your little cage and soar freely."

Wanderer stretched out his arm and accepted the hand that was offered to him, the two sharing a short handshake before they separated. But Wanderer didn't retract his gaze from Ching Shih afterwards, his head tilting slightly. It was his wording, specifically what he had said at the very start and what he said at the end. Ching Shih seemed to understand what his eyes were trying to say, chuckling lightly as he gestured towards the sand ahead of them.

"Curious why I'm calling you a caged bird? Because that's what I thought you were when I first saw you. Fine clothes, a delicate and untouched appearance, you were the perfect picture of a young master. And young masters are always caged birds, chained down by the expectations of others. They can see the greater world, but their chains prevent them from ever leaving that little area around them, that cage they call home. But now you've lost everything, your chains included, so the wider world is waiting right at your fingertips, you just need a single step and you'll soar."

Wanderer followed Ching Shih's hands, once again gazing out towards the seemingly endless land of sand. This was what he called the wider world? A tiny patch of land covered in sand, a stretch of land that barely reached across a few horizons? What a small world, what a small freedom. But once again, he had no idea why he would think like that, this world was already so much larger than anything he could see right now.

"You can head down to Chao Zen, he's our boatswain and will help you find a few jobs to take care. He's that old man leaning against the railing while puffing his pipe."

Ching Shih obviously couldn't see the thoughts that cropped up in Wanderer's head as he gazed upon the sea of sand, turning his attention away from the surroundings as he pointed towards the deck. Wanderer followed his finger and quickly spotted the man, Ching Shih was talking about, nodding his head before stepping away.

"As you say, Captain."

Yi Sao and Ching Shih's gazes followed Wanderer as he walked towards Chao Zen. His steps were steady so he didn't seem bothered by the slight tossing of the ship.

"He's sturdier than he looks, Cap. I gave his hand a good squeeze earlier but he didn't even flinch. He also survived being dumped in the desert so he clearly isn't as delicate as we first thought. Whatdya think, should we keep an eye out to see if he has a troublesome identity or backing?"

Yi Sao informed Ching Shih of what she had found out earlier, anyone who could take one of her handshakes without flinching was sturdier than your average joe. And if he was that sturdy at a young age then he may really be a young master, one that may even come from a troublesome family. But Ching Shih merely smiled slightly.

"So he's sturdy? How good, Levi said that we'll cross by a wreck in a few days, we could use another pair of sturdy hands to help carry everything aboard in good time."

He turned around again after he spoke, leaning against the bow as he savoured the warm and coarse breeze, taking in the vast world ahead of them.

"And what does it matter if he has a troublesome backing? We are the Sand Sovereign, and he is now family, our Wanderer. As such, it's our duty to take care of any troublesome things that may cause him distress."

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