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Without a trace, it was simply gone. Disappeared from not only his sight but also his and Garovel’s extra senses, as well. They had no idea what happened to it.

That was, until three entire days later, upon a return visit to Boland.

Somehow, it had ended up on land--specifically, on a massive plateau that was miles from where he’d last seen it. In fact, the only reason Hector even found it again was because the coastline itself had been shifted by the waves, forcing him to head further inland in his search for anyone in trouble.

Thankfully, he hadn’t found anyone in need of it at the time, but when he investigated the ship a bit, he and Garovel discovered that there was no one aboard. Not even any wandering souls from the recently deceased.

They hadn’t spent much longer on the mystery, since the crisis had still been ongoing, but the whole affair had certainly left a lasting impression on him. And now, as he neared that very same plateau again, he indeed discovered that the ship was still there.

But it was a bit different, he thought. It had shifted. Sunken deeper into the ground. And was part of it missing?

Yes. From the air, he could get a good view. Its furthest tip was sheared off. In an abnormal way, too. It didn’t look like it had broken naturally at all. It looked, instead, like someone had taken a giant blade and sliced through its metal body like warm butter.

What in the world?

‘I sense someone here this time,’ said Garovel privately.

Oh boy. Hector hesitated in the air, mulling his options over. He couldn’t help his curiosity, but he also didn’t want to make this decision without Garovel’s approval. He’d been doing that a little too frequently as of late, he felt.

‘Should we get a closer look?’ said Hector.

‘Huh? Are you kidding me? Of course we should! I’m dyin’ to know who did this shit!’

Abruptly, Hector wondered why he’d even bothered asking.

He touched down next to the ship, and with a bit more direction from Garovel, he soon saw the figure next to the hull. Right by the sheared off section.

And they were already staring right back at him.

It was hard to tell, given they were standing in the long shadow cast by the ship, but he was fairly certain that it was a man.

But it was decidedly not hard to tell that those eyes were indeed looking at him. They were unlike any Hector had seen. Or at least, not since he visited the Undercrust.

These eyes were glowing in the dark.