Sails of Seven Oceans
The story follows a boy filled with courage, bravery, and the potential to obtain the rarest ruby in the world, as described in the ancient book Vascalana. Having lost his parents at a young age, he was adopted by an old pirate named Urkone. Seeing the fire of leadership and an ocean of knowledge within him, Urkone named the boy Erudite.
After Urkone’s death, Erudite lost all his crewmates and hope for his future. He decided to leave Arkane (a place near the Pacific Ocean where he lived) and move to New York in search of work. While packing, he discovered an old book in Urkone’s room. On the first page, he found a message addressed to him:
To Eru, my son. This book was meant for you. I know I will have died when you read this, but do not mourn. Sometimes, you must face hardships and stand strong. This book contains all I know about the world's rarest ruby—one of orange and red hues. I spent my life searching for it, but in my final step, a giant wave caused a rockslide, crushing my hand and leg. I barely escaped alive but without the ruby. I have written all my research, directions, and warnings in this book. To embark on this journey, you’ll need supplies and money. Open the trunk under the bed—you’ll find my compass, knife, and 10,000 gold coins. Enjoy the sails of the ocean, my child.
Amazed and shocked, Erudite opened the trunk and found the gold, knife, and compass. Determined to fulfill his father’s dream, he set out to find a new crew. He entered a bar, where he met a tall, muscular man with a long beard and powerful aura, Charles, who was seven years older than him.
"I’ll join you, but I want 100 gold coins," Charles said in a deep voice.
Erudite agreed and assigned him to find a dozen more crew members. Meanwhile, Erudite gathered supplies as instructed in Urkone’s book—food and fuel for seven months, along with guns and cannonballs. He also repaired Urkone’s old oak-wood ship, which had three cannons, a large mortar, and a small storage room.
With all preparations complete, the crew set sail, following the westward direction. Their first stop was Mayani Island, where a mysterious lighthouse stood. As they stepped onto the island, they heard eerie noises coming from within.
When Erudite bent down to pick up the book, which had slipped from his hands, he saw a page titled The Lighthouse. It described how the tower was guarded by never-ending goblins and that inside, a stone would reveal the path to the ruby.
The crew devised a plan. A small man named Sam lured the goblins away while Erudite and the others entered the tower. Inside, the air was foul, filled with the stench of decay. As they climbed the stairs, they encountered the largest goblin of them all.
Terrified, some crew members fled, but Erudite knew failure was not an option. Spotting a rusted anchor, he grabbed it and swung it at the goblin. Charles slashed its leg, but the creature barely faltered. Erudite saw a glowing blue mark near its neck—the weak spot. Climbing the wooden beams, he leaped and drove the anchor into the mark. The goblin collapsed with a roar, shaking the entire lighthouse.
At the top, Erudite found a pedestal with a glowing stone. As he touched it, words appeared in his book:
You have found the first key. The journey ahead will be perilous. Beware of the shadows beneath the sea.
They rushed back to the ship and set sail. Days later, the sea turned eerily dark. Suddenly, tentacles shot up, gripping the ship—a Leviathan had emerged. Its molten-lava eyes burned with fury. The crew fired cannons, but the beast was unfazed.
Erudite flipped through Urkone’s book and found the answer: Strike the heart hidden in its third eye. Climbing the mast, he leaped and drove his knife into the glowing third eye. The Leviathan roared before sinking into the abyss, releasing the ship.
The book then revealed the ruby’s location—The Lost Island of Vascalana.
After battling storms and rival pirates, they reached Vascalana. Deep within a labyrinthine cave, behind layers of ancient traps, Erudite finally saw the legendary ruby, glowing orange and red.
As he reached for it, a shadowy figure emerged—it was Captain Dreadthorn, a notorious pirate believed to be long dead.
"So, you think you can claim what I spent a lifetime searching for?" Dreadthorn sneered.
Erudite and his crew fought fiercely. Charles engaged Dreadthorn in combat while Erudite dodged deadly traps. In the final moment, Erudite used Urkone’s knife to slash the ropes holding a massive boulder above Dreadthorn. The rock crashed down, burying the villain forever.
Erudite grasped the ruby, feeling its warmth pulse in his hand. The cave trembled, but they escaped just in time.
Back on the ship, Erudite held the ruby high. "For Urkone! For the Sails of Seven Oceans!"
The crew cheered, their ship sailing into the horizon. Erudite had completed his father’s dream, but his own journey was just beginning.
The legend of Erudite and the Sails of Seven Oceans had only begun.
