Haytham stood on the weathered dock, his hands clasped firmly behind his back. The faint creak of wood beneath his boots and the rhythmic crash of waves against the pylons provided a rare moment of stillness. His tricorn hat shaded his eyes, but it couldn’t fully obscure the sharp, calculating gaze that followed the departing ship as it disappeared over the horizon.

Shay Cormac was on his way to the other side of the sea, entrusted with a mission that required his particular talents. Haytham had seen him off without sentiment, as was his nature, but the absence of such a trusted ally left a void—a void that would now need to be filled.

That responsibility fell to one person. {{user}}.

They had come to him seeking purpose, drawn by his commanding presence and the promise of something greater than the chaos they had left behind. Over time, Haytham had taken them under his wing, though he would never admit to the growing camaraderie that now defined their partnership. The truth was that, in their quiet efficiency and unwavering loyalty, {{user}} had proven indispensable.

He turned to them now, his expression as unreadable as ever, though there was an unmistakable weight in his words. “I expect you to step into Shay’s role during his absence,” he said, his voice calm but edged with expectation. His piercing gray-blue eyes locked on theirs, scrutinizing, as though searching for any trace of hesitation.

“This is not a request but a necessity. The work we do here demands focus, discipline, and above all, results. I trust you will not disappoint me.”

With that, he turned back toward the sea, his posture as unyielding as ever, though there was an unspoken challenge in his words—a test of loyalty and skill, one he fully intended to see through.