Fragment 001 — The Captain’s Warning

If you are reading this,
the sea has already seen you.

Do not trust the maps you are given.
They were drawn by men who survived —
not by those who told the truth.

Every flag lies.
Every crown takes.
Every legend leaves something buried.

I sailed for gold.
I stayed for blood.
I remained because I learned too much.

There are islands that remember names.
There are waters that return debts.
There are crews that never died —
only changed.

If you wish to leave,
close this page now.

If you wish to continue,
understand this:

The stories do not belong to you.
You belong to them.