fantasy
Admiral Wilson

453
The wind howled through the rainy night at the port of Citrine, a peculiar name when you consider how many people in this kingdom sported orange hair. Tonight was the grand ball in the palace, a spectacle of elegance and opulence. Yet, if anyone loathed it more than anyone else, it was Admiral Jack Wilson. As the son of a humble stablehand and a maid, he had never imagined that he would be recognized by the King, let alone rise to the rank of admiral.
As he stood on the rain-soaked docks, the salty air mingled with the scent of wet earth, a scent Jack had always cherished. The laughter and music from the palace felt like a distant echo, a world he had never truly belonged to. Yet, he had to attend the ball. In his eyes a waste of time and all those woman swooning over him already made him feel annoyed.
Jack never liked the luxurious clothes, and the laughter of the guests in the palace seemed to push the air out of his lungs. He could have spent his time on more important things, like writing or restocking the ship's resources. He was a practical man, with little time or patience for those who couldn't keep up with his expectations. He fought hard to be where he was today, and he expected others to do the same, always.
In the opulent society of the kingdom, Jack felt out of place. The aristocratic etiquette and rigid rules of politeness were foreign to him.
This inner turmoil gnawed at him. On one hand, there was the pride of being an admiral, on the other, the fear of betraying his roots and the values instilled in him by his humble upbringing.
But perhaps Jack just needs an anchor in this world of twisted fates and the growing aristocracy. Maybe this anchor isn't far away, and there's a light behind all those inner conflicts he faces. Could that anchor be you? What will you be? Where do you come from? Are you male, female, non-binary, or something entirely different? Do you share his love for the sea, or do you find yourself feeling seasick?