The ship had an average size for transporting cargo and people to dimensions with relatively stable climates. Nick didn’t know much about the deeper details and terminology of ships and sailing, but he recognized that the ship had a square sail in the front and a fore-and-aft style gaff rig in the back which gave the impression that it could quickly reach and maintain a reasonable top speed while allowing for comfortable turning. The sailcloth itself, like all hover-sails, made from canvas that had fibers cut from leather made from the skin of flying monsters or other substances woven into it. When a particular kind of energy for each specific type makes contact with a hover-sail, it begins to produce its own effect of lift which propels it and whatever is attached to it forward and upward.

“You know, I’ve never seen the Captain act so submissive, how in the universe did you do that?” Asked Charlie while they traversed the interior of the ship. “He turned me away before I had a chance to show him my pass. So, I showed it to him before he could say anything,” replied Nick.

“Wow, denying a special circumstance plate holder can get your public transportation license revoked, if you’re lucky enough not to be sent to prison. But you should know that the captain is a whole lot nicer than how he might come off as at first.” “What makes you say that?” “Well, if you stay on part of the crew for about three years, he’ll tell you that the reason he’s so harsh is because when he was a kid, he lived in extreme poverty with his younger brother. They both dreamed of a life of adventure, but one day his brother decided to live those dreams by sneaking onto a ship transporting a team of Masters. The Captain gave him all kinds of warnings but decided that the best thing was to not forcibly stop him because it would only make him want to do it more and he would soon realize that it was a bad idea. He never saw his brother again. I guess when you tried to sneak aboard, it opened old wounds.”

“I guess I never figured that he might have a good reason for treating me that way.” replied Nick “Yeah, that’s what people tend to do I’m afraid. So, what about you? What’s your story?”

Nick paused for a moment; I’ve never actually considered how I could describe my goals as a story. “Well, I’m going to the Master Academy to become a Master.” Answered Nick after careful consideration. “Wow, that’s a big dream. So, do you have any idea what you’re going to hunt?” asked Charlie. “Yes, I’m going to find The Seven Ultimate Treasures.” Upon hearing that, Charlie made a high-pitched yelp, stumbled, and almost fell over. “Hey, are you alright?” Asked a surprised Nick.

Charlie just stared at him with wide eyes for a moment and said in an utterly shocked tone, “You’re not serious! People have been looking for those things since Time Immemorial! Anyone that doesn’t come back empty-handed looking for them never come back at all! Please just pick something else, it ain’t worth it man!”

This truly astonished Nick. When he was alive, his father would read him all kinds of stories about people who found one of the seven ultimate treasures, ultimately abused them, and ended up meeting horrible fates consequently with each treasure lost in the process. After finishing each story, his father would ask him “What did you learn from this story?” Nick would often reply with things like, this is a scary story, nobody should look for treasure or people always get what they deserve and his father would make a joke and they’d laugh it off. Then one day, on his thirteenth birthday, Nick’s father read him another story and asked him the same question. Nick made his reply after thinking for a moment. “Well, everything these stories have in common is that when a person finds the treasure they end up keeping it all to themselves, using it for their own personal gain, losing it but thinking that they don’t need it anymore, and when someone else finds out that they lost it everyone they hurt ends up forming an army and brutally killing them. So, I think that if anyone finds one of the seven ultimate treasures, the best thing they can do is share it with everyone.” When Nick finished it, his father started making a big smile to him with tears in his eyes. “You did it, you finally did it!” “Did what?” “You told me the right answer!” “There was a right answer?” “Yes!” His father started laughing maniacally with tears streaming down his face.

“Jeez, Dad! It’s just a story!” “No, it isn’t! Nick, the seven ultimate treasures are real! The people who write these stories are trying to warn adults and children alike to never look for them!” “Why would they do that?” “Because in the past, every time somebody looked for them, they either died, caused a massive disaster, or caused a lot of people to suffer! The only thing all those times have in common is that the people who looked for or found them did so out of selfishness! The one thing nobody ever did was motivate their journey with kindness! The kind way to have the seven ultimate treasures is to share them with everyone because if everyone owns them nobody does!” “What are you saying?”

After laughing a little more, Nick’s Dad wiped his eyes, took a deep breath, exhaled, and looked Nick straight in the eye and said, “Ever since I learned about them, it’s been my dream to find them. It’s the entire reason I became a Master. Because of that, I made a lot of enemies who even today want me dead. I’ve also been to places, seen things, and fought things that would drive most people completely insane. But the thing is that no matter what happened, I never stopped having fun! It’s how I met your mother and why I had you because everything on my journey has brought me nothing but absolute joy! But ever since you were born, I’ve done nothing but worry about what will happen to you and your mother. It’s not like I’m going to live forever with this kind of lifestyle!”

Now Nick was starting to worry. “Why are you telling me this?” “Nick, the only thing I’ve ever wanted from you was happiness and freedom! And Masters are the freest people in the universe! I will never force you to do anything you don’t want to, so I have only one wish, for you to be a Master! Because when you’re a Master, you have the freedom to pursue happiness in any form! Nick, the day you turn eighteen is the best time for you to become a Master, so please go to the Master’s academy after your eighteenth birthday. If that doesn’t sound like a good birthday present, then at least consider it a present from you to me.” “Uh... Okay...” “Come here and give me a hug, son!”

Nick was a little embarrassed, but he did as his father asked. While he was holding him, Nick’s father said into his ear “No matter what happens, always remember that I will never stop loving you.” After breaking the hug, Nick’s father said “Come on! Let’s eat that cake your Mom made! Knowing her, she’s bound to beat up any of your friends if they try to sneak a taste of the frosting!”

“If only a madman would look for the seven ultimate treasures, then I’d rather be a madman in a world of sanity.” “...Wow.” was Charlee’s only reply. Charlee coughed, inhaled, exhaled, and said, “The cargo hold is just ahead, so... goodbye I guess.” Charlee turned around and walked back along the path to the top deck. Nick walked into the cargo hold, took a seat on a barrel, propped his feet onto a crate and began to reflect.

Man, this is just unbelievable! I’ve been dreaming of this day since I was thirteen, and now I’m finally living it! Come to think of it, the last time I ever saw my Dad was my thirteenth birthday! I wonder just how long my journey will take! In all the stories, it took a group of people exactly one hundred years to find each ultimate treasure! So, by the time I find them all, I’ll be seven hundred eighteen years old! I sure hope I find the one that can extend life first!

Nick quietly laughed to himself as the ship hit the turbulence that signified the transition to Helgram.