magisternihil's 100-word story for May 2, 2025

magisternihil wrote the following micro-story on Hectalex on May 2, 2025. Each story on Hectalex is inspired by a daily visual prompt and must be exactly 100 words.

The ships don't sail anymore. Nothing crosses those seas but birds, and even some of them don't come back if they go too far. Still, someone has to stay here. Someone has to keep watch. The last three keepers went mad, they say. The keening that comes across the waves holds promise of doom, shrieks so evil they can only be inauspicious warnings. It's a path to madness, for sure. I'm told that the last keeper leapt from the gallery deck. But to me it sounds like a chorus of angels, and so I'll stay. And watch. Somebody has to.

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