It was 9 in the morning the next day. Jacob pushed himself as much as he could to analyze the pieces of wood that had washed ashore, but he couldn't find any fragments of the Rosa María.

  —Alright, according to the list of names Mr. Florence gave me, we'll start with Akir Attar. Hmm, it says he's staying at the Red Pumpkin Inn, which is very close to the dock, good! —Jacob washed his face, fixed his hair, and headed towards the dock. A few meters before, he turned left. On the street, he saw five elderly gentlemen sitting around a barrel; they appeared to be evocators, as they were talking together. For many, it would have just seemed like that, but in Evookia, sharper eyes could see that various animal spirits and even human spirits gathered around these men; they were discussing what was happening in the vicinity.

  —In the last storm, we lost fifteen chickens and a sheep! Jeremiah's boys didn't have enough time to put up the wire fence. The south and north sections of the walkway seem to have minor damage with some planks missing. Other than that, the seasonal storm caused no more damage than a few waterspouts in the distance —said the youngest at the table.

  —I reported some stubborn youths who wanted to meet the storm spirit! They apparently wanted a strong spirit, but Harold and his helpers evacuated them in time. Seriously, with those kids, ephemeral weather spirits are totally uncontrollable! —replied the oldest of the group.

  —Harold is very capable, but many young evocators are too bold; it's a good thing nothing happened this time! I hope Harold keeps the less experienced ones in line; the last thing we want is an ephemeral spirit running around causing havoc. You know how they are: they repeat the same thing over and over —argued the human spirit who was next to the elders, to which the others nodded, eventually moving on to more mundane conversations.

  —Ha, ha, ha, yes, I suppose that's how it is around here! —Jacob looked at the group and continued on, but the horse spirit looked at him and approached him slowly, like mist in the sun, almost a reflection. Jacob looked at it and took two steps back; the old man sensed it and said aloud:

  —Jaqueline, don't bother the poor boy —the evocator noticed Jacob's discomfort. The horse looked at him sadly and retreated next to the old man.

  —She's a good girl, don't worry! Even alive, she never bit anyone —Jacob looked at the old man and smiled; the calm horse sat beside him, and they continued their conversation.

  —It's alright… it's not that… it's just that spirits intimidate me a bit! Hahaha! —Jacob greeted the elders; some looked at him a little strangely. The silence was a bit awkward, so Jacob continued on his way to the Inn.

  After a few minutes, he saw the enormous red roof of the Red Pumpkin Inn. A thick patch of pumpkins grew on and over the extravagant building; round windows and a windmill next to it framed it as a popular landmark in the area. Benches outside and small tables where food and drinks rested allowed travelers to rest or just hang out.

  Drin-drin! A crystal bell chimed at the door. Jacob turned to look at it; it was multicolored like a marble, with a glass rod and a protective Ofuda seal hanging from it.

  —Welcome to the Red Pumpkin Inn, young friend, how can we help you? We have plenty of food and drink of good quality; beds and rest, you'll find those too —an raspy voice greeted him. Lazily appearing from behind the counter, an elderly woman became visible; she already had several wrinkles and moved slowly, but she exuded an incredible and bright aura of joy.

  —You must be Mrs. Jack, nice to meet you —Jacob extended his hand and kept it there for a few seconds when he noticed that both her eyes were clouded with a deep gray: Mrs. Jack was blind.

  —Nice to meet you too, young man, ehehehehehe! —Jack effortlessly took Jacob's hand, who was surprised by the old woman's precision and confidence.

  —Ohoho! What, are you surprised I can see you? Hahahaha, little friend, there's so much to learn, and one lifetime is usually not enough! But tell me, Jacob, what do you need? —Jack lit a long, ladle-like pipe; a sweet, soft scent covered the entire place with the smoke emanating from the pipe.

  —How did you know my name? —Jacob asked from the opposite side of the counter.

  —As I said, there's a lot to learn, but you're not here for that, are you? If you're looking for your friend Akir, he's lounging in the back, on the terrace. That lazy man hasn't done anything since the guild sent him here; he just eats, sleeps, and drinks, besides complaining all the time. If necessary, take him away; he's bothering my regular customers —with a wave of her hand, Mrs. Jack hurried Jacob along.

  —Alright, Mrs. Jack, I'll do my best —smiling, he went to look for Akir, heading to the terrace. The smell of various spices, combined with the bread ovens and the cafeteria, turned the terrace into an adventure of aromas; forks and spoons clinked, creating a song alongside the laughter and chatter of the diners. The sun filtered through the palm leaves, creating a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere; and there, in a corner, with a tall glass of orangeade and wearing light white and blue clothes, sat Akir.

  Akir, at first glance, seemed like a man of difficult character; in a way, he reminded Jacob of Ithil. Thin, but with defined musculature, a not-so-friendly grimace revealed his disposition.

  —Mr. Akir Attar? My name is Jacob Mahogany, and I am in charge of the Rosa María investigation. Do you have a few moments? I'd like to ask you some questions for the investigation —Jacob pulled out his rabbit-skin notebook and a pen.

  —Huh? Are they sending kids now? Well, well, quickly! I want to get out of here right now! This place is horrible; I haven't been able to spend a single day without being bothered by the damned spooks running around here. Yesterday, through the window, I saw a cat with two tails and a blurry face running down the street at midnight screaming: "Esther, where are you!" —

  —Yes, I understand, spirits can be very frightening; please cooperate with me so I can get you out of here —Jacob smiled. He slightly understood what Akir felt; he himself was afraid of spirits.

  —Tell me, Mr. Akir, what happened that day on the Rosa María? —

  —I can start by saying we hadn't rested in a long time. Captain Johan was in a great hurry to reach the shore of the Sea of the Warp; a bad place, if you ask me! I joined the crew under the promise of good money, but I regretted it as soon as they told us where we were headed. Sixteen hundred units of white iron for a settlement I had no knowledge of! You see, Mr. Jacob, I'm a Drakooria and a sailor. In my 200 years, I've never heard of Thaghgharom; for starters, that name isn't in any language I know —Akir narrated the situation very calmly while holding the rim of the glass with his hand.

  —I have two questions. The first is: what is white iron? —

  —I didn't know about it either until recently; apparently, it's a new material from the Reclamationists, very resistant and strong, exceptional for working in mines and high-impact tools —Jacob's blacksmith spirit lit up like a beacon upon hearing the description, but he stuck to his duty and continued.

  —I understand! The second: where is Thaghgharom? —

  —That's the funny thing, Mr. Jacob! The captain never told us exactly where we were going; some more experienced members of the crew immediately detected that none of us, or the first, not even the second officers, had the slightest idea of our destination. The good captain made sure the entire crew had no knowledge of cartography. You see, Mr. Jacob, I'm not a cartographer, but a good sailor makes sure to have at least some degree of knowledge, mmm, you understand? So I can tell you that where we were headed, no port existed. No, Mr. Jacob! At least not a known one. Strange business, I tell you, Mr. Jacob! —

  —Of course, Mr. Akir, the situation was indeed very peculiar. I'll visit your companion Antón McMurray. Is there anything you'd like to tell me about him? —

  —Antón! The boy Antón… let me see, oh, yes… Antón doesn't like strong fruity smells, maybe just that. He hates them with all his heart; we used to rub oranges on his pillow for fun. Hahahaha, the guy vomited as soon as he put his head on it! —Akir let out a wicked laugh.

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  —Heh, heh… I'll keep that in mind, thank you very much! —With a quick greeting, Jacob set off towards the north side, where the lodgings for the navigation guild were located.

  And there Jacob stood before the grand Navigation Guild Hotel, that building painted beige with iron doors that, though faded, still hinted at a deep, ancient blue, washed out by time. That building, which had seen better days, overwhelmed Jacob with its aura. For an evocator, it was easy to sense the ephemeral spirits created by countless experiences within its walls; several shadows watched him from the windows, awaiting their opportunity. Jacob felt their gazes; they called to him. Jacob felt a tremor in his being, as if an abyss were opening within him, and for an instant that lasted a lifetime, he sank into the deepest part of himself.

  —Track, track, track! —sounded a cart that, just in time, offered him a thread of light to escape before being completely swallowed.

  —Kid, watch out! —shouted the driver, who was pulling a cart full of watermelons and cabbages with two donkeys that were licking Jacob's face and hair; he was halfway lying on his back in the road.

  —Waaaaa, thanks for the help, sir! Hahahaha, yes, and thank you too, Mr. Donkeys! —Jacob struggled to his feet, trembling, pale, and half-frightened; he stroked the donkeys' heads. This gave him comfort and pulled him away from the ephemeral spirits just enough to recover.

  —Camila and Penelope, son —the man with a straw hat and denim overalls said, smiling.

  —Huh? Oh, I see, they're Camila and Penelope, thank you, ladies —Jacob rubbed the foreheads of the two donkeys, who continued licking his face and hair.

  —Do you need anything, son? I'm the manager and caretaker of the hotel; I work in the fields a few meters in, where I have my crops —the man looked at Jacob, then at the hotel, then back at Jacob, and lit a cigarette.

  —I understand… Come on, girls, let's go in! The kids are running wild, son. If you wait a few minutes, you can go in without a problem —the man steered his cart around to the back of the hotel. Jacob merely nodded; his hair had a huge cowlick on the right side from the donkeys' licks.

  After a few minutes of waiting, Jacob heard the bolts on the doors being unlatched, but more than anything, he noticed a change in the place. Everything was still as ruined, but for some reason, now it just felt… nostalgic. That faded door creaked open slightly to reveal a very different appearance inside.

  —Come on in, son! —said the man as he placed a dreamcatcher-like arrangement on the door.

  —Of course, excuse me! —Jacob entered the hotel lobby; it had a royal blue carpet with golden embroidery and an emblem of the navigation union. Some dreamcatchers hung from the ceiling; the polished leather armchairs and fine, meticulously cared-for woods gave the interior a totally different feel from the exterior. The same feeling of nostalgia and comfort permeated from every corner; out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone scuttling through the corners, in the way a spirit usually does.

  —Good afternoon, sir…? —Jacob approached the hotel counter.

  —Mr. Rodolfo Staab, and you are? —replied the man, who had changed into a suit and tidied his hair in less than five minutes.

  —Huh?! Oh, yes… that's right, I'm Jacob Mahogany. I've been hired by the navigation union to investigate the sinking of the Rosa María —Jacob showed his port ID card and letter of introduction.

  —I understand, you're the young Evocator who was assigned to the Rosa María case. I gather you'll be looking for young Antón. Of course, room 020, at the end of the hall. I won't take up any more of your time; it must be difficult for you to be in this place. We've put some measures in place; you should be fine in the facilities, just don't forget that the more permanent inhabitants of the place are a bit intrusive, but they'll behave for now —Rodolfo pointed to the dreamcatchers, which, upon closer inspection, were constructed with Ofudas coiled like threads.

  —Thank you very much for your help, Mr. Rodolfo —Jacob looked through the window at the two donkeys peacefully grazing in the adjacent courtyard and smiled.

  —If I may be so bold… be careful, young evocator; a fearful heart like yours is easy prey for an ephemeral spirit, and I see you've already had a rather strong incident —Rodolfo could perceive the Ofuda of protection Jacob carried within his clothes; his serious tone struck Jacob deeply.

  —…Yes, I'll be very careful… Thank you… —Jacob continued down the hallway where the dormitories were, thinking intently about what Rodolfo had told him. His hand instinctively went to the metallic piece he found on the beach; a strange heaviness weighed on his mind. In the last few hours, he had felt as if a veil prevented him from perceiving the outside world very well; something was distracting his mind, but he couldn't quite discern the cause of this situation. Rubbing the surface of the tube with his thumb, he took it out of his bag, looking at it as he walked. As soon as it was out, that sound he heard on the beach began to come through the windows. Jacob felt a sense of fear, so he quickened his pace. He finally reached room 020.

  —The last one down the hall! —thought Jacob. Outside, there were several empty deodorant containers at the entrance, and a trash bag held a pile of clothes.

  Knock-knock-knock. Jacob used the metal tube to rap on the door. A flurry of sneezes and coughs were heard from behind it. Jacob heard the sound of someone getting dressed, and then footsteps approaching the door.

  —Who's there? You should know we don't want information from any religion, or any promotion. For now, we're not interested in services, or insurance, or, in your case, we don't need anything at all —a trembling, stammering voice was heard from behind the door. Jacob looked up at the peephole, which was a few centimeters above him.

  —Oh, a kid?! Get out, kid! I'm a horrible sailor who eats kids like you. Get out, get out! —Jacob couldn't listen to the insult any longer, so he took out his guild assignment and held it up to the peephole.

  —Jacob Mahogany, I'm in charge of investigating what happened on the Rosa María. I'm looking for Antón McMurray; you're involved in the sinking of the ship that was under the supervision of the navigation union —Jacob said, in the deepest voice he could muster.

  —Oh, God, oh, God, oh, oh, oh, wait a moment, Mr. Jacob! I'll open the door immediately! —Several loud sounds betrayed the nature of the disaster happening inside the room. Boxes and clothes clattered in unison for a few seconds before calming completely. With a click, the room's door opened fully, revealing an apparently tidy room. Jacob watched as, here and there, ephemeral spirits of stagnation scuttled through the cracks in the wall.

  —Good evening…! Excuse me? Is Mr. Antón here? —Jacob stepped a little into the room, which appeared to be empty. He had barely taken his second step when a man with deep black hair, a scrawny but very pale complexion, and nervous black eyes suddenly appeared from behind the door.

  —H-hello, I'm… A-Antón McMurray! —he stammered in a low, barely audible voice, ending with a shout as if something had stung or bitten him, then continued again in an even softer voice

  — "Yes, yes, I know, it's here for us. Stay still! Last time it wasn't a good idea to let you out. Still!" —Antón spun as if chasing something and forcing it into his jacket pocket, then finished with a quick smile at Jacob and, to Jacob's surprise, moved at incredible speed to the edge of the bed, where he sat down.

  —P-please, sit down, sit down! —Antón invited Jacob with a hand gesture to sit on an armchair covered with a white sheet.

  —Of course, Mr. Antón, as I was saying, I'm in charge of the Rosa María investigation, I'd like to… —Jacob noticed Antón's nervousness, as he crossed his legs with both hands on his knee while quickly shaking his foot to interrupt Jacob, who was in the middle of sitting down.

  —I swear we know nothing about that! We were minding our own business, calm, and suddenly: flashing lights, screams! Aah, we're sinking! No, no! —Antón placed his hands on his cheeks and pulled slightly downwards in a clear sign of stress.

  —We, Mr. Antón? —Jacob asked.

  —Oooh, you and I, I mean us, me in my place, and y-you wherever an evocator is during their work hours. Yes, that's right, you and I… us… in our respective places, but both of us —looking away, Antón acted clearly curious to Jacob, then began to speak again in a very, very low voice, with his lips pressed together on one side, whispering to someone behind him

  —: "Yes, I know, it's watching us! Please, it's, with, you… it's looking at us strangely again. Just go back into the bag, please!" —Jacob looked at him strangely. He could perceive the normal ephemeral spirits around, but whatever Antón was talking to was not a spirit, at least not a normal one, but he decided not to press and pretend he didn't perceive it. A pair of small, bright eyes darted through Antón's hair and from behind the high collar of his jacket, never revealing its full form. Jacob knew that some spirits and entities could indeed hide and not let themselves be seen if they didn't want to, so the entity scurrying around Antón was clearly mocking him by making its presence known.

  —I understand, Mr. Antón, don't worry; I just need a few pieces of information —Jacob took out his notebook again and began to jot down several points of interest. With each movement of the pencil, Antón sweated a little more; soon, nervousness pushed Antón to his limit.

  —It's alright, it's alright! I hate fruity smells, they're so hateful!, but I wasn't the one who sank the ship; I never entered the lower section, the captain had explicitly forbidden it, but I was so dazed by the barrels of fermented apples they brought from the previous port that I opened the ventilation hatches of the cabins, that was all! —He sighed in relief as if a weight had been lifted from him. Jacob could see something scurrying across his arm again and disappearing into the bag.

  —So, approximately what time was this, Mr. Antón? —To Jacob's fortune, Antón cooperated as much as he could.

  —It was before seven. Everyone was already off duty. We only had old O’Donnell and his boys on watch. I think only one of his group survived, but I lost track of him after the sinking. What else do you want from us, Mr. Jacob? —Sighing in relief, Antón relaxed his body, but an invisible blow put him back on alert.

  —Yes, I've told you everything, I'm not hiding anything. No, you shut up! —Jacob watched intently, but whatever Antón was arguing with eluded his knowledge.

  —Alright, Mr. Antón, I believe you. If anything else happens, can I see you again? —Jacob smiled at the nervous Antón.

  —Oh, yes, yes! We'll be here; we don't go out much. The air here is very hot. We'll leave for Thar Abyss as soon as we get a chance —Antón greeted Jacob and left the room to return to the hotel entrance, saying goodbye to Mr. Rodolfo.