When the darkness slowly disappeared, he could see a blue sky, sparrows, and some clouds floating in the air. He tried to sit up, but he couldn't lift his weight. He was too exhausted to even wonder what was going on, and he lay for one minute straight.
He heard a small roar from his belly. He knew his starvation was only increasing, and his foot filthy from the mud. No boots, and his tunic somewhat seemed dried from a dense amount of sweat. He rubbed his forehead, and it felt colder. He took a deep breath, exhaled leisurely, and tried to lift his challenging weight.
Wait . . . Something wasn't right. He could hear the sound of continued waves. Was this sea? What was the place? He heard a sound of metal clanking, and he wondered what it was about. He closed his eyes, took a very deep breath, and let out a grunt when he eventually pushed himself to his limits and lifted his challenging weight. His vision was a little blur, and he could see someone — near the sea... no, it was a boat, of maybe a Dock . . . He squinted and let out a quick sigh.
"Hello?" His voice, that sounded somewhat less frightened, was different because of his sore throat.
The sight of the person turned, looking at Ulric over their shoulders . . . Or over his. That was a man who seemed to be middle-aged, and they both exchanged the curious glances.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice echoing in the port.
The man turned back, his glance to the blade now, which he was sharpening with a rock.
"You're awake, Ulric. Get aboard the boat quickly before they arrive here."
Ulric's face was more confused. "What do you mean by who? And how do you know my name? What is your name?"
"Call me Sereman. Once you get aboard the boat, I'll tell you what I'm talking about."
He sighed and, after a fine struggle to rise up, he eventually gave up. "I can't get up, Sereman," he said. "You might need to help me out here."
Sereman put the blade on the ground, and it already looked very sharpened. It seemed rather more glittered. He slowly got near Ulric, grabbed him up very easily, only using his hands and arms, and began to take fast steps to the ship, the rope in the Dock stopping it to smooth to the sea. He got aboard the boat and put Ulric on the wooden floor, which creaked every time they took steps.
"Wait here. I'm going to bring food. You may be already starving," he said calmly and stepped on the wooden Dock, walking towards a basket.
Who was he? Why was Ulric here? Ulric sat helplessly, and he knew he could do nothing. Knowing he couldn't even rise to his feet, he let out a grunt of frustration.
After some minutes passed, the man returned aboard the boat. He put the basket with some apples and fruits on the wooden floor of the boat, and it creaked as it touched. Ulric could think nothing, nor say anything, but devour what was before him.
He quickly got his hands on the apples and ate one in only two minutes. The boys his age couldn't mostly, but his starvation led him to strain himself and prove to be strength full. After all the apples and fruits disappeared, from basket to his belly, he gave Sereman a quick smile and got up to his feet.
"They seem to heal me!" He chuckled. "What did you do with them, Sereman?"
Sereman replied with a chuckle, "Yes, but still, I have some bandages and other stuff, and you might need to apply them for a proper recovery."
Ulric nodded, and Sereman, again, returned to the blade, grabbed it up, and put it on the boat. He did that with his other equipment, and Ulric saw him do everything. After a fine amount of time, everything was set, and he cut off the rope, which stopped the boat from smoothing out into the sea.
Then, the boat was in the sea, smoothing to where the man desired, and Ulric only wondered.
Sereman, his grip on the tiller, was at the end of the boat. Ulric sat there still, quite, and confused as ever.
Until, when the man came and sat beside him, he found the opportunity to inquire.
"Sereman?" he said.
Sereman shifted his glance from sea to the boy.
"Could you tell me now?"