Later, as the storm subsided and the sky cleared to reveal a blanket of stars, Elias climbed back up to the lantern room. He looked out over the calm sea, the beam of the lighthouse now a steady, comforting presence. In the distance, he could see The Sea’s Whisper anchored peacefully, its sails furled, and a silhouette of Captain Mara standing on the deck, her gaze fixed on the lighthouse.