At first, he assumed it was debris—perhaps an old beam or a rig torn free by storms. But its curved form and heavy barnacle armor made it resemble an enormous shell. Curious and cautious, he hauled it aboard with a grunt, unaware the object would challenge everything he believed till then.
Rowan knelt over the object again and tapped the seam gently. Something shifted inside—a faint clink confirming hidden contents. His stomach tightened. He fetched a flathead tool, slid it beneath the gap, and pried with slow, steady pressure, afraid the slightest force might damage whatever had been sealed within.