—BLASH.
I burst out of the ocean, grabbing a tentacle. My axe is in my right hand. I begin sprinting up the impossible slope of the tentacle—how I am not falling, I do not know. My pace grows faster, the angle steeper, my grip unreal.
Without Hiro realizing it, he moves with his eyes closed; his darkened vision guides him. He is unsure whether this is what he should be doing, or whether what he is doing now is right.
I keep climbing until I reach the upper tentacle. No pause. I sprint toward the eye. Only a few dozen steps remain. Just—
I run as fast as I can, my right hand gripping the axe tightly.
"The eye… the eye…" I mutter, my breath ragged.
Only a few steps left. One great leap will land me on it.
"HUAAGH!" I jump, soaring above the giant octopus. I open my eyes.
"GET LOST, YOU BASTARD!"
—SWAK.
My axe drives deep into its eye.
The ship, which was still tilting, begins to level as the tentacles loosen. I did it—but only one eye is gone.
I look back toward the ship—toward Rose. She rises, grabs her bow, draws an arrow—
—SPLASH.
The arrow lands cleanly in the second eye. The octopus convulses violently, releasing the ship completely.
Bartra is freed from the tentacle's grip. So are Grizz, Gruzz, and the remaining crew. The captain regains control of the helm. Oliver stands, speechless.
I cannot go back. All I can do is cling to the octopus as it loses its balance. It will fall soon, crashing into the sea.
I close my eyes. My vision goes dark, my strength spent. But then—again—the darkness turns into a vision. My sight stretches and bends, showing me what I must do: when the octopus falls, I will float for a moment, then swing my axe and cut it cleanly in two.
The vision shows the future once more.
—SWAK.
Its head splits in the vision.
I open my eyes. At the same moment, it happens now as I fall—
I smile faintly. Both hands gripping my axe, I let myself drift toward the octopus. I swing, cutting through its flesh with impossible ease, splitting it open as light pours through the opening.
—SWAK.
Its head is cleaved in two.
I twist in midair and watch it happen, smiling faintly, before the ocean rushes up to meet me.
"So what I saw… was the future?" I whisper as I fall.
The crystal floats before me, still hanging from my neck, glowing from within, turning the darkness into light.
I understand everything.
"Thanks to this crystal… right."
—DUAK.
I hit the ocean. I sink. Light fades. Sight fades. Darkness takes everything.
---
A touch—someone's hand gripping mine. I open my eyes. My vision blurs as he pulls me upward. Higher and higher, my body burns, my lungs blister with heat. Is this what dying feels like? The light grows sharper, almost blinding. The man hauling me up keeps glancing back, and as my vision clears, I recognize him—Oliver.
I choke awake with a harsh cough, water spilling from my mouth.
"Hiro? Kid? Young Master?" Their voices echo faintly. Faces blur before me. I lift my head slowly as my sight sharpens.
"Are you all right, kid?" Oliver asks, his voice cracking with relief once I am fully conscious.
"Captain! How much longer until we arrive?!" Bartra shouts.
The helmsman shakes his head. "We are already here. Zepharia."
Rose steps closer, giving me a thin, gentle smile. "Are you all right, hm?"
I shake my head slightly.
"Miss, find the village veil near the harbor. Use Bartra's scope," Oliver orders.
Rose nods and starts to rise.
I catch her hand and hold it. "Please… don't."
I turn to Oliver, forcing a small smile. "I'm fine, Oliver."
He shakes his head. "Don't do that, kid. We owe you. Let us repay it."
I stand slowly before the crowd, stretching my body. "See? I'm fine, everyone." I look at each of them—then freeze at the sight behind them. "Look. We made it." I point toward the horizon.
"Whatever your purpose is for coming here… that is what matters, Oliver."
He falls silent for a moment. "Whatever you ask, Young Master." He nods faintly.
"So… where are we going next?" I ask.
---
They reach the shore. Oliver, Rose, Bartra, Grizz, and Gruzz disembark. Santiago and the rest of the crew take the ship to scout the coastline, planning to return via the exit route while tending to their wounds.
Zepharia. I grew up in the far north. Now I stand in the far south. This crystal will take me as far as—
"So where are we going, Uncle?!" Rose blurts out, snapping me from my thoughts.
Oliver has not lifted his eyes from the map since we boarded the carriage. "The border towers. Dozens of them. We will head there and attempt to breach one. If we can send a signal, the guards across the continents will tighten their lines, Miss."
"I see…" Rose murmurs.
She glances at me. "Hiro?"
She squints. "Are you sleepy or something? You are far too quiet."
I let out a deep breath. "I am just trying to remain calm and silent."
She shakes her head. "Ugh… always like that."
---
The village comes into view as we crest the hill. I smile. The scenery quiets my heart.
"WHOA—IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL!" Rose's scream shakes the entire carriage.
My body jolts. "Miss, your excitement has become labor. You are the one going down to the market," Oliver says.
"UNCLEEE!" she shouts.
I let out a soft laugh. "Busy, busy…"
"HIRROOO!" she yells again.
---
"We have arrived at the market. Is this where you wish to stop, Sir, Miss?" the coachman asks.
Rose begins to step out.
"Take us to the harbor—this way," Oliver says, showing the map.
The coachman stops, turns back, and bows slightly. "I do not think I can go that far, Sir. I can only take you this far." He points to a place far from where Oliver indicated.
I remain quiet, listening, taking it all in.
"Why is that, Sir?" Rose asks.
"The guards have tightened security lately. The posts are unpredictable. We can only take travelers this far and no farther," the coachman replies.
Oliver considers for a moment. "Very well. Take us there."
Rose rises again. "These supplies are all we need, right?" she asks Oliver.
"Correct, Miss. Nothing more, nothing less."
---
The supplies Rose purchases turn out to be more than I expected. I stand to help her, but Oliver stops me. "I will handle it, kid. Sit still and rest."
He steps out immediately to help Rose carry everything to the rear storage of the carriage.
"What is wrong with you, Uncle? Why this many supplies, huh?!" Rose's voice echoes inside the carriage as I watch the two of them struggle.
"This is not much. Just this," Oliver replies calmly.
"FOR YOU—NOT FOR ME!" she shouts.