Indeed, after half a day's journey, on one sunny afternoon, they climbed a long coastal hill.
As the mount's hooves stepped onto the hilltop, their view suddenly opened up, revealing the radiant and magnificent ocean scenery before them without warning.
The first thing that struck their vision was the boundless blue stretching to the world's end. Sunlight scattered across the vast sea surface, shattering into billions of jumping, floating golden spots, extending all the way to the blurry boundary where sea and sky meet.
This was an expansive sight vastly different from forests, mountains, and wastelands, carrying a soul-stirring power that made Aaliyah, who was seeing the sea for the first time, slightly open her mouth in an irrepressible awe.
"Is this the sea?"
Aaliyah jumped down from the bird's back, stood atop the hill, felt the sea breeze, and stretched lazily.
Gauss also dismounted, looking at the distant scenery.
