he waves rhythmically crashed against the shore. The sound of the wind rustling through the coconut palm fronds, and the gentle thud of coconuts falling from the trees, landing on the soft, fine grains of sand. A young man walked along the beach. He had thick, lustrous black hair that was long and flowing, almost like a woman's, yet his face was adorned with a beard and mustache that he could have easily shaved. In his hand, he held a wooden fishing rod.
He slowly walked along the beach, his feet sinking into the sand with each step. His face was devoid of color, and his eyes were like those of a man living his life in an endless loop.
He sat down on a small rock by the shore and cast his line. The plop of the lure hitting the water was soft and gentle. The beach was beautiful; crabs burrowed into the sand, and countless coral reefs were visible from above. The transparent seawater was as pure as the water in a pre-industrial world.
His gaze drifted to the distant horizon. His eyes changed, filled with a newfound depth. It was as if he loved what he was doing and what he was seeing. Then, he spotted a mysterious shadow far out in the middle of the sea. It was so small, too small for him to make out what it was. He rubbed his left eye to be sure and stared intently at it.
In a split second, his eyes widened in surprise. He threw his fishing rod, startling the fish in the area. He scrambled off the beach, his movements clumsy, stepping on old seashell fragments that cut his feet.
He ran back to the village and into a particularly large house. He ran as fast as he could, pulling the door open violently. Everyone inside, who had gathered together, whipped their heads around to look at him.
"...Elder...!" His breathing was ragged, making his words unclear.
An old man sitting in the center turned to him. "...What's wrong with you? You look a mess..."
"The Enfanos have arrived!!" he yelled
earnestly in front of everyone. Everyone there gasped, their eyes wide. Their bodies froze for a moment as if they were chilled. The old man's eyes were still wide with shock as tears streamed down his face.
The sound of waves hitting the hulls of the ships and the wide-open sails. There wasn't just one ship; there were many, more than a dozen, heading toward the beautiful shoreline. Onboard, there were soldiers of the Empire. Some looked happy and were smiling, while others were eating and drinking in the mess hall.
A man stood at the bow of the ship. His clothes were like those of a person with the power to command everyone. He stood with his arms crossed, his eyes devoid of life. Behind him was a young soldier.
"...Just do as I told you... just talk to them."
The young soldier standing behind him held a stone-bladed rifle in his hands and a short sword attached to his waist. He looked at the shoreline. "...Understood, sir."
A man with flowing hair stood on a rock, wearing a black cloak. His eyes were dark and emotionless as he stared at the Enfanos Empire ships approaching. The black cloak fluttered in the wind. The man walked away into the deep forest, leaving only a trail of rough footprints behind.
[ Avesilen ]
... In a small town filled with the hustle and bustle of people's lives, an old man was leading a horse to eat grass in a nearby field. In front of him was a group of children running and playing in the meadow. Some were rolling around with joyous laughter, while others were chasing each other.
Ahead was a vast land filled with small, branching villages. In the center was a beautiful, large city teeming with the beautiful lives of its people.
"…Ms. Mira… where are you going next?!" Rogan walked with a happy smile, his hands clasped behind his head, looking up at the sky.
Mira studied an old map intently. She smiled gently. "I'm going to the countryside... Even though I don't like institutions nowadays, sharing life is still like the kindness of a traveler."
Goren smiled with a mischievous but sincere face and a playful attitude. He leaned over to look at the map in Mira's hand.
"My older sister is so kind-hearted..."
... They were like siblings, a senior and a junior from the same academy. Kael walked beside them, but he didn't say much. He just listened to what they were saying. Then, Rogan playfully moved closer to him as they walked. "What about you... Mr. Scarf?"
Kael looked sideways with a gentle smile. His thick black hair fluttered beautifully.
"I'm going to sell herbs in the city... where are you going next?"
The two whispered to each other playfully, not paying attention to Mira. This caused them to fall behind her by a meter. She took out an old book, like a journal from a past traveler. She opened it carefully, worried it would tear, and read to herself.
... A traveler is not just a wandering nomad... they are one of the people who create the future.
Suddenly, Kael and Rogan's joyful mood came from behind.
"Yay!!"
"Whoa!!"
"Yeah, this is great!"
They ran ahead of her. Kael ran first, with Rogan following close behind. Kael looked back at Mira as he ran.
"...See you later, Mira!!... This guy and I... are going to the big city..."
Rogan turned back.
"...See you later!!"
... Mira didn't say anything; she just waved goodbye and smiled gently. She put the old book in her bag and continued walking toward her true destination.
It was as if they weren't people who had to be together forever, simply because everyone had traveled on their own and had conquered the lonely walls they had built in their own minds, as deep as an abyss.
Stay tuned for the next episode.