Morning arrived quietly in the forest, filtered sunlight slipping through the thick canopy like gentle fingers brushing over sleeping faces. The campfire from the previous night had burned down to pale ash, thin wisps of smoke curling lazily into the air.
Beru stirred first, the sounds of birdsong and rustling leaves slowly pulling her from sleep. She sat up, blinking as she took in the sight around her—sleeping bags scattered in a loose circle, backpacks piled near a tree, and her friends still wrapped in dreams.
Haruto lay beside her, his jacket half-zipped, hair slightly messy in a way that made her smile without thinking. She nudged him gently.
"Morning," she whispered.
He groaned softly before opening one eye. "Please tell me we already found the treasure in my sleep."
She laughed, covering her mouth. "Not yet. But today feels important."
One by one, the others woke. Souta stretched dramatically, arms flung wide as if claiming the entire forest.
"I declare today the day of glory," he announced. "Also the day I refuse to walk uphill again."
"You said that yesterday," Luna replied calmly while folding her sleeping bag with practiced neatness. "And yet, you walked."
"Against my will."
Tadao had already taken out the map, crouching near a rock, eyes focused and serious. Ren stood beside him, scanning the surroundings, while Aira tied her hair up, excitement shining in her eyes.
"The markings from yesterday," Tadao said quietly, tapping a spot on the parchment, "suggest that the next landmark should be close. Somewhere north of the stream."
Luna knelt beside him. "A cave," she murmured. "My great-grandfather loved symbolism. Forests represented beginnings… caves usually meant trials."
Souta grimaced. "Of course it's a cave. Why is it never a bakery?"
They packed quickly, energy buzzing through them despite the unknown ahead. As they followed the map deeper into the island, the forest gradually changed. The trees grew denser, their trunks thicker and darker, roots twisting across the ground like sleeping serpents. The air cooled, damp and heavy, carrying the faint scent of stone and earth.
Then they saw it.
A jagged opening carved into the side of a rocky hill, half-hidden by hanging vines and moss. Shadows pooled at its mouth, swallowing the sunlight just a few steps inside.
Beru swallowed. "That… has to be it."
Ren peered in, adjusting the flashlight in his hand. "Looks stable. But we should be careful."
Souta cracked his knuckles. "Adventure mode: on."
They stepped inside.
The cave greeted them with echoing silence, broken only by the soft drip of water somewhere deep within. Their footsteps bounced off stone walls, each sound magnified, reminding them how small they were. The path narrowed quickly, forcing them to walk single file. The air was cold now, brushing against their skin like a warning.
Aira gasped softly as the tunnel opened into a wider chamber. Strange markings covered the walls—symbols etched deep into stone, some worn smooth by time.
Luna traced one carefully. "These are old. Older than the mansion. Older than the island's modern records."
"So… ancient puzzles," Souta said. "My favorite kind. Not."
The first obstacle came without warning. The ground ahead dipped sharply, revealing a narrow ledge overlooking a shallow but jagged drop.
"We can cross one by one," Haruto said calmly. "Slowly."
Beru went first, her heart pounding as she edged across, fingers brushing the cold stone wall for balance. When she reached the other side, relief washed over her. One by one, they followed, Souta muttering dramatic prayers the entire time.
Deeper inside, the cave tested them again and again. Loose stones shifted underfoot. Low ceilings forced them to crawl. At one point, a sudden rush of underground water flooded a narrow passage, soaking their shoes and sending Souta yelping as he slipped.
Aira laughed breathlessly. "You're okay!"
"I meant to do that," he replied, dripping.
"For morale."
Then came the puzzle.
They reached a sealed stone door, its surface carved with concentric circles and symbols matching those on the map. In the center was an empty indentation.
Tadao studied it in silence. "It's a sequence," he said finally. "The symbols correspond to directions. Forest. Water. Stone. Sky."
Ren nodded. "Like the path we've taken."
Luna reached into her bag and pulled out one of the hint cards from the previous day's game—unused, forgotten. The symbol on it matched the final marking.
She placed it into the indentation.
The cave trembled.
Stone groaned against stone as the door slowly slid open, dust raining down. For a moment, no one breathed.
Souta broke the silence. "Okay. That was cool."
Beyond the door was a smaller chamber, surprisingly calm. In its center stood a stone pedestal, and resting atop it was a weathered metal plate engraved with a familiar symbol—the crest of Luna's family.
Beru stepped closer, heart racing. "This is it…?"
Tadao picked it up carefully, turning it over. On the back was another map—smaller, more detailed.
Ren frowned. "This isn't the final location."
Luna's eyes widened as she studied it. "It points… beyond the island."
Aira leaned closer. "Behind it. That tiny island near the cliffs."
Silence fell.
Souta exhaled slowly. "So this whole cave was just… a hint?"
"A trial," Haruto said. "To see if we'd keep going."
The weight of it settled over them—not disappointment, but awe. The journey was bigger than they'd imagined.
"It's getting late," Ren said, glancing at the dim light filtering in from the cave entrance.
"We should head back."
They retraced their steps, exhaustion creeping in but spirits strangely high. When they finally emerged, the sky was painted in deep oranges and purples, the sea visible in the distance, calm and endless.
Beru looked at the new map clutched in her hands. "It's far… but it feels like we're meant to go."
Luna smiled softly. "My great-grandfather always believed the best things were never close."
Souta grinned, despite his tired legs. "Then let's keep going."
As night wrapped around the island once more, they headed back toward the campfire, muddy, bruised, and smiling—knowing the real treasure still waited for them, somewhere beyond the horizon.
And this time, none of them felt afraid of the distance.
To be continued...