Half a month passed in Water 7.
Thanks to Issho's Gravity-Gravity Fruit power, moving heavy materials and assembling delicate parts, the biggest problems for Tom's Workers, became much easier.
Meanwhile, through Aiden's connections, the Blacksteel Empire established a trade route with Water 7. The first cargo ships loaded with special steel were already on their way.
With the project on track, Issho didn't need to help out much anymore. Since they no longer had to watch the shipyard every day, Aiden and Issho relaxed.
Today happened to be Water 7's annual Mask Carnival.
It was the water city's biggest festival and a tradition unique to Water 7.
No one cared who was behind the masks. Rich merchants could dress as clowns, and oil-stained shipwrights could wear suits.
On this day, people forgot about their status and the pressures of life. They only cared about drinking, dancing, and forgetting their problems for one night.
The threat of Aqua Laguna was always there. Pirate attacks had ruined trade and hurt the economy, and the once-busy shipbuilding capital was struggling. But the people of Water 7 were naturally optimistic. The harder life got, the more they needed a big carnival to pray for protection from the water god.
They laughed behind their masks because life was hard, and this was their way to keep going.
Since morning, the entire city had been buzzing with excitement.
Countless boats decorated with ribbons raced through the waterways, while street performances filled the alleys. Children wearing animal masks played and ran through the crowds. Adults raised their glasses and laughed loudly behind their masks, as if trying to let out a year's worth of stress in a single day.
After dark, the energy reached its peak.
Countless colorful oil lamps hung across the streets, making the city shine over the water.
In the canals, decorated Yagara Bulls carried dressed-up tourists back and forth, their bells ringing clearly. On the streets, people wearing strange masks sang and danced, while the smell of roasted meat filled the air.
Aiden and Issho followed the local customs. They changed into casual clothes and joined the busy crowd.
Aiden wore a half-face fox mask with red patterns, leaving his jaw visible. His black trench coat made him stand out in the crowd.
Issho kept it simple. He bought a funny smiley-face mask from a street stall and wore it on the side of his head. He still held his cane sword in his hand.
For the carnival, Issho had changed into a purple yukata and wooden clogs.
"So this is Water 7's carnival..."
Issho listened to the noisy crowd.
"It is a good festival."
"Yeah."
Aiden kept his hands in his pockets. He looked at the people around them, who smiled happily even though many of them wore patched clothes.
"Even if a massive flood hits tomorrow, they'll drink until they drop tonight. That's the rule of survival on the sea."
The two walked and talked along the canal until they reached an open plaza.
This was the center of the carnival. The crowd was packed, and the noise was everywhere.
Aiden didn't want to squeeze into the crowd. He found a clean bench at the edge of the plaza and sat down. He leaned back comfortably and watched the people pass by without thinking about much.
For once, he let himself relax.
Just then.
"Ouch!"
A young voice cried out in front of him.
A little girl wearing a cat mask had been running too fast. She tripped and fell right at Aiden's feet.
A bag of colorful candies she was holding spilled onto the ground, rolling everywhere.
The crowd was thick, and people were about to step on her.
Aiden reacted quickly. He leaned forward, grabbed the girl's shoulder to steady her, and held the crowd back with his other hand.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Aiden set her back on her feet.
The girl seemed a bit dazed. She fixed her crooked cat mask and looked up at the man wearing the fox mask.
Aiden thought she would cry. After all, she had fallen, and her candies had spilled.
Surprisingly, she sniffled and held back her tears. She looked at Aiden sitting on the bench and seemed to misunderstand something.
She reached her small hand into her pocket and pulled out a wrapped blue candy.
"Mister, this is for you."
The little girl said softly, "It's my last sea salt candy. Mom says wounds stop hurting when you eat sweet things."
She clearly thought he was sitting there because he was hurt and couldn't walk.
Aiden paused.
He looked at the warm candy in his hand, then at the girl's clear eyes.
He reached into his coat pocket, wanting to give her something in return.
But he didn't have a single thing suited for a little girl.
Should he just give her money?
That felt wrong, and it might make the moment feel cheap.
Aiden pulled his hand back.
"What's your name?"
"I'm Sasha!" the girl answered brightly.
"Sasha..." Aiden nodded.
He was about to speak when a young couple ran over in a panic.
"We're so sorry! Sir, did our kid bump into you?"
The father bowed again and again. When he saw that Aiden wasn't angry and was holding the candy his daughter gave him, he smiled.
"Ah, this kid just doesn't know better. She tries to feed everyone she sees. Sir, if you don't mind, would you like to sit at our stall over there? We run it. The freshly grilled fish is really good!"
Faced with their offer, Aiden opened his mouth to speak. He looked at the candy in his hand and decided not to refuse.
"I'll take you up on that, then."
A moment later.
Aiden and Issho sat at the street stall with a few freshly grilled fish in front of them.
The small fish stall was busy and warm.
The husband expertly flipped the fish on the grill. The charcoal sizzled against the fish skin, and dripping grease sent up a delicious smell.
His wife busily poured drinks and wiped down tables for customers. She looked tired, but she always glanced at Sasha when the girl ran past.
Sasha had run off to play, and the couple was busy serving other customers. They didn't treat Aiden any differently because of his appearance; they just treated him like a regular tourist.
For a while, Aiden simply sat there and ate like any other guest.
Aiden unwrapped the sea salt candy and tossed it into his mouth.
A light salty flavor mixed with a sweet milky taste melted in his mouth.
"Tsk..."
Aiden crunched the candy and tasted the sweetness.
Issho drank the fruit wine the owners had given them. "That seems to be a very tasty candy," he said with a smile.
Aiden glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Just as they were enjoying this rare, quiet moment.
Suddenly.
Rumble...
A low rumble came from far beneath the horizon, making the ground beneath their feet vibrate slightly.
Then, the glasses on the table shook. Ripples formed in their drinks, spreading faster and faster.
Aiden looked toward the sea.
Issho's smile vanished, and he turned his head toward the same direction.
The two looked at each other.
Neither of them needed to say anything.
Aiden pulled a stack of Berries from his coat, slid it under an empty glass, and stood up.
Almost in the next second.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Warning bells rang across the city, cutting through the laughter and music of Water 7.
The speakers blared with a panicked scout's shout.
"Warning! Massive tsunami warning! Aqua Laguna is early! Run! All outer city residents, evacuate to higher ground right now!"
The carnival stopped at once.
Everyone stared at the speakers, not quite understanding what was happening.
Then panic spread through the crowd.
"Aqua Laguna?! Why is it here now?!"
"Run! The wave is coming!"
The crowd broke into chaos. Screams, crying, and the sounds of crashing tables and chairs mixed together.
Aiden looked past the panicked crowd, staring out at the sea.
Under the moonlight, a massive black shadow was rising from the horizon, growing higher and higher.
The towering black wave surged forward. It rushed toward the defenseless city with enough force to crush the outer districts in one hit.
It rose high enough to cover the moon from where they stood.
The buildings and crowds looked tiny in front of it.
"Mom! Mom!"
Sasha, the little girl who had given him the candy, had gotten separated in the rush. She stood in the middle of the street, crying. The panicked crowd was about to trample her.
Aiden frowned. A second later, he appeared beside Sasha. He scooped her up with one hand and set her safely under a roof overhang by the side of the street.
"Mom! I'm over here!"
Sasha's parents had been running through the crowd in panic. When they heard her, they rushed over and grabbed her. They thanked Aiden over and over.
"Thank you! Thank you, sir!"
"It was nothing."
Aiden waved them off. He pointed at the blocked escape routes.
"There are too many people over there. It isn't safe. You'd better stay here."
"But... the wave..."
The father stared at the wave and could barely speak.
"It will be fine."
Aiden looked at the wave rising over the city, then touched the colorful candy wrapper in his pocket.
"Seriously, why do we run into everything?"
Aiden sighed. Then he turned to Issho, who was sitting perfectly still.
"Issho, did you get enough to eat?"
Issho slowly stood up. His clogs clicked against the stone floor.
He adjusted his purple yukata and faced the massive wave.
"Thanks to their food, I am completely full."
Issho gripped his cane sword, ready to draw.
To Be Continued
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