The afternoon in the countryside passed in tranquil silence.
Pale golden sunlight draped over the rice fields as they swayed gently in the wind, while the chirping of sparrows echoed from the bamboo groves at the edge of the village. Van Thien sat on the front porch, a cup of hot coffee in his hand. He gazed into the distance, his mind still tethered to the dream from the night before.
The starship... deep space... and that voice calling him "Captain."
He muttered under his breath, "Captain... who was I, really?"
The necklace around his neck vibrated softly—very subtly—but this time, he felt it. It was a strange sensation, as if something... was awakening. He narrowed his eyes.
"Again?"
At that moment, a stranger approached the house. Van Thien looked up to see a tall, somewhat stout man wearing a grey striped shirt and black trousers. The man asked politely:
"Young man, is your father home?"
"Yes, he is," Thien replied. "He's inside."
The man nodded. "Could you call him out for me?"
Thien nodded and turned toward the house. "Dad! Someone's here to see you!"
"I'm coming!"
His father stepped out. Recognizing the visitor, his face lit up. "Oh, Uncle Ut! You've come for a visit? Please, come inside and sit down." He turned to Thien. "Thien, go downstairs and boil some water for tea."
Thien quickly ran to the kitchen, prepared the tea, and brought it up. Even though he retreated to the lower house afterward, his sharpened senses allowed him to overhear every word of their conversation.
Uncle Ut began, "Brother Sau, I'm currently running a construction project near the Thuy Nguyen and Quang Yen rivers. But we've hit a snag—the workers are having trouble driving the wooden pilings; they keep sinking. I was hoping you could come and help us. I know you're the best at this."
Thien's father took a sip of tea before replying, "I'd like to help you, truly, but the trip up there is far. I'm afraid the travel costs might be too much."
Uncle Ut insisted, "Don't worry about that, brother. I'll take care of all the expenses."
After a moment of thought, his father agreed. "Alright then, I'll help you."
Uncle Ut was overjoyed. "Thank you, brother! I really appreciate it—"
But his father interrupted, "On one condition. I want to bring Van Thien along."
Uncle Ut was surprised for a second but quickly smiled. "Oh, that's easy! As long as you're there to help, I'm happy."
Before leaving, Uncle Ut added, "It's settled then. In two days, I'll send a car to pick you and Thien up."
After the visitor left, Thien walked back up to the main house. "What was he talking about, Dad?"
His father looked at him and rubbed his head. "Nothing much. Your Uncle Ut just asked me to help him at his worksite for a few days. And this time, I'm taking you with me."
Thien was taken aback. "Me too?"
His father laughed. "I see you cooped up in the house or the fields all day. I want to take you out so you can see more of the world."
Though Thien was hesitant after everything that had happened, he eventually nodded. "Alright, Dad. I'll go with you."
Meanwhile, at the Quang Yen River, within the pitch-black armored submarine, the Red-Eyed Black Dragon sat in a relaxed posture. A soldier approached him.
"Sir, we have pinpointed his location."
A hologram flickered to life, displaying Van Thien's current position. The Red-Eyed Black Dragon stared at the screen and let out a faint smirk.
"Continue monitoring him..."
"Yes, sir!" the soldier bowed.
The Dragon flicked his finger, playing with a black blade that shimmered with a crimson, ember-like glow. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the hologram.
"We... shall meet again very soon, little friend."