I shake my head. "It is nothing, Oliver," I say, rubbing the tension at the back of my neck. "Just a hunch. Do not worry."
Oliver glances up briefly, then exhales. "Very well. Let us hope it does not lead us into an obstacle. We are already quite exhausted from this journey," he mutters softly.
A faint, steady snore drifts between us.
Rose.
"Rose, are you asleep?!" Oliver asks.
There is no answer. Her breathing is even—she is completely asleep.
"Good heavens… The journey is still long. There is no time to stop."
Oliver rises, opens the map, and studies it for a moment under the dim light. "We truly must move again."
I look at Rose's face for a while. Soft snores escape her lips—and in between them, the corner of her mouth seems to hold back a smile.
"Ridiculous," I murmur as I stand.
Oliver slings his bag over his shoulder. "Whatever it is, there is no time to stop."
—
The journey begins again.
I carry more supplies now—because of Rose. My body grows heavier with each step. Meanwhile, Oliver carries her without complaint, his pace steady along the dark path.
I am certain she is doing this deliberately. The easiest way to keep moving—letting her uncle carry her.
And truly… why should I make an issue of it?
Even so… it is irritating.
We eat dinner while walking. There is no pause. Time begins to blur—I am no longer certain how long we have been moving without rest. Day has long passed, and night has fully taken over.
We do not need a lantern. The moonlight is bright enough to guide our way.
"Hiro," Oliver calls.
"What is it?"
He stops and turns halfway toward me. "Look ahead. Carefully."
I stop.
"…Is that a ridgeline?"
"Exactly. I have studied the map thoroughly. The coastline is bordered by a long, stretching ridge. That means—"
"We have alrea—"
"Indeed. If we can see that ridgeline, then we have arrived," he cuts in, his tone sharpening with excitement. The sea lies just beyond it.
The sound of wings breaks the silence of the night.
I notice it first.
"Oliver."
"Hm?"
"The dove has arrived."
Oliver looks up.
"Hmm?" he murmurs, scanning the trees—the dove emerges between them.
"…You sensed it first, did you?" he asks.
The dove descends and lands on his shoulder.
I do not answer. I only tilt my head slightly.
Oliver gently lowers Rose onto the soft ground. He sits down and takes out a small sheet of paper and a pen from his bag.
He walks a few steps away, then stops and glances back. "Please watch Rose for a moment."
I nod and sit beside her.
I look at her face again.
And once more—she is holding back a smile.
"Ridiculous," I mutter.
She opens one eye. "Blah, blah, blah. I am tired, you know," she says as she sits up, rubbing her face. "I could not even keep walking. Besides, we have already arrived, have we not?"
"Of course. With Oliver struggling to carry you the entire way."
"Ugh. He is my uncle. Do not worry—he is strong. And he did not even wake me."
"Whatever."
I turn my gaze toward Oliver.
The air feels quieter than before.
A moment later, he returns.
He raises his hand to chest height. The dove hops onto his palm. With swift movements, he ties a small rolled message to the bird's leg, then lifts his hand high.
The dove takes off immediately, disappearing into the night sky.
"The message is sent," Rose murmurs. "Uncle, did we find an opening?!" she calls out.
Oliver does not answer at once. He walks closer, then stops between us.
His gaze lifts toward the crest of the ridge that blocks the view of the sea.
"I told them to come to our position," he says calmly. "And now… we wait for something to happen."
"Hm? What do you mean, Uncle?!"
"There is no opening beyond that ridge. The patrols are tighter than ever, my lady."
He then turns to me. "Hiro?"
Rubbing his neck, he speaks quietly, "I have a bad feeling as well. I hope… this feeling does not lead us into an obstacle."
I do not respond. I simply look up at the sky with him.
"So… there truly is no way out?"
—
I close my eyes for a moment, trying to steady my chest.
Then—
HWOOOM.
A ship's horn, distant… yet clear.
I open my eyes. "Did you hear that?"
Oliver and Rose immediately turn toward me.
"Hear?" Oliver asks. "…What?" Rose adds.
I exhale slowly. "A ship's horn. They have arrived."
"Really?" Rose asks. "I did not hear anything," Oliver says.
I nod and stand. "I want to go to that ridgeline. The sea is beyond it, is it not?"
Oliver nods. "That is correct. Go. You will be surprised when you see it," he says casually, even raising his glass.
I do not respond and begin to walk.
"I am coming too," Rose says as she stands.
I pause briefly, glance back, then continue forward.
"Hey, wait for me!"
I quicken my pace—then break into a run.
"HIROOO!"
—
"WHAT?!" Rose shouts beside me.
From the top of the ridge, the sight below feels unreal.
Lighthouse towers stand across the sea, their lights cutting through the darkness. Massive chains connect each tower—not two or three, but dozens. As if the sea itself is locked away.
"There is truly no way out?!" Rose says.
I can only stare.
Then I close my eyes.
A distant roar reaches me—not from ahead.
From the left.
"Do you hear that, Rose?"
"Huh?!"
I begin descending the ridge. "They have arrived."
I run.
"WAIT FOR ME!"
—
Oliver stands as they arrive.
"Santiago, Bartra, Grizz, Gruzz—you have finally arrived," he says, embracing them one by one. "You are fully recovered, are you not?"
Bartra nods. "Of course, Captain. If we were not, we would have been left behind at the barrier."
Oliver shakes his head slightly. "I feel both joy and sorrow at once. Joy that you have arrived…"
"And?" Grizz asks.
"Sorrow?" Gruzz adds.
Oliver suppresses a laugh. "Sorrow because we have no way out of here."
"WHAT?!"
—
We sit in a circle near the campfire.
The crew's voices fill the night—laughter, chatter, the clinking of glasses. Bartra, Grizz, and Gruzz lighten what should have been a heavy atmosphere.
"What is the plan, Captain?" Santiago asks, the dove still perched on his shoulder.
Oliver falls silent for a moment. "I do not know. We should not have returned. And we cannot cross over there."
"What about going by land, Uncle?" Rose asks.
Oliver answers without looking away. "Hiro—the mage will sense him far more clearly if we travel by land. That is why."
"I see…" Rose murmurs.
Oliver stands. "I will find a way out. Get some rest," he says, then walks toward the hill.
I lower my gaze to the ground beneath my feet.
I have no plan.
I did not start this.
I am only… moving within it.
—
The night passes slowly.
Everyone sleeps in their tents.
Everyone… except me.
I rise and step outside.
That uneasy feeling is still there.
And near the fading campfire—
Oliver sits alone.