I sit on a rock near the campfire, trying to steady my breathing, which has felt heavy for some time now. Perhaps being near him will ease this feeling.
"What is it, son? Cannot sleep?" he asks, his voice calm.
I shake my head slightly. "Just a bad feeling. The back of my neck feels even heavier."
He turns to me, then gives a faint smile. "I feel it as well," he says.
I fall silent for a moment, staring at the faint glow of the fire. "Do you have a plan yet?" I ask.
Oliver tilts his head slightly, as if weighing something. "I believe I do. But that plan will change if this feeling of ours truly becomes an obstacle," he replies.
I return a faint smile, then stand. "Thank you, Oliver."
"Sleep well, son."
"You as well, Oliver."
I return to the tent. Somehow, the heaviness at the back of my neck begins to fade, as if slowly pulled away by the silence of the night.
—
Sunlight brushes against my face. Warm, yet enough to wake me.
Faint sounds drift in from outside the tent—lively, filled with voices.
I open my eyes slowly.
"HIRO!" Rose shouts as she throws the tent flap open.
I jolt upright. Light floods in at once, blinding for a moment.
"Wake up. Everyone is waiting. Breakfast is already done, you know," she says.
I let out a long breath—too heavy. Today means facing everything again.
I sit up slowly. "All right. I will be there shortly."
Rose begins to close the flap.
"Hey. Leave it open."
"Do it yourself."
She leaves just like that.
I stand, then step outside.
The smell of roasted meat greets me immediately—warm, rich, mixed with the scent of burning wood. Everyone is already sitting in a circle around the campfire. Santiago, Bartra, Grizz, Gruzz, and the rest of the crew.
But—
Oliver is not there.
Rose stands near the fire, handing out skewers of meat one by one.
"Where is Oliver?" I ask.
"Hard to wake up," she replies shortly. "Just like you."
I glance toward his tent. Now that I think about it… what time did he even sleep last night?
"The Captain is always like that," Bartra says beside me while chewing. "No problem starting without him. Besides, he prefers his food cold."
I nod slightly.
Rose hands me several skewers of grilled meat. I take them.
She sits beside me. "Eat before it gets cold."
"I prefer food when it is cold," I reply flatly.
She snorts softly. "Ugh, you really are just like my uncle."
Breakfast proceeds as usual—noisy, filled with laughter. Grizz and Gruzz nudge each other as they joke, Bartra responds loudly. Santiago only gives a faint smile, speaking occasionally. Rose… as always, never stops talking.
I glance again toward Oliver's tent.
The flap moves.
Slowly, it opens.
Oliver steps out, still half-asleep. He lifts his shirt slightly, scratching his stomach, then yawns widely.
"Hey, hey, all of you. You are far too loud. Hooaam…" he says, covering his mouth with one hand.
He walks closer. "You have not started yet, have you?"
Everyone shakes their head.
Except Bartra—who is still chewing and raises his hand.
Oliver freezes.
"YOU ALREADY STARTED, DID YOU?!"
—
"Honestly… you people—I am your captain, you know," he grumbles. "I should be the one to begin. Why do you always leave me behind?" he continues, eating meat and drinking champagne.
"Bleh, that is your own fault, Uncle. Why did you wake up late? We were starving," Rose shoots back.
Oliver scratches his head again. "Yes, yes. Fine."
I look up at the blue sky. The clouds drift slowly. Birds circle high above.
Calm.
Too calm.
Will it last?
I glance at Oliver. This is how it should be.
—
Breakfast ends.
Oliver stands, looking up at the sky for a moment.
"So, explain the plan, Captain," Bartra says.
"All right, all right." Oliver exhales. "Traveling by land is not actually this strict when leaving Zepharia and heading toward Nimurelle."
"And?" Grizz asks.
"Hm?" Gruzz adds.
Oliver raises his bottle of champagne high. "Of course… WE MOVE OUT!"
"YEAH!" everyone cheers.
Oliver turns toward the tent.
The others begin to stand.
Then—
Footsteps.
Slow.
From another direction.
Everyone stops.
A man approaches, leaning on a staff. His appearance is refined—like a noble. A monocle on his left eye reflects the morning light. His face is young… yet something feels wrong. Too calm. Too cold.
"Moving out? To where?" he asks.
All eyes turn to him.
"Captain?" Santiago calls.
Oliver stops, then turns. "Hm?"
"Do you recognize that man?" Santiago asks.
"Who is he, Uncle?!" Rose asks.
Silence.
Oliver pauses for a moment.
"One of the Vanguard—Albert," he says. "His presence… carries purpose."
"Who?!" Bartra asks into the silence.
Oliver looks at me.
"Hiro."
"EVERYONE, PROTECT HIRO!"
We move immediately.
Santiago to the front. I stand in front of Rose. She remains behind me.
"My purpose is simple—to retrieve the crystal. You understand what I mean, do you not?" he says, raising his staff slightly.
"SANTIAGO!"
—BOOM. —BOOM.
Two shots fire.
He cuts them—split into four.
"Hm?" Santiago freezes.
—SPLASH.
In an instant, Albert is already before him.
Santiago's arquebus splits in half.
"SANTIAGO, WA—"
SPLASH—
His body is cut.
He falls.
Silent.
"BARTRA, SHOOT HIM."
SWAK—SWAK—SWAK.
Three stones fly.
Split apart.
"What is this…" Bartra's voice trembles.
"GRIZZ, GRUZZ, FALL BACK!" Oliver shouts.
Albert calmly returns his weapon to its sheath.
"The only one I want… is him."
He points at me.
"Anyone who stands in my way… accepts the consequences."
SLSHH—Oliver draws his sword.
"Face me."
"Very well."
SLSHH—Albert draws his blade.
Oliver attacks—
"Do not waste my time."
—SPLASH.
The strike cuts through his chest.
"Argh—"
He falls.
His sword slips from his hand and embeds into the ground.
Albert steps forward again.
Closer.
The crew tries to stop him—useless.
Grizz and Gruzz take position.
The others move.
I glance at Rose.
She does not move.
I give a faint smile. "Please… let me face him. Do not interfere."
She looks at me—confused.
—SPLASH.
Two more fall.
Bartra trembles beside me.
I pat his shoulder lightly.
"Just let it happen. Please."
—SWASH.
An arrow flies.
I turn.
SLASH—
It splits.
He catches the broken piece… and throws it back.
"Rose—"
SWAK.
It strikes her forehead.
She falls.
PLAK—Bartra collapses beside me.
I lift my head.
Albert stands directly before me.
Too close.
He smiles faintly.
"Will it truly be this easy to kill you?"