A few meters from the shore, the wooden boat traced an arc as it returned along its previous path, leaving a trail that dissipated into the mire.
Gala Gala Gala—
The model's urgent grinding sounds filled the surroundings as it agitatedly approached the edge, then retreated due to the abruptly boiling mire.
Rustle—
The model sprang onto its limbs, jumping toward the edge, scattering mire fragments, quickly following the wooden boat from the marsh cavern's edge.
Passing three islands. The elderly woman clutching a wooden bowl no longer gestured, the girl in a white dress watched them with curiosity for the third time passing by, and the disguised diminutive creatures slowed their movements.
Across the marsh, the model slowed this time, not overtaking the wooden boat, but jumping along, following.
When the wooden boat was only a few meters from the exit, the model was still hundreds of meters away at the edge, seemingly unable to catch up.
"Return to where we came from."
