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The morning sun rose in Long Ring Long Land, casting warm rays on the weird, stretched landscape. The tide had receded during the night, rearranging the shapes of the land once more. Thin paths of grass led to new hills and valleys, which, in the previous evening, didn't exist. The land seemed to be breathing, exhaling bits of itself, which were later sucked back.
Rael awakened before the others. He stood on the ridge, where the Elysian rested, anchored in the distance, his gaze following the fluxing routes. Every shift was a reminder, a reminder that, here, time had meaning. Take too long, and the earth itself would isolate you.
Following him came a soft yawn. Kaya came out of the tent, hair spiking from her head in odd directions, her eyes barely open. "Why are you always the one who is awake before me? Don't you sleep?"
Rael's gaze flickered to her, his face inscrutable
"That's not an answer," Kaya grumbled, stretching her arms over her head. She blinked at the view. "Okay, I'll admit… it's beautiful. Weird, but beautiful."
Vivi appeared next, bearing a bottle of water, followed by Robin, who started scribbling notes in her journal. In no time, the camp seemed to come alive with laughter, chattering that broke the morning stillness.
They chose to go further inland, with light luggage. The terrain stretched in bizarre shapes—paths that couladed themselves, trees that grew in the form of pillars, and beasts that appeared to be distorted copies of known creatures.
Kaya once burst out laughing at the image of a rabbit with legs so long that it kept stumbling over them. She huddled over, holding her sides. "That thing moves worse than I do," she said.
"Be careful," Vivi said, even as she suppressed a smile. "It might still bite."
Robin approached, observing the rabbit with interest. "Adaptation is sometimes awkward. But living doesn't necessarily demand finesse."
Rael simply shook his head and continued on, a flicker of a smile on his face.
By midday, they found themselves on a piece of land that overlooked a broad bay. The tide had receded, leaving glittering sandbanks as well as scattered shells of a strange sort. Kaya knelt down at once, her eyes gleaming with fascination.
"Look at that one! It's spiral-shaped," she said, holding it up to the light.
Vivi knelt beside her, examining the grouping. "These are worth money. Perhaps they trade them from the locals."
Robin knelt, her hand tracing a path over one of the larger shells. "Not only trade, but these are used as instruments, even means of communication."
Kaya's eyes sparkled with amusement. "
"Something like that," Robin said with a soft chuckle.
They managed to collect a small pile before heading back. Vivi bound them together tidily into a cloth bag, already formulating plans on how they might trade with them. Kaya demanded that she be allowed to keep one because it was "too pretty to sell."
Evening fell, and they returned to camp. Between them, a fire danced, illuminating their faces with warm light, as the strange stretched trees swayed above them in a gentle motion. The tide has started to turn once more, reclaiming the sandbanks they crossed before.
Vivi stirred a pot of stew with a wooden spoon. "You know, this might end up being one of the tame ones we've been to."
"Which is why it makes me suspicious," Robin said, raising an eyebrow.
Kaya, taking a chunk of bread, laughed. "You're beginning to sound just like him." She nodded towards Rael, who sat silently beside the fire, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
"Like who?" Robin repeated.
"Rael's father, of course."
"Perhaps I am," Robin smiled faintly.
Vivi's gaze met Rael's. "But still, maybe we can let ourselves enjoy this while we can. We don't know how long that'll last."
Rael finally broke his silence, his tone low but steady. "Enjoy it. That's what I brought you here for."
The girls glanced at each other at that. Simple words, but from him, they conveyed a lot more than he knew.
Later that evening, when the fire had dwindled, Kaya toyed with the spiral shell she'd been holding. She brought it to her lips and blew on it until it produced a ridiculously high-pitched squeak that echoed throughout the camp.
Vivi erupted with laughter, with Robin trying to hide her laughter by putting her hand over her mouth.
Rael opened one eye, unfazed. "You're going to invite the entire island with that racket."
Kaya made a face at him. "Maybe they'll be nice."
"Or hungry," Rael retorted drily
"You two never change," Robin finally laughed.
Rebacca smiled, still preening his hair
The girls gradually made their way to their respective tents, but Rael chose to remain outside, leaning against a tree trunk. The stars twinkled above, with the light reflecting on the dark surface of the water.
It was quiet. Too quiet. But even as he allowed himself to relax with his men, his instincts never let him forget that the Cipher Pol were still lurking in the shadows, watching, waiting. But not tonight. Tonight, he allowed the quiet to remain.
---
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