The Adventure Party pressed onward, the Tablet of Prophecy carefully secured in Celeste's pack. The mysterious stone tablet, gifted by the old woman, seemed less like an ancient relic and more like a compass in their hands.
"So… this tablet," Celeste said, eyes focused on the slender needle embedded within the stone, "it's pointing that way." She gestured toward the horizon where the needle steadily aimed.
"That way?" Valeria narrowed her eyes, squinting in the direction the tablet indicated. "That's the Mediterranean Sea, right? If we want to cross the ocean, we'll need to find a ship and set sail."
Noir's gaze followed the same line, his voice quiet but steady. "The Mediterranean Sea… I think I remember something about it. It's the same sea my father sailed to. He left years ago… and never came back."
Though he tried to keep his composure, a shadow of sorrow flickered across his eyes.
Celeste stepped closer to him, offering a warm smile. "Hey, it's alright, Noir. I'm sure he's still out there somewhere. Maybe waiting for the right moment to return."
Valeria's voice softened, tinged with respect. "Your father, huh… He must've been a great sailor to dedicate his life to the sea. And here you are, kid, following in his footsteps."
Noir shook his head, denying any praise. "Father wasn't a great sailor. Just… ordinary. A man with dreams. A man who yearned for the sea."
He looked out at the vast, endless water beyond, memories stirring deep inside him.
I still remember the first time I stepped aboard his ship.
---------------------------------
[Nine years ago]
"Noir, it's time for me to depart," his father said softly, holding a worn green scarf in his hands. "Take care of the farm. Don't be a burden to your grandpa. Stay strong."
He folded the scarf carefully and pressed it into Noir's small hands. "Wear this. It will keep you safe. Do not lose it."
Those were the last words his father ever spoke to him. The scarf was all he left behind, worn but precious, a tether to a past shrouded in mystery.
Noir's mind drifted through hazy fragments of memories, some blurry, some impossible to grasp. It was as if time itself had erased the moments he shared with his father. Why, he did not know.
No one would ever know the full truth.
A sharp snap pulled him back.
"Hey, are you done daydreaming, kid?" Valeria's voice cut through the silence with firm authority.
"We need to move. There's an abandoned port down below. We should check if any ships are still intact."
Celeste nodded, her eyes bright with determination. "We'll sail across the sea. This journey will be long, but it's the path to the promised dawn."
With that, Noir wiped the lingering shadows from his face and followed his companions down the rugged path toward the forgotten port, their hearts united by hope and the mysteries yet to unfold.
[—To Be Continued—]