The island disappeared faster than he expected.
By the time the sun reached its peak, there was nothing left behind him but an empty horizon.
No land.
No shelter.
No Kael.
Just the sea.
Thalren sat in the small wooden boat, his gaze fixed ahead. The waves moved steadily beneath him, carrying him deeper into a world he had never truly known.
For six years, he had trained for this.
But training… and reality…
Were not the same.
---
The first day passed quietly.
Too quietly.
No creatures.
No danger.
No guidance.
Only water stretching endlessly in every direction.
Thalren dipped his hand into the sea.
Cold.
Alive.
Different.
"…So this is it."
There was no answer.
Only the sound of the waves.
---
By the second day, the silence started to feel heavy.
His food was already running low.
What little he had taken from the island wasn't enough.
He had never needed to think about survival like this before.
On the island—
There was always something.
Here—
There was nothing.
Thalren leaned back slightly, closing his eyes.
His breathing remained steady.
No panic.
No fear.
Just awareness.
"…I need to adapt."
---
The third day was worse.
His body felt slower.
Weaker.
The hunger had settled in.
Not sharp.
Not painful.
But constant.
His movements lacked the same precision as before.
Even lifting his sword felt heavier.
The ocean no longer felt calm.
It felt indifferent.
As if it didn't care whether he survived or not.
Thalren looked down at the crystal around his neck.
It pulsed faintly.
Still there.
Still connected.
But not enough.
"…Not like before."
On the island, the water responded to him more easily.
Here—
It resisted.
Or maybe…
It was simply too vast.
---
The wind picked up as evening approached.
The waves grew rougher.
The small boat rocked harder now.
Thalren adjusted his stance instinctively, balancing himself.
Even something this simple—
Required focus.
A sudden shift in the water caught his attention.
His eyes sharpened.
There—
Beneath the surface.
A shadow.
Moving.
Slow.
But deliberate.
Thalren's hand moved to his sword.
His body tensed.
Not fear—
Preparation.
The shadow circled once.
Then again.
Watching.
Waiting.
Thalren stood.
His footing was unstable, but his gaze remained locked on the water.
"…So it begins."
The surface broke.
A Sea Beast lunged upward, its jaws wide open as it aimed directly for the boat.
Thalren moved instantly.
No hesitation.
He stepped forward and swung—
The crystal flared weakly.
Water gathered—
But not enough.
The blade struck.
The creature recoiled slightly.
Not dead.
Not even close.
Thalren's eyes narrowed.
"…Too shallow."
He adjusted his grip.
The beast circled again.
Faster now.
More aggressive.
It attacked a second time.
He dodged.
Barely.
The boat shook violently.
Balance—almost lost.
He countered—
Another strike—
This time deeper.
But still not enough.
The creature roared and slammed into the side of the boat.
Wood cracked.
The impact threw Thalren off balance.
He dropped to one knee.
His breathing grew heavier.
His body—
Slower.
The hunger.
The exhaustion.
It was catching up.
The Sea Beast didn't wait.
It attacked again.
Thalren raised his sword—
Blocked—
But the force pushed him back.
His grip slipped.
For a moment—
His body didn't respond.
Just for a moment.
But that was enough.
The beast lunged again.
Closer.
Faster.
Stronger.
Thalren forced himself to move.
His muscles screamed.
His vision blurred slightly.
But he stood.
Barely.
"…I'm not done yet."
The words were quiet.
But firm.
He stepped forward.
Not fast.
Not perfect.
But enough.
He swung again—
This time—
With everything he had left.
The water responded slightly.
A sharper edge formed.
The strike landed.
The creature staggered.
But didn't fall.
Not yet.
The beast roared, preparing for another attack.
And Thalren…
Didn't move.
Not because he chose not to.
But because—
His body had reached its limit.
His grip loosened slightly.
His breathing broke.
The world tilted.
"…So this… is the real sea…"
The creature lunged.
Everything slowed.
The sound of the waves faded.
His vision dimmed.
But his eyes—
Didn't close.
Not yet.
Because somewhere, deep inside—
That promise still burned.
And even now—
He refused to let it go.