The sea returned.
---
But not completely.
---
The waves moved again.
The wind flowed.
---
The ship steadied.
---
Yet—
Something remained.
---
A presence.
---
Faint.
---
But not gone.
---
Thalren stood where he had been.
---
At the edge of the deck.
---
Looking forward.
---
The water ahead was darker.
---
Not by color.
---
By feeling.
---
"…Closer…"
---
The voice echoed faintly.
---
Weaker than before.
---
But clearer.
---
As if—
It no longer needed to hide.
---
Thalren's hand rested lightly on the sheath.
---
Still.
---
But aware.
---
Behind him—
Rovan exhaled slowly.
---
"…I've been sailing these waters for years…"
---
A pause.
---
"…And I've never felt something like that."
---
No response.
---
"…That thing earlier…"
---
Rovan's voice lowered.
---
"…It wasn't hunting."
---
Silence.
---
"…It was watching."
---
Thalren didn't turn.
---
"…I know."
---
The answer came calmly.
---
Rovan frowned slightly.
---
"…You say that too easily."
---
No reply.
---
The ship creaked as it moved forward.
---
Cutting through the water.
---
Steady.
---
Unstoppable.
---
"…We're crossing out of safe routes," Rovan said.
---
A pause.
---
"…From here on…"
---
"…there's no patrol."
---
"…No protection."
---
"…No rules."
---
Silence.
---
Thalren's gaze didn't change.
---
"…Good."
---
Rovan let out a short breath.
---
"…You really don't hesitate."
---
"…There's no reason to."
---
A pause.
---
"…There is."
---
Silence.
---
"…Survival."
---
Thalren didn't answer.
---
Because to him—
That wasn't a reason.
---
The wind shifted.
---
Colder.
---
Heavier.
---
The sea beneath them moved slightly.
---
Not violently.
---
But differently.
---
Rovan noticed.
---
His expression hardened.
---
"…We're getting close."
---
Thalren finally turned slightly.
---
"…To what?"
---
Rovan looked ahead.
---
Far into the horizon.
---
Where the sea seemed darker.
---
"…Black Tide Archipelago."
---
A pause.
---
"…No one controls it."
---
"…No one maps it properly."
---
"…And most who go there…"
---
He stopped.
---
Then finished quietly—
---
"…don't come back."
---
Silence.
---
Thalren looked forward again.
---
"…Then we go there."
---
No hesitation.
---
No doubt.
---
Rovan shook his head slightly.
---
"…You say that like it's nothing."
---
No response.
---
The ship continued.
---
Time passed.
---
The sky dimmed slightly.
---
Clouds gathered.
---
The sea grew quieter.
---
Too quiet.
---
Thalren's eyes shifted downward.
---
The surface reflected nothing.
---
No movement.
---
No life.
---
Just depth.
---
"…It's different here," Rovan muttered.
---
"…Even the small ones don't come near."
---
Silence.
---
That alone said enough.
---
The sheath pulsed.
---
Once.
---
Then again.
---
Not strong.
---
But steady.
---
As if—
Guiding.
---
"…This way…"
---
The voice whispered faintly.
---
Thalren's grip tightened slightly.
---
He didn't question it.
---
Didn't resist.
---
He followed.
---
Not consciously.
---
But naturally.
---
The ship moved deeper.
---
The water beneath them shifted again.
---
Slow.
---
Heavy.
---
Not rising.
---
Not attacking.
---
Just—
There.
---
Rovan's eyes narrowed.
---
"…Something's below us."
---
A pause.
---
"…Big."
---
Thalren didn't move.
---
Didn't react.
---
Because he already knew.
---
"…It's not coming up," Rovan said.
---
"…Just… staying with us."
---
Silence.
---
The ship continued forward.
---
And whatever was beneath—
---
Moved with it.
---
Matching its pace.
---
Watching.
---
Waiting.
---
Thalren looked ahead.
---
Unshaken.
---
Uncertain of nothing.
---
"…Closer…"
---
The voice returned again.
---
And this time—
---
He understood one thing clearly.
---
He wasn't searching for it.
---
It was waiting for him.
---
At the end of the sea.