Day 1
The sea stretched endlessly beneath the bright afternoon sky as the ship sailed steadily toward the Land of Thaloun Grass. The wind carried the salty scent of the ocean, brushing gently against the sails and pushing the vessel forward across the shimmering water.
For Leo and his companions, this journey felt different from anything they had experienced before.
It was their first time traveling beyond their homeland.
And the excitement was impossible to hide.
Most of the team had spent the entire morning wandering around the deck, looking at the endless ocean and talking about the new land they would soon explore.
But Leo stood quietly near the edge of the ship.
His hands rested lightly against the wooden railing as he stared out at the horizon. The sea stretched endlessly ahead, blending into the sky in a soft line of blue.
From the outside, he looked calm.
But his thoughts were far away.
The wind brushed his hair as memories of home drifted through his mind.
Lucindor.
The streets.
The people.
Everything he had left behind.
He hadn't realized how much he would miss it.
A pair of footsteps approached him from behind.
Rein.
She leaned gently against the railing beside him, glancing toward the direction he was staring.
"You look like you're thinking about something heavy," she said softly.
Leo blinked slightly, then gave a small smile.
"Is it that obvious?"
Rein tilted her head.
"Only a little."
She studied his expression for a moment before asking the question she already suspected the answer to.
"Do you miss home?"
Leo didn't answer immediately.
His gaze returned to the distant horizon.
"Yeah," he admitted quietly. "I definitely do."
Rein watched him carefully.
Then, without making a big deal about it, she gently took his hand.
Her grip was warm but light, almost hesitant.
"Don't feel too homesick," she said with a soft smile.
Leo looked at her, surprised.
She continued speaking, her voice calm and reassuring.
"Sometimes leaving home is the only way to see how big the world really is."
Leo chuckled slightly.
"That sounds like something someone experienced would say."
Rein shrugged playfully.
"Well… I've traveled around a bit."
She began sharing pieces of her backstory—small stories about places she had seen, strange people she had met, and the lessons she had learned along the way.
Her voice carried a gentle rhythm that made the stories feel comforting.
Leo listened quietly.
The more she spoke, the lighter he began to feel.
By the time she finished, he was smiling again.
"Thanks," he said sincerely.
Rein smiled back.
"I didn't even do anything."
But Leo knew her company had helped more than she realized.
Above them, sitting at the highest part of the ship, Helmond watched the entire scene unfold.
From his position near the mast, he had a perfect view of the deck below.
He rested his chin against his hand while observing the quiet interaction between Leo and Rein.
Helmond wasn't the type to interrupt moments like that.
Instead, he simply watched.
His sharp eyes noticed the subtle gestures.
The way Rein stood close to Leo.
The way Leo smiled differently when she spoke.
Helmond smirked slightly.
"Hmm."
He leaned back against the mast, folding his arms.
"Something's definitely going on there."
But he didn't say anything aloud.
He simply continued staring out at the sea.
Not everyone on the ship was so observant.
Ethan, for example, had absolutely no interest in analyzing anyone's relationships.
He was lying flat on the wooden deck, one arm under his head as a pillow.
Completely asleep.
The rocking motion of the ship made the perfect environment for a nap.
Occasionally he shifted slightly, mumbling something incoherent before drifting back into deeper sleep.
If there was one thing Ethan was good at, it was relaxing during long journeys.
Meanwhile, Alice had taken full advantage of the trip.
This was her first time visiting another land, and she had no intention of wasting the opportunity.
She moved across the ship energetically, approaching every traveler she could find.
"So what kind of cities exist in Thaloun Grass?"
"Are there special foods there?"
"Do they have different kinds of magic?"
"What kind of animals live there?"
Her questions came so quickly that the travelers barely had time to answer before the next one arrived.
There were four travelers aboard the ship, all of them originally from Thaloun Grass.
At first they were surprised by Alice's enthusiasm.
But eventually they began enjoying her curiosity.
One of them even laughed.
"You sure ask a lot of questions."
Alice grinned brightly.
"I want to learn everything!"
She opened a small notebook and began writing down every answer they gave her.
"If someone back home asks about our journey later," she said proudly, "I'll have all the information ready."
The travelers exchanged amused glances.
"Smart girl."
As evening slowly approached, the sky began to shift into warmer colors.
The ocean reflected streaks of orange and gold as the sun sank toward the horizon.
The ship continued sailing steadily across the calm sea.
Eventually, night arrived.
The sky darkened.
And the stars appeared one by one.
Leo and Rein sat beside each other on the deck, quietly watching the sky.
The moon hung high above them, casting silver light across the ocean's surface.
The water sparkled gently with each passing wave.
It was one of the most peaceful nights they had seen in a long time.
Leo stared up at the stars for a moment before looking back toward the distant horizon.
Rein noticed.
She nudged his shoulder gently.
"Still thinking about home?" she asked.
Leo smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
Rein didn't respond immediately.
Instead, she simply leaned a little closer beside him.
Sometimes words weren't necessary.
Her quiet presence alone made the moment warmer.
Leo glanced at her again and felt the homesickness fade just a little.
Not far away, Ethan lay on his back again.
But this time he wasn't asleep.
He was staring at the sky.
"One… two… three…"
He lazily counted the stars as his eyelids slowly drooped.
"Man… there's a lot tonight."
Within minutes, he drifted off again.
Helmond remained in his usual high spot on the ship.
From there, he could see everything.
The moon.
The stars.
And the small moment between Leo and Rein.
He watched quietly for a while before shifting his gaze toward the glowing moon above.
The sea wind moved through his hair as he leaned back.
"Not a bad night," he murmured.
Alice was still awake as well.
But unlike everyone else, she wasn't relaxing.
She sat near a lantern with her notebook open, carefully writing down everything she had learned from the travelers earlier.
Descriptions of towns.
Interesting traditions.
Foods unique to Thaloun Grass.
She even sketched a small map based on their explanations.
"If someone asks about this trip later," she whispered to herself, "I'll remember everything."
The ship continued sailing quietly through the night.
And beneath the endless stars, the team slowly fell asleep one by one.
Day 2
Morning arrived with the gentle sound of waves and the smell of freshly cooked food drifting across the ship.
The scent was warm and inviting.
One by one, the team began waking up.
Helmond stretched his arms as he climbed down from his spot near the mast.
Ethan rubbed his eyes and sat up slowly.
"Why does it smell so good…?"
They followed the scent toward the center of the deck.
And there it was.
A full meal spread across the table.
Fresh bread.
Grilled fish.
Warm soup.
And several side dishes.
Alice stood proudly beside the table.
One of the travelers stood nearby, smiling.
"Good morning," Alice said cheerfully.
The team stared at the meal in surprise.
"You made all this?" Helmond asked.
"With help," Alice replied.
The traveler laughed.
"She insisted on helping."
The others quickly took seats around the table.
All except one person.
Leo.
He was the last one to wake up.
He stepped out onto the deck, still adjusting his jacket, when he noticed everyone already eating.
Alice immediately noticed him.
She grabbed a plate and placed it in front of him.
"Finally awake," she said with a teasing smile.
Leo chuckled softly.
"Guess I'm late."
He sat down beside the others.
"Thanks for the food," he said sincerely, glancing at both Alice and the travelers.
The meal was simple.
But it felt warm.
Comforting.
For a brief moment, Leo was reminded of meals back home.
After everyone finished eating, Ethan leaned casually against the ship's railing.
He looked toward Leo.
"Hey."
Leo walked over.
"What's up?"
Ethan scratched the back of his head.
"I've been meaning to ask you something."
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"It's about when Kharous attacked the city," Ethan continued.
His tone grew slightly more serious.
"Do you really think you could beat him if you faced him alone?"
Leo paused.
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he stared out toward the endless sea.
Then he spoke honestly.
"No."
Ethan blinked.
Leo continued calmly.
"I couldn't even keep up with him the way Master Eryndor did."
Ethan crossed his arms.
"But you still made him fall back."
Leo shook his head.
"I didn't make him retreat because I was stronger."
He looked toward the horizon again.
"I just did everything I could at that moment."
Ethan studied him for a few seconds.
Then he grinned.
"Well… whatever the reason was," he said, "you still stood your ground against a titan."
Leo smiled slightly.
But deep inside, he knew the truth.
He still had a long way to go.
Later, Ethan leaned quietly against the wooden rail again.
This time he watched Leo from a distance.
Something had changed in his mind.
He no longer saw Leo the same way.
Not just a teammate.
Not just a friend.
But someone he wanted to surpass.
A rival.
Ethan smirked.
"Guess I've got some catching up to do."
Then he turned his gaze back toward the endless sea as the ship continued sailing toward the Land of Thaloun Grass.