Chapter 94: What Awaits Beyond the Tide

  "IT'S SO HOT!"

  Raito’s shout was a raw, desperate plea hurled at the cloudless, scorching expanse above. He lay spread-eagled on the ship’s deck, stripped to the waist, the wood warm against his back as he surrendered completely to the oppressive temperature.

  Two days.

  It had only been two days since they watched the glittering, water-logged land of Spica fade into the horizon. Two days since they traded the cool, turquoise canals for the open sea. But the refreshing, salty breeze that had accompanied their departure had vanished as if it had never existed.

  In its place was this. A dry, stifling heat that tasted of dust and sun-baked stone, even out here on the water. It was an oppressive blanket that clung to the skin, sucking the moisture right out of the air.

  "Hohoho!"

  A deep, familiar rumble of laughter answered Raito’s lament. "That is how you know we are getting closer, my boy,"

  The giant merchant didn't even look up. He was sitting comfortably in the shade of the mast, taking a rare moment away from the helm to focus entirely on the thick ledger balanced on his knees. He turned a page with a large, calloused finger, scratching a note with his pen, completely unfazed by the sweltering atmosphere.

  "Closer to what?" Raito wheezed, turning his head to glare at the unbothered giant. "The sun? Did we take a wrong turn and sail straight into a volcano?"

  "You are not entirely wrong, there is indeed a famous volcano there, hohoho. But, I’m referring to Zarateph, of course! My home region." Bob beamed, finally looking up. He adjusted his glasses with a thick finger. "The region of adventurers is known for many things, this weather is one that stood out more, since its very ‘in your face,’ so to speak. Akin to an opening challenge to those who seek fame and fortune from the lost ages."

  "Challenge?" Raito lifted his head just enough to meet Bob’s gaze, his brown eyes dulled by the heat, his expression one of pure, unadulterated disinterest. He let his head drop back onto the deck with a hollow, defeated thud. "Not interested."

  He picked up a stray piece of parchment—likely a discarded page from one of Bob's old logs that had drifted across the deck—and began to fan himself lethargically. The hot air just moved around, warm and suffocating, doing little to cool him.

  "I just want a nice, relaxing, completely stress-free time in Zarateph," Raito declared, his voice slurring slightly with heat exhaustion, staring blankly at the white sails hanging limp against the blue. "No more challenges. No more wars. And definitely no more unknown enemies popping out of the woodwork. I am retired from heroics."

  "He's right, Bob."

  The voice came from the cabin doorway, accompanied by the soft creak of hinges. Yukari stepped out into the blinding sunlight, squinting slightly as her silver eyes adjusted to the glare. She looked relatively fresh compared to Raito, her adventurer's garb neat, though the sheen of perspiration on her brow and the sharp set of her jaw suggested the heat was testing her patience as well.

  She walked over to where Raito lay melting on the planks, her boots clicking rhythmically on the wood. With a casual, practiced flick of her wrist, the air above him shimmered. The moisture in the atmosphere coalesced instantly, freezing with a sharp crackle. A cascade of small, perfectly formed ice cubes materialized from thin air and rained down on Raito, burying him in a sudden, miniature avalanche of frost.

  "Ooh... that's the stuff," Raito sighed, his body relaxing as the ice hissed against his warm skin, a cloud of cool vapor rising around him.

  "We are so done with challenges and 'stuff'," Yukari said, dusting her hands off as if she had just taken out the trash. She turned her silver eyes toward the giant merchant, her expression serious. "We were expecting a complete vacation back in Spica, remember? And look how that turned out. Ruined by robots and theatrical tantrums."

  She stepped closer to Bob, the heat radiating off the deck making the air ripple around them. Her expression softened into a genuine plea. "Can we please just have a normal, relaxing time in Zarateph? Can you at least promise us that?"

  Bob blinked, looking down at the young woman. It was a strange question to ask a merchant whose life was defined by the unpredictable nature of the road—storms, bandits, and fluctuating markets. He hesitated, his usual quick wit stalling for a moment as he considered the weight of her request.

  "I..." he started, then paused, the scratching of his pen silencing. He looked at the desperation in her eyes, then at the pile of melting ice that was currently Raito. He placed a massive, comforting hand on her shoulder, his grip warm and steady.

  "I will try," Bob said, his voice a low, gentle rumble.

  "GREAT!"

  The shout erupted from the pile of ice like a volcanic explosion. Raito burst forth from beneath the frozen rubble, sending half-melted ice cubes skittering across the deck like diamonds. He stood up, shaking the frost and water droplets from his hair, looking revitalized, refreshed, and thoroughly chilled down.

  "Now that we are on the same page," Raito continued, his voice brimming with renewed vigor as he wiped water from his chest.

  He walked over to join Yukari and Bob, his steps light and bouncy, the lethargy of moments ago completely washed away by the magical ice bath. He looked at Yukari, and a silent, electric understanding passed between them—a shared hope for a boring, peaceful future. They nodded in unison.

  Then, they turned to Bob. Their eyes were wide, beaming with a shared, almost childlike excitement that seemed to outshine the relentless sun.

  "So, what is in Zarateph, Bob?" Yukari asked, leaning forward, finishing the thought that had clearly been bouncing between their minds since they boarded.

  "You know, other than the weather," Raito added, gesturing vaguely at the scorching air around them.

  "Hohoho!" Bob laughed, the sound echoing off the sails and rolling out over the empty sea.

  "That..." Bob started, raising a finger as if to impart a great wisdom, his eyes twinkling with a secret. Then he paused, his smile turning enigmatic.

  "That?" the two runaways echoed in perfect sync, leaning in, their eyes wide with anticipation.

  "Will have to wait until we get there," Bob finished, his voice infuriatingly calm as he picked up his pen again.

  "WHAT?!"

  The protest was immediate and loud, scaring a passing seagull away from the mast.

  "Why not now?" Yukari demanded, crossing her arms, her foot tapping impatiently on the deck.

  "Yeah, Bob!" Raito chimed in, his face a mask of frustration. "Why can't you just reveal what there is to see and do over in Zarateph? We need to prepare mentally and maybe physically!"

  "Because that would ruin the surprise," Bob said, wagging his finger at them like a teacher scolding impatient students. "Besides, I want you two to meet someone special that I know. That person will be a much better guide than myself, hohoho."

  "Someone special?" Yukari asked, her brow furrowing slightly, her mind racing through the possibilities.

  Raito narrowed his eyes, his suspicion rising. "Let me guess... also a secret?"

  "Yes and yes," Bob confirmed cheerfully. He gestured to the shimmering horizon where the heat haze danced. "So for now, just try to amuse yourselves. Don't worry, Zarateph and Spica are pretty close geographically. It should be around two to three days left of voyage to get there."

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  "Fine..."

  Raito and Yukari said it together, their shoulders slumping in a synchronized display of defeat. The wind seemed to leave their sails along with their excitement.

  But they weren't done yet. They exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them. They looked back up at the giant merchant, their expressions deadly serious.

  "But you owe us some good food there, Bob," they said in unison.

  Bob let out another hearty laugh, clapping his hands together with a sound like a thunderclap. "Alright, alright! Food's on me!"

  The two nodded, their excitement rekindled by the promise of free food, and with their best effort, tried to summon the patience to wait for Bob's surprise.

  However, the silence of the sea quickly returned. The vast, empty blue stretched out in every direction, broken only by the occasional cresting wave. The dilemma remained. They were bored. Desperately bored.

  "What now?" Raito asked, turning to Yukari, his hands resting on his hips.

  "Spar?" she suggested, though her voice lacked conviction as she wiped a bead of sweat from her neck.

  "In this heat?" Raito protested, wiping a fresh stream of sweat from his brow. "Definitely not. I'll melt into a puddle of Raito-soup."

  "Well, we can't really just stare out to the sea for three days," Yukari sighed, leaning heavily against the railing, watching the foam churn against the hull.

  "How about fishing?" Raito suggested, pointing at the dark blue water below.

  Yukari raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her silver eyes. "Can you even fish?"

  "Never tried," Raito admitted with a shrug. "But at least it will give us something to do. You know... hook, line, sinker. Catch the fish by the neck, or whatever fisherman call it."

  Yukari's eyes turned judging. "Yeah... that is definitely not what fisherman say. But since I also have nothing to do... might as well." She sighed, relenting.

  "That's the spirit!" Raito cheered, rubbing his hands together. "Oh, and don't forget to make a few buckets of ice. I'm gonna need that to cool off all of my body while we wait."

  "I'm not your convenient ice machine, you idiot!" Yukari snapped, her hand shooting out to pinch his cheek with practiced precision.

  "Ow!" Raito yelped, rubbing his face.

  As the pinch subsided, a realization seemed to dawn on them both. The ship felt quiet. Too quiet. They looked around the deck, scanning the familiar nooks and crannies. It felt emptier than usual.

  "Bob," Yukari asked, turning back to the merchant, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Where is Mila? I haven't seen her since we left Spica."

  Bob's pen stopped scratching. He didn't look up immediately. The silence stretched for a second too long.

  "Oh, Mila," he said finally, his voice dropping a register, losing some of its boom. "She is in the basement of the ship. Praying."

  "Praying?" Yukari repeated, confused. The image of the stoic, violence-prone mercenary kneeling in prayer was hard to conjure.

  "Yes," Bob said. He looked up then, and his usual beaming smile looked tight, strained around the edges. "It's a tradition she does whenever we are going back to Zarateph. To ward off bad luck. Just give her some space, please."

  Yukari stared at him. The request was simple enough, but Bob's face... the way his eyes darted away for a fraction of a second... it looked like he was holding something back. Not telling the full truth.

  "Oh... okay, Bob," she answered slowly, deciding not to press the matter.

  "And what about Great Mother-in-law?" Raito asked, turning to Yukari, using the nickname for Zhu Lihua.

  "Same thing with Mila," Yukari said, dismissing it with a wave of her hand, though a frown touched her lips. "I haven't seen her since we left Spica either. She was supposed to join us on this trip, but she just kinda disappeared. I'm sure she's fine."

  "Knowing her, you're right," Raito said with a visible shudder, recalling the terrifying aura of the woman. "Let's just catch some fish."

  Meanwhile, somewhere along the rugged coast of Zarateph, the heat haze shimmered over a dense jungle clearing. The air was thick and dry, smelling of sun-baked earth and ancient trees. Overlooking the vast, glittering sea—specifically the direction from which Bob's ship would soon arrive—a solitary figure stood motionless.

  The figure was clad in a heavy, brown hooded robe, blending almost perfectly with the dusty terrain. They stood like a statue, their presence as solid and unyielding as the mountains that lined the coast.

  suddenly, the air distorted. A burst of intense, roaring flame erupted next to the brown-robed figure, searing the grass and sending a wave of heat rolling through the clearing. From the heart of the fire, a second figure stepped out, clad in a matching robe of deep crimson.

  "I told you not to come," the figure in brown said, their voice a low, rumbling bass that did not waver. They didn't even turn their head.

  "Can't," the figure in red replied, their voice sharp and impatient. "Don't want you to mess things up. This is the only chance we get."

  "The only one who will mess things up is you and that hot-head of yours," the figure in brown countered, their tone laced with a weary, centuries-old frustration.

  "Relax," the red figure said with a dismissive wave of their hand. "You can lead the mission this time. I'll just be... support."

  "That is not the issue," the figure in brown sighed, a sound like tectonic plates shifting. They finally turned to face their companion. "You being here is the problem! Just stay put and do not give me more of a headache than I already have. Understand?"

  The figure in red scoffed, the sound sharp and derisive. "Sure, sure."

  And then, with another sudden, violent blaze of flames, the red-robed figure vanished as quickly as they had appeared, leaving only a scorch mark on the dry grass.

  The figure in brown stood alone once more in the quiet clearing, staring out at the empty horizon.

  "I swear," they grumbled to the wind, "that one will kill me before we even reach the truth."

  Hours later, the sun had dipped low on the horizon, painting the vast sky in bruising shades of violet and deep, burning crimson. The earlier blinding blue was gone, replaced by the heavy, melancholic hues of twilight.

  "Yeah, this is awful," Yukari commented.

  She was leaning heavily against the railing, her posture slumped in defeat, holding her fishing pole with the enthusiasm of someone holding a dead branch. The line dangled limply into the darkening water, unmoving.

  "That's weird," Raito murmured, squinting at his own line. He pulled it up slightly, checking the bait—a sad, soggy piece of dried meat—for the hundredth time. "We should've gotten some fish by now. I read in a book that all we need is patience."

  "YOU SAID THAT FIVE HOURS AGO!"

  Yukari’s voice cracked like a whip, shattering the peaceful sunset atmosphere. She turned on him, her silver eyes blazing with hours of accumulated boredom and frustration.

  "Just admit it, Raito! We are not catching anything! There are no fish here! Only suffering!"

  Raito flinched, nearly dropping his pole into the sea. "Okay, okay, no need to shout," he sighed, raising his hands in surrender. He looked at the empty bucket beside them, then back at the endless, empty ocean. "Fine. I'll admit it. This fishing thing... is not working."

  "You think?" Yukari said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

  "But," Raito said, a finger raised as he tried to salvage the situation, his tone shifting to one of forced, desperate positivity. "On the bright side, we are at least wasting time! Effectively!"

  Yukari stared at him. The wind tugged at her hair, framing a face that was a mixture of exhaustion and profound disbelief.

  "What do I even see in you?" she complained, the question rhetorical and weary.

  "I think... my adorableness?" Raito answered, flashing a hopeful, lopsided grin.

  Yukari let out a long, heavy sigh, turning back to the setting sun.

  "Definitely not that."

  "That reminds me!" Yukari suddenly exclaimed, pushing herself off the railing.

  "Wait here!" she shouted over her shoulder as she sprinted toward the cabin door, her footsteps thumping rapidly on the deck.

  "Hmm?" Raito tilted his head, confused by the sudden outburst, watching her disappear into the ship.

  Not long after, the cabin door swung open again. Yukari returned, her breath coming in short bursts, her face flushed but beaming. She walked up to Raito, her hand closed tight around something.

  "Here," she said, and tossed the object to him.

  Raito caught it reflexively. He opened his hand to reveal a necklace. It wasn't delicate silver or gold, but a vibrant crimson chain, woven from a material that felt warm to the touch. Attached to it was a simple, elegant circular silver locket that gleamed in the dying light.

  "What is this for?" Raito asked, turning it over in his fingers, admiring the craftsmanship.

  "I was planning to give it to you all the way back in Jinlun," Yukari said, her voice softening, almost shy. "For the one-year anniversary of our meeting."

  "That long ago?" Raito looked up, surprised. "Why now?"

  "Because I thought I lost it," she admitted, leaning against the railing beside him. "You know... when you got arrested. In the chaos, I dropped it." She looked down at the water. "Turns out, Jack found it. He kept it safe all this time and returned it to me back in Azul Spira."

  "I see," Raito murmured, his thumb brushing the silver surface of the locket. A warmth spread through his chest that had nothing to do with the humidity. "Thanks."

  Yukari smiled, stepping closer. "Here, let me put it on you."

  Raito handed the necklace back. She moved behind him, the crimson chain slipping through her fingers as she fastened the clasp at the nape of his neck. The cool metal of the locket settled against his chest, a tangible weight of memory and promise.

  "And now," she said, moving back to face him, her hand held out expectantly, "your Core."

  "My Core? Uhh... here." Raito dug into his pocket and pulled out the warm, pulsing red crystal. He placed it in her palm.

  Yukari took the locket hanging around his neck and clicked a small latch. It popped open, revealing a hollow space perfectly sized for the crystal. She pressed the Core inside. It slotted into place with a satisfying click, the red light of the crystal now glowing softly through the silver casing. She snapped it shut.

  "Perfect fit," she said, satisfied. She tapped the locket against his chest. "Now you won't have to put something so important inside your dirty pocket."

  "They are not dirty!" Raito protested, looking down at his pants indignantly.

  "Okay, okay," she laughed, her expression turning serious for a moment. "Just don't lose it. Or I will put you in a coffin."

  Raito smirked. "Even though you were the one who lost it the first time?"

  "Idiot," she murmured, her cheeks flushing pink in the sunset glow.

  The air between them grew quiet, charged with the warmth of the moment. The sun dipped lower, casting them in silhouette against the burning horizon. They leaned in, eyes closing, the world narrowing to just the two of them...

  BOOM!

  The ship lurched violently to the side. A deafening explosion ripped through the air, and the sound of splintering wood screamed from the hull. Raito and Yukari were thrown apart, stumbling to keep their footing as the deck tilted crazily.

  "WHAT WAS THAT?!"

  Bob’s voice roared from the cabin as he burst onto the deck, his eyes wide with panic, searching the smoking horizon.