After the four reached a ridge crossing at the edge of the Gapwood, they found themselves at a beach shore, where they caught the sunset peering through the twilight skies. Stretches of clouds peaked through the horizon as the cold breeze began to sway in from the ocean. The four trekked through the sand with their minds at ease from the calming scenery.
The traveler stopped once more to admire the vista. Ardine and Lyn were close to each other while Alfaic still remained in Lyn's combat suit.
"Break time?" Ardine asked the traveler.
The traveler nodded. "Just... give me a moment here." She said, approaching the ocean at a calmly slow pace.
She stepped on the dry sands, feeling the crusted pebbles and brittle nature of the rocks entering her leather boots. A deep inhale of the sea's aroma filled her nose with the tangy aroma of unharvested salt. As her boots slipped past the dry sand onto the wet pavement, she released the buckles on her shoes and removed them, planting her small bare feet on the damp and gooey surface. Her feet left small footprints, detailing her solemnly sweet and short journey to what seemed like the edge of the world.
The ocean waves brushed against the traveler's feet, tickling them with an icy cold sensation. The vast and endless ocean brought the traveler to close her eyes while opening up her arms, basking in the harmoniousness of the peaceful waters. It might have seemed strange at first upon first glance from Lyn and Ardine, but they unanimously agreed without even communicating to each other that this type of serenity was exceedingly rare.
"She's enjoying herself," Ardine commented, admiring the twilight view. "This journey seems to be less about the droids, and more about her connection with nature."
"I'd give her this," Alfaic said. "She's a kid. She needs this."
"Quite mature for a child, actually," Ardine said. "And a child who knows how to fight like that? I'm thoroughly impressed. I haven't come across that in a while, of course, except for myself."
"Like you're some kind of prodigy."
The gleaming twilight sunset began shimmering across the emerald waters, revealing small perfected smooth rocks embedded in the sand. The traveler bent over after rolling up her leggings, snatching the rock and letting the wet sediment stain her soft palms. She held it up to the sunset, transforming the simple rock into a bejeweled ornament fit for a royal palace.
"I do... have dreams," The traveler whispered to herself. She was barely audible from the sounds of the waves splashing against the current. "I only wish you could hear them."
After she spoke to herself, she skipped the rocks across the waves, skidding it through three times before it disappeared from sight. She picked up another one and tossed it overhead, trying to reach the furthest distance it could before disappearing again. She began to laugh to herself, reaching for more and more smooth stones nestled beneath her toes, skipping more and more endlessly, until it seemed as if there were no more.
With all of the rocks gone, the traveler's face reverted into her usual calm demeanor as she held her left arm behind her back with her right hand. She cupped it safely as Lyn and Ardine approached her from the side.
"Do you ever think... the world will change for the better ever again?" The traveler asked with her delicate voice. "No more Rots? No more droids? Just a safe space where we can live out our dreams?"
"Well..." Ardine began, rolling up his arm sleeves to bask in the cool breeze. "Conflict is conflict, war is war. Eradicating those mottled mucks would certainly be a fine result."
"But that's all it ever is, isn't it? A dream?"
"A dream... is a dream, yes, you're right," Ardine said. "But we work hard to make those dreams come true. For there isn't life without dreams and the will to seek them. That's what makes life, life."
"Spoken like a true poet." Alfaic spoke aloud.
"What's your dream, sword?" The traveler asked. "To have a body of your own?"
"That would certainly be nice, only, I don't think it's possible."
"I'm always skeptical, but still hopeful," The traveler said, closing her eyes to let the breeze hit her cheeks. "That we can build a brighter future and end the conflict. But as the days go by, I lose it, little by little, and what little hope I have eventually goes away. The cycle never really ends."
The four relaxed by the sunset shores, letting the natural sounds whisk them away. Time passed generously as the sun's waning light began to fade away, and before they knew it, three whole minutes had passed.
"We're getting closer," The traveler said, returning to her boots. She brushed them aside and planted her feet within them. "But we may need to camp for the night."
"Do you think we can make it there before nightfall?" Ardine asked.
The traveler ignored Ardine and continued to make way across the shore. The others followed.
After the long and serene beach walk, Lyn and Alfaic spoke to each other personally; although there was no true reason to keep it a secret any further, it was considered private.
"The traveler asked if you wanted a body of your own," Lyn said. "The thought of it lingers in my mind."
"That isn't necessary," Alfaic said. "I'm fine just the way I am. A flying talking sword."
"You lack human connection," Lyn continued, bothered by the idea being placed away amiss. "You could not feel the water, nor see the sun clearly. You live in a nonexistent plane."
Alfaic's voice trailed off into light belligerence. "Just because I'm a sword doesn't mean I don't like it, Lyn," He said. "This is the form I've taken, and I've accepted that."
"Have you... ever wondered why?" Lyn asked. "Why? Why did I find you on that pedestal at the disc? Why did it seem as if you were protected? Why was I allowed inside... as it required identification?"
"That's a lot of questions," Alfaic replied. "I always found it easier to not worry about such trivial things."
"Why do you consider them trivial?"
"Because they are, end of story." Alfaic's voice hastened.
"But-"
"Lyn," Alfaic's voice sharpened. "I'm not... I'm not concerned, okay?"
Lyn exhaled a loud breath outside of her nostrils. "You don't remember, do you?"
"That's none of your-"
"We're here." The traveler's voice interrupted them as they passed through a new section of the shoreline. From the distance, a small abandoned beach villa piled up near the grassy section of the forest in junction with the sands. Although the villa was desolated naturally with age and time, a section of it still remained intact, enticing the traveler towards its direction.
Ardine followed the traveler up the stairs of the villa's last stand as Lyn waited outside with Alfaic. Each creak of the stairs sounded of loose wood and soft footing, making it difficult to go on. Yet the traveler continued with the others unknown of her true desires.
The traveler entered the splintered and battered wooden door, pushing it off its hinges until it collapsed on a molded carpet. The scent of the beach lingered here, but Ardine could sense a hint of light and old perfume, which reminded him of an aged candle with the fragrance of the elderly. He kept his composure to the scent as the traveler navigated through the destroyed wooden room as if she knew the ins and outs of the area.
"What are we doing here?" Ardine asked.
The traveler ignored his statements. She approached an old wooden nightstand and found shards of glass, trash, flower pedals, and nails chalked up beside it. She shoved the materials aside and found several shattered picture frames washed up beside leaking water. She picked them up one by one and examined them carefully, though their details were too fractured to make out.
However, one picture did remain perfectly intact, like an antique in an museum. A picture from of a young girl with the same hair color as the traveler, only shorter, was seen smiling next to an elderly woman with wrinkles and large beauty marks blistered through her face. The traveler smashed the frame and took the picture out, examining the washed out and faded color of white that blotched the center.
"Who are they?" Ardine asked.
The traveler folded the picture and placed it in her back pocket, disregarding
"Hey, are you even listening to me?"
The main attraction to the room was the scratched up wardrobe nailed to the weakened wall. A padlock with a key was all that it took for it to open. Ardine watched as the traveler approached the unknown wardrobe, knocked on it several times, and pressed her ear against it. Then, she pilfered a rusted bronze key from her other back pocket and placed it in the padlock, unlocking it and dropping the lock on the ground with a loud clatter.
The wardrobe opened, revealing a dusty green sack within. She removed it immediately and tossed it at Ardine's chest, prompting him to catch it. The dust expunged his nostrils and eyes, forcing him to cough as she shut the wardrobe.
"Okay, we're done here." The traveler said, making way for the exit.
"Okay, stop it," Ardine commanded with a stern voice. "What does any of this stuff have to do with the droids?"
"It clearly doesn't now, does it, old man?"
"No, no, no," Ardine's voice lowered down to a low hiss. He placed the sack on the nearby bed as his eyelids shortened in suspicion. "You've been here before, haven't you? You lived here once. That girl in the picture is you, isn't it?"
"It's none of your business." The traveler sternly stated.
"It became my business when you agreed to show me the droids," Ardine said, approaching the traveler until they stood two feet apart. "Now answer my questions. What kind of Qliphosian would live in a beach house like this? What was the point of even coming here?"
"Bug off, old man." The traveler's voice rose up.
"You don't know anything about the droids, don't you? You're just a fraud."
"I'm not a fraud."
"Oh yeah, then prove it, then. Tell me about the damn droids."
"I don't need you pestering me-"
"TELL ME!" Ardine's voice shouted, reverberating through the poor wooden establishment's foundation. They stood still for several seconds until Ardine realized he had made a terrible mistake.
She was two feet shorter than him, and three times younger than his age. His towering stature was used as a method of domination and control, rather than peace. His lust for Buchasa's fate emboldened his voice, unaware of the consequences it brought to the child.
Realizing this, Ardine's shoulders lowered themselves as he took two steps back. "I'm sorry." He said.
"Yeah, you're sorry." The traveler said. "You're not my father." She hastened her footsteps as tears trailed from her eyes, snatched the sack from the old bed, and stormed out of the room.
Ardine could hear the echoes of her footsteps moving down the wooden steps, before she could hear nothing any further. His eyes drooped as his face was ridiculed with guilt. Before he stepped out of the old house, his foot caught itself on a sharp piece of metal. He leaned down to shove it aside, when he found an old withered letter with a red seal attached to it. Ardine turned his head to make sure no one was around before taking it and placing it in his leather pouch.
"I never said I was…"