The wind blew across the cliff, whipping the tall golden grass. On the horizon, the sky slowly turned to amber, announcing the end of yet another day.
Lauren stood there, the only unmoving silhouette in that living painting, eyes closed, arms hanging loosely, face tilted toward the light.
I pulled the coal sack off my back with a quiet grunt.
"Lauren…"
"I'm back from the Block…"
She turned her head toward me without opening her eyes, then burst out in a lively voice:
"Lévy!"
A wide smile split her face, a scar running across it horizontally, from temple to temple. The very wound that had left her blind.
I walked up to her calmly, then flicked her forehead.
"I'm right here… No need to shout."
"Ouch!" she said, rubbing her head, eyes half-open. "Why'd you do that?!"
"Had to."
She laughed softly, before finally opening her eyes — or almost.
"I've been here for a while. You've been around long?"
There was always music in her voice. Always that lightness.
She then reached out her hands. Between her fingers was a crushed bouquet of flowers. Hyacinths, or something close to it.
"It's been a while! I picked these carefully because I know you hate this flower! Touching them isn't easy! Happy birthday!!"
I stared at her, the flowers between us.
Carefully? They're not even the right flowers… Well, she's blind after all, I thought.
"You did this on purpose — picked the flowers I like the least?"
She exhaled and held out her arms:
"You're welcome!"
I gave her an amused look.
"Thanks anyway… demon."
Then I narrowed my eyes.
"You stirred up trouble again in front of one of the Circus-affiliated shops, didn't you? That kind of provocation could get you in trouble…"
Lauren groaned, lowering herself.
"The Circus is taking over… even near the village! They were ripping off an old lady…"
I crouched down too.
"That's how it is… They'll keep swallowing whatever they can."
Like every mafia.
We ended up sitting in the grass at the cliff's edge. The wind played with the blades, the clouds glowing with gold.
"But who cares," I murmured. "We won't be here."
Lauren lay down on her stomach, chin resting on her hands.
"In Blue World, they say there are coral deserts…"
I kept my eyes on the horizon, the crushed flowers sticking out of my pocket.
"Want me to describe it?"
She nodded softly.
"Yes, please."
Villages with mushroom-shaped houses. Meadows where suspended mountains float a few hundred meters up in the sky… Evolved species, able to speak with humans…
That continent is a legend. The El Dorado for dreamers. The ultimate goal for every kid who's read Blue World.
I glanced down at the bouquet.
But the world's been explored dozens of times. And no one knows where it is…
I turned my head toward her.
"No one can say for sure if it even exists."
The village of Azela stretched out behind us, bathed in the golden light of evening.
But Blue World is more than a book. It's a breath of freedom. An impossible dream, but a universal one. The very first adventure book in history. And the only one whose author remains unknown…
I raised my eyes to the sky. Then Lauren and I began our ritual — I became her eyes…
"The bay's glowing in the sunset. You can see the 'Cloudies,' a kind of whale that swims in the sky. A butterfly just passed in front of me, brushing the void between us and the cliff's edge. The fishermen below are packing their nets. The water's sparkling. And all of it under the beams from Kroghalia's great lighthouse. The Lighthouse of Krogh and its anima light… We're on the outskirts of that iron giant."
I paused.
"But all this is nothing compared to Blue World. Imagine it — all those wild landscapes! And Rosée, Idalia, Serica… all those provinces, all those wonders!"
Lauren smiled faintly.
"You'd have to leave the village first… then the country, ahah."
Her gaze drifted toward the horizon, the wind lifting her hair.
"And your mother? Is she better?"
I sat cross-legged.
"Her treatment's starting to work. But it only eases the symptoms. She's less tired, but we still don't know what she really needs. She's not fit for physical work…"
I stared at the sky, a little more serious.
"I've been saving for three years. So she can be at peace… until we find Blue World, I guess."
I turned to her as she brushed off her legs.
"How many times have we sat here? Since we were eight, ahah!"
Her eyes opened slowly. White, gleaming.
"Drake was here too… It's been ages."
She straightened completely.
"You've described it to me thousands of times, but it's always unique…"
She lifted a finger.
"I'd say… one. And a lot of zeros after."
I smiled.
"Once I can, we'll find a way to escape this place. And we'll come back to add even more zeros — once we've found Blue World!"
I held up my gloved hand.
"Your eyes. My condition. That's our strength."
I spread my arms wide, the wind pushing at my clothes.
"We'll see the world. And I'll describe every landscape there is to you!"
The sun sank lower over the sea, bathing the world in orange light. I smiled at her.
"A journey's done together!"
She didn't answer right away. She just smiled in silence.
"We'll pass through every country. And I'll describe every corner of them to you."
She cut me off with a mock pout.
"Pfff! When you get like this, ahaha!"
I flushed, mock-offended.
"Fine, you asked for it! We're staying here until we die!"
She laughed softly.
"Don't sulk, ahah!"
The moon rose, and we took the path back.
When we reached Lauren's house, she asked me to wait.
A meow sounded. The cat, Bepo, appeared — proud guardian of the doorway.
Lauren came back down holding a turnip.
"Eat this with your mom, for your birthday. A Blue Turnip!"
My eyes lit up.
"How'd you get this?!"
She just laughed nervously.
"Don't worry… Papy Min helped."
After one last goodbye, she went inside, feeding Bepo in her poor, empty room. Lying on her bed, she thought of Lévy, his mark, the closed borders. To leave, she'd have to become a Ranker… or be deported.
She switched on the anima journal, listening to the news from the Coliseum. Bepo fell asleep, and the night wrapped around the house.
*****************************************
Meanwhile, Lévy returned home, coal bag on his back. His mother, Sayuri, greeted him with a smile and a homemade bun.
"Happy birthday!"
He blew out the improvised candle, made a wish — for her to rest. They ate together, laughing, sharing a rare moment.
Later, he tucked her into bed, covering her gently. Passing the family photos, he stopped for a moment. Drake, himself as a baby, their mother, and even Lauren — frozen in a distant memory.
He smiled, and the night covered their home.