The sea felt different again.
Not dangerous.
Not tense.
But no longer aimless.
—
They weren't drifting anymore.
They were heading somewhere.
—
Carina leaned against the railing.
"…I still don't like that name."
—
Kuina stood beside her.
"…Then we confirm it and move on."
—
Tashigi adjusted her glasses.
"…Or we confirm it and it becomes relevant."
—
Carina sighed.
"…I liked it better when things weren't relevant."
—
Kevin stood at the bow.
"…We chose this."
—
That ended the discussion.
—
The island they left behind had already faded.
Ahead—
only open water.
—
But now—
they weren't just sailing.
They were following a direction built from fragments.
—
Rumors.
Voices.
Patterns.
—
"…They operate between routes," Kevin said.
—
Kuina listened.
—
Tashigi focused.
—
"…Not fixed to one island," he continued.
"…They move where attention is low."
—
Carina frowned.
"…So… we're chasing something that doesn't stay still?"
—
Kevin nodded.
"…Yes."
—
Carina crossed her arms.
"…Great plan."
—
Time passed.
—
The wind shifted slightly.
The sail adjusted.
—
Tashigi spoke after a while:
"…If they're gathering something…"
A pause.
"…They'll need a place to stop eventually."
—
Kuina nodded.
"…A temporary base."
—
Kevin looked ahead.
"…Or a holding point."
—
Carina blinked.
"…That sounded worse than I expected."
—
Silence followed.
—
Then—
a shape appeared in the distance.
—
Not an island.
—
A ship.
—
Large.
Still.
—
Kuina's eyes narrowed.
"…Not moving."
—
Tashigi focused.
"…No visible damage."
—
Carina tilted her head.
"…Then why is it just sitting there?"
—
Kevin didn't answer immediately.
—
"…We check," he said.
—
No hesitation.
—
They approached carefully.
—
The closer they got—
the quieter it felt.
—
No voices.
No movement.
—
Just a ship—
waiting.
—
They stepped aboard.
—
The deck was empty.
—
No signs of struggle.
—
But not normal either.
—
Carina frowned.
"…I don't like this."
—
Kuina moved forward.
Slow.
Measured.
—
Tashigi beside her.
Same rhythm.
—
Kevin observed everything.
—
Details.
Positions.
Absences.
—
"…This wasn't a fight," he said.
—
Tashigi nodded.
"…No damage patterns."
—
Kuina added:
"…They were taken."
—
Carina blinked.
"…That's worse."
—
A faint sound—
—
Movement.
—
All four turned.
—
Near the lower deck—
a figure.
—
Small.
—
Tied.
—
Barely moving.
—
Carina rushed forward.
"…Hey—!"
—
Kuina stopped her halfway.
"…Careful."
—
Tashigi moved first this time.
Precise.
—
She cut the bindings.
—
The figure collapsed slightly.
—
A girl.
—
Orange hair.
—
Eyes half-open.
—
She looked at them—
just briefly.
—
Sharp.
Even in that state.
—
"…You're… not them…" she muttered.
—
Kevin stepped closer.
"…Who did this?"
—
The girl didn't answer immediately.
—
Then—
"…Treasure hunters…" she said weakly.
—
Carina frowned.
"…That name again…"
—
The girl's eyes shifted slightly.
—
"…Mad… Treasure…"
—
Silence.
—
Kuina's grip tightened.
—
Tashigi's expression sharpened.
—
Kevin didn't move.
—
The girl tried to sit up—
failed—
then forced it anyway.
—
"…If you're smart…" she said quietly,
"…you'll turn around."
—
Carina crossed her arms.
"…Yeah, that's not happening."
—
The girl gave a faint, tired smirk.
—
"…Then you're not smart."
—
Kuina stepped forward.
"…Where are they?"
—
A pause.
—
The girl looked at her.
—
Measuring.
—
Then—
"…North route," she said.
"…Small island… no name…"
—
Her voice faded slightly.
—
"…They don't stay long…"
—
Kevin nodded once.
—
Information received.
—
Tashigi adjusted her glasses.
"…You were captured."
—
The girl didn't respond.
—
Carina crouched beside her.
"…Yeah, we got that part."
—
The girl glanced at her.
—
"…I escaped," she said.
—
A pause.
—
"…Barely."
—
Kuina turned slightly.
"…Then they're still nearby."
—
Kevin looked toward the horizon.
—
"…Yes."
—
The air shifted.
—
Not pressure.
—
But direction.
—
Carina stood.
"…So what now?"
—
Kevin answered simply:
"…Now we find them."
—
The girl watched them.
Silent.
—
Not trusting.
—
Not yet.
—
Kuina turned back toward their ship.
—
Tashigi followed.
Same timing.
—
Carina lingered a moment longer.
—
"…You coming?" she asked.
—
The girl didn't answer immediately.
—
Then—
"…I don't travel for free," she said.
—
Carina smirked.
"…Yeah, you'll fit right in."
—
Kevin didn't turn.
—
"…She can stay," he said.
—
Simple.
—
Final.
—
The girl narrowed her eyes slightly.
—
Still cautious.
—
Still hiding something.
—
But she stood.
—
And followed.
—
Behind them—
the empty ship drifted.
—
Silent.
—
Abandoned.
—
Ahead—
a direction had been chosen.
—
Not forced.
—
Not chased.
—
But accepted.
—
And for the first time—
they weren't just moving forward.
—
They were moving toward something waiting.