409. Beyond the sky, 5

(Rose)

The ship is sailing at high speed almost straight south-east, to the black sea.

I’m actually lazy now.

I’m relaxing on the bridge while my friends are doing the sailing. They’re doing all the work, and rather well. It’s their ship now.

I asked them how they found me and how they learnt to use the ship, how they learnt to feed the wood with alcohol.

M - I sniffed. I guessed. It was intuition.

That’s quite impressive.

So I can laze on the bench as if it was a couch. But instead of reading a book, I gaze at the ever changing scenery.

I enjoy the wind as you used to.

At some point, Myls brought me the swords Bleue and I had. She was the one who recovered them back in the city.

I probably showed a very sad smile as I held these in my hands again.

After a long moment of silence, running my fingers along the edge of the blades to check their sharpness, I gave one back to Myls.

R - I forged that one back in Türkiye. You should have it. It’s a good blade.

Myls never used a sword. She has her two pistols, and probably a knife.

R - A knife can save you, but you could need to use a sword someday.

Myls took it silently in hands. She then looked at Zes whom was helming the ship. Zes noded a yes.

Myls thanked me a little shily.

If we have some time, I’ll train her on swordsmanship.

My old sword is shorter and not as good as the one Licht made. I give it to Zeslinry when it’s her turn to rest.

She’s touched.

Z - You’re really old fashioned.

R - I can’t help it. Plus I’ve lost so many of your weapons, it’s time I give something back.

She laughs.

I close my eyes and enjoy the wind on my skin. The sun is still warm.

~

We flew over Europe in the course of a few peaceful days.

Using their rifle, I was able to hunt a boar. I then realised they weren’t used to eating much meat when I saw the faces they made at my work of skinning and cutting the animal.

That’s odd, or funny. While they remained civilised, after the world’s collapse, I quickly became a savage ready to kill and eat anything that moves. They make me feel a little guilty for eating meat when I can.

They enjoyed eating a good lump of fried red meat the next day though. They’re not picky. They also admitted it tastes really good.

Zeslinry told me she never ate such good meat in her whole life. That made me smile.

I worked slowly on tanning the leather and fur as we kept sailing south and east.

Then one day, before I knew it, we reached the shores of the sea.

I was daydreaming in front of the sea for a long while that evening, when Zeslinry came to talk to me.

Z - How are you feeling Rose?

R - It feels like it’s been an eternity since I last saw that sea... I’m good. Still a little lonely perhaps.

She held my shoulder to comfort me. I didn’t realise before how much I missed some contact like that.

Z - I’m pained you lost your lover and your child.

R - Thank you Zes... They’re not haunting me right now. I’m glad you came to meet me.

Z - Myls has good instincts.

R - You must be proud of her.

Zeslinry chuckles and grin. She is.

That night though, maybe I had some bad dreams about the ones I lost.

I don’t remember, but I woke up feeling sad the next morning.

~

We made our way toward the ruined city of Nightmare, slowly, to avoid entering the domain without realising it.

My mood is getting low. Maybe because the mourning is settling, or because her aura is already affecting me. Or both.

I saw a bird, a very large one, in the distance ahead of us. For a second I thought it could be Ana.

It’s... Unlikely...

We passed a small chain of mountains, and I recognised the bay in the distance.

We stopped the ship still reasonably far away.

With her scope, Myls saw nothing.

The place used to harbour hundreds of birds. But then I came. I guess they didn’t return.

I walk ahead, to meet her first. My friends know what to do if things go wrong.

But I end up entering the city without feeling any different.

There’s no domain anymore. She’s gone as well.

After a short investigation, I return empty handed to them. My friend has left this place. I have no idea where she went, so that’s the end of my trail.

~

As we dine, we discuss of my past life in this country. I tell them how nice it was until the drought struck us.

At some point, talking about the city by the sea where I lived, I suddenly remember something.

R - Ah! Nightmare could be there!

I told her she could have it.

Maybe she took me up on that offering. So we will go a little further to see. Just a little further.

~

As we sail above the river, the land I once inhabited reappears. We can even see some of the mountains very far away behind.

And before them, over the sea and ruptured land, the multi-coloured city.

We’re all gawking at the landscape, for another reason.

What we see are giant landmasses, floating islands, all around the area.

Z - you didn’t mentioned that.

R - I only built a floating fountain here, not even this ship. I don’t recognise the landscape.

M - It’s surreal.

It’s more than surreal.

Floating islands with patches of forests growing on them, floating peacefully above the land. Below these wide cones of rocks and earth, some plants manage to grow upside down, we can see moss and grass there from here.

The crevices or holes below each island make it easy to guess they begun floating from where they grew, they didn’t drift from somewhere else. So they’re likely related to my old experiments.

A new species drifted from my selections, and spread into something else?

And there is some activity. There are some animals there, or other things.

We repeat the precautionary procedure.

They wait for a few days far out of reach, while I head forth to make contact.

I follow an old path along the trees and then a dry trench, I recognise.

But far before the woods, I reach the first caldera.

Plants I never saw before grow in the holes. Small flowers and herbs of unusual colours spread wildly.

Also, I’ve entered the domain of a daiûa. I can feel it.

Hopefully, I will only be reuniting with a good friend.

~