Despite being told that reaching the first pillar meant the ship was only halfway through its journey, another ten days passed without any sight of land. All that could be seen was the vast expanse of the ocean, the sky, and the shattered moon.

Sitting on a special corner of the deck, the Rustler embraced the pot that had been his faithful companion throughout the soon-to-be twenty-day sea journey.

“How do you feel today, still nauseous?” Men’ma came, asking.

The Rustler sighed softly. "Always, but I suppose I've grown accustomed to it."

Truth be told, there wasn't much left for him to expel from his stomach, so the nausea had become more of a lingering discomfort than a constant ordeal.

Men'ma offered a sympathetic smile. “That’s a good thing, right?”

The Rustler shrugged, acknowledging her point. “I suppose so.”

"I see, that’s great news," Men'ma nodded, her mood genuinely joyous. She then took a seat beside the Rustler, her gaze fixed on the seemingly endless horizon. The rhythmic sounds of the waves provided a soothing backdrop to their conversation. "You know," she began, "you actually held up better than I would've expected when you mentioned that you might get seasick on top of being carriage-sick."

Is she praising me?

“It seems so.”

"You think? I feel like I barely did anything. All I did was endure it, and I only did so because I didn't have much choice."

"Not at all," she instantly disagreed, an amused smirk on the corner of her mouth. "I feel like it could've been much worse. In fact, I was expecting you to behave just like you did when we journeyed to OceanView."

"Sleeping?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, actually," she stated before bursting into laughter. "I imagined you would insist on walking instead! In my mind, I pictured you requesting to be dropped in the water so you could swim alongside the boat all the way to the Southern Continent." She continued to explain, laughing even more uproariously.

Just how wrong in their head does one have to be to even consider that an option?

The Rustler chuckled, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "Well, I can't deny that swimming did cross my mind.”

“Really?! I was just joking when saying that.”

“Well, then I was too.”

"Please don't lie; you never joke. Well, I suppose you do sometimes, but they're too weird to be considered actual jokes."

"That was a nice comment; I'll remember that. And on a more serious note, I want you to know that what I just said wasn't a joke, but actually the truth. Swimming across the sea wouldn't be a feasible option for me."

"Why is that?" At that moment, the Rustler and Men'ma locked gazes, a hint of anticipation in the air as she posed her question.

As her words hung in the air, Men'ma's eyes widened with realization. "That can't be it," she exclaimed, a mix of disbelief and amusement on her face. "You don't know how to swim?"

The Rustler remained silent, but his lack of response pretty much served as a confirmation for Men’ma. “That explains a lot of things,” she chuckled, wiping tears off rolling from under her visor, as she struggled to contain her laughter

It took her a moment to regain her composure, but once she did, she proceeded to share her thoughts. "You see, I was just laughing at you, but I didn't learn how to swim until two years ago, the days I decided to leave my homeland. So, if you'd like, when we reach the shore of the Southern Continent, it would be my pleasure to teach you how to swim," she teased, a playful glint, he could tell, in her eyes.

However, it was not the Rustler who responded to her teasing but rather the captain who spoke up. As he downed his monocular, he declared, "Well, that will be happening very soon, Lady Valkyrie!" before announcing loudly for everyone on board to hear, "Attention, everyone! Land ahead!"

The Rustler exchanged a quick glance with Men’ma, and immediately after the duo hurriedly made their way to the captain's side on the upper deck. There, they stood shoulder to shoulder, eagerly peering ahead, ready to catch a glimpse of the land the captain had announced. However there was no such thing in view. Or at least not yet.

For what felt like an eternity of torturous anticipation, the ship sailed steadily forward, effortlessly cutting through the waves, seemingly heading towards an depressingly familiar blue canva. But then, like a mirage materializing before their eyes, a faint silhouette emerged on the distant horizon. It was the land they had yearned for—the Southern Continent.

A crooked smile spread across the captain's weathered face as he observed the mounting anticipation among his men. He wasn't known for his courtesies or eloquence, especially in front of the Rustler, but his gruff voice commanded attention nonetheless.

"Get ready, you lot!" the captain bellowed, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "We're approachin' the Southern Continent’s port. It's been a long and treacherous journey, but we're nearly there. Prepare yourselves to soon make landfall."

The crew, hardened and weather-beaten, responded with a series of grunts and nods. They set about their tasks, adjusting the sails, tightening the rigging, and ensuring the ship was prepared for docking.

Turning his gaze toward the Rustler and Men'ma, the captain smiled, and commented mostly to the latter’s attention. "You sure do look like you missed this place don’t you, Miss Valkyrie?”

Wiping tears that only then the Rustler remarked, Men’ma nodded, “Yes of course, how could I not. I was born and raised here.”

“Being home sure is a nice feeling, I concur,” he grumbled.

As the ship drew closer to the shores, a semblance of civilization gradually emerged before their eyes. It started with the sighting of small fishing boats, their sails billowing in the wind as they gracefully navigated the horizon. Soon after, lush vegetation became visible, painting the landscape with vibrant shades of green.

“The harbor is coming into view!” the captain's rough voice once again boomed across the deck. "Ready yourselves for landin'! Secure the lines and prepare to lower the gangplank!"

His words were met with swift action from the crew, who executed their duties with disciplined efficiency.

With the ship skillfully maneuvering toward the port, guided by the experienced hands of the sailors, Men'ma, standing by the captain, peered eagerly at the growing silhouette of the harbor. From a distance, the Rustler saw the harbor, which, although not lacking vessels of various shapes and sizes, had none that could rival the size of their current ship.

With a final grating scrape and a jolt, the ship made its final approach and through swift and experienced maneuvers docked at the lonely port. The sound of wood meeting wood reverberated through the vessel, marking the completion of the Rustler’s tumultuous journey.

"Attention, you scallywags!" the captain once again called out. The boisterous cheers instantly faded, with the crew turning their attention to their captain.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"We've made it," he declared, his voice filled with a mixture of pride and exhaustion. "We've docked at the port of our destination, the Southern Continent."

A wave of excitement swept through the crew, their weary faces transforming with elation. The Rustler understood the reason all too well. Though the journey had been particularly arduous for him, plagued by motion sickness, they had bravely navigated through treacherous waters, battling against the elements themselves. And now, their efforts had culminated in this very moment—where their cheers were truly well-deserved.

The captain's gaze swept over his crew, their weathered faces reflecting a shared sense of accomplishment. "You've done well, lads," he continued, his voice gruff but laced with a hint of pride. "It's been a long and trying voyage, but we've reached our destination. Give yourselves a pat on the back. Once you do, I want all the shipment we've got out of my ship. This is an order. By the end of the day, I want you all to be tired, thirsty, and hungry."

A collective and disappointed "oh" swept over the crew. The captain allowed it to happen and quieted it down before adding, "But as soon as that sun sets right there, I believe you lads know where to find your good ol' captain. It's all on me tonight!" The captain roared like a madman, his frenzy infecting the crew.

“Now start getting this shipment out of my beloved ship before you guys miss out with tonight's festivities,” the captain announced.

“Aye,” they all replied, ecstatic and no longer minding the task.

“You sure know how to cheer your men,” Men’ma remarked.

The captain turned to Men'ma, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, Lady Valkyrie, that would be any captain's main job, wouldn't it? Keeping the spirits high and the crew's hearts ablaze," he replied with a hearty laugh. "And there's nothing more motivating for men than drinks with their lads at nighttime."

“I have a feeling that it’s mainly the latter.”

“Was it that obvious, hahaha. Anyway, you two are coming with me or do you two plan on staying on board?” he said, motioning with head at the harbor.

The Rustler and Men’ma exchanged a nod. “Of course we are.”

***

This is it.

This is how beneath my feet feels like. Solid ground. No more swaying, no more endless motion that rocked my world day and night.

This is the way it should be.

None of that ceaseless dance of the sea, the constant ebb and flow that kept me suspended in a perpetual state of motion.

The rhythmic sway of the boat, the creaking of the wooden planks beneath my feet. With every step being a delicate balance and every movement a negotiation with the ever-changing currents.

That was wrong. This is it. This is the way.

"Are you okay there?" the Captain asked, placing his hand on the Rustler's shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine," the Rustler replied, finally regaining his senses. "I was just..."

"Don't worry, I understand," the captain interrupted. "Even for me, after all those years, being there on the sand simply feels different and can be overwhelming at times."

The Rustler nodded, but as his focus shifted from the captain to the people surrounding them, or more accurately, surrounding Men'ma, not them, the Rustler asked the captain, "Was it like this too when she left the continent?"

"It was. I would even say it was worse than this."

As soon as the Rustler and she left the ship and landed at the harbor, they were immediately approached by Odoe interested in Men’ma. While it just started with around a dozen people, she soon found herself engulfed by a swarm of people like a local saint, leaving the Rustler and the captain with no other choice but to withdraw from her.

Excited voices filled the air as admirers pressed closer, eager to catch a glimpse of her radiant presence. They reached out with reverence, touching her garments, seeking her blessings.

"Oh, blessed Valkyrie, please bless us," a voice in the crowd pleaded.

"Bless us all with a long life," another voice added.

“Oh, she sure is popular.”

“She sure looks like she is.” the Rustler thought, watching the scene.

And the captain as if hearing his thought replied, “Well, of course she is, after all she’s a Valkyrie, the highest-ranking cast for the Odoe race.”

“I see, this sure does look… unique.”

"I think the closest we will ever get to this on our continent would be the interaction between a highborn Raj and the common Arabian," the Captain commented, casting a sidelong glance at the Rustler, a glance that the Rustler didn't miss. Prompted by the Rustler's observation, the captain immediately continued, "But even that, I suppose, is nowhere near what we're seeing here. To those people—those Odoe—she is not just someone who wields power they could only dream of wielding. Instead, to them, she is a living embodiment of their faith."

It took Men'ma several dozen minutes to deal with the crowd gathering around her and finally regroup with the Rustler and the captain.

“Pfiou,” she sighed. “I almost forgot what this felt like.”

“Well done, Lady Valkyrie,” the captain praised.

“Thanks. And sorry for the wait.”

“No worries, so long as you keep your promise, I am ready to wait as long as needed to be.”

“Of course, I will, should we—” she started before trailing upon looking in the Rustler’s direction. “You’re sure you want to come with us?”

“Where are you two going?”

"Do you remember when I mentioned that I had reached an agreement, which is why the captain agreed to leave the port so quickly? Well, I'm going to fulfill my part of that agreement. We're going to meet up with the village chief. Doesn’t sound very interesting does it?"

From the way she made it sound, the Rustler understood that she preferred he didn't tag along. So, not wishing to get in the way, he announced, "Then I'll wait around."

"If you want, I can assign someone to show you around," the captain offered.

But the Rustler promptly refused, saying, "No, I'll be fine by myself."

"I see. Then take care."

Men'ma was about to take her leave when she suddenly turned around and said, "Say, while I'm heading there, I'm going to take care of our journey to the capital. Do you want us to take some days to rest in this village, or do you want us to immediately proceed to the capital?"

"Which one do you prefer?"

"Me? Well, naturally, I think the sooner we arrive the better but—"

"Then we'll proceed to the capital as soon as it is ready."

"You're sure? That's going to be another several days of carriage again," she warned.

Though these mere words made him straighten in apprehension, the Rustler clung to his words and said, "I am."

"I see. Then I'll take care of that. Don't wander too far away from here, and see you later."

***

Parting ways with Men'ma, the Rustler wandered around, as neither just standing at the dock nor returning back to the ship sounded like a proper option to him.

The first one was a big no since, while standing by the pier, with Men’ma gone, he soon took over at being the center of the attention. But he, unlike her, wasn't comfortable being the center of so many people's attention, especially considering he stood out mainly for one thing looking different. Sure, he could tell that for those people it wasn't their first time seeing an Arbian around, but still it didn’t change the fact that the Rustler felt eyed aplenty.

As for the latter option, it was self-explanatory. He didn't wait for day to come ashore just to confine himself back to the confines of a rocking ship.

To pass the time before she returned, he chose to wander along the coastline, as he had done for several days before. And just like he did back then he arrived at a beach—a beach upon which a group of fishermen arrived from the sea. They hopped out of their boat and began pushing their outrigger canoe towards the beach. It was at this moment, as they finished their task, that they noticed the Rustler's presence.

Memories flooded back to him as he recalled a girl with golden scales on her limbs, much like the fishermen up ahead, all waving at him.

He waved back and muttered to himself as he resumed his wandering activities, “So many Odoe—no, Dae Odoe around, I must really have ended up at the other side of the sea, somehow.”

“You did.”

“Yes, I did, but I’m left to wonder what changed?”

“The Sun doesn’t look like it’s going to set on this side of the sea,” she said, pointing at the blue horizon.

“Sure there is that.”

“Nox feels as though it is way higher than usual,” she added, pointing at the shattered moon which felt like the closer they got to the Southern Continent, the higher it got in the sky. above.

“There is also that, but…”

“But?”

"What really changed? For now, I have only one response: nothing." The Rustler came to a halt and let out a loud sigh. He stood there for a moment before shouting, "I'M HERE JUST SO YOU'D KNOW, THE SOUTHERN CONTINENT! AND HERE I AM, ABOUT TO MAKE YET ANOTHER BIG MISTAKE. SO IT SHOULD BE ABOUT TIME! ABOUT TIME FOR THINGS TO CHANGE! FOR YOU TO MAKE THINGS CHANGE!" Minutes of silence ensued after these words were uttered, with as a background the sound of the waves washing ashore.

"It has been long enough; I get it now. Just do something, for it's now or truly never."