Meanwhile, in the armory, Hanjoon paced, his boots echoing softly against the metal floor as he checked supplies and reviewed their defense stocks. The shelves were lined with weapons, spare parts, and all the carefully organized gear he’d amassed for the journey, each piece a small assurance against the unknown that lay ahead. His amber eyes were sharp, moving from one item to the next with practiced precision, and his mind worked over potential threats they might encounter far from familiar space.
It wasn’t just weapons he was preparing but a sense of readiness, a calm he could hold in reserve for his crew’s sake. They trusted him to keep them safe, and he trusted his instincts, knowing they had always served him well. But this mission felt different. The map, with its ancient, guarded destination, held promises and dangers he hadn’t shared—not fully. And though he’d give everything to protect them, there was an unmistakable weight in holding back the truth, even from those he loved most.
He paused, resting a hand on a worn piece of armor. The Wildflower, sensing his thoughts, shifted subtly, dimming the lights to match his introspective mood. Hanjoon could feel the ship’s quiet hum, its presence reassuring but also expectant. It was as if the Wildflower, too, anticipated the journey ahead and was silently gathering itself to face whatever awaited at the end of that map.
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Hanjoon exhaled, speaking softly into the stillness. “We’re going a long way this time, old friend. Are you ready?”
The Wildflower’s lights flickered briefly, a soft response that sent a familiar warmth through him. He smiled, running a hand along the wall in a silent acknowledgment. The ship was as much a part of their family as any of the crew, and he knew it would do everything in its power to keep them safe—just as he would.
He returned to his inventory, double-checking each item and weighing their usefulness. Survival kits, emergency rations, stasis shields, and reinforced hull plates—all essential, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he needed to be prepared for something else, something unseen. The Dragon’s Cradle was more than a destination; it was a mystery, one woven into the fabric of his past, and he felt the pull of it as deeply as any call to battle.
After a moment, he placed the final piece of armor on the rack and straightened, his gaze steady. They would set out soon, and whatever secrets he held, he would carry them alone if he had to—for as long as it took to ensure their safety.
As he left the armory, his thoughts drifted back to Magnolia, to In-Su, to Lee and Han, and laughing in the mess hall. He’d give them everything he had and more, trusting that when the time came, they would face whatever lay ahead together, their fates bound as surely as the stars themselves.