Those Who Departed, Those Who Went Far Away

Nina came to the deck and raised her right hand toward the sky—the blazing flames suddenly erupted from her palm, transforming into an arc of light capable of piercing the dense fog. That ray of sunlight flickered above the Lost Homeland, conveying greetings and respect to those heading toward death on another timeline.

Had the Sea Song seen it? Did those on another timeline know what had happened at that moment? Were they on their way to die, or were they returning home? In that brief instant when lights flickered and two timelines intersected, did they understand their own fate?

The window during which time converged gradually came to an end. The ship's silhouette swiftly dimmed and blurred, once again becoming a chaotic tangle of lines and shadows. Like something briefly surfacing from the water, it slowly sank once more into that endless, dark "deep sea."

On the bridge, Anomaly 077's shriveled, hunched body seemed to tremble faintly in the wind. He gripped the Lost Homeland's wheel tightly, staring in the Sea Song's direction. For an instant, he opened his mouth as if he wanted to shout, but every word dissipated in his broken, shriveled throat.

Then he raised a hand, wanting to salute the ship on which he had once served and his former comrades—over the past few days, he had relearned that gesture of salute. Vana had taught it to him: simply trace the rise and fall of waves across one's chest, representing the storm's protection and a blessing for safety. But in an instant, as though struck by lightning, he pressed his hand back onto the dark wheel and gripped it tightly.

Outside the Lost Homeland's hull, dangerous, chaotic ripples briefly spread across the uniform gray-white "inner wall," only to vanish and settle again in the blink