Warm and Cold

The journey to the death node seemed to be nearing its end. Against the utterly uniform gray-white backdrop beyond the ship's side, faint black patterns had begun to emerge—physical structures appearing in the distance, slowly expanding before the Lost Homeland and the Brilliant Star.

Yet for some reason, this sight, which Duncan had seen more than once before, now felt particularly... lonely and interminable.

He stood quietly at the bow of the Lost Homeland, waiting for the moment the jump would end. Footsteps sounded behind him, and without turning around, he knew who was approaching.

"Lucy," Duncan said softly. "We're almost there."

"I know," Lucretia said as she came to Duncan's side, gazing with her father at the slowly changing scenery ahead. "The last node, right? Then we return to where the Goddess of Storms sleeps... Every journey has to end sometime."

"I'm sorry. I have to set out alone again," Duncan sighed softly. Though he knew he was merely occupying an "incarnation," standing before Lucretia now still stirred many complicated emotions within him. Yet he could not say how many of those feelings truly belonged to "Duncan Abnormall." "I promised you before..."

Before he could finish, Lucretia suddenly interrupted him. "You already kept your promise. You brought me with you when you went to the end of the world."

The Sea Witch turned and looked at Duncan with eyes as still as a deep pool, her expression exceptionally earnest. But after two or three seconds, she suddenly laughed. "What did you think would happen? That I'd cry and fuss like some unreasonable little girl, clinging to you and refusing to let you do something important? Or that I'd throw a tantrum and curse you out at a time like this, sending you off on such an important journey filled