Now, the jump had reached its end—the long voyage beyond the border had finally come to an end, and the Lost Homeland had returned once more to the realm of sea and mist.
But this was merely a temporary stop along the journey. Duncan's goal was not to return to the Boundless Sea, but to head for that frozen end of the world hanging high in the sky.
With faint vibrations coming from all parts of the ship, the Lost Homeland disengaged from its jump state. The phantom of the New Hope rapidly dissipated in the sky, while the countless invisible threads withdrew into the doll's shell. The dense fog unique to the border seas surged in from all directions almost instantly, surrounding the entire ship like fervent greeters—the Lost Homeland sailed into the sea through the fog, gliding a distance across the mirror-calm waters as its hull gradually steadied.
Alice blinked, and the liveliness quickly returned to her eyes. She looked up at Duncan standing beside her, and a smile soon bloomed across her face. "Captain! We're back!"
"Yes, we're back in the Boundless Sea. I'll take the helm from here," Duncan said with a smile, nodding at the doll as he walked over to the dark helm. "Go get some rest, or stay and watch if you want."
"Mm, I'm not tired. I'll watch from the side!" Alice said happily. She moved a large wooden barrel over from nearby and really did sit in a corner of the bridge, propping her chin on both hands as she watched Duncan steer.
Duncan glanced back at Miss Doll and smiled helplessly before placing both hands on the dark helm.
Eerie green Spirit Body Fire burned between his fingers, spreading and flowing outward along the helm. The deck and masts ignited,