"Splash... splash..."
Pure waves tinged with a faint blue rolled one after another onto the grass along the western shore of the massive lake. Under the bright sunlight, the water shimmered with rippling light.
"Chirp, chirp... chirp, chirp..."
Clear birdsong from somewhere broke the silence that had lingered over the enormous lake for some time. It came from the primeval forest on the southern shore beyond the western grassland, bringing a touch of life to the bright morning.
"Whoosh—!"
A cool breeze carrying the chill of the lake swept by. As it stirred the glittering water, it also passed over the western grassland, raising waves of grass and lifting several strips of cloth on the tattered back of the boy lying facedown on the ground.
"Mm..."
As the breeze passed and the scraps of cloth swayed with the grass, a faint groan slowly drifted away on the wind.
Then, the fingers of the boy lying facedown twitched.
"Cough!"
With a light cough, the tightly shut eyes on the face pressed against the ground slowly opened. The brows that had relaxed during his unconsciousness immediately furrowed.
Sunlight?
Feeling the familiar warmth of sunlight on his body and seeing the bright light before him, Chiba's eyes snapped wide open, and he abruptly sat up.
What time was it now? After sitting up, Chiba hurriedly turned to look around. Waves of grass rolled in the breeze, birds chirped, and everything was bright and alive.
Morning?
After that glance, Chiba, who had bolted upright, let out a long breath and flopped back down with a soft thud.
If it was morning, then there was not much of an impact. The schedule would be a little tight, but it was only the same as the plan they had made before the ambush. Originally, they had