We Would One Day Set Sail

Years later.

A huge ship was moored by the shore.

It rocked gently with the waves on the sparkling sea.

It was the culmination of every artisan's all-or-nothing effort.

After accumulating enough skills and knowledge,

they no longer focused on building more small boats.

Instead, under Blair's direction, they pooled their efforts and used the finest timber available to build a ship unlike any that had come before.

Perhaps the gods truly were watching over them.

During that time,

no tsunami struck.

And no mishaps occurred during construction.

With the artisans' hard work and the Shell Insect's help, the massive ship, which could hold more than seventy people, was completed and made its first successful test voyage in less than ten years.

Late that night,

Ned thought of the moment he had set for a few weeks from then, and was so excited he couldn't sleep a wink.

Many of his followers were just as restless.

Some couldn't sleep peacefully in their beds for days on end.

After tossing and turning, they eventually gave up and went out beneath the moonlight to the dark sea, where they talked together and imagined the ocean vistas they would soon see.

In these final few weeks,

Ned gathered his followers on the shore one night to give them his final instructions before setting sail.

On the dark shore, people spoke freely about the future.

"Haha, just thinking about the great feat we'll accomplish in a few weeks makes me so excited I could jump for joy."

"We'll find more land and more food for the gods and our Tribe!"

"That's right. We've waited far too long for a day like this."

Their discussions were always filled with hope.

Beneath the moonlight,

Ned came over too.

When they saw the God-Chosen approaching,

his followers all stood up, their faces full of respect.

The God-Chosen held an exalted place in their hearts.

It was thanks to his support that their shipbuilding efforts had advanced by leaps and bounds.

Ned looked at them, smiled, and raised a hand.

"Sit down."

Once they had quieted, Ned said,

"Though I hate to dampen your spirits at such an exciting time,

I have to ask you one last time."

Ned's gaze slowly swept over each person.

"If you want to back out, there's still time."

"On this voyage, we'll face challenges unlike any we've ever known. Even with the help of the divine messenger, the Shell Insect, the sea remains mysterious and powerful."

"Some of us may lose our lives in the storms. We may encounter terrifying creatures like the Giant Crab."

"Or we may become lost at sea, unable to find our way back."

Ned spoke calmly.

"I know some of you have families, and some of you made up your minds long ago but have hesitated to speak up."

"If you want to back out, you can tell me now. There's no shame in it."

At Ned's words, some people fell silent.

What he said made sense.

They all yearned for the sea,

but with death looming and their families weighing on their minds, some of them were still uncertain.

Beneath the moonlight,

silence spread among them.

At last,

one by one, people went over to Ned and spoke with him quietly. Some then left.

In the end,

forty people remained, their expressions calm.

After confirming each person's decision, Ned finally smiled.

"Then let's look forward to that day, everyone."

After the group had dispersed into the night,

a short figure who stood out from the crowd appeared on the shore.

"Why aren't you asleep yet, Lukar?"

Ned asked without turning around.

He had already sensed through the insects that his child had left home and was coming over.

Ned's son, Lukar, had run all the way from home.

The sensible boy could no longer hold back his feelings. His eyes brimming with tears, he came to his father and poured out his heart.

Ned bent down and smiled as he stroked Lukar's head.

"What's wrong? Weren't you curious about what's in the sea? Your father is going to find out. Once I have the answer, I'll come back."

But Lukar clearly wasn't so easily reassured by his father's words.

His expression remained downcast as he murmured,

"But the people of the Tribe all say that you might... never come back."

"Just like... just like the people the Sea Monsters killed."

Lukar was still young,

but he already understood what life and death meant.

When he was little,

he had witnessed his people being killed by monsters from the sea.

That was why he feared for his father's fate.

Ned's expression softened.

He thought for a moment, then asked Lukar,

"Lukar, do you remember what you said you wanted to be when you were little?"

At his father's mention of his dream,

a glimmer of light returned to the boy's eyes.

"Of course I remember."

Lukar stumbled over his words.

"I-I want to be a one-in-a-million sharpshooter like Master Barlow, a-and then get the sacred Lightning Bow and become the mightiest Warrior protecting our Tribe."

Ned asked,

"What if you couldn't achieve any of that?"

Lukar froze, then answered without thinking,

"Then I'd probably regret it for the rest of my life. I'd keep thinking about it every single day."

Lukar added, "I might even cry."

Ned burst out laughing.

"That's right, Lukar. If you couldn't do it, knowing your temperament, you'd probably cry your eyes out every day."

After he finished laughing,

Ned's expression grew calm.

Looking at his son, he placed his hands on the boy's shoulders and said gently,

"Lukar, everyone has something they want more than anything in life. If they can't get it, they'll never be able to forget it."

"Your father is no different."

"I've spent my whole life waiting for this. I've waited thirty years, and now it's finally here."

"If I don't seize this chance, I'll regret it for the rest of my life too."

Lukar stared blankly at his father.

He seemed to understand. Though tears still clung to his lashes, he nodded.

"Then... Father, go."

"But you have to promise Lukar you'll come back."

Ned nodded solemnly.

"I promise."

Beneath the brilliant moonlight,

the waves continued their timeless surge.

A large figure and a small one slowly walked along the beach.

Long, long ago,

the people on this island had not yet learned to farm and lived by eating raw meat and drinking blood.

Back then, the waves had surged just as they did now.

But the people, struggling to survive, had never dared even to look at the turbulent sea.

Yet

on this day,

with the gods' blessing and guidance,

having cast off ignorance and savagery,

people had come to understand that life meant more than simply surviving.

At last, they turned their eyes toward the sea, ready to take their first brave step into its uncharted expanse.