The heavy rain that had lasted for two days had finally stopped, and Iberia was shrouded in darkness in the early morning. The lingering rainwater turned into a damp fog, bringing a bone-chilling cold.
The antique shop's doors remained open, and the three sat around the fire in front of them.
Is it really necessary to keep the door open all the time...?
Jones hugged his chest and couldn't help but shiver.
"That guy might have already run away; it was probably just a joke."
"No way! Mr. Vane may seem a bit... well, anyway, he's a reliable person!"
Jordi wanted to clear Vane's name, but then hesitated, thinking about Wayne's usual behavior.
"Whatever! I'm going to sleep!"
Jones stormed back into the house, and a moment later came out and threw two blankets down.
"Grandpa Jones..."
"Don't call me grandpa!"
Jones felt uncomfortable being stared at by Jordi and could only look at David to change the subject.
"Old man, go and rest. You're so old, don't be afraid of freezing to death here... I'll keep watch."
David did not respond, but simply stared silently at the fire.
Vane left at noon, and it is now the early hours of the second day.
They all knew the hope was slim, but not one of them left.
In the quiet alley, in the tranquil houses, pairs of eyes were fixed on them.
He was an old man like David.
This neighborhood was originally designated as housing for these elderly people by the Inquisition.
They are relics of an old era that experienced the Great Silence; perhaps they were young people once too.
But 50 years is enough time for vitality to turn into decay.
In the past, this neighborhood had a name.
[Reef District]
These people, like David, once stood guard by the sea, like the rocks on the shore.
Even the most stubborn reefs will decay under the erosion of time, and this time... will be their last wait.
Time ticked by, and Jordi glanced at the clock.
It's already 5:00...
The fire that had been burning against the dilapidated cabinet had gone out.
The gaze that had been fixed on them gradually faded away.
David lowered his head, fumbling for the wind chime in his hand.
Well...
Everyone rose in silence, and the old man hung the wind chimes back on the shop door.
"Go back, the mayor is probably waiting for you..."
After giving Jordi some advice, Jones helped David back into the store.
As the old man's figure was gradually swallowed by darkness, Jordi opened his mouth.
"Mr. Vane ..."
Ding-a-ling...♬
"Why did you call me?"
Jordi turned around abruptly, only to find no one behind her.
"Old man, I'll take the payment."
Looking back again, Vane was already leaning against the shop door, looking relaxed.
I flicked the seashell with my finger, and the wind chime rang out with a melodious soft sound.
After greeting the stunned Jordi, Vane pulled him towards the highlands of Gran Faro.
"Come on, come on, we'll see the beautiful scenery you described soon."
"..."
"Old man..."
Jones felt the old man's trembling body beside him and tried to dissuade him.
"That guy said he'd get paid no matter the outcome."
"What if..."
The old man turned and walked back into the shop, taking out another wind chime from the drawer.
In silence, the two elderly people supported each other as they walked towards the shore.
After an unknown amount of time, the sound of a door opening echoed through the street.
One door, two doors...
More and more doors opened, and figures walked toward the shore.
No one spoke.
They were just walking.
Like a reef.
Like every morning we've waited for over the past 50 years.
Meanwhile, Vane had brought Jordi to the secret base.
"Mr. Vane, what brings me here?"
Jordi didn't ask Vane if he had completed the task; even the naive boy knew it was just wishful thinking.
"What are you doing?" Vane took off his ship's hat and asked curiously, "Didn't you say that the view of the sea from here is the most beautiful?"
Jordi paused for a moment.
"But... the sun hasn't risen yet!"
He looked up at the sky in confusion.
Not to mention the sun, the moon was still hanging in the sky, coldly shining on the sleeping Gran Faro.
"Let's just wait," Vane replied casually. "We'll just treat it as watching the sunrise."
He glanced around, his gaze settling on a pile of odds and ends in the corner.
"By the way, bro, where are your headlights?"
"Headlight?" Jordi turned around and took the rudimentary device down from the metal rack. "You mean the lighting? Do you want to take another look at its structure?"
"That's not urgent."
Vane pointed to the top of his head.
"Can we install it now? The kind used as a lighthouse?"
"Lighthouse..."
Jordi looked down at the rudimentary device in her hand and forced a smile.
"Let's forget about it... it wouldn't be good if it disturbed the neighbors."
"It's almost dawn, what's there to be afraid of?" Vane took the device from him and walked straight to the top of the tower.
"Or is it that your lighthouse can illuminate the entire Gran Faro?"
"Don't let its small size fool you!" Jordi followed behind, her voice unconsciously carrying a hint of stubbornness.
"It's very efficient! Although it can't illuminate Gran Faro, it can at least illuminate 10 nautical miles!"
"Then just stop shining the light into the town, right?"
Vane showed no sign of stopping. He climbed to the top of the tower and placed the device on the ground.
"Just pretend I want to take a look."
"... well."
Jordi resignedly walked over and began the installation.
With the sea breeze blowing, Vane gazed into the distance.
The sparse black dots gathered on the coast, far more than he had expected.
"Brother..."
Vane suddenly turned his head and looked at Jordi, who seemed uninterested.
Aren't you even a little bit curious?
Jordi's hands didn't stop moving, but her voice softened.
"We are already very grateful that you are willing to help Grandpa David."
"As for actual success... everyone knows it's impossible."
Jordi got up and adjusted the device, pointing it towards the sea.
"That's true... but your disappointment is far too obvious."
Vane sat on the railing and leaned back, his entire posture suggesting a dangerous precariousness, as if he might fall at any moment.
"After all... everyone probably harbors some wishful thinking."
Jordi paused slightly and then stepped back a little.
"Is it all set up?"
Vane stepped aside to avoid blocking the searchlight's path.
"Well, I was originally planning to wait until a special day to test it..."
Jordi stared at his hard work before him; he had planned to light the lighthouse on the day of his departure.
This serves as the courage to set out, and as a guiding light for the return journey.
But...
Jordi activated the device, and with a hum from Qidong, a beam of pure white light pierced straight into the sea fog.
As if anticipating something, Jordi clenched her fists and stared intently into the darkness.
The dazzling light did not cause a ripple in the darkness.
Everything went as he had predicted.
"It's still impossible after all..."
Nothing is impossible.
Vane patted the boy on the shoulder and drew a circle next to his head.
"An older man once said something similar to me, and I gave him a good scolding."
As he spoke, Vane reached out and placed his hand over, Jordi shrank back.
There was no knocking as expected; Wayne covered Jordi's eyes.
Sometimes... ears are more reliable than eyes.
As darkness enveloped his vision, Jordi's mood instantly calmed down.
What did you hear?
"My heart is pounding..."
The boy heard his own heartbeat; he realized... how vibrant his life truly was.
"Is there anything else?"
"Sea breeze..."
The moist sea breeze brushed against my hair, as if someone were playing with it.
After collecting the beautiful strands of hair he had taken from Jordi's head, Vane smiled and asked again.
Is there anything else?
Jordi tried hard to listen.
At this time, the seabirds have not yet left their nests, the fishing boats have not yet set sail, and the entire Ocean City is asleep.
What can he hear?
He frowned.
Then--
[Sob...]
Jordi's body tensed up suddenly.
"Mr. Vane ..."
"What's wrong?"
The boy's voice trembled with disbelief:
"I think I heard it."
Vane released his grip, but the boy did not open his eyes.
"What did you hear...?"
[Sob...]
Jordi didn't answer, quietly sensing the moment.
"It sounds like... a whale's cry?"
You guessed wrong!
Vane's teasing laughter drifted over, Jordi frowned, pondering the source of the sound.
"Forget it, you can't describe something you've never seen before no matter how hard you try... Just open your eyes and see."
Jordi opened her eyes, and everything was no different than before she closed them.
Just as he was wondering...
Ugh--
The beautiful golden eyes gradually widened, and along with that strange voice appeared... a flash of light in the fog!
The flashes of light pulsed rhythmically, and Jordi nervously counted the signals.
It can't be wrong...
He had read it in his father's notes.
That's the signal that the ship is returning!
Aren't you going to give me any response?
Vane's voice pulled him back to reality, and Jordi hurriedly took control of the device.
It responds to flashes of light at the corresponding frequency.
Ugh--!
The sound grew closer, deep and powerful, making the air vibrate.
Jordi's palms were sweating as she meticulously executed the procedure.
Finally--
The golden sun rose from the mist, like a signal.
One after another, the suns shone brightly from both sides.
Ugh--!
Deafening sirens blared Gran Faro, and lights shone from every corner of the town.
Jordi rushed to the stone railing and stared intently at the mist.
In response--
The golden ram pierced the mist; it was the gold of Iberia.
The lighthouse's lights have not illuminated since it was last turned off, and Jordi has not turned it on.
It's no longer needed.
The fleet's beacon pierced the fog, ushering in dawn for all of Gran Faro.
"It really looks great!"
Vane came to Jordi's side and looked out with him.
[If it's evening, the setting sun will turn the entire sea surface golden...]
The sun had not yet risen in the sky, but it shone brightly under the light of the fleet.
The sea has turned into flowing gold.
The fleet is docked in Hong Kong Bay, and residents, awakened by the horn blasts, are preparing to go out.
"That won't do."
Vane stared through his binoculars at the old man kneeling on the ground in the harbor, muttering to himself.
"Don't interfere with touching farewells."
In response to Vane, Cizera's song echoed through the skies above Gran Faro.
The lights were not extinguished, but Gran Faro was even quieter.
In this silence...
The fleet docks, and the travelers return home.
No fine clothes, no medals.
The traveler still wears the smile he had when he left the shore, only now tinged with a hint of weariness.
"Salute to you, Captain David..."
The old man straightened up and saluted in return.
"Welcome home..."
Ugh~
The Stultifera Navis sounded its horn at just the right moment.
The old man cried and laughed at the same time, and saluted again.
"The same as you..."
Time passed, the singing had long since ceased, and with the arrival of dawn, Gran Faro truly awoke.
The residents, who had just been lamenting the shattering of their dreams, were forced to close their doors again by the sight of the docked fleet as soon as they stepped outside.
"He's still half asleep..."
Turning his gaze away, Vane looked to the side; the boy was still peacefully asleep.
But the tears in the corners of her eyes...
Did you have a nightmare?
Vane muttered to himself as he carried the boy back to the cushions inside the room.
Of course not, Cizera's dream must be beautiful, the kind of dream everyone desires most.
Sweet dreams, little fish...
As he stepped out of the stone tower, Vane shielded his eyes from the rising sun.
Is the sun too bright for you?
Glancing at Dario, who had appeared out of nowhere in the shadows, Vane pulled his hat brim down a little.
"Of course~ Sunlight is poison to Vampires."
Notice that Dario is all alone, Vane suddenly remembers something.
"By the way, were the birds affected by the singing?"
"If you're worried, then don't use this ability on a large scale..."
Dario sighed and stepped out of the darkness.
"The moment the song started, I had already knocked her unconscious."
"How ruthless..."
Dario approached Vane and together they watched the fleet on the shore.
"Did you make that?"
"Hmm... guess?"
Dario didn't respond, so Vane couldn't help but elbow him.
"What's wrong with you Iberia? Aren't you even a little bit curious?"
Dario rubbed his aching lower ribs and moved a little further away.
"I was simply overwhelmed by the beautiful scenery."
"The excuse for being perfunctory..."
While saying this, Vane took a screenshot of the scene in front of him in the group chat.
"They're gone."
Vane turned around, Dario didn't ask where they were going.
He turned and walked into the town, disappearing around the corner of the stone-paved alley.
The situation is now beyond his control.
He wanted to write a letter before new troubles arose.
A letter to the Saints.
The golden fleet tore through the storm and returned to Iberia as the sun rose.
Ring ring... Ring ring... ♬
The sun rose fully.
The Iberia sun shines on every returning ship and on every door and window that has been reopened.
On the other side--
Vane returned to the lobby and casually posted the photos in the group chat, which received unanimous praise.
[Gregor: Saved.]
[Vera: It looks pretty good.]
[Gorth: Although the shooting technique is terrible, the excellence of the scenery itself makes up for it, it's like the picture is glowing...]
[Vane: So harsh!!]
Times have changed, and the landscape of Iberia has been drastically altered; its past glory is now seen as a disgrace.
But when the legacy of old Iberia reappears in view, people can't help but cheer and shed tears for it.
What is Iberia?
Everyone has a different opinion on it.
However, if we abandon the macro perspective and only look at things around us, people may see her true nature sooner.
As Gorth generally commented.
Gran Faro at this moment--
Shining brightly.