Thunder's Warning

After a while.

The sea breeze remained the same, the waves rolling in at an unhurried pace, white foam between the reefs reflecting a soft glow beneath the evening light.

Ida had finally finished handling matters at the tavern. A towel was casually draped over her shoulder, a cup of juice prepared for Loki in one hand, while the other held Mado's as she headed toward the shore.

Her voice was as bright as ever, carrying a hint of familiar helplessness. "Loki~"

"He won't be coming again~"

"Want some juice?"

Her voice echoed among the reefs, gently carried away by the sea breeze.

But this time, there was no response.

There was no familiar "old hag."

No impatient roar.

There was not even the sound of footsteps or any other movement.

Ida's steps paused slightly.

An indescribable sense of wrongness slowly rose from the depths of her heart.

She instinctively raised her head and looked toward the shore.

The next second—

"...?!"

Ida froze where she stood.

There on the coastal rocks, Loki lay sprawled on his back, his body sunk into the rubble, thin wisps of smoke rising from all over him. His hair stood on end, as though he had been struck by lightning and then given an extra dose for good measure.

And on his chest—

Sat a tiny human.

The person sat cross-legged, holding up a Giant Tribe newspaper absurdly oversized for him with both hands. He struggled to turn the pages, his brows slightly furrowed as he read with extraordinary focus.

The sight was so absurd that it was impossible to make sense of it at first.

The newspaper slowly lowered, revealing a young face with a touch of laziness and a casual smile.

"Yo~"

Rock raised a hand, as though greeting her—or perhaps merely