On a peaceful island, a girl was walking along the beach with her mother.
Seen from above, the island looked remarkably like a guitar. Its name suited its shape, too: people called it Norch Island.
In the ancient local language, Norch meant a musical instrument. Those who had never heard of Norch Island might know it by another name: outsiders called it the Music Capital.
"Mom, when's Daddy coming back?"
The girl looked up at her mother expectantly. She clearly missed her father.
Her mother was a gentle-looking woman with long, pale red hair that made her seem all the more graceful.
She stroked the girl's head fondly, longing appearing in her own eyes.
"It's 'Daddy,' not 'Dada.' And don't eat so much candy. You'll get cavities."
She took the lollipop from her daughter's hand, then held up one finger. One lollipop was all she could have.
The girl pouted and turned her head away in a huff.
But then she stared at the sea, transfixed. She seemed to have spotted something.
"Mom, I think there's someone in the water."
Her mother paid little attention and merely smiled.
"Last time we went to a concert on Monte Island, you said you'd seen a bird with long legs. Now you're saying there's someone in the sea.
"Tell me, what bird doesn't have legs? And there's nothing strange about someone being in the sea. Maybe they're swimming. What's so—"
She stopped, staring at the nearby water in surprise.
She had seen the person too, and she was certain he wasn't swimming. Who swam with their head underwater the entire time?
"Was he shipwrecked? Lisa, wait here. I'm going to save him."
She hesitated. In the Great Pirate Era, most people found adrift at sea were no saints. But she couldn't leave someone