"I think we'll be leaving soon" Isabella said to me
"That's true." I answered with a faint smile
I turned to Zeco, seeing his face full of impatience.
"Are you thinking the same thing as me, Zeco?" I asked with a smile.
"Of course. This will be an exciting trip." He answered with great pleasure
I turned to look at Blaze, my eyes filled with concern.
"Hey, are you okay, Blaze?" I asked him.
"Uh, I'm fine," Blaze replied, a bit startled.
"Really? I'm not so sure. What's going on?" I pressed further.
"Hey, where are we heading now?" he asked, trying to change the subject.
"To Iceland, of course. Why?" I asked again.
"Hmm... I don't think I want to go there. Can I skip this journey and take a different ship?" he asked, gently placing his hand on mine.
"Eh? Are you dealing with something?" I asked more seriously.
"I think so. My family has some issues there. Please, let me take another ship," he pleaded softly.
"I see. Alright then... Take care of yourself, okay?" I said, offering a faint smile.
"Really? Alright... You too, take care." he replied with a small smile, then leapt off the ship.
"Eh?! Where's your friend going?" Jack asked me.
"Hmm, I think he doesn't want to go to Iceland right now," I answered.
"Is something wrong?" Carla asked.
"Nothing serious. He just can't come this time," I replied again.
"I think he's really important to this journey. It's a shame he's not coming," Zeco said from beside me.
"Yeah, especially since we just got a new friend."
"Well, there's nothing we can do. He must have his own reasons."
"That's true. Maybe we'll find out what it is once we get there," Zeco added.
"Goodbye, everyone!" Blaze waved at us from afar, standing on the neighboring ship.
"Look at him... He seems different. I think he really didn't want to go there," I said to Zeco, waving back at him.
We are currently sailing toward the land of Iceland—a faraway place that takes about 3 to 5 days to reach across the sea.
The sea looks calm, but the northern wind gradually pierces the skin. A thin mist grazes the water's surface, creating a ghostly reflection of our ship below.
The distance between Norway and Iceland is approximately 970 kilometers. Iceland lies in the northern Atlantic Ocean, bordered by the Arctic Sea. This distance is measured from mainland Norway to mainland Iceland, with Iceland located to the east of Greenland and about 1,000 kilometers from Norway.
Well, of course I know that from Carla, who just told us—she memorizes geography like it's an old poem she reads often.
"I've always wanted to go to Iceland," said Zeco while gazing at the horizon.
"Why?" I asked, leaning against the ship's mast, my hair blowing in the sea wind.
"I don't know... I just always imagined escaping the Vikings and living in Iceland," he said softly, as if he'd kept the thought to himself for a long time.
"I see," I replied, staring into the endless sea.
The ocean waves crashed against our ship in a steady rhythm that was almost soothing. After everything we had gone through, the sound felt more like a song than a threat.
Zeco smiled faintly when he saw my calm face.
"You're used to this now, huh?" he said, sitting beside me.
"I guess so. The sea doesn't make me nervous anymore," I answered, taking a deep breath.
"What about you, Isabella?!" I asked Isabella, who perched on my shoulder, her feathers ruffling in the wind.
"I think I'm like you now. I've gotten used to the sea after our previous journey," she replied, her eyes calmly observing the waves.
"Hufft... But a journey like this does eventually get boring, huh."
***
Before we realized it, after days of sailing—I'd lost count—we finally arrived in Iceland. The land appeared from a distance, like a painting emerging through mist.
Carla pointed excitedly ahead.
"Guys! Look, Iceland is starting to appear!"
Jack nodded, his eyes shimmering.
"Finally... home," he said with a longing tone.
I always knew Jack held many stories about this place. Carla and Robin were from here too. The three of them were childhood friends, though life had taken them in different directions.
Jack, ever reckless and full of spirit, once decided to leave in search of the strongest man in Norway.
Carla, unable to let him go alone, chose to follow him.
Robin, the wise and calm one, ventured toward Middle Earth, my homeland for hunting and exploration.
-To be continued.
Next Chap: Iceland #2