It seemed the crew's hopes were finally coming true. After two more hours of battling the relentless storm, the Violet had cleared the jagged peaks and now drifted toward a gently sloping shore. To be safe, Simbad ordered the crew to keep riding the waves rather than rushing to land.
The storm was gradually subsiding. By tomorrow, the ship would dock on the shores of Nightingale.
In a world where magic flourished, sailors didn't fear running a ship aground. In fact, beaching was a common practice when crews planned to disembark on unfamiliar shores.
The family had already begun saying their goodbyes to the crew with whom they had spent so much time—the longest stretch of their journey so far.
Though the twins and Cassia often spoke with the sailors, none had grown particularly attached.
Gray listened to final advice from the slant-eyed helmsman, while Grace teased the other crewmen, telling them to learn proper gambling and not fall for obvious tricks. She clutched her stuffed donkey in one arm and little Lucky the Cerberus pup in the other—a comical sight to the rough sailors she now lectured.
Cassia stood apart. Throughout the voyage, she had avoided making friends. She was a quiet, solitary person whose only concern was her small family. The only exception had been Kaguya—and even that had been more a fluke than a choice.
"So, 'sworn brother,' is it time for goodbyes?" Katarina asked playfully. "Surely you won't demand any extra payment from your 'sister'?"
She had never truly permitted Simbad to call her that and often scolded him for taking liberties. But the bold sea captain had long since stopped paying her teasing any mind.
"It's been a fine voyage, sister. I'll admit, I'll miss your beauty—and our nightly talks," Simbad replied, testing his luck one last time.
"Heh heh heh. Seems you've developed a fondness for hanging upside down. Are you sure you don't have a taste for pain, you dirty pirate? Fufufu."
Simbad's lips twitched. He wisely decided to change the subject.
"How can I contact you, sister?"
"I'll be in the northwest of Nightingale, near the Mourning Souls region. I wouldn't recommend trying to find me for at least ten years—unless you want to be eaten alive. If you haven't reached the level of a Nebulord by then, expect a beating from your 'older sister.' Here."
She handed him a small, round magical device resembling a compass. "If you ever come within a hundred thousand miles of me, this will let us find each other."
"Well then, safe travels. Watch out for the vampires. Though they prefer virgins, your beauty and power might provoke them more than any maiden's purity."
"And the same to you. Don't antagonize the innocent, and beware the strong—you're quite good at that. One more thing: don't let anyone know you've been to Nightingale. Leave quickly and head to Pratos to establish an alibi. And keep your crew's mouths shut."
"Don't worry. I understand the gravity of the situation. My men are no fools. They might brag that I was once thrown overboard by a strong woman I tried to charm—but they'll say nothing compromising. Everyone has their stories."
"Speaking of stories... I've always wondered. How did you return to your ship after your vice-captain betrayed you? You don't have to answer if it's a secret."
"Umm... Sister, are you sure you want to know?" Simbad asked, squirming like a shy maiden.
"Fufufu. Now I really want to know."
"I was caught and... um, violated by mermaids. You know how they reproduce? Usually, they toss sailors onto random shores afterward. But they liked me so much they gave me a boat and dropped me off near the Violet."
He whispered the embarrassing tale in her ear, hoping to see her blush.
"AHAHAHAHA!"
Instead, Katarina burst into laughter.
"Farewell, victim of assault."
She gracefully leaped onto Snowflake, who had returned to her full size, and joined Cassia and the children. With her usual elegance and ease, she rode away.
Simbad watched her go, countless thoughts swirling in his mind.
One of his sailors sidled up, noticing his captain's melancholy.
"Captain, you should've followed that woman to the ends of the earth and made her yours!"
"Shut up, Adams, you bastard! What if she hears you? What do you know? She's like a sister to me!"
"Uh-huh. And I'm a devout Buddhist who's never harmed a living creature," the sailor replied sarcastically.
A month passed since they had parted with the Violet's crew.
The family now flew across Nightingale atop Snowflake. Eternal night blanketed the continent—a favorite haunt of vampires and werewolves.
There was no sunlight here. Darkness ruled twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Yet Nightingale was no barren wasteland. Its flora and fauna had formed a unique ecosystem, thriving under the faint crimson glow of the moon Nyx.
The dominant color of the plants was deep violet. Broad leaves and intricately woven branches allowed them to perform photosynthesis despite the meager light. The temperature was surprisingly mild and steady, like a cool evening breeze after a hot day.
To an adult, the land might have seemed eerie but peaceful. Yet for children, the lack of sunlight had a profound effect.
Both twins felt a growing unease. Their usual cheer faded. Even Grace, ever playful, had grown quiet.
Crossing endless plains and winding rivers, Gray clung tightly to his mother's sleeve, afraid that if he let go, she might slip away forever.
Memories of that fateful day—the injury that had left him broken—haunted him more and more. Nightmares of the priest's and his father's cold, empty eyes, of the prophecy calling him the harbinger of humanity's fall, tormented him.
He feared being abandoned. Feared being alone. Despite all the love and care he received, he still doubted.
Katarina noticed. She understood her son's mental wounds had yet to heal. But what could she do? She could only hurry them along and smother him with love, hoping time would mend his scars.
Flying over a forest whose golden autumn foliage stretched for miles, they saw a broad river below, carrying countless leaves downstream.
"Mama, are we there yet?" Grace asked eagerly.
"Yes, darling. We'll soon reach our new home—a place where no one will bother us," Katarina replied with a gentle, relieved tone.
"Really?" Gray asked softly, a spark of anticipation in his voice. Katarina smiled, glad to hear that tiny note of hope.
"Yes, sweetheart. We're headed to the village of Tsandrysh—or as some call it, the Village of the Abandoned. It lies between the continents of Nightingale and Yama. There's only eight hours of light a day, and even that's thanks to the forest's unique position.
"Remember this rule: when it's dark, you mustn't go outside. Vengeful spirits roam the night, unwilling to reincarnate. They drag the living into their ranks."
"It might seem too dangerous for children—and it is. But that's why it's perfect for us. No one will dare follow us here, between the lands of vampires and demons.
"Most of the villagers are old or disabled, like your grandfather Mark. But everyone here is strong in their own way. Don't offend the villagers, never go out at night, and always listen to me. Understood?"
The children nodded solemnly.
Katarina turned her gaze to the horizon, where a small settlement of twenty buildings appeared.
A narrow path led away into the unknown. Most of the homes were single-story wooden structures with overgrown triangular roofs, encircled by a low, weathered fence.
At the village's center stood a round well, and across from it rose a two-story stone house—the tallest building in sight.
Snowflake landed at a distance. The graceful woman and her children dismounted. Cassia silently emerged from the shadows behind them.
Katarina stroked Snowflake's massive beak in thanks.
An old man with a twisted smile full of yellowed teeth hobbled toward them, leaning on a cane. Despite his frail appearance, he moved remarkably fast.
"Little Katya, my beauty, what brings you here? Did those wretches in your cursed Empire mistreat you?"
"Hello, Grandpa Mark. You haven't changed a bit in ten years. Much has happened... so much..." Katarina wiped a tear from her eye and nudged the children forward.
"Meet my elder daughter Grace and my younger son Gray. Children, this is Grandpa Mark—though most folks here just call him Elder Ma."
The children regarded the frail, one-legged old man, whose tattered clothes made him look like a cross between a mummy and a pirate.
"Hello, Grandpa Ma," they said shyly.
The old man's crooked grin stretched even wider.
"Good, good. They're nearly as beautiful as you were when you were small. Now, don't just stand there—come inside. I'll treat you to something tasty."
With surprising speed, he scooped up both children.
As they entered the village, he gave Snowflake's unsuspecting beak a firm whack. The giant bird shrank down into an ordinary-looking white owl and flew to perch on Katarina's shoulder, cooing in protest.
"Come along, little Katya," Elder Ma said, leading the way to their new home.