SLAP.
Her hand strikes my cheek.
"Do you truly think your life means nothing?" she snaps, her voice trembling with restrained emotion. "If your mother were alive—she would be shattered to hear you say that."
Her words cut far deeper than the slap.
She quickly wipes away her tears. "I do not know where to begin, Hiro. Please… help me."
She turns toward the stairs.
"Stay here tonight. There is an empty room. And you should not sell that in this village—anyone who buys it will kill you for touching it."
The door closes softly behind her.
---
The night passes slowly.
I lie on the bed upstairs. Moonlight filters through the window, its cold glow resting on my hand.
In the middle of the night, I wake abruptly—restless. I cannot sleep.
My mind is consumed by a single question.
Why does he let me live?
My life means nothing—a slave's child, a story no one cares about. My mother was once a noble, yet she abandoned everything for Father. For us.
And she dies when I am eight.
I reach for the photograph.
"Ah…"
Something I have not looked at in a long time.
The writing on the back—her handwriting. Gentle. Neat. Meant for me.
My beloved son…
Forgive this frail body. Forgive the short years I give you. I wish to see you grow bright, strong, and unyielding.
Your father protects the weak—stand firm as he does.
I find peace, calm, and freedom—I pray you find them as well.
Carry our hope. Our love. Our memory.
Forgive me. I love you, as always.
My breath falters.
My hands tremble.
"Mother…" I whisper softly. "I miss you."
---
A faint noise rises from downstairs.
I get up and move.
By the time I reach the bottom of the stairs, Rose is already seated at the kitchen table. Her sleeves are rolled up, her hair loosely tied. Beside her stands an adult woman.
"This is Hiro, Aunt Anne," Rose says. "The one I told you about."
Aunt Anne studies me for a long moment.
"Come closer. Join us and sit," she says. "You cannot travel on an empty stomach."
Rose's bags are neatly arranged along the wall.
"Close your eyes," Aunt Anne says.
Rose obeys immediately.
"I wish… I could begin this journey," Rose whispers, "with the person I have longed for. The one I finally found."
I am confused by her words as she keeps her eyes closed.
"Your turn, son," Anne says.
I take a short breath.
"I am grateful for warm food," I reply softly. "It is rare for me."
Aunt Anne smiles warmly.
"As it is for me, son."
"Mm. Then let us begin…"
We eat in the early morning.
The warmth of this house feels familiar. A warmth I thought I would never experience again in the rest of my life—yet somehow—
—a drop falls onto my hand before I realize it is coming from my face.
"Son, are you alright?" Anne asks with concern.
I nod slowly.
"I remembered my mother," I say quietly.
Aunt Anne rises, approaches me, places a hand on my shoulder, and gently rubs my back.
"It is alright, son… a loss like that never truly fades. But you do not have to bear it alone. So, let us remember this meal as the same warmth as your past life, yes…"
I nod and continue eating.
Breakfast ends shortly after.
Aunt Anne calls her cat, Lucy. It walks in casually, as if it owns the house. She kneels and gently pets it.
Suddenly, a bell from outside rattles the window.
"The carriage is here. Young miss, young master—hurry, or you will miss the ship," Anne says.
"Hiro?" Rose calls, stepping closer. "Am I accepted?"
I am momentarily at a loss.
"I did not plan to travel. I do not even know where I am going. But what you said last night was not wrong. I accept you—as repayment for your warning. As for the journey… that is your decision now."
Her expression instantly brightens. She stands, runs, and—THUD—embraces Aunt Anne tightly.
"Ohh…" Aunt Anne returns the hug warmly.
Then Rose lifts Lucy and hugs it.
"I am sorry, Lucy. But I am going on a journey. Just imagine that when I return, my brother and father will be beside me," she says.
I watch it all, only then realizing I still need to collect my belongings upstairs.
The old photograph remains where I left it—its edges torn, its ink fading, its message carved into me: stand strong.
"I will find it, Mother," I whisper.
When I return downstairs, Anne suddenly pulls me into a firm embrace—warm and unexpected.
"Thank you for that, son," she says softly. "She finally desires something again."
I nod in response.
"Hiro!" Rose calls from outside. "Hurry!"
I run out and climb into the carriage.
I sit on the left side, farther from the door. Rose waves through the window.
"Goodbye, Aunt!" she calls.
"Be careful. Send my regards to your uncle," Anne replies.
"Of course—he is your husband, after all," Rose says, holding back a smile before closing the window.
The carriage begins to move. The road trembles beneath the wheels.
Midway through the journey, pain suddenly pierces my body.
"Hiro?" she asks, looking at me closely. "Are you alright?"
I turn to her and nod slightly.
HWOOOM—the ship's horn echoes in the distance.
"Where are we going?" I ask, to be certain.
"Before, you did not know where you were heading. So I chose my uncle's place. I always remember his message: come to him after meeting the one who touched the crystal—bring that person with you."
I nod, unsure how to respond.
I turn toward the window. The dark line of the sea stretches beneath the dim dawn sky.
So this journey is inevitable. Everyone will hunt me.
HWOOOM—HWOOOM.
The driver curses softly. "My apologies for the inconvenience, young master, my lady."
"It is alright, sir," Rose says, straightening herself. Determination is clear on her face. "We must catch that ship."
We enter the port.
Shouts, moving crates, the smell of fish, metal, and chaos fill the air. Workers run, sailors throw ropes, guards shout orders.
The ship is nearly departing.
"We will not make it," I say.
"We will," Rose answers firmly.
The driver urges the horses forward.
The wheels slam against stone—TAK—TAK—TAK—SSSKREET—
The jolt knocks the breath out of me. Pain flares again—deeper, hotter.
The carriage stops abruptly.
"Go, and be careful, my lady!" the driver shouts.
We grab our bags.
Rose pays the fare. "Thank you for everything, sir."
"With pleasure."
HWOOOM—the ship's horn sounds for the last time.
Rose runs ahead, breathing hard, carrying part of the supplies while the rest fill my hands.
The boarding plank is being raised.
"Hurry!" a crew member shouts.
Sailors yell commands. Ropes are pulled. The ship begins to move.
Rose jumps first.
"Catch her!" the crew shouts, reaching out.
PAK—her hand is caught and pulled up in one motion.
"Hiro!" she calls, turning back immediately.
I throw the bags upward—DAK—DUK—then run and jump.
My fingertips nearly reach the crew—
"No—!"
—not enough.
My body drops for a moment before my reflexes catch the wooden edge of the ship.
"Hiro!!"
My grip tightens as I hang from the side of the ship, already drifting away from the dock.
"REACH!" one crew member shouts.
Hands extend toward me—but too far.
I try to pull myself up. My arms feel heavy. My breath falters.
My feet search for support—nothing.
My grip weakens.
"CATCH HIM!" the crew shouts again, stretching farther—
The wood slips in my grasp.
—slipping.
"REACH!" they shout again—and this time, they stretch farther—PAK—finally grabbing my arm.
With the last of my strength, I pull myself up with their help.
My body lifts—
and collapses onto the deck.
THUD.
"Hah… hah… hah…" My breath comes in gasps.
"Th-thank you," I say to the crew who helped me.
They breathe heavily as well.
Rose rushes toward me—THUD—and embraces me tightly.
"That was… close," she says within the embrace.
I return the embrace.
The ship finally pulls away from the port.