Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
On the beach of Blubru Island, a brand-new single-mast sailboat rested quietly in the shallow waters.
It could not even be considered a three-masted ship, much less something sleek and advanced like the Pica Karoo craft.
The hull was built from sturdy hardwood that Reid had personally selected. After years at sea, he knew exactly which timber was suitable for shipbuilding. Though the structure looked somewhat rough, every joint was solid and dependable.
What made it more special was the layer of oily resin coating the hull. This had been discovered by the elder and his tribe, a substance capable of resisting seawater corrosion and burrowing sea creatures. The elder had repeatedly reminded Reid to maintain the coating regularly and to avoid strong winds and massive waves whenever possible.
And now, the moment of farewell had finally arrived.
Reid's voyage was about to begin.
Nearly the entire tribe had gathered on the beach. Men, women, and children all stood together, watching the two figures preparing to depart, their expressions complicated.
The women filled the cabin with smoked meat, fresh water, and fruit. The children ran their hands along the ship's surface, their eyes shining with curiosity.
They did not know what Reid intended to do. They only knew that the man who had helped their tribe was about to embark on a long journey.
The adults remained silent, their gazes filled with respect.
For them, sailing across the sea was a distant dream. Their lives had always been confined to the area surrounding Blubru Island. Some of the women had never even left the island in their entire lives.
The elder walked up to Reid and patted his arm. A thousand words condensed into a single sentence.
"You foolish boy… out there on the sea… you must be careful."
Then he turned to the girl beside Reid. She was still quiet, but her eyes were no longer empty.
"Child… you must take care of yourself as well."
The girl looked at him and gave a small nod.
Reid grinned, wearing his usual carefree smile.
"Old man, don't worry. The person who can kill me hasn't been born yet. And besides, if I can't win, I can always run."
His gaze swept across the crowd, taking in the hesitation and concern written plainly on their faces.
"Alright, alright, stop looking like this is some final farewell."
He paused slightly, then placed a hand on the sturdy sail beside him.
"We're not leaving to disappear. We're going to see the world out there."
"Old man, I promised you this. We'll see sights you've never seen, experience adventures you can't even imagine, and become the freest people on this sea."
"You'll see our story out there someday. Our names will echo across the ocean."
The sea breeze lifted his black hair as faint traces of blood mist drifted around him.
"Your eyes… will be our freedom."
"We'll claim that freedom for you."
His words were like a stone dropped into still water, ripples spreading through the hearts of everyone present.
They stared blankly at the man standing by the ship, at the girl beside him who was slowly coming alive, and felt something indescribable rise within them.
Reid said nothing more. He stepped forward, grabbed the girl's wrist, and leapt lightly onto the deck.
"Set sail!"
The blood mist surged. Reid no longer needed help to raise a sail, and this small vessel did not require a crew.
The mist lifted the canvas. The sea wind rushed in, filling it instantly with a sharp rustling sound.
The simple yet sturdy wooden boat began to move, slowly leaving the shore behind.
The people on the beach stood there for a long time, waving their arms, until the small ship carrying their vow of freedom became a tiny black dot on the horizon, and finally disappeared.
The elder wiped the faint tears from his eyes and muttered with a smile, "That foolish boy…"
Then he turned to the tribe and raised his voice.
"Alright, that's enough watching!"
"Our benefactor has left, but our lives must go on!"
"Pull yourselves together! Reinforce the fences, check the traps, train!"
"Don't wait until trouble comes to rely on someone far away to save us!"
"We must survive, and live better lives. That is how we repay everything they've given us!"
He paused, then added more seriously:
"And you young ones… I know what you're thinking. Times are changing. But you will not be allowed to go out to sea until you are strong enough to protect yourselves. At least reach a level close to his."
The tribe responded loudly in agreement.
The sorrow of parting was gradually replaced by a new determination.
Yes.
They, too, would strive for a life of freedom.
Far out on the boundless sea, Reid stood at the bow.
The girl stood quietly beside him, gazing at the endless blue ahead. The shimmering ocean reflected in her ice-blue eyes… along with the crimson figure beside her, as if he would never fall.
Their journey had only just begun.
The wooden ship sailed steadily across the vast blue sea, the outline of Blubru Island already fading into the distance behind them.
Reid glanced around, then picked up an empty wooden barrel from the corner of the deck and placed it firmly at the bow. This was something he could not forget.
He stepped onto the barrel with one foot and waved to the girl beside him.
"Come here, little one. I'll show you the first step to becoming a pirate."
A trace of confusion flickered in her eyes, but she walked over obediently.
Reid patted the barrel. "Step up."
She looked at the barrel, then at Reid.
Though she did not understand, she did not hesitate. She mimicked him carefully, placing one foot on the other side of the barrel.
The barrel was small. They stood very close together.
Reid looked at her.
"This is a rite of departure. Everyone who sets out to sea does this. You declare your dream to the ocean. I'll go first so you can think it through."
He lifted his head, looking out at the endless blue, his voice clear and firm.
"I am Reid! I will become the freest man on this sea!"
"No one will chain my will. No one will stop my steps!"
"I will see every horizon and live every adventure!"
His voice carried with the sea wind, like a declaration etched into this new path.
When he finished, he lowered his head and looked at the girl, his eyes filled with encouragement.
"Your turn, little one."
"What's your goal?"
The girl froze.
A goal? A future?
To her, those words were still distant, almost incomprehensible.
She looked at Reid's expectant gaze, then at the boundless, unknown ocean ahead, feeling the gentle rise and fall of the ship beneath her feet…
And for the first time, she began to think about what lay beyond survival.