Memories Stirred by the Sea
“It’s the sea. It’s truly an awe-inspiring sight no matter how many times I see it.”
Aegina spoke with admiration as she gazed at the harbor spread out before her and the endless blue waves beyond. Just like during our last journey, the sea remained a strange and mysterious place for those of us unaccustomed to it.
So much water. And when you considered that all of it carried salt, it truly was remarkable. And what of the distant edge of the world beyond this sea—the massive ice walls that divided sky from ocean?
But unlike Aegina, who marveled at the sea and let herself be swept up in sentiment, I didn’t particularly like it. Part of it was my tendency to avoid the unfamiliar, but the salt-laden air and the ceaseless waves brought back far too many unpleasant memories.
That terrible seasickness… really……
I’d been warned to be careful, but I never imagined it would be that severe. It hadn’t been nearly this bad the first time I rode in a carriage or when I was first carried through the sky on a summon. Even after vomiting everything in my stomach, the nausea just kept coming without end.
The fact that I was the only one reacting that way made it even harder to bear. Even now, the salt-tinged wind brought those memories rushing back, making my stomach churn.
In the end, I’d escaped the suffering by floating half in the air, but the mere thought of it still disgusted me.
“…The sound of the waves is nice today.”
Still, if there was one good thing, it was the sound of the waves. During storms or monster attacks, it had been nothing but noise, but this repetitive, gentle rhythm had a strange power to calm the heart. Or rather, not so much calm it as settle it—that felt more accurate.
“Right. You always liked the sound of waves, didn’t you, Anak? Come to think of it, you recorded the sound of waves on a crystal last time, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. It’s probably still in my desk drawer.”
After all the fighting ended and we returned home, there had been a time when I’d fallen asleep listening to that sound. But after dreaming once about being on a ship, I’d tucked the crystal away in the drawer and only took it out on rare occasions.
“Looks like Senior still hasn’t arrived.”
A few ships were docked at the harbor, but they were fishing boats or relatively small vessels. There was no sign of the Cruse Merchant Group’s fleet.
After resting relatively comfortably for a day, we had used the teleportation circle to arrive at Del May Port early in the morning. In truth, since the merchant fleet would need to dock and prepare anyway, arriving a little later wouldn’t have mattered. But the ever-polite Rowell and Aegina hadn’t wanted to keep Julian waiting.
Of course, there was also the anticipation of seeing the sea again after so long, meeting Julian again, and meeting him for the first time.
“If everything goes according to schedule, they should arrive in about an hour or two.”
“Then shall we grab something light to eat? Not a full meal, but maybe a snack.”
We were currently dressed as pilgrims from the Pemeca region, just like last time. The black cloth and garments covering our bodies didn’t look particularly natural given the local climate and customs, but since Del May Port was a place frequented by many travelers, it shouldn’t draw any strange looks.
“……”
Bagloros remained silent, but he clearly agreed with Rowell’s suggestion. In his childlike form, it even gave off a slightly cute impression.
“Alright, let’s go. There seem to be food stalls over there.”
Instead of settling into a single restaurant, we wandered between the street stalls, buying and sampling various snacks. Grilled fish, grilled octopus, dried fish slices, sandwiches stuffed with spicy-sauced grilled fish on bread, stir-fried seaweed—dishes made from fish and seafood—along with exotic fruits and dried goods brought by ship, and fusion dishes that clumsily imitated traditional foods from various countries.
Small stalls targeting sailors and travelers who had come from afar were gathered together, so there was a certain fun in browsing and choosing what to eat. Especially Bagloros, who carried armfuls of food and moved from stall to stall, sampling one thing after another.
After passing the time that way, around noon, three ships entered the harbor. They were incomparably larger than the other vessels nearby. Countless cannons lined not only the front but both sides, and the massive sails bearing the sea serpent emblem of the Cruse Merchant Group made them look far more like warships than merchant ships.
“How about it? Want to board first?”
I asked, looking at Rowell, Aegina, and Bagloros. Though we were watching from the hill, the distance from here to the pier was considerable, and from the pier to the ships even more so. But if these three truly set their minds to it, they could cover that distance almost instantly, like a teleportation spell.
“I was joking, Bagloros.”
Rowell grabbed Bagloros’s arm as he prepared to run off.
“You don’t usually make jokes like that. Don’t tell me you’re nervous, Anak?”
“Right. Did something happen with Senior?”
Aegina and Rowell looked at me with puzzled eyes. Yeah. That had definitely been a mistake. I shouldn’t have shown any sign of it, but the words had slipped out before I realized.
“Of course not. I just got a little whimsical seeing the sea after so long.”
Honestly, I was anxious. This would be the first time Rowell and Julian met since graduating from the academy. Moreover, during their academy days, Rowell had never seen that side of Julian. To Rowell, Julian had been a respected senior and a good friend.
If Julian appeared wearing a skirt in front of Rowell, the shock Rowell and Aegina would receive would probably rival the battle against Thanatos.
“Shall we head over, then?”
By the time we walked slowly to the harbor, the ships had lowered their sails and anchors, and people were unloading cargo one by one. A little further in, I spotted Julian, comparing lists against the cargo and giving various instructions.
“You were waiting, I see.”
Even though our faces were covered (or perhaps because of it), Julian recognized us immediately from a distance. He handed the list to someone standing nearby, smiled brightly, and approached us.
Fortunately, he wasn’t wearing a skirt or anything similar. In fact, unlike the previous outfits that had carried a feminine air even if they weren’t explicitly women’s clothing, his current attire showed no trace of femininity. Though his expression and gaze carried a boyish playfulness, his current appearance was dignified and disciplined, like a young officer.
“I offer my greetings to the heroes who saved the world.”
With refined, courteous movements that were never excessive, he bent one knee before us and bowed at the waist. Rowell personally took his hand and helped him to his feet.
“Please stand, Senior. It really has been a long time. Come to think of it, we exchanged letters a few times, but we haven’t met even once since the war ended.”
“You were all so busy with one thing or another. Even after defeating the goddess Nix, the world was still in chaos. The fact that order has been restored to this extent is all thanks to your efforts.”
“Still, it’s strange when I think about it. We attended so many balls, reconstruction sites, and national events, yet we never ran into each other once.”
…Honestly, that was entirely because of me. Back then, I had asked Medrup to subtly prevent Julian from meeting us. Of course, neither I nor Medrup had openly or desperately blocked his visits or attendance, but it hadn’t been without effect.
“I had my own matters to attend to as well. And for a while, I had reasons to stay home, so I couldn’t come see you in person. More importantly, it’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Princess Aegina. And Bagloros.”
He naturally cut off the conversation before it could drag on and greeted Aegina and Bagloros, who had been waiting on the side.
“Julian del Cruse. Vice-leader of the Cruse Merchant Group and academy senior to Anak and Rowell here. As expected, you’re as beautiful as your title ‘Golden Flash’ suggests. And Bagloros, you truly live up to your reputation with so many different forms.”
“Nice to meet you, Sir Cruse. I’ve heard many stories about what a wonderful senior you are to Rowell and Anak. I’m truly glad to meet you like this.”
“A pleasure.”
Recognizing Bagloros in his child form—either he had guessed correctly, or it was simply because he was Julian.
“And please, just call me Aegina. If you’re a senior to Rowell and Anak, then you’re a senior to me as well.”
“Then call me Julian too, Aegina.”
Bagloros aside, the two of them exchanged greetings naturally, and the conversation flowed smoothly without any awkwardness. I let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
“You too, Anak. Come here. It’s good to see you again after last time.”
His usual playfulness and excessive affection were absent, which was a relief. He was clearly being considerate in front of the others.
It felt like we had returned to our academy days. Back then, his past and present selves had appeared in equal measure, alternating. But the recent times we met, he had shown only the overt side, making me acutely aware of how much time had passed.
“I’m glad to see you like this too, Senior.”
Hm? It might have been my imagination, but at my words, Julian’s lips and gaze seemed to stiffen strangely. Had I said something wrong?
For just a moment, that gaze seemed to carry guilt, discomfort, and even a hint of anger. But it must have been my imagination.
Or perhaps it was because of the way he had acted last time?
But before I could dwell on it, Julian smiled as if nothing had happened and took the lead.
“None of you have eaten yet, right? Let’s go. There’s a good restaurant I know nearby.”
“……”
I saw a flicker of anticipation cross Bagloros’s expressionless face, and I was surprised that I had noticed it. It wasn’t just a guess or assumption—it was clear that I was reading him accurately. Looking at Rowell and Aegina, I once again confirmed how well we had all adapted to one another.