Left in Stron Butch by River Singal in Harbor was the repaired Mouthy Jayne. The sailors on board have been idle for months, some are still living calmly without having to work and get money, and some have left for various reasons. The few remaining people were not enough to send the Mouthy Jayne on a full voyage to take Ed to Neo, but it was no problem at all.

On the first day of departure, Ed spent almost all of his time wilting in the cabin. Captain Abbott Becky gave up his room to the white-looking and weak young master, who was still seasick and dizzy.

Ed was a little baffled. He wasn't seasick before, but there was no reason for it. The next day, he had gotten used to it a little bit, and was about to think seriously about what to do with the whole thing, when Betsge knocked on his door.

The stout middle-aged captain had the same dark, rough skin as the other sailors, his brown eyes were always half-open and half-closed, and he was quite serious when he was silent, but he looked a little uneasy at this time.

But he didn't hide his purpose, and asked very bluntly: "I heard that Lord Singh is going to sell the ship?"

Ed nodded.

The people on board were unaware of River's disappearance, and all they knew was that River Singal was preparing to sell most of his cargo ships, in addition to the sea ships under construction.

His last voyage was not for business.

"In that case," Becky cleared his throat needlessly, "I want to buy the Mouthy Jayne...... Do you think it's possible?"

Ed didn't know why he was in such a hurry that he didn't care about anything to open his mouth...... Did he know something?

"My father is missing. He simply said bluntly, "I'll mention this to him when I find him." ”

Captain Becky's eyes widened involuntarily to indicate that he didn't know, and then he understood why Ed had told him that.

“...... I do not know. He explained, somewhat awkwardly, "I just heard that Tomel Del also wanted to buy Jayne." ”

Ed vaguely remembered the name of the cloth merchant, but was in no mood to dwell on it, and only nodded politely to the captain.

Becky saluted a little stiffly, hesitated as he left, then turned back and asked, "...... Are you sure your father is really missing?"

Ed looked up in some surprise.

"Lord Singhal has a ...... on Hongwan Island I have a friend. The captain scratched his shaved chin uncomfortably, "Sometimes he goes to stay for a while...... Sometimes it takes a bit of time to stay. ”

He blinked and added, "That's a good place." ”

Ed didn't think there was a place good enough for River Singal to lose track of time—unless there was something there that would make him forget time...... or people.

He reacted suddenly, and with a blue face, he felt that he was going to be seasick and faint again.

“...... Are you alright?" asked Becky cautiously. Telling his master's secret made him a little uneasy, but this pale-faced young master looked really pitiful...... And his mother is dead, but his father is still young, and there are some things that he will have to know one day.

Ed gritted his teeth and nodded, and his worries and guilt for his father suddenly eased a lot.

He shook the deck after lunch, silently watching the scenery unfold on both sides of the river, and clapping and laughing as the sailors steered the Mouthy Jayne over a treacherous shoal.

The unremarkable captain showed the calm temperament of the abyss when he held the rudder. Ed looked at him with admiration for a moment, remembering the little joke he had heard about the captain.

"I heard you didn't want to be a sailor before?" he asked.

Betsy nodded, although a little dazed, but his tone remained calm: "I used to want to be a cook." ”

A cook who almost burned his own boat.

"If you already have the money to buy a boat, you can find a place to open a hotel. Ed said.

Becky laughed, a few deep wrinkles dragging out of the corners of her eyes.

"But I'm far better at being a captain than a cook. He said, "My father said, 'Whatever you choose, whether you want it or not, you have to do your best to do it well...... Well done will naturally pay off. ”

He patted the polished rudder proudly: "This is my reward...... It's a ship that can outrun the elves!"

His smile made Ed laugh involuntarily as well.

That night a young sailor sang a long ditty on deck—a shy and lovely girl. In the lyrics, the boy and the girl sneak into the elven forest just to catch a glimpse of the fireworks set off by the elves on a summer night...... It was a beauty that human fireworks could not match.

Ed leaned on the railing, watching the fireflies flickering like stars in the grass on the riverbank, watching them grow more and more, rising like a light veil, rising into the sky, and then suddenly blooming into countless blooming flowers under the stars, above the dark surface of the river, illuminating every looking face.

The sailors' exclamations and laughter continued for a long time—the incomparable fireworks accompanied the Mouthy Jayne all the way. The captain standing beside Ed looked at the black-haired young man's slightly pursed lips and asked, "Magic?"

Ed nodded, "Magic." ”

He had just realized that he had never actually accepted his own power—even when he aspired to be a priest, it was more or less to repay Felicity...... Later, Vala died. He doubted everything in his desperation, and he deliberately didn't even use magic when he wandered on the ice fields. He subconsciously rejected the power that hurt him...... The strength that others envied or coveted was never what he wanted.

Intentionally or unintentionally, he got many. Whether it was anyone's arrangement, a gift or a use, he never really accepted it.

But why not?

He had clearly made his choice. He was too young and he didn't have enough intelligence to deal with what he was facing. But he could, he could have absolute, no one could resist, just like Scott.

One day, he will finally be rewarded by him.

Ed looked up at the sky, and the brilliant fireworks transformed into a dragon with wings spread in the night sky...... It was so brilliant that no one could see clearly that there were two small human figures on the dragon's back.

He was laughing. The young man's smile was incomparably pure, and the captain, who had experienced countless storms and waves, felt indescribable fear at that moment.