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chapter 22
“Have you been waiting?”
Near the dock, Rinka, perched on a small rock, turned her head.
Ananta was standing there.
This time, he wasn’t wearing his usual flashy captain’s attire but a simple shirt and linen pants.
His silver hair was loosely tied back, and he held a small basket in one hand.
The outfit surprisingly suited him, but the cute rattan basket did not.
The combination was so absurd it made her laugh.
“You can wear something like that too, huh.”
Rinka let out a short laugh and lightly tapped his leg. Ananta smiled and shrugged lightly.
“The clothes I wore earlier were too extravagant for just the two of us. Though, it seemed like you liked them.”
“I never said I liked them.”
He approached her with his familiar stride and held out his hand. Rinka silently took it.
Normally, she would have turned away with a disgusted expression, but now it was just the two of them…
And above all, she was grateful to him for coming to fetch her from Eden’s mansion.
Maybe it was okay to go along with this just a little.
“Just for today. So, what are we doing now?”
“Today, let’s forget captain and crew, and just wander around as Rinka and Ananta.”
Rinka swallowed her smile. She hadn’t expected him to make time for a private moment like this.
She had thought that their time together was limited to the ship.
Not that she had ever minded, but she had always thought it would be a shame not to see Levanto properly.
“Sounds good.”
“Can I look forward to it?”
“Of course. First, let’s go try the best food on this island.”
“That’s exciting! Lately, the meals haven’t been that good because we ran out of ingredients.”
“Don’t worry. That little disappointment will disappear quickly.”
The place Ananta led her to was a small market just over a hill from the dock.
It was located on the opposite side from where Rinka had been earlier, and unlike the bustling, bargaining-filled area she had seen, this place felt like a small village.
The market was in full swing, and people walked through the crowded paths carrying their own baskets.
“Levanto is a small island, but all sorts of pirates come and go, so all kinds of goods arrive. Today, fruits have come from the Ispel Kingdom.”
Ananta picked up a small yellow fruit from the stall with practiced hands.
It was covered with large spikes, making it look completely inedible.
“You eat this?”
“It’s a delicacy. Do you know the Ispel Kingdom? It’s in the middle of the continent, so without a magician, this couldn’t make it to Levanto. It’s very rare.”
“Oh…”
She couldn’t believe she was allowed to eat something so precious.
It was fascinating. Since her home was a port and far from farmland, fruits were rare, and she had never even seen anything like this before.
Seeing her curious gaze, he paid and immediately peeled the fruit, offering it to her.
He handled the small knife with ease.
Even with his strange abilities, he seemed skilled with all sorts of weapons.
“Try it. If it tastes sweet, it’s a success. If it’s sour, I’ll eat it instead.”
“Only one of the two?”
“When it’s under-ripe, it can be a bit sour. Rinka, you’re not good with unfamiliar foods, right?”
“How did you know that…?”
Rinka cautiously took a bite. Her eyes widened at the sweet aroma filling her mouth.
It was a flavor different from candy or sugar.
“It’s sweet!”
“Good. I’d have been embarrassed if it failed.”
He smiled, bought three more, put them in the basket, and moved to another stall.
Spices, dried fish, embroidered cloths.
Rinka walked quietly beside him, slowly exploring the market.
“What’s this?”
“Oh, this. It’s from the empire. These bowls don’t break easily even if dropped.”
“Why sell something like this?”
“Storms come suddenly. It’s better than wasting money buying new bowls every time.”
“And this one?”
“Oh, this is fun too. This is…”
Even without buying anything, just walking through the market made her feel unexpectedly calm.
Strange flowers along the path, buildings made from odd ingredients, glimmering floors. Things that had seemed awkward at first no longer bothered her.
It was enjoyable.
“You like this kind of thing, huh?”
Ananta suddenly looked at her and smiled.
“What do you mean?”
“Just watching people in a crowded place, or walking in silence like now.”
Rinka thought for a moment and nodded.
“Yes, I guess so. I’d forgotten, but when I used to walk with my mother, it was always like this.”
“Oh, with your mother.”
“We never bought much, but days like this went by quickly and were always fun.”
Ananta glanced at her side profile and then looked away.
She noticed the basket he carried felt strangely heavier now. Not uncomfortable, but heavier than at first…
They hadn’t bought that much.
Just a couple of pencils, a ladle, a small knife for Rinka, and three fruits.
“Why?”
Ananta asked, sensing her gaze. She shook her head. Probably just her imagination.
They walked back up the hill.
The sun was high in the sky, wrapping them in its warm rays.
“This is it. My favorite place on this island.”
Ananta stopped at a small pavilion atop the hill.
A bench sat under a tree’s shade, and in front of it, the sea spread out as far as the eye could see. Sunlight danced on the waves like tiny stars.
Rinka was speechless. It was the first time she had seen such a peaceful scene on this island.
The sea from the ship always looked different; it was never this calm and serene.
“When I first came to Levanto, it was a mess.”
Ananta spoke slowly as Rinka sat beside him.
“I felt like I couldn’t do anything. I worried whether we could survive. Many of the crew were hurt.”
“That’s quite a while ago now.”
“Yeah. But coming here, seeing the sea, I changed my mind.”
That sounded like him.
“If it doesn’t work out, I’d give up then, but somehow, I thought maybe I should have at least one ship in this sea.”
He spoke jokingly, but his words carried quiet sincerity. Rinka silently pressed her palm against his.
She didn’t know much about Ananta, nor did she plan to ask.
Yet, somehow, the way he had shown himself today felt warm and human. Not like a captain of a ship…
“Just like an ordinary person you might meet anywhere.”
Ananta’s blinking face caught her eyes.
“…Though not ordinary at all in the face!”
Thinking that she wouldn’t see such a handsome face much longer, she smiled slightly and slid her fingers between his.
Rough as his hands were compared to his smooth, jewel-like face, they fit perfectly with hers.
“Rinka?”
“I’ll remember today.”
“…It’s not over yet.”
Calling her name, as if to ask something, Ananta playfully placed his hand over hers on the back of her hand and stared quietly at the sky.
Her hand tingled.
Following his casual, effortless gaze to the sky, Rinka held her breath for a moment, her neck warming from the sun.
The blue sky, like the sea, felt incredibly close.
This beautiful island.
Levanto, visited only by pirates.
When would they come here again…
The wind blowing between them carried a quiet laughter, like the gentle sound of waves.
