Chapter 9
The Island of Memories
A cool sea breeze blew as Ridel’s wooden boat sailed smoothly across the northern sea, leaving the port city of Larkia behind.
Ridel spotted the “Twin Rocks,” a familiar landmark from his childhood.
“Found them! I’m on the right track,” he said, relieved.
Once they passed the rocks and headed east, they would reach the island where Ridel lived with his grandmother as a child.
Soon after…
“Daddy! I see something!” Ellie said, pointing past the horizon.
A faint green hill appeared in the distance. Ridel smiled brightly.
“Yes! That’s it! That’s the island where I lived with Grandma.”
Ridel recalled the peaceful memories of the island — the lush forest, clear streams, and a small house on the hill with an ocean view.
“Did you live with Grandma? Is she still there?” Ellie asked.
Ridel gently placed his hand on her head and smiled.
“No, she’s not there anymore. She passed away.”
“Where did Grandma go?”
Ridel thought for a moment, unsure how to explain death to a child.
“She went to where the goddess Pioresca lives.”
“Oh…” Ellie didn’t quite understand, but didn’t ask further.
Through the light mist, the island’s coastline and dense forest came into view.
It was surprisingly large — probably unknown to most people.
Ridel grew excited as they approached. Even if his grandmother was gone, maybe the house was still there.
“Wowww…” Ellie stared wide-eyed.
Colorful flowers bloomed through the greenery, and birds sang in the breeze.
“I’m glad the island isn’t known by people,” Ridel thought. “How did Grandma even find this place?”
Finally, the boat arrived at a small beach. Just as Ridel was about to lift Ellie, she turned to look at the sea.
“Ellie? What’s wrong?”
“Hmm…” She tilted her head, then reached out her arms.
“I’m okay now!” she said cheerfully.
Ridel set her on the beach. The sand was soft beneath their feet.
“There should be a path to the house somewhere around here. I’ll find it soon,” Ridel said.
Ellie looked around excitedly. Then she stepped on the sand and shouted:
“Daddy! Are Ellie’s feet big now?”
Unlike when they first met in the capital, she looked straight at him without hiding. Ridel felt emotional.
She wasn’t afraid anymore — she was growing braver.
“Wow! Ellie’s feet are big! But Daddy’s feet are way bigger!”
He took off his shoes and made a footprint next to hers. Ellie gasped.
“Daddy’s foot is huuuge!”
Seeing Ellie smile freely warmed Ridel’s heart.
Splash! Splash!
Instead of finding the path right away, Ridel splashed in the sea with Ellie.
Her laughter with the waves made him forget all worries.
“Come here, Ellie. Daddy will dry your clothes,” Ridel said.
He was going to use magic to create warm air — but then he noticed the boat’s propeller and got an idea.
“I can turn this into a dryer,” he thought.
He examined the propeller, which used magic to spin.
“If I just reverse the spin and add heat…”
Ridel drew a new magic circle, adding fire energy to create warm wind instead of just propulsion.
“Ellie, Daddy’s going to show you something cool again!”
“Yay! Is Daddy amazing again?”
“Maybe!”
Ellie bounced around curiously, even though her clothes were wet.
Ridel cast the spell, and the propeller slowly began to spin.
Warm air blew out.
“Ellie, stand next to Daddy. Let’s dry off!”
She rushed over — and then:
Whoooosh!
The wind was way too strong.
“Ahhh!”
“Daddy!”
Sand flew everywhere. They were completely covered in it.
Ridel quickly hugged Ellie to protect her, but it was too late.
“Ellie! Are you—”
Before he could finish, she laughed out loud.
“Daddy, your face is full of sand!”
Ridel laughed too.
“You look like a sand person too!”
They laughed together until Ridel grabbed Ellie’s hand and ran into the sea again.
Splash! Splash!
The seawater washed the sand away. Ellie played happily.
Back on the beach, Ridel carefully adjusted the magic circle. This time, warm air blew gently upward.
“Okay, let’s dry for real now.”
“Yes!”
“Ellie, want to fly up to the sky?”
He lifted her into the air. Warm wind swirled around her as she spread her arms wide.
“Woooow!”
She felt like she was flying. Soon, she grew sleepy and snuggled into his arms.
“Hmmmm…”
Her soft pink hair fluttered gently in the wind.
“She must be sleepy after all that playing,” Ridel thought. “So cute.”
He held her close and walked off the beach.
Into the Forest
Carrying the sleeping Ellie, Ridel found the path leading up the hill.
He brushed aside overgrown plants, following his childhood memories.
It wasn’t clear anymore, but Ridel didn’t stop walking.
He could feel he was going the right way.
Suddenly, Ellie stirred. In the forest, small shadows peeked at them and quickly hid.
Ellie sensed something strange but closed her eyes again.
Soft footsteps. Little creatures crept closer, curious.
“Hmm…”
Ellie opened her eyes a bit, but the shadows vanished again.
Ridel asked, “Ellie, are you awake?”
“No… still sleepy…” she mumbled, burying her face into his shoulder.
The small creatures silently followed, hiding playfully like curious kids.
Ridel didn’t notice. He was focused on the memories of the island.
The path grew steeper.
“Almost there,” he thought.
He hadn’t returned since his grandmother passed away. Back then, he was too young and sent straight to an orphanage.
Golden sunlight filtered through the leaves. Dew sparkled. A cool forest breeze blew.
Finally, at the end of the trail, a small wooden house came into view.
“I’m really here… I didn’t think I’d ever come back.”
The house was beautiful, with tree-like pillars and a natural wooden texture.
Vines wrapped around fairy-tale-like windows.
But—
As he got closer, Ridel’s smile disappeared.
Thick moss covered the walls, trees were uprooted in the yard, and deep claw marks scratched the doorframe.
He instinctively hugged Ellie tighter.
“What happened here…?”
“Daddy?”
Ellie looked up at him worriedly.
“It’s okay. The house just got a little messy. I’ll fix it soon.”
Ridel tried to sound cheerful but kept scanning the surroundings.
The claw marks were too deep to be random.
“Could a monster be on this island?”
The sun began to set. Shadows grew longer, and the forest looked darker.
The wind now sounded eerie.
When his grandmother was alive, this island felt safe — not even snakes appeared.
Something had changed.
