Sea of Golden Sand: Chapter 6
Moonlight spills onto the quiet riverway. A glides into Moonbath Lake against the current.
When I return from the city outskirts with Rafayel, it is quite late. Everyone is gathered in the ballroom attending the celebration. The entirety of the is so quiet, it’s as if there were only the two of us.
MC: After you left back then, did you swim out along that ?
Rafayel stands across from me, the oars in his hands drawing ripples on the surface of the lake.
Rafayel: You really haven’t been to the royal city.
Rafayel: Moonbath Lake, located at the very center of the royal city, splits into a total of eight waterways, and heads towards eight different directions in the city.
Rafayel: After leaving the inner city where the nobles live, each splits into eight again, so there are a total of sixty-four riverways flowing out of the city.
Rafayel: With such a large water network, even I don’t remember which one I used to leave.
MC: Outside the palace there are still city walls, and outside the city walls secret passages abound… it must have been really hard on you then.
MC: Then after you left, how was your life? Did you get captured again, and gifted to some human or other…?
Rafayel: What do you think?
Rafayel: As a present, doesn’t it depend on if my master has transferred me to some other?
MC: … I have never been like those counts, treating a Lemurian as some sort of “present”.
Rafayel: Don’t worry, as long as I don’t wish it, then no one can capture me.
MC: Since you’re so great—
MC: Then that year, you purposely let yourself be caught to be brought before me?
Rafayel: …
Originally it was just a sentence said in jest, but Rafayel’s silence also leads me to a new supposition.
MC: I’ve found you out? Are you still hoping for something, otherwise there’s no need to deliberate so much…
Rafayel: …
Rafayel is quiet for a moment, then bows before me.
Rafayel: Even if I did have other intentions—
Rafayel: I be honest.
When the boat is in the middle of the lake, he suddenly puts down the oars.
Rafayel: I’ve brought you here, go back by yourself.
I haven’t even determined from Rafayel’s expression if that phrase about whether he “has other intentions” is sincere or a joke, and he has already lifted his legs over the side of the boat, lightly stepping on the surface of the lake as he leaves.
MC: This place is still far from the shore, are you just going to leave me here?
Rafayel: Don’t you know how to row? I’ve left you the oars.
MC: … Because I guessed your little secret, you’re just getting your revenge. You really hold grudges.
Rafayel: Having a good memory is our greatest strength as oceanic life.
MC: Rafayel!
Standing on the surface of the lake, Rafayel turns to look at me.
Rafayel: Is there anything else?
MC: No…
MC: … It’s just, watching you walk on the surface of the lake, it seems to be a lot of fun.
MC: I want to try too.
The corner of his lip lightly lifts a little, and he walks back slowly. He doesn’t take my hand, only slightly lifts his head to look at me as I sit in the boat.
Rafayel: You dare to try everything, what if you sink?
MC: You’ll rescue me, won’t you? I haven’t paid you back the money I owe you.
Rafayel: I don’t need the money for those two skewers of meat.
MC: Then… you said today that I am your master; you have to listen to what your master says.
Rafayel: Satisfied?
MC: .
So Rafayel stretches out another hand.
Rafayel: Then here’s the .
Just like this, Rafayel holds both my hands and guides me away from the little boat.
Not wanting him to have the upper hand, as soon as I’ve stepped out of the boat, I pretend to lose my footing and fall towards him, but I’m firmly caught in his embrace.
MC: You…
Rafayel: …
Rafayel: You’re this afraid of water, how will I bring you to see the ocean in the future?
MC: But didn’t you say the seas have all dried up?
Rafayel pats the back of my head.
Rafayel: Lower your head.
Burying myself in Rafayel’s chest, I sneak a peek downwards. My own two feet are floating on the gleaming lake water.
MC: How wondrous, I too can stand on the surface of water?
Rafayel: Is it fun?
MC: … It’s fun, just as fun as I imagined it would be.
My hands subconsciously tighten their grip a little, terrified that he’ll suddenly feel playful and let go so that I sink.
Rafayel: Then what are your hands doing holding on so tightly?
I hold Rafayel’s hand and walk on the shimmering surface of the lake.
MC: Why do I feel like just now you were intentionally scaring me.
Rafayel: You got it? That’s what deliberate means.
MC: Hmph…
I look at our reflections together on the surface of the lake.
MC: Is walking on water another Lemurian skill? Being a Lemurian seems so happy, as if nothing can hold them in.
Rafayel: Becoming happy this easily, I imagine being a princess must be .
MC: Indeed, it’s dull. You will definitely come look for me often in the future, right?
Rafayel: That depends.
Rafayel: … Does the most important person to you often come to look for you?
MC: You still remember this?
I repress the happiness at the bottom of my heart, putting on a look full of surprise.
MC: Hmm… quite often, would you like to try and surpass him? For example, come to see me five times a week or something.
Rafayel twitches the corner of his mouth, his suspicion evident. I hurriedly clear my throat and look for an excuse.
MC: How about this, three times a week, once we’ll wander the night market, once we’ll go outside the city, and if we can visit the nearby towns for two or three days that will be even better.
Rafayel: You aren’t replying here, you’re wishing.
MC: … Too troublesome? Then just wandering the night market and going outside the city. We won’t visit the towns then, will that work?
Walking to the side of the lake, I lightly jump onto shore.
Rafayel: Did you have a good time today?
MC: Mmhmm.. very happy, as if I were really having a birthday.
Rafayel: Do the ones before not count?
MC: The ones before were all the Princess’s birthdays; only today is mine.
Rafayel: Then that birthday present I owed you before, we’ll consider it made up for.
MC: So, next time…
Rafayel stands on the surface of the lake and releases me.
Rafayel: In a little while, I will be leaving this place.
MC: …
Bland disappointment rushes to my head. Rafayel is a Lemurian after all; he won’t stay in the royal city long.
MC: Since there’s still a little while to go, doesn’t that mean there are still opportunities to meet again.
MC: However, if the oceans are already dried up, then where can you go?
Rafayel: To do things Lemurians should do.
Rafayel’s expression gives me the sense that I shouldn’t continue asking questions.
MC: … Then, is it very urgent? When are you leaving, can I come to see you off?
Rafayel: It’s not urgent.
Rafayel: Before leaving, I’d like to go somewhere again with you.
Watching the girl’s silhouette appear in the window of the second floor of the palace, it is only after the lights go dark that Rafayel turns away.
Rafayel: Come out.
Amund walks out from the shadows.
Amund: This is where she released you that year?
Rafayel: …
Amund: Perfect timing, the location of the Island of Songs in the legend of the Sea God has been found. Your show of debt repayment has .
As Amund speaks, he tosses a dagger to Rafayel.
Amund: It’s exclusively used to take the Sea God’s heart. Use it or not, you decide.
Rafayel pulls out the dagger. His fingertips feel the sharp edge of the blade.
Rafayel: Those legends about the Sea Gods, do you really believe in them?
Amund: I believe in you.
Amund: How did she come to obtain that heart—have you forgotten?
Amund: If that island is the start of Lemuria’s troubles, then we should let everything come to an end there.
Amund: Lemurians cannot be cheated again!
Rafayel: …
Rafayel: What you say isn’t wrong.
With a flick of his thumb, Rafayel puts away the dagger and turns to leave, stepping across the surface of the lake.
Rafayel: But what if the legend is the one that is wrong?
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