Part 2

Morning arrives softly. I lean toward my nightstand, glance at the clock, then out the window. The sun is climbing into the sky, painting the clouds gold, while birds caw as they sweep past the ship. It's 7 A.M., and though I still feel tired, I decided it's time to wake up. I dress in fresh clothes, brush my hair at the vanity, and reach for the door—only to see Malachi walking toward me. I pause, waiting for him to approach.

"Hi, Celeste. Sleep well?" he asks.

"I did," I reply, rubbing my eyes. "Though I fell asleep holding a book. What about you?"

"I can't complain. Ready for the day?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

"Good, because Hollow wants us in the map room right away. Want to walk together?"

I smile. "I'd love to. Let's not keep him waiting."

The map room isn't far—five minutes exactly—and Malachi opens the door for me. "Thank you," I say as I step inside.

"Of course," he replies warmly.

We approach Hollow, who is bent over a large table with the map spread before him. He looks up. "Ah, you two finally made it. I wanted to discuss our destination and how long until we arrive." His hands trace the map as he explains weather routes and navigation plans.

"Any questions before we set sail?" Hollow asks.

"None for now," I answered.

Malachi leans forward. "Where exactly are we flying to?"

Hollow's eyes gleam. "There's mention in the old books of a mysterious village—unique people, craftsmen, alchemists. I want to see if it's real. The place is called Gemville."

The name catches both our attention. Malachi tilts his head. "I guess we'll find out if it exists—or if it's just fantasy."

"That's why we're going," Hollow says firmly.

After the meeting, Malachi and I step outside. The sun is high; the air is perfect. The smell of food drifts from the kitchen, making us hungry. "Let's see what's on the menu," Malachi suggests.

Inside, the staff greets us warmly. "Pancakes and scrambled eggs with bacon," one announces.

"That sounds good to me," Malachi says, glancing at me.

"Good to me too," I replied.

We sit across from each other, thank the staff as plates are served, and dig in. Between bites, I ask, "Do you believe Gemville is real?"

Malachi shrugs. "If Hollow read about it and believes, maybe it is. But why haven't we heard of it before?"

I think for a moment. "That's a good question. Still, it can't hurt to know about it now rather than never."

"True," he says with a grin. "I can't wait to see if it exists."

After breakfast, we tidy up and return to our cabins to prepare for the journey. A little later, I glimpse Malachi and Hollow discussing navigation outside my door. Deciding to give them space, I head to the library. Hours pass as I lose myself in books of every genre until I stumble across a story about Gemville. I give Hollow the benefit of the doubt—perhaps this place really does exist.

By the time I look up, the sun is setting, casting orange light across the sky. It's nearly 7 P.M. I set the book aside and walk to the control room, where Hollow and Malachi are already deep in discussion. Their voices carry a note of anticipation.

"We're ready," Hollow says. "It's time to begin navigating toward the village."

And in that moment, our journey truly begins.