031
At the very moment when Shupetty was joyfully roaming through the sea.
Far east from Pashayen.
The land of abundance and fortune where the sun rises.
There, a boy slowly opened his eyes.
His long eyelashes fluttered a few times, revealing a pair of stunning violet eyes so beautiful they could mesmerize anyone.
The sparkle of his eyes was so brilliant that even the term ‘like a jewel’ would be an understatement.
Within those eyes, constellations as numerous as the stars of the universe were contained.
Deciphering the truth of the vast universe was both the duty and the blessing bestowed upon the lineage of Raximon.
After reading all of today’s stars, a sweet and clear voice escaped from the boy’s pink lips.
“She’s finally back.”
The girl he had been searching for so long had returned.
She had come back to the place where he breathed and lived.
“Grow up quickly.”
The lineage of Raximon possessed a unique ability that no one else in the world had.
That was the ability to sense their partner.
Whether they had been born or died. If they had died, whether they had been reincarnated.
Whether they were nearby or far away.
They could even predict when they might meet.
Thus, he waited and waited.
The wait was tedious but bearable.
Because he knew when they would meet.
‘I have so much I want to show you.’
With a gentle smile on his face, flocks of golden origami cranes fluttered around the boy.
The breathtaking beauty of the boy with platinum blonde hair, combined with the scene around him, created an artistic, surreal, and extraordinarily beautiful spectacle.
At the end of it all, a sigh-like whisper emerged.
“But still, I want to see you.”
Although causality did not allow it, and breaking the rules would only increase the burden he had to bear.
What did it matter?
The boy was naturally like this.
With a soft smile in his eyes, he soon made up his mind.
“I’m coming to see you.”
His clear, determined voice was something no one could stop.
***
“Whoa! That was fun!!”
After swimming with the dolphins, I popped my head out of the water at a cave entrance.
“I wanna do it again!”
Since I couldn’t breathe underwater, head family Grandfather made an air bubble for me, and that was incredibly fun too.
Lina should definitely try this too!
“Wow, is this really your first time riding a dolphin? You got used to it so quickly!”
“Hehe.”
At the compliment from my older brother, Mikard, I grinned happily.
Climbing onto the rock, I wrung out the water from my skirt.
As the water dripped off, I spotted Grandfather emerging beyond it.
Unlike me, Grandfather didn’t ride a dolphin. He walked through the water.
No, seriously, with his hands behind his back, he walked as if he were taking a leisurely stroll underwater. No exaggeration.
“Come here, Chubby.”
“Okay!”
Mikard shook his head vigorously to shake off the water and reached his hand out to me.
Meanwhile, Grandfather called out to someone deeper within the cave.
“Asha, I’m here.”
But there was no one in sight!
“I’m coming in.”
“……….!”
Grandfather, he’s gone!
He was definitely right in front of me just a moment ago, but as soon as I blinked, he vanished without a trace.
I was so startled that I looked at my brother Mikard, who grinned and glanced down at me.
“Did that surprise you?”
“Yeah.”
“This place is a sanctuary only for Resonators. Think of it as a secret villa. It looks like a cave, but it’s actually protected by incredibly complex barriers, layered with illusion spells and geo-confusion magic. Oh, and once you enter, you’ll be completely dry.”
Then how did the dolphins find this place?
As if my face had written down my every thought, brother Mikard quickly cleared up my confusion.
“Those dolphins from earlier can pick up on the signals sent by the Ancestor of Whale or other Resonators. If it weren’t for them, even I wouldn’t be able to find this place on my own.”
“Whoa!”
My heart pounded with excitement.
It felt like stepping into a secret base, and I was filled with a thrill of adventure.
‘I wonder if I could use this place as my own villa if I become a Resonator? That would be so cool!’
I could already picture myself as a full-fledged Resonator.
To be honest, I still didn’t fully understand what a Resonator was, but in my imagination, I was already amazing.
Everyone would be so impressed, clapping their hands, and I’d be standing there, feeling so proud, lifting my chin in triumph.
“Alright, let’s go in too.”
“Okay!”
Splash, splash — we walked deeper into the pitch-black cave.
With brother Mikard’s hand firmly gripping mine, I suddenly glanced back.
“Huh? What?!”
It was gone!
The cave had disappeared!
Instead, all that remained was a wall.
A delicious buttery-colored wallpaper covered the wall, radiating a warm and cozy feeling.
“Come in, it’s been a while, Mikal.”
Out of nowhere, a bold and booming voice echoed.
“Grandma!”
“Yes, my dear pup. You’re still as energetic as ever.”
“Of course! Grandma, are you feeling better? You said your knee hurt last time. I’ve been well and healthy since then!”
Brother Mikard hopped excitedly without letting go of my hand.
His other hand waved up and down in the air like a giant dog wagging its tail.
And in the direction brother Mikard was so excitedly looking… were Grandfather and Grandmother.
A grandmother I was seeing for the first time.
“So, you’re the new little one. Come closer, dear.”
Maliasha Pashayen.
The grandmother, with neatly braided white hair draped over one shoulder, had sharp, vibrant blue-violet eyes.
Her eyes looked just like Aunt Violet’s.
Those eyes were so strong and commanding that I instantly liked her.
“Hmm, I see. I understand now.”
“What do you think, Asha?”
“What do you mean, ‘what do I think?’ Do you expect me to change my attitude if I say no?”
Grandmother, who had been carefully inspecting me while I sat on her lap, suddenly snapped at him.
Grandfather, standing beside her with his hands respectfully clasped, chuckled with a relaxed expression.
“Hey, I told you I don’t do that anymore.”
“Don’t do it anymore? Ha! Do you think people change that easily? Especially at your age, people just get more stubborn with time!”
Are they fighting?
With eyes full of curiosity, I watched Grandmother and Grandfather.
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ says that’s not something you should be learning from.]
[The Spirit King of Emotions ‘■■■’ says, but they’re still in love with each other.]
So, they’re not arguing because they dislike each other.
Adults are so strange.
If something is pretty, just say it’s pretty. If something is good, say it’s good. If something is sad, just say it’s sad. Why do they make something so simple so confusing?
Kids don’t do that.
“As the Ancestor of Whale said, this child is indeed the most promising one to succeed me.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“You suddenly woke me up, making a fuss about needing to bring in a child. You even grumbled about being tormented by the newly reincarnated Water Spirit King.”
Huh? The Water Spirit King?
Startled, I quickly glanced at the spot where the glowing letters had appeared earlier.
But as if it had never been there, the shining letters were gone. All the Spirit Kings had fallen silent.
“Anyway, little one, what’s your name?”
“Shupetty!”
“Ah, I see. The words of the Ancestor Whale are reaching me. The Ancestor Whale already knows the question you have in your heart.”
Huh?
But I don’t see the Ancestor Whale anywhere?
“When you become a Resonator, will you be able to hear the words of the Ancestor Whale, even from afar?”
I was so curious that I just had to ask.
But as soon as I did, Grandmother burst into loud, hearty laughter.
“Ah, you don’t know, do you? Let me explain.”
“….……?”
“This place is actually inside the belly of the Ancestor Whale.”
Whaaaaat?!
Today has been full of surprises!
My heart pounded so hard that I wiggled my whole body.
But what was even more shocking was that brother Mikard was also standing there with his mouth wide open.
“What? Grandma! That’s what this place is?!”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I… I didn’t even know until now!”
Brother Mikard scratched at his dark blue hair in frustration.
With my eyes wide open, I glanced around in every direction.
“Is there a room inside the Ancestor Whale’s belly?”
“That’s right. This is the safest place for a Resonator. Unless you drain this vast and deep ocean completely, no one will ever be able to find or catch up to the Ancestor Whale.”
“Wow…”
As I gazed at her with amazement, Grandmother ruffled my hair with her rough hands.
“When you become a Resonator, you’ll be able to change this space to your liking.”
“Even into a candy house?!”
“What? Yeah, that would be possible too.”
Grandmother let out a hearty laugh and glanced at Grandfather. Grandfather looked back at Grandmother with a gentle gaze.
Watching the way they looked at each other, I suddenly felt like I had a slight understanding of the ‘love’ that the Spirit King of Emotions had mentioned earlier.
There was a certain atmosphere between them that no one could interrupt.
“Anyway, the reason you’ve come all the way here today is because of that old man’s greed, so I’ll answer your question.”
At last, Grandmother met my eyes.
Her expression was so serious that I, too, became serious.
“You want to know the name of the newly reincarnated Water Spirit King, don’t you?”
