“Yes. Like I said before—next ti, I’ll make sure to invite you. And you’ll have to tell what felt different between this sea and the southern one.”
In that instant, the gloomy atmosphere surrounding Yuder completely shifted.
The damp wind turned into the cool, refreshing breeze they had once shared in the western great forest. The suffocating humidity regained the warmth of a body that had embraced and supported him on a sightless night.
Yuder felt as though he had returned to that mont—sitting side by side with Kishiar high up in a tree, listening to the wind sweeping through like waves.
His body was clearly here, but a single mory could make it feel as if everything had changed. It was a strange sensation.
He closed his eyes, recalling the ti when he could feel everything even without seeing it.
Then he took a deep breath that made his chest ache and slowly opened his eyes again.
A pair of red eyes was staring at him without a hint of wavering.
Perhaps... he had been looking at Yuder with that sa expression back then, too.
— Rumble...
That unfamiliar sound echoed again from sowhere in the sea.
Only then did Yuder pull his gaze from Kishiar’s and turn his head.
Nearby, mbers of the Cavalry were cautiously exchanging thoughts.
“Did you figure out which direction it ca from?”
“Sa as before. Southeast! Still not sure about the distance.”
“Sa here. Probably because the sound’s coming from deep in the sea...”
It resembled thunder before a storm, yet it was sothing else entirely. Since dawn, the strange noise had echoed at irregular intervals.
The Cavalry mbers with auditory or sound-based abilities were trying to pinpoint the direction and information every ti the noise rang out.
‘Honestly, even narrowing down the direction is impressive.’
Yuder only knew that the Sharlama waters were the epicenter of the southern earthquake. He had no idea where exactly.
Thanks to the team, the area he’d need to search had been drastically reduced. That was fortunate.
‘But judging by how the sound is getting louder and lasting longer... we can’t wait any longer.’
“...It’s ti for to go.”
As Yuder stepped back and spoke, Kishiar gave a slight nod.
“Don’t worry about things here... just be careful.”
Outwardly, it was the perfect thing for a leader to say.
But Yuder noticed the brief crack—the slight pause in Kishiar’s voice just before he spoke. That fleeting mont was likely the one ti Kishiar’s inhuman self-control had faltered.
Originally, Kishiar had seriously considered going out to sea with Yuder to locate the earthquake’s origin himself.
But after the day of hail, he changed his mind and decided to remain behind. Even with all the Cavalry’s growth, he felt they couldn’t yet handle the complete absence of their commander. Yuder had agreed.
The earthquake response system they’d developed was structured in three major phases.
Phase One: Yuder leads those capable of manipulating water out to sea to locate the epicenter.
anwhile, Kishiar and those remaining on land prepare for potential disasters and check all defensive asures and chanisms already established.
Phase Two: Once Yuder’s team identifies the epicenter and begins containnt, the rest handle any resulting environntal shifts and possible sea monster outbreaks.
In this phase, maintaining fast communication and coordination is key. Speed would be prioritized over everything.
If necessary, Kishiar was expected to join at this point.
After all, as the hailstorm had shown, sotis raw power was more critical than strategy.
Phase Three: Ideally, everything would end in Phase Two.
But realistically, the chance of that was low.
So Phase Three accounted for failure to stop the quake, additional unforeseen disasters, or escalated threats.
At that point, concentrating forces in one place would be aningless.
To minimize civilian casualties, the entire Cavalry would have to scatter into smaller teams and follow pre-planned assignnts.
Only a select few would remain behind to guard the rear.
‘I truly hope it doesn’t co to that...’
But having a plan was better than none.
In an ergency, the only thing that helps is what's already been burned into your body and mind.
Yuder stepped to the end of the breakwater.
“Yuder.”
Steber and around twenty mbers were waiting for him, faces tense.
They all could manipulate either water or wind—but none of them had ever used their powers in front of such a vast ocean.
So it made sense they’d be nervous.
“Is it ti to go?”
Yuder looked around at their faces, then gave a small nod.
“You’ve already been briefed, right?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Then let’s go.”
“Wait! You’re not gonna say anything?”
He’d already told them what to do. What more was there to say?
As Yuder frowned slightly, the one who raised his hand awkwardly continued with blatant shalessness.
“Co on, you know... That kind of thing. A stirring line from the leader before we head into a special mission... so fiery encouragent...”
Who the hell even does that?
Just then, loud shouts erupted nearby.
“We’re the only ones who can defend this breakwater! Do you know what it took to build this?!”
“There’s no way we’re letting it fall!”
“Let’s go, you human shovels of the Cavalry and the Imperial Army!”
“......”
Seeing the Cavalry and Imperial troops bonding over their breakwater efforts with sudden enthusiasm left Yuder dumbfounded.
‘They actually want that kind of thing?’
The mbers in front of him looked genuinely envious, their eyes sparkling.
“...I’ve never once thought that kind of thing was necessary before a mission. But if you really want it, then do it yourselves.”
That alone was already a step back the old Yudrain Aile would’ve found shocking.
But the mbers didn’t back down.
“What? Without you? How are we supposed to do that?”
“Yeah! You can’t leave yourself out! That’s betrayal.”
“Don’t make us the traitors. You brought us together and you’re leading us. So you have to say sothing!”
“Yuder, I get that this feels like a joke in a serious mont. But it wouldn’t hurt to lift our spirits with a few words, right?”
“Steber...”
Even Steber, who had been standing back like Yuder, ended up saying that.
Yuder turned his head.
Not far off, Kishiar was watching with a smile.
Clearly, he had no intention of helping.
‘.......’
Yuder finally sighed, furrowed his brow, and opened his mouth.
“...Just rember one thing.”
“Woooow!”
“Just do what I do. And if you think you’re going to die, don’t argue—just turn back. Especially at sea. The mont you can’t move on your own, it’s over.”
After that grim line, only silence remained—along with wide eyes.
“......”
Didn’t I say not to make do things like this?
Still, he ant what he said.
He truly wanted them to rember it.
Life was irreplaceable.
Succeeding in the mission was important—but not at the cost of throwing lives away.
Just as Yuder’s expression darkened, the previously silent mbers suddenly let out a loud cheer.
“Yaaah!!”
“Now that’s the Cavalry spirit! Everyone heard that?!”
“Exactly! Nothing’s more embarrassing than a water-user drowning!”
“Let’s all do our best!”
“Thinking about our training is helping relax already!”
“......”
They linked arms, shouting and punching the air.
Yuder found himself forcibly pulled into the group.
‘This damn “Cavalry spirit” phrase...’
He was stunned—but at ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ least the mood wasn’t ruined, so maybe it was fine.
“...Now we’re really going.”
“Yeah!”
Yuder sighed quietly as the mbers responded like overexcited kids.
Then he stepped forward, reached the end of the breakwater—and leapt.
With one step on the wind, his body landed on the ocean’s surface.
The water beneath him had solidified, holding his weight.
Only Awakeners with mastery over water could do such a thing.
“Ooooh...!”
Amidst the gasps of awe, the others followed one by one, leaping to stand upon the water behind him.
Yuder waited until the last person was in position before turning his head.
Among those gathered on the breakwater, Kishiar stood out.
He said nothing, only watching Yuder in silence.
What should he say?
No matter how he searched, only one thing ca to mind.
Yuder opened his lips and spoke.
“I’ll be back soon.”
There wasn’t a shred of warmth in the words.
And yet, the Cavalry Commander smiled brightly.
“Yes. Soon.”
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