Chapter 61
When she brought up the possibility, Payton shook his head firmly in denial.
“But everything’s changed—completely!”
“Of course it has. Things develop, you know.”
“But still… still…”
Payton kept shaking his head, as if he refused to believe he was walking once more on the same land he had once tread in the past.
Tired of going in circles with someone who would only reply, “That can’t be,” no matter what she said, Lorey tried to change the subject. She glanced at the necklace in Sophia’s hand.
“That’s a necklace I haven’t seen before. Did you buy it while I wasn’t looking?”
“No. I picked it up before getting on the ship. Some kid dropped it. I tried to return it but missed the chance…”
Now that they had arrived on the island, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to find the owner. She fiddled with it with some regret. Then Payton, now standing beside her, spoke up.
“Oh, that necklace looks just like the ones those kids were wearing earlier.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Maybe the owner’s their friend? Kids like to get matching stuff with their friends.”
That made sense. Maybe she could find the owner. It didn’t sit right to keep something someone might be searching for. But she couldn’t just throw it away either.
As she inspected the necklace again, Sophia noticed something engraved on it.
“Anne”
If that was the owner’s name, it would be easier to find her later—assuming, as Payton suggested, that she was one of the children living on this island.
Later, they met up with Benjamin and Joshua and toured the island’s scenic spots. But Sophia noticed that Payton didn’t seem well.
He laughed like always, which probably fooled the others, but not her.
“He’s pretending he’s fine.”
Ever since they’d seen the mural, something had been off. Whenever he looked up at something, he’d tug at his collar or rub his neck, like it was hard to breathe. And at every sudden sound, he reacted like a small animal sensing a predator.
Ask if he was okay, and he’d just smile.
Deciding this couldn’t go on, she finally spoke up.
“I think I’m a little tired from walking so much. Do you mind if I head back first?”
“Huh? Oh, of course—if you’re tired, you should definitely rest. Even if it’s a trip, don’t push yourself,” Benjamin said kindly.
“I’ve been feeling tired too. Let’s all head back,” Joshua added in agreement.
Whether they were genuinely worried or just trying to be considerate, both agreed readily. But Payton, oblivious as ever, chimed in.
“What? Everyone’s tired? I can help with that! Did you forget I’m a magician?”
He clearly didn’t realize they were trying to get him to rest. Sophia gave him a sharp glare.
“Let’s go. Back to the villa.”
“W-Wait! Now that you mention it, I’m super tired too! Let’s go!”
One look at those violet eyes and Payton immediately backed down, sensing disaster if he dared suggest staying out longer.
When they reached the villa, Sophia dragged Payton straight into her room.
“Huh? What’s going on?”
“I think the bed in your room isn’t so great.”
“You’re making it sound like Cosmos gave me a bad room on purpose!”
How could she possibly deal with this foolish old man?
Clicking her tongue, Sophia pushed him onto her bed and pulled the blanket up tight, just as Lorey had once done for her.
“This makes me feel like a little kid again!”
“Glad to hear that, Grandpa.”
Seeing him lying there obediently made Sophia feel oddly satisfied. But Payton, clearly confused by her actions, blinked up at her.
“But… why?”
“You looked tired.”
“But you said you were the tired one. And I don’t get tired, remember?”
“Doesn’t matter. Just sleep, okay?”
She echoed what Serita always asked during her check-ups. Payton seemed to think about it for a moment, then answered more seriously than expected.
“I can’t sleep well. I always end up sleeping during your daytime.”
What was he talking about? Sophia stared, confused. She’d never seen him nap during the day. If anything, he was always bouncing around like an overexcited puppy the moment the sun rose.
“You sound sane and insane at the same time.”
“Using nonsense to judge my sanity? That’s a foolish thing to do, Sophia!”
“Yeah, yeah. Just take the bed and rest.”
Respect your elders.
Payton chuckled softly. It reminded him of when Joshua had teased him about “elder attacks.”
As soon as Sophia stopped talking, the room fell quiet. Payton blinked a few times, then finally closed his eyes.
Sophia sat at the edge of the bed and read her book. The breeze coming through the slightly opened window was cool enough—not too warm, not too cold.
A few dozen minutes passed.
Then the silence was broken.
“…ugh… haah…”
“…Payton?”
“…Li…Lione…”
The sound of his uneasy groans drew her attention. He was grimacing in his sleep, mumbling softly.
Was it a nightmare?
Worried, she leaned a little closer—when suddenly, Payton’s eyes flew open and his arm shot out, grabbing hers tightly.
She lost balance for a second but caught herself with her free hand on the bed.
“Wha—?! You scared me!”
“…Ah, sorry.”
Payton slowly loosened his grip and let go of her arm.
“Did you have a nightmare?”
“A dream? Ha… if only it was a dream.”
He muttered with a twisted half-smile, a look Sophia had never seen on him before.
“Magicians don’t dream. At least not really. We just… relive memories.”
“So you were seeing something from your past again?”
“Yeah. It was… horrible… Ah.”
His dazed eyes gradually regained their usual rose-pink hue, the vitality returning as he focused on her face.
“You… you said a name in your sleep. Lione.”
“…Did I?”
“You did.”
“You’re not going to do the annoying thing and ask who that is, right?”
“I was going to, but… judging from your face, I figured that’d be a bad idea.”
At that, Payton smiled softly, the fierce look from earlier completely gone.
Whatever memory he had seen, it wasn’t a happy one.
And perhaps—it had happened here.
Judging by how strongly he denied having ever been here, it seemed nothing good had happened to him on this island.
And maybe that’s why those memories were haunting him again now.
“I’m gonna head to my room and rest. Sorry for ruining the day.”
“It’s fine.”
Payton smiled one last time and grabbed the doorknob. As he turned it, Sophia added one last thing.
“Don’t push yourself.”
Whether he heard her or not, he left the room without a reply.
That evening, Cosmos hosted a banquet. The seafood dishes, plated on blue-glowing porcelain, brought the sea vividly to mind.
During the meal, Sophia suddenly recalled the people earlier that day who had called her “Evil God.” Curious, she decided to ask Cosmos.
“Do you know anything about something called… the Evil God?”
“The Evil God?”
“Yes.”
“Oh… that would be something from the teachings of the Kratina Faith.”
“Kratina Faith?”
She’d never heard of that religion before.
“Yes. It’s unique to this island. No wonder you haven’t heard of it.”
He took a bite of monkfish and wiped his mouth before continuing.
“Did you know? This place wasn’t always an island.”
She’d suspected as much. She nodded slightly, and he went on without further explanation.
“A magician once summoned a massive tidal wave and submerged much of the region. Only this bit of land remained above water, becoming an island. The rest lies underwater—whole villages lost beneath the sea.”
“…”
“The Kratina Faith was founded in hatred of that magician. They named him the Evil God. And according to them, his appearance…”
Cosmos’s gaze lingered on Sophia.
“…is eerily similar to yours, Lady Rosatia.”
Long, faintly violet hair. Eyes like crushed grapes. A body wrapped in a chilling aura.
Though the words were chosen to paint him as evil, the description sent a cold chill down her spine—
Because it sounded exactly like her.
