It was a legend. Once something was labeled a legend, countless versions of the story emerged. The map was one such version, as was the island itself.

According to rumors, long ago, a sailor accidentally discovered the island during a voyage. There, he found mountains of gold, endless treasures, and a vast collection of rare herbs and plants. Leaving the island, he secretly marked its location, planning to return with a larger crew to claim the wealth. But upon his return, the sea was calm, and the island was gone. Unwilling to accept defeat, he meticulously searched the coordinates he'd recorded, but the island remained hidden. Obsessed, he spent years patrolling the area, refusing to give up. Then, by sheer coincidence, during an unusual celestial event combined with a shift in the tides, the island reappeared. However, too many years had passed, and the sailor was too weak to land. He documented the location on a map, hoping his descendants could one day claim the vast wealth.

Unfortunately, news of the map and the legend spread far and wide. From that moment on, generations of people sought the island, yet none ever succeeded.

“And then,” Felicia said.

“My father went looking for it too,” Stephan said, absentmindedly playing with a strand of her hair. “I was very young at the time. My mother was gravely ill. She had seen many highly regarded doctors, but in the end, it was Mr. Walsh Senior who told us there was a rare herb that could cure her.”

Felicia listened intently, surprised to hear that her maternal grandfather had been involved in this part of Stephan’s past. “And then?” she prompted.

“Then, my father exhausted every possible lead, hiring teams of people to search for the herb—those sent to the island. Most of them never returned. My mother’s condition was dire, so my father decided to go personally, hoping for a miracle. Unfortunately, he never came back.”

Stephan’s voice was calm and steady. “If I have the chance, I want to find his remains. Or… after so many years, whatever evidence that might have existed is likely long gone.”

Felicia inched closer, resting her head on his shoulder. “I want to comfort you, but it’s been so long, and I know you don’t need that. Instead, I’ll say this—no matter what you do, I’ll be with you.”

A look of happiness flickered in Stephan’s eyes. “Alright.”

The two leaned against each other, side-by-side, as the ship cut through the waves, leaving a trail of white foam in its wake. Above them, the vast night sky stretched endlessly, dotted with countless stars and a glowing full moon.

On the seventh day at sea, Felicia held the map, checking the coordinates repeatedly. Everything matched. But as she gazed out at the seemingly endless ocean, she fell into deep thought. The ship had stopped moving. Now, all they could do was wait.

Felicia set the map down, feeling oddly at peace. Both Pete and the robed man had claimed that only she could activate the island. If that was the case, then all she had to do was wait. But Maurice couldn’t afford to wait. The venomous creature within him could only be restrained for a week. The backlash had been suppressed, but it was still painful, and he had endured it the entire time. After this night, the restraint would be gone. The venomous creature would subject him to excruciating pain, beyond anything he’d suffered so far. In other words, if they didn’t find the legendary island by sunrise, …