Voyage Of The Villainess

The wind was gently blowing sending chills. The six people who climbed the cliff didn't utter a single word as they reached the top. They simply stared at what lies beneath the cliff. Until Iris finally broke the silence.

"It is really only a waterfall falling to the abyss," Iris said, as she rubbed her shoulders to ward off the chills a little bit.

Malaya tucked the hair behind her ears. As she looked below, there was a huge waterfall coming out from the other side of the cliff. And only darkness was what they could see to where it was falling. As they looked ahead there was also only darkness.

"It really is the end of the world," Lila said. There was fear and excitement on her face. " Everything was unknown to us and out of our senses." 

'This was beyond my expectation.' Iris thought.

"Malaya, now that we see that it's a dead end. What will we do now?" Hyun Jae asked with worry. But Malaya didn't answer her right away. She was in deep thoughts as she stared beneath. 

"I think we should rest for now," Iris suggested this time when it takes a minute for Malaya to answer. "Since it looked like we were all quite tired from climbing. What do you think, Malaya?" She asked as she leaned her arms on Malaya's shoulders. This time Malaya was snapped of her thoughts.

"What did you say?" Malaya asked, looking at Iris. "Sorry I am just deep in my thoughts right now," Malaya said with innocence on her face by not understanding anything while looking at Iris 

'She says sorry to me? Has the sun started to rise in the north? Hah, that's not a funny joke.' Iris just sighed at her silly thoughts as she looked down. 'Well anyone would be surprised to see the end of their journey like this.'

"I said it would be the best decision if we should rest first for the moment," Iris said again. "Look," Iris pointed out each and one of them who are currently some are taking a good nap while others were listening to them attentively. "As you can see, everyone is tired now from their climbing and so must you."

'Just this time, I'll be nice to you.' Iris thought. 'Just only for now' 

"Alright. I guess, let's do that." Malaya said. Rein created a bonfire from the supplies they got and everyone surrounded the fire. Hyun Jae and Lila extended both of their palms in front of the fire. They released a relieved expression as they felt the warmth of the fire. 

"The heat was very calming," Lila whispered.

"Yes. But sometimes it was destructive," Hyun Jae said that made Lila a little bit startled.

'Oh, she heard that,' Lila thought.

Hyun Jae chuckled when she saw Lila's expression " Hahaha sorry for that!" 

Before Lila said anything she suddenly stopped when she saw Hyun Jae's expressions suddenly change her eyes and was full of sadness.

"Are you okay?" Lila said with the tone of worry in her voice and make sure that the only two of them can hear their conversation, "My ears are open to listening." 

" Yeah, I'm fine." Hyun Jae smiled but her eyes spoke differently. "There's just suddenly a thought that comes out when we talk about fire. Because I remember someone that I used to be close with." A bitter smile suddenly showed on her face while Lila was keeping her mouth. " That person always made me feel warm. Every time my life became cold and completely plain he was there to put some fire in my life. But everything changed when that fire became dangerous and almost took my life." She took a deep breath. " Now that fire that used to become my comfort playing with before is now my biggest nightmare." Hyun Jae formed a fist on her hand. "I have played the role of distinguishing that fire as well so that it won't hurt anyone anymore."

Lila just hugged Hyun Jae without saying anything.

'Sometimes a simple hug speaks and helps a lot more than any piece of advice.' Lila thought.

"Are you okay Hyun Jae?" The both of them suddenly back on their senses when they hear Malaya.

"Ah yes, I'm just tired." 

" I see, you better rest."

Then they started roasting the meat they brought with them and Rein cooked some stew as well. After eating, everyone chatted with each other.

"Hyun Jae mentioned last time, that this looks like the end of the world? Why is that?" Lila suddenly asked to get everyone's attention.  While the others also looked at her waiting for her response.

"Hmm. It looked like that simply to me. But that is just an opinion. On Earth, ah I mean in my own world..."

"Your own world?" Lila asked, a bit confused.

"She is summoned here from another world," Iris said. Lila's eyes widened. This was the first time she heard this information about Hyun Jae.

"You're from another world?! That's awesome!" Lila said in complete amazement." What kind of world do you have?" 

"Yeah," Hyun Jae giggled seeing her response. "In my world, many people believe before that our world is flat like a map. And once we reach the end of that map, it is completely the end of the world. Just like this," She glanced at the endless darkness. "But that proved to be wrong when people began their voyage and proved that the world is round or something like that."

Everyone was listening intently to Hyun Jae. Since it was rare for them to hear a story from another world.

"Wow! That was an amazing story! I would love to know more about your world." Lila said energetically.

" Sure, I will when we get back to the ship. I will tell you everything." Hyun Jae responded.

"Yay! I can't wait to hear more stories about your world and what kind of foods, people, and places there are." Lila said with full enthusiasm in her voice. "Promise you will say everything?" 

" Yes, I promise," Hyun Jae said with a genuine smile on her face.

"Hey, there are also people who believe that the earth is flat," Iris muttered under her breath, which Malaya heard. And she simply shook her head.

"Based on your story, Hyun Jae. What do you believe, is this place really the end of the world? or just there is something more beyond this red current?"

Everyone looked at Malaya. She stood up and walked near the end of the cliff. "I have been thinking this whole time now about whether this is the end, or there is something beyond this. A new world beyond this darkness that is unknown to us. If we dived down there will we be able to see what lies beyond this Red Current?"

"If there is really a world beyond this place, then how do you think we will be able to pass there? We can't really climb down due to the strong waterfalls." Iris said. "And even diving? It is too dangerous for us to take that kind of risk."

"I agree with her. For me Iris is right, Malaya," Lila said. "When I thought that there is no other world beyond the Sun Island, you let me join you. And I see many places, taste different foods, and try so many things that I never thought I would experience in my life. But Malaya we can't use our magic now. Nor any means to go down there. Or it might be possible that this is the end of the world and we could only end up falling to our death while our hardship will be worthless. I don't want to put anyone in more danger. I'm saying this not to disagree with you or what I just want to see our situations in a practical way."

"I see. We already come this far going to life and death threatening situations." Malaya said. "But true now we don't have any concrete plans that lie beyond this. However, I have a theory about the reality of the Red Current and the whole content of Heliyas," Malaya said, looking intently at everyone. A calm smile graced her lips.

"The theory you mentioned before. The one that you need to confirm with your own eyes?" Iris asked.

"Yes," Malaya answered. "And now that I see this, my theory becomes clearer. My theory consists of three. First, just like the Sun Island when I discovered the hidden city of the Moon. The first theory is something like that, what we may find could be an underground city or world, or realm whatever it is down there."

Malaya raised her second finger. "My second theory is that there is really nothing down there but the endless pit that would lead to our deaths." She said with a smile on her face.

Lila and Hyun Jae flinched hearing Malaya's response. 'I wonder how she could say such things with a smile on her face?' Lila thought.

"And the third one?" Iris asked.

"Well, it is quite random. But what if the Heliyas continent is a continent separated from the rest of the continents of the whole world."

"What do you mean separated from the rest of the world?" Rein this time asked.

"What I mean to say is that the whole Heliyas continent is not a normal continent but..." Malaya's grin grew wider. "A floating continent separated from the rest of the world."