He sits there on the snowy mountain, the highest peak of the entire island, and overlooking the entire place. It was quite a sight to see the frozen water and the small town bustling with people, despite the heavy weather.
"Are you up to anything today?" Marnia asked him. She stood by his side and watches the view that he was seeing. "I wonder if the villagers ever get bored with this tiny little town."
"I don't think they do," Leo added. "Sometimes, even I want to just settle upon a place for a little while. How about we build our own little home here?"
"Are you serious?" Marnia asked, lowering her eyes to look at Leo, who was sitting on the edge of the snowy cliff. She has a smile on her face that beams with playfulness. "I mean, I don't mind if that is what you're up to. Nothing else to do, anyway."
"Yeah, why not? Just for a short while, we can live a simple life," he says to her.
...
He holds her hand as the both of them walk on the shore of the island. There is a peace in the air, and the snow is just beginning to evaporate away.
"Leo, at this rate, I'm not even sure we are pirates anymore," Marnia says while swinging his hand when they walk.
"Yeah, you're right. We're not pirates. We are adventurers," Leo says to her with a warm smile. "But I think when the snow clears up, it would be a time that we go."
As they continue walking, the sun in the sky starts it setting motion and the entire sky darkens itself.
The two of them had built a home for themselves inside the forest, a small cabin that was accompanied by all that they would need.
In this cold weather, it was quite easy to store food, and the villagers didn't quite care that two strangers had stayed on the island.
...
"I think the best thing to do on such a stormy day is to stay inside and enjoy the warmth of the fireplace," Leo said to Marnia as he leans forward a bit while watching the snow continue falling outside.
He looks back upon the room and sees Marnia sitting on a chair by the fire, her eyes seem to hide in dreams.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked her, with a smile on his face, as he walked over to sit on the floor beside her.
"Just what you were saying," she says while stretching her arms in the air with a relaxed expression. "But it is really sad, though, that there are many out there who can't enjoy such a warmth. Some are perhaps freezing in this outside weather."
She peers her eyes away to the window by the door, seeing the snow that is decorated on the trees and covering the window with frost.
"It is such a regret," Leo says in agreement. "There are those who have so much and those who have none. But it is not like it is impossible to take away from those who have to give to those who have none."
"Are you thinking what I think you're thinking," she has a cheeky smile on her face as she turns to look at him. "You're crazy."
"Well, there needs to be crazy people in the world who are not out there for gains," Leo says with a confident smile.
"Well, I can't stop you, nor is anyone out there that can do," she says to him. "Let me join you, it would be more fun with the two of us."
Frost glows with the sunlight's touch on their doorsteps, awaiting them is a new year, new adventures. New profound discoveries.
....
What is in front of them is the blue ocean, as the boats around the harbor seems to be floating along with the tide of water.
"Hey come'n," Leo says to her, waving with his hand to beckon her to come over. "Don't worry, we will be back one of these days."
They came upon the island like a stranger and left upon the island without knowing anybody here, and the times of winter passed before anyone could notice. In the blink of an eye, the season already changed, and the sun shines again on the grand ocean, as the darkness is removed.
"I'll miss it here," Marnia says to him. "I've gotten so used to this place, Leo." Her eyes have signs of thoughtfulness as she turned back again to look upon the village. You can see the people that are here moving the wooden boxes of stuff upon shore.
"We may return here any time," he says to her.
"Alright, let's go," she says, climbing up on the ship as Leo undoes the rope and everything as the boat picks up with the wind.
In the middle of the ocean, you can see the round sun hitting its rays of light on the blue surface. It is kind of mesmerizing in a way when you see this, beautiful in clarity, the way it is impossible to see from any picture.
He stopped the practice of the sword to just stare upon the water surface, kneeling one of his legs on the floor as he stares down. Such clarity and beauty, this stillness. The clouds from above could be seen moving along with the direction of the boat, as though they are sailing along with the ship.
"Whenever I look upon the water, it makes me forget who I am, wherever the water moves and its stillness, so it is my mind. Does water ever slow down? It is always adjusting and adapting. That is water, that is the way. That is the sword."
In his mind, it felt like something happened, and his understanding of the sword becomes clearer. Its beauty is startling, just adapting and moving along with the wind. That's the beauty of the way of the sword.