"This is absolutely unbelievable!"
As her feet left the boat and she ascended into the white mist, Sonia was overwhelmed with excitement, her entire body covered in goosebumps. It was as if she were witnessing a miracle for the first time, like seeing her idol Dedaros in a film on the light screen. The surreal scene left her in awe.
"Stay calm, stay calm," Ash reassured her. "We have to coordinate properly—any mistake and we'll fall."
Sonia, on the other hand, seemed full of confidence. "Didn't you say there's a bond between us? If that's true, then this level of coordination is nothing."
She glanced at Ash, gripping his right hand tightly with her left as if their hearts could connect through that touch. Their Silver Wings beat in perfect unison, like two birds supporting each other as they soared together.
"We worked so hard to gather clues about the Golden Fish, to deduce its truth, and to figure out the proper way to fly..."
Ash cleared his throat dramatically. "Correction—the truth was my deduction, and I also discovered the flight method. Of course, your contributions were significant..."
"Yes, yes, you're amazing," Sonia said, her smile radiant. "I declare that, tonight, you're on par with Dedaros in my heart!"
"Just for tonight? Also, who's Dedaros?"
"My ultimate idol! For one night, you should feel honored. Compared to what I used to think of you, at least now I'm comparing you to a person."
"And what was I compared to before...?"
The two laughed like fools for a moment before Ash grew serious, raising his eyes toward the gray, foggy sky. "Are you ready?"
"Yes." Sonia nodded firmly.
"Observer, let's fly."
Flap!
With synchronized movements, their Silver Wings propelled them upward into the mist, spiraling higher and higher. The Sea of Knowledge grew distant beneath them, and Ash's Void Map became increasingly scrambled. The higher they ascended, the thinner the white mist grew until faint golden light shimmered at the edges of their vision.
"How do you think past mages found companions to fly with in the Void Realm?" Sonia suddenly asked. "Is it possible for other mages to team up like we're doing?"
"Maybe," Ash mused, "but I suspect it's something even more miraculous."
"What do you mean?"
"I think they might have met their real-world friends in the Void Realm."
"Meeting someone you know in the Void Realm? Both of you just happening to be here, both unfolding Silver Wings, and both knowing the truth about the Golden Fish? That's so many coincidences..."
"Exactly. That's what makes it a miracle."
As they drew closer to the glowing sky, the mist thinned further, and their bodies began to feel heavier. It was as if the Sea of Knowledge was exerting a stronger pull on them, its gravity weighing them down, filling their limbs and bodies with lead.
The Sea of Knowledge was trying to hold back these would-be escapees.
For most explorers, this would have been the end—dreams of flight shattered by the crushing pull of reality, sending them plummeting back into the depths like broken crystals.
But their Silver Wings moved effortlessly, cutting through the mist and defying gravity. Even as their souls were shackled by the sea's pull, their wings carried them freely through the skies.
As the golden light grew blindingly bright, Sonia suddenly felt a surge of anxiety. Her breathing quickened, and she couldn't suppress the question that had been weighing on her heart.
"Why me?"
Even she didn't fully understand why she had to ask now, at this critical moment. This question could have waited—until after their journey, until tomorrow, or even until far in the future. But at this moment, she needed an answer, no matter what it might cost her.
Even if it hurt her chances of advancing to Two Wings, Sonia felt there were things more important than her own progress.
Ash glanced at her, surprised, but he understood what she was asking.
He was tempted to crack a joke, but instead, the words that left his mouth were sincere. "It's just a coincidence."
Sonia managed to mask her emotional reaction with a practiced smile. "I figured as much. Guess I'm just lucky—"
"No," Ash interrupted softly. "I'm the lucky one."
He looked at her earnestly. "It's because of you—this one coincidence—that everything else became possible."
He suddenly recalled a saying: 'Some things can't be chained. Even if you bind their hands and feet, they'll grow wings and fly.'
"Sonia, the reason I can fly isn't because of my Silver Wings. It's because of you."
"When my hands and feet were bound, when I was trapped in prison, it was you who opened the window to the Void Realm for me. It was you who helped me gain the power of a mage."
Ash smiled at her. "Sonia, you're my wings."
Sonia stared at him, speechless. In the growing brilliance of the golden light, the shadowy fog concealing Ash's face dissipated, revealing a finely sculpted face and eyes brimming with vitality.
After so many days, Sonia finally saw his face.
In that moment, all the resentment, worry, and unease she'd harbored evaporated. She had never felt this way before—not even when she wore new clothes for the first time, or when she first laid eyes on Galasite, or even when she tasted her first snow cream.
It was as if a long-forgotten emptiness inside her had been silently filled.
Tightening her grip on his hand, Sonia let out a soft hum, then whispered, "You're my Golden Fish, too."
Ash burst out laughing. "That's a weird metaphor. Makes me feel like I'm just a stepping stone."
Sonia's protest was feeble. "That's not what I meant…"
"Relax, I know what you meant. Now let's go… and see the real Golden Fish!"
Flap!
Breaking through the final layers of mist, they beheld a vast, shimmering ocean of gold stretching across the entire sky.
With each beat of their Silver Wings, the golden sea rippled, its waves reflecting the intricate feathers of their wings. The reflections shifted and shimmered like layers of golden scales.
In a heartbeat, the endless golden ocean transformed into the belly of a massive Golden Fish.
"So this is... the truth of the Golden Fish," Sonia murmured in awe.
Ash, equally stunned by the breathtaking sight, gave a satisfied smile. Still holding Sonia's hand, he led her forward into the golden sea.
The next moment, the world flipped upside down.