Somewhere Between the Sea and the Sky.

Episode 1: Chapter 5.

The island wasn't bigger than the other ones the Aurora docked in recently, but despite this it felt much more huge for the pirates. Every little town was in a whole different location, they weren't even close. If anyone wanted to visit their neighbours they had to cross the forest and mountains, let's not talk about merchants who had to travel with the goods.

But it actually was like that for a reason. The island was the home of magical non-human creatures, a little paradise that somehow the White Army decided to ignore. All kinds of people lived there, most of them trying to live a good life without the fear of being killed. Something similar to the Landfill but for more common people, for families and creatures that were no criminals. They enjoyed and respected the original state of the island, the vegetation and creatures that lived there from the start, so they built different towns without destroying the place.

Even if the army and the church treated it like hell, it was a nice place.

But their respect for nature made Ateez divide themselves in two groups, three counting the ones who stayed in the Aurora. At the end of the day, they were sure each group would have a story to tell about the place.

And there was the first group; the first story.

Only two of them went to the town at the north of the main port, a village called Bright Lily. The name came from the flowers that grew in the area, white, big and beautiful lilies. They probably used the word bright to avoid people relating them to the White Army, something quite sad. White was a pretty color, but the army dyed its pure meaning to bloody red.

Then, the two pirates followed the path lo Bright Lily across the woods. The ones in charge for the job were the Lieutenant Park Seonghwa and the recently recruited Choi San.

They calmly walked, speaking only when necessary. It wasn't like the blond didn't want to talk to the other, but the church boy didn't look comfortable with it. He probably saw Seonghwa as a dangerous criminal, a murderer, and it was the first time the two of them were alone. Thinking about it, it made sense.

Because of that the blond remained silent most of the time, expecting the other to talk when he wanted to. Perhaps he wouldn't do it, but Seonghwa was okay with the silence.

Actually, he loved the silence.

But San did not. He hated it, he hated the awkward atmosphere, he hated how fast the blond noticed how nervous he was. The church boy walked some steps behind the other, one hand stroking the soft fluff of the jacket he was wearing.

Wooyoung's jacket.

The blond noticed too, but none of them dared to ask or give an explanation.

"Careful."

Seonghwa finally spoke again, they had been walking for long without any indication or warning from the oldest.

His words made San's steps cease, the church boy looked forward to seeing what the other warned him about. It was something that didn't seem to fit in the forest, that was for sure.

Crystals.

Giant, beautiful crystals joined the vegetation, making a pretty scene thanks to the multiple white lilies around them. If San weren't extremely confused by it, he would say leaving the church to see such places could be worth it. If he had to describe it with one word, it would be magical.

But Seonghwa warned him for a reason.

"What's wrong?" San muttered like he was already scared of the answer.

"You don't know what those are?" The blond asked in a soft tone, he didn't want the other to feel insulted. Seonghwa approached the closest crystal, which was actually bigger than his own height, and looked at it.