RE:WRITE

31.0 Zero_Chapter 10: Raft

I lay on my back, closing my eyes as I drifted on the sea. The waves lapped gently over my body, pushing me further and further away from the shore.

But I didn't mind. In fact, it was strangely relaxing. As if, for a few moments, I could forget everything that ate away at my mind and soul and let the world take me where it wanted to.

I'd yearned for power on Earth and cursed my inability to protect my parents and my life's work. But ironically, now that I had the power I'd yearned for so desperately, I found myself longing for the exact opposite.

Now that I could control my own destiny, I wished for uncertainty and doubt. Now that I possessed unimaginable strength, I desired vulnerability. Now that I could fix everything with a thought, I thirsted for a challenge.

And now that I knew what I had learned on the Hill, the thing that I craved for the most was ignorance.

I let the waves carry me for a little longer, but I knew I couldn't stay there, not when the others were flailing about in the water.

The Hero, the Demon Lord and a Goddess; some of the most powerful people in this world but none of them know how to swim. Kinda sad isn't it? I sighed.

Right, time for lifeguard duties. <re:write.self.equip=raft>

A sturdy, wooden raft appeared below me, lifting me out of the water. It had a small white sail that flew uselessly in the gentle sea breeze but I wasn't planning on using it anyway.

I had already found them through a combination of Map and a new favorite called 'Locate.' I could have picked them up one by one or teleported them all straight to the raft but I didn't want them to know the extent of my power just yet.

So I rewrote the ocean.

Waves surged and pushed them towards the raft while also keeping them afloat. I pretended to maneuver the raft towards them as they drew nearer. Soon, I pulled out a coughing Amy and a choking Runir and let them rest on the raft. I found Lily splashing around violently and had to shout for her to calm down before rescuing her.

She coughed out water and lay down on the raft like the others. For a long time, none of us said anything. But I was certain that we had different reasons for our silence.

"Do you think he'll follow us here?" asked Lily, breaking the silence.

"I don't think so. I doubt he knows where we are but I get the feeling that he wouldn't care to follow us even if he did." I replied.

I could feel the tension in the air dissolve as the realization hit them-they were safe.

I suppose it was a new experience for all of them, in a way.

The unbeatable Goddess had been beaten. The genius tactician outmaneuvered. And the tenacious thief subdued.

They'd survived by the skin of their teeth but they knew that their enemy hadn't fought them seriously. In fact, that indifference made them feel even worse about their powerlessness, because it made them feel like they weren't even worth the trouble of killing.

"The girl. I saw her fall off the cliff. Where is she?" asked Amy.

I sighed. "She's pretty tough, she'll be fine."

"But-"

"She'll be fine."

She still looked unconvinced, but dropped the matter for now. She stepped back to lean on the sail which was fluttering uselessly in the gentle sea breeze.