Chapter 217: The First Discovery

The Tideglass Discovery Walk stretched along Solmara’s golden coastline. Pale cliffs rose above clear pools, while glasslike formations glittered beneath the afternoon sun. Some resembled frozen waves, while others looked like enormous crystal flowers. Sunlight passed through their translucent surfaces, scattering colorful reflections across the water.

Lily stopped when she spotted the first formation.

"Look! A crown!"

She hurried toward a towering cluster of ridges. Sunlight struck its upper edge, creating a rainbow halo around her head.

"There! We haven’t even started, and I’ve already found the best one!"

Maki glanced at the nearby information board. "We’ve been here for less than a minute. Declaring a winner now is premature."

"Then you can spend the rest of the day trying to catch up."

Yuna laughed, while Emily turned toward Reinhard. "Are you going to join us, or are you planning to inspect the entire route before taking a single step?"

Reinhard lowered the Golden Coast Leisure Guide. "I’m making sure we’re at the correct destination."

"We have a guide standing right beside us."

Lumain placed a hand over his chest. "And here I thought my professional services had finally become indispensable."

"They are. That’s why I’m checking whether they’ve brought us somewhere worth visiting."

Lumain laughed. "Fortunately, Tideglass rarely disappoints."

He explained that centuries of mineral deposits and coastal erosion had created the unusual formations. Their colors changed according to their mineral composition and the angle of the sunlight.

"Visitors who rush straight to the end often miss the best details," he added. "I can show you the famous formations and a few less obvious ones."

Maki immediately looked interested. Lily looked delighted at the prospect of discovering more things.

Emily took Reinhard’s hand. "Come on. You can calculate the value of the experience afterward."

"I haven’t calculated anything yet."

"That’s what I’m worried about."

The family followed Lumain along the coastal path, beginning their first official exploration of Solmara.

...

Their first viewing point featured several formations resembling animals.

Lily pointed at one curled around a large stone. "A dragon!"

Maki tilted her head. "It looks more like a sea serpent."

"Dragons can look however they want."

"Then how do you distinguish a dragon from a serpent?"

"Easy. This one is a dragon."

Lumain smiled. "Interestingly enough, the locals call that formation the Sleeping Sea Dragon."

Lily turned toward Maki with a victorious grin. "The locals agree with me."

Maki sighed as Lily celebrated her first victory. There was no arguing with someone who treated confidence as evidence.

At the next viewing point, however, Maki found something Lily had overlooked.

Several ridges along a broad formation curved in nearly identical directions. Maki studied their angles, then compared them with the formations farther down the coast.

"These ridges follow a repeating pattern. They might reflect the direction of an old coastal current."

Lumain stopped beside her. "You noticed that quickly. Some researchers have proposed a similar explanation, though the exact process remains uncertain."

Maki leaned closer, examining the ridges from another angle.

"My main field is awakened phenomena, but unfamiliar systems are worth understanding."

"Then you’ll find Solmara rewarding," Lumain replied. "There’s always something beneath the surface."

Maki looked pleased. She had found something genuinely interesting without needing to solve a problem or demonstrate her abilities.

Lily approached the formation and examined it carefully.

"So you found something I missed."

"Apparently."

"And it’s scientifically interesting."

"Yes."

Lily nodded. "Fine. You win this one. But I still have the dragon."

"There was never any doubt about that," Reinhard remarked.

Maki shook her head, but the corner of her mouth lifted. At least the competition had become more interesting.

Lumain led them toward a larger formation.

"This one changes dramatically when viewed from different angles."

Reinhard approached it with the Grand Passport still in mind. He reached for the guide, intending to check whether this viewing point offered special recognition.

Then he noticed Emily standing beside the railing, watching sunlight dance across the water.

He lowered the guide without opening it.

Emily glanced at him. "Which color do you like?"

"Blue."

"I prefer the gold. It makes the water look warmer."

"Then we need to find an angle that shows both."

She smiled and moved with him along the path. Together, they searched until the formation caught the sunlight in a mixture of gold and deep blue.

"There," Reinhard said.

Emily took his hand. "We found it."

For a moment, Reinhard forgot about the passport. He was simply enjoying something beautiful with his wife.

...

The path narrowed as it followed the shoreline. A side route led toward a higher viewing platform, its stone steps uneven but accessible.

Emily noticed it first. "I want to see the view from there."

Reinhard glanced at the steps. "Are you sure?"

Emily gave him a pointed look. "I said I wanted to see it, not that I wanted you to carry me."

He raised his hands. "Your decision."

She started up the path. Yuna noticed that a tall formation partly obscured the entrance and guided the others around it.

Emily reached the top first.

Beyond the railing, the coastline stretched into the distance. Clear water surrounded pale cliffs, and sunlight scattered across the formations until the shore seemed covered in colored light.

"Come on!" Emily called. "You have to see this!"

Reinhard joined her.

"Worth the climb?" he asked.

"Definitely."

She took his hand and pulled him closer to the railing, pointing out the reflections moving across the water.

Reinhard followed her gesture, then looked at her.

"What?" Emily asked.

"I’m enjoying the view."

Emily glanced toward the coast. "So am I."

She brushed a loose strand of hair away from his forehead and straightened his collar.

Reinhard looked down at his shirt. "Is something wrong with my clothes?"

"No."

"Then why are you fixing them?"

"Because I’m allowed to fix my husband’s appearance without submitting a formal explanation."

Before he could reply, Emily kissed his cheek.

Reinhard turned toward her, momentarily caught off guard.

She smiled. "There. Now you look less like you’re conducting an inspection."

He slipped an arm around her waist and drew her closer. "Perhaps I should conduct inspections more often."

Emily laughed, but he leaned down and kissed her before she could answer.

When they separated, she rested her forehead against his for a moment, her hand against his chest.

"I could become accustomed to this kind of inspection," Reinhard murmured.

"Don’t ruin it."

She gave him another quick kiss before stepping away.

From several steps away, Lily called, "You two! Look at this!"

Emily took Reinhard’s hand and led him toward the others.

Lily had found a formation shaped like a crooked tower.

"This is better than the dragon!"

Maki examined it. "It’s considerably smaller."

"Height isn’t the only measure of greatness."

Reinhard studied the tower. "She has a point."

Maki gave him a disapproving look, while Lily grinned at her discovery.

Emily laughed. "Come on. There are still places we haven’t seen."

...

The path opened beside a shallow tide pool. Delicate formations rose around the water, their translucent surfaces reflected beneath them.

Yuna noticed a small formation shaped like a bird with its wings spread. She stopped to examine it, watching its reflection shift across the water.

Then she called Emily over.

"Look at this one."

Emily joined her. From their position, the formation resembled a bird preparing to take flight. When they moved a few steps to the side, its reflection made it look more like a flower.

Yuna pointed toward the water. "It changes depending on where you stand. From here, it looks like a bird. From there, it looks like a flower."

Emily smiled. "Which one is correct?"

"Both. That’s the point."

Yuna looked pleased with her discovery. It was something she genuinely liked and wanted to share.

Lily soon arrived. "Is it better than my dragon?"

Yuna considered the question. "I don’t think it needs to be better than anything."

Lily stared at the formation, apparently unsure how to respond to a competition without a winner.

Maki joined them and examined the reflection. "Yuna is right. They offer different things to appreciate."

After a moment, Lily leaned closer to the water.

"Fine. The dragon can be the best dragon, and this can be the best bird-flower."

Yuna laughed. "That sounds fair."

The others moved to the opposite side of the pool to examine the reflection. Yuna followed, but after a moment, she returned to her original position for one last look.

Emily noticed and stayed beside her.

"Want to stay a little longer?"

Yuna smiled. "No. I’ve seen what I wanted."

She turned away and rejoined her family.

Reinhard watched her go, pleased to see her enjoying the outing without feeling responsible for everyone else.

...

Lumain gathered the family near the exit.

"Congratulations. You’ve completed your first recognized exploration."

Lily immediately pulled out her Grand Passport. "Is something going to happen?"

The passport’s surface shimmered. Golden light spread across the page before gathering into a small emblem depicting the Tideglass coastline. The mark settled into place, recording their completed exploration.

Lily’s eyes widened. "My first official record!"

She tilted the passport toward the sunlight, examining the emblem from every angle.

Maki opened hers next. Her mark was similar, but the accompanying recognition reflected her careful observation and engagement with the attraction.

"So it records more than the destination," she murmured. "It recognizes how we participated."

Emily and Yuna examined their own records, while Reinhard compared his with what he had observed throughout the walk.

Their recognition wasn’t identical. The same experience had produced individual results.

Lily held her passport up triumphantly. "We’re official explorers of Solmara!"

"We completed one attraction," Maki pointed out.

"Every great achievement has to begin somewhere."

This time, Maki didn’t argue.

Reinhard examined his emblem again. Seeing their first exploration recorded made the outing feel more substantial. They hadn’t merely visited a location. They had discovered it together.

Lumain smiled. "Remember, this recognition records a completed experience. It doesn’t promote you to Silver Explorer. You’re still beginning your Bronze Voyager journey."

"Understood," Maki replied. "We’ll need to explore different types of attractions."

"Exactly. The Grand Passport rewards breadth of exploration and meaningful participation. Certain higher-tier experiences also have prosperity requirements, but money alone won’t replace the experience itself."

Maki looked at the guide, then closed it without beginning another detailed itinerary.

"We should choose tomorrow’s destination based on what everyone wants to experience."

Lily raised her hand. "I volunteer to make the decision."

"No," everyone answered.

Lumain laughed. "Then your first discovery has been a success."

...

By the time the family returned to Celestial Shore, the afternoon sun had begun to soften.

Lily was still talking about the dragon, while Maki described the repeating patterns she had noticed. Yuna shared her favorite detail about the tide pool, and Emily listened with a smile.

Back at the villa, Maki reviewed their route before closing the guide.

"I admit that leaving room for detours worked better than I expected."

Reinhard raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying you enjoyed not planning everything?"

"I’m saying a flexible plan can be useful."

"Of course."

Maki narrowed her eyes at him, but she didn’t reopen the guide.

Later, Reinhard sat beside the pool, examining the day’s passport recognition when Emily joined him.

"Did you enjoy the walk, or did you only enjoy making progress?"

"I went in thinking about the Grand Passports. The recognition was satisfying, but the formations were more interesting than I expected."

Emily leaned against his shoulder.

"And the company?"

Reinhard set the passport aside and wrapped an arm around her.

"Even better."

She kissed his knuckles before resting against him again. Together, they watched the fading sunlight move across the pool.

Their quiet moment lasted until Lily appeared with the Golden Coast Leisure Guide.

"Tomorrow, we’re going to the local market!"

Maki wanted to investigate the handmade crafts. Yuna was interested in the regional food, while Emily wanted to find something meaningful to bring home.

Reinhard glanced at the market listing. One specialty caught his eye: Solmara’s famous sunpear pastries, baked fresh at a coastal stall and sold only until the day’s supply ran out.

Then Lily spotted another listing.

"They have a pastry challenge! Whoever finishes the tasting platter gets a special market badge!"

Maki immediately questioned whether the challenge involved a sensible amount of food. Yuna laughed, and Emily looked at Reinhard, who was already studying the platter’s listed size.

She raised an eyebrow.

He closed the guide. "Tomorrow, we explore first. Food-related decisions can wait."

Lily grinned. "You can’t say that after looking at the platter!"

Emily leaned over and kissed his cheek.

Reinhard sighed as the family began debating who would enter the challenge.

Their first discovery was complete.

Tomorrow, Solmara’s local market awaits.