Chapter 1800

The lanterns were extinguished one by one, and the village settled into silence. The sound of the sea drifted faintly through the forest, while the wind moved gently between the branches.

Jude fell asleep later than usual.

He had spent much of the evening thinking about the beach and the strange mark in the sand. He wondered where Sol had come from, whether someone was searching for him, and how a child could have reached an island that had remained isolated for so long.

Eventually, exhaustion overcame his thoughts.

He slept.

Somewhere in the middle of the night, the lantern inside Sol’s cabin went out.

The boy sat on his bed.

He had not moved since Jude left.

The wooden bird rested on the table.

Sol slowly turned his head toward the open doorway.

Beyond it, the village was completely dark.

He stood.

His feet touched the wooden floor without making a sound.

Then he stepped outside.

The path was empty. The cabins were silent, and the treehouses above him were dark. No lanterns burned near the central firepit.

Sol walked through the village.

He passed the flower garden, the storehouse, and the cooking shelter. He didn’t look around as though he were exploring. He walked with the certainty of someone who already knew where he was going.

He stopped outside Jude’s cabin.

For a long moment, he stood perfectly still.

Then he entered.

Jude was asleep, lying beneath his blanket. Moonlight slipped through the window, falling across the wooden floor.

Sol approached the bed.

He stood beside it, watching Jude.

His expression was no longer that of a quiet, frightened child.

There was no confusion in his face.

No uncertainty.

Only a strange, unreadable calm.

He leaned slightly closer.

Jude shifted in his sleep but did not wake.

Sol tilted his head.

Then his eyes began to change.

The darkness in them seemed to deepen until the pupils and irises became impossible to distinguish.

A faint red glow appeared.

It grew brighter.

Two small crimson lights reflected in the darkness of Jude’s cabin.

Sol stared directly at him.

And then, in a voice so quiet that even the night seemed unable to carry it, he whispered:

"Found you."

His red eyes remained fixed on Jude.

Outside, far beyond the village, the sea began to move.

And somewhere beneath the island, something answered.

The first sound Jude heard that morning was someone knocking repeatedly on his cabin door.

He opened his eyes, still half asleep.

"Jude! Wake up!"

He recognized the voice.

Scarlet.

He pulled the blanket over his head.

"I’m not here."

The knocking stopped.

A moment later, another voice spoke from outside.

"Jude?"

It was much quieter.

"Are you sleeping?"

Jude immediately sat up.

That wasn’t Scarlet.

He got out of bed, opened the door, and found Sol standing outside. The boy was holding the little wooden bird Stella had given him. His hair was untidy, and his expression was perfectly serious.

"Good morning," Jude said.

"Good morning."

"Did you sleep well?"

Sol nodded.

"Very well."

"Good. Did you need something?"

The boy looked at him for a moment.

"I’m hungry."

Jude smiled.

"That’s a much better reason to wake someone up than Scarlet usually has."

Sol tilted his head.

"Who is Scarlet?"

Jude laughed.

"You’ll meet her properly at breakfast."

He stepped outside and closed the door behind him.

Sol immediately began walking toward the central firepit, holding the wooden bird in both hands.

"Wait a moment," Jude said. "You don’t know where everything is yet."

Sol stopped.

"Is breakfast far?"

"Not very far."

"Then I can find it."

He started walking again.

Jude followed, amused by the boy’s confidence.

The village was waking up. Morning sunlight filtered through the trees, illuminating the wooden cabins and the rope bridges connecting the treehouses. Smoke rose from the cooking shelter, and the familiar sounds of people beginning their daily work filled the air.

Rose was arranging bowls near the firepit when she noticed them.

"Good morning, Jude."

"Good morning."

Her eyes moved to Sol.

"And good morning to our little guest."

Sol gave her a polite nod.

"Good morning."

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes."

"Are you hungry?"

"Yes."

Rose laughed.

"I think Susan has prepared enough food for you."

Sol looked toward the cooking area.

"What is it?"

"Bread, fruit, and soup."

He considered the choices.

"Can I have all three?"

Rose smiled.

"Of course."

Jude sat down while Rose brought the food. Sol climbed onto the wooden bench beside him, placing the little bird carefully on the table.

Susan approached with a bowl of warm soup.

"Here you are, Sol."

"Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

He took a spoonful, tasted it, and looked up.

"It’s good."

Susan smiled.

"I’m glad."

He took another spoonful.

Then another.

After a few moments, he looked at her again.

"Can I have more?"

Susan laughed.

"Already?"

Sol nodded.

"It’s very good."

Jude looked at the empty bowl.

"You haven’t even finished that one."

Sol looked down.

There was almost nothing left.

He seemed surprised.

"I was hungry."

"I can see that."

Scarlet arrived just then, carrying a basket of vegetables.

She stopped when she saw the boy.

"So this is Sol."

He looked up at her.

"Yes."

Scarlet placed the basket on the table and sat opposite him.

"I’m Scarlet."

Sol studied her for a moment.

"Are you always this loud?"

Jude nearly choked on his drink.

Scarlet stared at the boy.

Rose turned away, trying not to laugh.

"What?"

Sol continued eating.

"Nothing."

Scarlet looked at Jude.

"Did he just insult me?"

Jude smiled.

"I think he asked a reasonable question."

"Jude!"

Sol looked at Scarlet again.

"You’re loud when you talk."

Scarlet opened her mouth, then closed it.

Finally, she pointed at him.

"I like this child."

Everyone laughed.

By the time breakfast ended, Sol had become the centre of attention.

Stella wanted to know whether he liked the wooden bird. Grace wanted to know whether he preferred sweet fruit or roasted vegetables.