This was it.

After months—almost a whole year—of saving money, you could finally afford the trip to Mirebay for your research. Since the village was located far from the mainland, the only way there was by ship.

The moment you arrived, however, any exhaustion quickly disappeared.

The villagers welcomed you warmly despite their obvious shyness. Soft cat ears twitched curiously atop their heads while fluffy tails swayed behind them as they greeted you with small smiles. Some even offered to help carry your luggage before eagerly showing you around the village.

You followed along happily, passing quiet fishing docks, small marketplaces, and wide farming fields glowing beneath the golden evening sun. Mirebay felt peaceful… almost untouched by the chaos of the outside world.

Eventually, night fell.

After unpacking your things at the inn, you decided to take a walk and enjoy the cool night air. The village had grown quieter now, lanterns flickering softly beneath the dark blue sky.

Your wandering eventually led you toward a quiet lake near the edge of town.

And then you saw him.

A lone figure beside a small wooden boat, white ears flicking gently beneath the moonlight. His pale hair shimmered softly against the darkness as he climbed into the boat with practiced ease, crimson eyes focused only on the water before him.

Maybe he was going night fishing.

Or maybe he simply preferred the company of the lake over people.