The eternal currents flowed onward, connecting all sea regions and rushing towards the Endless Sea. The passage connected to this current was their objective. To interact with other sea regions, or even to journey to the Endless Sea, one had to navigate this current.
As the northernmost sea region, their Homeland Sea was also the most fortified, a status reinforced by the Holy Mother’s governance philosophy. Consequently, the strength of this sea region was deliberately limited, preventing it from becoming overwhelmingly powerful, which made it significantly safer than other areas. Information from the outside world was deliberately downplayed—not completely concealed, just not actively publicized. If someone learned of the outside world and wished to leave, no one would stop them; on the contrary, they would be provided with further information and assistance. After all, the world’s very nature made people curious about what lay beyond. For those truly determined to venture out, learning about such things wasn’t difficult.
The situations in other sea regions were unclear, but through Lucilia and her companions, it was known that the strength of other regions was not suppressed or restricted by other Divines. At least, this was the case for the Sea of All Beings. Comparatively, it was less safe and stable.
Lucilia belonged to a prominent family and had never left her family’s territory. Julia, however, had been active in the outside world, and through her accounts, everyone was aware of the dangers in the Sea of All Beings. This situation had its pros and cons.
However, the documents indicated that once one journeyed to the Endless Sea, all restrictions would vanish, and power could be unleashed without restraint. Even some Treasures would receive a degree of enhancement. This was because that place was lawless, devoid of constraints and limitations.
As Alka continued to read the documents, his expression grew serious. The current’s speed was incredibly fast; it was impossible to stop. Furthermore, the passages connecting each sea region to this current weren’t always open. Timing was crucial; one had to wait for the storms within the World Fissures to be at their absolute calmest. This meant that once someone passed through the World Fissures at the precise moment and entered that current, they could only journey towards the Endless Sea, never to return. There was simply no possibility of traveling to the Sea of All Beings; sending Julia and Lucilia home was utterly out of the question. The very structure of the world precluded such a possibility.
As this information was shared, everyone present learned of these details.
The reason Lucilia and Julia had been able to reach their current sea region was that the Homeland Sea and the Sea of All Beings were interconnected. Although World Fissures existed between the two sea regions, these fissures would calm when the time was right. When they calmed, the storms would also cease, though it remained a pipe dream for ordinary ships to pass through. However, their conditions at the time had been abnormal, which had allowed them to pass through. One (Lucilia) had already died, her soul having entered a sturdy Magic Mirror. The other (Julia) had been a solid crystal, able to pass naturally through the World Fissures to this sea region as long as she avoided colliding with any reefs. Such circumstances were unrepeatable; their situation had been incredibly fortunate.
Lucilia, in her doll form, and Julia, who was also examining the papers, both read in silence.
"So, once we leave here, we can never return...?" Chadite murmured, gazing at the documents.
It wasn’t just her; Jason, too, fell silent as he read.
Alka and Pororo were the only ones who appeared indifferent. Alka, one could say, had no attachments to this place. He welcomed the opportunity to journey to the Endless Sea, gain greater power, and witness more magnificent sights. For Pororo, the chance to travel to a sea region closer to the Sea God was equally desirable. Not to mention, it offered more trials and tribulations. This aligned with the tenets of his faith.
Julia’s expression was rather peculiar—a mixture of regret and sorrow, yet also tinged with a hint of relief. It didn’t seem as unacceptable to her as Alka had imagined.
Thinking this, Alka glanced at the doll beside him. The doll, Lucilia, was sitting on the document papers, her head bowed as she stared at the information below, seemingly lost in thought. Alka reached out, tapped her small head, and gently jiggled it from side to side.
Lucilia lifted her head. Her emerald Gemstone eyes, crystal clear, reflected a brilliant light. She looked up at Alka, her voice small and sweet as she asked, "Alka... can I... really not go back?"
Seeing Lucilia’s sorrowful expression, as if she were on the verge of tears, Alka chuckled and gently jiggled her head again. "You’re filled with so much knowledge," Alka said, "yet you can never seem to recall it at crucial moments, can you?"
"What do you mean by that?" Lucilia asked, puzzled.
Hearing Lucilia’s puzzled question, Alka shook his head with a helpless smile. He opened his palm, and a book materialized within it. It was the very item that young Sad had buried on Holy Armor Island a year prior.
"Did you ever finish reading this book?" Alka asked.
Hearing Alka’s question, Lucilia shook her head. Back when she was merely a soul, she had neither the time nor the ability to read books on her own. Later, after becoming a doll, she had the time and ability, but by then, they were already in the Realm of Pitch Darkness. During that period, they were constantly being pursued, and her focus had been entirely on treasure hunting—an activity she had, in fact, rather enjoyed.