The Fountain of Memory

 

「Kou! Where were you?!」

Asia’s Aimer came running, out of breath.

「Where? I’ve been here the whole time.」

「The whole time? You weren’t anywhere, and we were just about to organize a search party. ―This is Asia’s Aimer, calling Astraea. Kou found. Search team disbanded.」

She relayed the message to the Eustitia through her communicator.

「Still, I’m surprised you got out on your own.」

「Maybe it wasn’t that deep.」

「Don’t joke. If you’re buried up to your ankles in sand, you can’t move at all.」

「Is that so.」

When Kou looked up at the sky, he was so stunned that words failed him.

The moon was directly overhead.

「What is it? Looking at the sky like that.」

「The Panjandrum…」

The Panjandrum should’ve been partially submerged in seawater by now—but not a single wave had touched it.

Only the hole where Kou had been buried remained.

「Are you okay?」

Worried that the heat might’ve gotten to his head, Asia’s Aimer began to feel uneasy.

There was something