The Abyss Within
S-Stop!
You never said it would be this grueling!
This is just the warm-up.
And here I thought you were a kind man. It seems you're utterly merciless.
For all her complaining, Cristelle was keeping up with the training.
I might've gotten a little carried away raising the intensity as she improved.
Fine. You can rest this afternoon.
Ah, sweet respite at last!
This works out rather nicely. Do you have some time to spare this afternoon?
Sure, but why?
Then it's settled! Come along. I have someone to meet.
Someone to meet?
The vice president of Morrel Ocean Traders. She's been overseeing the company in my absence while I'm on the Journey.
After waiting with Cristelle in Candle Square for a while, a mysterious-looking girl appeared at the entrance.
Could she be—
Haydeeeee!!! There you are! My darling sweet one!
Cristelle threw her arms around Ede and nuzzled her cheek against hers.
Guess I don't need to ask.
Judging by Cristelle's reaction, I can safely assume Haydee is the vice president we came to meet.
That's my Haydee! You came to rescue me, didn't you?
No.
Hear me, Haydee! The Captain has subjected me to unspeakable cruelty, all in the name of training!
Uh-huh.
How heartless! Come now. Say something to this merciless man!
Can't be bothered.
Haydee, my baby. I certainly never raised you to be so heartless!
Who are you calling your baby?
Haydee's response was ice-cold, but she made no move to push Cristelle away.
I'm busy. I just came to drop this off.
Oh, what a masterpiece! Magnificent as ever.
Cristelle's eye lit up as she took the painting from her.
...There was only one black dot, sitting dead center on an empty white canvas.
Captain! Feast your eye upon the culmination of modern art!
...Modern art is beyond me.
Ufufu. Perhaps the story behind the piece will enlighten you.
This piece, The Singular Abyss, was painted by the genius Juan after a noble challenged him to express the color black. He pondered the task for three whole days.
Rather than covering the entire canvas in black… is it not more striking to draw the eye to this black dot alone?
I see. Put that way, I think I get it.
The canvas is so vast, yet utterly empty.
It draws your eye to that single speck… until it's all you can see.
...And that's enough for you?
Whatever history the two shared, Haydee's question wiped the playful look from Cristelle's face.
Of course. It's what I chose.
...Cristelle?
Ah! Pardon me. It seems I became rather entranced by the painting!
Juan's work possesses remarkable depth. There is good reason he is so celebrated.
And with only one good eye myself, the theme resonates with me all the more!
That eye...
There was no eyepatch, yet she always made sure right eye remained hidden.
Almost as though she didn't want anyone to see it.
Oh, this eye serves no purpose for sight. Hardly useful for admiring fine art, I'm afraid.
Perhaps I'll tell you the secret of this eye once we've grown a little closer.
Thank you, my darling sweet one! I leave the company in your capable hands!
Haydee nodded and got up. She seemed ready to leave, but then fixed her gaze on me.
You're not walking me out?
Huh? Me?
Oh! That simply will not do, Haydee! He belongs to me!
And didn't your mother tell you you're too young to be chasing after men?!
How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not your daughter. It's gross!
Haydee finally snapped, unable to take it anymore.
I just need to talk to him.
...Come with me.
I glanced back at Cristelle, but she only smiled as if to say I should go.
Despite saying she wanted to talk, Haydee didn't say a word until we reached the car waiting for her.
Only when she was about to get in did she finally speak.
...What did you think of the painting?
She must mean the painting Cristelle showed me.
One black point surrounded by all that empty space.
As an idea? I think it's brilliant.
You know why she likes it?
...It's probably because the abyss is all she can see now.
Cristelle and I see it the same way. Everything around it is empty. ...Just like our lives.
Empty?
I mean the background in The Only Abyss.
It's just darkness, surrounded by nothing.
Just because nothing's painted there doesn't mean it's empty.
If anything, that means you could fill it with whatever you want.
Haydee seemed to mull that over for a moment.
After a moment, she gazed into the distance and murmured, still lost in thought.
...Maybe.
She climbed into the car, then spoke to me through the open window.
Look after her for me, Captain.
So you do worry about Cristelle.
...Hmph. Who says I'm worried?
She's just a pain, that's all.
As if to hide her embarrassment, Haydee promptly rolled up the window.
Then the car drove off.
I watched the car disappear into the distance and thought about what she had said.
Her words about both her and Cristelle being empty, just like that canvas.
The title of President of Morrel Ocean Traders. Her extravagant clothes. Her ever-cheerful manner.
Her exaggerated manner was a facade for whatever pain she carried.
So what could I do to help her?
It left me with much to think about that afternoon.