Wind Island consisted of a large central landmass—the Main Island—surrounded by a scattering of smaller islets.
Each of these outlying islands was home to tribes with their own distinct cultures, though they maintained a friendly rapport with the residents of the Main Island. With Wind Island being a popular tourist destination, the islanders also worked hard to draw visitors to their own shores; Elena’s home was no exception, putting a great deal of effort into its local tourism industry.
The day after they made their promise, the group headed to the beach at the scheduled time. Elena and Poruru were already there waiting, flags in hand and smiles on their faces.
"Good morning! I’m so happy you came!"
"Kani-kani! Kani!"
"Gah! I told you, stop clinging to me every single time!"
The moment the high-spirited Poruru spotted its favorite person, Marcos, it lunged forward to pull him into a suffocating hug. While the rest of the group watched the passionate welcome with laughter, Yugo looked at the boat moored nearby and spoke to Elena.
"Is that the boat we’re taking to your island?"
"That’s right! It’ll be a quick trip, but you’d better use the restroom while you still can!"
"Is it really that fast? I hate to say it, but it doesn't exactly look like a state-of-the-art vessel..."
Setsuna tilted her head skeptically at Elena's claim. Elena clicked her tongue and wagged her finger dismissively at the girl’s blunt assessment.
"Hehe! Don’t you worry. Just watch!"
With a triumphant grin, she stepped away from the group and took a deep breath. Elena pressed her palms together to form a triangle and released a surge of magic power, summoning a brilliant blue magic circle beneath her feet.
"Is that... Summoning Magic?"
"Oh? What’s Summoning Magic?"
"It’s a spell used to call forth monsters or spirits one has formed a contract with. It’s a very rare school of magic," Fee explained.
Yugo nodded as he listened to his brother. Between Fee’s explanation and Poruru’s presence, the idea of summoning monsters immediately brought card games to mind. He found himself impressed yet again by the technology of this world; magic that was common in RPGs really did exist here.
Meanwhile, Elena fully activated the spell. As the magic circle shattered into fragments of light, she threw her arms up and shouted toward the sea.
"Please! Lend me your strength!"
The light from the circle was swallowed by the waves, calling something from the depths. As Yugo and the others watched with bated breath, two creatures burst from the water’s surface with a powerful splash.
"Hihihi-nn!"
"They're Seahorses! Incredible!" Fee shouted.
Fee was deeply moved by the sight of the creatures, which had the upper bodies of horses and the lower bodies of fish. Elena gave a signaled whistle to the summoned Seahorses, and they expertly positioned themselves to be harnessed to the ropes extending from the vessel, settling into a waiting stance.
"I see. So those Seahorses pull the boat."
"Exactly! They're part of our family on the island!"
"That’s wonderful. I love that you all live together and help each other out like that."
Yugo wasn't just thrilled to see rare magic; he was moved by the sight of humans and monsters living in harmony. It made him think of his own partner, Skull, who had stayed behind. He wondered how the horse was doing back at Luminous Academy. Although he had left Skull in Jinba’s care, Yugo felt a pang of regret, wishing his partner could have enjoyed this trip as well. Reflecting on the magic he had just witnessed, Yugo muttered to himself.
"Maybe I should look into learning Summoning Magic myself..."
"Oh? Are you interested in it, Yugo?"
"Well, a little."
If he mastered the spell, he could call Skull whenever he wanted. He could have brought his partner on this trip, and more importantly, being able to summon a steed during a pursuit would allow for the kind of dramatic chases he’d always admired in hero stories.
While Yugo considered the various benefits—and realized he had no idea how to actually master such magic—Marcos finally escaped Poruru’s embrace and let out an exhausted sigh.
"Hey, isn't this thing going to help pull the boat? It's a crab—swimming should be its forte."
"Hmm... he's good at it, but Poruru doesn't have the strength to pull a boat with this many people on it. That job belongs to the Seahorses."
"In that case, what use is it? Is it just a mascot for the tourists?"
"Kani?"
Poruru tilted its entire body curiously, lacking a neck to move, and let out a confused chirp at Marcos’s judgmental gaze. Elena turned to the two of them with a firm look.
"Whether he's 'useful' doesn't matter. Poruru and I are family, so we stay together. It’s as simple as that!"
"...I see. You're right. My apologies; that was a shallow thing to say."
"You don't need to apologize! Besides... hehe! Once we get to the island, I'll show you just how amazing Poruru really is!"
"Kani-kani!"
When Marcos apologized for his remark, showing the nobility to admit his narrow-mindedness, Elena and Poruru both puffed out their chests with pride. With their conversation at an end and the time for departure finally here, the group boarded the boat. Guided by the powerful Seahorses, they set sail for Elena’s home.