Noel paused for a moment, as if checking where to begin, then spoke again, voice steady but threaded with memory.
"Once it was just me and Noir," he said, glancing briefly at her before looking back at Nicolas. "The first thing I had to do was explore the island I landed on. There weren't any monsters there, not a single one. Instead, I met someone." A faint smile touched his lips. "An old man named Theo. He lived in a lighthouse and controlled it. He could see the entire island from there. Honestly… an incredible guy."
He continued without rushing, letting the story unfold naturally. "He helped me the whole time. Acted as my guide, warned me about the sea, about the islands. While I was there, I realized something important. Shadow Step wasn't as limited as I thought. I could use it over much longer distances."
Nicolas listened closely.
