Chapter 19 – A Glimmer on the Isle of Renewal

The sun was high in the sky when the ship finally docked at the Isle of Renewal.

Thanks to favorable winds, the crew had made good time, arriving in the early afternoon. One by one, the passengers disembarked, eyes full of curiosity at this distant land.

Meliodas and Zeldris were the last to leave the ship.

Meliodas stretched long and took in a deep breath of sea air.

"Aaah! We finally made it!" he exclaimed with a grin.

He turned to his brother… who was descending slowly, his complexion still pale.

"Zel?"

Zeldris stepped cautiously onto the dock, his stomach still churning, face twisted in lingering disgust from the meal the night before.

"I swear… I'll never touch your cooking again," he muttered, eyes tired but filled with resolve.

Meliodas chuckled teasingly.

"Oh come on, don't be such a baby. We've got a brother to find!"

He pulled the artifact from his belt and studied the crystal's core intently.

Zeldris, standing tall despite the nausea, asked:

"So… is the light stronger now?"

Meliodas turned to him with a knowing smirk and held the object out.

"Yeah. We're really close. He's here… on this island. I can feel it."

Wasting no time, the two brothers began moving through the port, questioning sailors, fishermen, shopkeepers, and townsfolk.

But everywhere they went, they got the same response:

No one had heard of anyone named Zéphyr.

As the day wore on, they finally rented a room at a local inn, weighed down by the lack of clues.

Zeldris collapsed onto the bed.

"No leads… nothing. But this port's enormous. It's like a whole city."

Meliodas stood at the window, gazing out at the horizon.

"And yet… I can feel him. I don't know where he is… but he's somewhere. Here."

He turned back.

"I'm going to grab a bite. You coming?"

Zeldris sighed, placing a hand on his stomach.

"…Yeah, alright. I'm in."

At the inn's tavern, they sat in the cozy little dining hall. The innkeeper cheerfully brought them two hearty plates.

Meliodas wasted no time digging in, while Zeldris cautiously tested the first bite.

"Tomorrow," Zeldris said between chews, "we should search further. The markets maybe. More people, better chance someone knows something."

Meliodas nodded.

"Yeah. Let's do that."

The innkeeper approached their table gently.

"Pardon the interruption, gentlemen… I overheard your conversation. You're looking for someone named Zéphyr, is that right?"

Meliodas looked up, a spark of hope in his eyes.

"Yes! Do you know him?"

"No…" the innkeeper replied, apologetically. "But I might know someone who can help."

He paused.

"It's getting late… but tomorrow morning, if you'd like, I can take you to him."

Meliodas and Zeldris answered in unison:

"Yes!"

Their eyes met.

A small step forward… toward the truth.