Time Travel: Age of Discovery

On the snow-covered coast of Freifans, a lone lighthouse stands, like a frosty green brush leaving ink on a pale canvas. All around is hushed silence. The old man who watches over the tower reclines in his chair, his face weary amidst his grizzled beard, his lips dry as a winter salt marsh.

The wooden barrel beside him was empty, his wound was exposed, and the cloth strips were as pale as his face.

A sharp pain awoke the old man, the pain from the gunshot wound intensifying. The cloth was already soaked. He tried to straighten himself, but his legs were frozen and unable to respond. The past flashed back to him, and he couldn't help but close his eyes, a dark frown forming between his brows.

He looked again, his gaze fixed on the old bronze mirror on the table. It was polished like a story flowing under the moonlight, witnessing the passage of time. The telescope spun in the old man's hands, evoking a deep memory.

......

"Lenardo, you're staring at the sea again!" In the town, a woman pulled the boy's earlobe and asked with a questioning look. The neighbors saw this scene and smiled as if it was normal. They all knew that the child named Lennardo only had eyes for the blue sky flowing under his eyes.

He seemed out of place compared to his peers, as if he were in a completely different world. While other children loved playing together and fighting, he always stayed alone in a corner, quietly guarding the unique dream in his heart.

This dream was like a bright star, illuminating the darkest corners of his heart. He often immersed himself in his own fantasy alone, imagining various possibilities for the future.

Despite the hustle and bustle of life around him, he always maintains his solitude and focus, moving resolutely towards his dream. He knows that this path will not be easy, but he is willing to give it his all.

The children avoided him, but Leonardo didn't care and never played with his friends. Only his mother knew that to find Leonardo, she had to walk along the beach, looking for that piece of focused blue.

"You always stare at it in a daze. Aren't you satisfied? What do you see in that depth?" The woman slightly increased her intensity, and her reproach was filled with concern and love.

Lenardo endured the slight pain and returned his mother's warm smile: "When I grow up, I will definitely set sail and travel far away!"

Good-natured laughter erupted from the crowd, but it wasn't mocking, it was the familiarity of a familiar neighbor. "Aspiring Lenado, may you have smooth sailing." "Sea, are you not content with the embrace of Flevans?"

He listened to the various comments without responding, treating them as the gentle breeze blowing by the sea, which was his longing.

The pure white tower of Freyvance stands tall and proud on the seashore, a lone figure standing at the end of the skyline. It is known that this tower has weathered countless storms and witnessed the youthful dreams of generations.

Lenardo loved to sit on the edge of the cliff, gazing at the vastness, his mind dotted with fantasies like stars. This place became his world, a place of endless intoxication, whether day or night.

One day, his peace was shattered. A voice boomed from the sky, startling him from his reverie. He initially thought it was an auditory hallucination, but when he looked up, he saw only the azure sky. "Hey, I'm up there."

The voice echoed again. It was an old man, looking down at him from the lighthouse, his face as warm and friendly as the sun. Lenato looked around, making sure no one was around, and then he identified the source of the voice.

"I'll open the door. Remember to bolt it after you go in." His hesitant steps finally stopped, and Lenato fell into hesitation. He had longed to reach the summit, just to take in the vast ocean. Now that the opportunity was right in front of him, he was filled with doubts.

He had heard of a strange old man living in the lighthouse, even one who devoured children. He had initially regarded it as a joke, but now he felt a certain fear. His heart was swirling with passion and doubt, a mixture that was difficult to calm.

But he still walked into the lighthouse, and this choice shaped his destiny. From that day on, he became the best friend of the old man who kept the tower until he was sixteen years old.

On this day, he arrived at the tower as usual, only to find a group of townspeople gathered around him, the atmosphere heavy. He walked through the crowd and entered the tower room, only to see that the pair of peaceful eyes were closed, but the kind expression remained unchanged.

The mayor consoled him, handed him a letter and the telescope, and then instructed others to take care of his affairs. Unexpectedly, Lenato approached the mayor and firmly expressed his willingness to take over the responsibility of caring for the lighthouse. After repeated persuasion failed, the mayor finally agreed.

Since then, Lenardo has guarded the lighthouse to this day. He remembers the letter's exhortation: someone must always stand up to serve as the eyes of the town, protecting the sea. The telescope, like a torch, the old man hopes Lenardo will see a wider world.

He chose to leave the familiar mines and a wealthy life, choosing to guard this tower alone. Many people did not understand him, but he no longer paid attention to their doubts. In this way, he never left this lighthouse, guarding his blue promise.