The jolts of the cart began to lessen. As the rhythmic sound of wheels over the stony road started to fade, Lily anxiously pulled back the curtain and peeked outside. She turned and nodded at Alex. “They’re about to stop,” she whispered.

  Alex gave a slight nod, then straightened up and gracefully jumped down from the wooden crate to the ground. Lily followed close behind. They quickly moved behind a nearby wall, waiting for the cart to move on.

  Breathing heavily, they looked at each other. Lily narrowed her eyes and smiled. “Thank you for everything,” she said sincerely. “If it weren’t for you…”

  Alex shook his head. “I did what I had to do. But now what will you do?”

  Lily was silent for a moment. Then she turned her eyes to the hill overlooking the sea. “I don’t know… but I’ve bought myself some time. That’s enough for now.” She then looked back at Alex. “What about you?”

  Alex glanced around cautiously. “I suppose I need to find some kind of treasure,” he said with a shrug.

  Lily’s eyes widened slightly. “The Skull Island treasure?” she asked in surprise.

  Alex turned to her with excitement. “You know about it? Is it real?”

  Lily let out a short laugh. “Everyone on this island is looking for it, Alex. That’s why most of us settled here. Pirates, treasure hunters, smugglers… everyone has a reason. And all of them have the same goal.”

  Then Lily reached into her pocket. She pulled out a well-worn, repeatedly folded map. Drawn on thick parchment, the map was decorated with sailing ships, docks, and caves. In the center was a large ‘X’. “This,” Lily said, “is the first clue about the treasure. Almost everyone has one like this. Some shops even sell tourist versions.” She held the map out to Alex. “But I’ll give you this one. After all… you saved me.”

  Alex took the map with reverence. He carefully smoothed out the edges, then looked at Lily. “Thank you. Truly.”

  Just then, his stomach growled loudly. Lily raised her eyebrows and giggled. “How long has it been since you ate?”

  Alex held his belly, both embarrassed and amused. “Haven’t really had the time for a meal.”

  Lily smiled. “Follow me. I’ll take you to the place I’ve been staying. I’ll make you a good meal. It’s the least I can do.”

  They began walking through narrow streets, heading deeper into the island. The scent of the sea mingled with the smoke of grilled fish, and shouts from the marketplace reached their ears on the wind. Men, women, and even some children wore pirate outfits. Some had masks on their faces, others carried rifles, swords, or old-fashioned compasses on their backs.

  From one shop, a man carrying bottles of liquor sang as he struggled to keep his balance. In another, an old man with a beard so long it seemed to blend into the sea was explaining sea charts to young listeners. Under canvas canopies made of sailcloth, a group of children played around a fake treasure chest embedded in the ground.

  They left the busy streets behind and reached a quieter neighborhood. The sea breeze was gentler here, the noise more subdued. Lily headed toward a small stone house. As she opened the wooden door, she turned and smiled. “Come in.”

  Inside, the house was surprisingly warm and cozy. Pirate-themed maps adorned the walls, and in one corner was a collection of old compasses. Shelves were lined with spice jars and glass containers filled with dried fruits. Behind a small kitchen counter stood a table covered in cloths with seashell patterns.

  Alex removed his shoes and walked over to the table. “This place is beautiful. Is it yours?”

  “For now, yes.” Lily stepped into the kitchen and began rummaging through some jars. “Much safer than the places on the north side of the island. Especially away from those who steal everything.”

  Alex sat down and watched her. Steam rising from the pot filled the room as Lily tossed fish fillets into a hot pan and sprinkled in some spices. She brought over warm bread and a chilled drink.

  “Here you go.” She placed two plates on the table and sat down. Alex took a bite, his eyes widening slightly. “This is incredible… it’s really amazing.”

  Lily dipped her head modestly. “Thank you.”

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  For a while, they ate in silence. The warmth of the meal and the cries of seagulls outside seemed to fill the quiet between them.

  Alex, now full and a bit more composed, had studied the map several more times, his eyes scanning its drawings. Leaning back slightly in his chair, he glanced at Lily. She was still picking at her fish, but her thoughts seemed far away. Though he didn’t want to disturb the quiet, his curiosity got the better of him.

  "What about you?" Alex asked, a tone of curiosity in his voice. "Are you after the treasure too?"

  Lily looked up. Her eyes met Alex’s. She smiled, but beneath that smile, there was a faint trace of sorrow.

  "Yes," she said after a brief silence. "I am. I have been for a long time."

  Alex frowned slightly.

  "But why? I mean, what is this treasure? Is there really something out there, or is it just a dream people keep chasing?"

  Lily took a deep breath. Her eyes wandered over the patterns on the tablecloth as she began to speak:

  "No one really knows. Some say it’s a huge pile of gold… others believe it’s the cursed treasure of an old pirate king. And some say it’s not treasure at all. They call it ‘the thing that completes a person’… a kind of answer, a kind of power. Everyone born on this island grows up hearing that legend."

  Alex didn’t say anything—he just listened. Lily’s voice was soft, but there was an old longing behind her words.

  "Once upon a time, Skull Island was the capital of the Pirate Council," Lily continued. "Seven captains made up this council—the most powerful men of the seas. They made this island their haven. And before they died, they supposedly sealed away everything they had… their treasures, their secrets, their knowledge… in a massive tomb at the center of the island. They left behind a sign at the entrance: ‘He who seeks, shall find. He who finds, shall be made whole. He who is whole, shall be changed.’”

  Alex’s eyes widened slightly.

  "So… it’s a kind of riddle?"

  Lily nodded.

  "That’s the legend. Everyone interprets it differently. For some, it means eternal wealth. For others, immortality. And some think it’s all just a big lie. But the place marked with an X on the map… that’s the forbidden zone. The oldest part of the island. The entrances have either collapsed or been sealed. They say everyone who goes there either doesn’t come back… or loses their mind."

  Alex looked back at the map.

  "And you still plan on going there?"

  Lily turned her gaze back to Alex.

  "Yes. Because I have nothing else. Other than this necklace, the only thing left to me is that treasure… or the pursuit of it."

  Alex nodded silently. Her words felt strangely familiar. He, too, had come through a kind of void. The fight for survival on the first floor of the Tower, the loneliness that followed… Now here, on this island, a stranger… it was as if all these fragmented paths had been drawn to meet at that single X.

  "Alright then," he said with a slight smile. "Looks like we’re chasing the same goal."

  Lily hesitated for a moment, then smiled softly.

  "It seems so."

  Just then, a soft breeze blew in from outside and lightly pushed the window open. The sound of the sea filled the room as the map on the table fluttered slightly. Alex reached out and held down the edge of the map. His fingers landed right on the X mark.

  "So… this is just the beginning," he said quietly.

  Lily leaned back against the cushions, her arms crossed over her chest as she looked at Alex. The candles on the table flickered, casting dancing shadows on the walls. There was determination in her eyes, but behind that resolve lay the exhaustion of a long, solitary quest. She was silent for a moment, then spoke again without breaking eye contact:

  "Alex," she said in a soft but clear voice. "You’re after the treasure, and so am I. Maybe… we should search together."

  Alex didn’t answer right away. A flurry of thoughts seemed to be spinning in his mind. He brought a hand to his chin, tilting his head slightly as his eyes settled on the curled edge of the map. Lily’s offer made sense… but by the nature of this Tower, trusting someone too quickly was never wise.

  Still… he thought to himself, Having someone who knows these lands… that would be an advantage. Lily knew the island—its streets, its dangers, maybe even the secrets its people held. And she was a local to this floor. To Alex, everything was still unfamiliar, unknown. If he had learned anything from the struggles of the previous floor, it was that the right allies were just as important as survival itself.

  Alex took a deep breath.

  "To be honest," he said, turning his gaze to Lily, "when I find the treasure, I’ll be leaving this island. That’s my only goal. I’m not even sure I want the treasure."

  Lily tilted her head slightly.

  "Interesting. You want to find the treasure, but you don’t want to take it. Foreigners are always strange like that, so I won’t question it. But if you do want to share it when we find it, I wouldn’t say no."

  Alex smiled.

  "So you’re already certain we’ll find it, huh? Are you sure it’s wise to trust me so easily?"

  Lily smiled back.

  "I’m not trusting you… I’m trusting my instincts. Besides, you saved my life. I don’t think everyone would’ve done that."

  Alex shook his head slightly, still smiling.

  "Alright then. Let’s call it a deal."

  Lily stood up gently and extended her hand.

  "Partners?"

  Alex looked at her hand. He gripped it firmly.

  "Partners."

  As their hands locked, the candle on the table flickered close to going out—but flared back to life. Outside, the wind whistled through the narrow streets of Skull Island. A ship’s bell rang somewhere in the distance. This was the night a partnership was born. Two strangers, in the heart of uncertainty, now stood shoulder to shoulder against yet another trial the Tower had laid before them.

  And it all converged on that little X marked on the map.