ONE PEICE: LONG ROAD

DreamAt night, on the roof of the Sybil house

The night sky sparkled with stars, scattered like jewels across the heavens. The stars wove together into a brilliant Milky Way, and the soft silver light was reflected in the sapphire-like eyes of Little Siby.

Little Siby rested her small head in her hands, lying on the roof as she gazed at the dazzling night sky. Suddenly, she asked, "Hey, Xiaoli, do you have any dreams?"

Wang Li, caught off guard by the question, didn't know how to respond. In his life, simply having enough food to eat had always felt like a dream in itself. How could someone like him afford to think about the future or aspirations? If pressed, his only "dream" would be to never go hungry again.

"Hmm? Why aren't you saying anything, Xiaoli? Maybe your dream is super childish, and you're afraid I'll laugh at you if you tell me, haha," Siby teased when Wang Li remained silent.

Her words hit too close to home, making Wang Li's face flush with embarrassment. He pursed his lips and finally replied, "I don't know… A dream feels too far away for me. What about you, Xiaoxi? Do you have any dreams?" Unwilling to be the only one answering, Wang Li shifted the spotlight back to Siby.

"Hehe," Little Siby giggled softly. She kept her eyes fixed on the stars, her gaze almost wistful, as if she could see her parents smiling down at her from the heavens.

The evening breeze swept gently through the quiet village of Xibei, where all the villagers had gone to bed early. The moonlight illuminated the village, bathing it in a serene silver glow. It was tranquil, yet carried a certain charm unique to its simplicity.

"I'm going to become an admiral someday!" Siby declared passionately, breaking the silence. Her voice was firm, filled with determination akin to Luffy's as he proclaimed his dream of becoming the Pirate King. "My dream is to send pirates from all over the world to the gallows. I'll absolutely become an admiral!"

As her resolve spilled over, Siby stood up on the roof, clenching her tiny fists and shouting into the night sky, "I can definitely do it!"

In her excitement, Siby forgot she was standing on the sloped roof. Losing her balance, she tumbled backward, rolling down the incline. She fell into the soft grass next to the house, leaves scattering into the air as her fall disturbed the peace. The sound startled a few resting birds, whose fluttering wings interrupted the melodic hum of the night.

Seeing Siby fall, Wang Li called out in alarm, "Xiaoxi, are you okay?"

Siby quickly sprang to her feet, brushing off her fall with a laugh. "I'm fine, haha. I'm going to be an admiral, remember? How could a future admiral get hurt falling off a roof?"

Her crisp, youthful laughter echoed through the village, lingering in the cool night air. Wang Li watched Siby, silent as her dream replayed in his mind. If Siby could dream of becoming an admiral, then… what was his dream?

The next morning

Golden sunlight streamed through the window, falling directly onto Wang Li's face. The brightness made him squint as he instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes. Sleep was no longer an option. Groaning, Wang Li sat up, only to realize he was alone. Siby, who usually slept beside him, was nowhere to be seen.

"Hya! Ha! Heh!" A familiar voice drifted in through the open window. Recognizing it as Siby's, Wang Li rubbed the sleep from his eyes and walked toward the courtyard.

There, he saw Siby practicing with a wooden sword, her small frame radiating determination as she swung the heavy blade.

"What are you doing so early?" Wang Li yawned as he approached.

Siby stopped mid-swing and wiped the sweat from her forehead with a grin. "I'm practicing swordsmanship and building strength!"

Wang Li's face twitched at her answer. "Practicing swordsmanship, I can understand, but strength? With that wooden sword?"

Siby puffed out her cheeks in mock offense. "Hey, don't underestimate this wooden sword! When I first got it, I couldn't even lift it. It's made from the iron tree that grows on the mountain—tough and heavy. I begged Uncle Kunke for weeks to get it." She shivered, recalling the effort it had taken to earn the sword.

"Is that so…" Wang Li replied skeptically, his face filled with doubt.

Siby narrowed her eyes. "You don't believe me, do you? Hmph! Try it yourself!"

Reluctantly, Wang Li took the wooden sword Siby handed him. To his surprise, it felt incredibly light in his hands.

"Are you serious?" Wang Li deadpanned, glaring at Siby.

Confident, Siby placed her hands on her hips. "What? I wasn't lying! It's really—"

Before she could finish, Wang Li casually flung the sword at a nearby tree. The blade cut clean through, leaving a large hole in the trunk.

Both children stared in stunned silence. Siby's jaw dropped so far it nearly hit the ground, while Wang Li stood frozen, his hand still outstretched.

"What… just happened?" Siby whispered.

Wang Li shook his head, equally shocked. "I-I don't know. I thought the sword was just light, but maybe my strength… has grown?"

As Siby pinched her own arm and then compared it to Wang Li's seemingly scrawny one, her face filled with envy.

"Xiaoli, I bet you were some kind of amazing warrior before you lost your memory," she said with awe. "When your memories return, you'll probably understand everything."

"Maybe…" Wang Li murmured, still processing the sudden surge of strength.

At that moment, Siby's stomach let out a loud growl. Giggling, she said, "Hey, Xiaoli, with your strength, let's go to the back mountain! I've always wanted to explore there, but Uncle Kunke always stops me. This time, we'll sneak in!"

Though Wang Li hesitated for a moment, he finally nodded in agreement. The two children set off, curiosity and excitement guiding their steps.