At the dock, Ahe immediately looked into the water below the scratch. Light shimmered beside the boat, but there was no sword. “The mark is still here. Where did it go?”

Tao was on the dock. After hearing what had happened, she pointed left toward the willow. “You said it fell when you passed that tree, didn't you?” Grandpa Song nodded in the same direction.

Ahe raised his eyes. The white stone was still beside the distant willow, but the boat was now at the dock. “I travelled with the boat. The sword didn't.” The scratch had not vanished; it was simply above a different place.