In a realm draped in an unending desert, a solitary island called the Mud Whale drifts across the dunes. Its sand is dense and constantly reshaped, making travel perilous. Within its bounds lies an old town where most residents are known as "Marked," a curse that bestows supernatural gifts yet guarantees an early demise. Chakuro, the village"s youthful archivist, devotes his days to recording newly charted islands. Each one mirrors the others—derelict, save for echoes of former dwellers.
After six months without sighting a new land, a fresh island breaks the horizon. Chakuro and his companions join a scouting party. While exploring, they uncover relics of an ancient culture. In the ruins of one collapsed structure, Chakuro encounters a girl who will alter his fate and reshape everything he knows within the Mud Whale. Her presence promises to unravel long‑held mysteries and ignite change across the island.
