The sea remained calm.
Not silent—
but easy.
—
By the next afternoon, land appeared on the horizon.
Small.
Unremarkable.
Just a town.
—
Carina leaned over the railing.
"…Please tell me they have food."
Tashigi adjusted her glasses.
"…It is highly likely."
Carina nodded.
"…Good. I'm choosing to trust that."
—
Kuina observed quietly.
"…No crowd at the harbor."
Kevin nodded.
"…Docking will be simple."
—
The ship slid into place without resistance.
No one stopped them.
No one questioned them.
—
Just another ship arriving.
—
Carina stepped onto land first.
"…Finally."
She stretched.
"…I missed standing on something that doesn't move."
—
Kuina followed.
Her hand rested lightly near her sword.
Not tense.
Just habit.
—
Tashigi stepped beside her.
Same posture.
Same calm.
—
Kevin came last.
He glanced once around—
then relaxed.
—
The town moved at its own pace.
People talking.
Shops open.
Footsteps steady.
—
Nothing rushed.
Nothing demanded attention.
—
Carina was already walking ahead.
"…Food first. Everything else later."
—
Kuina didn't stop her.
"…We meet back here in an hour."
—
Carina waved without turning.
"…If I don't come back, I found a better life."
—
Tashigi adjusted her glasses.
"…She will return."
—
Kevin added quietly:
"…She always does."
—
They split.
—
Carina moved through the streets with purpose.
Not cautious—
just focused on one thing.
—
Food.
—
She stopped at a stall.
"…I'll take that… and that… and whatever that is."
—
The vendor blinked.
"…That's a lot."
—
Carina smiled.
"…I've had a long journey."
—
Elsewhere—
Kuina walked along a quieter street.
—
She passed by a small training yard.
—
Her eyes lingered for a moment.
Then she kept walking.
—
No hesitation.
Just acknowledgment.
—
Tashigi wandered through a row of shops.
Her attention drawn to blades displayed behind glass.
—
She didn't touch them.
—
Only observed.
—
Measured.
—
Learned.
—
Kevin stood near the center of town.
Still.
—
Watching people pass.
—
No analysis.
No tension.
—
Just observation.
—
A child ran past him, laughing.
He followed the movement briefly.
—
Then looked forward again.
—
Time passed.
—
They returned to the harbor.
Almost at the same time.
—
Carina arrived first.
Carrying more food than necessary.
"…Important question—why do I feel like I contributed the most?"
—
Kuina crossed her arms.
"…Because you're holding everything."
—
Tashigi nodded.
"…That is accurate."
—
Kevin looked at the bags.
"…We should organize it."
—
Carina narrowed her eyes.
"…We should eat it."
—
A pause.
—
"…We can eat first," Kevin said.
—
Carina relaxed instantly.
"…Good answer."
—
They sat near the edge of the dock.
Simple.
Quiet.
—
Eating.
—
The sound of water moved gently beneath them.
—
No one rushed.
No one spoke much.
—
It wasn't silence.
—
It was comfort.
—
Kuina spoke after a while.
"…We'll need to move soon."
—
Carina sighed.
"…We just got here."
—
Tashigi replied calmly:
"…That's why it's easy to leave."
—
Carina stared at her.
"…You say things that make sense, and I don't like it."
—
Kevin stood first.
"…We continue."
—
No weight behind it.
No hidden meaning.
—
Just direction.
—
Kuina stood beside him.
Tashigi followed.
Same timing.
—
Carina stood last.
"…Yeah, yeah. Let's go."
—
They returned to the ship.
Untouched.
Unnoticed.
—
The ropes were released.
The sail adjusted.
—
The ship moved forward once more.
—
Behind them—
the town continued as it always had.
—
Ahead—
only open sea.
—
Calm.
Wide.
Endless.
—
For now—
they sailed without purpose pressing on them.
—
Just a crew moving forward.
—
And for once—
that was enough.