The ocean was different from what the dojo had felt like.
There, time was controlled.
Here—
It moved without permission.
The ship swayed gently at first.
Then harder.
A stronger wave pushed from the side.
Carina grabbed the railing immediately.
"…Okay. This is already worse than training."
Kuina stayed steady, feet planted.
Her eyes fixed on the horizon.
Kevin stood at the center of the ship.
Silent.
Observing.
The wind shifted.
Clouds slowly gathered in the distance.
"…Storm incoming."
Kevin said calmly.
Carina looked up.
"…You can tell that just by looking?"
Kevin replied.
"…Yes."
Kuina tightened her grip on the mast rope.
"…Then we prepare."
The sea rose gradually.
Not sudden chaos—
But growing pressure.
The ship tilted slightly as waves strengthened.
Water splashed across the deck.
Carina stumbled once.
Then steadied herself.
"…I hate this already…"
Kuina moved immediately.
Securing loose supplies.
Fast.
Efficient.
Kevin adjusted the sail angle.
Small movement.
Precise control.
The ship stabilized slightly.
Carina blinked.
"…Okay… that actually helped…"
Kevin replied.
"…Keep balance low."
Carina nodded quickly.
"…Got it!"
The storm grew closer.
Wind stronger.
Waves higher.
But it wasn't yet the worst.
Just the beginning.
Kuina looked at Kevin.
"…This is normal at sea?"
Kevin answered.
"…Yes."
Kuina paused briefly.
"…Then the sea is unstable."
Kevin nodded.
"…It is."
A wave hit the side of the ship harder.
The vessel tilted sharply.
Carina almost slipped.
"…OKAY THAT ONE WAS NOT NORMAL!"
Kuina grabbed her arm instantly, steadying her.
"…Focus."
Carina gritted her teeth.
"…I AM focused!"
Kevin stepped forward.
His presence shifted slightly.
Not power unleashed—
But control asserted.
The movement of the ship steadied again.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
Carina stared at him.
"…Okay… you're definitely not normal either…"
Kevin replied simply.
"…Stay inside your limits."
The storm finally reached them fully.
Rain began falling.
Hard.
Fast.
Waves crashed against the ship's sides.
The journey had officially become dangerous.
But no one panicked.
Kuina adjusted her stance.
"…I will not fall."
Carina muttered.
"…You say that like the sea cares…"
Kevin looked toward the storm.
"…It does not."
A sudden wave rose higher than the rest.
Moving toward them.
Carina's eyes widened.
"…That one is BAD!"
Kuina stepped forward immediately.
Kevin moved at the same time.
Kuina secured the sail.
Kevin shifted the ship's angle.
The wave hit—
But not directly.
It passed partially aside.
Still strong impact.
But survivable.
Carina held on tightly.
"…Okay… okay… we're still alive…"
After a tense moment—
The storm slowly began to pass.
Rain softened.
Waves lowered slightly.
Wind calmed.
Carina collapsed sitting on the deck.
"…I hate the sea…"
Kuina remained standing.
Silent.
Breathing steady.
Kevin looked at the horizon again.
Calm returned.
"…This is only the beginning."
Carina groaned.
"…Don't say that like it's good news…"
Kuina looked at him.
"…We survived."
Kevin nodded.
"…Yes."
The ship continued forward.
Now stabilized.
Now moving properly across open sea.
And for the first time since leaving the dojo—
They were no longer in training.
They were at sea.