Morning came without warning.
No ceremony.
No farewell crowd.
Just wind and tide.
The ship slowly pulled away from Saltwind's dock.
The island grew smaller behind them.
Carina leaned on the railing.
"…Okay, I officially don't like leaving places anymore."
Kuina stood at the bow.
Silent.
Watching the shrinking shoreline.
Tashigi stood nearby.
Still thinking about the previous night.
Kevin remained at the center of the deck.
Eyes forward.
Saltwind disappeared into the horizon.
And the sea opened again.
Endless.
Unstable.
Carina stretched.
"…So what now? More pirates?"
Kevin replied.
"…Likely."
Kuina added.
"…Stronger ones."
Carina sighed.
"…Of course."
For the first day at sea—
Nothing happened.
No attacks.
No storms.
Just distance growing between islands.
But the silence was not comfort.
It was waiting.
Tashigi stood quietly near the mast.
Her gaze unfocused.
Carina noticed her.
"…You've been quiet since last night."
Tashigi nodded slightly.
"…I am thinking."
Kuina glanced at her.
"…About Marines."
Tashigi paused.
Then nodded again.
"…Yes."
Kevin spoke calmly.
"…Decision is forming."
Tashigi looked at him.
"…What decision?"
Kevin replied.
"…Your own direction."
Silence.
That answer hit deeper than expected.
Carina muttered.
"…Why does he always sound like he already knows the ending…"
Kuina answered simply.
"…Because he observes."
Later that day—
Training resumed on deck.
Kuina and Tashigi faced each other again.
Wooden swords ready.
Carina moved back.
"…Here we go again…"
Kevin watched without moving.
Kuina moved first.
Clean.
Sharp.
Controlled pressure.
Tashigi blocked.
Better than before.
More stable.
But still slightly behind.
Carina leaned forward.
"…She's improving faster now…"
Kuina noticed it too.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You adjusted."
Tashigi nodded.
"…I observed you."
Their clash continued.
Longer this time.
More exchanges.
Less imbalance.
Not equal—
But closing.
After a final exchange—
Kuina stepped back.
Lowered her sword.
"…Enough."
Tashigi stopped.
Breathing heavier.
But steady.
"…Still ahead."
Kuina nodded.
"…Yes."
But this time—
It sounded less absolute.
Carina exhaled.
"…Okay, that gap is shrinking way too fast…"
Kevin spoke quietly.
"…Adaptation speed increasing."
That night—
Tashigi stood alone near the side of the ship again.
Looking at the sea.
But her expression had changed slightly.
Less uncertainty.
More direction forming.
Not Marine.
Not pirate.
Not follower.
Something in between.
Still undefined.
But no longer empty.
Kuina watched her from a distance.
Silent.
No hostility.
Just awareness.
Carina whispered.
"…I think those two are really starting something…"
Kevin replied.
"…Yes."
The sea stretched endlessly ahead.
But now—
It was no longer just travel.
It was transformation.
And somewhere ahead—
A new encounter was already forming.