The following morning, Seraphine left Vespera knowing that she wanted to explore other places, and the journey home began at a leisurely pace, after two days in which nobody had needed to worry about anything beyond choosing where to eat, climbing a lighthouse, and discovering which members of the group got seasick on boats.
The carriage left the coast shortly after breakfast. Seraphine stayed by the window for the first hour, watching the sea gradually disappear behind the hills until the last strip of blue vanished completely. She showed no sadness when that happened. She simply opened one of the books she had brought and placed the small seashell she had purchased at the market on her lap, checking twice to make sure she hadn't packed it alongside anything that might break it.
The former Reference also watched until the sea disappeared. Afterward, she approached Elion and stared at the rigid case attached to his belt.
