[Boat — Open Ocean — 7:14 AM]
The main continent had disappeared from the horizon two hours earlier.
Now there was only water. In every direction, no land, no profile of the Temple's towers that had been part of every window's background for weeks.
The boat moved well with the north wind.
Maya did not.
---
She was sitting on the gunwale with her knees together and her notebook closed on her lap.
The closed notebook said it all.
Akari on the deck in front of her. Not blinking. With that energy of animals that know exactly what's happening and wait to see how long it takes the human to admit it.
"I'm fine."
Akari didn't move.
"I'm not seasick."
Nothing.
Maya looked at the horizon. The horizon moved with the boat. Maya stopped looking at the horizon.
*Three years mapping active volcanoes and uncharted dungeons,* she thought. *And the ocean gets me on the first day.*
"Don't say anything," she said to Akari.
Akari sat more comfortably. Kept looking at her.
