The sea wind whipped, and the white sails billowed.
The ironwood skiff cut through the azure sea, leaving a long white wake behind its stern, like a silver ribbon slowly trailing across deep-blue satin. The sky stretched high and far, with a few white clouds drifting lazily overhead, their shadows appearing and vanishing among the waves. Akes stood at the bow, one hand holding a rough sea chart and the other braced against the mast, his gaze roaming the distant line where sea met sky. The chart was made from magical beast hide, marked with the known islands and reefs of these waters, but most of it was still blank, waiting for him to fill it in.
Monica sat on the gunwale, her feet dangling in the air as the seawater splashed the hem of her skirt. The water was cool, and when it hit her ankles, it brought a refreshing feeling that made her unable to resist gently swinging her legs. Little Snow crouched on her shoulder, its snow-white feathers fluttering slightly in the sea breeze, a pair of black eyes sweeping the water vigilantly. Now and then, it let out a low coo, as if saying something to Monica.
"We've been sailing for three days and explored seven islands," Monica said, counting on her fingers, a trace of disappointment in her voice. "Aside from a few medicinal herbs and some low-level magical beasts, we haven't gained anything."
Akes put away the sea chart, looked back at her, and smiled. "The purpose of traveling isn't to gain something. It's to see different scenery. Look at this sea—boundless and surging. It's completely different from the scorching stillness of the volcano."
Monica tilted her head and thought for a moment. "That makes sense, but I still hope there'll be some kind