The Christa set sail once more, pulling away from the sea cliffs.
Bai Yu stood quietly at the bow, looking at the continent before him. His eyes were so calm that the people around him hardly dared to speak.
Bai Yu withdrew his gaze and slowly spread out the map before him, his pen beginning to mark it up. No one brought up Ming again.
The atmosphere around Bai Yu was such that even Xiate merely stood quietly behind him.
Before long, Bai Yu held the map out to his side.
"Ming... tch. Little Xi, take this map to Kree."
Bai Yu paused slightly after instinctively calling out that name. He clicked his tongue softly and handed the map to Xiate.
Xiate took it and nodded, then turned and headed toward the captain's cabin.
The sea breeze blew over them, carrying the scent of the ocean, but none of them was in the mood to admire the sea. When Ming was around, no one ever paid much attention to him. Now that he was gone, everyone felt unsettled, and silence hung over them all.
Bai Yu took a deep breath and steadied himself before turning around and speaking slowly.
"All right, go get some rest. You're all exhausted."
Hearing Bai Yu's words, Mikasa and the others nodded, then turned and left.
Annie remained beside Bai Yu and spoke hesitantly.
"Bai Yu..."
Bai Yu simply shook his head.
"Ming isn't dead."
"H-he isn't dead? Even after that?"
Whatever Annie had originally intended to say gave way to bewilderment.
Bai Yu slowly raised his head, looked at the sky, and spoke softly.
"I gave him the Spinal Fluid."
"I see. In that case, at least..."
Halfway through her sentence, Annie suddenly seemed to realize something and fell silent.
"Do you need me?"