There were three roads from Magnolia to the western coast.
Laxus chose the straight route through the mountains, while Lin Yuan kept folding the distance along the river valley. At first, the two could still see each other, but half an hour later, the golden lightning and black-and-silver ripples vanished in different directions.
Laxus had memorized the nautical chart, but only the shortest route over land.
Lin Yuan had memorized every landmark on land, but had only glanced at Black Reef Island's approximate location.
The two arrived at the seaside town almost simultaneously, before dusk.
Laxus leaped down from the northern hillside, the soles of his shoes still bearing marks scorched by lightning. Lin Yuan emerged from the southern crossroads, mud splashed on the hem of his clothes from crossing the riverbank.
"I got here first," Laxus said.
"I was already in town while you were still in the air."
"It only counts when both feet touch the ground."
"Says who?"
The two argued all the way to the docks, only to discover that the last ferry to Black Reef Island had left half an hour ago.
The ticket seller looked at the sky. "The next one's tomorrow at noon. Even if everything goes smoothly, you won't make it before sunset."
Laxus turned toward the private boats moored at the dock. "We'll buy one."
"How much money did you bring?"
He felt in his pocket and took out most of what remained of his mission rewards.
The boat owner's asking price was exactly twice that amount.
Lightning flashed at Laxus's temple. The owner promptly tripled the price, stating that threats were an additional risk.
In the end, the two rented a small, single-masted boat preparing to go night fishing. After hearing their destination, the old captain flatly refused to enter the waters around Black Reef Island, agreeing only to take them to the outskirts.
"Those waters are full of hidden reefs. Once it gets dark, you can't even see the navigational markers. No matter how much you pay me, I won't risk my boat and my life on your exam."
Laxus laid out the nautical chart from memory. "Getting us here will be enough."
Lin Yuan looked at the mark that hadn't been on the chart. "Where's that supposed to be?"
"The channel closest to the island."
"That's a picture of a whale."
"Beside it."
The old captain stared at it for a long while. "Beside it's an ink blot left by whoever drew the chart."
Once the boat left port, Laxus stopped talking.
The waves rocked the boat only gently, but he clung to the mast, his face gradually turning green. Lin Yuan looked at him several times before finally asking, "Are you seasick?"
"Shut up."
"Natsu's like that too."
"I'm not like that idiot."
"Do you get sick on other forms of transportation?"
A faint arc of electricity crept across the deck. Lin Yuan folded it into the sea, electrocuting two unlucky little fish.
The sun gradually neared the surface of the sea.
Black Reef Island's outline had appeared in the distance. At their current speed, they could reach the outskirts before sunset, and Lin Yuan could then use the visible island as a coordinate to shorten the remaining distance.
Just then, a red distress flare rose over the sea to the east.
The old captain immediately turned the helm.
"Someone's in trouble over there!"
"We're getting farther and farther from Black Reef Island." Lin Yuan looked at Laxus as he finished speaking.
Laxus steadied himself against the mast and stood straight, his face still looking terrible. "What are you looking at me for? Head over there first."
The boat headed toward the spot where the flare had risen.
A fishing boat had struck a hidden reef, and its hull had already split open. Three fishermen clung to pieces of driftwood, struggling amid the surging seawater. One had a torn fishing net tangled around his leg and couldn't swim on his own.
Lin Yuan folded the distance between the two boats short.
The old captain threw out a rope, while Laxus released lightning to illuminate the reefs underwater. He didn't attack the fishing net directly, but instead sent a thin current traveling along its metal sinkers, burning precisely through the knots.
The three were soon rescued and brought aboard.
By the time the rescue ended, only half the sun remained above the sea.
Black Reef Island lay in the opposite direction. With the added weight, the boat was slower still; there was no longer enough time to get there by sailing normally.
"Can you get us straight there?" Laxus asked.
"I can see the island, but I can't make out where we'd land."
"Then let's get closer first."
Lin Yuan folded the waterway ahead, linking together the safe stretches between the hidden reefs.
The boat made successive leaps across the sea.
Before the last ray of sunlight sank beneath the sea, the bow struck the beach of Black Reef Island.
Lin Yuan and Laxus leaped off at the same time. Makarov and Gildarts were already waiting in front of a stone platform on the island.
"Just made it." Gildarts glanced at the horizon. "And you brought back four examinees?"
"Three people in distress and one captain," Lin Yuan said.
Laxus leaned against a reef, evidently unwilling to speak.
Makarov first made sure everyone was safe, then stamped the first seal on each of their exam records.
"What if we'd been a step too late?" Lin Yuan asked.
"The result wouldn't have changed."
"We'd have passed even after the time limit?"
Makarov put away the stamp and looked at the fishermen receiving bandages.
"Remember, in the S-Class Exam, the living matter more than the sunset."