The following morning, Neria was ready before everyone else.
Damon discovered this when he arrived at the Transfer room expecting to find her finishing some last-minute preparations. Instead, he found Neria sitting on one of the crates near the wall, her bag at her feet and her tablet resting on her knee. Ester was checking the small medicine kit for the third time, while Aria prepared the safe arrival point on the other side. Jian Yue leaned against the wall, apparently calm. Xue Mei was nowhere to be seen, which Damon considered suspicious until he remembered that she had been explicitly forbidden from following Neria.
"Did you sleep?" Damon asked.
Neria looked at him.
"Yes."
"How long?"
"Enough."
Ester raised her head.
"Seven hours."
Damon nodded.
"Good answer."
"I knew you'd ask."
Neria was nervous.
