"Meilina, wake up!"
I jolted upright, heart pounding. The air was damp and cold, and outside, darkness pressed heavily against the small cabin window.
"There's a storm coming. Be ready," came Renshu's voice, calm as ever.
"What?!" I exclaimed, eyes wide.
His tone was far too calm for someone announcing the possibility of drowning.
"Relax," he said evenly. "It happens often during this season. Good thing it's not a blizzard, though this one isn't much different."
I sat up fully, still disoriented. "It's pitch black out there. Won't this delay us? What if we lose our way?"
"You're right," Renshu replied. "But I accounted for a natural disaster at some point either way. That's why I added an extra day or two to our travel time. Though if this continues for too long…"
"Then why did you wake me up now?" I interrupted, rubbing my temple.
At that, Renshu suddenly laughed—low and amused.
"Don't tell me you don't know why I woke you during a storm?"
"To… gather everyone?" I guessed weakly.
"No! The boat will rock violently. You need to be awake, or you'll end up injured. Hm. Stupidity truly is a curse."
I remained annoyed as he left the cabin, his laughter fading down.
Now that I thought about it, it was obvious. Maybe sleep deprivation really was dulling my mind.
Grabbing my crutches, I steadied myself and stepped outside. Staying in there any longer would just mean falling asleep again—only to wake up to Renshu's laughter.
"Oh—good morning, Aryan?"
"It's night," I corrected, spotting Rong Xu standing near the railing.
"Yes, but you look like you've just stepped out of bed." He laughed lightly.
"I was sleeping."
"You were sleeping?!" His eyes widened in mock disbelief.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Wow… well, someone's supposed to keep watch. The lower ranks take turns guarding while the higher ones rest."
"The general was keeping watch," I pointed out.
Rong Xu chuckled, shaking his head. "Then he's spoiling you. Usually, it's the other way around."
That rule felt… unfair.
"Do lower ranks somehow need less sleep than the others?" I asked dryly.
He laughed again. "You're funny, Aryan. But you're right. Still, I don't make the rules."
We talked for a while, the soft thrum of rain hitting the deck filling the pauses. I almost forgot the storm, until my gaze drifted and caught Renshu's sharp glare from the other side of the boat.
Oh, right. I was supposed to avoid Rong Xu.
But why, exactly?
Renshu said he wasn't trustworthy, yet Rong Xu had been a chief strategist for years. Unless… it was my secret he couldn't be trusted with. But it wasn't as if he'd ever know I was a woman—
"Why are you suddenly so quiet—"
BANG!
A thunderous crash silenced us both. The boat lurched violently to one side, and I barely managed to grab the railing before the deck tilted again.
The air filled with the deep rumble of waves and creaking wood.
If I let go now, I'd be thrown straight into the freezing water.
"Here! Aryan! Grab my arm!"
Rong Xu's voice cut through the chaos. He held onto the cabin door with one hand and extended the other toward me.
Another wave slammed into the hull—BANG!—sending water splashing across the deck.
The man steering the boat shouted in confusion, the vessel spinning halfway before he steadied it again.
"Aryan! Rong Xu! Help us out!"
That voice, I'd know it anywhere. Renshu.
But how was I even supposed to reach him in this mess?
"Listen!" he yelled. "Use the railings! Hold on tight and make your way here!"
We followed his command, clinging to the slick wood and stumbling forward. Each step was a battle against the raging wind.
"Rong Xu, bail the water—quick!" Renshu barked. "And Aryan, you—"
He paused, eyes darting to the crutch tucked under my arm.
"I can help," I said firmly before he could speak.
He exhaled sharply, his expression unreadable. "Fine. Go to the lower deck. Tie down anything sharp—make sure nothing pierces the hull. If there's water pouring in anywhere, report immediately. Now go!"
"Understood!"
I gripped the railing tightly and began moving toward the deck door, but the entrance was at the center of the boat, and I was at the far edge.
Renshu glanced at me again, and I could see the concern flicker behind his usual calm.
Ignoring it, I crouched low and began crawling. It wasn't graceful, but it was safer. I couldn't just sit around doing nothing—not when everyone else was fighting to keep us alive.
Each movement sent a sharp sting through my legs, but I kept going. The cold spray of water stung my face, and the howling wind almost drowned out the sound of my heartbeat.
Finally, I reached the door. I shoved it open, tossed my crutches down, and climbed into the lower deck.
A rank, damp smell hit me instantly, stale water and mold mixed with the faint scent of metal and oil. Insects crawled across the wooden beams. For a general's vessel, it was in pitiful shape.
Grimacing, I lit a small oil lamp. The glow revealed the it below, weapons rolling back and forth, boxes sliding dangerously close to the hull.
I gathered the scattered blades first, stacking them in a corner. Then I tied down the smaller knives, making sure none could roll free again.
Simple work, no wonder Renshu assigned it to me.
Just as I was about to climb back up, I noticed something else, our trunks and storage crates had all slid toward one side of the boat. The entire weight distribution was off.
Of course! The mass needed to be centered, or the next large wave could capsize us.
Unfortunately, I could barely walk. But my arms still worked fine.
So, instead of standing, I dropped to the floor and began pushing.
Each crate was heavy, but crawling allowed me to use my full upper body strength. It was slow, exhausting work.
For nearly an hour, I stayed down there, inching the trunks toward the middle and tying them together with ropes I found along the wall. I secured them in a cross pattern—two long lines pulling diagonally to keep the weight steady.
When I finally sat back, panting, I could feel the boat move smoother beneath me. The balance had improved. The rolling had lessened.
A small, exhausted smile tugged at my lips. It worked.
"Aryan! What are you doing down here—"
I flinched at the sudden shout.
"Rong Xu! I—"
"Why are you on your knees? Are you hurt?" He hurried toward me.
"No, I'm fine. Just… help me up."
He grasped my arms and pulled me to my feet.
"What did you even do?" he asked, astonished.
"I moved the trunks and boxes to the center," I explained between ragged breaths. "To stop the boat from losing balance."
"Oh! That explains it." He looked around, nodding with admiration. "It's working! You're sweating so much—your temperature's high too—"
He pressed his hand briefly against my forehead, his expression shifting from surprise to concern.
Before I could reply, Renshu's voice cut through the air like a blade.
---
"Why did it take you two so long?" he demanded, his tone sharp, his glare fixed squarely on me.
Rong Xu quickly explained—everything from the storm to the balancing, to my supposed sickness.
"We should let him rest," Rong Xu suggested quietly. "He seems—"
"I know what he seems like," Renshu interrupted coldly. "Aryan, go to the cabin. That's an order."
I hesitated but obeyed.
The storm had begun to ease, leaving behind only the harsh bite of the night wind and the endless ripple of black water.
No one knew what tomorrow would bring—whether the storm would return or something worse would await us down the river.
But for now, as the rain softened and the boat steadied, I let my tired body sink back against the mattress and closed my eyes.
Tomorrow could wait.