Marina did not respond immediately when I told her that I intended to set sail, and instead regarded me with a level, searching gaze that made it clear she was weighing far more than just the words I had spoken. The faint sounds of laughter and conversation from the tavern filtered through the walls behind us, but within the storage room there was only quiet scrutiny.
"You are serious about this," she said at last, not as a question but as an acknowledgment of what she had already concluded.
"Yes," I replied steadily. "It will be a short voyage to nearby islands, no more than a week, and we will remain within reasonable distance of the illusion-protected routes."
Her attention shifted toward Bren, who straightened instinctively under her examination, and then toward Lio, who was attempting to appear older and more composed than he truly was.
"And this," she said slowly, "is the crew you are planning to entrust with a vessel?"
"For now," I answered. "We are recruiting additional hands from the island, preferably those who have not yet had the opportunity to sail but are strong enough to manage sails and deck work."
She pushed away from the crate she had been leaning against and began to pace slowly around us, her boots making soft contact with the wooden floor as she considered each angle of the proposal.
"Do you have a ship secured?" she asked.
"Faresh offered a ten-man vessel that requires minor modifications and repairs," I explained. "He intends to confirm with my mother before beginning work, but he did not dismiss the idea."
Her expression shifted almost imperceptibly.
"So Seris knows about this."
"She does."
Marina absorbed that information carefully, because she understood, perhaps better than we did, what it meant for my mother to neither forbid nor fully approve the voyage.
"And why now?" she asked, her voice quieter but no less firm.
"Because waiting does me no good, and postponing experience will not prepare me for the sea," I said. "If I am going to step beyond this island eventually, I would rather do so deliberately and under controlled conditions."
She studied my face for a long moment, searching for recklessness and finding, I hoped, intention instead.
"If I agree to join you," she said finally, "these are my conditions."
Bren shifted slightly, his anticipation obvious despite his attempt to appear calm.
"First," Marina continued, "I am responsible for the vessel's structural safety and emergency readiness. If I detect hull stress, sail imbalance, mast strain, or any condition that demands repair, you will follow my judgment immediately and without argument. The sea does not negotiate with pride, and I refuse to place myself or anyone else at risk because someone wishes to prove something."
"That is completely acceptable," I replied without hesitation. "You handle the ship's safety."
She nodded faintly, satisfied that there was no resistance.
"Second, we recruit at least four capable sailors who can competently manage sails, ropes, and deck coordination. A ten-man vessel cannot be handled properly by three or four inexperienced youths, and I will not risk capsizing because enthusiasm exceeded strength."
"That aligns with what I intended," I said. "There are several islanders who have been waiting for an opportunity to gain experience."
"Third," she continued, "we conduct full trial drills before departure. I want sail deployment and retraction practiced under timed conditions, emergency sail drop rehearsed properly, and a simulated hull breach scenario conducted so I can evaluate how each person responds under pressure. I will not sail with anyone whose panic could endanger the entire crew."
Lio blinked at that but wisely chose not to interrupt.
Marina stepped closer, lowering her voice slightly so that her seriousness was unmistakable.
"I am not joining this voyage for adventure alone," she said. "If I sail, it will be because I believe it is structured, disciplined, and worth the risk."
I held her gaze and answered without wavering.
"Then we will structure it properly."
The silence that followed felt measured rather than tense, as if an agreement was slowly solidifying in the space between us.
After several seconds, she extended her hand.
"Very well," she said. "I will join your voyage under those terms."
Relief flickered across Bren's face before he could conceal it, and Lio's excitement became immediately visible despite his effort to appear composed.
I clasped her hand firmly.
"Welcome aboard." I said.
She gave a faint, knowing smile.
"Do not thank me yet," she replied. "You still have to prove that you can lead."
And with that, the idea of setting sail transformed from hopeful ambition into structured preparation.
Now that the negotiation had concluded and the weight of conditions and responsibilities had settled into something more manageable, the atmosphere in the room gradually eased. The tension that had lingered while Marina evaluated our proposal softened, and the conversation shifted from formal agreement back toward something more familiar.
I leaned lightly against one of the wooden shelves and allowed myself a faint smile.
"So," I began casually, "who was the guy from before? Another one of your admirers? I do not think I have ever spoken to him."
Marina exhaled through her nose in mild exasperation.
"That was Simon," she replied. "He is from our island, though he keeps mostly to himself and a small circle of people. He does not interact much with others unless he chooses to. We grew up together, and he has been… persistent for about two years now."
Bren's eyebrows lifted slightly, while Lio's expression immediately shifted into curiosity.
"Do you need me to take care of it?" I asked lightly. "I could mention it to my mother if he is causing you trouble."
Marina's reaction was immediate.
"No, no," she said quickly, shaking her head. "He is not a bad person. In fact, he is quite kind when he is not being foolish. I am simply not interested in anything like that right now."
I folded my arms thoughtfully and allowed a teasing note to enter my voice.
"Kind or not, you were twisting his arm rather aggressively. What if it had broken?"
She shrugged without the slightest hint of guilt.
"If it broke, then it broke. He can heal it himself. Besides, I know exactly how much force to apply without causing permanent damage."
I paused, then straightened slightly as her words registered.
"Wait," I said, narrowing my eyes slightly. "Are you saying he is awakened? And not just awakened, but a healer?"
She nodded calmly.
"He awakened last year," she explained. "He has been training under our town healer ever since, focusing on restoration and stabilization techniques."
That piece of information shifted something in my thoughts immediately.
A healer.
An awakened healer.
For a small exploratory crew venturing out for the first time, having someone capable of treating injuries or infections would dramatically reduce risk. It would also reassure Mother, whether she admitted it or not.
"Do you mind if I invite him to join the crew?" I asked carefully.
For just a fraction of a second, I thought I saw color rise faintly in her cheeks, though she masked it quickly and looked at me with controlled composure.
"You are the captain," she said evenly.
The words carried both acknowledgment and challenge.
Bren glanced between us, clearly amused by the shift in tone, while Lio tried—and failed—to hide a grin.
I allowed myself a thoughtful nod.
"If he is as kind as you claim," I said, "then perhaps he should prove it by keeping us alive."
Marina gave me a look that was half warning and half reluctant approval.
"Do not embarrass him unnecessarily," she said.
"I would never," I replied with deliberate innocence.
Outside the storage room, the tavern noise swelled again as someone began recounting a loud sea story, but inside, something else had quietly taken shape.
A navigator.
A shipwright.
A healer.
And soon, perhaps, a proper crew.
The voyage was no longer just a possibility.
It was assembling itself piece by piece.