The academy gates were already behind them when the air changed.Less stone.More wind.
"…It's farther than I expected," Lunivara said quietly.
Jude walked slightly ahead.
"…That's the point!"
He corrected himself immediately, tone easing.
"…I mean—yeah. It's a bit of a walk."
Leontius said nothing, but he adjusted his pace to match theirs without effort.
The road slowly opened into something wider.Wooden docks came into view.
"**Whoa**...So this is it," Lunivara murmured.
Jude turned back.
"…Yep."
The sound of water followed after.
A pause.
"You've never been here, right?"
"No."
"Then you're in for something new."
Leontius stepped onto the dock first.Stable footing.
Jude followed, then gestured lightly.
"Careful here."
Lunivara stepped forward—paused slightly at the shift beneath her feet.
"Unstable," she noted.
"It moves," Jude said.
"That's the point."
"Yes."
But she adjusted quickly.A small boat waited nearby.Simple and functional.
"We use this one?" she asked.
"…Usually," Leontius answered.
Jude stretched his arms.
"Depends on how far we go."
Lunivara looked at the water.Still, but not empty.
Something about it didn't feel like the academy.There was no rigid structure and nobody was watching.
"Its quieter here," she said.
Jude laughed softly.
"Yeah. That's why he likes it."
He pointed slightly at Leontius.
Leontius didn't react immediately.
Then—
"…It is efficient."
"Everything is 'efficient' with you," Jude muttered.
They stepped into the boat, wood creaked lightly.
Lunivara sat carefully, adjusting her balance.
Jude noticed.
"…You're thinking too much again."
"I am not"
"You are."
A pause.Then—
"…Relax. It won't sink."
"I was not considering that."
"You were."
"I'm not" She added.
Leontius pushed the boat gently from the dock.The movement began.Water shifted slowly beneath them.While the city faded behind and wind grew clearer.
For a moment—no one spoke.
Then Jude broke it.
"…We usually come when we can."
"Often?" Lunivara asked.
"Depends."
He leaned back slightly.
"He's more consistent in this." He nodded toward Leontius again.
Leontius answered calmly.
"It is routine."
"You say that like it explains everything."
"It is"
Lunivara looked at the water again.Reflection shifting slightly with movement.
"Of all...Why this place?"
A brief pause.
Jude answered first.
"Because it doesn't care who you are."
Silence followed that, not heavy but just present and real.
Leontius spoke after a moment.
"No structure means no interference."
"That sounds like avoidance," Jude said lightly.
"It is clarity."
Jude sighed.
"…Same thing, different vocabulary."
Lunivara didn't interrupt.But her gaze stayed on the water.
["No structure…, I can do feel at ease"], She breath feeling the air.
Something about that line stayed longer than expected.
Jude leaned slightly forward.
"You're thinking again, Luna."
She blinked once.
"I am observing."
"That's worse,just feel the moment."
"I am", she muttered.
A faint pause.Then—
"It is peaceful," she admitted.
Jude smiled slightly.
"Told you."
The boat continued forward.Slow and steady.
The city was now only a shape behind them, wind brushed lightly across the surface of the water.
Lunivara's posture eased slightly enough to notice.
Leontius noticed it.But he did not comment.
Jude stretched again.
"I think the distance is enough"
They stop the small boat, throwing an anchor on the sea, to keep them still.
"Shall we fish now?" Lunivara asked.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"Here,...observe us first and then you try"
Lunivara nooded.
Jude handled the fishing rod like a professional, wrestling the water as it broke into a frantic splash.Lunivara was curious what is about to pop out the water, while Leontius just fishing he's own,like having he's own world.With an expert pull, Jude hauled in his prize— a tiny, thrashing fish.
Jude having an exciting look now having a disappointed one.
Letting out a deflated sigh.
"That's fine jude,...at least you tried"
Leontius tried to stay quite, but a high, breathy wheeze leaked out as he fought to hold back his laughter.
Jude notice and he was a bit annoyed at leontius.
For the time being, Lunivara felt a coziness,but she can't name it what, but for her this is enough, for now.
End of Chapter 18