The sea did not feel open long before the island came into view on the horizon.
The currents changed.
The wind changed too.
It was not stronger it was more unpredictable.
Nami was not just guiding the ship she was in control of the ship.
—"Reduce the sail " she said, without looking from the front.
Caelum did what she said without asking any questions.
Carina, who was standing near the mast watched with a smile.
—"Are we going to the port?" she asked.
Nami did not answer away.
She waited for a moment then she turned the helm a bit.
The ship changed direction. Went into an area where the rocks were getting closer together.
—"That is the way " Nami said finally. "That is why they control it."
Carina tilted her head to the side.
—". This way..." she said.
—"This is the way they do not want us to use " Nami replied.
The space between the rocks was getting smaller.
There were rocks on both sides of the ship.
The water was getting darker and deeper.
It was more dangerous.
The ship had to move carefully.
Every move mattered.
If they made one mistake they would get stuck.
Caelum felt the tension in the air.
It was not fear it was the need to be precise.
—"This does not look like an idea " Caelum said.
—"It does not have to look like a good idea " Nami said. "It just has to work."
Carina let out a laugh.
—"If we die here it was your idea " she said.
—"Then do not die " Nami replied.
There was silence for a moment.
Caelum let out a breath through his nose.
—"" he said.
The passage ended suddenly as it had started.
The rock opened up. In front of them there was a cove.
It was. Protected by natural formations that made it almost invisible from the outside.
The water was calm too calm.
Nami only let go of the helm when the ship was inside the cove.
—"There " she said, pointing.
They anchored the ship in silence without any lights or unnecessary noise.
The Vespers Ion disappeared between the shadows and the rocks.
For a moment everything was still still.
Caelum was the first to frown.
He heard a sound, a sound, like a stone shifting.
He turned his head. He did not see anything.
He was not alone.
—"Do not take another step " a voice said.
The voice was firm and tense not a suggestion.
All three of them stopped moving.
A figure came out from between the rocks.
She was small and wearing armor that was too big for her.
Her helmet hid her face but her stance was serious.
—"You should not be here " she said.
Carina raised an eyebrow.
—"Well that is quite a welcome " she said.
Nami did not smile she just observed the situation.
Caelum kept his eyes on the figure.
—"We are not here to cause any trouble " he said.
—"That is what they all say " the figure replied.
The figure took a step forward a little awkwardly. Firmly.
—"I saw you come in " she said. "You did not use the passage."
There was silence for a moment.
—"That makes you worse " she said.
Carina let out a laugh.
—"Interesting logic " she said.
—"People like you always come the same way " the figure said. "Looking for something to take."
There was a tremble in her voice not fear, but contained anger.
—"You are not taking anything " she said.
The air was tense.
Caelum took a step forward not aggressively but to show he was present.
—"We are not—" he started to say.
The figure moved suddenly blocking their path.
—"Do not come closer " she said.
There was silence for a moment no one moved.
Carina watched clearly entertained.
—"She has attitude " she said.
Nami finally spoke.
—"Do you always attack anyone who shows up?" she asked.
—"Anyone like you " the figure replied.
—"Like us?" Nami asked.
—"Pirates " the figure said.
The word hung in the air
Caelum did not respond,. Something in his expression changed.
Nami did not deny it either she just looked at the figure carefully.
—"We are not from here " she said finally. "That is all."
—"That does not change anything " the figure said.
There was a pause the figure hesitated for a moment.
Just a second,. Enough.
Carina noticed, Nami
Caelum looked away briefly.
—"This is going to get complicated " he said.
Carina turned around.
—"Well if we are getting kicked out at let us see the place first " she said.
Nami did not reply,. She started walking, no rush, no permission.
Caelum followed her.
The figure did not stop them. She did not lose sight of them either.
She watched them as if she still had not decided what to do with them.
Once they left the cove behind the island revealed itself.
There was wood, old structures, people working, too much too quietly.
No one spoke no one looked directly. Those who did looked away quickly.
Caelum felt it immediately.
—"This is not right " he said.
Carina looked around.
—"Not the place I have seen " she said. ". It is close."
Nami said nothing she just kept walking. Her gaze had changed, harder sharper.
She stopped for a moment a man was carrying a weight too much for one person.
No one helped him no one said anything they just kept working.
Namis hand tightened slightly she did not speak she did not intervene,. She did not look away either.
Behind them there was a sound, the armored figure following them at a distance watching.
Caelum turned his head slightly he saw her.
—"She does not trust us " he said.
Carina smiled.
—"I would not either " she said.
Nami did not respond,. She did not disagree.
The wind moved through the structures dragging dust with it.
There was silence, incomplete.
Caelum looked ahead at Nami then at the island.
—"This is not, about money " he said.
Carina crossed her arms.
—"It never is " she said.
There was silence Nami did not say anything. She did not stop and she did not leave either.