Chapter 327: Saying Farewell to the Anomalies
Inafay had been happy to have Kai back, and she'd been glad to meet Zae Zin Nim and Omilaena. But there had always been part of her that knew it couldn't last forever and that this massive advantage that had carried her so far had to disappear eventually. That day came sooner than she expected.
For once there was no emergency or disaster to call them away: they simply finished their training. The elites were all impressed that these outsiders had learned so much of phases in three months' time, but Kai seemed to be impatient. Now that they had mastered the basic principles, he seemed to think they didn't have any more reason to stay on the continent. But with all the planning and organizing, she didn't get a chance to really talk to him until they were standing on a pier at the northern coast. The Water Union docks extended north, then beyond them nothing but ocean.
Twice before she'd watched him go helplessly, first when he was exiled and second after the incursion. This time she should feel reassured that he would come back, but it still felt very final. The two old friends stood quietly in the salty breeze for a time.
"So... you're all going on that ship?" Inafay asked lamely. It was a massive Water Union vessel, one of the few that could survive the deep waters. The deck was topped by three vast sails, balanced by the massive hull painted with wave patterns.
"There was an argument for splitting up," Kai said, "but last time that separated us for too long. If we haven't shaken the attention on us, we're going to have problems anyway."
"I forgot to ask, what phase did you master in the end?"
"Well, I'm still paying for my overambitious start, so I just have half-phases in everything. I mastered the basics for all of them, so I can build them further to full phases, I just need more time and strength. Hopefully it'll be enough for Rosemount."
"I'm still not sure exactly what you're going to do over there," Inafay said. She stared out over the water, trying to truly understand the complexity of another continent with all its own peoples and nations. "There's a war or something?"
"It's more like I feel I still have responsibilities there. I've enjoyed being back, but I've finished my training now and I feel like I've done everything I can for the Frontier nations. So it's time to go back, if that makes sense."