For the next few days, Veneri did what he always did when given breathing room. He wandered.
The coastal city kept revealing more of it the longer he stayed in it. The merchant markets were still the loudest part of it but now that he had time to actually look instead of just moving through, he noticed how deeply the place lived off trade. Whole streets were devoted to specific goods. One block sold sea glass, coral charms and shell-carved ornaments. Another was packed with fabrics that looked dyed by sunset itself. He passed port districts where cranes lifted cargo from ships with ease, fish markets where the smell of salt and ice fought with the smell of grilled meals and tourist lanes lined with little stalls selling sketches, maps, carved trinkets and absurdly overpriced "historic" souvenirs that were probably made yesterday.
He even visited the beach. It wasn't as impressive as the one in Cassandra or Spheraphase but it was something. Ancient monuments stood farther inland too. They were broken towers and stone ruins that had apparently survived millions of years by sheer spite.
Still, what intrigued him most was the ship Agnar had mentioned.
When Agnar had said he had a ship, Veneri had assumed something practical. He had not expected an actual modern cruise ship like those from Earth but ten times better. So when Agnar invited him to come have a look before departure, Veneri accepted immediately.
By the time he reached the port, he was at his three-meter height again, Biolumine padding beside him in giant cat form with all the regal disinterest of a creature who considered the world beneath her standards. The harbor was busy, full of sailors, travelers, porters and people in expensive clothes pretending they were not also there because they had heard a ship this grand was leaving soon. Veneri noticed the glances he got the moment he entered the dock district. Men looked. Women looked. A few people did some pretending that they were not looking and then looking harder once they thought he had noticed nothing.
Agnar had told him to look for a woman with brown hair who would be easy to spot. That had turned out to be an understatement. The woman who found him was standing on the harbor walkway. She looked like she had already spent ten minutes searching for the right person and was now trying not to look annoyed about it. The moment she saw him, she paused, then stared for half a second before walking towards him.
Her hair was brown, as promised, and she carried herself with confidence. Her expression was professional and just a little curious. When she stopped in front of him, she looked up with a quick intake of breath, clearly not expecting him to be so tall even after she had been warned.
"Welcome, Mr Veneri. My name is Eunecia."
"Veneri."
"Agnar is my father. He asked me to be your tour guide today. Thank you for helping him a few days ago."
"No need to thank me Miss Eunecia. It was a fair trade."
That made him pause.
It wasn't confusion exactly. Agnar was a mountain of a man, three meters tall, all muscle and strengthen and Eunecia was… not that. She was an adult, clearly, but not by the same scale. The genetic distribution in this family had clearly decided to be creative. He considered asking about it, then decided not to. So he just shook her hand. His hand was massive compared to hers when they shook, which made the gesture feel even more formal than usual. Eunecia didn't seem bothered by the size difference at all. If anything, she seemed faintly pleased by how easily he handled himself.
"I'll be acting as your tour guide for the ship Cornvelia."
Veneri looked over. The ship was ridiculous. That was the first honest thought he had.
Cornvelia was enormous, elegant and clearly built for comfort as much as for travel. It had the scale of a floating palace and the design language of a wealthy civilization. It was nearly five times bigger than the largest cruise ship in the world, if he were to compare it.
"Lead the way."
Eunecia's cheeks flushed a little at that, which he noticed immediately. She turned and started walking with only a small hesitation. Biolumine gave him a very obvious look from beside him that said she had noticed it too. Veneri ignored her with an eye roll.
They boarded with the rest of the tour group. They were a mix of wealthy travelers, merchants, families and a few people who had clearly just wanted the experience of stepping onto something this extravagant. Veneri stayed calm and observant as they moved through the entrance corridor. Eunecia began her tour with the sort of professionalism that intrigued him.
"This is the main boarding gallery," she said as they entered. "It connects the harbor bridge to the public reception decks. Cornvelia was built with both leisure and long-distance transport in mind, so the public areas are intentionally wide."
She pointed to the floor beneath them.
"The stonework was reinforced with water-stabilizing enchantments to reduce sway. Even in rougher seas, guests won't feel much movement here. You won't feel the strong waves of the sea."
A few people in the group murmured im approval. Veneri, who had spent enough time around real craftsmanship to recognize it, was impressed. Not even Spheraphase ships could do that.
"Impressive craftsmanship."
Eunecia turned back and smiled at him, clearly pleased he was paying attention.
"It is."
She led them down a broad corridor lined with sea-themed carvings, all of them elegant enough to feel ceremonial without being gaudy. The walls were decorated with inlaid shell patterns and the windows were enormous, offering perfect views of the harbor and the bright water beyond. She explained how the first class suites were arranged, how the ship used temperature-control arrays to keep different decks comfortable and how the dining halls were set up to accommodate both everyday travelers and wealthy guests who expected an absurd level of service.
She didn't overexplain. She gave just enough detail to make things sound impressive without making it too exciting. Every now and then she pointed out a structural feature or a decorative detail and tied it into a function. Veneri appreciated that kind of thinking.
Biolumine, walking beside him, remained silent but attentive. Since she didn't want anyone to know she could talk, she settled for glancing around with a cat's stare and occasionally flicking her tail whenever someone got too close. The tourists kept giving her wide-eyed looks, which she accepted with total indifference.
Eunecia moved them onward to one of the lounges next, where plush seating overlooked the sea.
"This is where guests can gather during the voyage. There are reading shelves, games, private seating areas and a panoramic dining space on the upper level."
One of the other guests asked.
"How many people can the ship hold?"
Eunecia answered without missing a beat. "Ten thousand. If necessary, it can hold up to fifty thousand. The lower decks are built for extended travel, so there are storage chambers, refresh rooms, kitchens, medical spaces and guest quarters arranged in separate sections."
Veneri glanced around.
"This is a lot bigger than I expected."
"That's the usual reaction when people see this."
"Your father didn't mention this was a floating luxury district."
Eunecia let out a small laugh.
"He may have thought that would be less impressive."
"It was not, believe me."
The tour continued deeper into the ship. Eunecia showed them the dining hall, where long tables were arranged with enough space that even nobles could sit without feeling crowded. She pointed out the kitchen access routes, the service elevator system, the recreational decks, the bathing suites, and the observation terraces near the top where passengers could watch the ocean at sunset. She explained how the crew rotations worked, how the ship maintained its stores and how guests with different travel needs were kept comfortable without interfering with one another.
At one point she led them past a side hall lined with sealed doors.
"These are private quarters. Most of them are already reserved, but there are some overflow cabins for last-minute passengers and emergency use."
Then she glanced at Veneri and whispered to him.
"For you and your companion, the main suite Agnar arranged is on the upper side."
Biolumine finally looked mildly interested.
Veneri caught the shift in Eunecia's voice and let it pass without comment. He wasn't cruel enough to embarrass someone who was doing a good job and he wasn't dense enough to pretend he hadn't noticed the little extra effort she was putting into guiding him personally. It was subtle, but not subtle enough. Every time she turned to address the group, her eyes were glancing at him first. Every time she explained something, she did it with enough composure to seem professional and enough warmth to seem intentional.
He had been around enough flirtations to recognize her actions.
He let the tour proceed without encouraging or discouraging it. She was clearly proud of the ship and that was more interesting to him than the light blushes she kept trying to hide. Cornvelia itself was impressive enough to justify her pride. There was craftsmanship in every inch of it. That earned his respect.
By the time they reached the upper observation deck, the sea was wide and bright beside them. Eunecia rested her hand lightly on the railing and turned to the group with a smile.
"This is one of the best views onboard. On clear days, you can see the horizon for hours."
Veneri stepped closer to the rail and looked at the horizon. The water stretched farther than he wanted to admit. Eunecia watched him for a second longer than necessary, then asked:
"Do you like it?"
Veneri glanced at her, then back at the sea.
"Yeah. It's really nice. I don't think I remember the last time I see the view of the ocean. I'll be coming here often."
The tour moved on after that, but the overall feeling remained the same. Eunecia knew every inch of it and showed that knowledge without slipping once. She guided the guests cleanly from one deck to another, answered questions and kept the whole group moving without ever seeming rushed.
Veneri found himself paying attention not just to the ship, but to her. She was good at this. That made the whole thing more enjoyable than he'd expected.
By the time the tour came to its first natural pause, the group had seen a lot. He began understand why Agnar had been proud enough to mention it at all. Veneri stood beside the railing with Biolumine at his side and looked once more over the Cornvelia's elegant decks.