The boat drifted quietly, water moved in slow rhythm beneath them.
Lunivara looked at the fishing rod then to the sea,after a sec, she tried fishing, while waiting Jude spoke.
"Did you put food in it?"
"Yes , I did"
"Alright"
Moments later, the water rippled. She lunged forward, fighting against the thrashing current as the fish fought to break free.After a tense struggle, she finally hauled it in a respectable, medium-sized catch.
"Whoa" Lunivara said.
"Wow!...That's large!"
"No...it's just right"
"What could type of fish is that?..it's new for me"
["It's also new to me"] "hmm"
"It's an Atlantic salmon" Leontius answered.
"Huh?...How can u tell at that distance" Jude said.
"I was observing" Leontius replied.
"Huh?..That doesn't make sense"
"Ah, it's jumping, gentlemen it's jumping, jumping high!" Lunivara interfered.
"Put it on the box, below, faster!"
"Y..yes" She tried but "Ah!"
"Smack!"
"Ow!"
"Show courtesy and tenderness to the lady" Leontius said.
Leontius adjusted he's fishing rod, being careful to stepped closer to Lunivara-helping her patch up her fish wound. Meanwhile, Jude winced rubbing the back of his head where he'd just been sharply cuffed of his stupidity.
Jude look at them both feeling sorry for what he said.
Leontius poured their drinking water over her arm to wash away the thinned blood and fish slime. Once the shallow scratch was clear, he pressed his linen necktie against the cut to stop the bleeding. He then wrapped the tie around her arm and knotted it gently to secure the wound.
"If it happen again don't listen to Jude...consider your safety first" Leontius said.
Lunivara wanted to say something but decided not to,
"Thank you Leon"
Meanwhile jude just looked down, dissapointed to himself.
Silence fell...and it fell more deeper...then
"Jude" "Luna" both lunivara and Jude aid the same time.
"Ah"
"You may speak first"
"No, Its fine you may"
"I-Im sorry.. Luna, I got excited and panicked the fish might get awa, No, I apologize!...I truly am.. please forgive me Luna!"
"Keep it down" Leontius said, while fishing.
A pause.
"..."
"No"
"I'm sorry Luna"
"I forgive you Jude"
Jude looked at her with relief and big tears instantly pooled in his eyes.
"Thank you Luna, I will never do it again!,... for you"
["What does that even mean"]
-------
Leontius adjusted the anchor.
"The current is slightly changing" Leontius said.
"…Changing?" Lunivara asked.
"It's growing restless."
Jude sighed.
"…You always say it like it's nothing serious."
"…It isn't."
Silence settled again.Lunivara looked down at the water, reflections shifted faintly with movement.
["There's no structure… yet it's still controlled."]
A strange contradiction.But not unpleasant.Then, a sound.
"clink...clink... clink"
"…Did you hear that?" Jude asked.
Leontius's gaze shifted instantly.
"…Yes."
The boat slowed slightly without instruction.
Lunivara straightened.
"…What is it?"
Jude leaned forward.
"…Something under"
The water moved unnaturally sharp.A sudden shift, the boat tilted slightly.
"Hhold" Jude started.
Too late.
A strong pull hit the side.
Lunivara lost balance.
"…!"
Her hand slipped from the edge. A moment of weightless instability.
Then, a hand caught her wrist. Firm.
Immediate.
Leontius.
"Stay still."
No panic-just control.
The boat rocked again.
Jude grabbed the opposite side.
"Okay, that's not normal!"
Leontius pulled Lunivara back into balance in one clean motion.No hesitation.
She steadied herself and breath slightly uneven.
"I am fine."
Leontius didn't release his hold immediately.
Only after confirming her balance.
"You are stable."
Jude looked between them.
"What even was that?"
Leontius's gaze narrowed slightly toward the water.
"It's movement beneath the surface."
"Like what?"
A pause.
"It might be something large."
Silence.
Lunivara's expression didn't change outwardly.
But her attention sharpened.
["Is this natural?...the current seem to be waving faster."]
The boat shifted again, slower this time. But still unstable.
Jude exhaled.
"We should head back."
"Agreed," Leontius said immediately.
He adjusted the anchor then the oar with controll and precise.
The boat turned.
But
the water behind them rippled again.
Larger this time.
A sudden pressure shift.
Lunivara's grip tightened slightly on the edge. Not fear but for
assessment.
Jude muttered.
"Yeah, that's definitely something alive."
Leontius moved without hesitation.
He stepped slightly forward.
placing himself between Lunivara and the unstable side.
"Stay behind me," he said.
The water surged once.
then stopped abruptly.
As if reconsidering.
Then silence fell again.
Only wind and water.
Jude stared.
"…Okay… that's new."
Leontius didn't lower his guard.
"We leave now." He said but not panic.
This time.
no disagreement.
The boat moved faster with controlled urgency.
Lunivara remained seated, but her gaze stayed on the water.
["I feel like it's intentional."]
Jude glanced at her briefly.
"You alright?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"It was manageable." Lunivara said.
"That's not the answer I expected."
"It is the correct one."
Jude sighed lightly.
"You're really something."
Leontius didn't look away from the water.
"We are close."
The boat reached calmer current again.
Only then did tension ease slightly.
Jude exhaled.
"…Okay… remind me not to do 'unexpected sailing' again."
Leontius responded calmly.
"…."
Lunivara finally looked away from the water.
"....It did not seem accidental to me"
A brief silence.
Leontius answered.
"It wasn't."
Jude blinked.
"…Wait.. what?"
Leontius didn't elaborate.
Only guided the boat forward.
The city edge reappeared ahead, but something had changed.
It was not visible.Just present.
Lunivara's thoughts stayed quiet.Focused and measured.
["There is more beneath this story than I thought."]
And beside her,
Leontius remained slightly closer than before. Without explanation or acknowledgment.
Just… positioned there.
End of Chapter 19