Departure
Maris is standing at the control desk of her ship, a masterpiece of engineering. She's excited and full of anticipation.
Years have passed since Kai left. He never returned.
Maris still has no idea what happened to him. But it doesn't matter.
Whatever the answer is, she wouldn't change her mind.
She spent those years learning about navigation and the world beyond the Fruit Coast.
After her duties in the village, she visited the library almost every day, poring over maps and texts about sea routes and the hazards of the ocean.
Now she's a strong young woman. And she's ready.
She shared her dreams with Cian. When the rest of the village laughed at her talk of the outside world, he was the only one who listened.
Cian is only a few years older than her. But he might come across as if he was around her age.
After her brother left, he became the only person she spends her spare time with.
Though initially skeptical of her plans, he soon shared her excitement and began helping her prepare for her journey.
Maris knew from her years of study what the ship would need, and she told him. It had to carry them far across the open ocean and hold a crew she had yet to find.
When Cian decided to help her, he got her this quality ship.
Cian consulted the best shipbuilders in the known world, searching for the best materials and technologies to ensure that the ship would be the safest and most advanced vessel on the seas.
And the entire village helped him afford this ship.
It's not huge, but large enough to fit in not only the two of them, but a whole crew.
There are four small bedrooms, each designed for two people.
And if she wanted to, she could probably fit in more people.
Before she entered the ship, many people she knows even gave her some fruits or special meals for their journey.
As Maris is standing on her ship, ready to depart, Cian gives her a hug, tears in his eyes.
Maris realizes her misconception.
Maris hugs him again. She almost doesn't want to let him go.
Cian starts to cry.
Maris lets go of Cian, trying to focus.
It's time to set off.
Now that it's getting serious, Cian is getting a little concerned. He knows how dangerous her adventure could be.
But he knows that after all these years, he wouldn't be able to change her mind anymore.
Maris is determined to leave and put her knowledge to use.
Maris has to hold back her tears.
With a heavy heart Cian finally leaves the ship.
Now there's nothing holding Maris back anymore.
Maris sets off on her own, leaving behind the safety of the familiar and stepping into the unknown parts of the world.
As Maris steers the ship away from the shore, she's amazed at how smoothly it handles.
The hull is reinforced, the navigation precise. Cian and the villagers really spared no expense.
With a determined smile, she sets course into the unknown.
Maris takes out the wooden box her brother Kai gave her years ago when he left and looks at it.
He said she would know when it was time to open it.
Has that time arrived?
But as she looks at the beautiful box, she decides to wait.
She doesn't know when the time will come.
Maybe when she has a crew. Maybe when she reaches the outside world.
All she knows is that she still has to wait.
After her older brother Kai left, Maris has grown into a young woman.
With her advanced ship and her new passion for exploration, she's ready to set off and follow in his footsteps.
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