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Four days later, at a dock on the main island of the Taniria Islands, Winters, Andre, and Bard were idly standing at the uppermost level of the ship's stern castle, competing over who could throw a stone the farthest.
"You two are blatantly bullying an injured man," Winters complained, as he had injured his right hand and could only participate using his left, currently ranking last.
"You're allowed to concede defeat. Do you?" Andre said, giving a strong swing and tossing a small stone into a graceful arc, which landed far out on the water.
Bard didn't speak. He weighed the stone in his hand, stood sideways with a stable stance, and using the strength of his waist and abdomen, he threw it powerfully. The stone hit the water's shimmering surface even farther out, so distant that its point of impact was unclear.
