The first thing Bassena saw after teleporting back to the beach was a skating rink at the side of the ocean. Asa wasn't really skating as much as becoming a plane in his Uncle Zhan's hands, but Kar was seriously learning to move on ice with Auntie Rina and Uncle Cohen.
"What are they doing?" Bassena asked after kissing his husband's cheek, who was watching the kids from a comfortable beach hut.
"Kar wanted to go to the sea, and Rina made the ice field so he could go to the sea without getting wet," Zein replied briefly.
"Huh...I thought it would be Asa."
"Asa liked the sand more, but he wanted the ice after seeing Kar," Zein shrugged, observing the esper's complexion. "Are you fine now?"
"Yeah," Bassena circled his arms around the guide's waist, carefully stroking the flat stomach. "Thinking that you experienced all of this--and more--helped."
Zein cracked a smile while unwrapping a sour tamarind candy. "Is that so? Here, eat this."
