"What difference did you feel about yourself after Antarctica?"
At Lucas' question, she went into thought. After they left that desolate continent, even before coming to Tokyo, when they stopped at Ushuaia, she had started examining herself.
She noticed that she was stronger inside out and that before leaving the south, she stopped feeling cold. Don't get it wrong. It is not that she became incapable of feeling the temperature or started feeling warm amidst snow. She just stopped being bothered by the cold, to the point of welcoming it.
Apart from a better appearance, the strength she found to herself was like her body parameters having been enhanced. She didn't stress test herself to know the extent of the improvement but she knew, from what she confirmed, that had she been that capable before, what had happened wouldn't have come to be and she could have protected herself.
Unfortunately, while time was not linear, life was, so she could only swallow what could not be changed and look forward with determination.
The only imperfection she felt in the enhancement was the lack of smoothness and softness.
Turning to Lucas, she replied:
"I feel better, strong from inside out."
Lucas nodded. As he thought, she was affected differently. She might not really need a journey to attain balance unlike him whose blood was under duress what with the heat and cold he had inside.
"Unlike you, Estrella, I took the brunt during the process of bathing in what is supposed to nourish a whole world. So some parts of my body are stuffed, putting pressure on other unevolved parts. I need to remedy that and that's why we are here."
He continued as Estrella listened:
"In the coldest place we bathed in cold, overcame it and became stronger. What do you think we can find here in the ocean?"
"I would say salt but there are saltier waters inland. Since we are at sea, I would say the water itself is the goal but if specific places are needed to facilitate what you want and given where we are and where we seem to be heading, I would bet that you are aiming for a place deep in the sea. Maybe the deepest place in the biggest expanse of water. Am I right?"
Lucas closed his mouth and shook his head:
"I hope you are not offended if I doubt that you are amnesiac."
"What you are doing, can other people do it too?"
His comment had been ignored. With lips twitching, he replied:
"What are you talking about?"
"Can anyone touch the metaphysical nutrients you talk about all the time?"
With a thoughtful look, he looked at the sea.
"Let's call them World Essence. Every time I try, it's like a gamble. I have a 50% chance or more to succeed, if not I lose my life. Other people would have more than a 99% chance."
"Of succeeding?!?"
Estrella was shocked, which was rare. Even with her dark glasses, he could imagine her beautiful eyes opened wide.
With a big laugh, Lucas answered:
"Hahaha... Of course of dying."
Estrella seemed relieved as she heaved a sigh. After all, Lucas told her that the world would enter a new era and that would certainly bring changes. But if everyone was to be able to take the same path as Lucas, it wouldn't take long before chaos takes over the world and fights happen for a new order.
"What is different about you then?"
This made Lucas look at her as he made a ruminating expression.
"If it's a secret or you don't feel like telling me, don't worry. I am in no position to demand anything from you and I should be thanking you for all you have done for me."
Lucas fully turned to her with a serious face:
"You are right."
He used his left hand to raise her chin so that they could look each other in the eyes.
"But it's not a secret or anything like that."
He took back his hand as he felt her freeze for one fraction of second during the skin to skin contact.
"I almost died once. I didn't tell you but I was a soldier before. Not a really interesting life but not too boring either. A battle ended badly and I was left to die with grave injuries. By chance, I took the first step on this road I am on now. It was before Antarctica and it changed me. A little too much if I must say. I told you previously that by taking the brunt of the impact during the contact with the World Essence, I didn't enjoy a balanced and holistic enhancement. The first time, my bones were the beneficiaries. If I must guess, that first step made me closer to the world, to its Essence or to the coming era. So like a magnet, I calibrate myself by recreating the conditions of the first baptism in places I think are closer to what I seek, the different Essences I need, and I leave the rest to fate to attract a new baptism or die."
Estrella summarized:
"So some parts of you are under pressure thus you are running around to make them evolve?"
"Something like that."
"I suppose it's either that or you let it be and see if your body evolves to adapt or crash down?"
This made Lucas raise an eyebrow:
"I haven't thought about the evolution and adaptation part but you're right."
"How many more times do you have to bet your life before totally getting out of trouble?"
He thought about the piece of paper with the hints on it:
"Who knows?"
"Have you tried to gather the precise data of your body? Or take a scientific approach?"
He scoffed a little:
"I would need scientists for that. They would have to study me, dissect me and analyze the circumstances to understand just a bit of what happened and all the impact this situation has on me. And I would need to have the means to get said scientists, make them work for me and trust them."
As he was about to continue the topic, he saw a sailor come toward where they were on the deck. He was Japanese, not really tall and with tan skin, after all, his job exposed him to the elements of nature like the sun, the wind and others.
Remembering how he managed to enlist the service of this boat, he was thankful that no one was restrained to a single language, allowing the captain of the boat and him to find a common one to use to communicate. Unfortunately it was not Japanese. He quite liked the language but he could only greet, apologize, announce his return home and do just a few more things using it. It was even less than when he was a pseudo otaku when he could also count in Japanese from 1 to 999.
After the little journey down the memory lane, the guy was not far from them already:
"Sir, we are about to arrive."
He looked around then nodded his head:
"Alright, thanks for letting me know."
The polite guy responded with a small bow and went back to resume whatever he should be doing.
"We are not far from Guam, right."
The beautiful female voice brought his thoughts back.
He smiled the gentle and flirty smile as he stared at her. As he maintain his gaze for too long, she became uncomfortable and bristled:
"What?"
"I just find the way you flaunt your brainy skills so damn endearing."
She swung her head to the other side, certainly to ignore him but:
"So cute~."
"Shut up, Lucas."
His only answer to the murderous glare, unlike her perpetual calm, borderline expressionless face, was to turn around and go toward where their rooms were as he laughed joyously.
He almost had the illusion that he heard her stomping her foot girlishly in frustration. After all, it was impossible.