As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention, and over the past few months, he developed quite a good freestyle swimming technique and became very skilled at swimming underwater.
Trying his hardest to use his arms effectively, Bill was giving it his all.
Phew
Splash
Splash
Phew
Splash
In his previous life, Bill had read about the "runner's high." It was a state that people claimed to experience during intense physical activity. At the time, he didn't think much about it. Now, he could swear not only that this state is real, but also that it feels almost like enlightenment.
Splash
And this is how a person without experience or formal training managed to progress from "doggy paddle" to swimming at the speed of an Olympic athlete in just six months.
Of course, the training wasn't over yet, as he was creating as much splash as a jet ski.
However, smiling, Bill thought that with the right instruction, he might become faster in water than on land!
Phew
After swimming fifty breaths, Bill switched from freestyle to backstroke. He hadn't fully mastered this style yet, but he decided to try it because he noticed that when someone is being rescued from drowning, the rescuer usually swims backwards.
Although his backstroke was nowhere near as fast as his freestyle, it was much more stable and seemed to require less energy.
When he swam on his back to the starting point, he switched back to freestyle and continued until his arms began to burn from fatigue.
Deciding not to overexert himself, Bill swam to the shore and ran over to his friends.
Approaching them with a light smile, he was the first to speak: "Hey, guys, I tried to be fast. So, Sasha, why do you have to go home so early today?"
Raising her head from what they were doing, Sasha eagerly replied, "My aunt is getting married, and we're going to the wedding."
Bill: "Oh, that's great. So, are you going to the kingdom of Roshwan?"
Sasha: "See, Ricky! I told you HE would remember where I'm from."
Apparently surprised to be mentioned, Ricky retorted, "How the heck was I supposed to remember that?! None of US have ever left the island of Vallipo!"
Sasha: "Yes, I'll be the first. Don't worry, I'll bring you back a souvenir!"
With a slight smile, Bill asked a question she clearly wanted to answer: "So what exactly is the kingdom of Roshwan?"At this question, Sasha's eyes widened, and she proudly said, "Well, as you know, my grandfather is a nobleman. His castle is three times the size of this base. It snows most of the year, but spring there is the most beautiful in the entire South Blue..."
Unable to bear her boasting, Ricky's face grew increasingly grim.
Watching Sasha boast and observing Ricky's expression, Bill knew this wouldn't last long.
"... In fact, fibers made from the very same yak wool are used to make robes for almost all the kings in the world..."
"NO, they aren't!"
Sasha: "WHAT?!"
Ricky: "Your grandfather's castle isn't three times the size of this Marines base, and there are no 'Ice Bears' that control the mountains, and he doesn't sew clothes for world aristocrats from that 'shaggy yak' wool!"
With each word, Sasha's eyes narrowed more and more, and by the time Ricky finished, she was glaring at him as if he were her arch-enemy. Taking a deep breath, she said, "These Ice Bears really do run in packs and control the mountains. If you don't believe me, then I'll have to prove it to you."
Clenching her fist, Sasha waited for Ricky's response.
Realizing that he might have spoken without thinking, Ricky responded in the only way he knew how: "Y-you know, Sasha, t-there's no need to resort to violence just over words. A sailor doesn't act that way!"
Hearing his response, Sasha's eyes widened slightly before narrowing again: "Oh, I didn't mention anything about violence, so if you're..." her lips curved into a slight smile before she continued, "If you're not guilty of something? Or why do you think there will be violence?"
As the girl spoke, the sharpness in her eyes faded, her smile grew wider, but her fists remained clenched: "So are you guilty? Or maybe you're just confused? Hmm, Ricky?"
By this time, Ricky had completely shifted behind Bill. Bill had to give the boy credit: what he lacked in bravery, he made up for in cleverness. After all, though standing there, Bill barely noticed Ricky move to hide behind him.
Ricky: "M-maybe I was a bit confused, well, possibly?"
Ending his reply with an awkward heh-heh laugh, Bill could tell that Sasha knew she had won.
Sasha: "So there are Ice Bears roaming the mountains in packs, and these bears really stand on two legs and wear coats?"
At this point, Bill wanted to see how Ricky would respond to Sasha's incredible claims, but seeing the boy give him a pleading look, he decided to intervene.
Bill: "So who sews the coats for these Ice Bears?"
Turning her gaze to Bill, who was unimpressed by the look of a nine-year-old girl, she replied, "That's what these gangs steal. You can't go into those mountains with a coat, or they'll come and take it away."
"When people go outside in the winter, they have to wear blankets. Because there are no coats, my grandfather's people can't get rid of these Ice Bears, since you can't fight wrapped in a blanket!"