But fear of what? Bill didn't know how it happened. Had he just started meditating?
Looking at his trembling hands and sweaty palms, he thought, "There's nothing to fear."
As soon as he thought this, using his right hand, he grasped his left wrist.
Looking at his shaking hand, he repeated aloud, "There's nothing to fear."
And the fear disappeared. His hands stopped trembling, the sweat dried up, the coughing ceased. Bill didn't need to say it again.
Looking at his blackened hands, Bill felt a sense of familiarity. Familiarity with what? Bill couldn't understand why it surprised him. This world was not the one he knew, these people were not the people he knew.
At that moment, Bill knew only one thing—his will, and he was not afraid. He didn't know how long he sat beside the bed, staring at his blackened hands. He had begun meditating after breakfast when knock-knock knock. Turning to the door, Bill saw his nanny enter. She paused for just a fraction of a second, but he realized she was alarmed. He felt it. Although he wasn't afraid, he disliked the feeling when she spoke. It wasn't his will.
Miss Angie: "Ahem, William, Ricky has come for you. Sasha's ship is arriving at the port, you'll have to hurry if you want to meet them."
Rising up in one smooth motion, Bill returned to his normal state and smiled at his nanny, saying, "Great!"
As they left his bedroom, he turned to her again and said, "Miss Angie, I'm really thirsty and terribly hungry. Can you make a bigger dinner?"
Returning to her usual state, Miss Angie replied, "Of course, it's been a big day."
With these words, Bill said goodbye to his nanny and mom before running out of the house. There, eagerly waiting for him, was Ricky.
Looking at Ricky, the first thing Bill said was, "You should have come inside!"
Nodding, Ricky replied, "No time, come on, we need to run. I bet I'll get to the docks first... ready, set, go"
As soon as he said this, Ricky dashed forward, and Bill laughed, seeing how he tried to trick him. Watching Ricky give it his all, Bill stayed just a step behind. Only on the final stretch did he allow himself to take the lead, and even then, he made sure not to win by a large margin.
Huff huff
Ricky: "Darn, how did you outrun me?!"
Shaking his head, Bill calmly replied, "Of course, I outran you. You've only been doing this for six months, while I've been training for two years. You're really fast, maybe not as fast as Fie, but probably faster than Rance!"
Rolling his eyes and putting his hands on his hips, Ricky said, "Ugh, Rance and that girl with the gun."
During the time Bill spent with those two, Ricky had been focused solely on his training. So, except for general classes, he hadn't met with Fie or Bill, and as far as Bill knew, he hadn't seen Rance since he stopped playing with him.
Nodding in agreement with Ricky's frustration, Bill said, "You know, both of them will be in the Marines, and likely all five of us will be together during the draft."
Watching the ship approaching the dock, Bill spoke again, getting ahead of Ricky, "Oh, here they are."
Due to its main industry—shipbuilding—the island of Vallipo had deep-water ports. The boys watched as the crew of the large vessel finished furling the sails completely, while the men from the ship descended to the dock with thick ropes to secure it.
Ocean ships in this world were too large to approach most docks closely. The stone dock of the island of Vallipo was no exception. The final stage of the process was connecting the large wooden gangway between the stone dock and the ship's bridge.
This process was streamlined, and in just a few minutes, the passengers of the ship began disembarking one by one.
Somewhere in the middle of the crowd, Bill saw Captain Zima.
Following the big man was his family. Last in line was an almost ten-year-old girl with light hair and sharp features.
Seeing his friend, Ricky began waving excitedly. While Bill looked at her, his attention was more drawn to the straight sword she had on her back, which was half her height.
It was impossible for her not to notice the two boys, as Ricky was now shouting for her to come over.
After gesturing to her parents, she approached Ricky and Bill with measured steps. As Ricky was about to speak, she raised her hand and calmly said, "Richcho, William. My two immature friends. During the time we haven't seen each other, I have seen the world. I trained with the greatest swordsmen and found my calling..."
As she continued her speech, half bragging, half serious, Bill remained silent, simply listening, until Ricky's joyful face began to gradually grow sad.
"... And with this very sword, I will administer justice on the ocean."
Fortunately for him, Bill realized Ricky hadn't had a chance to throw a tantrum. So, as usual, Bill asked the question the girl clearly wanted to hear: "So, how did you get this sword?"
Still maintaining a calm voice, Sasha replied, "During the time we were apart, I found the greatest swordsman. I begged him for fifty days before I convinced him to train me."
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