Paedyn woke to a sudden storm, the ship heaving as rain hammered the porthole and water flooded the corridor. Kai reached her door and insisted she stay in the cabin with him for safety. The confinement and rising water triggered Paedyn’s claustrophobia; she collapsed, struggling to breathe, while the crew’s shouts and thunder shook the ship.

Kai anchored Paedyn through the panic, asking for her trust and reminding her she had survived the Scorches and could survive the Shallows. To distract and comfort her, Kai produced a honey bun he had carried from Ilya. The familiar taste evoked Paedyn’s memories of Adena and steadied her. She insisted they share it, and they ate together on the wet floor as water pooled around their ankles, finding calm in each other amid the storm’s violence.

Paedyn later woke in bed, clean and tucked under covers, realizing Kai must have moved her after she fell asleep. Outside, the sky remained gray but the Reckoning had survived the night. Surveying the deck’s damage—torn railings, tangled ropes, scattered debris—she gathered her seawater-rippled books and went topside to dry them in the wind despite crew snickers and another drenching spray.

Kai found Paedyn shivering and gave her his coat. Captain Torri, cheerful despite the damage, warned that the Shallows would grow worse, estimating four more days to cross and dismissing the return trip for now. Paedyn and Kai then stood at the rail holding books open to the wind to dry them, appearing ridiculous but sharing quiet companionship against the endless horizon.

They discussed myths, and Kai introduced the legend of Astrum—a place said to exist before Ilya, living between dawn and dusk because of separated lovers, Solis (the sun) and Luna (the moon), where shadows are precious and can be stolen. Paedyn was skeptical, noting her father had little time for myths, but Kai claimed sailors often seek Astrum and suggested Captain Torri likely had a copy of a related book.

Before heading inside, Kai named the book—Shadow and Soul—and told Paedyn he looked forward to hearing her read it that night, reaffirming their private ritual and closeness amid the voyage’s growing dangers.