The sound of laughter and singing rises from the deck as the sailors, despite their usual discipline, give in to a well-deserved moment of joy. Barrels of wine are opened, and simple but appetizing dishes circulate among the crew members. The faces of the sailors, which usually seemed serious and focused, now shine with an expression of satisfaction.

When Mero steps onto the deck, an old sailor who had taught him dagger combat techniques spots him and flashes him a knowing smile.

"Well, young prince! No lessons today? You're allowed to celebrate a bit with us!"

Another, younger sailor grabs a piece of bread and cheese and approaches Mero with a wink.

"Want to try? It's our celebration for crossing without a hitch. The Empire can wait another day, right?"

The scene is both surprising and intriguing. On one hand, Mero sees the freedom of celebration contrasting with the strict order of his education, and on the other, he feels the need to maintain a certain level of discipline. But the warmth and hospitality of the sailors are hard to ignore.

Master Antonin's face remains impassive, but his eyes gleam with a spark of approval. He places a friendly hand on Mero's shoulder, almost as if giving him permission to enjoy the moment.

"The journey is long and demanding, Mero. Don’t forget that the world isn’t just made of books and lessons. Sometimes, you have to open yourself to what’s around you. Enjoy this celebration. The journey is still long, and it’s good to rest from time to time. As long as we’re docked, the lessons will mostly be about exploring this city and the cultures that mix here."

The sound of the celebration grows louder as sailors begin to dance, and a group of musicians in a corner of the deck starts playing lively tunes. The smell of wine and simple dishes mixes with the salty air of the sea, creating a festive yet relaxed atmosphere. Mero, still a bit hesitant, feels a slight relief seeing that he is allowed to be less formal.

Leila, who has joined Mero on the deck, watches the scene with a curious but reserved eye, staying true to her role as his nurse. She seems a bit withdrawn but shows small openings in her attitude, as if she is ready to accept this break from the routine.

Leila, always so reserved, seems hesitant at first, but Master Antonin, with his rare but sincere smile, gently encourages her. After a moment, she finally gives in and lets herself be swept away by the music. Their movements are awkward at first, as if they aren’t used to giving in to joy. But as the music intensifies, they seem to forget their roles and follow their instincts.

A sailor starts playing a lively tune, and everyone begins to dance. To his great surprise, Master Antonin invites Leila to dance. Mero watches, stunned—it’s the first time he’s seen them have fun.

For a moment, Mero watches two figures, accustomed to authority and seriousness, transform before his eyes. The transformation is almost magical. Leila laughs softly, her face, which usually remains so serious, now lit up with a sparkle of joy that Mero has never had the chance to see. Master Antonin, though still composed, seems more relaxed, his usually rigid posture easing into the movements of the dance.

Mero, despite his surprise, feels a strange mixture of emotions: a sense of camaraderie between his two companions, and perhaps a freedom he hadn’t imagined in their relationship. What he sees in this moment is new to him, another facet of these people he has been bound to during his journey.

He wonders if he too could one day relax like that. After all, he is a young man, and this break in the journey might offer him a chance to appreciate life beyond the studies and obligations that await him.

He lets them have their fun. He joins a group of sailors who are dancing in a line, arm in arm.

The group of sailors, joyful and loud, forms a line, their arms linked in a display of camaraderie. The music picks up, and laughter bursts out like shards of glass in the night air. Mero joins the dance without hesitation, carried by the wave of collective joy that fills the ship. The warmth of the moment is palpable, and although the young prince is still a bit reserved, he suddenly feels closer to these people, who he had long seen as passing strangers.

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He takes his place next to a robust sailor who also seems to appreciate the small moments of respite. Their feet pound the ground to the rhythm of the music, and Mero realizes he’s never experienced something so simple, so... human. Far from the demands of his birth, he finds pure pleasure in this spontaneous dance, well away from alliance strategies and family obligations waiting for him.

The sailors sing, their voices ringing out in the night, and Mero feels both like an outsider and yet surprisingly included in this celebration. The gestures are simple, but they create an invisible bond among them, something that transcends differences in status and culture.

After a few moments, an older sailor looks at him and gives him a knowing smile, a gesture like passing the torch. Mero smiles in return, perhaps for the first time, feeling a sense of belonging.

Even though he knows he must return to his role, his mission, his studies, this moment feels precious to him—an instant of freedom before resuming the path of duty.

He mingles with the young sailors to get to know them. For once, they are free and not following orders.

The young sailors, boys from the crew, are experiencing for the first time a moment without the pressure of orders and responsibilities. They dance and laugh, a certain freedom in their movements, a sharp contrast to the discipline they must follow daily. Mero, curious and eager to understand these boys who live such a different life from his own, approaches them.

He quickly notices that some of them are more reserved, while others are more outgoing, displaying a confidence that Mero starts to envy. However, all of them share that glimmer of camaraderie and solidarity, as if this regained freedom, though temporary, unites them.

He introduces himself, and with a genuine smile, he asks them simple questions—human curiosities rather than noble or strategic inquiries. Where are they from? How did they end up aboard this ship? Mero has no intention of judging them; he just wants to understand their lives, their daily routines.

One of the young sailors, a boy just a little older than him, looks at him with curiosity before responding enthusiastically.

"I’m from the island of Korma, it’s right near the coast of the kingdom of Astreil. My father was a sailor, so I grew up on a ship. I joined as soon as I was old enough."

Another sailor, a little shyer, adds, laughing but in a quieter voice,

"I’m from a fishing village on the Empire’s coast, but I’ve been on this ship for three years now. I sometimes miss dry land."

They exchange stories of travel, the sea, and family, making Mero almost nostalgic for his own homeland. But more than anything, he feels a growing sense of camaraderie. Although he’s a prince, he now understands that etiquette has no place in these moments of pure humanity. The young sailors, too, are trying to find their place, to forge an identity beyond the roles imposed on them.

The laughter and stories flow freely, and for Mero, in these shared moments, he might just be another boy among them, not the king’s son. A boy who is learning, discovering, but also bonding—even if just for an instant—with these boys who live such a different life from his own.

The celebration begins to wind down, and gradually, the sailors, the young crew members, and the guests start to disperse. The laughter and singing fade into the night, giving way to a relative calm. Mero feels a little tired after so many new encounters and shared emotions. It’s time for him to return to his cabin, where a sense of peace washes over him.

He thinks to himself that this moment of freedom, though brief, has allowed him to get closer to the crew and see them in a new light. It makes him more human in the eyes of the sailors, and even though his situation won’t change, he feels like he’s taken a step toward understanding the men around him.

As he heads to his cabin, he spots his nurse, Leila, also heading to her room, a discreet smile on her lips. Mero can’t help but think about the evening, his conversations with the young sailors, and the joy that seemed to have taken over the crew. It had been a different night—a night of relaxation and shared pleasure.

He enters his room, undresses, and slips into bed. The sounds of the sea, the echo of the waves, and the roll of the ship gently lull him. But before he falls asleep, one thought crosses his mind: the journey is still long, and there’s much more to discover—not just about the world around him, but about himself.

In the quiet of the night, Mero falls asleep, his mind ready to face the challenges of the next day.