Salt reeds brushed against the cedar hull of the transport barge.
A cool, damp sea fog blanketed the shallow waters of the western strait. The scent of briny marsh grass and decaying shells replaced the crisp mineral fragrance of the Void Lotus grotto.
On the covered rear deck of the vessel, Kaelen Vance lay in his portable hemp hammock.
He had hung the ropes between two stout cedar awning posts. His straw hat rested over his face, shading his eyes from the diffuse grey light filtering through the morning mist.
Beside him sat a small charcoal brazier, keeping a clay kettle of winter melon tea at a gentle simmer.
He had departed Void Lotus Isle with thirty real hours—sixty compressed Fallow Hours—left until the one-month Lunar Fallow Surge. Deacon Vane had towed his portable Spirit-Vein brazier across the strait for ten quiet clock hours, letting Stage 5 Hibernation Compression work without interruption.
In his mind, the golden characters of the Fallow Slate updated with tranquil precision:
[The Fallow Slate] [Combined Strategic Cash: 77,956 SJC (+600 SJC Settled Trade Yield)] [Track 1 (Cultivation Vessel): 680h 00m -> Multiplier: 681x] [Track 2 (Martial Combat): 680h 00m -> Multiplier: 681x] [Track 3 (Alchemy & Refinement): 680h 00m -> Multiplier: 681x] [Track 4 (Dao & Array Comprehension): 440h 00m (240h SEALED) -> Multiplier: 441x]
