Chapter 88: The Battle on the High Seas

The sea stretched out endlessly in all directions, a vast expanse of blue under the cloudless sky. It had been a month since Alex and his family set sail, and the monotony of the open ocean was wearing on them all. The sun was high in the sky, beating down on the deck of their ship, and the air was thick with salt and the smell of the sea. Alex and Joan were leaning over the side of the ship, both of them pale and queasy. Joan had been throwing up for days, his body not yet accustomed to the constant rocking of the ship.

They were both dressed in simple, practical clothes—loose shirts and pants, with boots sturdy enough to withstand the slippery deck. Joan's shirt was soaked with sweat, and his face was drawn, but he managed a weak smile when Alex patted him on the back.