Zenith pier in the morning.
The leviathan docked at the eastern landing with the deep mechanical groan of the mana anchors engaging and the gangway lowered and the twelve weeks were over.
Kaito came off first. He stopped at the foot of the gangway and turned back and looked at Vane with the expression he used when he had something specific to say and had decided to say it with as few words as possible.
"The fourth form," he said.
Not a question. Not advice. Just: the fourth form, delivered in the register of someone handing over a responsibility rather than issuing a reminder.
"I know," Vane said.
Kaito nodded once and walked toward the eastern embassy without looking back.
Lancelot came down the gangway and walked toward the spiral hill immediately, without pause, without marking the end of anything, the same quality of movement he brought to all transitions. He disappeared into the morning.
Ashe was beside Vane at the railing.
