Time passed.
Katarina got no closer to finishing the container. And while "surrender" was not a word in Katarina's vocabulary, the phrase "tactical retreat" was.
So, she adjusted her mindset.
[You know what? Maybe this field trip will be good for me. Yeah, a little bit of time to calm down, think about something else, and learn about the world. I could make use of this.]
That was what went through her head as she gathered around with the other students, all looking like excited children as they stood in front of the Compasso.
"Pirra, you brought how many books?"
"Six."
"Pirra..."
"What?"
"It's a two-week trip."
"Yes."
"You're going to be on a carriage. Then you're going to be at a port. Then you're going to be on a ship. When are you going to find the time to read six books?"
"A-At night."
"At night you're going to be exhausted from observing 'real merchants in active trade operations.' Pelegatta's words."
