Laytri was trying to get seaweeds and other flora from the docks, wearing an old shirt, trousers and boots that he wouldn't mind wetting. He had attached a makeshift harness made out of leather that was led by rope to a post on the docks, despite the reluctance of the harbourmaster who thought he'd disturb the fishing. Lowering himself down into the water carefully with a held breath, he collected a small amount of different foliage, storing it quickly in a waterproof pouch that contained some dock water so he could preserve any microbes (Laytri always felt proud of himself when he realized he was the discoverer of microscopic life).

He repeated the process in a few other parts of the dock before getting out to walk to the local tavern so as to dry himself as well as his gear off.


Meanwhile, only two weeks in to his arrival, was a very frustrated James. He was sitting in the Seven Moons inn, trying to figure out how to gather any people for a small voyage across this country. Unfortunately for him, it was reaching autumn, so the snow would come down twice as heavy; The only people that would trek across this frozen land would be the refugees, travellers, fugitives and so on. James needed to find something in this damned place.

Something, even if it was a small finding would please him as he could move onto proving or disproving the myths of the strange land located to the far West. Nobody would even consider letting him speak to them anymore when he mentioned this goal!
Although there were rumours of the land grabbing the sanity plus lives of explorers, the man was determined.

"And then, and then there was time, then space, then the Universe went BOOM!" Norma war jumping around Kari, rambling with fast and energetic. She raised her arms sideways when she did the explosion sound effect.
"Okay, girl! I understood. We came here to rest,didn't we?" Kari said.
"But isn't that so interesting? Don't you want to know more things about the Universe?" Norma jumped in front of Kari.
"Come on, I've heard this one many times." Kari groaned.
"But don't you want to get interested in it?" the red head asked.
"I can't forse myself to be interested in something, Norma... If only it was that easy. One beer please." the bunette ordered.
"Kari! You know alcohol is bad for yoouuAAAHH!" Norma was cut short once she tripped and fell over James' table.

James quickly reached out and caught her by the waist, her orange hair brushing on his face as she fell. "Oh shit!" He muttered, helping her up again.
As he stood, James took in her rather cute features, smiling to himself as he saw her. "You alright, madam?" He inquired, a kind worry in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Laytri observed this with a small scoff, taking his shoes off as he walked to carry the harness and other things upstairs to his room.
"Be careful of the gravity in here." He joked, for possibly the first time in forever, as he walked up.

"Ah! Thank yoouu!" Norma stood on her feet. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! Oh! Sorry for fallingon your table!" she nwas shaking James' hand, while talking very fast. "I'm Norma, and this over there is my friend Kari! She's drunk!"
"Ii'mm nohht drunk, Norma!" Kari said and hicced. "At least not deadly drunk. So, do you two get drunk here often?" she asked.

James looked at Laytri, who was about to walk upstairs. He didn't even know who this man was. From his earlier jest, James assumed he was scornful, or perhaps he himself was being assuming and rude.
"I don't know this man, and I don't really get drunk anyway." He explained to her, shaking her hand briefly. Laytri raised an eyebrow.
"I'm a scientist, not an alcoholic." He said to Norma with a small, smug smirk. "But I expect you wouldn't find these things particularly important." Laytri added in a matter-of-fact tone.

"My fathers are experienced in both!!" Norma giggled.
"So, you're in science? Hey, hey! Kari, Kari, Kari! You hear that?" she shook Kari's shoulder.
"He's in science! Which field do you practice? Huh? Huh? Huh?" She asked, placing both of her arms on the table, slightly shaking in excitement. "My father is an astronomy professor! My other is a textbook writer! I love astronomy! What do you think of the possibility from being sucked into nothingness any moment? Scary, huh?"

"You know what else is scary?" Kari stood from her chair, raised her finger and prepared herself to say something. Then she quickly took a bag, opened it and threw up in it. With disgust on her face, all that Norma could say was:

"Ugh! In my bag, Kari?"

"I'm no biologist, but I can tell you've had too much to drink." Observed Laytri, walking upstairs at a normal pace. James pondered who this stranger could be. In fact, if this stranger was a scientist, then perhaps he could help James with his work.
"So, er... Norma, I need a small group of people for an expedition. I'd like it if you and your friend could join me, as I need clever members." He told her, smiling slightly. He was unsure of the girls. Maybe they weren't even properly educated, for all he could know. But he had to try, to some extent.

Norma raised her brow. She met those two guys approximately fifteen seconds ago, but they're already inviting her on an expedition. She found this rather...

"Amazing..." she whispered. "An expedition, you hear that, Kari? We're going on a journey!" she raised the volume of her voice. "Do you want to go on an expedition? Oh! Right. You should sober up before taking such a decision."
"I'm in." Kari spoke.
"What?"
"I'm in, ya hear me? Nobody has to wait for me to sober up. I'm always sober... in the heart. I'll come."
"That's amazing!" Norma exclaimed, before turning to the other two. "Hey, let's discuss what's this expedition all about. Her head might get cleared up by then." she whispered.

James nodded. "Well, I'm planning to travel across The Western Mainland, visit The Eastern New World, and reach the other side of the world to investigate the islands to the west." He explained, nervous of what their reaction may be. "I know how and where to get food and drink." He added quickly, in case they thought the group would starve along the way.

'...Eastern New World.'
Laytri's eyes lit up.
"Sweet Maria." He whispered, and hurried back downstairs, his face suddenly focused and excited. "In the New World, there's rumours of different metals that form under the nitrogen filled soil." He told the group. James looked surprised at his quick return. "I'm in!"
"Well, that was rather quick." He mumbled, looking at the three with a sense of prediction everything was either going to shit itself up, or they'll be rich and satiated by their findings of lands far and wide...

"That's great, that's very great! Survival knowledge is needed for this!" Norma said. "When do you plan for it to start? How long will it take? What should we take on the way? Do we need some training? Do we need some special education in order to be useful? Is there anyone else coming, or we're the firs ones you ask?"
"Repeat what you said... after the 'That's great' thing." Kari said and sat on te chair.

Laytri smiled at Norma. Despite himself, he found her rather fun. He kept silent, and listened to James' (also smiling) next words;

"Well, I just need three people that would be interested. I plan for it to start when we're all prepared. In terms of education or training, you just need to either know how to basically survive, or some sort of scientific knowledge." He explained, awaiting their reactions.

Laytri raised an eyebrow. "And how, may I ask, is this expedition going to involve science?" He asked.
"Because I'm looking to document undiscovered plants, animals, metals, anything. All I know is survival and exploration." James replied, looking to Norma and Kari.
Laytri's smile broadened.

Even after sobering up, Kari was in for the journey. She and Norma were with Laytri and James at the city gates to Galikov.
"So, did you say bye to your fathers?" She asked Norma.
"Yep! I paid them a visit and they were happy for me? What about your parents? They let you go?"
"They immediately packed my belongings for me." Kari said before turning to the men. "So, how long will it take us 'til we reach the ship station on the other side of Galikov?"

Laytri chuckled. "Let's assume there's no torrents of rain, blizzards, searches for shelter or attackers to slow us down. If the Western Mainland's 320 kilometres long, and our walking speed is... 3 kph on average, it should take 106 hours." This calculation speed amazed James.
"Is there anything you cannot count?" He clapped Laytri's back with a grin, who smiled a little smug.
"No." Laytri whispered under his breath as James turned to the girls;
"So, with the best of luck, let's go."

He turned and led the way out of the city, beginning a brisk pace on the cobblestone path, the morning breeze lifting his spirits. If the others weren't there, he would have hummed a war-song.

Both of the girls were blinking at Layrti, both lost in his calculations.
"Well... Those are many hours." Kari said.

The four of them started their journey to the coast.
"So..." Kari said. "We agreed to organize this journey, even though we barely know one another."
"Yeah!" Norma said. "All we know is that you love science and want to progress in it! In fact... How did you two meet?"

James blinked at Norma. Clearly, he had explained he didn't know Laytri in the inn. "Well, clearly, you don't listen when you're drunk." Laytri commented, raising an eyebrow.
James sighed. "We met in the tavern, but we barely know each other." He explained calmly, unlike Laytri who seemed to be unimpressed.

"Hey! She was the drunk one!" Norma pouted.
"Ugh, details, details." Kari said.
"We forget about those a lot. Yeah, I remember. You said you two just met at the bar! Soo, is there anything you want to ask?" Norma asked.

James shrugged. "Not really." He said nonchalantly, looking at the ground as he walked. Laytri smiled smugly. "What fields of science or exploration are either of you good at?" He challenged her, feeling he should show his skills off at some point. James sighed at the man's pride.

"What's going on? Is the ground shaking?" Norma asked, as sher stopped in place.
"What the... It's getting more violent..." Kari said. "It's crumbling!"
"RUN!" Norma yelled,as both of the gorls started running.

Laytri yelled "Landslide!" while James swore, the two sprinting forwards for their lives, panic clear in their faces.