As the dinghy glided back toward the dock, excitement still thrummed in the air. The demonstration had been a success—more than that, it had been a revelation. The wind-powered vessel had moved not by oars or manpower, but by harnessing the very force of nature itself. And while the journey had been thrilling, there was still one final challenge left: docking.
The man at the rudder, still getting a feel for its responsiveness, misjudged his approach. The dinghy came in a little too fast.
Thud!
The boat knocked into the dock, jolting Luke and the man slightly. Gasps rang out from Naeva's team, but before panic could spread, they saw that the boat remained intact. No splintering wood, no damage—just a clumsy landing.
Luke exhaled.
"Well… could've been smoother."
The man grumbled, rubbing his temple.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm getting the hang of it."
