Final Training
The Council Suite, Grand Linan Hotel, Linan, Democratic Union of Aviye
7 Days Before the Finals
Zai
The preparations for receiving Shenmi were far more involved than the last time Zai had spoken to her outside of the physical world, years ago now. Instead of sharing space in Amri's head, as she had expected, Shenmi planned to come over to Zai's. For that to happen, however, she now needed Zai to be "as quiescent as possible" according to Amri.
That was why Zai was laying in Amri's tub - not the hot tub - at her hotel suite, watching as Amri poured yet another bag of salt into the gleaming waters, wearing a blindfold on her forehead as she waited for the thermometer to reach 37 degrees.
"Why are we doing this again?" Zai asked, shifting her foot out of the growing mound of salt on top of it.
"I need to establish neutral buoyancy so that you don't feel the effects of gravity," Amri replied. "Try floating now."