"You're still quite the distance away..." I found myself saying as I held out a claw before me. Its digits stretched out as far as they could, but I could not even touch the stone of the mountains. We had spotted Tobaballe days ago but we were still headed towards it. But, I suppose that is what happens in featureless environments.

Distant things seem closer than they actually are...

"Nin, can you come here, please?" Vadei then asked me as she stuck her head out the door of the bridge.

"What do you want to show me?" I asked her, even if I had a sneaking suspicion she wanted to talk about a certain topic.

"This." she told me as she tried to tap the holographic screen that just appeared. It was the mapping systems of the airship that I was being shown.

"I see the Civil Mountains, what about them?" I asked before she then zoomed in on a certain spot.

"I think I have found a place we can drop you off at. You won't waste time climbing for long and you can just get straight into the confines of the mountain range."

"Right." I said quickly before I began to stare intensely at the spot she had highlighted. It was rather peculiar for a mountain area. It looked just like a pathway one could use to walk in and out of the area I called home.

"So, as we discussed before, I can keep an eye on you using these, and then I can get a good idea of when to move on to saving my family." she then explained as more screens appeared. I ignored those ones, however, and just moved my gaze towards her.

"That's fine, get them out as quick as you can and be on your way. Of course, if you find the others, give them a lift back, too." I told her as my gaze moved towards my palms. Palms that constricted slightly as I still could not stomach the idea of it. Maybe I would once this was all over, but not right now at all.

She then sighed, "Are you sure about that, Nin? Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

And then I groaned, "We've been over this, Vadei..." I frustratedly let out at her.

"Yes, and each time you make yourself angry and never finish the discussion! Nin, you are talking about abandoning your friends in favour of a life as a criminal. You can't seriously expect me to be on board with it!?"

"What I get up to is none of your concern!" I snapped at her after my head jolted up.

"It is when I care about you, Nin! You are my friend and I refuse to just leave you behind like that!" she told me with cheeks flushed red with frustration.

I looked away initially before speaking, "No you're not, I'm just a means to an end for you. A way to get your family back. Now quit arguing the point and just do as I say."

"Excuse me? I beg your pardon? I do not think of you like that at all you rotten liar! You are my friend and I sincerely consider you to be one!" Vadei nearly yells at me as she suddenly becomes aggressive. Her weaker, slimmer form tried to then push me around, but she couldn't move me slightly.

I couldn't even look her in the eye, no matter how much she tried to position herself before me, "Just do as you're told, Vadei. Get me to that point, and think of a farewell in the mean time." I told her with a dismissive gesture. Something that only angered her more.

"No, I will not!" she nearly yelled at me as I walked out the door. Her frustrated screaming was barely heard above the winds I now felt and heard. But, it was there. She was shouting at the door, calling me all sorts of names.

And, if I had to be honest, now might have been the time to get moving. Because what point was there in me staying here? Me and Vadei were not on good terms right now and my goal was so close. That one, single goal I have had since I spent my first night in that camp with Vadei and the others.

All the way back before I met even Rose and discovered what her people were like. Back when I was still human and still had human elements... It felt so long ago when I thought on it. But, it was only about a year or so ago when this all started.

"If I find out that Thunder is not being celebrated, then I guess I can say it took me under a year, then." I tried to joke to myself to at least lighten the mood. One little, bad joke, however, was not enough to change my mind. It was not enough to just get me thinking differently. I was still ladened with regrets and anger and sadness about what I had done...

But now was not the time to mope about or to cry, it was to finally get back home! So I steadily climbed over the railing and leaned forwards while my arms went back. I tried to smile at what I was about to do, but nothing came. The only thing that did come was the rush of wind and that familiar noise once I let go.

And then, all of sudden, I was surrounded by a mighty explosion. Its bang reverberated about me louder than usual and the ground was scarred. Scarred more in a single moment than it would ever be without my involvement. Then, once the bluish-purple explosion died down, I brought my forward right knee out of the earth.

Childishly admiring the destruction my drop had caused before getting back on track. I had a goal I needed to keep in mind and so I ran. I let the land behind me feel my newfound power as I went back to my birthplace. I outrun the devastation and launched myself towards the nearest mountain when I was close enough.

"I will need to be very careful!" I nearly screamed in excitement as I saw the damage my magic was causing. Rather than just digging into the mountain, I made it and its neighbours tremble and crumble. An avalanche of grey appeared above me and it surged past me with no damage being applied to me. Once I might have been terrified by that, the power I had being so alien.

But now? I was enjoying it as much as I could. Because, unless I made it a habit to run about these wastes every now and then. I would never get to use my magic again as I would destroy my home. But, that was fine, if I used it up playing about, I could soon reintegrate into my home.

Vadei feared for her family because they had spent too long in a magic-free environment... So, logically speaking, if I spent some time here too, I would see the same fears come to my mind. Or, I could just mess around on the outer side of the Civil Mountains and drain my magic now. Yet, that also provided one problem, what if I needed my magic to cross the mountains?

If I used it all up now then I might not be able to make the journey! Yet, my current body did offer one advantage of note. It was built of sturdier stuff and it was stronger! Even if I did use up my magic then surely I would make it anyway!

"It would also keep her from following me..." I then mumbled once I saw the airship again. The last of the rubble I created had slammed past me. She was shepherding me carefully even if from a great distance. If her tools measured me by using my magic as a point of reference, then I just needed to remove it!

So, I let go of the mountain and ran down it like I would a steep hill when I was young. I laughed and cackled as the running freed my mind briefly. Each step was catastrophic to the mountain as well! I left deep, gashing craters in the weak stone and more and more fell down after me.

Then, when I felt the ground below explode once more, I looked up in anticipation. Laughing the whole time until I began to think of a toilet of all things. How it flushed away all of the waste with a sudden burst of water. And at that moment, the sky lit up in a magical firestorm as I just let it all out.

Screaming with eager anticipation as I just felt all that power come out of me until I felt exhausted. No boulders from above hit me and nothing touched me. I was destroying it all as it travelled while also going deeper into the earth. And as my screams came to an end, I collapsed while laughing, staying there for a bit.

"Much better..." I said with heavy breaths as my body ached and grew tired. Far more tired than I had ever been since coming to Jherikra as some called it. I tried to use one of my spells, but I could just not get it to form no matter how hard I tried. And it made me smile like a maniac.

But, I also regretted it slightly as it was a painful experience getting back up. I was now covered in aches and sore body parts and stuck in a hole. My magic had blown apart a vast crater during that little show. Thankfully, it was so vast as to reasonably steep for most of it, the only sudden dips were the very edge.

Once again, however, I was very thankful for the fact I had a bit of magic left. Like that last bit of energy you have before you go to bed that only exist to get you in it. So I roughly flew out of that hole and headed to the mountain. Barely reaching its base before I collapsed with a smile.

"We're nearly there, so nearly there." I said as I looked behind me. That path was still there and it stuck out quite a bit. It was also, however, completely messed up by my fun. I could still see it, but it would be harder to use it.

But I was fine with a challenge, especially when the reward was me finally getting back home! I might never be able to walk the streets again, granted... But at least it was all familiar to me. Who knows, maybe I could even rob someone for their carpets and blend in a little easier!

Of course, that was if I could stop giggling at the potential fun I would have being the tallest bug alive. The small things like that are what I would have to learn to enjoy. Having a drink or going out for a meal was just not possible anymore. Not that I did them at all, to be entirely honest.

Now was the time, however, so I stopped thinking about fun and slowly got up. It was almost nostalgic in a way, dragging yourself out of bed to get to work. Having just exhausted yourself the day prior doing what you were about to go do. That is what moving at the moment felt like.

It hurt, it was annoying, it would ruin my mood and I wanted to complain for hours on end. But, I kept on moving and I kept on climbing and using what magic I could to help me. Then, soon, after spending a lot of time getting used to mountain climbing... I got to that pathway, a bit I hadn't destroyed, that is.

"Make the clock bang its bells loudly, Tobaballe. Nin Urtuan has returned." I triumphantly said to myself as I began to follow the path. Keeping my hand on what seemed like a random metal railing as I walked. Not really putting much thought into why it was there or why this path was clearly man-made. I just walked and walked until I found something.

At least, until I once again found myself needing to sit down. It turns out, suddenly flushing all my magic out in order to safely travel into my home was a bad idea. But, well, I also had yet to see anything bad come from it. I was just moaning about how much I ached.

"Oh, hello?" I then said when I noticed something in the immediate distance. Confusion fueled my curiosity and I dragged myself over to what I saw. It was some kind of hidden mountain complex. A very active one by the looks of it going by all the staff walking about.

Staff that was now suddenly terrified when the guards began to shout and bark orders. Confident in my magic, however, I sort of just stood there as the guards sorted themselves out. But, I was quickly on the move again when I felt a dull pain spread throughout my scalp. They had just shot a bullet at me and it was made of gold?

"Ah, so it's going to be like Tryhpeltzweig again..." I worriedly commentated as I tried to run away from the gunfire. Yet, even now as I received a reason to move as fast as I could. My adrenaline did nothing to lower the aches I was feeling in my body. So I was less so running and more like hobbling about as if I hurt my leg or foot.

"Escaped Gladiator located, moving in." I heard someone say before a goldhand suddenly appeared before me. A speed that seemed to surprise everyone else but oddly enough, they seemed slow. And now that I had trained my ability to sense magic, they really did not seem all that impressive. In fact, I was willing to go with the idea I could just sort of slap them aside.

"Ah, shit!" I then moaned out in pain as my body began to experience some kind of cramps. Sudden and growing fields of stiff muscle began to lock me in place. And, it wasn't the goldhand or a guard doing it. It was just my body giving up and now I had a fist coming towards me.

All most as if to mock me, this fist was coming in very slow from my perspective. But, that did not mean it did not hurt in the slightest as that definitely hurt more than the bullets! My cramps, however, prevented me from swearing out my pain and I was instead trembling in pain while loudly groaning.

"Target is secure, it has seemed to have immobilised itself." the goldhand explained to someone over a large blocky radio. Something that felt so... Dated to my eyes now, especially given the fact I have seen and used magic-based tech.

"Make sure it is restrained by us as well and bring it to me." a woman ordered him in response. And then, well, he followed his orders and put me in a set of large cuffs that left me numb. Something about them seemed to make it so they interfered with my magic... Which, perplexed me because Heiya said these things didn't exist.

So why did my homeland have them if magic was not really a thing here? Did this lack of magic play a role in their development? Did it allow them to understand how to shield themselves from it? I was willing to bet that was the case.

"Move neck, move!" I demanded of my locked up body as thankfully, my tongue could still move. But, my words were muffled, unfortunately. And, to make it all worse, this locked jaw I had was giving me an itch. As if my body needed to make its little annoying chitters that I despised so much.

And then, as another goldhand came over to me, I saw her, I saw the one who caused everything, "This is new." she comments with a frown as she crosses her arms in front of me. Not right in front of me, but enough to make it seem like she was in control... Now, see, if my magic wasn't drained...

Oh, ho, ho... I'd tear her apart and then rebuild her just to tear her apart again. For now, however, I would have to settle with violent trembles and muffled growls. My locked up body prevented me from doing anything. To say absolutely nothing about these cuffs and the goldhands restraining me.

"What is this creature? This isn't registered in Project Gladiator!" a scientist of some description then commented from a catwalk above as his footsteps echoed about.

"Is this likely what was picked up then?" Iishar asks the scientist as she decided to pace about me.

"Does this look several dozen metres in size?" the scientist asked back with some snark as he got up in my face. A small light of some kind was shoved straight into my eyes afterwards.

"Was it at least the thing responsible for those recent tremours?" Iishar then asked with much less patience as she intimidated the scientist away.

"Possibly? It has only just happened, we have had no opportunity to collect data!"

"Whatever, get this thing to the Gladiator facility. We need to be able to see if we just got lucky or if we can truly fight these things off should more appear." she ordered the others while I just seethed with rage. But, as she turned away from me, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I just had to at least scream that one word...

"IISHAR!" I roared out before flinching about in pain as I had just forced my jaws to open up. And it left her eyes wide with shock along with everyone else's.

"Gladiator, now!" she then repeated sternly with my feet grinding along the stone path as I was pulled away. My eyes locked on an unnerved Iishar Ho the entire time before we turned a corner. And from then on, I just growled to myself and put up with it. I needed to let my body recover from whatever this problem was...

.

.

.

"Dammit, Nin! Why did you have to do that? Why couldn't you have at least gotten inside first!" I nearly screamed at the machines in front of me. Slamming my clenched fists down onto the machine as I had lost Nin. My sensors and equipment could not pick him up as he had purged the magic from his system. Now all I had was a blurry and undetailed outline of him that quickly vanished.

I wanted to scream and shout some more, I nearly even cried but, for now, I just moaned in anger. A series of hiccups left me as I tried to just vent the anger out. But I just couldn't, whatever Nin was doing was endangering my family! I may have not wanted him to stay here but there was no need for him to hide himself like this!

I needed his help to save my family and now I had no idea of if he had done something to help them! So, after a few moments of just waiting for the tears to flow, I got up and walked about. Pacing back and forth with a hand on my chin as I tried to just think of a new plan. Without Nin to distract the guards, I would need to find a way to kill them or move them...

This airship had defensive measures, but no offensive ones. It was designed purely to be defended by an escort or onboard garrison. Problem was, I had no armed garrison and the closest thing I had to escorts were all gone! And, as I noted that, I screamed in anger once more.

"YOU STUPID BUG! YOU STUPID BUG! IF MY FAMILY GETS-" I began to scream out before just stopping. My eyes firmly locked on the map the airship's equipment made. And then, I lingered the tip of my claw over a spot near the entrance. Hidden away but not too hidden.

"If I can safely get the airship here, I can go out on my own and do it myself..." I breathed in tearful relief as a plan started to come to mind. And then, my claws began to light up as I reminded myself of my offensive spells. Not that I might need them as my magic had grown since returning back to my home continent.

So I quickly hopped back into command of the airship and brought it down quickly. Nin might have not done his distraction, but surely that magic blast caught their attention somehow? He did carve up a mountain after all. And, admittedly, having seen it, I was shocked by how powerful Nin had become...

The incident that taught me not to use magic in places like this was enough to blow out a house. Not enough to bring part of a full mountain down! It also made me paranoid, because I was a lot stronger than my memorable example now. If I let my magic go out for even a moment, I could risk devastating all the places where the slaves are!

I could kill my family and old friends by mere proximity and accident!

"Gods and goddesses, watch over me and guide me carefully." I let out with a whimper as I finally got the airship to where I wanted it. That descent was needlessly complicated by me having to ignore warnings and other stuff. I just needed to force the airship down and then turn it off. Speaking of...

"I want to go back to magic-filled lands..." I complained as I picked myself up after we suddenly just dropped and slammed into the ground. A shakeup that saw me briefly fly about the airship and hurt myself. The land around me might have not hurt me, but this was steel made in the lands of Thrurstradtur. Magic was definitely in this metal plating.

"Rope ladders, rope ladders-" I then began to repeat over and over once I had picked myself up. If I was to suddenly guide everyone out to the airship. I would need them to be able to get on board it. It was just a shame I could not use the airship's main walkway without causing magic issues.

But, as I remembered the fact that I was not near a camp anymore, I went back and turned it all on again. Growling at the sudden warning blaring in my face as I readjusted the airship and opened it up. And, thankfully, my ability to regulate power meant I did not make a crater like Nin did. We were just on burnt and torn up earth is all...

"What rooms should I put them in, though?" I then questioned myself as I spun around and looked down the dark hallway. Ideally, I would want a location where I could keep them all safe from excess magic. And, of course, magic blasts caused by a certain reaction. So, at the very least, that crossed off me putting them on the side to my right.

As, if I was remembering correctly, that was the side the salamander took Nin down from. The side we, unfortunately, were not really able to fix all that well even with our stops at mountain-based settlements. And while it probably was not all that interesting, that meant I was left with the bedrooms and the cafeteria as potential safe spots. Pretty much the only rooms they would need to use...

"I best go make sure the other essential rooms are safe." I then commented with a frown as I took a torch and walked about the airship. Inspecting every single room for ways to keep my family and so on safe with. Unfortunately for my worrying mind, however, all there really was were the doors and walls... So I would just have to pray and hope it was enough.

"I promise you, God of Airships if you are real, or, Oriesee, of course, if this is your domain... Revered goddess... I will pray for you everyday. I will make you dependent on my faith alone, I swear it." I potentially pointlessly promise in my paranoia as I go back to my chair. Collapsing into it and shivering as I tried to remember any prayers for her. But, unfortunately, I just could not think of any as I had never had a reason to pay attention to her! I was never someone who cared for metal, it was just a shiny rock to me!

But, despite all this pressure, I was able to get a hold of it and beat it down, "Cmon, Vadei, you can do this. You are stronger than anyone in this city. Even if you can't use spells, you won't lose to them!" I tell myself as I move my arms back and forth. Hopping straight back up and running out the airship before I lost heart once again. And, with a casual hop, I was off the airship and in the gravel below.

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From then on out, I was just running as fast as I could without copying Nin. I ran until the night came and I skidded to a halt before the simple wall that once trapped me here. Compared to what I had seen since returning back to my home continent, this was nothing. It might as well have been nothing as well.

Just pressing against it made cracks appear as well as magic reactions. So, with that in mind, I moved away from the wall and sort of just stared at it. Did I climb up the wall itself or did I use the mountain as an aid? If I was to be careful with my magic, then the mountain might be preferable.

"But neither side is really suited to magicless climbing." I point out to no one as I tried to think of climbing methods. I was a good climber, I knew that, compared to a human anyway. But climbing under these conditions was something else. Such a natural part of my life had to be suppressed and ignored for this to work.

Yet, I still nodded to myself and also urged this body of mine onwards. I still went up to that wall and placed my hands upon it. Carefully testing how much strength I could apply before the signs of magic appeared. Which, so long as I didn't go through a sudden panic, would be easy to handle.

Just stop and remember what I had to do. That is how I would deal with these potential magic blasts. So, with it all in mind, I began to climb up the mountain and the wall at the same time. Even if it was a bit awkward as the edge of the wall was carved straight from the mountain.

As such, I sort of had to split my legs wide just so I could touch the gaps between the large stones. And, apart from the occasional tug as my toeclaws got stuck in the gaps. It all went fine, I even managed to get right onto the wall's top so I could pull myself up. Now if only I did not come on to a spot with a sleeping guard...

"I hope your dreams are pleasant." I then whispered to the guard once I had calmed myself. Punching my sharp claws straight through his collar and neck and letting him die. Yet, even as the warm blood washed over my fingers and hand, I kept it there. There was a strange satisfaction about having done this, but I still felt sick either way.

I know I have killed before, but, there was something a little different about doing it to a human. Their faces were so alike those of my kind and I guess that just disturbed me. All their expression were alike what I could make and I was friends with several humans... Yet, either way, I tried to focus on the satisfaction of the kill.

These people were holding my family hostage and I would not stand for it! And now with this one guard out the way, I tried to hide him. He was on the edge of a likely quiet post so maybe they wouldn't find him. But, just to be safe given the circumstances as to why I just killed him.

"Dammit... Which one was the one I was locked away in...?" I asked myself as I had failed to remember the layout of this place. I remembered how it was all positioned, but I could not tell warehouse from ramshackle house. It was all just sort of blending together, especially in the dark... Yet, I would be having to thank someone as just then I heard a baby cry.

I didn't even have to use magic, my ears were just that suited for this moment! I could direct them towards the sound and then sneak into where they were! As such, this had me smiling as now I knew where to go. But now I just needed to get there through the fields of crops I once would've sown.

"Don't mind me, I ain't here for harvest, in fact, I don't think you ever will be..." I sniggered out with a whisper as I got down from the wall and snuck through the crops. Lowering my body as far as it would go so I could just prowl about unnoticed. My ears guide my movements through what is about to be the old food of my family. Yet, I did not arrive at a house, first, instead, I found a warehouse.

"Eugh, I hate having to do it, but, it will help me blend in..." I complain as I put on the baggy sacks I used to wear after pillaging the warehouse. Of course, I did not take off my actual clothes as I had no intention of leaving these behind. It would ruin my entire aesthetic of being the airship's captain, something I wanted to show off to my family!

But, then, someone banged on the door and and I assume demanded to know who was in there? I did not speak Tobaballian and what I likely did know was long since forgotten. So I quickly snatched up a blanket or something and answered the door. Messing up my face first with dirt, though so I would not be suspected.

"Sorry, I was cold..." I said to the guard in apology. Something he did not understand at all and I did not understand his response either. I was willing to assume it amounted to something similar to 'Get back to your hut!' or at least something like that. Yet, his sudden grabbing of my shoulder suggested otherwise.

As such, I was prepared to kill him if I had to, even if I was likely to kill him later. In fact, why not kill him now? It would save me the trouble of doing it later. And, he was even kind enough to give me a reason!

Because instead of doing what I thought he might do, he decided to whack my tail with a stick! So I just shoved my claws straight into his face and into his brain. Shivering initially at the gore before growling at his corpse. A foul mood was displayed on my face until I got to where my family might have been.

"W-Who's there?" someone unfamiliar to me asked in a worry as I heard large amounts of shuffling about. Humans might not have been able to hear or smell me as I snuck about, but these weren't human. They were oxfuinei, my people!

"Relax, okay, relax!" I said to them as I held up my palms at them once I got in. Spooking them all with the blood on my hand until they all calmed down.

"What have you done?" a tired-looking woman then asked me as her weak body lept at me. Her hysterical gaze locked entirely on my bloody fingers.

"I killed some guards, I'm here to get you out of here! I just need some information first!" I tried to explain to them before offering up a display. A very brief show of how I had magic. Not that it might have been needed as they all looked like skeletons! I could feel barely any magic in the lot of them!

"What kind of information?" the largest amongst them asked as his hand moved others behind him. His tail along with his ears all raised up in an aggressive and protective posture.

"My name is Vadei, I am of the Agaudi pack. I was one a slave here, just like you lot! I just need to know where the others from the Agaudi are." I practically pleaded with them as I tried to restrain myself from panicking. I was so close to finding them again and I just couldn't keep it together.

"The Aga-" a young woman began to say before her mouth was covered.

"Quiet, we can't just give information to this woman! If we're caught helping her they'll kill us!" he rightfully warned the others as he reminded them of their valued lives. But, I just could not take it anymore, I wanted to see my family! So I just could not stop myself from suddenly crying and falling to my knees. Tail shoved out before me as I went up to this man.

"Please tell me..." I just barely managed to get out as I hold my tail out towards him. This sudden gesture shocked all of them as I had just submitted completely before them. In fact, it shocked them so much they all moved away just so they did not touch my tail.

"They're in that direction! Look for the shack with an elderly man holding a baby!" that same woman from before told me as she ecstatically pointed me in the right direction. I direction I suddenly sped off in until I found what I was looking for. Yet, it left me heartbroken when I found it for that elderly man was my dad...

"Dad?" I asked in disbelief as I dropped down to the weak-looking man in front of me. My hands carefully cupped his face as my sudden noise woke the others up.

"V-Vadei...?" someone then asked slowly as their nose sniffed and sniffed as they rapidly became awake.

"Mom, what's wrong with dad?" I asked without even looking at the woman who said my name. How could I ever forget that voice? There was no way I could forget that voice! Yet, despite the joy of knowing she was alive even if she was not fine... I just couldn't take my eyes off of Dad...

"W-Why are you here, Vadei? How did you get back here?" my mother asked me rather than answering my question. All the while her hands began to hug my tail as I was keeping her off my main body.

"Mom! Answer me!" I tell her with frustration as one of my fingers tried to find a pulse. A weak one ever so thankfully being found when I did so.

"One of the people here died in childbirth because there isn't enough magic here. Your dad has been trying to keep the baby alive with his own magic supply since and he has taken a turn for the worse." she explained as my dad finally responded to my presence and that of the crying child. He said nothing, however, he just stared at me before crying. The most impossible to see smile soon coming to his face as I started crying.

"Dad, hold on!" I begged of him as I tried to carefully drip feed him some of my own magic. But I wasn't skilled enough to get it to him. Nor was it actually safe enough here to do so... I couldn't even heal my own family in this damn city!

"Vadei?" was then suddenly repeated throughout the building as everyone else finally got up. But, not one of those that did was my sister...

"Mom, where's Conquei?" I then asked as thoughts of that bastard came to the forefront. It must have been him, it had to be! He took her while I was gone and learning magic in that stupid academy!

"The humans took her along with others to be personal assistants..." Mom told me with her voice shuddering towards the end. And I was willing to bet that shudder came from her disgust, not her frail form.

"Okay... Okay..." I say back to her while nodding over and over. I then quickly return my attention to Dad while trying to think of something. He was clearly too weak to move on his own and this likely extended to several others...

"Vadei, how did you get back here!?" Mom then asked again as she tried to get my attention once more.

"I got here on an airship..." I told her before being relieved by the fact I had the foresight to let the main ramp down.

"Where is it then? Why didn't you bring it here!?" Mom then asked me, a confusion I would have to settle now. I did not want to get into an argument like this so close to meeting up with her again.

"For the same reason I can't heal Dad, okay?" I told her with a notable firmness in my words before I nearly fell backwards. I wasn't even tired and I was already exhausted right now...

"How far away is it, then?" I was then asked by someone else as they made their way to the head of the group.

"Not close, but it is not far either, are there any carts around here? Something we can use to carry the sick and wounded and anything else like that?" I told them all before asking them. Looking about rapidly whenever I heard a sound. Hoping at least one of these noises was someone about to speak.

"We have hay carts." someone then finally said as they gave me a rough size of them with their hands. And, unfortunately, they were not particularly big. So, if we had too many sick, then I would not be able to save them all... And I don't think I could make the choices required if we could not...

"Alright, how many guards are there? Are there still not many? I don't remember there being much last time." I then asked them after briefly looking at my blood-covered fingers.

"A few dozen maybe?" I was then told with my body shooting up in that moment.

"Vadei, wait!" Mom called out as I left the hut they were in. A determined glare coming to my face as I began to sniff the air and block out noises. Using what magic I could to see what guards were near the way out and the path to it. And they were right, there wasn't all that many, I don't think there were even more than twenty!

And just like that, I was off, back into the fields and around the buildings, I would go. Slicing open necks with my claws or crushing throats when there wasn't enough room to swing. And as I killed more and more of the guards, the remaining ones grew suspicious as a lot of those I killed had lights. Lights that were suddenly not moving at all and their calls and hollers made one thing clear.

Time was not on my side right now and I needed to be quicker about it. So I started getting reckless and just charged them rather than sneaking around to kill them. And very soon, I was done, with the exception of a single armed guard. Thankfully, when these walls were designed it seemed...

They never took into account the possibility of a sudden massacre on this side of the wall. So this one guard had no alarm to sound. However, that didn't stop him from firing his gun wildly into the air, much to my anger. Yet, despite this sudden build-up of frustration, I did not waste time mauling his corpse.

Instead, I went out of the gate control and looked down at the waking up slaves, "GATHER WHO YOU CAN! PUT THE SICK INTO CARTS! I AM GOING TO OPEN THE GATES!" I yelled down to them before I went back in to try and open them. But, it needed a key and passcode of some kind and I knew neither. So, with a frustrated huff and paranoid twitch, I vaulted down the wall I once climbed.

"Please don't be too damaging, please..." I begged of my body before I went up against the gate itself. Right in its centre where it seemed to be the weakest as that is where it joined together. I had one more concern, though, was I strong enough? I was not showing any grand strength back in Jherikra even with my stronger magic...

So how would I know if I am strong enough to open this gate? Why couldn't have Nin been more sensible and rational before!? If he was here then I'd... No, he wasn't here, it was just me and I needed to be the one to do this!

"I've met paper bags stronger than you." I then taunted the gate with before I tried to pry it open. But, without using my magic, I could not make it budge. So I tried to let as much of it out as possible just to get it to move. Yet, even as the air around me ignited violently with magic, I did not move it at all.

And as much as I did not want to do it, it became very clear as to what I had to do... I had to just let it all out and cause the air around me to detonate. Even if it risked killing my fellow oxfuinei... Either I saved them all, or only a random assortment of some.

I would not leave them here, however! I would not!

"OPEN!" I then screamed as the air around me blew up in an arcane fireball. With the wall shuddering violently and falling apart while the gate just bent inwards. But, ever so thankfully, it had bent inwards enough that I could just bend it some more. So I did that to both sides and waved my arms in the air.

"FOLLOW ME!" I called out to my fellow as the distant city came alive as alarms suddenly went off. The headlights of vehicles also appearing as the gate by the city also opened up. And what followed was utter panic as those I was trying to save surged past me aimlessly.

"WHAT'RE YOU DOING!? DON'T ABANDON THE SICK!" that same man who refused to answer me earlier demanded of the fleeing crowds as he tried to pick up those he could. But it was clear I would either have to fight off the approaching reinforcements or grab some to save... If I did not stop those vehicles, however, the others wouldn't make it to the airship.

So I found the scent of Mom and then her actually, "Mom. guide them that way, take them towards the left, do you hear me!? The left!" I called out to her before running at the vehicles as fast as I could. Yet, even as I charged forth to save my family and people from the humans, I avoided letting my magic spill. I had a wall to stop it last time, this time I did not, however.

"VADEI, NO!" Mom screeched as she watched me charge the vehicles. Vehicles that seemed to speed up at the sight of me charging them.

"COME ON!" I yelled at the closest one before I yelped out in surprise when the vehicle slammed into me. Yet, even after being sent flying a few dozen metres by that thing. With Mom screaming for me in the background to it all. Despite all of that, I was fine...

My body was strong, I was strong! So, with newfound confidence, I grinned as I got back up to charge them once more. My magic increasingly flared off of me until I got near the vehicle again. And just like that, the area around me was consumed in another arcane fireball. If it was weaker or stronger than the last did not matter.

What mattered is that those who would chase us had now been consumed by magic. They would not be chasing us so long as they were terrified of what had just happened. And, with that done, I went back to my bewildered people with a wide smile. A cart soon in my hands as I began to lead them all out of there.

"FOLLOW ME!" I declared to them once again as I charged ahead of the tired group of escaped slaves. And there was easily a few hundred here and they were just the ones who could walk! So, well... The airship was about to get very full. However, they were not me, and they could not keep going as I could.

"How... Much... Further?" one asked as he violently started coughing before he collapsed into the gravel. His hands keeping away those who might check up on him.

"Vadei! It's alright, we'll try and get them moving a bit more, just bring our salvation to us!" Mom told me as she shoved me ahead after making me relinquish the cart. But I did not charge forth like she just urged me to. Instead, I went up to her to give her a tearful hug.

"I'll be as quick as I can, Mom."

"I know you will, my little Va." Mom told me before she gave me a kiss on the forehead. A shove from her came shortly after we broke the hug. And then off I went after spending the initial moments looking back at her. And once enough distance was made, I leapt into the sky like Nin often liked to do.

My magic propelled faster than I could run and further than I could normally jump. And towards the end, I was feeling ecstatic once again. If this is what it felt like to be Nin most of the time then I can see why he enjoys jumping around so much! To just feel the air blow through my tail like this was an experience alright!

But once I saw the airship again, my intentions returned and my focus hardened. I raced aboard once I was close enough and I bashed into things as I skid about the lifeless halls. Moving to take off my sack before realising it had been destroyed by all the magic... Unlike my leather captain's jacket which stayed intact.

"Don't worry, Mom, Dad, I'm going to show you what your little Va has become since you last saw her." I said as I started getting the airship back online. Letting the vibrations caused by its engines setting off the nearby air rumble through me before I brought her up. And just as quickly afterwards, I brought it down and made it as open as possible.

Running out onto the decking and waving at the cheering slaves who could now see their freedom! We were all so close to being rid of this city once and for all and I just needed them to get on! I just needed them all to get on and get into a safer part of the airship! So I then went back inside and started turning it all off before going back inside.

Chucking lights down to them as they slowed down in confusion, "Get on before I turn the engines back on!" I told them which made it clear to them. I didn't have time to go into a magic lecture but the oldest knew what I was on about. Those who had seen me fight knew why I had done it.

"Is that everyone!?" Mom called out to the others as she made sure everyone got on board.

"Where's the medical stuff!?" someone then cried out to which I made sure their lights guided them. And soon, Dad and that baby were in my arms and I was dashing ahead of everyone. Fully intent on giving my Dad the best spot in the medical bay. A room we hadn't really used since taking this thing as everyone could just sort of heal each other.

And, unfortunately, the facilities within seemed to assume that too... There were beds, but barely anything else. All we really had were respirators connected to the airship's power supply... Wait, of course!

"It's alright, Dad, I know how this all works, I can help you." I told him as I began to hook him up to the respirator. Making sure it was all attached before reluctantly leaving him. And as the final few got inside after climbing the rope-ladders. I turned it all back on.

Closing each door as fast as I could before then bringing us as high as we could go! And from that moment onwards, the airship was full of cheer as they all sang about their freedom. Then, I just sort of cried to myself in relief. A screen appeared before me so I could happily and tearfully start sending magic air into the sick and weak.

"Vadei..." Mom then said as she likely followed my smell to the bridge. And, like me, tears were in her eyes before she charged at me. And soon I was against her chest once again as if I was a little pup. Tears in my eyes as well as we just cried against each other.

"I did it, Mom... I saved you all..." I whimpered out to her as I broke down like the pup she was treating me as.

"Yes, you d-did. Yes, you did..." she told me as she cupped my cheeks and nodded her head up and down. But, soon my eyes went back to the screen I had used to sort out the sick. I believe I could do the same thing with everyone else... Just use the vents to apply a very fine amount of magic into all of them.

"M-Mom, hold on." I then told her as I left her grip and scurried about to sort everything out. Collapsing once more into her arms once it was all done. All that effort had finally paid off and I just couldn't stay upright anymore. And, like what I often dreamed of when I was alone, I was soon on Mom's lap as she coddled me like a pup.

"I'm so proud of you!" she let out before she began to pepper me with kisses and hugs. Embarrassing me heavily once I noticed some of the others had wandered towards the bridge. Which, admittedly, did not come as a surprise given how I was now getting a warning about the occupants... We had far too many according to the data I was getting.

"Thank the gods and goddesses you lot only really need magic at the moment..." I let out with a sigh once I got out of Mom's arms. Prodding her laughing form away whenever she tried to embarrass me some more. Thankfully, our supplies would last for the time being as all we needed was magic for this lot. Something that did concern me given how often I would likely have to turn systems off...

And with Dad hooked up to the respirators...

"Is something wrong, Vadei?" Mom then asked as she cluelessly looked about at all these screens. Screens I only understood because I got my hand stabbed by a machine. And I should probably make sure no one touches that machine as well.

"It's just, Dad, Mom. I have to keep him hooked up to a source of magic and there's just none to take in..."

"Can't you get us to a source?"

"No, Mom, there are no sources of magic, there's barely enough at the maximum altitude of this thing." I told her before throwing my arms up in frustration. My tail soon entered her loving hands shortly afterwards.

"Vadei, it's alright, you held it together getting to us, you can keep it together for a bit longer." she said to me with a soothing voice while stroking my tail delicately.

"But I am the only one who can save Conquei and I am also the only one who can pilot this airship! It's too dangerous to just leave this thing on should I leave it..." I explained to her while hiding the device that could make a new pilot. They had no way to understand why one of them was getting stabbed. They'd all panic no doubt!

"Was there no one else who came with you...? You didn't come on your own, did you, Vadei?"

"There were five others... We... One forced me along with him before he vanished and the other four were left behind." I lied as I didn't want to be shamed by my mother... I didn't want to hear a speech from her about how I abandoned others in order to save them.

"Are you able to find the other four? Get back to them so they can help you?"

"I don't know, we're so high up and we might not even be able to detect them through the storm." I explained before then bringing up a recording for her to look at. A sudden golden tint filled the room as images of the Thunder God's lightning struck about.

"What about avoiding the storm, going under it?"

"The same reason the airship was turned off when I got all of you on board. This machine becomes a flying bomb."

"Are they strong like you, Vadei? They could survive it, no?"

I looked at her and then down, they were strong indeed... And the two that weren't strong would probably get murdered onboard anyway. So yeah, maybe she was right. Maybe I could just land near those lot if I was able to find them.

"And if they don't?" I then asked, just to make sure that Mom was actually certain about this.

"I trust my little Va to get us and them through it safely." she said to me as she put her faith in me.

"So... Those are my options then. Carry on with a timer to save my sister, or go back to the others to get help..." I muttered quietly while looking back at Tobaballe. Either I risked the deaths of those that were left in the city or risked the lives of those on board.

"Vadei, Vadei! Shhh... It's going to be okay, alright? It's going to be alright." Mom said as she started hugging me once more.

"Alright!? I've just broken you lot out by attacking the very city Conquei is in! If I leave now then I might risk Dad's life and the others hooked up in the medical bay!" I cried out as I left her arms so I had the room to move. To express this stress through action as well as words.

"Which is why you should find the others, get their help." Mom said while she gestured for me to calm down. My tail reflexively moved away from her as I was so on edge at the moment. I wanted to get this stress out, I didn't want to make the choice...

"No, I don't want to be responsible for either of their deaths! I WON'T!" I screamed at her before falling to the floor to bawl.

"Vadei, I understand a lot is on your shoulders right now, but you don't need to keep it all to yourself. Go, find your friends, Dad won't just die on you because you have to turn the airship off for a little bit. He's a tough old hound, he has lasted weeks upon weeks before you came." she said to me as if she was singing. A gentle soft hand, went back and forth by my ears until I stopped shuddering and crying.

"Okay..." I said slowly before I got back up and went back to my chair. A slow start to it all before I then finally got us moving again. And with every moment we moved, I also looked at the visual feed I was getting from the medical bay. The airship power input and battery supply were also to my left.

"No, put these away." Mom ordered as she tried to wave the floating screens away. Something she seemed to be taking a while doing even if she was doing nothing. I assume this had something to do with her lack of magic. Her body was desperate for what it could get and she thought she could scoop it up.

"I need them." I contested as I just watched her continue to fail to dismiss the screens.

"I might be weak at the moment, Vadei, but I am not blind. Stop worrying about Dad and focus on getting this airship to where it needs to be. And, if possible, spend some time with me." she explained before she smiled at me. Her brittle claws gently pinching my cheeks as she annoyed me into submission.

"Fine, fine! I'll give you and everyone else a tour!" I complained before making sure all the doors to the outside were firmly locked. I didn't want any issues coming about from one of them getting outside.

"Just me is fine enough." Mom said with a cheerful tune and spring in her step as she wrapped herself around me. A blush came just as quickly and I was soon awkwardly walking about trying to direct her.

"Well, for starters, this room is closed because we got attacked by a salamander and we were never able to get it fixed."

"Alright, and what about all this, then?" Mom asked as we went past the damaged room and moved closer to Einervaene's makeshift workshop. Something she immediately took an interest in when the door opened up. Revealing both Einervaene's myriad of drawings and Nin's clothes.

"This is where one of them spent their free time."

"Well, she's quite talented, then."

I frowned, "How do you know she is, well, a she?"

"Most of these are all designed around a single body, a woman's body." she teased before she then found a design with me on it. Something she shoved in my face while laughing as I grew embarrassed.

"Yes, it's me, get over it..." I mumbled before I pouted at her. Trying to get her to move on to a new room but she just kept finding more and more designs with me on it. And with each one that came, I grew redder as more people started to take notice. I could hear their laughter and their joy and Mom just kept going at it.

"But they're so cute! I mean, look at this one! It's like you're all small again and dressed up for the cold!" she said as she started comparing me to a drawing where I had a fluffy coat on.

"I will murder you, Einervaene..." I muttered under my breath before leaving the room in frustration. Using this moment to see if I could force Mom to move on into a different part of the ship by going elsewhere. Which, thankfully, I was able to, but, I also could not get her to let go of those damn drawings...

"Aw, this one is really cute too! I can't wait to meet this Einervaene and talk to her about making some of these!" Mom squealed out as she tried to make her gathered up pile neater.