The harmonious echo of gentle streaming water spread throughout the round and spacious cavern, reflecting from its smooth walls. A massive, deep blue Amber stalactite descended from the ceiling near its centre. It had long since melded with its stalagmite mirror rising out of the crystal blue lake, forming a beautiful pillar of a shimmering smooth and iridescent surface. Water flowed along its side, crystal blue and vibrant as was the calm pool it filled. A multitude of smaller crystalline stalactites reached down from the ceiling, drops of water rippling the surface of the lake rhythmically. Numerous Amber Crystals grew along the shore of the lake, some even rising directly out of the shallow parts of the water. They shimmered with the same iridescent glow that differentiate them from the numerous other Amber Crystals that grew throughout this hollow.

A river of blue water flowed off from the lake, drawing a prominent line through the cave before vanishing within a quickly thinning funnel towards the cavern’s edge. The distant sound of rapid currents was muffled to hear if you stood close enough.

This wondrous sight had formed directly beneath the Crystal Well, the arcanely charged waters seeping through the porous stone that shaped the large grail formation holding the Primal Glyph of Water. Though near inaccessible, this scenery of nature’s beauty hadn’t remained undiscovered. Sadly, Leora and her team had no idea.

Flizz perched at the side of the enchanting lake, letting her bare feet splash playfully through the sparkling water. An insidious amused twinkle shone within her eyes as she glanced at the ceiling, flickering violet for but a second.

Haggard’s head rested within her lap, still out of it from the clash between baleful energies and Graam’s powerful Arc. It didn’t help that he had never channeled such power before.

“You did quite well.” Flizz hummed cheerfully, gently stroking her darling, unconscious tiger wolf’s head. He would have rudely protested had he been awake. Haggard would have appreciated, though, to know that she hadn’t given into her desire to cradle him against her bust. No matter how appealing that would’ve sounded to the teenager.

Ah, too bad that she hadn’t been able to go full out on Graam. Then she could have grabbed that tasteful morsel as well! But things had still gone quite successful in her opinion.

“Mmh~ I can taste their hate and despair.” She giggled sickly sweet, a grin of sharp teeth stretching her face wide. Most of these dark feelings were naturally directed towards Haggard, for he was the source of their pain. But her little theatric battle with Graam had her nicely intertwined with his deeds, baleful energies fuelling her own well as well.

Drawing her fingers across the shimmering surface of blue, only disturbed by gentle ripples around her feet, she pulled them upwards with a large droplet pulled along. Water, imbued with power. It bend to her touch, its Amber pressing against her own as she took hold of it. Flipping her hand with fingers spread open, the water floated above he palm. Then she turned towards Haggard and a mischievous grin sparkled within her citrine eyes.

“Agh! Pfuah…!” Sputtering and coughing, Haggard shot startled upwards as a torrent of water cascaded onto his face. The invigorating energies within it had quickly revitalised him in body if not mind.

“Wha…? Where am I?!” Haggard gasped, spitting out water and shaking it out of his hair and ears. His eyes narrowed at the unfamiliar and near alien surrounding before turning cool when he noticed Flizz sitting behind him.

“Just a small stopover to help you get back up.” Flizz answered him casually, pulling her feet out of the water with a wide stretch. Her slender form curved with admirable flexibility before quickly relaxing again as she lazily floated back in the air.

“Right… I remember. That Abyss damned fish knocked me out…” Haggard glared through anger clenched teeth, ignoring a pouting Flizz. His memories of those few minutes were distorted and fuzzy but the image of that glowing, crackling fist slamming into his power was burned clear and certain into his mind. The desperate urge to feel it again welled up within him. His Power. Crimson bolts danced over his hands at his call, a flickering Halo began to manifest behind his back and…

“Hey! Ow…! What was that about…?!” Haggard cursed with pain-teared eyes. Wincing he rubbed his stinging nose after Flizz had flicked him sharply over the tip, dispersing the crackling buildup.

“No. Bad Haggard. No playing around with more power! Not now at least~” She scolded him like a misbehaving a pet, giving him another flick against the forehead. Which was still annoying, infuriating but also much less painful. Haggard bit back the urge to shower with angry insults, keeping to just glowering heatedly at her with smouldering gaze.

“Hehe, good boy~” Flizz grinned widely and he rolled his eyes annoyed.

“Not your fucking pet.” Haggard groused angrily, arms crossed. “So, where did you bring me? Don’t see Dane or Invit around…”

His gaze turned from a glare into an appraising gaze, noting the strangely coloured Amber crystals all around. And especially the lake and its shimmering, crystalline pillar stood out to him.

“Oh, they can wait.” Flizz dismissed his two minions with disregard that he easily accepted. “And we’re right under the very heart of Dampfstadt! Which you’re going to help me steal~”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Even if he wouldn’t do more than assist her it would still certainly be a nice little addition to his guaranteed audition. Not that he would need it with that wonderful ability of his.

“Wat.” Haggard uttered blankly at her declaration, pulling his bleeding finger away from one of the nearby crystalline growth. They were startlingly sharp and now bloodied.

“Yup! Now, let’s get this fixed and let me tell you exactly what the plan is.” Flizz smirked widely, pulling another droplet out of the pool and massaged it into his cut. The water quickly healed it, leaving not even a scar behind.

———

There was a good reason why guarding the opened Steam Pipes leading to the Heart of Dampfstadt hadn’t been considered an option by the City Guard. Not just because they didn’t know the exact Steam Ways affected but also because of how scattered and numerous the entrances were were. Nearly every larger facility had an entry point, not to mention the countless maintenance hatches found all over the city.

Outside of big event such as the Lebensfest, the steam shortages were scattered randomly across the city and far too few and often short to garner any attention. And during the Lebensfest it was just too difficult to differentiate minor shortages from a fully depleted pipe in time.

For the team of the Babylon’s Garden, however, the path through the Steam Pipes was perfectly clear thanks to Qilby’s Arc having been able to analyse the entire Steam Ways with the help of the stolen research.

It was already past midnight as the team of five, lead by Cyra and Lyca, flitted through the schism that separated the Underground from the southwest Steam Vents where it connected to the sewer system. Their entry point into the Steam Ways was a maintenance hatch located inside an abandoned warehouse near the border to the city’s primary trading harbour on the southwest coast. They had been able to get the blueprints thanks to James excusing it as a potential purchase for his business, he just needed to take a look at the blueprints first.

The journey was relatively far but the team of choice had mobility and speed to spare.

Kassiela, call her Kass, was the primary reason for their speedy movement, the sleek squirrel jerboa was already built to leap at high speeds which was only enhanced with the help of her Arc. Flow Balls. Spheres formed out of Amber that could be attached to anywhere, she was able to use them as bounce pads, rollerblades, suction cups and there were many more, other functions as well. She had fitted all four of her team members with at least a pair of Flow Skates.

She was also the heavy weapon expert of the team.

The massive canon on her back looked ridiculous on such a small and lithe figure, making her look smaller than she actually was. But don’t let that fool you, she was an ace with her weapon of choice. And she certainly enjoyed the dumbfounded looks when she swung it around with ease, making it look light as a feather. Her smug smirk often lasted hours afterwards.

“We’re here.” Lyca noted unnecessarily as they came to a halt beneath the sewer cover exiting the schism into the outer rim of the city.

Located within a back alley, nobody was around when Max poked his head through and quickly climbed to the roofs. The harbour formed a shallow slope leading away from the central city, giving Max a perfect vantage point to take stock of the current situation near and around the warehouse of their choice.

Max was the analyst of the team and a leopard Gaian. He was clad in an overall that would have made Myra jealous with the amount of tools and spare pockets fit to it without compromising his movements. Glancing though his binoculars, his vision was filled with the glow of ambient Amber. Bright glowing shapes moved through the gentle gleam, other Gaian and various beasts that called this place their home. No large grouping around the warehouse or suspicious figures nearby, it was safe.

“Nobody there, we can move.” He spoke up as the others had gathered behind him.

“I will take reconnaissance.” A voice startled him from the side, making him nearly jump to his feet. Even Kass was spooked for a second but they both held back from… wait, what happened again? Before they could forget again, Milim flitted forwards into their view.

“Abyss damnit… I will never get used to this…” Kass hissed under her breath.

Clad in a fully purple full-bodysuit, Milim was their stealth and infiltration specialist. A sparrow bee, he was both small and light, allowing his movement to be naturally more silent. Thanks to Lyca’s Arc suffusing his outfit he was basically invisible, nearly impossible to notice unless he wanted to be and slipped right out of your mind as soon as he wanted to.

Even after having been informed about this ability and trained alongside him, Kass and Max still had difficulties with this combo. Difficulties that were unlikely to actually get better simply because of how Lyca’s Purple Change worked. Trained reflexes were a bit of hassle in this case. At least they weren’t shooting Milim anymore.

Crya and Lyca were entirely unaffected by this ability, however, and their calm actually helped centre the two in regards to Milim’s fleeting existence. And aggravated them with the amused twinkling in their eyes!

Five minutes later Milim returned and gave the all-clear. It hadn’t been necessary but a good warm up for the team before the actual main part of the operation.

Slinking through the streets of the harbour’s back they dropped into the empty hall of the warehouse through an open window near the top. Max easily bypassed the Amber Matrix Lock sealing the gate leading into the basement. The Steam Pipe here had been responsible for fuelling the now inactive systems of the warehouse, mostly just heating, lights and such, none of which had been used in years. Which was why this particular maintenance hatch had been left ignored in favour of another.

“Cold, the passage is open.” Max declared after a quick check of the temperature before opening the hatch. “Not surprising, we will probably have to wait near the intersection until morning however.”

“Everything’s as expected so far…” Crya mused.

“Let’s hope it stays that way.” Kass nodded with a small shrug, leaping ahead into the opening in the Steam Pipe with a grin.

Lyca flitted right after, followed by Crya and Milim.

Max stayed behind for a minute, doing some quick work on the hatch before jumping in as well. There was just enough room for him to crawl relatively comfortably through.

“Where you at, Max?!” Kass called out to him already quite the distance ahead, her voice echoing loudly through the piping.

“On my way!” Max called back, suppressing a groaned sigh at her teasing tone. His grumpy frown following Kass’ impatience made way to a satisfied smirk as the hatch fell close behind him, his small wires sealing the hatch up as if nobody had ever opened it in the first place and then flitted back into his pouch.

Hurrying after the others, Max readied himself for the long and boring part ahead. They would be lucky if they managed to reach the Heart of Dampfstadt before late morning to midday after the Lebensfest had finally gone into full effect.