Stillwater says "Storage space for one. I am guessing the bottom deck is meant for storage?"
"Yes."
Stillwater says "Including food storage? Or are you planning just to feed everyone using your pouch? If not, we would also need a place where we can cook food."
"Uh, I didn't think of that!"
Silverstream says "Even if it is not for food storage, we are going to have to leave some things behind."
"Alright, what else?"
Silverstream says "From what I could see there is barely enough space for our current numbers. If you still plan to try and rescue more elves along the way it will get cramped fast. Also, does it have to be so dark inside the ship?"
"Um, I didn't think about windows."
Stillwater says "If that is an issue, we can make lamps or something similar."
"No, I will think of something. Any other issues?"
Silverstream says "Just one. If you do plan to sneak into human cities, the ship will be a problem. It is purple with silver sails, it will be visible at quite a distance. Meaning we will have to keep the ship far away from the city in order not to alert them."
"Yeah, I didn't think of that either. Honestly, I was so worried about whether or not it would float that I didn't think of other things."
Stillwater says "Does that mean these issues are something you can do something about?"
"Yeah, for now continue packing but don't start loading yet."
Stillwater says "Alright."
Silverstream says "Sorry if we added to your problems."
"No, it's fine. These are things I should have thought of!"
So, three problems I need to work out solutions for, as I start thinking Stillwater and Silverstream leave. The hardest problem to solve will be the space issue, it isn't like I can make the ship bigger. It is already big enough that if it was made normally it would likely snap in half.
That means my best bet is going to be to make it bigger on the inside using magic. However, I have not had any luck playing with spacial magic enchantments. Hence why Brightfire still doesn't have the pouch of holding I promised to make for her.
However, that is still the best option I have, so I need to learn more about spacial magic. I have studied both my pouches, but I lack the knowledge to properly understand them. So, I need to increase my knowledge, so I create and enter a soulscape.
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"Core, Nived, Roddick, Belliza, and Zamart, I invite you to my soulscape!"
Core and Nived show up quickly, but this isn't the first time so they know what it is. Roddick, Belliza, and Zamart take a bit longer since it is their first time. Having the window pop up asking if they wanted to accept probably scared the crap out of them.
Once all three have entered I give them the normal introduction to soulscapes speech. Then I chat with Core and Nived while the three mages play around with the soulscape. Controlling the environment with just their imaginations entertains them for a good hour or so.
Zamart says "This place is amazing! Thank you for inviting me, Ash!"
Roddick says "Yes, thank you for inviting us."
Belliza says "So, what did you need from all of us?"
"I want to talk about spacial magic. Specifically the magic involved in making bags of holding. However, I don't want the specific spells but the knowledge behind them."
Nived says "Wouldn't Yui be the best one to ask?"
"Probably, but unfortunately you must have a soul to enter a soulscape. I tried inviting her in the past but it didn't work."
Nived says "Oh, that makes sense. Well, I will happily tell you everything I know!"
Core says "Everything the elves know I will of course share with you!"
Roddick, Belliza, and Zamart also agree and a long conversation starts. The conversation includes some arguments since the different types of magic have different views. Even Nived, coming from within the gate, has a different view than the three mages.
Between the three different magic systems I gain a lot of knowledge about manipulating space. The more I learn the more it looks like the idea for the ship will work, but there is still a problem. To make the ship bigger on the inside will take a large amount of enchantments.
That means I will either need to remove some of the enchantments I placed or increase the mana the ship can hold. There is also another concern, I will need to protect the ship against disenchantment. Otherwise, a strong disenchantment spell could destroy the ship instantly.
However that ends up working out, I really enjoy conversing with everyone about magic. I now have a pretty solid idea about how I am going to enchant the ship to make it bigger on the inside. That is part of the problem solved, now I just need to figure out room for the enchantments.
The idea I have for that actually came from putting the name on the ship. The way I was able to enchant the writing could solve the problem, but I need to think about it more. Of course, I am not thinking of just writing on the inside of the hull, but something along those lines.
After the conversation on magic is done, I update everyone on my progress. Things on their end are pretty quiet, but they have some entertaining stories to share. We spend a couple of hours just chatting about various things before we say our goodbyes.
After ending the soulscape I have lunch with Nala and Albion while I think more on the problems. Creating the space for windows is easy enough, the problem is filling them. While I know mostly how glass is made, that doesn't mean I can actually make it.
Also, normal glass might not be strong enough, especially if the ship is attacked. However, I have an idea that could work for both problems, but it will be dangerous. The idea is to use the diamonds I saw in the lava tube, if I can retrieve them that is.
Normally, diamonds aren't clear enough to use as windows, but I can fix that with magic. I am also thinking that if I carve runes into the ship and then fill them with diamond dust, that should give me more mana to work with. It is just a theory right now, but I am fairly sure that it will work, if I can get the diamonds.
I really wish I had just stopped to collect them when I found them, but I was rushing. Now it is too late and I will have to face the danger of the undead to get them. Then again, I was always planning to go take another look before leaving the area.