For an entire day and night, we continued underwater, beset by demon-squids on all sides. When it was late in the morning of the next day, I sat wearily on the prow, looking ahead for the next batch of demon-squids. Redtooth was swimming beside the bubble. The Manytooth had found us in the middle of the night, somehow having managed to get past the demons. He was larger than before, almost half again as long, and from the moment he arrived, most of the demon-squids had stayed away.
My thoughts were wandering as I tried to stay awake. I had been awake for two days and nights, and the only thing I could think of was sleep. Laurel was sleeping in the cabin now. With Redtooth here, we decided to take the risk, but someone had to be awake as a lookout. Besides, every time I had slept while not connected to Rathica, Desero had found me. I didn't feel like another encounter.
The ship below me angled up, the prow now pointing towards the surface in a steep descent.
"Lark?"
We are closing in on the shore, master!
I blinked, and the prospect of getting out of the sea and back to dry land pushed back my desire to lie down and sleep.
Laurel came from the cabin, yawning and stretching. Her wounds had all healed, while mine were scabbed and itchy. Still, I had decided it was too dangerous to go down and find myself some plants in order to heal.
Ahead, the water noticeably turned a brighter red, yet I still didn't see any movement. My weariness suddenly drained away, leaving me blinking and clear-minded. It felt like something connected to my mind, releasing days of pent-up tension.
That must be my connection with Rathica!
I pondered for a moment to call her immediately but decided against it. Rathica needed to get that tree ready, and if I felt the restored connection, so must she. She would contact me when she could.
"Are there any of those demons close to the coast?" I asked Laurel.
"There should be…" she muttered as she stretched some more.
Together we scanned the water above us until the glare became so bright it was painful to look at. I squinted when the ship shuddered and shook as it shot out of the water. The barrier popped away like a soap bubble, the disgusting gass that surrounded us blown away.
A rush of clean, salty air, wet with ruddy seafoam, sprayed across us, and I breathed in deeply, feeling my lungs expand as they hadn't for days, with fresh air.
Master, there's something massive to the left, Lark said, sounding startled.
Both Laurel and I whirled around to find a dark swath of land on the horizon. It went for as far as I could see to each side, and looking at it for a few seconds, I began making out details. Mountains and forests.
"Land," Laurel exclaimed before letting out a loud unladylike whoop.
I stared at her in surprise, and then a grin spread across my face to mirror that on hers.
"Lark, get us over there!" I shouted. "What direction is Orlion?"
Laurel's eyes glazed over for a moment, then she pointed to the right. "That way. We are a day or two away."
Still two days? I thought, reminding myself that I was on a clock. I pointed towards the land to the left. "That way, Lark!"
A shimmering sail appeared on the mast with a massive burst of light, and Lark jumped forward as the strong wind filled it to the brim.
"Don't you need someone to help with that sail?" I asked, remembering how the Foul Mouth had needed several casters to help it.
I am far too powerful to need help, Lark stated. Then his voice turned sulky. But I'm not sure why you are so enthusiastic about some piece of dry dirt. You can't even swim on it.
I didn't answer him. Instead, I moved to the gunwale and enjoyed the sway and bob of the ship.
"You should get some sleep!" Laurel said, and I nodded. Although I didn't feel as weary and tired anymore, I did feel like sleeping. Moving towards the cabin, I took a quick look beside the ship to find Redtooth was swimming circles around us, sticking his head out of the water every once in a while. I saw confusion and some fear in his eyes.
He can't stay with us for much longer, I thought with a sigh. Seeing Redtooth like this somehow reminded me of Scar and Smell. Although I didn't feel as much of a connection to him, knowing he would be leaving soon made me slightly sad.
Shaking my head, I moved into the cabin that was just large enough for a bed in one corner and a table at another. Both were attached to the deck and seemed made from the same material as the rest of Lark. There was a small glassless window in the back through which clean air blew in the room.
Lying down on the wooden planks, I hoped the next time I slept would be on an actual mattress.
--
When I woke, the room was dark, and I could see just a red glimmer through the window. I must have fallen asleep, but I couldn't recall when it happened.
Stretching myself, all four arms up and out, I felt good. No, better, really. I felt great. I knew I had lost some time in the sea, time that I couldn't truly afford, but it didn't feel unfixable. I just needed to find the Nyrads so Ulderion would give me more seeds, bring them to Rathica so she could grow them, and then...
My thoughts petered off as I tried to remember what I should do then. Rathica had said I didn't have to worry about getting the others here, but how were they coming here? I vaguely remembered Rathica telling me something about it. Was this one of those things she made me forget as a safeguard? Digging through my mind, I thought back on the things that had happened over the last week. I began spotting voids, places I couldn't precisely recall what had happened. When I got to the battle with the Guidar that had taken over Ulderion, I remembered the term the deity had used. Mindscape. The sensation of being in his mindscape wasn't the only time I felt something similar, and I recalled the experience in my own mind after Sandra's body was eaten. The image made me shiver, and I pushed it away, focusing on the odd sensation of staring through an image-covered glass pane that had come after.
Mindscape. Mindscape, I thought, repeating the words a few more times. Something itched in the back of my mind. A memory from weeks before, and I tried to recall where I had heard it before.
Suddenly an image of a thin book came to mind, and I shot up. The small book Expanding One's Knowledge! When I had found it, it had been hidden between two others, and one was called The Mysteries of the Mindscape!
Recalling the Library, I lay back down as I began pondering. I couldn't be sure I wouldn't have another episode with Desero and whether those happened in a mindscape. My mindscape? I needed more information. I had thought before to ask Rathica to send me back there. I needed some ranged spells to relieve some of the trouble I was having during battles, but now there was another reason.
I didn't want to bother her, but we were on a ship now, more mobile than I had been in a while. If there was another door nearby...
Rathica, are you busy?
It was quiet for a while, and I was about to ask again when a soft crackling whisper filled my mind. It sounded like my Nana's old radio that she used to play me music as a little kid. Canned singing, she had called it.
Est, I can't come now! I'm still in your old world, and between the tree and this, I'm stretched thin.
The crackling continued, like a connection that was still open. Hearing she was still on earth, I suddenly felt a longing I had never felt. A longing for a simpler time where all I needed was work to pay for food, rent, and game time. A time where I could take a maglev train to see Nana. The feeling was so strong, I shuddered. I hadn't seen Nana since moving in with Sandra. I'd never really thought or worried about her before. Why now?
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Alright! Did you find Nana? I asked.
No, this world is a genuine mess right now. The first pods are ready. If I find her, I'll take her back with me! Now unless there's something important?
I blinked and hesitated before deciding it was important.
Is there an entrance to the Library close to Orlion?
Orlion… Yes, there is a temple of Flowheart there! Est, I need to go. I'll find you when I get back!
The connection terminated with a soft hiss and crackle, and I stared up at the ceiling without seeing it. I hoped Rathica would find Nana, although I wasn't sure how she would cope with being taken to another world and given another body. My mind was so abuzz that I couldn't stay lying down anymore. Pushing myself up, I stretched and moved out of the cabin.
I had thought it would be evening, but as I looked, I saw the red was coming from the sunrise. I had slept the whole day and through the night!
Laurel stood at the prow, looking across the water. She waved at me without turning around.
"Finally awake? You sleep like a charbull! I was going to wake you again in a minute! We are going to reach Orlion soon!" she pointed ahead and to the left.
Following her direction, I saw a shimmering set of lights far off in the distance. From what I could see, they led up a mountain slope, but it was hard to see from this distance.
"No sign of any demons?" I asked, taking a quick look around the red sea.
"There were a few, but that pet Manytooth of yours made short work of them. I think you could earn a lot by getting more of them and selling or renting them to the merchants."
I looked around for Redtooth but didn't spot him anywhere.
"He should be back any minute, don't worry," Laurel said.
Wondering what had been going on while I slept, I leaned on the railing beside Laurel, looking at the city far in the distance.
"Have you been here before?" I asked.
"No. I've only read about Orlion. I was going now to register at the Mercenary Alliance headquarters. Every new mercenary is required to do that in-person within a year of joining a mercenary squad, both so the Alliance contract can be drawn and to sign up with the squad officially."
Laurel sighed.
"I'll need to find another squad now, which isn't easy."
I thought about her words for a bit before replying. "Why does everyone register?" There had to be some kind of benefit to it.
"Protection," she said as if that answered everything.
"From?"
She turned to me in surprise, then seemed to remember I wasn't from this world.
"From the different groups of followers of the main three deities."
"The main three?" I frowned in confusion.
“Preyatar, Cinderage and Lischen. Those three have the largest following, by far, and they are constantly looking to expand."
Wait, what about Flowheart and the Stone, I thought, feeling confused. I tried to remember what I knew about the different deities, most based on what Rathica and Bastian had told me. It seemed that the three main deities were suppressing the others somehow.
"Could you tell me some more about this? What about Flowheart and the other deities?"
"Sure. We have time aplenty. So, except for the big three, all of the other deities are relatively young. According to the history books in Gramanite, there used to be dozens, if not hundreds of deities, but something happened roughly three thousand years ago. We call it the great upheaval now, and it marks the start of the current calendar. When the dust settled, only those three remained."
I listened quietly, wondering if the great upheaval was when the Guidar were beaten and Rathica's first form had been forgotten, causing her to revert to the egg form I had found her as.
"After a while, new deities began appearing, but they usually didn't last long. Nobody knows why this is happening, but they usually disappear after a few years. Only a handful managed to survive up to now, and thrive. Those being Flowheart, the Stone, Percussion, and Fin'r, although that last one only has Goblin followers."
I snorted, remembering what Rathica had told me and her recent scar. "Nobody thinks those big three are responsible for the disappearing deities?"
Laurel sucked in a breath and looked around. Then she turned to me, a serious look on her face. "If they do, they don't say it. Unless you are a Prime, it's dangerous to speak your mind."
"So, the Mercenary Alliance somehow protects its members from the big three?" I asked.
"Yes. Nobody knows how, if that's what you're wondering. Rumors aplenty, of course, but none that have ever been confirmed."
Laurel fell silent, and we stood beside each other, looking out across the waves.
Hours later, the city had begun coming into view, and I was staring at it, marveling at the scope of it.
Orlion was built across a small, lonely mountain that stood half in the sea. A constant barrage of waves had hollowed out an inlet, leaving a sharp-pointed u shape. Thousands of stone and wood buildings sprawled across the two gentle slopes, tightly packed and ending when the mountain became too steep to build upon. Small flocks of birds flew above them, landing on the many rickety roofs.
The middle section that connected the two slopes was a steep cliff that reminded me of a side-scrolling game filled with platforms, stone paths, and ramps. Halfway up the massive stone-face, and dominating the middle part of the city was a platform with a dark tunnel that appeared to lead deeper into the mountain. A steady stream of wagons and figures moved out and in of the tunel. Two wide ledges led to each of the sides, branching off into smaller paths. Wagons were moving up and down, and I saw people pushing them, tiny figures against the massive backdrop.
Windows and doors were chopped into the side of the cliff, lights burning behind many. I whistled as I imagined the view those must give, before turning my gaze to the harbor area.
Stretching out far enough into the outlet for hundreds of ships to be attached to the sides were three layers of docks, waves constantly crashing into or over them. Long gleaming cables attached the ships to them. The bottom dock was almost fully submerged, massive chains leading down into the water from the top dock layer to rings set into it. More chains were leading to the layer above. Based on the ships' size, I'd say that the middle dock was six meters or so above the first, while the last was double that.
As we approached, the scope of the mountain slowly got more real, as I had to crane my leg to look up. The docks too, especially the top one, were massive. Most of the vessels attached to it were big merchant ships, the smallest twice as long as Lark. Bird cries mixed with a constant thudding from the waves as they slammed across the lowest dock, which was now completely submerged.
"Orlion's docks," Laurel whispered. "Those are famous, you know? The top one is called the sky docks, and the lowest one the midnight docks."
Seeing ships sailing in ahead of us, I scanned around and saw a dozen ships leaving or entering Orlion's docks. A busy port, I thought.
"And the middle one?" I asked.
"The docks of death," Laurel said.
"That sounds fantastic… and why?"
"Because if you attempt to dock to them without knowing what you're doing, your ship will be crushed by the waves. It happens a few times each year. It's seen as a right of passage by new captains to dock at them."
We will dock there, Master, Lark shouted in my mind, and the ship sped up again.
"Lark, I know you're really great, but how about we just wait for the sky dock?" I hastily said while Laurel began shaking her head in horror.
No need, master! Lark replied, sounding utterly sure of himself.
I caught Laurel looking at the water, and for a moment, I thought she was going to jump. Then she glanced at me, grit her teeth, and clenched onto the railing.
This close to the harbor, the bumpy sea became rough, but Lark cut through the waves with ease.
Cries of rage came from a small sloop that sat attached to one of a dozen small docks inside the harbor. I hadn't noticed them before due to the massive main docks. A tall woman with a bundled-up knot of grey hair shouted at us, waving for us to go back. The sloop was hauling in it's anchor at record speed while the sails were readied.
"Why am I getting a bad feeling…" I muttered, looking at the middle dock that was still five meters above water level. The closer we got, the taller the waves seemed, and the more deafening the sound. Chains hung from them, indicating empty spots for ships to dock.
"Perhaps because we are going to die?" Laurel shouted before she continued in a volume I barely managed to hear. "Survive being marooned at sea, only to die when we reach the harbor? By Lischen's saggy tits, my sister will laugh herself to death!"
I didn't reply, my full attention on the metal chain we were rushing towards. It had a clamp dangling from the end, and looking at the ships bobbing in the distance, I guessed it was meant to go around the anchor chain. The water below it was a churning mass of ruddy foam and waves slamming in the now invisible lower dock. I looked around and saw the anchor chain at the prow of Lark and began maneuvering there.
"Shit, how are we going to get that chain wrapped around?" I shouted before a larger issue dawned on me.
"Lark! Don't hit the lower dock with your keel!" I shouted in panic.
Don't worry so much. I know what I'm doing! Lark hissed, and I barely noticed that he had omitted to call me master this time.
Fifty meters from the chain, the ship was shaking and bumping so much I had to hold myself on the railing so I wouldn't be hurled into the surf.
Twenty meters away, and I saw Lark was moving perpendicularly to the lower dock that I could only see from the odd angle in the churning water. Somehow, the ship was managing to keep its place at the same time, and I realized the hull was bending and weaving as it had done below the sea. Although I wasn't in panic, even Rathica's connection couldn't entirely remove my heart-rate rising and my hands going clammy.
Master, get ready to grab that metal chain!
Holding myself steady with two hands, I kept the gently swaying chain in view. It was rising with the sea level, always a few meters above it. Someone must be reeling it in from the sky dock. Taking a quick look at the anchor chain beside me, I waited until the flailing chain would pass over me. Lark was somehow managing to go in a straight line, and it should be within arms' reach.
Right when the chain came close, Lark bobbed up, the chain lashing at my head. I barely dodged the knock to my skull, but managed to grab it with two free hands. I felt it resist, tugging and attempting to draw me with it. My muscles tensed as I held onto the railing while trying to drag the docking chain to the anchor chain. It felt like I was trying to lift Lark along with it.
Right when I thought I would give out, a wave lifted us another meter, and I quickly bent and wrapped the cable around the anchor chain. Before I could clamp it shut, the ship dropped, trying to drag the chain from my grip. I held it with three hands, my feet against the block that held the anchor chain, pulling with all my strength.
Hurry master!
"Hurry my ass!" I screamed. With a roar, I released my last hold on the railing and used all my hands and strength I had to pull the chain. I got a little slack, and suddenly three hands grabbed the end of the chain, clicking the clasp closed.
"Let go!" Laurel yelled.
Releasing my raw hands from the chain, I pushed myself away and fell on my back on the glistening wet deck. Lark was still bobbing up and down in the waves, but the chain was keeping us in a single spot now.
See, master? Easy!
I groaned and closed my eyes, wishing I could throttle the living ship.