True that our mount-familiars fly well and strong, but seeing as we will be traveling for an undetermined amount of time. They figure it would be better to have a boat ready and not need it than vice versa—can't say no to that. Unfortunately, not a single one of us happens to be a shipbuilder, not even a carpenter nor any type of crafter.

"A boat will float when it, and its content is lighter than the water around it." Roy insists, "I've had lessons on this you know. So we need to get some wooden boards and shape them into a boat. The space inside of it that sinks into the water but is airtight and still contains air will make it float."

"That makes sense," I say. "But do we have to make a boat, why not something simpler, a raft?"

"Fine, anything will do. As long as we make a good one, now we need light wood and strong rope." Roy replies, observing the beach we're on. "No wood around as far as I can see."

"It seems so, I'll be back!" I tell him and jump up, casting Micro Flight and jetting off to a nearby forest. Cutting 5 probably-different wood species; that are about 1 meter in diameter using a jagged-edged sword I conjured with Conjure Weapons, before returning back to camp. "How about these?"

Everyone gathers to observe the 5 meters long logs. "These white and red ones are Pines, this brown one oak, the last two colorful ones are gum trees." Diana said out of nowhere, she is kinda our resident plant expert. "Pines should be lighter, I think. while oaks and Gum should be about the same weight. But, things might be different now."

"Alrighty, thank you for the information Dianty. So—"

Roy interrupts me with an enthusiastic yell. "Awlright! Leave it to me!" He approaches and grabs a hold of one of the pine log on the ground and hoists it up upon his shoulders. "First, making wooden boards!"

Boards? I thought we were making a raft. He left but quickly returned and requested me for a saw, which we happen to have contained within our HoverBus as a part of our supplies. With the tool on hand, he rushes off to get started. The girls are working together on the last pine with our last saw. I shrug and store the remaining three logs into my repository. I could go help Roy, but decided against it. There must be a magical solution to this problem.

As it turns out; of course there is, and one so simple. I was sitting on a rock and frustratedly staring at the oak I had harvested, thinking how nice it would be if I could simply shape them like this stone I'm on or the earth under my feet—and just figured. Ah well, why not give it a try. Guess what? It worked!

** DING **

Novice Spell learnt Model Wood

Spell mastery rank up, Model Wood Early > Basic

It was easy after that. I infused the Whole 5 meters long log with my mana and shaped it into the most standard boat-shaped boat I know; about 4.5 meters long and at most 3 meters wide, with a height of about 2.5 meters along the middle. I made sure to isolate air on the bottom reversed triangular area of the boat to make sure it always has air to float and to give us a flat area to stand on, the barks I line along its outer surface. Done, I store it into my repository and withdraw it back onto the sea. It looks like it works fine. So I shape the other two logs into a similar form, loosely stacked and stored all three before going off to find the others… I had made mine secretly and out of view.

"How's it going?" I ask Roy.

"Great! He says with a grin, "just need to finish up these boards before I nail them up into a boat." He replies. Nails were also included in the supplies.

"Nice! Wanna see the one I made?" I ask with a mischievous grin, my armor is currently in its chestplate-only form.

His head snaps up to look at me with a squint. "Say that again. My old ears are playing tricks on me."

"Wanna see the boats I made?" My grin persists.

"I have a feeling I'll be cursing at you soon," he said roughly… naturally, I grin wider.

We approach the three girls and I get to show off my work. The girls approve while Roy mentions something about; stupid cheating magician wasting an old man's time and lacking respect. I gathered the last two pines and joined them together into a rectangular piece of wood about 1.25 x 1.25 meters, and 5 meters long for easier storing. All prepared, we fly on our trusty and adorable mounts in the direction of Kirana's pointing.

We flew non-stop till noon before deciding to stop for lunch and to allow our familiars to rest. So I unsummon Gon and cast Micro Flight, before landing on a newly summoned boat above the sea. The others, each in their own ways, followed suit one after another. I also had to disgorge another boat off my Repository to grab some wood and Model up two pairs of paddles. It was a bad idea to store the wood we have as one solid large block. Learn something new everyday, sometimes.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

We continued on the boat for a few hours before resummoning our Familiars to continue our search in the air. Fortunately, all things come to an end, including our current boring fly-venture. After another hour or two of flight, far on the horizon we see land; an island!

Detect Karmic Thread! Kirana confirms that the island is our destination the moment my spell hits her. She gettin' fast~. Quarter of an hour later, we land higher up on a cliffside. They should be somewhere in a cave within reach of a beach, if Merfolks are close enough to be attacking them, but the threads indicate otherwise. Thus, Kirana is half freaking out.

"You three wait here while the Familiars take a few minutes of rest, I'll check things out inside. Take a few minutes break!" I tell them the moment we land—I jump very high through sheer physical prowess and cast Micro Flight, not to be rude to the laws of physics, but I shoot further up instead of losing momentum. Now, the whole island is within my sights.

From where I am, the island is a rough diamond shape diagonally cut across the middle by a river resembling an X-shape, forming four smaller diamonds. The island below me is a collection of flat open fields atop several mountainous terrain. The left area contains a ruin large enough to be visible from where I am, while on the island opposite that; very tall mountains and cliffs. And last but not least, across from me is a small lush forest… I need Kirana up here to point the way.

I decided to show them what I saw first of all as opposed ranging further ahead to scout—but speaking of scouting; I pulled the two permanent disks I had summoned previously, as well as summoning a new one. All three I provide with hundreds of mana to greatly boost its range and thus its function to be both my eyes and ears—as I allow myself to fall, I control each with one line of thought and send them forth to scout in my stead, it's been a while since I had to use Magico Disks for this, my heart feels a slight touch of nostalgia. Making me smile.

I land and Visualize-projector the general shape of the island for everyone else to see, while describing what my scout-disks are seeing; the ruins are occupied by a few stone-humanoid, a bit but not quite like Elementals due to the way they move so stiffly, they are moving about doing chores like tending to a farm and processing trash.

On the contrary, the mountains are silent; that is until the disk comes closer and is shot at by headless arrows… bolts? A quick glance before a hasty retreat reveals stout cloaked humanoids Wielding crossbows. Meanwhile, the last disk is traversing the forest, and the only information I've gathered is that it is rich in resources and is home to various extraordinary animals.

I once again cast Detect Karmic Threads on Kirana. And as it turns out this time, the four threads diverge. "One goes to the left island, another straight ahead, while the last two are to the right. What should we do!?" Kirana told us the moment my spell took effect.

We are silent for a moment, but as it stands now, every moment might count. "You choose." I tell her, "we can't choose for you. This may be hard on you, but ultimately, they are your family. We'll help you with everything we have!"

She nods and her expression visibly shifts from that of a damsel in distress to a goddess of war! "Zen, I know you're most definitely more powerful than all of us put together. Could you go straight to the forest and find the person there? I think its Andre. Meanwhile, we will chase after my mother and sister that are together. It is what my dad would want!"

How does she know who is whom? But, this is no time for useless questions. I gave them the HoverBus and had Gon follow them, she's basically immortal bar certain causes, and her defeat will warn me of their situation. Through our link, she understands the risk and has agreed to come with. I also supplied them with a few Artificially Infused rocks of Detect Karmic Threads, each piece is as large as a basketball, and several slightly smaller lesser heal cubes. We have no time to experiment with optimal sizes but they have their own repository anyways. All preparations done, we depart… Micro Flight!

—

All three disks and myself are now scouring the forest for clues, but have had nothing to show for during the last thirty minutes. Though I have been coming in from the outskirts, and is just now nearing the forest center… but I might have missed something back there, haste makes waste after all. I should send the disks back and check more thoroughly…

I look up and prepare to jump up onto a tree—a distortion made itself known to my mana sense. Out of which, an arrow flew straight and true. And pierce through my back armor, embedding itself a few centimeters below my neck, barely missing my spine. My health dropped by a few points… Pretty decent.

But then, out of the same distortion which was slowly dissipating. Stepped out an Elf… A frickin' Elf!! In a flash, courtesy of Blink, I arrive beside the creature.

"Hi. Nice to finally meet an elf, do you have a name? Do you understand me?" My face armor opens up to reveal a menacing grin. Nothing wrong with a little bit of Intimidation.

"Ipsum dolor sit lorem amet!" He yells at me, then brandishes his bow. "Vestibulum eget euismod nunc!!"

Alrighty~, new reality and language barrier is still a thing. I know we'll understand each other in a safe zone, but outside, maybe there is some kinda polyglot ski—the Elf nocks his bow and aims the weapon at me point blank. "fermentum eget diam vel!"

One of my Magico Disk blitzes past and his bow is cut in two, as he looks at me in awed-horror, the three disks slowly return and hover menacingly above and behind my head. I point at him and gesture walking with my right index and middle finger then I point at myself with my left before making my finger feets follow his metaphorical feet. Then I gesture for his finger feet to lay down and sleep, hoping he would understand I meant to visit his home, or whatever it is Elves call their home.

Still in awed-horror, he agreed and straight away began running. Micro Flight, he is very agile in this forest with big trees with their obnoxious branches. Rather, he is getting farther away as I have to take care with navigating these unfamiliar terrains, less I give trees unnecessary holes and myself even worse delays.

Oh! I get it~