The incessant ringing of alarm bells woke Gin up. He sat up on the hammock he slept on. He looked around and noticed the dim lighting. He could hear the crashing of water against the walls as well as the relative silence from his battalion. So, it’s like that? Gin understood the situation. I’ve been out for that long, huh?

He rubbed his throat as he kept his head in place. He could analyse every inch of the floor he resided in with ease. Nothing passed him. Not the tense faces of his men. Not the familial mage-eater that slumbered in the corner. Not even the traitor that stood in the centre of the boat, pretending to be of help.

Gin’s blood boiled and he gritted his teeth. With every second he stared at her, he could feel his Xernim edging ever closer to the chamber of his INS. He remembered. Oh, he remembered every conversation, every interaction, every dream that warned him of her. Every single piece of the puzzle slotted into place and he came to one, single judgement: he wanted to kill that fucking bitch before anyone else got hurt by her treachery.

All of a sudden, the INS activated. His shield and blade materialised without thinking of the words. He got up and walked towards his messenger. One single slice and the nightmares would be over, right? One small death would save the lives of many, right? Yes. Yes, it would. For sure. No doubt about it. He needed to do it. He must do it.

So, he stared at Sam right in those quivering, hazel eyes, raised his arm and, in one swift motion, he gave a calming gesture, ‘The enemy is here, aren’t they?’

‘Ah, yes, leader,’ Sam squeaked. ‘I was going to wake you.’

‘Heh. Thought as much. Good thing we had that training exercise. I was a lot more panicked last time,’ Gin cracked a joke and put on a genuine grin. The other mages forced some chuckles back and the mood lifted just a fraction.

‘Mm,’ Sam nodded. ‘What are your orders?’

Without warning, several booms filled the room. Silence followed suit as everyone froze in place before their movements carried on, albeit at a moderate pace.

‘Looks like everyone knows already,’ Gin noted. His confidence infected everyone as they worked faster than before. ‘Status up deck?’

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‘All the fire elementals, juggernauts and,’ Sam paused for breath, ‘Water elementals are up top. Familiar types join them.’

‘Good. Weather?’

‘Cloudy. Rain soon.’

‘Anchors in place then?’

‘Not yet. I’ll get –’

‘We have potential code R. Condition 6. Set anchors!’ Gin bellowed out.

‘Yes, sir!’ a couple of mages reciprocated the order before running to a lower level of the boat.

‘Anything else to report?’ Gin turned back to Sam.

‘Artillery about to engage,’ Sam looked down and thought a bit. ‘Nothing else, sir.’

‘Ok. Orders for now are to remain down below deck for now with the other non-combatants. If any new information comes our way, relay it via tinoo,’ Gin raised his voice for the final order. ‘Stay in positions until instructed otherwise. You hear me?!’

‘Yes, sir!’ The room chorused.

‘Good. Aqmi, with me,’ Gin beckoned the bird who had only just woke up from the noise.

The mage-eater rose up, shook its wings and stared at the manush who stomped towards the stairs. It let out a soft squawk but, when Gin glanced back, it rushed towards him without hesitation, perching on his shoulder and screeching like a dog reunited with its master.

‘Yeah, I’m back,’ Gin whispered, understanding what the creature insinuated.

As he climbed the steps towards deck, he spotted an arc of fireballs flying through the cloudy sky. In return, balls of fire splashed on the deck. He could hear the shouting of orders and the rush of mages trying to put the fires out.

The more Gin walked up, the more he could see. From all the squadron O boats sailing in two parallel lines to the enemy ships floating in the distance, it all filled Gin in of his lost consciousness and cemented his judgement. He kept his fury clenched up in his fists though. He couldn’t unleash it. Not yet. Instead, he stepped back into cover and whispered to Aqmi, ‘I have a favour to ask of you.’

The bird tilted its head and watched Gin with interest.

‘Heh. Good boy,’ Gin laughed at the sheer fact he trusted the creature with a task. ‘Keep an eye on Sam. I don’t trust that person, so don’t ever let her leave your sight. If Sam does anything suspicious at all, you come straight to me. Understood?’

Aqmi squawked then flew back below deck. Gin on the other hand stepped forward. A fireball flashed past but blocked it with his shield. He then watched the tinoo-and-mage-eater-filled skies for further bombardment.

He raised his arms against a flurry of fireballs. They slathered against his torso and legs. However, he didn’t break a sweat as the rest of his limbs remained intact. Once the danger passed, he turned to his men.

‘Scenario 6-R! Mid-ranged fire elementals to protect the deck below. Rest in formation 2-J-B,’ he barked.

Without hesitation, the mages followed instructions. The fire elementals rushed down while juggernauts took a stance in front of the water elementals they protected. Gin himself took a central position. He watched as streaks of light, dolphins instructing the aquatic bestials in the water and tinoos doing the same for the rest of the squadron. He played the cards he wanted to play. Now, for the naval battle to unfold before him.