Chapter 16: Foundations 6
A crisp breeze whipped through the streets of Contia as Elania and Yolani made their way toward the airship wharfs. The sky was a muted gray, heavy with the promise of an approaching cold front. Elania pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, using a wing to shield them from the gusty wind tugging at their hair.
As they neared the wharfs, dozens of giant ships docking and departing came into view. Elania’s eyes widened, taking in the impressive vessels with their expansive canvas balloons held between the jetties reaching out like wooden fingers.
The wooden hulls creaked and groaned as they swayed gently in the wind, tethered to the sturdy docks.
Yolani grabbed Elania’s arm, green eyes sparkling with excitement. “Look at the wood!” she exclaimed, pointing at one of the ships. “They’re definitely made of wood, aren’t they?”
“Yeah, they are,” Elania agreed, studying the intricate craftsmanship of the vessel. “It’s probably artificed or something.”
Yolani let out a squeal of delight, raven-black hair whipping around her face in the wind. “Artificed wood? That’s incredible!” She bounced on the balls of her feet, enthusiasm palpable.
Elania glanced around at the activity surrounding them. People hurried back and forth, loading and unloading cargo from the ships; shouted orders and the clanking of equipment filled the air.
“We should get a closer look at one of the docked ships,” Elania suggested.
Yolani’s eyes lit up at the idea. “Yes, let’s do that!”
The scent of salt and tar mingled with the crisp, cool air, and Elania found herself invigorated by the energy buzzing around them.
Their footsteps echoed on the long wooden bridge that extended from the floating island parallel to the ship’s side. The bridge was wide enough to provide access for unloading and loading cargo, although nothing was currently underway.
Several glances were directed at Elania. Being a demi-divine, she was getting used to attracting attention, but the intensity of the stares from the sailors on the ship was different. They seemed slightly alarmed by her presence. Before they could reach the ramp, two sailors moved to block their path.
“What brings you here?” one of the sailors asked. There was a mild suspicion in his eyes.
Elania offered a friendly smile. “We’re interested in airships and would like to take a closer look, if possible.”
The sailor glanced at his companion, a silent exchange passing between them. The woman nodded and turned to Elania. “I’ll go get the captain. Please wait here.”
Elania inclined her head. “Of course. We appreciate your assistance.”
As the female sailor disappeared into the ship, the man shifted his stance. “It could be a while. You’ll have to wait here until the captain arrives. No one unauthorized can board.”
Elania nodded. She and Yolani studied the ship from where they stood. The vessel was even more impressive up close.
A row of small metal holes lined the bottom of the ship, and two propellers were at the back. She assumed they were for thrust while the purple holes were for lift, suggesting the balloon wasn’t the only source of the ship’s ability to stay aloft.
Yolani leaned in close. “I’m pretty sure you were right! The wood would have to be reinforced somehow to hold the weight of that metal properly.”
Elania hummed in agreement, enjoying Yolani’s excitement.
After ten more minutes of gushing about craftsmanship and wood, a group of men descended from the ship. Their uniforms marked them as the vessel's officers. A tall man with a well-trimmed beard, clearly the captain, stepped forward and extended his hand in greeting.
“Welcome,” he said. “I understand you’re interested in looking around the ship?”
Elania shook his hand firmly, meeting his gaze with a smile. “Yes, we are. We would greatly appreciate the opportunity.”
The captain nodded, gesturing towards the ship. “You’re welcome to explore while supervised. One of my officers will accompany you.”
Yolani’s eyes lit up again, and Elania could feel the eagerness radiating off her in waves. With a gentle gesture, she encouraged Yolani to go ahead. “Go on. I know you’re dying to see the artificed wood up close.”
Yolani grinned, practically bouncing as she followed the officer towards the ship.
Elania turned her attention back to the captain. “Sir, if you don’t mind, I have a few questions about the airships and how they serve Contia. Would you be willing to answer them?”
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The captain regarded her for a moment before nodding. “Of course. What would you like to know?”
Elania gestured towards the vessel. “How much would a ship like yours cost?”
The captain let out a hearty laugh. “Oh, I don’t actually own this ship. I’m just the captain.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I see. Still, what would the cost be for a ship of this size?”
The captain stroked his beard thoughtfully. “A ship like this? It’s worth around one hundred thousand crit, give or take.”
“That’s… a significant amount.” She winced.
The captain nodded. “It is. Smaller ships cost less, of course, but all airships are quite expensive. Maintaining them and keeping them powered is a constant effort. Falling behind on that makes them dangerous to operate.”
Elania absorbed the information. The cost and maintenance of the airships were clearly no small matter, and she found herself even more intrigued by the role they played in Contia’s society.
She smiled at the captain. “If you don’t mind me asking, how much income does a ship like yours bring in each day or month, on average?”
The captain frowned, brow furrowing as he considered the question.
“I’m not asking for any specifics on your ship’s contracts or anything. I’d just like a general idea,” Elania said.
The captain’s expression relaxed, and he nodded in understanding. “A ship like mine might make ten thousand crit a month before maintenance expenses, which would likely be half of that.”
Elania’s eyes widened slightly. “Thank you for sharing that. It’s not a terrible return on investment, considering the cost of the ship.”
The captain looked at her. “I’m impressed with your financial knowledge,” he admitted. “It’s true that an airship could return its price after a year or two of full operations. It’s just a risky endeavor due to the dangers we face.”
Risks. That was an important bit of information to figure out.
“What kind of risks are involved in your operations?” she asked.
The captain’s gaze shifted towards the airship.
“The worst threat we face is air pirates,” he explained. “They sometimes prowl for lone airships that aren’t protected. Then there are sky drakes, which can be territorial.
“Of course, there are also thieves and the like in the various ports,” he continued, “although the local countryside around Contia is generally safe. And when we’re landed, there’s always the worry of arcane beasts. The artifice can attract them.”
Elania nodded, taking in the information. “How hard is it to find work and contracts?”
To her surprise, the captain chuckled. “There isn’t a day when I don’t get three new requests and can only fill one of them. Every airship that can float receives the same.”
He explained that the shipyard guild could only produce a few ships per year due to shortages of the wood required to build their hulls. “The wood needs to be light yet strong enough to carry the loads of the artifice engine and cargo.”
Behind the captain, Elania spotted Yolani bouncing back down the ramp. Elania waved to her, a smile on her face.
Turning back to the captain, she expressed her gratitude. “Thank you, captain. I appreciate your candor very much.”
“Of course,” he replied with a nod.
He hadn’t given her his name though—“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name earlier.”
“I’m Captain Narbor,” he introduced himself, “and the ship is the Farwind. I hope you’ll remember us if you ever need to have a large cargo load delivered or retrieved.”
Yolani said her farewells to her officer escort and the captain, and the two of them headed back down the jetty toward the wharfs.
Elania grinned as Yolani’s eyes sparkled while babbling about all the things she had learned on the Farwind.
“The artificed wood is absolutely incredible!” Yolani gushed, hands gesturing animatedly. “The way they’ve managed to infuse it with magic to make it both lightweight and durable is just mind-blowing. And the engine room! Oh, Elania, you should have seen it. The intricacy of the artifice work is extremely balanced!”
Elania smiled, having little idea what Yolani was talking about despite having gained a rank in [Artifice] herself. The best she knew was how to manipulate a shock-crystal—brutally and with force.
It was nice to see the girl she loved excited and chattering about her craft; the airships had clearly ignited a fire within her.
As they were about to turn back and head to the estate, something caught Elania’s eye.
She paused, gaze fixed on two small old and broken airships. Their balloons were deflated, and they weren’t even floating. They rested on the island itself, as if they were no longer airworthy.
“Yolani, look over there,” she said, pointing towards the dilapidated vessels.
Yolani followed her gaze, brow furrowing as she took in the sight of the battered ships. “Hmm, they look like they’ve seen better days,” she remarked. “Maybe they’re just scrap waiting to be salvaged.”
Elania tilted her head. “Perhaps,” she mused, “but I think we should investigate.”
Yolani raised an eyebrow. “Going to lead us into trouble?” she teased, nudging Elania with her elbow.
Elania grinned back, heart fluttering at the sight of Yolani’s smile. “But that’s why you love me, right?”
Yolani rolled her eyes, but the warmth in her gaze betrayed her true feelings. “Let’s go check them out,” she agreed.
As they approached the two broken airships, the extent of their disrepair became even more apparent.
The vessels looked worse up close with their deflated balloons and battered hulls. Elania spotted a man who appeared to be the drydock manager and made her way over to him.
“Excuse me,” she greeted the manager with a friendly smile. “I couldn’t help but notice these two airships. Are they for sale?”
The manager nodded, eyes widening slightly as he took in Elania’s appearance. “Yes, they are. Five hundred crit each, as is.”
Elania’s mind raced, considering the possibilities. “Is there any chance we could arrange a payment plan? Perhaps pay for them over time?”
The manager frowned, scratching his chin thoughtfully. “Well, since you’re a demi-divine, it might be possible. But I’d have to consult with the Bank of Contia and one of the Towers first.”
Elania’s eyes lit up. “Maybe the Purple Tower? Or Red?”
As she conversed with the manager, Yolani inspected the scrap using her artificer’s eye to assess the damage. When her inspection was over, she returned to Elania’s side before they stepped away to talk in private.
“Elania, these ships are in terrible shape,” Yolani said, voice low. “It would cost a fortune to repair them.”
Elania’s heart sank, the idea of owning an airship slipping away. But then Yolani leaned in closer, a conspiratorial glint in her green eyes.
“However… I tested one of the planks,” she whispered excitedly. “If I use your [Divine Power] and my Priestess of Artifice ability, I think I could restore them to full function in a day or two, including all the artifice flight controls.”
Elania’s eyes widened, excitement reigniting. “Really? That’s incredible, Yolani!”
A grin spread across Yolani’s face, mirroring Elania’s own.
“Now we just need a crew,” Elania mused, mind already running with possibilities.
Together, they turned their beaming smiles towards the shipyard manager, eyes sparkling.
He didn’t stand a chance.