“If that’s supposed to be a blockade, it’s not impressive,” I said after our ship finally drew close to the islands.

“It’s a formality more than anything. Don’t really need a full-on blockade to stop people from going to a place that most don’t know exists, and even those that do aren’t exactly going to be jumping to come here.”

“And yet you two wanted to come here,” I grumbled as I scowled at Veronika and then at Scyla, who stuck her tongue out at me in response.

“Oh, get over it. We’re here now.” Veronika said with a sigh. “You sound like a teenager complaining.”

“I’m just saying, most people don’t think to themselves, ‘Well, I have free time, why don’t I go to a restricted island with explicitly known dangers?’”

“You’ve been a teacher less than a month, and you’re already sounding like one of your kids.”

“Hush.” I dismissed Scyla’s teasing jab as I turned my attention to the lone ship anchored off the island’s coast. “Do we need to, like, do something? Or will they open fire on us if we try to set foot on the island?”

“Relax,” Scyla said, rolling her eyes. “I had a message sent ahead. They know we were on our way.”

“Wait, you sent a message ahead? How? They’re all the way here? There shouldn’t be any magic that can transmit so far over open seas like this.”

“Yeah, there isn’t,” Scyla said. “It was a message sent by carrier falcon. The falcon has a transmission stone embedded in its harness, so it only needs to fly close enough that the message can send out ahead the rest of the way.”

“Oh.” I frowned for a moment, considering it. “That is clever.”

“Not everything has to be done from a purely magical method, after all,” Scyla said with a snort.

“Fair enough. So we just dock, and we’re good?”

“Yep.”

“Wonderful.” Veronika suddenly spoke up, clapping her hands. “I’ve always wanted to see these ruins with my own two eyes, but I had no way of getting access to here. Then when Rook invited me-”

“Wait, did you come here under the pretense of helping me…. Just so you could come here?”

In response, Veronika gave me a shrug before winking immediately after.

“What am I, chopped liver?” I sighed. I couldn’t hold it against Veronika; she was merely taking advantage of an opportunity.

And, well, perhaps part of me found the idea of entering long-lost ruins with her as a sort of repayment for the fact that because of me, she’d lost her life as an adventurer.

Technically it wasn’t directly my fault, but still.

“Oh, Scyla, that reminds me.” I suddenly perked up as I remembered something.

“What?”

“Do you have something a little more robust than… this?” I pulled the dagger she’d given me a while back out from its hidden sheathe, waving it around. “Not a dagger person.”

I withheld the fact that because I’d been using a dagger when I’d confronted the wild Shadow Blossom that gave birth to my little monster of a kitten, it had managed to sink some teeth in me.

A rather… unpleasant experience, to say the least.

“Yeah, check the armory below deck.”

“Armory?”

“Yeah, below the deck.”

“I didn’t even realize you could go below deck.”

Scyla stared at me for a moment as if debating whether she should address my admittedly rather idiotic assumption. Still, eventually, she chose to let it slide, rolling her shoulders instead.

“Just go grab a sword, the stairs down are behind the main cabin. Knowing you, we’ll have docked by the time you pick one out.”

I gave a quick nod before jogging off toward the main cabin. Calling it the ‘main’ cabin was a bit strange, given it was the only cabin since the ship was self-sailing, but I chose to ignore the thought. After all, the boat was still technically a prototype.

Finding the stairs Scyla had mentioned, I quickly descended them two at a time until I reached a steel door. Grabbing the handle, I gave it a firm push, the door swinging open smoothly.

“Well, isn’t that something,” I said after whistling lowly.

While the ship only had a single cabin, it had armory enough for an entire platoon. The room was littered with weapons of all varieties and different types of protective gear, such as leather hauberks or steel chain mail.

From what I’ve heard, there are shock traps in the depths, so I probably want to forgo anything metal if I can.

Walking around the onboard room, I began picking through equipment like a day out shopping. The first thing to catch my attention was a pair of leather vambraces. Grabbing only one, I quickly strapped it onto my left arm, my right arm already protected by the divine cloth wrap.

Next.

Directly next to the vambraces were a pair of scaled gauntlets.

F

And no, not scale as in interlocking metal scales. Scale as in literal scales.

Grabbing them, I tested the flexibility of the rather unique piece of armor. It was surprisingly free-fitting and giving the scales a quick rasp of my knuckles, I could tell they were nearly as hard steel.

Not bad.

Pulling the gloves on, I continued my scrounging of the armory. Finding a pair of leather greaves, I pulled my pant legs up, strapping them on before letting my pants drop back down. As I did, I glanced down at my shoes, black leather sandals that fit snuggly to my feet. They were fine for going about my regular routine throughout the day, but they’d hardly hold up in the likes of some decrepit ruins.

Boots then.

Thankfully, the boots were all collected in the same spot on a rack next to the door. Looking for a pair in my size, I quickly switched from my sandals to the tough, surprisingly lightweight boots.

Boots, check. Vambraces and gauntlets, check. Greaves, check.

All I needed was protection for my torso, head protection, and a sword.

I’ll save the sword for last.

Not wanting to battle with getting something over a helmet, I searched for torso gear next.

Shock traps mean metal over any vital organs is a no-no.

Treated to the mental image of my art being shocked to a stop, I shuddered once as I continued my scrounging, only stopping when I found a simple leather cuirass. It wasn’t exactly robust, but I was looking for something to be used to protect me from stray hits rather than outright saving me from directly fatal strikes.

Because if, at any point, there is something dangerous enough to put me on the ropes like that, then I doubt anything less than mana-tempered silver is deflecting a strike from it.

Pulling my shirt off, I quickly strapped the cuirass on before pulling my shirt back on over it.

Okay, helmet time.

As an adventurer, I’d often been cocky and foregone using head protection. Still, having grown a little wiser since then, I found the idea of a loose rock dropping from above and knocking me out rather embarrassing.

Or, you know, getting killed because I didn’t want to put a helmet on. That would also be plenty embarrassing. Oh boy, would my cheeks be flushed in the afterlife if that’s how I died.

The issue was that most of the helmets littering the armory were made of metal, which would have the opposite effect given the shock traps I’d heard were within the ruins.

Even leather isn’t a great option if that’s the case.

“What are the chances you’ve got rubber caps lying around?” I muttered, still sifting through the equipment placed on the various shelves and mannequins within the room.

Sadly, there were no rubber caps. Instead, I was left with a hooded mantle and mask combo. The hood’s outer layer was standard leather, but the interior was a softer fabric of some unknown sort.

Look, I’m not a Thread Weaver. Not like I could determine it at a glance and a feel.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

What intrigued me about the hood was that I could tell there was a third material layer between the leather and fabric interior.

“Rock wool, maybe?” I pondered aloud. I’d once had some garments made of the stuff, which proved highly effective at resisting fire.

Maybe it works with electricity too?

Shrugging, I pulled the hooded mantle on before examining the mask.

Calling it a ‘mask’ wasn’t correct; more of a see-through visor that could be worn over the eyes. The material, a nearly opaque pane of smoky glass, intrigued me. A quick knock with my closed fist told me it was hardened, so I wasn’t about to receive glass shards into my eyes. Still curious, I raised it to my eyes, peering through.

Oh, now that’s interesting.

Looking through the visor, it was as if the room had brightened, though not perfectly. It wouldn’t pierce pitch-black darkness, but at the very least, I wouldn’t have to bother enhancing my sight with mana in a darker environment and could instead rely on the visor.

“Okay, on to the main attraction.”

Satisfied I was about as protected as I felt was necessary, I turned my attention to where the weapons were hanging on the far wall.

Polearms, axes, spears, half shields, daggers, a few heavy-looking hammers, almost any standard weapon one could look for could be found.

Including swords, of which there was a decently wide selection.

Technically speaking, I didn’t need a sword. I could always call out Rainsplitter, but conjuring the sword drained my mana reserves massively. If I were forced to call the blade out for too long or too often, I’d be out of mana in short work.

“Rapier? Nah.” I hefted a thin sword before frowning. I wasn’t fond of such thin blades in enclosed spaces, not without being made of something like mana-tempered silver. They would be shattered instantly if I struck something hard enough while drawing upon the flow state.

“Flamberge? Not a chance.” I didn’t even bother lifting the large curvy sword, far too unwieldy for enclosed spaces.

Something that isn’t too delicate but not so large that I can’t swing the damned thing without smacking into a wall.

Finally, toward the end of the swords, I found my answer. It was shorter than a longsword but thicker than a shortsword. It was slightly curved, and its opposing edge, rather than an edge, was serrated like the teeth of a saw.

“Not technically a sword, but it’ll work.” I smiled as I picked up the machete, testing its weight.

Not bad.

Machetes weren’t precisely as ideal as an actual sword, not intended to be as well balanced. Still, given what I was looking for, it would be more than adequate. It was created initially to hack through thick vegetation, so the war machete had been adapted with that same toughness in mind. A weapon that could be abused and still stay strong.

“Perfect,” I said, belting the machete to my side. “Time to see if we’re there yet.”

Making my way to the door, I pulled it open, and at the exact second, Scyla suddenly stumbled through the doorway, pulled off balance.

“Woah,” I said, snatching her mid-stumble as I saved her from landing on her face. “You okay?”

“Yeah, just surprised by the door yanking me off balance.” She said with a snort before her eyes flitted up toward my face. “Though this isn’t terrible either.”

Realizing how close I had pulled Scyla mid-fall, I gently released her before stepping away.

“Getting a little better with a touch then, maybe?”

“Hah, maybe.” I sighed. “Honestly, I was just thinking about other things. I didn’t really think about it.”

“Hmm.” Scyla eyed me for a moment as if considering it before shrugging. “Well, I just came here to grab a weapon. I figure relying on you to do all the heavy lifting might be asking for trouble if we end up separated.”

“Do you even know how?” I asked, my question genuine.

In response, Scyla marched toward where the weapons were hung, grabbing a short spear, a simple-looking haste, before testing its weight. Seemingly accepting of it, like a blur, the spear began to spin about as she twirled and stabbed forward like she was a soldier by trade.

“I’ll be damned.” I whistled.

“You should see what I can do with a pair of kamas.” Scyla chuckled. “All Eorials are taught weapon proficiency. I just happened to enjoy it more than most. Plus, I still have magic:” Raising a palm outward, a small flame appeared with a whispered word. “Aulous, Scorz, and Kinzar, plus an affinity with the composites of Kinzar using my other two affinities.”

“Three primal and two composite affinities. That’s pretty damn impressive.”

“Well, I appreciate the flattery.” Scyla batted her eyelashes at me before smirking. “Maybe I could be a magic professor.”

“Maybe,” I admitted with genuine intent. “Magic isn’t exactly a well-understood subject for most. The fact that you’ve managed something as complex as this ship is amazing, plus your personal achievements.”

“You know, the more you flatter me, the less I feel it.” Scyla laughed before frowning. “Question.”

“Yes?”

“Do you, and be honest with me, think you could have made a ship like this?”

“Scyla, I can’t afford a single plank from this ship.”

“Not what I meant,” Scyla said, shaking her head. “Obviously, you know a lot about magic, so could you have done this as well?”

I looked around, scratching at my chin before sighing. “Honestly? No.”

“Really?” Scyla looked at me with an expression like she was doubting whether I was being serious.

“Really. Think of it like this, while I know a lot about magic, my knowledge is about depth. I haven’t spent significant time working with magical constructs or mechanisms. If you hand me the blueprints and the basis for how it all works, maybe I could make it more efficient using my knowledge of mana. Now, if you’re asking if I could whip up a fully self-sailing combat-ready battleship? Nah, not without much time spent studying similar theories and projects beforehand.”

Scyla glanced away, but not fast enough that I didn’t notice the start of a smile forming upon her face, as if she were glad that her efforts weren’t something that could have been reproduced lightly.

Can’t say I don’t get where she is coming from.

“Well, I’m going to head back to the deck. Is there anything else you need down here?”

“Not really,” I said with a shrug. “Though, doesn’t Veronika need anything?”

“She said, and I quote, ‘if it gets to the point where I need to be swinging a sword around, we’re already dead.’ End quote.”

“Putting a lot of confidence in us.”

“Putting a lot of confidence in you is what you mean.” Scyla snorted. “And she isn’t the only one. Sure, I’m no slouch, but I’m not a dungeon-conquering former adventurer whose peers from back then have now moved on to be nizeium rank adventurers. You’re basically our hired muscle.”

“Hired muscle that’s working for free.” I sighed.

“No, you’re being paid in time spent with me.” She smirked for a moment, heading back toward the door. “Now I should be going.”

“Wait!” I called out, causing Scyla to pause.

“Yes?”

“Isn’t it dangerous to forgo any sort of protection?”

“Oh, you think I’m not already wearing it?” Once more, she smirked at me before tugging at her clothes. “Take a guess what these are made of.”

I narrowed my eyes before puckering my lips. “Mana threads.”

“Bingo!” She laughed. “If you want, I could always get some ordered for you as-”

“I’ll pass,” I answered instantly. “I do have my own pride. If you just go paying for everything I could want, then really, what is there left?”

“Sounds more like stubbornness, but whatever, do what you please,” Scyla said, exasperated.

Then, without another word, she pulled open the door before heading out, leaving me once more alone in the armory.

Always an adventure.

Checking out the room for a bit longer, I managed to scrounge up several small trinkets which looked like they might prove helpful, a few daggers, a lightweight spring staff that reminded me of the weapon Tez had used when she was younger, and a coiled up twine of spider silk rope. It wasn’t really made of spider silk, but it had earned the name for being famously robust, given how thin and lightweight it was.

Satisfied with my haul, I soon followed after Scyla, returning to the main deck. I was surprised that we’d already docked, our ship anchored against a dinky little dock next to a rather unassuming beach, large boulders, and shattered rocks littering the sand.

“Took you long enough,” Veronika called out from behind a mast, taking me by surprise.

“Where’s Scyla?”

“Grabbing something from the captain’s cabin.”

“Right. So what happened when we passed by the blockade?”

“They waved at us, then went back to playing cards on deck.”

“Sounds like they’re taking the job very seriously,” I said with a chuckle.

“Well, as we said earlier, few people are looking to sneak onto a dangerous island, are there?”

“Fair. So once Scyla returns, we’ll disembark?”

“That’s the plan.”

“Great.” I nodded, and as I did, the captain’s cabin burst open, Scyla striding out.

“I was grabbing a few little… tools if you will. Is everyone ready?”

“All good here.”

“Alright then, let’s get going,” Scyla said, snapping a finger as the ship dropped its gangway.

“Onward to the ruins!”

------------------------------------------------

The walk across the island was, for the most part, unassuming. The terrain was an amalgamation of rough grass, slippery dark rocks filled with thin holes, and moss everywhere. It took nearly an hour before we finally saw something out of the norm. It looked like a field of broken boulders with several strangely vertical stones. It wasn’t until I squinted my eyes as we neared that I realized that it wasn’t stones and boulders of the organic sort; instead, they were ruins from ages long lost.

“It’s… not as impressive as I was hoping.” Scyla sighed.

“That’s because records show that most of what’s left to be found is beneath the ground.”

I felt my stomach drop, but I held my tongue.

“I can’t say I wasn’t hoping for a little more to see myself,” Veronika said tentatively. “But, given these ruins have had thousands of years exposed to the climate, it’s no surprise there isn’t much to be found above ground that hasn’t already been picked clean, be it by archeologists, historians, or well, looters.”

She said the word with such venom I felt like she could have struck someone dead with her scorn alone.

“From what I’ve heard, there is the entrance we are looking for further back.”

Leading us forward, we found ourselves picking through the ruins, a glorified stone field, until we slowed down, noticing what looked to be two standing pillars that may have once been an arch.

“This is it,” Veronika said solemnly.

“What gave that away? The pillars, or the hole in the ground in between them?”

“Oh, hush.” Scyla rolled her eyes at me. “You should probably go first. Veronika will follow you, and I’ll bring up the rear.”

I stayed silent, staring at the cavernous hole in the ground and the stone stairs descending into darkness. I shivered as I recalled the scene of plunging into darkness with a small army of fellow adventurers.

Less than ten of us survived that.

Relax. This isn’t a dungeon.

Steeling myself, I began slowly descending the stairs, an orb of light flickering to life shortly ahead of us.

“Thanks,” I muttered without looking back, aware it was Scyla, given that Veronika had no magic.

Part of me was on guard for sudden quakes, waiting for the worst to happen. Still, the stairs leveled into a dilapidated stone room after only a few minutes of traversal.

“Well, we’re in the underbelly now,” Veronika said, looking around. “I don’t expect much from the first few rooms, but depending on how far in we can make it, who knows what sort of historical finds we may come upon!”

“Right, historical finds,” I answered, already on edge even though we had only entered our first room.

“I don’t see much danger for a supposedly dangerous location,” Scyla said as if disappointed.

“Oh c’mon, you can’t just say that,” I said sternly. “That’s basically asking for something to turn up.”

And it was, in fact, asking for something to turn up.

As if drawn out by our voices, the shadows began to flicker. For a horrifying moment, I imagined one of the Hollows that haunted my nightmares to take form. Rather than take the form of a dark ooze, what appeared was instead an amalgamation of dust and stone, held together by a nebulous cloud of darkness.

“What is that?” Veronika questioned, surprised.

“A stone pixie,” I said, sighing in relief.

“That?” Veronika glanced at me from the corner of her eye. “That’s a pixie?”

“Pixies aren’t what stories tell them to be; those would be sprites. Pixies are gatherings of mana, saturated with elemental characteristics.”

“Are they dangerous?”

“Oh, definitely,” I answered.

“So why do you sound so relieved?”

I hadn’t even realized I’d relaxed upon seeing the mindless pseudo-magical beast. It was senseless, born purely of magic, and only considered a magical beast by technicality. It was almost like a naturally occurring trap of threatening, animated mana.

“I was just… expecting worse,” I said.

The pixie had begun to drift toward us, clouds of gritty dust beginning to swirl off the ground.

Without giving it much thought, I thrust forward with my sword, muttering a single word as the pixie exploded into a puff of dust and pebbles.

“Huh. That was… easy?” Scyla said, her hands raised in front of her as if preparing to conjure magic.

“Pixies cannot be harmed by physical attacks; that’s why they’re so dangerous. A stone pixie like that, though it was more like a dust pixie, would have killed us by forcing currents of dust down our throats until we literally couldn’t breathe through it.”

“That sounds rather horrible,” Veronika said.

“I’ve seen worse,” I said solemnly.

“So, if it’s impervious to physical attacks, how did you kill it with your sword.”

“Because I used magic.”

“Not any magic that I know of,” Scyla said with a frown.

“Not important.” I brushed the topic aside. I wasn’t about to explain that all it needed was drawing upon null for a split second to thoroughly disperse the amalgamation of mana and hostile intent. “Let’s just get a move on. I don’t want to spend more time than we must down here."