Spire Sea, near the northern coastline, local time [1794.04.05]
The ship was sailing lazily through the icy waters of the Spire Sea, catching up to the small waves ahead and cutting through without any difficulty. The morning breeze gently caressed Zeph’s face as he observed the sharp, jagged coastline visible in the distance.
The name of the sea wasn’t a work of chance. Its waters were dotted with thousands upon thousands of islands, and those closer to the shores, made of hard rock, were always reaching high into the sky – like gigantic claws trying to catch the clouds. Moreover, the sea itself was cutting into the land like an enormous wedge, almost splitting the continent into two. If it weren’t for the islands, the sheer shape would have brought that name to existence.
Because of the calm waters and downwind course, one could have an impression that they were moving rather slowly. That would be a lie. Zeph was sure they could rival motor vessels in speed.
Their technology was quite complicated, as he had learned. With only 13 people, they wouldn’t be able to efficiently use full-blown Mana jet engines. Instead, the ship was using a lesser variant in large numbers, along with enchanted sails and complex systems redirecting airflow.
The ship was still using sails as a main source of propulsion, but those weren’t set vertically on masts and angled horizontally like on Earth’s ships. Instead, they were leaning backwards, forming a multi-layered canopy above the hull. Of course, the sides could be lifted, not dissimilar to setting a normal sail askew. But, thanks to that, the movement of air was vertical, not horizontal. It was a very important feature, as the air pressure was being used for additional purposes. It had to be released near the front and along the sides when sailing with the wind.
Of course, the Sails’ enchantments were producing a simple Mana effect preventing Magicules and Mana from moving freely through them – similar to the aerostat’s ‘wings’, just smaller and less efficient. It was crucial to enclose the Magicules.
The air, moving across a sail, was being saturated with Air-Magicules responsible for thickening it. The additional friction and viscosity helped the sails to catch more energy, but that wasn’t all – the vents lining the borders of the deck had an easier time catching the conglomerated air. The air was already under higher pressure at that point, but the enchanted vent system was still able to suck it down like a vacuum cleaner due to what was happening on the other end of the system. Inside, the true magic was happening. With the help of a series of incomprehensible machinations, the pressure was being distributed between many air-supplying pipes. Of course, the Magicule composition was being affected along the way. At the end of each pipe, a small version of a jet engine waited for the delivery, creating the sucking force as a result.
There were 17 lesser engines in total, each engaged in a different capacity depending on the needs.
10 of them sat on the deck, hidden under the floorboards. Those were directed at the sails from below, in case of a headwind.
They couldn’t – obviously – push the ship forward with any efficiency. It would be like trying to direct a fan at a sail in the hope of pushing the ship forward. But when active during a headwind, they were able to keep the pressure under the sails high while decreasing the air density, all thanks to the Magicule composition and oversaturation. The sails were kept quite tout on their frameworks so no pressure fluctuation was able to deflate them fully, but a deformation could screw the whole airflow, thus the need to keep the pressure up. On the other hand, the decrease in the air density was necessary to reverse the sails’ functionality in comparison to the tailwind.
With a higher Mana density and gas pressure under the sails, but lower air density, a natural pressure equalization was taking place. The air was being sucked in from the front, decompressed, and pushed away from the back of the ship. Some of it was pushed into the deck vents, but because it wasn’t enough for the engines, the ship was catching most of the air through opened frontal vents.
The Magicules populating the air under the sails, on the other hand, didn’t have time to follow the basic physics of the airflow. The ones that didn’t manage to tie with the air molecules to decrease air density, destabilized inside the turmoil with time. The energy released during their disintegration strengthened the effect while causing even more Magicules to destabilize.
It was an engine in itself – one burning Mana as a fuel – even if the efficiency wasn’t the best. But that’s why the ship possessed the second and third sets of weak jet engines.
Another 4 engines were fueled with a mix of Magicule-saturated air and a bit of a flammable powder to push the boat forward. They were placed directly at the back and worked like a simple speed boost. Those were closer to the real jet engines, but their function was multifaceted. Not all of them were working at all times – it strongly depended on the weather conditions and mode of operation of the ship. Their most basic function was to drain away and make use of the overflow of Mana-saturated air. Their secondary function was to equalize the pressure in the pipe system and buffer any fluctuations. Also, because they were using an actual fuel, it was not only very costly but also risky to have them online at all times to speed up the travel.
The last 3 engines were underwater. And they were the most complex of the lot. Depending on the sea currents, weather, wind, underwater Magicule drift, and other factors, they could help with the ship’s buoyancy, speed, water friction, or internal pressure manipulation. Not to mention, they could also work as a measuring, detection, or deterrent device.
As for the last one – nobody knew what was hiding in the deep sea. But sometimes, something that decided to check the shallower waters rose from the depths. Whole books were written, describing sailors’ encounters with the unknown water beasts. Thankfully, making a lot of underwater noise seemed to dissuade most of them from attacking.
But that the attacks were a true rarity. Sporadic enough for Zeph to actually crave for one.
Dropping that line of thought, he turned his head to his right to look at the ship.
Different from the coastal boats, the edges of sails were almost flush with the deck when not raised up on any side. Also, there was no central structure that could allow for viewing from the level of the deck. Thus, to enjoy the view, Zeph had to stand near the front of the ship where the sails weren’t reaching.
A smooth, slow waves traversed through the white fabric of the taunt, white fabric that covered almost entirety of his view. The discrepancy between their slow movement and the gusts of the wind he could feel in his hair was jarring, but the pattern itself mesmerizing. The waves weren’t moving only vertically – it was a slowed down cacophony of shapes that played on the canvasses.
In the distance behind them, he noticed the outline of the High Peak of Brenn. They left it behind two days ago, and yet, it was still towering over the horizon.
“Light shenanigans,” he whispered to himself, focusing on the mountain.
Yea, no wonder. The water is so dark it’s unnatural, he thought, turning back to the almost black waters below the ship. I should start modeling it… This phenomenon should have the second-most-important effect on a global scale, after all.
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“Course for the harbor! All guests to their cabins!” a muted shout of the captain reverberated through the cold air.
Zeph clicked his tongue with dissatisfaction. He didn’t have even half an hour to straighten his legs. At the same time, he could hear people moving behind the white curtain of the sails, which added to his irritation.
Shaking his head, he turned around and walked up to the hatch leading to the lower deck. As much as he would like to stay, it was cold and the wind was going to intensify. Not to mention, maneuvering the ship perpendicular to the waves ought to swing the boat quite a lot with their current speed.
Stepping down, he followed the right wall, keeping his hand on the railing.
As was customary, the corridors below were vast, allowing the crew and guests to pass other people without suffering from the crowded space. Their Veils were constantly sucked up, but even the remnants were enough to require space. The three-meter-wide passageways were enough to move around without discomfort.
However, that was also one of the reasons their cabins were so small. On the other hand, it was a blessing that each person could have a separate room. Zeph wouldn’t be able to stay in the same chamber with another person for more than a week straight. He would know, especially after visiting the orphanage in Lurona so often. Even sleeping in the same room with kids was straining, even though their Veils were almost non-existent. He could only imagine how fast he would develop insomnia in a more ‘crowded’ space; Mana-wise crowded, that is.
The doors ahead opened suddenly.
“Mornin’!” Vuld greeted him cheerfully, hastily closing the door to his cabin with a key. Zeph grimaced again. “Mine ward starts now, ain’t it?”
“Ugh… yes, theoretically…” Zeph said with a sigh, bracing himself as the ship churned. “Can’t you wait a bit, tho? Your quarters are just behind the wall…”
And it was one of the least used setups. It was normal to use the odd cabin on a ship for storage, giving people an additional layer of isolation for their Veils, as it was growing and saturating the walls while they slept. Not that the walls and Mana-siphoning system weren’t enough to isolate them to a satisfying degree, but any hole could easily become a problem without such precaution. Thus, the idea of arranging storage space between living quarters.
Although, there was also the sleep hall where the crew regularly trained to be able to sleep close to each other. It was in the main cargo bay.
“Can’t do, bossman,” Vuld said resolutely, turning to face Zeph. “Zora will have my head if something happens without me bein’ around. Wanna play some cards to kill time?” he asked enthusiastically.
I would rather try to extract some information from the Cartographer if we have to wait, he thought, sending him a deadpan look.
The woman was still ‘getting accustomed’ to her new accommodations and environment; or, at least, that was what she was proclaiming. Zeph had an inkling that she wasn’t taking the constant rocking too well. She promised to teach him some navigating tricks, and yet all she did was visiting him for 15 minutes each day to gather data.
“I would rather not waste my time,” he said dismissively.
Meditation training it is… he thought with resignation.
~~~
Five hours later, Zeph was woken up by a pat on his shoulder.
He was becoming sensitive enough during his meditation exercises that he could now easily notice physical contact.
He opened his eyes slowly, noticing the lack of movement of the ship.
He quickly forced his mind to focus, shaking off the vestiges of drowsiness caused by his Soul search.
Without a word, he followed Vuld out of his cabin and up onto the deck.
Their ship was already moored and the boarding plank was being secured. Looking around, he quickly noticed how similar the port was to Lurona’s. The mountainous islands were, indeed, a bonding medium between the different centers of civilization around the Spire Sea.
They were docked directly at the coastline, but the structures built around the rocky islands behind them were almost identical to what he saw in the big city. The traffic was much smaller, of course, but the multi-leveled platforms and line bridges crossing the distance between the high peaks brought to mind the more-developed counterparts in Lurona. It was a shame that most of it was inoperative. If he didn’t know better, he would be surprised they even managed to arrive at the port – most of the sea’s surface was frozen solid and even the machinery around was covered in a thick layer of ice growing almost vertically – in the direction of the blowing winds.
Behind the port itself – quite impressive for a medium-sized town – he could see a stern architecture of higher buildings sticking above the port’s warehouses. Nothing fancy, but definitely sturdy. Sturdy and very much cold, most probably. The Green Crest port town wasn’t anything special by itself, but it was one of the rare trade hubs along the coast. It was close to the domain of the Custur, but stayed neutral towards the Onji. This made it a go-to place for all merchants who wanted to do some business before moving elsewhere.
It was a gray zone, so to speak. A town on a border.
A shame there wasn’t that much of a fair trade. Otherwise, this place would have a chance to become a proper city in the future.
Scanning the view, Zeph quickly took in all the information before refocusing.
On the pier below, he noticed a conspicuous individual. The man was standing a few dozen meters away, waiting to be allowed entry by the port’s guard. It was another tell-tale of the coming conflict. Every coastal settlement was monitored by the military to prevent smuggling and decrease any illegal activity before the supply route to the Lurona was fully established.
The man was wearing a simple brown traveling cloak and carried a heavy-looking backpack made out of leather and wood. He was leaning on his long staff while waiting, reading from a small book held in a gloved hand. The thing that made him stand out from the sparse crowd was a bushy, brown beard. People here didn’t like to grow their facial hair, so a splendid beard like that was quite a rare sight.
Zeph could relate, being bearded as he was.
Also, the man was so engrossed in his book that he didn’t even notice when the guards left their posts. Frideric, their captain, finished the bureaucratic procedures in a record time. Probably because of all the recommendations he received from the city.
After stepping on the hard wooden floor, Zeph staggered after taking a few steps. He instantly recognized why. It took him all of 10 unsteady steps to regain his ‘land legs’ as he abused his Willforce Morphon and Memory to readjust and get rid of his ‘sea legs’ – as the sailors on Earth liked to call the effect of learning how to walk on a moving ship without faceplanting into the nearest wall with the slightest weave.
The harbor was almost empty, so he at least hadn’t made a laughing stock of himself. Moving with more dignity now, he approached the bearded man.
“Sorry to interrupt, but are you waiting for something?” he asked, stopping near him.
Distractedly, the man looked up. His eyes focused immediately after seeing Zeph’s short posture, though. He was almost as tall as Aisha. “Oh… OH! Mister Zeph, I suppose?” he asked, looking around. “It seems I missed the docking of your ship.”
Zeph tilted his head. “You were unaware that long? That book has to be quite interesting…”
“No, no! Haha. It’s just me, don’t worry about it. Ah, right!” He closed the book loudly and straightened up. “I am Linus Ferrandis Gakkaitalo Argigarri, it’s an honor to meet you,” he introduced himself, putting the book over his heart and bowing slightly.
“Zeph Einar Tabitalo,” he returned the gesture. “But you most probably already know that.”
It could be seen as a quite stiff introduction, but Zeph knew better. Staying at a safe distance was paramount to good manners between strangers.
“Haha! But to think I would be able to dispute with a Fullangrarian despite my bad luck!” he laughed loudly, straightening up. “Yaaa~ it’s like a dream come true.”
Zeph could only smile awkwardly hearing that. “You don’t seem as old as I was expecting… despite the beard,” he commented instead, trying to change the topic.
“Ahh, that?” he asked, pointing at his bushy and chaotic – yet still ordered – facial hair simultaneously with his book and finger. “That’s because my great-grandfather was at least a half-Fullangrarian. It just showed one day and doesn’t want to disappear, hahaha~”
Great… Just great, Zeph thought, giving him his best seller’s smile. Makani has never mentioned that!
“Ugh, can we find a better place?” Vuld asked from behind.
For the first time, Zeph felt gratitude towards the pirate. “Right! Let’s find somewhere more private,” he said, nodding approvingly, ready to move.
“Huh? I thought we would go directly onto your ship?” Linus asked confusedly.
“The captain wants to restock and give the crew some time to unwind before we sail into the open sea,” Zeph said, grimacing slightly. “As so, we will have to wait till morning.”
The man’s brow raised. “Restock?”
Vuld turned his head away. All of them knew what that meant.
“Nothing that’s illegal on Kaian Islands.” Zeph shrugged. “I’ve made sure.”
“Oh, dear… But that means…”
“Hey, no crossing the line!” Vuld suddenly erupted with a stern reprimand, interrupting the man’s comment.
“I am NOT going to look into his… acquaintances,” Zeph added calmly. “If he’s going to put the whole expedition into jeopardy, I wish him good luck with explaining that to our Cartographer.”
“Cartog—no, no…” Linus shook his head, as if trying to forget what he was even trying to say. “Anyway, I know a relatively peaceful place. It’s a bit costly, though.”
“Lead the way. We aren’t the ones paying for the stay, either way,” Zeph said a bit too eagerly.