It did not take me long to make my decision.

I understood and even respected Master Lysandra's hesitation. A hasty mage was, often, a dead one. But that did not mean I agreed.

The harsh reality was too much caution would kill me quicker than anything. I could not afford to take the slow and steady route to grow as a mage. If anything, I was already progressing slower than I would have preferred, particularly since leaving the Academy.

Accepting Master Lysandra's invitation would do two things. First, it would allow me more chances to watch her magic in person. I had no real hope of figuring out the true intricacies of healing by sight, but every little bit might help in the long run.

Second, working more closely with the healer would give me more chances to impress her, which might, in turn, make her more prone to training me faster. Ideally, she would change her mind within the next month or two.

But beyond any logical reason, I was bored of sitting in one place, studying and refining schematics. I had testing to finish with my mana-gathering array and had come up with a few possibilities with my magic, but it felt increasingly like I was spinning my wheels, wasting time in a vain attempt to keep progressing. Progress required new experiences and new sources of inspiration.

So, accepting her invitation was an obvious choice.

Master Lysandra seemed pleased by my decision and noted that we would depart within a few days. She also made it clear we would not return to the city for at least a few weeks and allowed me the time until we left to make any necessary preparations.

Wallace took it less well.

"So, let me get this straight," the metal mage said as we ate a simple dinner in our 'home', "We finally get this place fixed up. You're halfway ready to set up some magical defenses, and now you're vanishing for two weeks?"

"At least, yes," I nodded, "Possibly longer."

Wallace shook his head, but before he could say anything, I continued, "But that does not mean I have nothing for you to work on in the meantime. I prepared some training exercises you might find useful. And before I go, I want to run through your looping technique again. I almost have it down with my mobility spell, but I would love a second opinion."

It was half to mollify his impatience and half for my own purposes. I needed an assistant and had begun tailoring some of Wallace's training to that goal. Of course, he did not need to know that, and if it helped him improve as a mage, all the better.

Wallace stared at me for a few seconds, then shook his head, "Fine. Just...hurry back, alright? I made a deal to be your traveling companion, not sit in a warehouse alone for a month."

"I know," I nodded and pushed my plate away before standing, "Now, before I forget, let me grab you some training materials. While I am gone, you can continue working on..."

***

Days later, I arrived at Master Lysandra's shop with a few bags prepared, my wrapped-up swordstaff in hand, and a feline wrapped around my neck. The beast refused adamantly to stay behind, following me despite multiple protests and attempts at dissuading it. I might accuse him of missing me if I did not know any better.

The healer met me outside her shop, similarly prepared for a trip with a large pack on her back, and looked me up and down with apparent surprise.

"A weapon and a pet, eh? Not how I'd prepare for a trip, but to each their own," Master Lysandra said, then smiled, "Follow me."

I expected us to head south, assuming we would take a cart along one of the major roads, but instead, the healer led us east toward the docks. There was a twinge in my gut as I cleared my throat.

Stolen story; please report.

"Ah, master? Are we not taking a cart to our destination?"

"Hmm? No, going by water will be faster. More importantly, it will let us pull double duty," Lysandra glanced over her shoulder as we walked, "Pirates and magical beasts are rare, but they do attack even near the coastline. We'll be taking one of the larger ships south, and my presence should deter any would-be attackers."

"A ship mage," I said, nodding a few times, "I have heard of them."

"Exactly. It's not a bad life, all things considered. Let's you see the coast, and it pays well, particularly on a ship like the one we'll be taking," Lysandra commented.

She must have caught my surprise, and a flicker of something more sly danced across her face, "My philosophy on generosity only applies to healing, my young apprentice. Someday, I might be able to run my shop without gold, but that day is not this one."

I nodded, deciding not to make a comment one way or the other, instead turning my attention to the docks.

In the time since that first...incident, I had visited the docks only a few times. I had never felt anything resembling that strange, emotional reaction, but it was still not a risk I felt was worth taking. At least, not until I figured out why I had acted in such a manner.

Now, I was being forced to confront it head-on. Not an altogether bad thing, but I preferred picking fights on my terms whenever possible.

We arrived at the docks not long after sunrise, and Master Lysandra led us to a massive, multi-sailed vessel. Workers carried crates and barrels up a ramp and onto the boat, moving with a speed and grace that spoke to experience. It was a dance that reminded me of Aresford and the miners whom I had worked beside not all that long ago.

One of the workers, a man maybe ten years my senior, stood beside the foot of the ramp. He wore a multi-layered ensemble, with thick pants tucked into boots and a heavy coat covering most of his upper body. As we drew closer, the man spotted us and approached with a wide grin on his stubbled face.

"Lysandra!" the man smiled and spread both arms, "Fantastic to see you. It's been too long."

"Nice to see you as well, Aiden," Lysandra glided forward and drew him into a hug, "You look well. Been eating properly, I hope."

The man drew away with a laugh, "As always. Oh, and it's Captain Aiden now."

"Captain?" Lysandra echoed, "Your grandfather's finally hanging up his coat?"

"Why do you think I'm wearing this? For show?" Aiden gestured towards himself, "Course not. Thing's sweltering, but the old man was insistent I wear it. Something about good luck."

Lysandra smiled warmly, "Well, congratulations. There's none better for the job. Ah, apologies. Aiden, this is my newest apprentice, Vayne. Vayne, this is Aiden, Captain of the finest trade ship south of Volaris."

"Well met," Aiden extended one hand and chuckled, "And don't let her fool you. The Farstrider is the finest ship in Ferris, bar none."

I smiled and nodded in return, "Pleasure to meet you. And thank you for having us on board."

"Pleasure's all mine. Your master's been keeping an eye on us for a long time. Going on, oh, over a decade now."

"With any luck," Lysandra laid a hand on my shoulder, "My students will be carrying on that legacy for years to come."

Aiden barked out a laugh, then jerked his head towards the ship, "Come onboard, and I'll show you to your cabins. Once we're finished loading up, we can be off."

***

I hated sailing.

It was not something I was shocked about, truthfully. I had learned to swim as a child, but it was always a matter of necessity rather than luxury. The waters near Duke Estton's lands tended to be cold, muddy, and unpleasant rather than warm or relaxing. Moreover, Girem had little time to waste with such frivolities. Riding on a boat added to this in several ways, but even I was surprised how quickly I went from cautious distaste to outright antipathy.

I narrowed it down to a few factors. The first was discomfort. My stomach did not agree with the roiling of the waves, which made it difficult to sleep at night. The noise of shouting orders and the crashing waves added to this difficulty, and the smell of salt shifted from a relative novelty to an unpleasant distraction within hours.

Worse than that was the startling lack of things to do on a boat.

I first tried to keep busy with my studies, but there was only so much Master Lysandra had prepared. She had other duties, between checking over various sailors for injuries and ailments, keeping watch on the deck for attackers, or doing who knows what alone in her cabin. My education became a secondary concern, which meant I was responsible for keeping busy.

Next, I approached the Captain. One idea I had months earlier was heading to the coastline to learn more about sailing, and this seemed as fortuitous a chance as any. Unfortunately, this, too, proved a dead-end. There were only so many jobs for a novice sailor on such a vessel, and Aiden brushed off my requests with a smile and an assurance that I could focus on my spellcasting and mage duties and leave the messy sailing to him.

I tried to find ways to practice, but even here, I found myself limited. Spear and staff forms were impractical on the cramped ship for fear of hitting someone or something. I could not hone my magic because most of it was too destructive and might damage the hull, the sails, or the rigging. Even studying proved difficult, as I had only thought to bring a few books for the trip.

However, I was not one to give up easily or take kindly to wasting time. I found ways to stay busy despite these setbacks, even if they proved unorthodox. The roiling deck proved an excellent way to hone my footwork on "unsteady" ground, allowing me to improve my agility and flexibility. Water mana drowned out most other elements even a short distance off the coast, but pushing through this mess helped test my precision senses. And in between my improvised training, I watched the sailors work and tried to learn what I could.

The Farstrider was a vessel large enough to carry a few hundred people. I knew this type of ship must have a specific name, but I did not care enough to ask. What did matter was the specifics. How many sails, how fast it moved, how much work it took to man, and how much it relied upon factors such as the wind.

Already, I could see the little ways where bits and pieces of it might slide together. More importantly, I came upon simple ways a savvy mage might use enchanting or magic to speed travel. None would prove revolutionary, but they helped keep my mind active.

I took careful notes, adding to my growing skillset as we traveled, heading south under Aiden's careful eye. Even though the man was only a decade my senior, he moved and spoke with authority and experience, maintaining a delicate balance and distance from the coastline. Too close, and we might strike sand or rock. Too far, and one of the beasts within the ocean proper might decide to investigate.

And all too soon, the coastal fortress came into view.