“I can’t believe you didn’t turn back when you met Aunt Margaux and continued walking back, as if I wasn’t in any sort of danger!” Ash grabbed the handle after aligning the thick piece of paper into the press and began turning a crank. “What if I died!”

At first glance, Ash looked as if he were some sort of craftsman and not the heir to a merchant empire. His hair was tied up and covered with a leather head wrap and he wore a custom made leather smock. His sleeves were rolled up and his gloves were hooked on his belt as he handmade the paper for his magic slips.

“You’re being dramatic. You’re skilled enough to handle it on your own,” Henry said as he leaned against the doorframe of his brother’s workroom. Compared to his office, it was several times as large and held an assortment of items used in anything magic-related Ash wanted to dabble in.

Apothecary of herbs, minerals, and gods only knew what else? Taking up the far wall across from a door to a room with floor to ceiling windows that grew assorted plants. Glass vials, pitchers, and tubes? Behind a magically fortified screen in case anything exploded. A deep sink with running, purified fresh water? Against one of the outer wall, before the large open area where a dozen wooden frames with thin rattan woven screens were currently laying, drying sheets of southern mulberry paper that would be steamed, ironed, and then made into the slips Ash used.

The sound of the machine that flattened and steamed the paper before being pressed in an iron filled the room as Ash grumbled to himself under his breath.

“I had a knife to my throat and I was out of slips....”

Henry resisted the urge to roll his eyes. The people from the Adventurer’s Guild always praised Ash as mature and reliable in terms of his assignments and quests, but in private, at home, his brother didn’t hesitate to show his childish side often.

Too often.

“You would’ve allowed him to walk you down to the dock and once there were in an area clear of the officers and dock workers, you would’ve released your internal magic energy to essentially suffocate him long enough for you to escape and incapacitate him, allowing for a smooth arrest.” He knew his little brother. “It was surprising you were caught in the first place.”

Ash flinched as his cheeks reddened. “I...I was tired!”

Henry let out a heavy breath and crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you still angry?”

“If you didn’t run into Director Vastara, the real Director Vastara, would you have come back?” Ash asked, still pouting as he moved to the next station to iron the large rectangular sheets of paper.

“Probably not. I have full confidence in your abilities,” Henry replied. Ash’s face scrunched up. “But once I realized something else was wrong, didn’t I rush over? I arrived well before Director Vastara and her assistant.”

“If you had come with me when we ran into Captain Hager, this could’ve been over much faster.” Ash positioned the first sheet under a heavy metal press and then pulled down the handle. He counted to ten as he put on a pair of leather gloves, then lifted the press and removed the sheet to place on another table to cool down.

“All right, I’m sorry for not coming with you.” Henry relented and sighed. “Are you going to continue locking yourself in your workroom?”

Ash let out an insulted scoff and turned to look at him, his hand paused over the handle of the press. “You think I’m in here because I’m mad at you?”

Henry raised a brow. “Is that not the case?”

“That is only ten percent of the case. I am out of slips and need to rebuild my stash,” Ash said. He turned and pulled down the iron press over another sheet. “Also, I need you to put in an order for another fifty bundles of southern mulberry branch bark. Wild southern mulberry bark. Raw is fine. I can process the fibers myself.”

The iron hissed and he lifted the handle to remove the sheet.

“Since you’re busy and need to rebuild your supply, I’ll leave you to work. Do not forget to come to the tea house for lunch. I’ll send Tank to come get you.”

Henry turned around and heard Ash scoff once more. “Brother, I am not a child!”

“Mmm, yes, but you will forget to eat when you’re engrossed in your work,” Henry told him.

He closed the door to Ash’s weak voice muttering that he wasn’t that bad. He seemed to conveniently forget how his mother would sit there and watch him eat to ensure that he was actually taking breaks to eat instead of putting aside the food brought to him and forgetting about it.

Henry headed downstairs to take a back entrance into the tea house. He’d opened the tea house without Ash that morning to allow Ash to sleep in. He didn’t expect to pass by his brother’s workroom on the way to the shop to find his brother awake, apparently for some time, and beating plant fibers to make paper. It was almost lunch and Ash hadn’t seemed to have taken a break.

Ash didn’t trust others to make the paper for his slips and would rather do it himself in order to ensure the quality. He insisted upon it and had been doing so since he was twelve. In fact, nearly everything Ash created was something he worked on and tested by himself.

“Where is the Second Young Master?” Margeaux asked as Henry appeared on the floor.

“He’s working on one of his magic tools,” Henry replied, nonchalant.

The middle-aged woman nodded thoughtfully. “Young Master, a Director Vastara is here to see you. I’ve sat her in one of the private booths upstairs.”

Henry cocked his head to the side. He expected Director Vastara - the real one - to visit, but didn’t expect her to come so soon. He thought she’d be caught up in dealing with her impersonator and the attempted theft.

Along the sides of the upper floor of the tea house were private rooms of varying sizes, the smallest of which were basically well decorated booths with a window that overlooked the street. He knocked on the only closed door to give warning.

“Director, it’s Henry. I’m coming in.” He grasped the hand groove and slid open the door.

Seated in the booth and looking out the window towards the intersection was a middle-aged woman with silver-blonde hair and silver eyes that shifted color in the light. She turned her head when the thick wooden door slid open. She scooted out of the booth seat to stand.

“Young Master Atractas, good afternoon.”

The Federation of Merchant Cities didn’t have a set greeting posture. They replicated the party they were dealing with. In the case of citizens of Dareisol, it was a hand shake where the two parties clasped the forearms of each other. This was the formal procedure, especially amongst business partners and acquaintances, and it didn’t matter the age or sex of the other party.

Henry reached forward, grasping the woman’s extended arm to return a firm shake. “Director Vastara. I didn’t think I’d see you so soon.”

The corners of her lips curled up. “But you did expect me.”

He chuckled and motioned for her to take a seat. Tea and finger foods had already been brought up to the booth, so there was no need for him to serve her. He took a seat across from her. “I was told that you wanted to speak to me.”

Director Vastara took a deep breath and exhaled. She reached into the inner pocket of her coat and took out a letter. “I tried to tell him that you were busy and have a business to run, but he insisted I bring you this letter.”

Henry didn’t have to open it to know what it was. Director Vastara’s grandfather, Professor Vastara, came from a diaspora of Lunapsar people who had settled in the capital of Dareisol several generations before. They were well integrated, but the Lunapsar blood was strong and descendants tended to carry the hair and eye color for at least four or five generations after the first and only Lunapsar ancestor.

Professor Vastara’s life’s work was in Lunapsar art, which included writings, music, and everyday objects.

Henry released his own sigh. “Every year since we met ten years ago, he has written to ask me to study with him,” he said as he reached across the table to accept the letter. “And every year, I tell him no.”

“You have to admire his determination,” Director Vastara replied, taking a sip from her tea cup. “There are very few people, even in the Lunapsar diaspora, who can read and write Classic Lunapsar.”

Henry slid his finger beneath the flap of the envelope to open it. “It was an elite language used mainly for religious and ceremonial purposes, so typically, only the royals, the aristocracy, and the astral priests studied it. Since it’s so old and the modern Lunapsar has changed over time, even if the script can be read, the pronunciation and meanings are different.”

He removed the letter and began to read it.

“There are seventy characters in modern Lunapsar, but a hundred and five in Classic Lunapsar. Since it was a closed language, the common people never studied it, so even my grandfather, who has devoted his life to this, didn’t know all hundred and five characters,” Director Vastara told him. She paused and glanced over the rim of her cup. “Until he met you.”

“I’ve traveled a lot, so I’ve managed to get my hands on things,” Henry said, furrowing his brows. “I told Professor Vastara to go to the West Wind Abbey, as the largest diaspora of Lunapsar that settled after the Fall of Samelu is there, and there is a good chance he’d be able to find some former nobles or....” His voice trailed off as his relaxed posture against the booth bench stiffened.

As his brows knit together, he heard Director Vastara’s voice. “Is something wrong?”

Henry’s lips tightened into a line. “Is he serious?”

Director Vastara put her tea cup down and cocked her head to the side. “What are you talking about?”

Henry flattened the letter on the table and turned it to face her before sliding it across. “He says there are remnants of Samelu in the Smiya Sea.”

At once, Director Vastara drew her head back with disbelief. She pulled her grandfather’s letter towards her. “That’s impossible. When the eruption happened, Samelu was fractured, with entire sections falling to the sea before it sank completely. There are no landmasses in that area.”

Henry kept his lips pursed as he tapped his fingers on the table top. “It’s also an area of trade shipping lanes, as it leads directly to the Isthmus of Iveria. With so many ships going through the area, a landmass would’ve been known for some time.”

Director Vastara shook her head, as if confused at her grandfather’s words. “How did they suddenly find a landmass?”

A knock came from the closed door.

Henry blinked and drew himself out of his thoughts. “What is it?”

“Brother, tell Tank that he does not need to watch me eat lunch!” The door was pushed over less than a finger’s width, but it was enough for Ash’s irritated voice to carry through.

“Second Young Master, the First Young Master is currently entertaining a customer-”

“It’s fine! I helped solve last night’s case at the docks. They won’t care.”

Henry gave the door a dull look before rising to his feet and walking towards the door. With a swift movement, he pushed the door to the side, revealing his brother holding a thick wrap that had already been bitten into, in one hand. One of his cheeks was puffed up as he chewed, all while wearing a displeased look.

“Can you not eat in peace?”

“I would, but Tank says he needs to make sure I finish my entire fried chicken and morning glory roll. I don’t need to be watched to ensure that my entire plate is cleaned!” Ash retorted.

“I told Tank to make sure you ate. I know you. You’ll take a bite and then return to your work, forgetting to eat the rest of your food,” Henry told him in a deadpan voice. “I even made you a roll so you can hold it and eat it quickly so you can get back to your work.”

He motioned one hand to the fried roll in Ash’s hand. Ash looked at the piece of food that had been carefully wrapped in a warm, clean linen napkin. “You made my lunch?”

“Yes. The kitchen just had to fry it when Tank went upstairs so it would be ready when you came down,” Henry replied. “He’s doing what I told him, so do what I told you, and eat and finish your lunch.”

Ash grumbled, but took another large bite of the roll. He looked at the towering half-orc and swallowed his food. “You can just drop off my lunch next time.”

Tank shook his head. “The Young Master gave orders.”

Ash tilted his head back and groaned. “Fine,” he grumbled, resigned. He craned his neck and peered into the room. “Afternoon, Director Vastara.”

The Director gave him a wry smile, having only lifted her head from her grandfather’s letter when he said her name. “Second Young Master.”

Instead of leaving, Ash swallowed another bite of his roll. “Has last night’s debacle been taken care of? If I need to be a witness for anything....”

She shook her head and gave him a small way. “No, no. Everything is pretty much settled. Miranda has been let go from the ship’s crew and fined his pay for this assignment. The Captain said that because of their history, he will not do anything else. I, however, have no history with him and have requested the most serious punishment for attempted theft.”

Ash nodded. “What about the imposter?”

“She claimed to have heard about the vase and knew I was picking it up, so she posed as me. She probably thought the vase was worth much more than it was.”

“How did she know she’d get there before you?”

“We took the land route over the isthmus and she went through the isthmus by boat,” Director Vastara replied. “Passenger boats, once cleared at the harbor’s entrance, can proceed to the island, but I had to wait until I could get a ferry from the mainland, which are in short supply in the afternoon commute. Even then, I had stopped to greet your brother. In a way, we owe some thanks to the thief. If he didn’t try to hide the vase and cause an uproar trying to find it, the imposter would’ve picked it up and disappeared well before I arrived.”

Ash let out a small hum. “Looks like everything ended well. This won’t have any negative affect on your job, will it?”

Director Vastara shook her head once. “No, no. Nothing was lost or stolen. At most, it was a minor incident that did not affect the outcome.”

Ash nodded as he chewed his next mouthful of wrapped roll. He swallowed and spoke under his breath. “Another job well done, Recovery Agent Atractas.”

“Pardon?” Director Vastara gave him a curious look.

“Nothing! I’m glad everything is settled and the items are safe.” Ash threw her a bright smile. “I thought Miranda or the imposter were released, that’s why you looked upset.”

Direct Vastara took another deep breath and shook her head. “That isn’t what upset me. My grandfather wants to hire your brother.”

Ash paused in mid bite. His eyes narrowed. “...To run a tea shop?”

“No.”

“Cater an event?”

“No-”

“Oh, then as a private tea consultant.”

“No...wait, those exist?”

“Oh, you’d be surprised by the demand-”

“Professor Vastara wants me to look into visiting an historical site to check for its authenticity with him.”

Ash’s eyes widened and Henry tried to hold back his wince. He knew how the subtle air around his brother changed when he suddenly became interested in something, and once more, the air had changed.

“Where’s the historical site?”

Henry needed to downplay the request before Ash’s interest was piqued further. He shrugged. “Just off the coast of Dareisol. There have been a few rumors, but nothing substantial. He doesn’t think it’s worth his time as a tenured professor at the Imperial University at Solyek, so he thought he’d ask me since we’ve discussed the subject before, and that I may have time to spare. There is little information, so the chances are there is nothing and any trip will be a waste.”

Ash narrowed his eyes and seemed to be boring into him, as if trying to figure out if it was just as unnecessary as he claimed. Henry didn’t falter under his gaze, so Ash turned to look at Director Vastara.

She offered him a weak smile. “My grandfather gets excited over anything regarding his research. Even if it’s just a rumor with no basis, he’s bound to be curious. Luckily, his position keeps him from chasing after every rumor that reaches him.”

Ash thought for a moment before nodding. “Such is the difficulty of having such a position.” He bit into his roll once more and swallowed as he looked back at his brother. “I’m eating. Happy?”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Very,” Henry replied with a roll of his eyes. Ash gave Director Vastara a small nod before lifting his chin at his brother in a mild display of annoyance, and turning around to leave.

Henry sighed and looked back at Director Vestara. He grabbed hold of the side of the door to slide it closed as he gave her an apologetic look.

“I’m sorry about that. Let’s get back on track. Did the Professor mention anything at all? It sounds a little far-fetched that in such a busy area, no one would’ve noticed a landmass in the last half century,” Henry said. From the corner of his eye, he saw Ash’s steps slow before he reached Tank a few steps away. Henry hastened closing the door. “There are still living witnesses to the Fall of Samelu-”

Before the door could slide all the way closed, a hand appeared in the gap and stopped the door from hitting the frame.

Henry’s eyes crinkled up as two wide, blue eyes behind glasses peered into the room, through the gap with the intensity of a madman.

“What new landmass? Off the coast of Dareisol, so in the Smiya Sea?” With each word, Ash’s voice grew higher and higher. “Are you going on an adventure to the Smiya Sea?”

Henry could almost hear the tremble of curiosity mixed with excitement in his brother’s voice. Henry tried to close the door, but Ash wouldn’t budge. “It’s not an adventure,” he said. How strong was Ash when he put in effort? It was as if the doors were against a solid piece of rock. “He wants to check out a site to see if there is historical significance. Boring academic work.”

Ash’s eyes darted to him. “But I heard you mention Samelu, ancestral homeland of the Lunapsar people.”

“Professor Vastara’s work revolves around Lunapsar art and objects. Of course, Samelu would be mentioned every so often.” Henry grasped the hand grooves of the sliding door and put his entire body against it to push it closed. Ash’s hand holding it in place trembled against the force.

He looked from his brother to the woman in the booth. “Director, what is my brother talking about?”

“Don’t barge into someone’s private conversation! Director, don’t answer him.”

Ash shoved the rest of his roll into his mouth and wedged himself between the door and the frame, allowing the heavy wood barrier to squeeze him. “I heard my brother mention a landmass that seems to have just been discovered?” Ash wheezed. Aside from his wince as he got one leg through the doorway and continued to wedge himself through, Ash seemed to have no problem asking Henry’s guest.

Director Vastara glanced from Ash to Henry and then back, opening her mouth, but hesitating to answer.

“Ash Atractas, didn’t you have slips to work on?” Henry continued to push the door, but Ash was almost through. “Didn’t you say you’re out of slips? You should go back to your work room!”

“I’m taking a break!”

“Take a break in your room!”

The door slammed shut, but Ash had made it inside. He gave his brother a triumphant look. Henry shot him an annoyed one in response. He pulled open the door once more and gave the confused half-orc an exasperated expression.

“Tank, why didn’t you stop him?”

“You only told me to make sure he ate lunch and he did, Young Master,” Tank replied. Henry pursed his lips and closed his eyes.

“That’s fair. You can return to your station.”

“Yes, Young Master.” Tank hit his chest and turned around to head to the stairs. Henry closed the door and looked back into the room. Director Vastara appeared helpless as Ash sat on the side of the booth where Henry had been.

“I suppose telling the Second Young Master wouldn’t hurt. After all, Grandfather’s letter doesn’t seem completely convinced that it’s real.” Director Vastara seemed to offer.

Henry lifted a hand and ran it down his face. “That’s why he wants me to take a look, but I don’t have time to check if something is real or just a rumor.”

Ash lifted up one hand. “I have time.”

“No, you do not.” Henry was quick to stop him. “Besides, didn’t you say you were tired? You just returned from a guild assignment and are still working on your slips.”

“But this sounds interesting.” Ash took the letter and read it over. His brows shot up. He lowered the letter and looked at both his brother and Director Vastara. “How sure is he that this landmass actually exists?”

“Not very sure,” Director Vastara replied. “Grandfather is unable to travel and investigate the rumors at this time, as it’s the middle of the school year at the university. Even after the semester lets out, his schedule is packed with conferences and his research. Most of his associates who would be interested are also in academia or are too old to take the risk.”

“What’s so risky about just taking a ship into the Smiya Sea to take a look? The sea isn’t turbulent this time of year, and Solyek is a coastal city closer to the site where the island was.” Ash said.

Henry shook his head. “Aside from using time and money to survey the area, which they’d likely have to provide themselves, if they do find a landmass, they’d have to explore it. We don’t know what to expect on an island, or even if it's an actual island. For all we know, most of it is still under water and would require someone who-”

“Who is adept at taking a risk and can survey both on land and in the water,” Ash cut off his brother as his arms crossed and he nodded, as if weighed by responsibility. “I understand. We will go.”

“We?” Henry’s eyes widened.

“Are you sure?” Director Vastara asked. “Second Young Master, the landmass isn’t a sure thing and we don’t know the situation of the waters surrounding the area. They’re historically turbulent, making diving impossible. My grandfather is obsessed with all things Lunapsar, but isn’t capable of surveying in person, which is why he asked the First Young Master for assistance, but he is not obligated to.”

“Brother.” Ash turned to him. “If the rumors are true, there might be something on or around that island that could be a significant find.”

Henry rubbed his forehead. “Ash, while the Smiya Sea is not small, hundreds of ships, if not thousands, are in it at any given time. Ships constantly pass where Samelu used to be. After fifty years, they would’ve mentioned any sort of uncharted landmass in that area.”

“If someone didn’t see something even remotely suspicious, why would there be a rumor?” Ash countered.

“It’s always possible that there was a trick of the light against the water. Perhaps a sailor saw an illusion caused by a reflection in the horizon,” Director Vastara said.

Henry nodded. “That’s a logical answer and it does happen all the time. Sometimes, sailors see things in the distance that aren’t what they think. Remember how after a storm, a ship had lost much of its food supply, so they went fishing in what they thought was a school of prism sea carp, but it was actually just mermaids?”

Director Vastara nodded. “It was all over the papers in Solyek. That was such a disaster. They were rescued and brought to the nearest shore, but had to pay the mermaids for the injuries incurred during mistaken identity.”

Ash pursed his lips. “All right, let me do some research. I’m sure there’s something else other than a trick of the light against the water.”

“Like what?” Henry asked, crossing his arms.

Ash stood up. “I don’t know, maybe a storm washed it up!”

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“Good gods, he was right.” The amount of dismay in Director Vastara’s voice didn’t deflate Ash’s excitement.

“You’d be shocked about how often that happens...,” Henry replied in a low voice as Ash spread out the map in front of him and Director Vastara, his face filled with triumph compared to Director Vastara’s disbelief and Henry’s resigned acceptance.

“That storm that ended with that incident with the mermaids reminded me that there was a series of large tropical storms going across the northern half of the Smiya Sea at the end of their last monsoon season,” Ash told them. “This was out of the ordinary. We’re talking about five consecutive storms. That never happens.”

“I remember,” Henry replied. “A few of our ships had to anchor in Xiu to wait out the delays caused by the storms while ships going through the isthmus had to wait on this side for almost a month.”

“Right, right!” Ash moved his hands over the map, following the route through the Isthmus of Iveria and into the Smiya Sea. Just above the center and widest part of the sea, he stopped. “This is where Samelu was located...right on the path of each of those five tropical storms.”

Director Vastara lifted her head and squinted at Ash. “Are you saying that those storms revealed a landmass?”

Ash’s confidence didn’t wane. “Yes.”

“Impossible.” Director Vastara shook her head and almost took a step back from the map. “Storms can destroy sand banks and perhaps even small islands, but how is it going to create one?”

Henry leaned over the table and placed his hands on the edge to brace himself as he studied the map Ash had borrowed from the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Storms don’t just move air and rain above the water. The water itself becomes more turbulent. The deeper you are, the less you can feel a storm, but the closer to the surface, the more a storm can be felt. Dr. Fabus Dei was a guest at a Merhi conference and discussed how storms affect open waters. He presented some information gathered by the Dragon Coast College’s Aquatic Research Department,” Henry said, distracted.

“One moment, how did a merman give a talk at a conference?” Director Vastara asked with some annoyance.

“Palanquin with a large tank and then a pool below the stage,” Henry replied, glancing up. “Any living and eating requirements were noted and accommodated. It’s quite simple. Our family even developed a kelp tea, which he loved and brought back to the college.”

Director Vastara frowned. “We’ve been asking him to guest lecture for years and he’s refused on the grounds that it’s difficult....” The corner of her lip curled up with some bitterness. “Merhi certainly has its abilities.”

Henry smirked. “What is a merchant who can’t sell a guest speaker position?” He looked back at the map and tapped the area where Samelu once was. “Waves can reach heights as tall as a ship’s mast and become strong enough to topple said ship. If it can move what’s on top of it....”

“...Then it can move what’s below it.” Ash beamed. “I knew my brother would understand!”

“Samelu was an island, which is essentially just a mountain that has its base under water and its peak sticking out of the water,” Henry said.

Ash nodded his head energetically. “Yes, religious ceremonies were held at the peak. The Great Luna Temple essentially crowned the highest peak with the Lunar Spire marking the top.”

“Of course, when it turned out the mountain was a volcano and it erupted, a good portion of it was blown off, including the Lunar Spire, with waves sending chunks of it into the ocean.” Henry was realistic. “However, the entire mountain didn’t sink to the bottom. There was no bottom to sink to; it just shrunk to be well below sea level. It’s possible that the strength of all those storms pushed some debris just below the surface up.”

“It’s also possible that the volcano continued to spew earth up, rebuilding part of what was blown off,” Ash said. “Momma said that the area was avoided for several decades because of the turbulent water. It made rescue efforts during the Fall of Samelu very difficult.”

“I remember Auntie said even rescuers were lost.” Henry’s voice was tight. He shook his head. “Shipping routes don’t get too close even now.”

“Ah.” Ash perked up. “That must be why they are just rumors and there is no real confirmation yet. The landmass must’ve been sighted from afar.”

“That’s also likely another reason why most of Professor Vastara and his colleagues are hesitant to go. It’s not going to be a comfortable ride for the elderly even if they find nothing.”

Director Vastara grimaced. “I’m not sure my grandfather would call himself elderly....” She looked at the two brothers. “What do you think? If it’s possible, would you go to investigate?”

Ash opened his mouth, but Henry’s hand was faster. It flew up and slapped over his brother’s mouth.

“No.”

“Nnn?” Ash’s horrified eyes looked at Henry as his voice was muffled. He reached up and tugged Henry’s hand off. “What do you mean no?”

Henry looked over at him with his lips in a line. “First of all, you just got home. It’s a little too soon to rush out for what could be weeks to investigate nothing, isn’t it?”

“It wouldn’t hurt to take a ship close to the site to see for ourselves....” Ash replied.

Henry shook his head. “You don’t have any slips. I haven’t ordered the materials yet.”

“I have a few that will last me for a few days,” Ash told him, urging. “And even if you order the materials now, it will still take some time for them to arrive.”

“We have a tea shop to run.”

“Auntie Margeaux is here. She’s been working with us and helping with opening and running shops since before Effie was born.”

“What about Auntie and Effie?”

“You said they would take two weeks or so to come back.”

The two brothers stared at each other. Henry narrowed his eyes. “No.”

“Brother!” Ash cried out. “What about Professor Vastara?”

“Second Young Master, it’s fine,” Director Vastara said with a helpless smile. “My grandfather is always asking the Young Master to run errands for him, no matter how many times the Young Master has refused.” She let out an embarrassed chuckle. “It’s not very fitting of someone in his position, if I’m being honest.”

Ash opened his mouth, but Henry began to roll up the map. “Ash, we don’t have time for this. We should be preparing for the inn. We’re building them in stages, but we still need to finalize which two locations will be prepared for phase three.” Henry gave him a firm, knowing look. “You were supposed to look over the reports to narrow down the locations. Auntie is depending on you.”

Ash’s confidence and excitement seemed to vanish. He slumped forward and hung his head. His mother was counting on him and he’d already gone off for a guild assignment because he thought he had time. Now that he was back, it was only right that he continued with the work he was given.

“I know.” He sounded defeated, but Henry was relieved. He gently bonked the top of Ash’s head with the rolled-up map.

“It’s only a rumor right now, anyway. Even then it’s just a landmass with no other information. For all we know, they saw a cluster of deadheads floating and mistook it for land,” Henry said, his voice consoling. “If it were something significant, I’m sure there would be more news.”

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If Ash wasn’t working at the tea shop, he was rebuilding his supply of slips or experimenting with magic. Making the slips was an arduous process and despite his attempts to avoid it, Henry found himself assisting by moving the large mulberry paper sheets into a press that cut out the cards, then collecting the cards for Ash to hand deboss.

From afar, others would only see the various magical characters and symbols that glowed on the slips once Ash activated it with his magic. Inactivated, they appeared as blank paper cards, but if someone touched them, they would feel the slight grooves made by the debossing.

The debossing was of a pattern Ash developed when he was young, which interwove the most used magical symbols. Ash didn’t blindly flood it with magic either. He controlled the flow of magic through the grooves, activating different symbols and in different orders to have one slip be able to do a myriad of things.

He could do this because he memorized the pattern and could control where his magic energy went first.

And how did Ash figure this out?

By listening to his mother teach Henry different forms with weapons, from footwork to body position; how different combinations worked for different needs.

The first time the prototype worked, Henry had felt his heart swell with pride.

Of course, at the time, Henry didn’t foresee himself doing manual labor so his brother could make enough slips to send an army to its knees.

“You know, I really like the size of the slips, but if I want to include more complex symbols and characters, I’ll have no choice but to make it bigger.” Ash let out a resigned sigh.

Henry stared at the pile of mulberry paper as thick as hand was tall. Why did it feel as if the pile hadn’t gotten any smaller despite having been cutting for an hour? “Then make it bigger.”

“But if it’s bigger, it’s less convenient to carry. And how convenient do you think it is to hurl an unraveled scroll at someone?” Ash looked at his desk, where several sheets of paper were so long, they had hung over the edge of his desk.

Henry lifted the press, removed the excess paper, and then swept the cutouts into a bin on the side. “Why does it have to be unrolled? Just bludgeon the enemy with a rolled scroll.”

Ash scoffed. “That’s so stu....” He trailed off into silence. He narrowed his eyes. “Huh....”

“Oh, I don’t like that ‘huh’....” Henry muttered in a low voice.

“What?”

“I said do you need all of the paper cut?” Henry pulled the cutting press down and then motioned to the nearly filled basket of cut outs and the stacks of cards ready to be debossed on another table.

Ash shook his head. “No, no, just do ten more. Leave the rest as I want to try something.”

“It’s always terrifying when you ‘try’ something....” Henry lifted the press.

A ringing sound filled the workroom and they turned their heads to the domed crystal just above the door to the room. The blue crystal was blinking with light.

“Someone’s at the door,” Henry said. “Shall I get it?”

“I can get it. I ordered some grease for the presses. They were sold out, so I told Hana to send someone to drop it off as soon as some came in.”

Henry frowned. “Is that why you haven’t been using the debossing press?”

“It’s the most expensive machine. I’m not made of money.” Ash walked across the room and opened the door.

Henry let out a tired sigh, but removed his apron to follow his brother downstairs. The crystal above the main entrance was blinking and it wouldn’t stop until either the door was opened or the magic seal around the entrance detected that who had arrived had left.

“Drae?” Ash raised a brow as he opened the door to reveal another man in neat leather and durable cotton clothes. He wore a black leather tabard with the off-white embroidery of the Adventurer’s Guild logo over his left breast. His dark hair was short and neat and he had a leather folio under one arm. “Good evening. Did you want to come in?”

Drae was about the same height as Ash and shook his head. “No, I just got off of work and need to get home. My sister’s bringing her new baby to visit, so we’re having a big dinner.”

Ash squinted. “Natashya?”

“Yes.”

“The one who ran off with a baron’s son right before his wedding?”

Drae lifted his hand. “All right, to be fair to them, it was an arranged marriage his stepmother was forcing him into with his stepsister, whom he didn’t want to marry.”

Several steps away, at the bottom of the stairs, Henry scrunched his face at the backstory. Drae’s family was local and lived in the North Village. ‘Village’ was more a name that carried over from older times; it was a sprawling city on the mainland that was an extension of Carthage Harbor where most non-merchants lived.

Drae’s maternal family had sent him to the same Lunapsar culture school Effie currently went to on the island, which was how Drae and Ash met. Both were the younger brothers, and technically middle children, so they were quick friends. This meant that Henry also knew of Drae’s family and his notorious older sister who once led a street gang, then started her own bodyguard service.

It seemed that she’d straightened out, until one day, Drae had sought shelter at their house to get away from his family’s arguing because Natashya came home and brought along the runaway son of a baron from Enga, a principality in the south. The bonus: they had secretly married.

Ash seemed just as uncertain as Henry and Drae. “Your family is so dramatic.”

Drae rolled his eyes. “I’m not here about my family. We got some new posts that were sent to all the guilds recently. Reports came in about a landmass a few days off the coast of Dareisol, in the Smiya Sea.”

Henry’s heart shot to his throat. Ash, to his credit, didn’t show any strong reaction.

“All right. A new island? Are they asking the guild for an expedition team to map it?” Ash asked.

Drae let out a heavy breath. “Kind of. They suspect that the landmass was revealed after recent tropical storms, and that it may have remnants of Samelu.”

This time, Ash seemed to allow himself a reaction. “That’s a bold claim.” Behind him, Henry crossed his arms and leaned against the wall in thought.

“Bold enough that various powers are sending out parties to investigate and see if there is anything of value. I thought you might be interested to know.”

Ash sighed. “I wish I could, but Henry’s not letting me go and is making me work.”

The corners of Drae’s lips curled up. “Oh no, steady employment. How terrible.”

“Shut up.”

“Drae, if you hear anything found on the site, let us know,” Henry said, finally deciding to step forward.

Drae nodded. “Sure thing, Henry. Pottery or sculptures again?”

Henry gave him a slight shrug. “Anything of interest.” Drae nodded once more.

“I’ll let you know if any reports come in.”

“Thanks, Drae.” The two brothers saw him off and as Drae reached the main street, Ash glanced at his brother.

“Did you see that? I’m not just leaving at the mere mention of it.”

“Your willpower is amazing.”

He caught Ash rolling his eyes before preparing to close the door.

“Ash!”

Ash seemed to perk up and pull the door open further to stick his head out. A young woman wearing a maroon and cream striped smock quickened her pace. Her straight, black hair was cut in a neat bob to her chin and big, bright black eyes lit up as she saw Ash.

“Hana!”

“I got it! It just came in with the last delivery!” Hana lifted up a box half the size of her head that she cradled in her arms. “You said it was urgent, so I rushed over.”

Ash let out a small yell of excitement as he jumped out to meet her. Henry leaned against the doorframe and watched his brother chatter with the daughter of the Metalworks Guild Leader. Who knew how long they would’ve kept talking if Hana’s older brother hadn’t appeared to take her home.

As she was dragged away by one of the best swordsmiths in Carthage Harbor, her cheeks were flushed and she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of Ash, who happily waved and thanked her again. Neither seemed to notice her brother’s withering glare at Ash.

“I’ve been waiting for this,” Ash said as he returned. “Let’s grease the debosser and get started!”

The door closed and Henry couldn’t help but give Ash a curious look. “You’re really not interested in Samelu?”

Ash let out a sigh as he tilted his head back. He turned to look at his brother and lifted the box that had been delivered. “I thought you don’t want me to leave?”

“I don’t.”

“Then what’s the problem? I’m being a good Ash and going to make slips. I’m not going to recklessly run off.”

This was going too smoothly. Henry narrowed his eyes. He wanted to believe his brother...but at the same time, he knew his brother. “You’re certain?”

“I’m not that reckless.” Ash turned and stomped up the stairs.

Henry watched his figure disappear into the upper hall. He pursed his lips. “All right...” he muttered to himself before following. “Prove it.”