Friedrich sat in the square outside the Mages Guild of Akatfall, waiting for Marina. If she was much later, Captain Alden would set off without them, but she had insisted on saying goodbye to Hansel, who had been tutoring her to improve her lightning magic.

He kicked a small pebble around aimlessly, hoping that she would hurry up, but eventually decided that he would have to barge in and pull her out. As he marched over to the doors, they swung open and out stepped Marina and Hansel.

“Ah, Friedrich,” said Hansel, his hair sticking out statically. “Were you waiting long?”

“No,” said Friedrich, through gritted teeth.

“Sorry!” said Marina apologetically. “I may have accidentally knocked Master Hansel out.”

“Come again?” asked a confused Friedrich.

“Marina shook my hand to say farewell twenty minutes ago, and I woke up on the floor one minute ago.”

Marina looked guilty and started fidgeting with her staff. “It was an accident, I swear.”

Hansel sighed and shook his head. “At least we know your Shock Touch spell is much more powerful than it was a couple of weeks ago.”

“You don’t need to tell me that,” laughed Friedrich.

Hansel reached into his satchel and pulled out a tome. “Here,” he said to Marina. “This is a gift for you.”

Marina’s jaw dropped. “Do you mean it? Oh, thank you!”

“Think nothing of it,” said Hansel, waving a hand through the air. “You are one of the most gifted young mages I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Granted, I tend not to work with many others, but your aptitude swayed me. I only ask that you promise me you will remember me when you become the goddess of storms.”

Marina laughed awkwardly, not used to being so highly praised. “Thank you,” she muttered. “I truly mean that.”

“I wish you both well,” said Hansel, holding up a hand in farewell.

“We’ll swing by for a visit next time we’re in Akatfall,” said Friedrich.

“Take care, Master Hansel,” said Marina, holding her staff in one hand and her new spell tome in the other.

The two rushed around the square and made their way through the busy streets of Akatfall, worried that Captain Alden would leave without them. The pair had hoped to see Blackjack one final time before they left Mercia behind, but upon visiting The Flying Griffin, they were informed that she had already left.

The two young Mercians were upset that she had left without saying a proper goodbye, but they understood that was how she was. It wasn’t out of distaste for the pair, it was because the high elf preferred not to express herself if she could help it, and that meant goodbyes were not something she liked drawing out.

“Are you nervous?” asked Marina as she and Friedrich reached the bay area of the city and made their way down the hill towards the archway in the wall.

“No, I can still see the boat,” said Friedrich.

“That’s not what I meant. Are you nervous about leaving Mercia behind?”

“I’m more excited for fulfilling Kitt’s request and plundering ancient ruins for artifacts and riches. If there’s one thing that Kai’roh is known for, it’s opportunities for treasure hunters.”

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“And treasure hunters dying,” said Marina. “That’s what the mages of the guild say.”

“What do they know?” scoffed Friedrich.

“A lot more than you. Many of them are very wise.”

“Many of them never go outside. I’m well-travelled, don’t you know?”

“Friedrich of the Lightning Foxes, famous explorer!”

“Exactly,” chuckled Friedrich. “Marina of the Lightning Foxes, mage extraordinaire!”

“That’s me,” said Marina with a wide smile as the two reached the archway and headed towards the pier.

Captain Alden beckoned them over, looking impatient, but he was not alone. Galvus stood beside him, looking rather pleased.

“Ahoy there,” called the fisherman.

“What are you doing here, Galvus?” asked Friedrich.

“He meant to say hello,” said Marina.

Galvus laughed in his raspy voice. “I just wanted to thank the pair of you before you headed off to parts unknown. Baron Pelagius is dead, Luthrus and the others have been avenged, and people no longer call me crazy. It’s nice to be vindicated and it’s all because of you two.”

“You’re welcome,” said Friedrich, shaking Gavlus’s oily hand.

“I’m glad that nobody thinks you’re crazy anymore,” said Marina with a wink.

“Heh,” said Galvus. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“I still think you’re crazy,” said Captain Alden, “but rather than worry about whether you’re a lunatic or not, we should be setting off. Are you both ready?”

With a last look back towards the archway and seeing no sign of Blackjack, Friedrich and Marina agreed that they were ready. They walked along the gangway and onto the ship’s deck, both glad to finally be making their way to Kai’roh. As the crew prepared to set sail, they leaned on the edge of the taffrail at the stern and watched the city.

On Captain Alden’s orders, the ship departed. Galvus waved farewell to them as he walked around the bay and back to his house. The two returned the wave and then turned to each other, excited for what was to come.

“How do we know when Kitt’s seen what he wants to see?” asked Marina.

“I don’t know,” said Friedrich. “When Branric channelled Kitt’s spirit, Kitt said that he wanted to see the golden sands of his home. Maybe it’s that simple?”

“Maybe we need to find another shaman?” asked Marina. “There would surely be one somewhere on the island, wouldn’t there?”

“Perhaps there is,” came a familiar voice from behind them.

“Blackjack?” asked the shocked pair, turning to see the golden elf standing before them with her hood down and her hair flowing in the breeze.

“What are you doing here?” asked Friedrich while Marina was too stunned to speak.

“I happened to be going this way,” said the Alaurian dismissively. “I did not think I would see either of you here, let me assure you.”

She smiled for a moment before her face returned to its normal, stoic state. It was rare to see her smile and that took Friedrich and Marina by surprise almost as much as her being on the boat.

“You would miss us too much,” said Friedrich slyly.

“Do not say such foolish things,” said Blackjack dismissively. “It is as I said, I happened to be going this way. Perhaps you can follow me, but if you would rather not then that is also acceptable.”

Marina threw her arms around Blackjack and hugged the shocked elf. “I’m glad you’re coming with us,” she said. “You may not have missed us, but we would have missed you. Wouldn’t we, Friedrich?”

“Perhaps a little,” said Friedrich with a smirk.

Blackjack lightly pushed Marina back. “That is our first mission, is it? To find a way to satisfy the fox spirit of the mask?”

“Yep,” said Friedrich. “Whatever influence he has on me, I believe he’s an ally. Kitt isn’t like the minotaur, I promise you that. He said that he will dedicate himself to me if I can fulfil his request, so that’s what I’m going to do.”

“And what of your plans for a boat?”

Friedrich smiled. “To tell you the truth,” he said, “the boat is a means to an end. To have a boat of my own is not enough. I’ve come to realise that I need allies, whether that’s human or spirit.”

“Will you tell us what it is that you want the boat for?” asked Marina.

“One day,” said Friedrich, nodding slowly, “but I’m not ready to talk about it yet. Just know that I trust the pair of you more than I’ve trusted almost anyone else. When I am ready to talk about it, you’ll be the first to know.”

“You can count on me and Blackjack,” said Marina, nudging the high elf who pushed her away again.

“I know,” said Friedrich. “Speaking of…how did you get the name Blackjack?”

Blackjack let out a rare laugh. “Do you really want to know that badly?”

“Yes,” said Friedrich and Marina together.

“Early in my demon hunting days, I took on a job and killed twenty-one demons. My employer did not know my real name and I preferred to keep it that way. As a joke, he called me Blackjack because of the number of demons and I decided to keep that as an alias.”

Friedrich frowned. “You really know how to grip a man with a story, don’t you?”

“You asked, and now you know.”

“Twenty-one demons?” asked Marina excitedly. “There must be a story there.”

“I bet there is,” said Friedrich, “but we’ll get another witness to recount it or we’ll just be disappointed.”

“It is as I said,” said Blackjack. “You asked, and now you know.”

Friedrich shrugged. “That’s true, but we still don’t know your real name.”

Blackjack smiled at him. “My real name is Teleri.”