Dellen stood in the offices of the Copperopolis Chronicle. If before they had been busy, now, despite the late hour, they were awash with activity.

People physically brushed him in their hurry to move about. Dellen made his way up to Eliza’s office and knocked on the door.

A voice startled him from behind, “Why are you knocking on my door?”

“Good evening, Eliza,” Dellen said before he finished turning around.

“Who are you?” Eliza asked.

“Dellen Northcote,” he said, hand outstretched, “I came looking for you.”

“Why me?”

“I’ve read your articles,” Dellen said, “I was hoping to find a writer who would help me record my trip.” He was looking for no such thing, but from their meetings across the time loops, Dellen knew she wanted to leave Copperopolis, and even if she could not remember helping him, he wanted to help her.

“Your trip?” Eliza said, one eyebrow raised, “Where are you going?”

“Evergale.” Silence greeted his comment and continued for more than ten seconds.

“She’s not talking,” Gilgamesh observed.

Dellen gave her another ten seconds before speaking, “Would you like to accompany me on an expedition to Evergale?”

“Are you offering to buy a ticket for me with the Mercantile Guild?” She asked in a strangled voice.

Dellen shook his head, “No. With the city stopped, Aether should build up, filling the dead zone around us. Soon, any airship will be able to leave. At least, that’s what the Aetheric Cultivators think.”

Eliza’s eyes were wide, “I could leave Copperopolis?”

“Only if you want to,” Dellen said with a casual shrug.

“When do we leave?”

“Hopefully, within the next week or so. I need to attend to a few items, prepare House Northcote for my departure, that sort of thing.”

“A week or so,” she murmured.

“Is that enough time for you?”

Eliza released a peal of laughter, “I’m not a noble with affairs to wind up, I could leave tonight. You’re offering me a paid position to leave the city, I can take some time from the paper for that.” She gave him an arch look, “This is a paid position, yes?”

Dellen’s face relaxed into a smile, “We don’t need to be quite that precipitous. Come to the Northcote Estate sometime in the next few days, and we’ll sort it out. Oh, and yes, this is a paid position, should I assume that you do want to help record the trip?”

Eliza’s reply was crisp and clear affirmative. They settled the details of remuneration, and he left. Eight days later, Dellen watched the sun rise from the roof of his estate. He poured himself a cup of tea and held it up to Gilgamesh in a cheerful salute. “It’s a new day.”

“Yes,” Gilgamesh said, though his voice was forlorn.

“What’s wrong?”

“You’re out of the time loop, but I’m still here. You’ve succeeded what have I accomplished?”

Dellen raised his hand and put it back down, quelling his instinct to comfort another by touch, “Maybe your road back is just a little longer.”

Gilgamesh sighed, “Maybe.”

“I’m going to Evergale, maybe further, eventually to Solara, will you come with me?”

“It’s that, or stay with Victoria.”

“I’d like to have you along. I don’t have a lot of memories where you’re not around. I’d miss you if you stayed. Besides, what did you call this city? A backwater?”

Gilgamesh shuddered, which looked like he was vibrating in the air, “You’re right. Wherever you go, it has to be better than here.”

Dellen gave Gilgamesh a few more seconds.

“Yes, I’ll come with you. Maybe we’ll meet some people who have forged past First Trinity.”

“Maybe I’ll reach First Trinity,” Dellen said with longing.

“So long as you avoid a hostile, inimical forging, yes.”

Dellen had spent the last few days wondering about forging outside of Copperopolis, there had to be people who knew more than the Aetheric Cultivators, the best materials for forging would vary by affinity, with a Pyro Aetherforged having different needs than an Electrical Aetherforged, he had to assume that his dual affinities would further complicate matters. “Perhaps I should have recklessly experimented more while I was in the loop, I wouldn’t want to make a mistake like I did with the zinc now.” He restrained a shudder.

“You could always use a small nugget rather than starting with a fist-sized ingot.”

Dellen nodded. That was true and likely his best path forward. “You’re right.” He finished his tea, “We should go. Thaddeus will want to leave soon. It’s only been a few days, but he has three centuries of built-up impatience.”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“I can’t believe you’re trusting him enough to travel with him. He tried to kill you.”

On one level, Dellen agreed with him, “Thaddeus had a goal important enough to him that he was willing to accomplish it by any means necessary, but even then, he didn’t revel in it.” He thought of Thatch sawing the knife in his hand, and Thaddeus protesting, “I don’t think he’s a threat. In fact, for now, he’s probably a reliable ally. His goals seem to be aligned with mine.”

“He’ll choose against House Northcote in a moment if it comes between you and them.”

Dellen ceded the point with a nod, “That’s true, however, for the time being, House Northcote is short of funds. A free trip is not to be turned down.”

“Did you and Stefan come up with a plan?”

“Not especially. Our plan is the same as that of all merchants, arbitrage. We’ll find something we can buy for less than we can sell it for here. Even if people can leave, many won’t. In fact, most won’t.” Dellen said, feeling certain of his words.

They took a carriage to the Aetheric Cultivator’s airship. The night before, Dellen had sent ahead a few bags containing spare clothes, a few notebooks, and samples of Northcote Industries’ ores. His carriage turned into the docking bay, and Dellen let a smile tug at one side of his mouth. On the deck were over two dozen airships, waiting to be launched for the exodus to Evergale. They were a mismatched fleet of exotic birds, varying in size, design, and color. Their one unifying trait was the swarm of people buzzing around each and every one.

The airship Dellen was assigned to was positioned near the center of the bustling hub. The vibrant hues of polished brass, burnished copper, and gleaming steel reflected the sunlight, casting a radiant sheen over the entire scene.

Dellen’s eyes locked onto the ship he was to berth upon, “The Phoenix.” Its hull was constructed from reinforced metal plating adorned with gold accents and phoenix motifs. The airship radiated a sense of elegance and resilience. Standing on her deck was Captain Aurora Tiffin.

Aurora commanded The Phoenix with an aura of unwavering confidence. Dellen had met her once before and she’d impressed him with her detailed knowledge of the ship and the absolute terror she inspired in her three crewmen.

Dellen watched as she found a small squid on the hull, plucked it off, and stroked it before releasing it into the air. It undulated away, glinting in the sun.

“Permission to come aboard?” He asked when they got closer.

“Granted,” Aurora said without looking at him.

There was a rope ladder thrown over the side, Dellen climbed up and onto the deck.

“You’re late, Northcote.”

“It’s just after sunrise.”

“Ms. Montgomery and Mr. Pearwater slept aboard last night. You could learn from them.” She turned to face him, “You may be master of your house, lord in your manor.”

“Is a manor different than an estate?” Gilgamesh asked, unheard, except by Dellen.

“However, on my ship, you’re below the crew. Do we understand each other?”

“Yes, we do, happy to be here, Captain.”

Aurora’s demeanor softened from iron to wood, “Then we shouldn’t have any problems.” She turned her attention to a mark underfoot, “Stevens! I told you I wanted this deck to gleam before departure!”

A wide-eyed man looked at Captain Aurora Tiffin and scurried over with a rag, “Yes, captain!” He said in a nervous voice.

“Maybe we can go on another airship?” Gilgamesh said.

“She’s a beautiful ship,” Dellen said, “How will we know when it’s time to go?”

“When the Windward Mark casts off, the rest of us are to follow her lead,” Aurora sounded amused, “We’re to allow Mr. Valtair his conceits.”

He thought to check on Eliza and Finnegan, but didn’t want to wake them, in case the trip was short on opportunities for rest. Instead, he looked about the landing bay, walled in with just one open side. It was amazing so many ships could fit aboard. If their home moved faster, Dellen was certain Thaddeus would have flown it instead.

“What do you hope to get from this trip, captain?”

“She wants to escape nobles who ask personal questions.” Gilgamesh volunteered.

“I want to see over the horizon. Not much use being a captain here, but out there? We’ll let The Phoenix fly.”

Dellen nodded and watched other airships swell with passengers before a horn blew, and all eyes turned to the Windward Mark. A quartet of ropes came untied, and she bobbed up and away from the deck.

“Stevens, cast off!” Aurora commanded.

The Phoenix’s kinematic engines spun louder and faster.

A hatch slid open a minute later, revealing the bleary eyes of Eliza, and, a few seconds later, Finnegan. “You made it,” Eliza said through a yawn, scanning the dock and the ships around them.

The Phoenix bobbed into the air, wobbling gently.

“Ah, Lord Northcote,” Finnegan began uncertainly, “Ah, you weren’t here last night, so we, ah, had to pick bunks, but if you’re not happy, well, we can always, ah, change the.”

“At ease, Finnegan,” Dellen said.

“I’m sure the sleeping arrangements are fine. No need to be so formal. Our quarters are tight. We might all lose our sanity if we stand on formality.”

“That wasn’t a complaint, was it, Northcote?” Aurora said from the helm.

“Not at all, captain, not at all.”

“Good, now the three of you best stay out of my crew’s way. This isn’t the open sky. If one of you lumbers into anything important and we crash into another ship, I will personally keelhaul you.”

“That seems overly threatening,” Gilgamesh said.

Dellen allowed himself a small smile and saw how the captain’s threats had her crew moving faster. He watched as they flew out of the Aetheric Cultivator’s airship and into the open sky.

Copperopolis sat still beneath them; not a cog spun, nor building moved. People swarmed over bridges like ants below, not looking up even for the sight of twenty or so ships flying to the city’s edge as a fleet.

Dellen’s gaze darted from the ground to an imaginary point in the sky ahead of them, watching as they drew closer and closer to the boundary. He felt a sense of tension and excitement rising off of Eliza and Finnegan.

The edge drew closer.

Ahead, Thaddeus’s ship crossed over the boundary and out of Copperopolis.

“They did it!” Finnegan cheered.

“I took a test flight doing the exact same thing yesterday morning.”

Finnegan deflated a little at her words.

“Cheer up,” Eliza said, “It just means we know we won’t crash.”

“Do none of you have sane criteria for acceptable risk?” Gilgamesh asked, “Not crashing should not be some sort of standard of excellence for an airship.”

A minute later, The Phoenix crossed over the city’s border. A cheer burst from Dellen’s throat along with Eliza’s, Finnegan’s, the three crew’s, and Captain Tiffin’s.

Dellen stood near the captain for about another minute before he found it hard to stay still.

Aurora glanced at him, “Sailing gets restless, best you find ways to occupy your hands or your mind. A boring trip is a good trip, you don’t want interesting.”

“She’s right,” Eliza said.

Dellen had to wonder how the captain could even have experience with long trips, trapped as they had been in Copperopolis. “Do you have a lot of experience flying to other cities?” He asked Eliza a wry smile.

“No, but you need something to occupy your mind. Here, I brought along a map so we’ll know what to expect.”

Dellen ground his teeth. He should have thought of bringing a map.

Finnegan was already sitting crosslegged just short of the prow, a map pinned in place, sketching the landscape below in broad strokes.

“Maybe you could take up a new hobby?” Gilgamesh said, “I hear poetry can be rewarding.”

Dellen threw him an arch look, “You’re right, I need to find a way to fill the time. For now, I’ll take a note from Finnegan.” He borrowed drawing supplies and sketched every flying species they passed.

Two days into their voyage the horizon filled with dark clouds.