The sun was low in the sky. Spinning buildings threw long, ever-shifting shadows, a puppet show of light and dark. Miranda accompanied Dellen from the gym to ensure a smooth introduction.

“Tell me more about this ‘Marcus’ please.” Said Dellen.

“He runs a restaurant on Cobblestone Cog, Celastara’s Bounty. It’s an upscale, expensive place, albeit small; they specialize in spicy cuisine.”

Dellen thought that maybe he liked spicy food. Maybe, it was odd not knowing these things about himself. “Can you tell me anything else?”

“Be polite, look serious, don’t say anything stupid.” She paused a moment and thought. “Maybe just don’t say anything unless he speaks to you first.”

“Perhaps you should always behave that way,” Gilgamesh said.

“Not my favorite suggestion,” Dellen said, answering them both.

They came to a small, dimly lit cafe.

“This is the place,” Miranda said.

It was a good cover; Dellen would not have thought to look for connections to illegal boxing here. They entered, and Dellen noticed a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark hair and a trimmed beard notable for its angular lines. He wore an embroidered vest done in a style that Dellen hadn’t seen before.

Miranda walked over with a confident stride. Marcus greeted her warmly. “Miranda! How nice of you to stop by. Are you finally going to take me up on that offer? I promise you won’t believe what my chef can make for you. You’ll never eat anywhere else again.”

“Sorry,” she said. A hand in the air. “I’ve come on business.”

“No time for business,” Marcus said. “Sit, have a coffee, I insist.”

In no time at all, Dellen was ensconced at a table with Miranda, drinking from an ornate cup filled with coffee from an even more ornate coffee pot.

“This will bring me closer to… What we discussed?” He said.

“Relax, enjoy your coffee. He’ll come by when he has a minute.”

Half an hour or so later, Marcus sat with them. “It’s a busy business.” He said by way of apology.

“Now, who is this, youngish man you’ve brought to see me?” Marcus squinted at Dellen and gave him a weighing look, “Are those aetherforged hands I see?”

“This is Dellen Northcote; he’s a somewhat promising fighter looking to make a name for himself.”

“Northcote?” Marcus said. “Interesting; I think I’ve heard of your family. Not from the main branch I take it?”

Dellen answered with a shrug.

“Well, so you want a match. This is fortuitous timing, remarkably lucky even. As it happens, there’s a fight scheduled for tonight. A newcomer’s bout. Winners and standouts may have the chance to face off against more established boxers. We just lost an entrant, and even numbers are always better. There’s space for you.” He looked at Miranda. “And this is definitely a good idea?”

Miranda gave him an unconcerned nod.

“I’ll do it,” Dellen said.

Marcus handed Dellen a small card with the address of the venue and a time, a discreet but different warehouse in the industrial area. “Be there an hour before the fight starts. I’ll make sure your name, your first name, is on the list.”

Marcus drummed his fingers on the table. “I have work to do. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Take a break for the day. Rest, sleep, whatever. Just make sure you’re fresh tonight.”

“I’ll rest,” Dellen said.

“Great.” Miranda looked at the card in his hands. “I’ll see you there.”

“You’re coming?” Dellen said with some surprise.

“Of course, I want to see some payoff for all this time, rather than just taking your money.” She gave him a wink. “Tonight.”

Dellen watched her go. “Tonight.”

“Wow, spending a whole day relaxing,” Gilgamesh said. “What will you do?”

“I’m going to go see Thaddeus,” Dellen said.

“That doesn’t sound like relaxing.” Said Gilgamesh.

“It doesn’t, but I told Thaddeus I was coming back, and I intend to honour my word.”

Gilgamesh sighed, “I saw a carriage pickup nearby.”

“Lead the way.”

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Minutes later, they were in an airship, climbing through the sky headed for the Aetheric Cultivators. The airship was small, open to the air, with Dellen strapped into a seat that creaked whenever they turned.

Gilgamesh hovered next to him.

“How is it that you can ride in this?” Dellen asked him.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if you’re only perceivable and tactile to those with a chronometric affinity, how is it that you don’t just float through the carriage?”

Gilgamesh spun in place before re-orienting on Dellen. “I don’t know. Interesting question. Still, it works.”

Dellen let the matter drop. When they drew closer to the Aetheric Cultivator’s airship, Tristan flew out to intercept the carriage, but upon seeing Dellen he flashed a thumbs up and pointed at a different landing bay.

“Thank you for the ride,” Dellen said, passing the driver a few coins. He disembarked and walked up to a now-landed Tristan.

“Nice to see you.” He said to Tristan.

“I still can’t believe Thaddeus took you on as a disciple,” Tristan said with a shake of his head.

“Well,” Dellen said, “You did pump me full of enough Electrical Aether to let me forge myself.” He fingered the lightning scar crawling out from his collar. “Not to mention this little memento. Maybe it impressed him.”

“About that,” Tristan said. “Listen, I want to say that I’m sorry about what happened during your initiation test. The amount of Electrical Aether I used was… Excessive.”

Dellen looked at him and considered his word before responding. “I appreciate your apology, Tristan, but I asked for every iota of Aether you pushed through me. It was exhilarating. Have you ever had that much Steam Aether flowing through your body?”

“No, never,” Tristan said with a shake of negation.

“I don’t recommend it, I don’t. It’s an easy way to die, but please know that I don’t hold you responsible for anything.”

Tristan shook his head again. “I could have killed you.”

Dellen gave him an understanding smile, “Yes, you could have, but again, I asked for it. I apologize for putting you in a position where you feel so guilty. Please accept my apology.”

Tristan looked confused but said. “I accept your apology.”

“Splendid.” Dellen said, “Besides, we’re both Aetheric Cultivators; I hope we can collaborate in the future. I’d like to know more about how you made that flying suit of yours.” He still harboured dreams of building his own frame. He wondered if he could create something like Tristan had that would also let him fly. “I’m getting distracted; I came here to see Thaddeus before he thinks I’m losing interest.”

Dellen pulled the practice cube from his pocket. “I hope he feels that I’ve made progress with this.” He put the cube back away. “Can you help me get to him? I have no idea how to reach him from this landing bay.”

Tristan’s face brightened. “Of course, I’d be happy to help; follow me.”

They walked through the winding and sometimes windowless corridors of the conglomeration of floating airships. “Is there anything in particular that you’re going to ask Thaddeus today?”

“I just need to discuss my progress. I’m sure he’d be happiest if I sat for days on end, cube in hands and nothing else, but I have a noble house to manage.” Said Dellen, “Obligations keep me busy.” He neglected to mention that he’d been at Miranda’s gym for the best part of three days and scarcely darkened the door at the Northcote Estates. It was still true; he did have family responsibilities that should have kept him busier than the average inductee.

They continued through the headquarters, passing various rooms before arriving at Thaddeus’s hybrid lab and training space.

“Here we are,” Tristan said, stopping outside the door. “I’ll leave you to your meeting with Thaddeus.”

Tristan left.

Dellen knocked on Thaddeus’s door. A minute later, it cracked open. A gruff voice answered. “What do you want?”

“It’s Dellen Northcote.” Dellen answered, “Is now a good time?”

“Oh, it’s you. Yes. Come in.” Thaddeus said with a wave.

Dellen stepped in and saw that Thaddeus was already examining him. “How is your work with the cube coming along?”

Dellen pulled out the cube. “I’m disappointed in my progress, but I’m doing better.”

He took out the cube, held it between his hands, and focused on sending Electrical Aether into his palms.

The cube lit up. Branches of light spread, still faint, then the metal heated. Dellen grimaced but kept his hands in place. The metal turned a dusky red, and Dellen dropped it.

Thaddeus gave a dissatisfied grunt. “You’ve made some progress.”

“I had a question about Aetheric Frames,” Dellen said.

“Oh?”

“I’d like to construct one to help with my training.”

Thaddeus gave him a slow nod. “I see, and how do you expect that to help you?”

Dellen sensed that it wasn’t criticism, but instead Thaddeus probing his understanding. “Those frames are liabilities unless you have at least a minimum quantity of Aether flowing through them. They’re a help, but also a burden; I thought that if I was wearing one, the constant practice would help with my control.”

“Your logic is sound,” Thaddeus said, “However, making a frame like that takes time, and skill. Do you have either?”

“I have some small skill working with my hands,” Dellen said. “I don’t know the theory or the method for building something like that, though.”

“You’d either need to build it yourself or pay an artisan to build it for you; they are almost specific to the user. An ill-fitting frame is a trial to use.”

“What could I add to the frame to help with my training?” Dellen tapped at his shoulders and waist. “Tristan has that frame that he uses like a flight suit. Is there any way to use Electrical Aether to achieve the same thing?”

Thaddeus barked out a laugh. “Flight? With Electrical Aether? I think not. It lacks the substance to push down and push out with. No, I don’t think that will work. I can understand the attraction. Truly I can, but no, that is not a use for which Electrical Aether is well suited.”

Thaddeus seemed more relaxed than the last time Dellen had seen him. “Flight is an application that aetherforged of every affinity seem to try to work out.” He rubbed his nose. “It’s useful.” He pointed in a general way at the walls around them. “Take these very airships that we’re on now, or that fill the sky. They’re beyond useful. The closest we can come with Electrical Aether is magnetism, which still has many uses.”

“It would be convenient not to hire a carriage each time I come back here,” Dellen said.

“Well, you need to stop dreaming of things that can never be and instead focus on what can. Put those dreams of flight to rest and focus on your forging. You’ve made some progress, but not enough, however much time you’ve spent working with that cube each day.”

Dellen opened his mouth to answer, but Thaddeus held up a finger.

“I’m not interested. No matter how much time you’ve spent working with that cube each day, double it. There’s not much I can teach you until you have a basic exercise like that mastered.”

“What exercises do you have in mind once I reach that level of competency?” Dellen asked.

“Aetheric Energy Sculpting,” Thaddeus said. “It’s one of the pinnacles of the art for Electrical Aether.”

“This sounds like nonsense,” Gilgamesh said.

Dellen ignored him, “Aetheric Energy Sculpting. It sounds fascinating. What is it?”

“I already know of your tendency to jump ahead. Stay focused on your fundamentals. I have a more mundane task in mind for you today.” Thaddeus’s smile took on a malicious tinge.

“Which is?”

“Inventory and organize the components in my lab.”

Dellen groaned inwardly, maybe he should have just gone back to his estate to relax before the fight.