After more celebrations and speculation about [Glass Animation] applications, I retire to my room for a brief nap. By the time I wake up, however, the day is long since spent. Blue-wreathed shadows outside announce that the wee hours of the night are upon us. In the distance, I make out the soft glow of a mana lamp on a side street.

Huh. Rain musta stopped while I was asleep, I realize after several moments of silence, belatedly remembering that we had planned to meet with the mayor once the weather cleared up. Guilt and indignation war within me. I can’t believe I slept through our agreed-upon time to meet up—and I also can’t believe that no one woke me up for the appointment.

“Maybe I needed the sleep,” I murmur to myself. I’ve been on the ragged edge for a long while now. No sense in getting worked up about it. Sometimes things are simply outside of my control, I finally decide. We pushed hard to get here. Taking some time to sleep and catch up on rest is never a bad idea.

I must have drifted off again after that, because the next thing I know, it’s morning again. Bright sunlight streams through the smudged window. The day is clear, although storms are never far off during the stormy season, from what I’ve heard. My eyes are crusted over with sleep and my mind feels like my head got stuffed full of newly-shorn wool.

With a great display of willpower, I stagger downstairs to breakfast feeling a little like a dead man walking. Looking around the table, I see that I’m not alone in that regard. The only one of us who looks chipper is our normally-irascible guide, who’s puffing away furiously on his pipe, an empty plate in front of him with scant traces of gravy where he failed to lick it clean.

“Mornin, princess,” Azariah greets me, belching as he snatches up the last sweet roll from the table and munches it in front of me. His eyes glimmer with self-satisfaction at having stolen a march on me.

I shuffle over and sit, pulling the breakfast platter closer and helping myself to the only food still untouched: cold fish. It’s not what I’d choose for a breakfast meal most days, but I’m too hungry to complain about it. Well. I won’t complain too much. “Should I be concerned?”

“By what?” Azariah demands.

“Your smug tone is typical,” I say, grimacing as I chew on a particularly pungent bite of fish. A quick scan around the table reveals some sort of sour, pulpy juice available in a ceramic pitcher. I pour myself a drink and drain the whole thing hastily, preferring the bite of citrus to the taste of whatever strange carp I’m eating.

Once my throat is clear, I continue. “Nah, your persistent surliness doesn’t bother me. You’re only happy when you’re grumpy. But you acting peppy, Azzy? That’s downright terrifying.”

He scowls, and his pipe smoke combusts into tiny sparks of golden-red fire. “I told Totten not to call me that. Little sucker’s gonna pay for that nickname.”

“Payback for the sweet roll,” I clarify, glaring at him while I eat another bite of fish.

Azariah snickers. “If the price of messin with ya is a dumb nickname, then I’ll take that trade all day, every day. Shoulda seen yer face!”

I sigh dramatically, which sets him off even more. “Yeah, yeah. What happened while I was out?”

“Well, ya missed the meetin. Luckily.”

I perk up. “Oh? Is your Skill behaving better since I wasn’t there to talk with the mayor? Finding the way forward is pretty busted, by the way. Like we’re traveling with a [Seer].”

Azariah picks up a napkin. He pats his mouth, cleaning the last of the sauce from his beard, and shakes his head. “Still bad. But no more dead ends. Path continues.”

I stop with my serving knife halfway to my mouth, struck by the way he phrased things. “Dead ends—is that literal? You thought we were all gonna die?”

“Not me,” he clarifies cheerfully.

“Just us, huh?” I set down the knife and rub my eyes, blinking moisture back into them until they feel less like a side of salted fish. “I guess I should be touched that you were looking out for us. Forget [Seer]. You’re a true [Saint].”

“Just doin my job,” Azariah grumbles.

“Uh huh. Well, thanks for the warning, anyway. Nice to know you care.” I finish another bite, wash it down with more juice, and catch Rakesh’s eye. “What’d you negotiate? Favorable terms, I hope.”

“Of course! Thanks to Ned’s excellent recommendation, the mayor hired us to repair a few broken warehouse windows, as well as fixing up the street lamps that blew out during the first storm of the season. When he heard that Avelina can cast [Strong as Stone], his eyes lit up like bonfires! He agreed to pay extra if we replace all the streetlamps in town with unbreakable varieties.”

“Sounds promising,” I allow.

“In addition to monetary payment, the mayor is sending out messages to his contacts up and down the coast. If anyone’s willing to navigate the storms, then we’ll know in a day. Two at most. If no one agrees, then we’ll set out on foot,” Rakesh says. “That’s still in our favor versus circumnavigating the inland sea. Ideally, we’ll wait for faster passage.”

“Maybe we should build our own boat,” I muse. “I’ll bet [Glass Animation] could create a set of paddle wheels that turn themselves.”

Azariah laughs so hard he snorts juice out of his nose. “You know how to sail, kid?”

“No, but if we’re enclosed in fortified glass, then we should be safe,” I counter. “Maybe a [Captain] would take us on if he has confidence in the vessel.”

He shakes his head, more serious. “No [Captain] worth anythin would take ya aboard an unknown, unproven ship. They’re a superstitious and ornery lot. Not a chance.”

“Ornery? That’s funny coming from you. I’ll bet if we work together, our glass craft would be awesome. Probably better than any boat they could make,” I mutter, a touch too defensively. It’s a fun idea, and the more I think about it, the more I like it. Admittedly, finding that much glass in Loch LaMara—or transmuting it from raw material—would take too long and cost more mana than I can pay right now.

Azariah glances around, licking his lips. “All right. Ned ain’t pokin his nose into our talk, so now’s as good a time as any. Listen, I looked into another option. The underwater way I told ya about, Nuri? I think we should take it.”

“You don’t like my boat idea?”

“I’m serious,” he insists. “Wait if you want, piddle around with makin lamps and windows, but listen to me when I tell you about the way forward.”

“By the way, Rakesh, thanks for taking care of things with the mayor,” I say, opting not to answer Azariah just yet. I don’t like the reminder of what his particular brand of finding a way forward looks like, and he knows it. I’m being petty, but he made me angry.

I push my plate away and glance at Melina, who’s likely taken charge while I was out. She’s always been good at that. Ember trusted her for a reason. “Do you already have a division of labor for the window and lamp panes?”

Melina’s face crinkles up as she smiles. “Already taken care of, Nuri. All we need from you is [Vitrification]; we’re making everything ourselves.”

My shoulders sag as a weight I didn’t know I was carrying seems to lift off me. “Thanks, Mel. I knew I could count on you. Sounds like I can focus on [Glass Animation] while we’re here. I appreciate your help.”

“Of course, Nuri. You don’t have to do everything yourself. What, afraid we’re only gonna keep you around for the convenient access to glass on demand if you don’t prove your worth to us on a daily basis?” she teases.

“Yeah, kinda. Honestly, it’s a relief. I keep forgetting to rely on you like I should,” I say. I stand up from the table and nod farewell. “Heading back up to my room, I guess. My Skill isn’t recharged yet, but I’ve got a few prototypes that I want to practice making while I wait. Call me when you run out of glass.”

“Why don’t you just top us off now?” Avelina asks. “Then we can leave you alone to play with your toy animals all day. You can pretend you’re a kid again!”

Mikko chuckles. “When you say it that way, it sounds like Nuri’s twelve again and playing with the stuffies that Ma made for him. He always loved animals.”

Lionel gives me a strange look. “Nuri, you told me when we were ten that you were way too old to play with stuffed animals anymore. I was so ashamed about still playing with mine that I went home and gave them to my cousins. Were you lying?”

“Look, a new stormfront’s rolling in!” I say, lying again as I point out the window behind Lionel. As soon as he turns around, I run out of the main room, chortling all the way.

“You owe me replacement animals, ya big baby!” Lionel shouts, his voice cutting above the din of conversation. He dissolves into laughter. A moment later, the team joins him.

=+=

That evening, the team gathers together in my room in the inn to discuss Azariah’s suggestion of trying to travel underwater. Azariah took Orav out to the tavern to give him the hard sell on joining him. It’s almost endearing, since the crusty guide doesn’t seem to take too kindly to most people. We take advantage of his absence, settling in for a debate. My friends from Silaraon are all here, standing around the bed since there’s no place to sit. It’s cramped, but secure, given Rakesh’s undying love for his modified version of the [Echo of the Songbird] Skill.

“Never thought that our unflappable guide would be afraid of water,” Mikko says, shaking his big head. His flaming red hair is getting shaggy after months on the road, so it flops into his eyes. He blows it away with a puff of air, but it falls right back into his eyes. He sighs, giving up, and leans against the wall. “Kinda funny. Guess it makes sense, though, since he can’t use his smoke underwater.”

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

I hum, considering that claim as I scratch my beard. “Maybe he can. Who knows how it works? I’ve never seen a Skill that flexible. Honestly, his mana control is so good it disgusts me. That’s probably just envy speaking.”

“He’s probably got a reason to be scared. The inland sea is extremely deep,” Rakesh says. “Are you familiar with the properties of water?”

“No, but I’ve got a feeling I’m about to be,” Mikko says, smirking at our overly sincere [Researcher]. “Should I take notes?”

Lionel raises his hand. “Will there be a test?”

Displaying great dignity, Rakesh ignores the pair of troublemakers. “According to the guidebooks I perused, the depths are still uncharted. No [Explorer] or [Cartographer] can swim deep enough due to the pressure. The deeper you go, the more water presses in against you. We can determine exactly how much pressure by calculating the depth of the liquid, the density of the liquid—freshwater and saltwater are different, naturally—and the acceleration of objects due to gravity. Multiplying the numbers gives you a standardized unit. Go deep enough, and the pressure is unbearable for humans. Even you would be crushed, Mikko, if you ventured far enough beneath the waves. Eventually, light can no longer penetrate the depths, either. Monsters lurk in the freezing dark.”

“Got it. Dark. Cold. You’ll either get crushed to death or eaten by a beast. Fear seems like an appropriate response,” Lionel says, nudging Mikko.

“All right, you’ve got a point,” Mikko concedes, raising his hands in surrender. “But that still doesn’t explain how the people supposedly living down there survive. If it’s so dangerous, then why did they build a kingdom there? Something doesn’t add up about Azariah’s suggestion to go underwater.”

Melina nods along. “Salient point. They probably don’t live in the deepest trench. That sounds like an impossible feat of engineering, even with high-level [Architects] or [Builders]. If they’re closer to the shore, however, then it’s doable. Maybe their tunnel system follows the line of the sea, then cuts across a shallower region. That would reduce travel time, not to mention keep us sheltered from the storm.”

“Sounds too good to be true,” I mutter. “Why wouldn’t we have heard about it before now if it’s such a perfect way to travel?”

Rakesh frowns. “Maybe the powers that be in Loch LaMara don’t fancy competing trade routes. They might clamp down on access. In fact, I’m almost certain of it; my Skill just buzzed in the back of my mind when I speculated like that. There’s definitely an overlooked detail; we’re on the right path, I’ll wager.”

I chew on the inside of my cheek. “If it’s been a while since they’ve traded with the town, then maybe there’s bad blood? Ned didn’t mention them at all, and the mayor didn’t bring them up when you negotiated. That makes me think they don’t even consider it an option at all. I don’t want to presume it’s safe to try to use the tunnels.”

“Are we sure there are tunnels?” Avelina asks. She scowls, her arms crossed, glaring at everyone from her corner of the room, where she’s wedged in beside a small clothing dresser. I’d feel bad for her current spot, since she looks so squeezed, except that she was the first one in the room. She did that to herself.

“It would be just like that smelly little man to leave out the worst of it,” Avelina continues, her nose wrinkling up. “He let us draw our own conclusions. I’ll bet there aren’t any tunnels. We probably have to wear helmets with a breathing enchantment. Sounds wet and gross.”

“You just don’t like that your beloved fire won’t work underwater,” Mikko teases. “But I’ll keep the fish away if you’re worried about something trying to eat us.”

“Ew! What if they’re slimy?”

Lionel shudders. “I don’t want them touching me, either. Can I veto the underwater idea? Avelina is the only one making sense for once. It’s like bizarro world tonight.”

Avelina shakes her head at him, her lips thinning in displeasure. “Thanks a lot Lio. I always make sense.”

“Nuh uh!”

“Do too! Mel, tell him.”

“Fight your own battles, sister.”

“All right, no bickering,” I interrupt, although it warms my heart to see Avelina talking like this again. She’s always given as good as she got, but lately it’s hard to reel her into our teasing. If she’s up for some verbal sparring, no matter how meager, then I’ll take it as a good sign.

“Let’s discreetly look into some options.” I scratch the back of my head, suddenly itchy as I consider my next suggestion. Something about all of this makes my skin prickle, and I’m not sure if it’s just nerves, or a deeper sense of intuition. “I think we should also consider parting ways with Azariah. I don’t trust him, not after the stunt he pulled to help out his buddy Totten. Orav is nice, but I’m not sure he’s any better. He’s basically a friendly spy.”

“Oh, he’s definitely a spy. But he’s nice. I liked hunting with him on the way. I picked up a lot of helpful pointers on how to track animals—and how to sneak up on my unsuspecting prey. No one’s safe from me anymore. Especially not liars!” Lionel says cheerfully, breaking off into a mad-sounding cackle.

I snicker. “And you said that I sound like an evil overlord. Watch yourself, Lio. You’re not far behind me.”

“Oh, you’re definitely still well in the lead. Peering into people’s souls? Stealing all of the best Skills? Creating an unfeeling army of glass monsters to do your bidding?”

“Ha. When you put it that way, I guess I do sound like one of the villains that Tem and his team would track down,” I admit with a slight chuckle.

Lionel leans in and raises his eyebrows meaningfully. “Yep. You’re basically a bad guy now, Nuri. Good thing you have a team of plucky friends to keep you from going crazy.”

“You’re the ones who pushed me over the edge,” I mutter, but I appreciate their presence here with me. Leaving without them was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever made when I left Silaraon last year. Sure, things more or less worked out, but I never want to be alone again. Not like that.

“We’re getting off track,” I continue, putting on a sterner tone of voice. “I don’t really trust Azariah anymore. If we can find another guide, we should settle up with him and part ways.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Nuri,” Melina says, surprising me with her disagreement. “He’s clearly our best bet. Trust him or not on a personal level, he’s an excellent [Pathfinder].”

“He’s skilled,” I allow. “But he’s not the only one around. Just keep an open mind?”

Melina nods after a moment’s consideration. “Certainly. If we find another option, then I’ll consider it. But don’t you think that’s optimistic? We don’t have anyone else. And the longer we delay, the less utility we get out of finding a short cut. We’ll end up eating into our schedule one way or the other.”

“That’s an excellent point,” I acknowledge, frowning. “Rakesh, can you run the numbers? Give me a few different scenarios—travel by sea, around the lake, under the water—and how long you estimate each will take. Compare them to the most likely wait times to find a guide, and let me know if we’re better served staying in Loch LaMara or pressing onward with Azariah. That might help us figure out the right way forward.”

“Already on it,” Rakesh says, brightening at the task I’ve assigned.

“You probably have a spreadsheet already,” Lionel says. His laughter dies on his lips when Rakesh pulls out a folded paper from his pocket and shows off that he does, indeed, have a spreadsheet at the ready.

He loves that sort of fiddly work, which amazes me. I can’t stand that stuff, personally. I clap him on the shoulder. “Glad you’re with us, buddy.”

“Thank you. I’ve been tracking our likely delay for a while. Discovering the possibility of underwater routes changed the calculus, however. I think we should take that route, should the opportunity arise.”

“Excellent work, Rakesh. Sounds like we all know what to do next. Let’s go enjoy some well-deserved relaxation at the tavern.” I chuckle. “I’m sure Azariah will be delighted when he sees us follow him there.”

=+=

The mayor gives us a corner of a warehouse to use as our headquarters while we work. He’s not the most natural administrator I’ve ever seen, but I guess that makes sense since he’s not Classed into it. Like Ned, he’s a [Sailor] who retired and got elected to run the outpost. They call him the mayor, but he’s not really in charge of anything as far as I can tell. Unlike Totten, who rules the trading town of Halmuth with an iron fist, the mayor just listens to complaints and tries to keep the town running. His authority is paper-thin, which makes me think he’s just the person least likely to argue back when others make demands.

Few people live in Loch LaMara permanently. People don’t buy and sell here, not like in Halmuth. There are no public markets. Goods are simply offloaded from caravans onto ships, or vice versa. Even so, there’s a steady population flowing in and out of the seaside town, except for the stormy season, and they need places to stay and safe streets to travel.

Mikko sets up his anvil, getting to work with the few ingots they have stockpiled. He can bang out a streetlamp in minutes, since he’s familiar with the template, so everyone else tries to keep pace with the small window production. I’ve joined them while I work on [Glass Animation], since they still need me to use [Vitrification] when they run out. Plus, it’s lonely sitting by myself in my room all day.

“While you’re here, could you try a new technique?” Melina asks. “I think we can speed up production considerably.”

At her behest, for the first pane of glass, we spread out a thin layer of crushed rocks. She levitates them with her [Object Manipulation]. I run [Vitrification] through the rock collection, bring it up to temperature with my manipulation Skill, and then she presses it flat and thin with a second application of [Object Manipulation].

“Oh! That could work,” I say.

Her eyes spark with joy as she shares the vision. “It’s like using rollers for thin sheets, but we’re using kinetic magic instead. I’ve been challenging myself to think more creatively and consider how to use magic in unique ways instead of relying on tools.”

Her excitement only increases when the prototype is a success. “We can probably finish up today, if I make use of your spare mana cores. Do you mind?”

“Of course not. That’s why I made you one in the first place. You should use as many as you need if it puts us ahead of schedule. The sooner we finish the work, the easier it is to leave as soon as we’ve confirmed our path forward.”

“I still think you should strongly consider following Azariah’s lead,” Melina says. “I don’t think he’ll lead us astray. Even with Totten, he made sure you got paid. He just put his fingers on the scales—and at least he was honest about it when you confronted him. We don’t have to hire him for the return trip, but I think you’re letting your anger cloud your judgment, Nuri. No, don’t give me that scowl. Promise you’ll think about it?”

I work my jaw, caught between conflicting emotions. “Only because I trust you, Mel. I’m not happy about it, though.”

Melina gives me a sad smile. “You don’t have to like every choice you make. Just don’t overlook a good choice because you’re upset. For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing well. You learn from your mistakes and apologize when you’ve messed up. That’s an important quality in a leader. No one’s perfect, but growing over time is a matter of attitude, not talent. If you’re not making the same mistakes over and over again, then you’re getting better.”

“Thanks,” I say, returning her smile. “I need the encouragement sometimes. It’s way too easy to think that I have to do it all on my own. But that just leaves me feeling isolated.”

“We’ll follow you, Nuri. We’re not asking you to turn everything into a vote. At some point a leader needs to lead. But don’t try to shoulder all the burden by yourself. We’re here to share the load.”

A lump forms in my throat as Melina speaks. I swallow twice, trying to dislodge it, but I’m overwhelmed by the support. She’s always been a good friend.

“Don’t ruin the moment by saying something silly,” Melina says. She laughs melodically and levitates another set of pebbles into the air. “Let’s try this again. I’ll bet I can speed up now that I know how to direct the Skill. It’s good practice with mana manipulation. I’ve neglected that for too long.”

I oblige Melina and thread mana into the loose sheet of rocks, activating [Vitrification] to transmute them all at once. “Mana manipulation is tough. Remember the puzzles Ezio used to give us to solve?”

“Tell me about it!” Melina shudders. “I still get headaches just thinking about the puzzles. But he did help me learn how to practice more effectively. Without him, I don’t think I would have ever been able to push [In the Blink of an Eye] to the next rank.”

“Sounds like it was a profitable time,” I say, watching her perfectly press out the glass in a thin pane. She beckons over her twin to use [Strong as Stone] before it cools.

“Do you miss it, Mel?”

She taps her chin with a finger. “Yeah. Sometimes. I’m better suited to the classroom than a Rift. Adventuring is a little rich for my blood.”

“When this is done, we’ll get you back to class. Whatever it takes, I’ll do my best to pay you back. You’ve given up so much for me—it’s only right that I help you.”

Melina’s eyes grow soft and unfocused, as though she’s staring at a future that only she can see. “That sounds wonderful, Nuri. Come on. Let’s finish up the commission and head to the tavern. Why should Azariah get all the fun? It’s high time that we kick back and relax, too.”

I grin. “Best idea yet, Mel!”