Accompanied by Riya, Chifya felt somewhat off when they enter the house. And what greets them is Sheila busy reading a spellbook.

"We're home." Riya exclaims.

"Welcome back," Sheila responds folding the book. "It's good to see you've returned from Dragon's Lake. Umm… there's a person who wishes to see you." She continues after seeing Chifya.

"Where is that person?" A soft sad-words coming from Chifya.

"He's upstairs." Sheila points her fingers at the ceiling.

"He?"

Sheila nods and quickly Chifya slowly goes upstairs. "Can I borrow your room?" Chifya says before stepping on the third platform.

"You need not ask. And I think he might be at the balcony." Sheila said.

"Thank you very much for your gratitude." Chifya bows her head and quickly she jogs the staircase.

Without even putting off her satchel and Akatosh's bow. Chifya narrowly saunters to the balcony.

"Galish?" She calls to the person standing on the balcony facing opposite her.

The man slowly turns right after he heard Chifya's soft call. Dress in a glamourous white silky robe. With emerald eyes that fit his beautiful face and a long grayish hair reaching his waistline.

Similar to an elven ear only shorter, the druid let go of his cane to hurriedly embrace Chifya.

"Chifya…" Galish says, tightly embracing Chifya, "I was so worried about your return."

Pushing him aside after their long grasping Chifya asks. "Galish, I thought I'd send a word."

"It's because I have a message for you." Galish reply fumbling her hand. "The elders… they gave us our blessing."

Chifya gasp, "I-I… I need to rest for a bit." She said rushing towards Sheila's room.

The sudden decisions from the elders were hard for her to process. She never wanted this, never even cared the slightest. Chifya had already made the decision for herself to avenged her village from the gruesome fate they've met. She was told many times by her elders, by her new friends to let the past go and stride for a new life.

Bound by her adopted clan Chifya was at loss. To recuperate her sudden emotions, she groped around in her satchel, looking for her amulet a necklace given to her by her loving mother.

Rubbing salt to the wound Chifya's amulet turned into a note saying. "Collateral payment… Hehehe, peace."

Her rage quickly escalated, "I'll show you collateral payment when I put an arrow to your chest!" Chifya exclaimed exiting the room.

Grabbing the bow and her satchel she burst the door open. Ignoring Galish call, she manages to control her anger towards Sheila and her companions but even they can tell her emotion.

With her heartfelt gratitude towards the group, Chifya gave them a pouch of coins. In a rush to track Akatosh, Chifya as a friend ask a final word that if they ever come in contact with him, they should inform her in secret.

Ripping Akatosh bounty paper on the board Chifya hurriedly went to the guild for teleportation. Unfortunately, Galish transports them to a forest near the kingdom.

To her opposition, Galish tightly hugs her trying his best to comfort her anger.

"Let go of me!" Chifya shout.

"I won't… not that I would lose you again," Galish respond.

"I said let me go…"

Taking the situation Galish quickly used a teleportation scroll gating them back to their homeland. Her rage as of now erupt to the point she nearly slaps Galish.

"That's enough Chifya." Comes in a soft voice an elderly tone.

Chifya was frozen, frozen by magic. Realizing the voice Chifya eases her temper which the elderly man in white robe undoes his magic.

"Welcome home Chifya."

Elsewhere…

The crowds of people are cheering for the return of their queen. Dozens of people shout their joy as the Queen of the sea makes her way on the street.

Accompanied by her three assists and two powerful guards. She was a person to be both respected and feared. Following her shadow, a man with glasses and a short cloak stiffens his eyes in bold intimidation. It was her assistance as well as her royal advisor. And to her left are two female mage-fighters who closely distance themselves from her as they keep a sharp eye on the people.

Not before long, a little child makes her way to the crowded street blocking Izura's way and offering her a very majestic sparkling blue flower. To her action, the people wonder in embarrassment.

As a bodyguard, the two female mage-fighters flinch their hands but Izura's royal advisor stops them, giving them a sign not to intervene.

Izura lowers herself to receive the child's gift.

"What's your name little one," Izura says receiving the flower.

"Names Celi." The girl responds.

"Celi, what a pretty name." Izura implores patting her head.

In the middle of their conversation, Celi's mother came. To her shock, the girl's mother apologizes for her child's inconvenient behavior.

She didn't take her apology but only ask something. "This flower is beautiful and smells wonderful where did you get this child."

"From our garden," Celi respond.

"My lady queen, we're actually a florist." Her mother explained.

"I see, then I should have some of these at my place," Izura says nodding at his assistance.

After a short word, the two bow and quickly joins the crowd earning the respect of the people.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Welcome home Admiral." One of her captains says greeting her.

Izura nods and so the man who greeted her guides the admiral and her servants. From a distance, they fade like a man enters a fog.

"OOF… what a show," Amaragnum says. "So what are you going to--" The stillmage stops the moment he realizes Akatosh trembling rhapsody.

"OHH KAMIYO!" Akatosh responds to Amaragnum.

Gazing the large ship of the admiral, Amaragnum understood his host's desire.

With a staggering size nearly of an aircraft carrier. Its single sails were like a drake's wing sigil that of a sea dragon. Near the upper gunport of the ship were clad of golden-steel carved that of a gothic design. And at the figurehead of the ship was Aziru the goddess of life as to the sea, and a sea dragon slithering her arm.

Changing their position for a better perspective of the ship Akatosh assumed a hundred guns mounted on the ship were 8-inch in diameter. Its uniqueness and the beauty of the ship gave a reason to build one for himself-- a battleship.

There are other average sizes ships floating near the docks about twice a dozen of them, but none could compare to the majestic ship of the queen.

"The scoundrel has found another reason," Amaragnum said.

With his lustful excitement, Akatosh must first attend to what ties to him. He looks at Lila so too Lila stares at him in a pleading eye.

"I ain't a liberator." Akatosh thinks. "Tell me? Was the person who had your brother a merchant or a noble. Something like that." Akatosh says towards Lila.

"I don't know but I know his face. He had a saturated eye, brown hair, and a beard, and--"

"Stop…" Akatosh interrupts. "We should find an inn first then we'll find your brother." He continues and then went asking the local people for a tavern.

Before they both headed near the tavern recommended by one local merchant, Akatosh turn his eyes at the large ship then smiles.

Frequently asking the people for the direction they finally found the tavern they're looking. 'Mermaids Water Inn' that's what the signboard says.

Putting on her hood Lila shadows Akatosh before they enter the building.

The place was different when they set foot. Unlike other taverns, it was designed in a cylindrical form, and through the center lies a fountain and a mermaid statue sitting on a stone holding a chalice of overflowing water. There were more sailors and fishermen than nobles and merchants combined. And it was his first time seeing a demi-human solitude themselves from the humans' boisterous words.

"A separate room for two. And I like to have some of your popular drinks." Akatosh says to the bartender.

"You must be a traveler." The bartend responds.

"You could say. And I would like to take out my drinks and food same goes with my companion."

"That would be three silvers."

Guided by a female waitress, "Really? this is why you choose this place, just for some wine." Lila writes.

"Hey… well, we could give it a try if you want," Akatosh says.

"P-pardon, is there something you wish from me?" The lady says after he heard Akatosh.

Knowing the misunderstanding. "Oh... I was talking to my companion." Akatosh reply.

Apologizing for her misconstrue she soon leads them to their respective room. "Is there something you wish to add?" The lady says.

"I'm fine just bring us our order." Akatosh reply.

Once Akatosh closed the door he instantly searches for his book scanning the battleship's blueprint. Although his inspiration to design the battleship was easy but some parts of the ship, its engine, the system, and the way it works were too much to him. Knowing little of the battleship's turret and the way it runs he quickly writes it.

While struggling to design the ship the waitress knocks on his door with a word. "Your order is here."

Pausing his work to eat his meal slowly chewing the food and at the same time thinking, imagining the ship he was designing. And when he nearly finishes his plate, he suddenly realizes something. "Can I borrow your grimoire?" Akatosh says abandoning his last quarter meal.

"What for?"

"About the fire gland…"

"It's there. You are free to use it but, can you read it?" Amaragnum chuckles.

"Of course, I can't. I don't have the knowledge to read dragon language."

"It's not a dragon language."

"What then."

"That's what I've been seeking. I have asked that one who battled the corrupted guardian of Azarus or whatever. But all he gave me was a word that I didn't understand."

"Mm-hmm… so can you translate this."

"I may, but you're the most peculiar person I've met. Yours that of a stillmage but a fraud. Tell me why do you seek... strength."

"I don't know, to pummel some person at the adventures guild. To beat the people that I don't like or who provoke me. It's all about revenge and I want to make the devil run."

Amaragnum chuckles. "Revenge, now that you mention it you remind me of the person who cage me."

"Oh… I like where this is going."

"Say, you scratch my back I scratch yours."

By his malicious excitement, Akatosh hesitated thinking for a word to say. "Since we both have the same intention. I agree, but--"

"I know, not taking over your body." Amaragnum interrupts.

"You got yourselves a deal but, your book."

Amaragnum sigh. "Since I've been taking my secrets for hundreds of years, guess it's time then."

Through a single cast, the book reveals thousands of words and signs floating in the air. Then with surging energy, they were all swallow by the book.

"There…" Amaragnum says, "I've reversed the book's seal."

"So is that it."

"See for yourself."

He quickly scans the translated words but no matter how many pages he flips, the pages were at no end.

"My grimoire holds thousands of books. It has an infinite page from the knowledge I stock through my travels."

"Can you do it to mine?"

"Your demands are tingling my nerves."

"Fine, I let you used my whole body when you get your revenge with that lich."

"Deal"

Once again, after they were finished leveraging each other there was a knock on the door. Akatosh calls but there was no one to answer. Ignoring the person, the knocking begins to irritate his mind.

He goes to check the person, "Oh… how stupid of me." Akatosh says seeing Lila on the front door.

"Can I have a word with you?" She writes followed by a worried face.

"Wait" Akatosh responds hiding the grimoire and the books from the table.

When they were alone Lila slowly grovels on the floor pleading to help her rescue her brother. Even Amaragnum was stunned, it was his first time seeing an elf grovel to a human.

"Wew… what a damsel." The stillmage says.

"I'm already making a plan…" Akatosh sigh, "so don't do that it gives me goosebumps."

"Are you really--"

"Yes, so go to bed I have some monkey business to do."

Driving Lila away Akatosh sigh.

"So what now stupid genius," Amaragnum said.

Akatosh pauses his work, "Merchants ehh… my pregnant pouch seems to crave more coins. To forge a majestic sword, one must have materials and tools, and one must know how to smith."

"What do you mean?"

"To make a great heist, I need information and provisions for me to know who the person is."

"You're more on the fortune."

Akatosh chuckles, "both."

Leaving his plans to rescue Lila's brother, Akatosh toasts a wine from himself as he continues his work.

When the next day arrives, they make their way to the bustling busy merchants' square. Thousands of varieties were displayed but Akatosh was looking for one thing.

"Glittering dust?" The merchants say.

"Yes, glittering dust got any of it."

The merchant crosses his arms and spoke. "Head to the 'Seven Seas'. They are the only ones who can sell that thing."

Giving him a guide Akatosh goes to where the 'Seven Seas' were. It was a large place like a coliseum. Divided into thirty parts he goes to where the one is selling the item he needs.

"Funny there was a person at Keshoval who sells the same."

The old merchant laughs. "That was but an imitation. And by the looks of it you were fooled by that person."

To better explain it to him the senile merchant scoops 20 grams of glittering dust. When he torches the powder, it burns more stable than the other powder he bought.

"You're lucky, the person was kindhearted to sell you a powder that burns, if worst it may not even burn like a wet rag."

To have a better understating of glittering dust he asks for more information.

"This thing is very handy why aren't other kingdoms won't use its capabilities."

"The mages had strict rules regarding this powder. Lucky for Mavigrid, we were able to make a contract to use this powder. The same goes with teleportation all-around the kingdoms and empires."

"Thanks that's all I need to know," Akatosh says dropping his payment.

"Glittering dust?" Amaragnum question, looking at Akatosh carrying the 15 kilos of glittering dust the limit when buying one.

"I thought you knew about this. It was your friend who created this."

"Azageis?"

"Yes, that's him."

"Such a long time had passed; I wonder what he looks like."

Shifting, he goes to the weapon shop. There are many flamboyant weapons and serrated swords, but none could top his sword made from elven-steel and the blazing whip. Having no weapons to buy he ask if the merchant would like to make a trade.

"Depends… so where are your goods." The merchant asks.

"Hold on a minute," Akatosh says carrying the sack of powder leaving Lila behind.

Upon his return, the person was shocked the moment he saw Akatosh carrying a bundle of weapons and dragging sacks of armors.

"How about these," Akatosh says putting the items on the table.

The merchants were silent to see a man carrying many weapons and apparel. They were more curious as to where this lad obtains and hoards such items.

"Are you going to buy it or not?"