Ruyo explained the harbor-clearing problem and the ideas she'd splashed back and forth with Nusina. "This might be a good time to get more raw magical power, the sixth level. That would make control easier and open up some new possibilities. But I'm going to need a coordinated day of prayer across the southlands and I can't set that up for days."

Elly said to the siblings, "See, this is what the business is like. You end up asking for thousands of people to pray to you at once at a bunch of temples they built in your honor. But the whole point is to get some more powers because you're trying to be a one-woman force of nature."

The boy said, "Still a good job if you can get it!"

She blushed. "It is. Ruyo, what if I tried using the nightfog to reinforce your ice, to seal off rooms, to collapse them with that air removing trick?"

Ruyo said, "We're making this complicated, but all right... once I have enough ability to juggle the spells."

She used the temple to send out a request for a prayer day, as she'd done before going off to war. She asked for thousands of people to show up across the southlands to offer praise and support, to overflow her with spiritual might that could help her improve.

For the moment, she consulted with the father and son of the water-using noble family. It was a jury-rigged effort. The father was a creator of enchantments like a type of water launcher used in war and firefighting. But he wasn't able to breathe water himself; the town was that hard up for experts.

Which angered Ruyo. "And none of the other city-states sent a team of specialists to help with this project!"

Nusina said, "I blame the Church for not browbeating everyone into working together better."

"Well, we should have a dedicated group to handle these things. The Inheritors could make themselves useful that way if they're willing."

They brought along a wind mage, also maybe third tier with a bit of fire magic and now a Ruyo-provided shortcut to water. Between their efforts they created a bubble just underwater, pushing the waves aside and filling the space with air. Ruyo's efforts here were still like reciting tongue-twisters, but it was a little easier to make an air bubble like this and push her head into it every so often rather than try to keep a water-breathing spell going. She pushed her skill anyway, similar to how she'd fought some Khyberian mages while riding atop a phantom current. She'd need to ask Magus of Starshore for advice on this bubble trick.

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The group gingerly descended with their hoarded air, reaching the base of a tall, harbor-spearing mast. From here they worked out a way of freezing ice around the legs of the men and using that and steady currents to brace them. They got a wood-cutting saw -- she'd foolishly suggested axes at first -- and awkwardly rasped a deeper and deeper groove into the tough old oak trunk.

"Ha, kinda fun!" said the wind mage, coughing and dripping with his head in the bubble.

The older water mage elbowed his son and they began singing a sea shanty, badly. It was ridiculous enough that Ruyo joined in.

Nusina had been shepherding spells and bracing people. Now she looked them over, her eyes darting back and forth. "You all need a break. Up." Ruyo waved her off but the spirit was insistent. "Come on, bubble up!"

They wobbled up to the surface and sprawled on the edge of a rowboat waiting for them. "Are we ready?" said a woman in the boat. On the nearest dry land, a team of men stood ready to haul on some ropes and try to snap the mast from up there.

Nusina said, "Not quite." She spoke silently to Ruyo: "Milady, something's wrong. You were all acting loopy down there."

Ruyo coughed and brushed the hair out of her face with one webbed hand. "We're tired. Or are you saying there's magic or something?"

"I don't think so," the spirit said. "Might just need more skill."

The boat crew were looking the other divers over skeptically as they sputtered and caught their breath. "Tough to inhale down there," the wind mage said.

Nusina told Ruyo, "Hey, count backwards from ten for me." Ruyo did. "All right, but I'm reminded about that air mask device."

Ruyo belatedly noticed some fading dizziness. She remembered to answer silently. "Uh. It said something about blood poisoning from dives. Did I just hurt everyone?"

"They seem recovered. But Magus' version of this spell was safer and simpler."

Ruyo frowned. "Everyone, that was kind of dangerous. It might be best to wait before we try again."

"Wait?" said the boat lady, and the others clamored to object too. "We've got to get this damn wreckage cleared."

The locals insisted on at least tackling the first mast, the one most badly blocking everything. Reluctantly, Nusina shepherded them back down to hack at the wood some more, while the team of rope-pullers started yanking.

The snap of wood was loud in Ruyo's ears. She paused her efforts and pointed upward. As they rose, the mast shuddered and toppled in slow motion. They arrived at the surface wobbly, exhausted and victorious.

"Finally!" said the wind mage.

The woman coordinating the hauling effort said, "If it's not too much trouble, Lady Ruyo, can you fetch the ropes we just sent to the bottom?"

Ruyo sprawled across the boat's side, coughing. "Nusina? I'm delegating this part to you."