Another timeless period, a blink of the cosmic eye, and we appeared standing in the town square of Breezewood.

As we had all been cramped into awkward positions and sitting down, we all promptly fell over, with Darshanna and I falling into the fountain, and soaking ourselves through.

“Kyaaah!” Darshanna thrashed around in the foot of water. “Help! HELP! I can’t swim!”

Daniyel picked himself up with a fluid grace, and leaned over the low rim of the fountain, helping Darshanna up out of the water. I had to make do by grabbing the rim of the fountain and pulling myself up, dripping wet.

I sighed. “Well I did say I wanted a bath, though I was hoping it would be warmer…” I muttered to myself.

“Why… if it isn’t Lilyanna!” I heard a familiar voice call out as Ms Buxby appeared out of the crowd of villagers. “What on earth are you doing in the fountain, dear?! And who are all these people?! Good heavens, is that a Monan!?”

Eideth waved and said “Hullo. Name’s Eideth. Pleasure to meet you.”

I smiled tiredly, and launched into my explanation. It was a long one.

When I had finished, the group of villagers surrounding us looked at each other, then back. Ms Buxby laughed and then clapped her hands. “Well dear! It sounds like you’re on quite an adventure! You and Soriya had best get on home. Clean up and let your mother know you’re safe.” She nodded, and turned to the others. “As for the rest of you, welcome to Breezewood. I’d be honored if you’d spend the night at my home! My house has been right empty ever since my children grew up and moved out.” She smiled with a gracious air of a woman who is well in her element.

Daniyel bowed to her in that odd way of his and said “We would be honored to receive the hospitality of the village of Lady Lilyanna and Lady Soriya.”

Ms Buxby giggled, her hand to her mouth. “Oh my! Aren’t you the smooth talker!”

Eshaan gave me a glance and I patted him on the arm. “Go on. We all need a bath, and I really do want to see my mother. We’ll see each other again soon.”

He nodded, and smiled at me in that self-deprecating way of his. “It has been a very long few days.”

I giggled. “Yes, it has.”

As I turned to go, Soriya patted my arm. “Don’t forget! Tomato Tortellini soup!”

I laughed and nodded tiredly. “And sparkling fruit wine.”

Soriya pouted briefly the grinned. “I had hoped you’d forgotten that part. Oh well!” She nodded. “Bath and bed!”

I nodded in agreement. “Yes. Bath and bed. For everyone.” It has truly been a very long day indeed.

We all agreed to meet up at the fountain at noon tomorrow, and with that, our little group broke up. I sighed, and trudged towards home. As I walked, thoughts tumbled through my head with ever increasing tempo, impossible to completely contain and quantify. I realized I was walking faster, and somehow before I realized it I was running down the gravel path towards home, pebbles flying under my heeled boots.

I burst in the door with a rush, and shouted out “Mother! I’m home!”

Mother came out of the workroom, rubbing her hands in her apron, smelling of alchemy and healing potions. “Lily?!” She stopped dead and stared at me, then rushed forward, arms open. “Lily! You’re back!” We collided in a warm hug and I let myself sag against her shoulder.

“I’m back, mama.” I said into her shoulder.

Mother squeezed me tightly then pulled back. “So you are, but my goodness you smell! Come on, off to the bath with you!”

I giggled and followed along. It had indeed been a very long time since I’d had a proper bath. What with adventures and chases I hadn’t even been able to get my promised bath from the sewers! I found myself looking forward to it very much indeed.

“So, what happened?! You’re back so early, you’ve only been gone a week, and I more than half expected you to be gone for months on some adventure or another!”

I coughed and blushed. “Well… actually… it seems I’m still on an adventure…” And so I spent the next hour and change storytelling, while I bathed and scrubbed and washed myself and my robes clean, then scrubbed all over again to get the very last of the travel of sewer stink off of me.

Mother’s eyes were wide with interest and I could tell she preened a little when I mentioned how helpful her travel journal had been.

“So you got to visit an imperial dig site in the Tol Jaegren mountains!? And fought an Ancient golem!? Oh my goodness Lily, you really are on an adventure!” she sigh and rubbed my head gently. “I can’t really say that I’m not worried. Of course I’m worried! But… you were right. I just can’t keep you on a shelf like a potion bottle.” She leaned in and hugged me close again, getting the front of her dress wet. “Please be careful, daughter?”

I smiled up at her. “Same promise as before mother.” A faint nudge from otherme, and I reached up out of the sudsy water, holding out my pinkie to her, and we linked pinkies and shook. “Pinkie promise.” I giggled at the childish pun, and then dunked my head under the water again to scrub.

As I was washing the suds off myself, I had a strange moment of disassociation. I didn’t even think about bathing. It’s just… normal now. I’m a girl and that’s… normal?

It’s the salve. Otherme replied quietly.

But shouldn’t I be worried? Shouldn’t this…

If you find a way to return home, then you return home. And if you don’t, because, as we suspect…

I felt a stab in my heart. It was increasingly becoming likely that I would not be returning home, purely from the likelihood that I had died somehow. Come to think of it, don’t both of the summons call me a Child of Æther? What’s going on there…? Oh! I can look at my status now!! I blinked in surprised memory, and closed my eyes, calling up that feeling of {Study} on myself.

{Name}: Lilyanna of Breezewood {Level}: 11

{Classes}: Spiritist 5/Orator 3/Arcanist 2/Gourmet 1

HP: 410 MP: 710 DEF: 63 M.DEF: 106

Current Status:

DEX: 63 INS: 106

MIG: 63 WIL: 106

Skills: Heal, Barrier, Aura, Cleanse, Bonds of Friendship, Encourage, My Trust in You, Persuade, Bind & Summon, Arcane Circle 1, Cooking 1

Special: Ætherborn

Wow. I’m level 11. I remember gaining my spells, but I don’t even remember getting all these skills? Wait, what’s Ætherborn?

Even as I thought it, I felt a gentle nudge in my mind, and the voice of the world soul spoke in my mind.

“Ætherborn: A child born from the Æther field established by the Goddess as her final gift to the world. Naturally gifted with high traits in magic and intelligence.”

“Well that explains… not much at all, really. I guess?” I murmured.

“Hm? Something wrong, Lily?” asked mother.

“Oh!” Oh honey, I’d forgotten all about her! “Oh it’s… it’s nothing mother. Just looking at my status, and wondering how far I’ll go.”

“Oh! Yes, tell me about your level! How much have you grown?!”

I blushed and ducked my head. “I… I don’t want to say.”

Mother looked at me for a very long time, and then said softly “So it’s like that? You’ve already surpassed me…”

I jerked my head up in surprise, looking at her. There were tears in her eyes, and I felt a stab through my heart. “I’m sorry mother! I-”

She reached down and hugged me gently to her, stroking my back. “Lily, I’m not crying because I’m sad. Well… maybe a little I am. But I’m not angry you’ve passed me up. I’m so very very proud of you. You’ve proven you were right.” She let out a little hiccupping laugh. “You were right that I shouldn’t keep you on a shelf. Look how much you’ve already grown when I let you fly just a little bit away from the nest.”

I blinked up at her in confusion, feeling my own eyes watering.

She’s happy for us. Otherme said with surprise and joy. She’s really happy for us! She’s so happy she’s crying!

That’s real? That happens?!

What are you saying, we’re crying now too!

I blinked, and realized that my vision wasn’t blurry because of the steam… it was true, tears were trickling down my cheeks, and I had a sappy smile on my face.

“Then… I…” I didn’t know what else to say, so I just hugged mother back, and felt that confused mix of happy/sad tears flowing down my cheeks.

A while later, we both regained control of ourselves, and wiped our eyes and cheeks clear.

I guess it’s a good thing we’re in the bath. I thought to myself.

“Well…” I felt a blush. I was rather proud that mother was so proud of me. “I’m level 11 now.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful Lilyanna. And still out on an adventure with room to grow.” Mother nodded and wiped at her eyes again. “I’m glad you’re growing stronger; it means that you’re safer out there. But also more dangerous! You mustn’t let your power go to your head!”

I smiled back at her. “I know mother.” I hugged her again. “I’m glad you’re still worried about me.”

Mother huffed and crossed her arms. “Well of course I’m still worried about you! What mother wouldn’t be worried about her daughter!?”

I smiled again and nodded. “Yes, I suppose that’s true. But thank you anyway.”

Mother cupped my cheek and smiled. “You’re welcome. Just make sure you come back; your room will always be waiting for you. So!” She clapped her hands. “You’ve brought your new friends home with you!”

She reached down and helped me out of the tub, handing me a tub of rinse water before passing me a giant fluffy towel to dry myself with.

“Yes, it seems so.” I said, toweling myself dry. “I’m not sure if they’re friends yet, but I’ve got a d- a Monan engineer, a maybe sky pirate Darshanna and her first mate Daniyel, Eshaan, and Soriya.”

“Goodness, and a Monan too! Oh that’s right you mentioned she’d joined you at the dig. And you say that female Monani don’t have beards?! I had no idea! Are they all fake?!”

I giggled. “I don’t know… but Eideth sure seemed to act like it.”

Mother shook her head. “And now you’re back here, but you’re heading out! I must say, I’m jealous of that Gate ability of yours! I would have given a great deal to travel that quickly when I was crossing a continent!”

“Well-” I said, muffled by the towel as I wrung out my hair in damp pink strands, and worked at patting it dry. “I’m not sure it really is much help right now, it only works for places I’ve already been.”

“Well yes, but that’s why you go adventuring isn’t it? To see new places?”

I smiled and shook my head. “I have other reasons too.”

Mother nodded somberly. “Those do tend to pile up. You said you’re chasing down something from the Cavern of Trials. I’m sure you’ll find it quickly, but there will probably be more past that.”

I shrugged. “I can’t seem to shake it off, but I hope not! The next place we travel will be the Port of Eien. Unless Darshanna can build an airship!” I laughed.

Mother stroked her chin thoughtfully. “I don’t know if we could get all the parts, but I bet we could let her use the old barn at the far end of the property…”

I blinked, my eyes going wide. “Mother, I was kidding! She can’t really…? I mean… can she!?”

Mother shook her head. “Well I don’t know, Lily. But you said she’s a {Tinker}, and {Tinker}’s were the ones who created Airships in the first place, so I don’t see why not. We just need the proper materials and time and a place to put it all together.”

My eyes got really wide, and I felt myself vibrating with excitement. An airship! A real airship, this early in the game?! That would be so much help!

Mother grinned at me. “I can see the idea has fired you up. But in the meantime… it’s pretty late, and you’ve had a very exciting adventure. How about I feed you, and let you sleep.”

When she mentioned it, all the exhaustion that I’d been pushing off suddenly crashed down on me, and I yawned hugely, my jaw cracking.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Mother said, and patted me on the head. “Come on, sleepyhead. Lets get you into bed. More adventure for you tomorrow.”

I nodded, yawning again, feeling my whole body sagging with exhaustion. The trip upstairs to my room was a blur, but the familiar smell of my own room was a welcome and safe feeling that wrapped around me, the softness of my own bed like a cloud compared rough camping, and I was asleep almost as soon as my head hit my pillow.

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If I dreamed, I didn’t remember it, and I woke up with the sun streaming in through my window, and the distant sounds of the village waking up. I sat up with a jerk, the memories of the last few days rushing into my head.

I flipped back the sheets on my bed, giving a huge yawn and stretch that felt very good. “Mana potions might be as good as caffeine, but nothing beats a good nights sleep it seems.” I cracked my neck and got dressed hurriedly, before rushing downstairs. The smell of breakfast greeted me, and I had a brief flashback to my first morning here in Breezewood.

“Good morning, Mother!” I said, sliding into the seat and serving myself breakfast from the food that had been heaped there.

“Good morning, Lilyanna. You must have been exhausted, you usually wake up with the dawn, and it’s several turns of the glass past that!”

I flushed and nodded. “I suppose so.” I said between bites of food. It was just so good to have real food again!

I looked up at mother. “Mother, is all city food bad!?”

Mother laughed heartily. “Ah, the famous cuisine of the traveler! Yes Lily, most food that isn’t homemade tends to be very bad. You can find a few exceptions here and there, but in a traveler’s inn, you should expect bad food. Why, half the reason I learned to cook on my adventures was the taste of inn food!”

“Hm.” I said, sucking on my spoon. “I guess Eshaan was right then.”

“Oh? Did he say something?”

I ducked my head again, the flush rushing over my cheeks. “He likes my cooking, he said.”

“Oooh? Is that so?” mother slide into a chair across from me. “So…? Do you like him?”

I felt the heat in my cheeks reach nova temperature. “Mother!”

“I have every right to know if my daughter has a boy she’s interested in. Or maybe you like this Darshanna girl?”

If anything my blush got even hotter. “Mother! Please stop trying to matchmake for me! You don’t even know these people!”

Mother just laughed and I felt a rush of embarrassed frustration. “No one is shacking up with anyone! No one is dating anyone! We’re just travelling companions!”

“Hmmm. Is that so? Well. If you say so. But you are at that age, and you’re very beautiful Lilyanna. You should be aware of how the boys look at you. Some of the girls too.” Mother added.

I stood up abruptly and glared at her. “I have places to be! Places that don’t involve my mother asking for details of a nonexistent love life!”

Mother’s laughter followed me out the door as I dashed towards town.

I was early to the town square. Hardly a surprise after mother chased me out of the kitchen with the talk of intimate friends!

I sat on the fountain, and laid my staff across my knees. After a fruitless few minutes, I found myself bored, and I went back to my status screen poking through my abilities curiously.

I knew what all my spells did but some of my other abilities were unfamiliar to me.

{Bonds of Friendship} makes my friends more effective after I cast a spell on them if I feel strong emotions towards them.

{Encourage} makes my friends stronger when I cheer them on.

{My Trust in You} makes my friends more likely to succeed if I cheer them on.

{Arcane Circle} lets me cast spells right after one of the Arcanum has vanished.

{Cooking} … well I should have expected that I thought. My food became supernaturally delicious, and gave bonuses to anyone who ate it.

I sighed and slumped a little. “All aboard pinkie express.” I muttered.

“Are we going somewhere?” Eshaan’s voice made me give a little yelp of startlement. I almost toppled over backwards into the fountain.

“Ah!~ Eshaan, you scared me!”

Eshaan rubbed the back of his head, and chuckled. “Eh, sorry about that. What was that about the express though? Is there a train line near here?”

I shook my head. “No. No, nothing like that. I just… never mind. It wouldn’t make a lot of sense.”

Eshaan nodded. “One of those otherworld things?”

“Eh… well, kind of yeah. It’s probably easiest to think of it like that.”

Darshanna pushed forward. “Are you really from another world?!”

I flushed. “I certainly think so. If I’m not, then it’s a remarkably detailed delusion.”

Darshanna crouched down and stared at me, her hand on her chin. I glared back. “I am not some lab exhibit!”

Darshanna hopped back and stood up again. “Sorry! It’s just that it’s so… you have no idea how interesting it all is!”

I stared up at her. I wonder if I do. Trapped in a small world, and suddenly set free, to see so many new things…?

I clapped my hands together in sudden thought. “Oh! That’s right! Darshanna, my mother is an {Tinker: Alchemist}. She was interested in your airships, and she offered to let you use the old barn on our property, if you want to assemble a new airship!”

Darshanna’s eyes got wide. “Really!? REALLY!?” She took my hands in hers, and stared into my eyes.

I nodded sincerely. It was good to see how excited the idea made her!

She suddenly dropped my hands and looked down. “Oh but… I don’t have any materials. I don’t have any way to get any materials. I mean, I have some cool stuff from the golems, but … no offense, I don’t think you have much duralumin, and I don’t have any raw materials…”

I pouted. “We’re not some complete backwater, Darshanna! We’ve got a blacksmith. We’ve got Soriya, and she can make things in her Elemental forge.”

She can? When did we- Otherme shared a quick flare of memories of Soriya’s home lab.

“We can order things from the larger towns.” I pressed on “And why not make the airship out of wood? We’ve got plenty of that.”

“Wood?!” She stared at me. “Lilyanna, that is the craziest idea I’ve ever heard of! Bullets would go right through it, I’d need…” she suddenly trailed off and her eyes got distant. “Could I…? But then I’d need… but then…!” she spun around to face Daniyel, her mouth open. Daniyel passed her a ream of paper and a pencil before she could even say anything, then turned around to let her write on his back.

She started writing frantically, scribbling equations and sketches at a pace that was frankly astonishing. Eideth went up on tiptoes to look at the paperwork, and Eshaan looked over her shoulders, entranced by the shapes and equations taking form on the paper.

I hopped up and moved around to Daniyel. “This happens often, I gather?”

He smiled wryly and nodded. “It is indeed as you say.”

I watched Darshanna’s enraptured face, focused on the paper for a moment then looked back to Daniyel. “She’s… really smart, isn’t she?”

The note of pride in Daniyel’s voice was unmistakable. “She is the smartest person I know. And I have known many who call themselves intellectual giants.”

I tugged on my hair thoughtfully. “Maybe we stand a chance at this after all.”

“Everyone! Daniyel! Hiiii~” Soriya’s cheerful greeting made all of us except for Darshanna look up to see her striding across the town square towards us.

She spotted Daniyel acting as a table for Darshanna and frowned. “Why do you let her do that? Stop that! You’re not furniture!” She made to whapped at Darshanna’s side, and her hand was caught in midair by Daniyel’s.

“Please do not strike my captain.” He said, very quietly.

Soriya looked at him, her eyes wide in surprise and a little fear. She nodded, uncertainly, and Daniyel released her hand.

Daniyel straightened up, which caused Darshanna to protest. “Wait, no! I almost had it, where are you going?!”

“Captain. Everyone is gathered. I suspect there are plans that need to be made. And, if I am not much mistaken, there are also tables to be had at our destination?”

Darshanna blinked, as though she was coming out of a daze. “Oh. Yes, of course. That’s right, where are we going!?”

Soriya spread her arms. “I thought I would invite you all to the Witchy Wonderous Treehouse of Terror!”

Eshaan jerked in surprise. I stifled a giggle with my hand “Soriya! For shame! Your house is a wonderful idea, lets go there, and decide what we should do next. And maybe let Darshanna finish writing her thesis.” I added as an afterthought.

Darshanna looked down at the pile of papers in her hands, and then nodded at us. “Yes! I’ve got some really good ideas here, and… yes.” She nodded again.

“Well then! Follow me, everyone!” Soriya gestured grandly, and we trailed after her.

Darshanna slipped next to me. “So, you really grew up here?”

“Mm… well the short answer is yes.”

Darshanna looked around again then back. “I don’t see how you can stand it! It’s so small! There’s nothing to do here!”

I frowned at her. Darshanna jumped and looked guilty. “Don’t make that face! I didn’t mean it like that, it’s just… it’s very…”

I frowned even more deeply, and Daniyel interposed himself. “Apologies for my captain, Miss Lilyanna. Please forgive her, she…”

I pressed my lips together and replied in a frosty tone. “I understand. She’s from a large city, and a small town like mine seems claustrophobic.” I turned to Darshanna. “I happen to like a small quiet home life. I didn’t want to be an adventurer! It’s exciting in the way a house fire is exciting, rather than a birthday party!”

Why is she reacting like that? I’m upset but not really-

Soriya came up beside me and whapped me lightly on the forehead with the edge of her palm. “Lily. Stop scaring the poor girl.” She turned to Darshanna. “Dar, Lily is not going to eat you, but you should apologize for peeing on her hometown. My home town too, for that matter. I agree it’s dreadfully small, but it’s still my home.”

Darshanna looked down and muttered something inaudible.

Daniyel frowned and said “Captain Darshanna. Your etiquette teachers would be ashamed of you.”

Darshanna turned pink and told the cobblestones at her feet “Please forgive my rude manners. It was crass of me to speak without thinking.” In a slightly louder voice.

I smiled at her, feeling the tension in me melt away. “That’s quite alright, I understand that new places and new situations can cause misunderstandings.”

Eshaan blinked at me and mouthed ‘wow’ silently I looked at him in puzzlement. “What? Is there something on my face?”

He shook his head. “No. Not really. Just… you went from scary to really sweet in an instant.”

I frowned in confusion. “Scary? How am I scary?”

Eshaan shrugged uncomfortably. “I dunno. It’s hard to explain, but like… when you frowned, the whole world got grey and cloudy somehow.”

I frowned in puzzlement. That was strange. I didn’t think I’d done anything like that? I remained silent the rest of the walk to Soriya’s treehouse.

Just on the outskirts of town, on the opposite side from my home, a giant tree soared into the sky. Just below it’s leafy crown, a perfect picturesque two story anime bungalow rested in the fork of the tree, with a delicate filigree stairway wound around the trunk of the tree leading up to the bungalow.

Once again, I had the surreal doubling image. It was unique, amazing, like something out out a video game or manga. I was seeing it for the first time, and yet I’d been here hundreds of times, climbed the stairs to Soriya’s house on an almost daily basis, knew every room by heart. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes until the strange doubling effect went away.

Soriya stopped at the foot of the stairs and gestured grandly. “Welcome one at all to the Witches Wonderous World of Magic and Mayhem!”

Eshaan grinned. “What happened to Treehouse of Terror?”

“It’s now the World of Magic, keep up!” Soriya snapped her fingers at him, a cocky grin on her face.

Eshaan looked over at me, and smiled even more broadly. “I see why you two are friends.”

Soriya snorted. “You do? Well perhaps you can inform me, it’s a mystery beyond my comprehension.”

“Soriya!” I protested, feeling an inexplicable stab in my heart.

Soriya made placating gestures, an unrepentant grin on her face. “Kidding, kidding. You know I can’t resist teasing you, there’s no need to scowl like that.”

It’s true, she does this all the time. I don’t think I’d recognize her without it. Otherme chimed in. We should tease her back.

“Well if you don’t want my lemon blueberry bars, or the cranberry tarts, or the tortellini soup, you don’t have to come…” I smiled innocently at her.

The look on her face was so worth it. “Hey! No fair, I already started the Spark Wine in the brewing stand!”

“Oh well, we can’t let that go to waste…” I demurred. “Come on Soriya. Let’s show the others your home.”

We headed up the spiral stairs and into Soriya’s house. It was precisely as anime as my bedroom and home, filled with witchy trinkets and wonders, magic crystals, alchemical reagents and distillations, books and books and still more books. It was cozy in an intellectual way, warm and welcoming and very… Soriya. It was hard to explain in any other way.

Eideth looked around in approval, her hands on her hips. “Yes. This is a right nice place, lass. I approve.” She browsed her finger over stacks of books. “Mostly elemental and magical theory, but some good solid work here.”

Eshaan stared around, wide eyed with wonder.

We had to move stacks of books off chairs, couches and other flat surfaces, and even then, it was pretty crowded. Daniyel gently directed Darshanna to a small work desk and helped her set up there, moving aside stacks of books and research paperwork. Darshanna was soon absorbed in the depths of her design documents.

Soriya poured tea for us, and we settled down.

“Well. I suppose we should start with the obvious.” Eshaan cleared his throat. “Miss Lilyanna, where does your seer’s vision lead you?”

I frowned at him, feeling oddly hurt. “Lily. Just call me Lily.”

He flushed. “Ah… very well. Lily.”

“You called me Lily when we’re in mortal terror, why so formal now that we’re not?!” I protested.

He flushed deeper, and rubbed the back of his head. “Ah heh heh. Well. You know. I… when you put it like that, I guess you’re right! Lily! Sorry.”

I settled back, feeling satisfied.

Good, that’s sorted. He’s so odd about my name! Why is that?

He’s wasn’t sure what our relationship is. Now he knows we’re close friends. Otherme’s voice was smug.

Wait, what?!

Oh? Are you saying we aren’t friends with the boy who’s saved our life several times, and is helping us hunt down the evil we unleashed?

No… not exactly…

Then we’re friends. Close friends. So there’s no problem.

I squirmed uncomfortably, but couldn’t deny her logic.

“Well… I think we’re heading for the capital, at least for now. Soriya?”

Soriya nodded firmly, her hat brim wobbling. “Oh yes, definitely! The mine is the clue, there’s the artifact that the empire took to Spyre, and then there’s the Imperial Scholar’s Competition, and I’m sure that’s all linked together.”

Eideth paused in the middle of her tea. “The Scholar’s prize? Why on earth is that important?”

Eshaan nodded. “Yes, I don’t understand. While I would love to see the competition, I thought we were hunting down that shadow? Is the shadow going to show up in the capital?”

I shared a glance with Soriya. She nodded and I turned back. “Yes, actually. I think it will. I’m not sure where, but… I’m fairly sure it’s connected with the artifact, and it’s sure to be involved with the emperor or nobility somehow.”

Darshanna jerked her head out of the engineering diagrams. “What? What now? The emperor? What’s going on?”

Soriya gave me a significant glance and rubbed her thumb and forefingers together. I grimaced. I really was going to have to pay her that 100 zeni.

Daniyel explained the conversation up to that point.

“The capital? Can you just… zworp us there? Like we go there?” Darshanna asked.

I shook my head. “No, Gate will only take me to places I have been, that I can visualize. The best I can do is the ground near Port Eien, which was the closest that I’ve been. The furthest along the journey.”

Eideth rubbed her bare chin. “Hm. Port Eien? Seems I’ve heard unsavory rumors about that place… nothing specific mind, but it’s got a dark reputation.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Anything more specific?”

“Well, there’s talk of people vanishing from the streets. The folk what live there are surly sorts. Several attempts to get folk to move in, lots more good quality buildings than folks living there, but somehow it never quite works out. Always a cloud over the place, like it’s too close to the shadows. Folk there overcharge for everything. It’s a port, right enough, you’re sure to be able to get passage, but the cost is supposed to be outrageous.”

I scowled. “That’s frustrating, but I don’t suppose we have much choice. The only other place I could take us would be Farna, and I don’t like our chances there.”

“It is indeed as Miss Lilyanna says.” Daniyel added. “The imperial garrison there is not likely to forget our little misadventure anytime soon.”

“Well…” I sighed. “Darshanna, how long will it take you to build an airship?”

Darshanna blinked and looked over at her stack of documents, then back at me. “You’re kidding right? I can’t finish an airship by myself if I had five years!”

“But you’re not by yourself! You’ve got us with you!” Eshaan’s exuberance warmed the air.

Eideth sipped her tea and added “Lad’s got a point. Don’t know how much he knows right now, but he’s got a solid head on his shoulders, screwed the right way around, and you’ve got a first rate mind, we could make something work.”

Soriya perked up. “We? You’re in this too?”

Eideth laughed. “Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m not planning on making a home here, I still need to get back to the capital. But I think perhaps I can set up some things here, maybe get some contacts with the blacksmith, do a little careful prep work if this barn is available you say?” She looked at me questioningly and I nodded.

“Then that makes a fair bit of sense.” She went on. “You go do your magical thing, and journey to the capital. I’ll help you set up a workshop here, with Darshanna and her boy.” She pointed at Daniyel.

Darshanna was quick to protest. “He’s my first mate! We’re not like that!”

Eideth chuckled. “That’ fine then, but he’s still your boy.”

Darshanna grumbled, but Daniyel reached over and rested a hand on her shoulder. “It’s fine, captain. I take no offense, and nor should you.”

She gave him a scowl, but relented.

“So we’re still heading to the capital.” Soriya summarized. “But it’s a trip. I’m pretty sure we’ll be joining the Imperial Scholar’s Competition.”

I sighed. “Do we…” I subsided. Eshaan had made too good a point to ignore. Weither I wanted it or not, we were on the plot, and I did need to stop the shadowme. And this… looked like the right way to find out.

“Is there some sort of connection with the contest and the emperor?” Soriya asked.

Darshanna nodded, looking oddly glum. “Yes. The emperor and the royal princess both meet the winner of the competition, and congratulate the winner. If the artifact from the dig site was taken back, then one of the prizes will probably be a royal commission or grant to study it of some sort.” She sounded almost jealous.

“So, there we have it!” Soriya clapped her hands and beamed. “I get to enter the competition after all!”

Darkshanna looked at Soriya curiously. “You’re a scholar?”

“I’m a {Loremaster}. I have some very interesting theories about the world soul that I’ve bene hoping to pursue! So yes, even if we come from a ‘backwater’, I am very much a scholar. And I’m going to win your little competition!”

Darshanna shook her head. “Do you really think you’ll be able to win though?!”

Soriya’s eyes grew stormy with affront, but Eshaan jumped in. “Miss Darshanna, you’re not thinking about this like a pirate! We don’t have to win! We just need to enter… to ‘case the joint’ as Lily says.” He grinned. “And then… we’re gonna steal it. Because we’re air pirates, right?”

Darshanna’s eyes slowly grew wide, and her grin spread across her face. “You… I like you!” She shook her finger at Eshaan. “Yes, we are going to steal it! To hell with the princess and her medal ceremony!” Her grin was almost feral.

And so our plan was settled. The next morning, we said our goodbyes and left Darshanna, Eideth, and Daniyel behind working busily in the barn behind my house. I called up Gate to take us to the furthest place I’d yet visited, and a swirling moment of vertigo later, we stood on a hilltop overlooking a grey and dismal seaport on the edge of a grey and stormy sea. I felt a chill of cold sweep over me, and I hugged myself looking down at the city. Something about this place… I didn’t want to be here. It was dark. And cold. And the cold seeped into my soul. I looked over, and found Soriya shivering the same as me. Eshaan looked irritatingly unaffected as always. We looked around, and nodded at each other.

“Right!” Eshaan said, gesturing down towards the grey and mostly empty port city. “Let’s go have another adventure!” He grinned, and I smiled weakly.

“Yes. Another adventure.”