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-oOo- Chapter 61-oOo-
An island plowed through the void.
One coast cut through the astral realm while the other cleaved a blue expanse. Nine majestic mountains ran down the isle’s spine. The tallest peaks were to the East, their colossal caps crowned with snow. The ninth and closest mountain, however, was squat compared to its neighbor. The craggy, gray summit barely pierced the green blanket that defined Starlight’s jungle.
Not that ‘east’ on this plane meant ‘East’ in common parlance. Directions in the Cloud Island Wilderness were arbitrary by nature, particularly when a ship entered from the outer void. The eastern tip was only called ‘East’ because Sylvia had arbitrarily defined it so, ‘North’ being the line drawn from Yaalon straight through Gate Point.
“Turn a bit toward port,” Sylvia instructed. “The Four Poles rotate faster than the Utrecht sails. So to catch them, we must first enter the wake stirred by Starlight passing.”
The silver-haired witch kicked her legs lazily as she watched. Currently, Sylvia was perched on the banister overlooking the deck, the helm to her left. Spring Blossom’s black top cinched her waist while the pink skirt spread out like a flower in bloom. A witch’s hat rested on her head, the straight cone having a tiny crook and a dark tassel.
Brianna Schultz held the wheel.
The white-haired girl was a few inches taller than Sylvia. Which left her too short to grasp the helm without the help of a wooden box. In fact, only Isabella was tall enough to eschew the stool, one of the many joys of owning a ship sized for an eight foot karnabo.
The Utrecht turned, bow swaying to Sylvia’s left. Starlight’s cape appeared in front of them. The astralship jostled, a wake of chaos jolting the wooden body. Sylvia stilled herself with the waltz of flowers, unperturbed by this light turbulence. The shaking was nothing compared to that of the Great Gyre.
“Cut the catch to a third!” Brianna shouted.
Sylvia nodded, pleased she required no prompting.
“Good move,” Sylvia affirmed. “Always cut the catch when facing a strong wake. If you don’t, the ribbon might break. Just remember, safety is a balancing act. Our ether banks are low because of the Great Gyre. So keep an eye on them. You don’t want to run out.”
Brianna spared a quick glance at the gauges, only now seeming to notice the dearth.
“Also, you should keep the fins tight,” Sylvia continued. “This will give you more control when your velocity is high compared to the underlying currents of chaos. Widen them when going slow.”
There were several exceptions to this rule of thumb, but Sylvia didn’t mention them. They’d only confuse the poor girl.
The Utrecht sailed on. Beams creaked and the wood groaned when the ship faced tidal stress. The flux of chaos intensified as they drew closer, vessel jerking with the waves. A muffled thud sounded through the planks, cargo shifting beneath.
On their way back, Sylvia had amused herself by cajoling several parties into trying the helm. Most of the crew had grown bored after an hour. Sailing through the silent stars might sound romantic, but in truth it was tedium.
Brianna, however, had shown persistence. Since the witch was keen, Sylvia had taken the time to teach her the fine art of sailing. Asteri were well-suited for the task. Every starlight witch had an affinity for chaos and their eyes could somewhat grasp the invisible flow.
More importantly, Brianna didn’t have any important duties on the plane itself. Unlike, say, Belkis, Sylvia, or Silas. Sylvia would’ve been furious if her CEO had quit his job to captain a ship.
Starlight drew closer.
Thick jungle covered the eastern cape, the canopy of trees running up the mountain. If one followed Starlight’s skyside coat to the west, this dense forest would eventually break on a giant lake. There, glacial waters tumbled from the mountains to fill a basin with pools of purest blue only to spill off the island’s edge after. The gamers had dubbed this natural beauty Starlight Falls.
Though majestic, the sight was nothing compared to the massive tumble far to Pyrinas’s south. There the Viridian River spilled out into the sky. A few months ago, Piper had posted pictures of the magnificent display.
Starlight’s starside coast was boring by comparison. Near the cape was a little camp run by Windbreak Lumber. The resource company was a subsidiary of Swift Brooms, producing all the wood they needed. Last Sylvia had checked, Windbreak had hired a dozen players. She wondered how much was cut while she was gone. No doubt, the logs were piling up on the beach.
Sylvia sighed. She’d have to schedule a time to pick it up in the future. This task was better fit for airships. Likewise, the harvesting was better handled by golems.
The Utrecht slowed, the rumble of the planks muffled as the flux eased. Though slowed wasn’t quite the right word for it. Starlight tore through atmosphere and void alike, traversing the plane at 120 kilometers an hour. As the Isle passed, it dragged the astral stream in its own direction, the repeated turn leaving the inner flow a constant whirl.
Thus, to say it accurately, the Utrecht hadn’t slowed. Instead, the ship’s relative velocity had been reduced in comparison to that of the local currents.
“We’ll reverse our heading in a few minutes,” Sylvia noted. “For this last part, it’s better to let Starlight’s coast slide past. That way you’ll have better control over our relative velocities.”
Brianna nodded, lightly touching the wheel. As the ship came closer to the coast, the turbulence eased to near stillness. After a long moment, the white-haired asteri spun the helm hard toward her left. The Utrecht swayed, tracing a sharp curve through the twinkling dark.
Sylvia’s eye twitched. “Don’t treat her so roughly.”
“The Utrecht can take it,” Brianna said, unapologetic.
The girl’s wild grin made clear that Brianna’s words were less a reason and closer to an excuse.
“Let her have a bit of fun,” Belkis interjected as she emerged from the cabin. The dark-skinned prisma leaned against the rail beside the silver-haired witch. “How is she doing? Will Captain Schultz be handling future runs?”
Sylvia’s expression was deadpan. “On the way here, I wrote a new regulation. No one is licensed to pilot a ship without first buying a skill book.”
“My little sister is so cruel,” Belkis said, shaking her head.
“I am a witch,” Sylvia declared in response.
The ship sailed on.
It’d been two weeks since Ignis Rosa. Their first day had been spent miserably in the starry void, fleeing and waiting. Sylvia had been insistent on creating a vast distance between them and Asmodeus’s ship. By the time the Utrecht had plucked them from the astral sea, they’d been two thousand kilometers from the battle.
The voyage after was peaceful.
With little to do, Sylvia had turned to an old hobby: reading. First, the silver-haired witch had skimmed the martial manuals for the mirrored lake sutra and flux shift. Though fascinated by the arts, she hadn’t spared time to practice either. Ki arts were different than spells. To use them required mastery, and mastery took a long time. Unless Sylvia was willing to spare several thousand hours, she’d be better off using a skill book.
Indeed, to learn both arts at the transformation realm level, she’d need five books in total.
And Sylvia had no merit points to spare. The next eleven tomes had already been decided.
After torturing herself with combat arts, Sylvia had swapped to a less interesting subject: alchemy. Thanks to Josephine and Silas, they had a broad selection of texts on the discipline covering medical alchemy, material alchemy, industrial alchemy, and biological alchemy. There were thirty tomes in total, all piled up in the Utrecht’s hold.
Having previously experienced the misery called Epicyclic Geoglyph Reduction, Sylvia had started light. Minions of Blood was a book looted from Baron Naopte’s library. The tome covered the creation of chimera by way of a vampire’s natural magic, which wasn’t too useful for a witch. But the book did have one advantage, it was written for the academically unschooled, eschewing the minute mechanics.
Which was perfect for a lady looking for an introduction to the subject.
A week and a half later, Wizard Means Wise X was finally complete. A thousand merit points were saved, and an era was brought to an end.
Sylvia glanced back past the ship’s stern. Chaos Lagoon was coming up. The natural harbor was surrounded by a string of shield islands. These served to break the astral flux, leaving the space within still enough to anchor.
“It’s safest to pass between the two larger islands over there,” Sylvia said, casually pointing with her right tail.
Without further instruction, Brianna swung the ship so the bow faced the passage. Sylvia sat in silent judgment as the white-haired asteri leaned into the wheel. The Utrecht slewed a bit far, but Brianna brought them to a relative stop.
“Are you talking about the gap next to your statue?” she asked.
…
“Yes,” Sylvia ground out.
On a larger island, near the lagoon’s center, was a rocky giant. The figure was eight meters tall, with a conical hat rising half-a-meter higher. Two rivulets of hair spilled down the lady’s back, a staff in her hand, its four roots winding around a quartz crystal. The epic icon gazed out into the distance, one foot on a boulder while her right hand thrust toward Yaalon. The artwork captured a bold adventurer ready to fight her way through the wilderness in search of Axis.
Who had dared to create this eyesore?
Glowering, Sylvia noted all the errors. To start, the statue marking her journey should’ve been paired with one of Emily. That failure was a grotesque misappropriation of accomplishment. Next, when Sylvia landed she’d been wearing her black and white academy robes. Then, when they were lost, she’d donned a conjured white dress. So on what basis was this atrocity dressed in Sylvia’s Void Raven’s Vestments? Those clothes were only created a full year after her arrival!
The mistakes were infuriating.
“Zero the catch and set the fins to full!” Brianna shouted.
Phantasmal sailors burst into action, loosing ropes and adjusting the components of the ship. Sylvia watched, tense as Brianna brought them through the gap between islands. The Utrecht bucked, bouncing on the waves of chaos. The shield islands brought stillness, but nasty currents existed between the crevices.
The ship jerked to the side, the outer astral flow suddenly reversing. Brianna leaned into the wheel to keep the vessel from flying into a spin.
Sylvia winced, ready to grab the helm herself.
Then the Utrecht slid past the danger, entering the still chaos of the lagoon. She let out a breath, then hopped off the banister. She gestured Brianna aside.
“I’ll bring her to the wharf.”
“What do you think?” the violet-eyed asteri asked.
“You’re a long way from becoming Captain Schultz,” Sylvia said brutally. “I wasn’t joking about what I said earlier. If you’re serious about this, buy Basic Astrogation. If you do, I’m willing to let you sail her in my stead.”
Lord Potami wanted the Utrecht to fly freely, so Sylvia would let her fly. Though the karnabo would be less than pleased that Sylvia had shared the ship with a reckless girl he’d never met.
Under her deft hand, the Utrecht eased up beside the pier. Phantasmal sailors tossed ropes overboard, tying the ship into place. A light smile grew on Sylvia’s lips, her pastel pink eyes taking in the sandy beach.
Finally, they were back.
There was still a lot to do, of course. The cargo had to be unloaded, then the boxes transported to Starport and Axis. Most of it would go to the Moonlight Academy, but there was plenty for Viridian City too. Some of the cargo would even be carried all the way to the Beginner’s Village.
But before all that….
“All hands on deck!” Sylvia roared.
The crew assembled.
At the fore stood the redheads, Isabella and Silas Wells. Then, crowded near the starboard rail, Brianna, Carter, and Diego. Josephine lingered well away from the others, her eyes like chips of eldritch void. Last, there was her senior sister. Sylvia made a shooing gesture. With a wry smile, Belkis joined the others on the main deck.
Sylvia surveyed the group. “Our trip to Tartarus brought unexpected adventure. We went, hoping to purchase goods and sell brooms. Instead, we found ourselves entangled with slavers, nobles, cultists, and angels.”
The witch grinned, recalling the fear, the pandemonium, and their victories.
“Despite all those obstacles, our venture was a success. The books we’ve brought will shape the Cloud Island Wilderness for decades to come. The tools and equipment we’ve purchased will spur our economy, bringing growth and prosperity.
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” she continued. “Thank you, Brianna and Diego, for watching the Utrecht and ensuring our escape. Josephine and Silas, without your efforts we wouldn’t have acquired half our list. Isabella and Carter, not only did you guard the goods, you braved the dangers of Naopte Villa. Belkis, thank you too. If you weren’t there, I would’ve survived the Ignis Rosa.”
“Don’t worry, little sis, I’ll always have your back,” Belkis cheered.
“Personally, I found this trip to Tartarus enlightening,” Silas Wells added. “I’m glad I came. It provided firsthand experience of what the netherworld is like.”
Josephine nodded in the back, her soft voice barely heard. “I earned lots of merit points.”
“Next time, don’t leave me stuck in port while you raid a demon’s villa!” Brianna added with a shout.
“Somebody had to watch the ship, you little brat,” Isabella laughed. “And I gave you plenty of time to explore Kakós Lófos after.”
Jokes and cheers ran through the group, the men and women exchanging gossip. Sylvia allowed them a moment before raising her hand to regather their attention.
“Before you leave, I’ll need your help unloading the ship,” Sylvia said. “But once that’s done, the next three days are on me. Full wages. Hit the town and enjoy yourselves. You’ve earned it.”
“Aye aye, captain!”
Carter gave the shout, offering an exaggerated salute. Brianna and Diego joined him a moment later, followed playfully by Belkis then Isabella. Josephine… was Josephine, her blank doll-like face didn’t show the slightest fluctuation.
“Now, stop being layabouts and get back to work!” Sylvia roared.
Grinning, the silver-haired witch hopped up onto the roof of the cabin, watching her employees go through their last labor. Boxes and crates were carried from the hold, then loaded onto prepared carts. The docks here at Chaos Lagoon were simple, a single pier with a wooden wharf running around the craggy cliff’s edge.
What? She should get out there and help? What a joke. Sylvia didn’t join the bourgeoisie to not exploit the proletariat. Why, as a business owner, abusing those beneath her was practically her duty. If she didn’t, her peers would have words with her later at the yacht club.
“You’ve returned.”
A sweet voice tickled her ears. Sylvia’s eyes turned up. From the cliff descended a belle in blue, her dress blooming like an umbrella as she fell. Emerald hair cascaded behind her, locks lingering in the air like ribbons. Esmeralda Vallenfelt was here. The evening sun tinted the woman’s tender skin with its orange light.
As always, Emmy was a flawless figure. From the curve of her hips to the angle of her cheeks, she radiated feminine perfection. One glimpse was enough to take Sylvia’s breath away, stirring deep emotions in her chest. Before Esmeralda could land, the silver-haired witch leapt into the air, pale petals fluttering beneath her feet.
Without hesitation, Sylvia wrapped the woman in her arms. Her eyes closed, indulging in the warm comfort. She was home.
“Oh my,” Esmeralda sounded, sharing the long embrace as the two them settled atop the cabin. “Did you miss me?”
They parted, Emmy’s delicate fingers clinging to Sylvia’s forearms as they stepped back. Their eyes met, exquisite nebulae of umbral green gazing into a universe of fractal pink. Sylvia drank the celestial allure, feeling as though she could drown in it.
“I did,” Sylvia whispered.
“I missed you more than you missed me,” Emmy said with infinite sweetness.
The silver-haired girl scoffed. “Impossible.”
With a titter, the emeraldette turned. Emmy’s left hand released, the fingers of her right tangling with those of the other girl. Their hands clasped. Esmeralda took a step into the air, ephemeral petals dancing beneath her cone heeled shoes.
“Come along my dear, I prepared a treat.”
“A treat, huh?” she replied with a lazy grin.
Sylvia followed Emmy, using the waltz of flowers. Gracefully, the ladies rose, gliding up and over the short, craggy cliff to land in Esmeralda’s backyard.
Their backyard.
Gate Point was to her back. The shield island lingered in the starry void, floating at the edge of Chaos Lagoon. On this isle stood a stalwart building with thick walls and a heavy door. Gargoyles surrounded, providing extra protection to the precious interplanar gate within.
Every few days that gate would open, bringing with it a flow of souls from Earth. The disembodied spirits would then be drawn into Yaalon. New gamers would be nurtured by the tree, nether code injected into their core. A few months later, they’d arrive in Beginner’s Village to experience their next great adventure.
From Gate Point stretched a stone bridge, a cross road extending from where it touched the peninsula. One branch led south to Sylvia’s Landing while the other headed west to Starport. The first loaded carts were already making their way to the harbor city. Books and alchemy equipment would soon find residence in the Moonlight Academy. Other tools would be taken through Starport’s gate to Viridian City.
Sylvia paid it little mind. Instead, her eyes turned toward their house. Compared to Vallenfelt’s lost manor, it was small with only two stories. The walls were white, wood split by sections of brick to add to the flair. Furniture filled the interior, giving their home the fullness and life.
Emmy had already expressed her desire for something better. Lady Vallenfelt had rich tastes. Indeed, the emeraldette had excitedly shared visions of their future home. Sylvia often nodded along, not so interested in the high life. Well, not the high life Esmeralda imagined, anyway. She was intrigued by thought of building a future mansion on a flying island.
Mostly because it was cool.
While their house hadn’t changed much, Sylvia’s Landing had undergone multiple revisions. The tiny town had grown from two buildings to four. Belkis’s had a house not far to their south. Another pair of homes had appeared to their east, just past the sandy beach of Chaos Lagoon. In the future, the jungle would give way to village. There wasn’t much call to move here right now, but as Starport grew larger, plenty of gamers would come, fleeing the raucous city life.
“There will be plenty of time to look around later, Sylvia,” Emmy said, nudging the ambling girl.
Sylvia laughed, allowing herself to be pulled. Emmy often showed Lady Vallenfelt’s maturity, so it was a true pleasure when Emily’s youthful joy shone through.
The lady led them to their porch. A round, white wicker table claimed the center surrounded by comfortable chairs. The gently sloped roof of the gazebo provided cool shade from the jungle heat. What really drew Sylvia’s gaze, however, was the array of dishes. Cakes and sweets were set alongside cute, charming little tea cups.
Sylvia’s eyes lit up. Where should she start? Before she could decide, Esmeralda plucked a dainty cream puff off a platter.
“Say aww.”
Obediently, Sylvia opened her mouth. With a happy smile, Emmy dropped the treat inside Sylvia’s ravenous maw. The silver-haired girl closed her eyes, indulging in the sweet flavors.
“Delicious,” she pronounced. Sylvia pulled back a wicker chair. “You know me too well.”
Giving Sylvia’s hand one last squeeze, the emeraldette took the chair opposite. Emmy’s playful expression melted away, revealing the demeanor of a baroness. Umbral eyes turned sharp, holding within them a dangerous glint.
“Lovely,” she said, tone cold. “Then perhaps you’d like to explain why you had Talyssa and Fumiko crawling all over you on the Ignis Rosa?”
Grrk. An icy chill crawled through Sylvia’s veins.
Emmy’s expression broke. The lady released a girlish giggle, mouth hidden behind her hand. Gracefully, the emeraldette lifted the tea pot and poured both of them a cup.
“Don’t worry, my dear, I was only teasing,” Esmeralda said. “I know well enough what those ladies are like. My regret is that I wasn’t there, fending them off myself. How dare they lay hand on your person.”
Gently, Emmy leaned across the table. Sylvia rose in natural response. Two lips met in a brief kiss. A sweet touch of affection. Then both ladies relaxed, Sylvia leaning far enough back her chair rocked lightly. In her left hand, she held a tea cup. In her right, she pinched a slice of cake.
“If you were there to lay your claim, Duchess Phoung would’ve personally escorted us to the Prince’s Palace after,” Sylvia commented.
Rather than contemplate that dreadful scenario, Sylvia took a bite of her cake. Pumpkin? No, the flavor had similarities but came from a different fruit. Hmm. She had another taste, trying to determine the exact nature.
“Then, at least, I would’ve been trapped with you,” Esmeralda said smoothly. “How are the sweets? A month prior, I hired a gamer willing to use a skill book on cuisine. They’ve been trying recipes since.”
“The flavor is good, but the ingredients are questionable,” Sylvia answered. “Hopefully, the plants and animals we brought back will improve upon it.”
The cook books had already been read. While the physical manuals were only now in the Cloud Island Wilderness, their digital copies had become available months earlier, thanks to the System.
“Did you find a replacement for the selinofoto flowers?” Esmeralda questioned.
“I did,” Sylvia answered. “But I wasn’t sure what would work best, so I brought three plants that should thrive in the high causality atmosphere.”
“We’ll test them all and choose whichever is most charming,” Emmy decided, looking pleased.
Sylvia laughed.
“I should’ve known.” The silver-haired girl tried another treat. Her pastel pink eyes brightened. Oh. It was like a jelly roll. A tasty one too. “I hope you kept this chef on retainer.”
“I did better,” Esmeralda said proudly. “I hold a 50% stake in The Emerald Bakery. Should it prove successful, I will expand this enterprise into The Beginner’s Village and Viridian City.”
Clearly, Sylvia had invested in the wrong things. A problem easily solved. From now on, Emmy would face stiff competition in the restaurant business. As a patron of the delicious arts, Sylvia was not to be outdone.
Lady Vallenfelt held out a hand. “I believe it’s time you returned my staff.”
Such cold, cruel words could only come from a witch. Sylvia showed cute eyes to Emmy, trying to summon the lady’s sympathy. Esmeralda’s expression darkened.
Tch.
Reluctantly, she returned White Heaven. Not the phantasmal shadow. The real thing. Clearly, the silver-haired girl needed more practice before weaponizing her cuteness.
“I began work on the harbor in your absence,” Lady Vallenfelt said, letting the staff sink into her soul. “I concluded it would be best to start the project early. It won’t be many years now before we conduct serious trade with the other planes. Chaos Lagoon is fine for small ships. It is entirely unsuited for larger vessels.”
Sylvia nodded.
She loved this aspect of Emmy. The emeraldette wasn’t just a girl with whom she could share happy moments, Esmeralda was a pillar Sylvia could lean on. A partner in business. A shield at her back. A spear to fend off her foes. Sylvia hoped when Esmeralda gazed in her direction, she saw the same.
“Building an artificial harbor is a major project,” Sylvia noted. “Do you have the resources for it?”
Men and money were a must. So too would be enchantments, magic, and resources. Land would be carved from Starport’s coast then used to string shield islands off Cape Moonlight’s tip. Law magic would then be used to stabilize islands, holding them in place. And to bind that magic, they’d make pillars of white jade then drive them into the rock.
Those same pillars would be used to smooth the currents around the islands as well, making the passage safer than Chaos Lagoon’s.
“The great labor required is precisely why I wish to start now,” Esmeralda replied. “Steady wages will draw low level gamers to Starport, furthering the city’s growth.”
“As though your monopoly on soul-space silver wasn’t reason enough,” Sylvia teased. “Starport’s harbor is a matter of public interest. I’ll write a bill. There’s no reason we should finance this project personally.”
Plus, she could transform some of the work into quests. By providing pay in the form of merit, Sylvia could suppress the players’ wages.
Emmy gave her an exasperated look.
“Sylvia,” she said, voice tinged with disappointment. “The bill has already been written and you have already approved it.”
...
Expression turning, the silver-haired girl hastily searched her notes. Virtual paper flashed through her digitized soul. In a single second, the work order was plucked from the morass. Blankly, Sylvia stared at the alien document. She did, vaguely, remember signing it, but she hadn’t the foggiest idea of anything beyond that.
“My, my,” Esmeralda sounded, umbral eyes twinkling. “It seems I must teach you to be more thorough in the future. A good lord should be aware of all the major affairs in their domain and many of the minor.”
Sylvia sighed. Who was the Cloud Island Governor again? Not her, that was for sure. She was obviously a rubber stamp.
“I’m dumping this job on some poor sap the second we have ten thousand citizens,” Sylvia decided.
As governor, she could influence the trajectory of the plane. She could create quests, write laws, and allocate resources. All of this was offset by the cons: hours spent reviewing papers, dealing with special interests, and getting blamed for problems she had no hand in. Like all jobs, it was a mixed bag. Sylvia would rather use her time to puzzle over enchantments and complete quests.
Just as importantly, when it came to politics, she just wasn’t good at it.
Sure, she could fix that. Experience went a long way. Skill books went further. If Sylvia consumed a score to master politics and bureaucracy, she might well become the most effective politician in human history. But, here’s the thing, she didn’t want to.
The position of governor was a job, not a dream. And rich girls should chase their dreams.
Esmeralda’s eyes turned stern.
“Political power, once lost, is difficult to regain. And though you may detest the labor, Sylvia, you will not find it pleasant when others decide the course of this nation in ways you wish not,” Lady Vallenfelt warned.
The silver-haired girl sighed.
Esmeralda Vallenfelt had been born the daughter of a count. Later, she’d served the king’s court as a respectable witch. After her death, Esmeralda had become Countess Chanlina’s appointed devil, eventually earning the title of baron. In short, Lady Vallenfelt had been nobility for near the entirety of her long life.
With so much time, the position had merged with her nature. To yield power went against Emmy’s instincts.
But Sylvia was none of those things. Her position of governor had lasted a mere few years, and during much of that time her authority was closer to a joke. More importantly, Emmy had forgotten something important. The Cloud Island Government would be a democracy. Even now scholars, armchair philosophers, and keyboard warriors were hammering out prospective constitutions on the forums.
And all of this meant….
“Even if I wanted to stay, I’ll lose an election eventually,” Sylvia reminded.
Every form of government had its faults. Democracy suffered from a problem where the people blamed their leadership for every imperfection. No matter her skill or her popularity, it was inevitable that the Cloud Island Wilderness would grow tired of Sylvia’s rule.
Then she’d be replaced.
And it didn’t matter how terrible her competitor, because voters tended to assume ‘the normal’ was an unchangeable fixture.
Emmy pressed her lips. Sylvia reached across the table, grasping the girl’s hand. Different people had different ambitions. Relationships weren’t just a joining of emotions, they were a negotiation of agendas.
“Don’t worry so much about it,” Sylvia encouraged. She smirked. “I mean, why should I run the government when I can own it? In a democracy, a wealthy oligarch is no less influential than a member of the senate. More, even.”
Esmeralda gave Sylvia a look of disgust, her cheeks unconsciously puffing. Sylvia’s heart soared with glee. She hadn’t seen Emmy’s cute cross appearance since Emily vanished. Her dear and adorable friend was still there, hidden behind layers of ladylike elegance.
“That was dreadfully inappropriate,” Esmeralda spoke, nose raised. Then the lady let go of her anger. “If this is your wish, then I must acquiesce. But what then will be your plan for the future?”
“Business and quests,” Sylvia answered. Her eyes gleamed with greed. “I want to sweep all the easy merit points Ten-Thousand Dungeon Domain is offering.”
“Do leave rewards for others or you’ll be hated,” Emmy scolded. “But I’m glad you are taking this seriously. You’ll begin on A Perfect Core soon, then?”
“I’d like to, but I’m 8000 merit point short,” Sylvia said, spreading her hands in a helpless gesture. “So first I’ll focus on Gateway Express and Soul Vector II.”
To fuel the planar gates demanded vast repositories of void and space ether. Right now, they lacked the channels to teleport more than fifty tones of material per day. With things as they were, that was more than enough. However, the Cloud Island Wilderness would grow larger. They’d soon find themselves short.
In the long run, they’d convert to a hub-based design. This would let the gates bounce their portals by way of joint transit. Starlight’s coastal channels weren’t maximized yet. Nemesis could support ether flows far greater. A transit hub had other advantages as well. A well-designed planar gate network permitted arbitrary connections, simplifying travel.
But all of that was a while off. Preparations, however, were not. The first hub would be built under Starport, with caverns carved out to hold loose ether. Later, they’d build a second hub near Viridian City, making use of the chaos shed by Yaalon’s roots. Last, would be the main hub in Nemesis.
Nemesis was a must.
“I see,” Esmeralda sounded, considering. “Then I must devote more of my time to the refinement of interstice opal.”
Interstice opal was their replacement for realm brick. The mineral grew in veins throughout Nemesis, often in the same formations as void rock. They hadn’t yet found an efficient way to process the material. Fortunately, the interstice opal was reasonably abundant. Esmeralda had tracked down repositories holding a million droms. Likely, less than five percent of the repositories had been discovered.
“We’ll need to transform mines into a renewable resource,” Sylvia mused.
“A concern we can set aside for the next two decades. Our consumption is limited, and we have no plans for export,” Emmy dismissed. She paused before shifting subjects. “And what will your focus be, on the business side of things?”
“Ships,” Sylvia answered. “Airships to be specific. For astralships, I think we should straight up buy them. At least, until our industry is bigger.”
Airships and astralships came from two different technological roots. Airships were a variant of the flying staff. A perfect industry for Swift Brooms to enter. This time Sylvia didn’t plan to steal the trade entirely. Airships were complicated beasts consisting of many components. Hull construction could be thrown to her company Wells and Swallow. The ropes, masts, sails, and netting would be contracted out. Same with the furnishings.
Swift Brooms would focus on the ship’s engines and its main beam, which, for civilian vessels, doubled as the keel.
“That’s quite the labor. I hope you can spare time to assist with alchemy,” Esmeralda asserted. “Cost effective, high quality materials remain a core weakness of our economy. One I have endeavored to correct. But to refine such materials demands a ready supply of alchemical equipment.”
At the start, Sylvia grimaced. She was far from an alchemical expert, with her only skill books being Elementary Alchemy and Bloodline Codes, part 1. Her worry lessened when Emmy reached the latter part of her comment.
“I can handle product design and enchantment, but we’ll be held back by our lack of smiths,” Sylvia volunteered. “As long as I turn the task into a series of quests, I’ll even get good merit for it.”
“Lovely,” Esmeralda praised. “Don’t worry about the smiths. I’ll put together a shop in the next few months, even if it demands moving the few on my payroll sideways. Ah. I should warn, I have already purchased Advanced Alchemy along with the skill books Material Alchemy, Industrial Synthesis, and The Fundamentals of Alchemical Cultivation. I must say, to obtain knowledge so easily was a pleasure. Though, it was not so enjoyable being forced to use three books because the System thought little of my foundation.”
Sylvia’s smile was pained.
Her poor, poor skill book monopoly. Ruined. It was ruined. First, Griffmiss cruelly snatched Intermediate Arithmancy. Then, the other players planted sticky fingers on texts like Quiet Curses, Gesture Magic, and The Foundations of Enchantment. Now, Emmy joined the malice conspiracy, ruthlessly stabbing her lover in the back.
Her dream was in ashes. Why? Why did she have to suffer so?
“Don’t worry, my dear Sylvia,” Emmy said with a teasing titter. “The Encyclopedia of Runes is still within reach.”
Sylvia’s pastel pink eyes were pitiful. She knew this opportunity only existed because the emerald-haired witch needed nothing more than a refresher on the subject. Also, could this be called consoling? No! Emmy was twisting the knife. Just the thought of burning four books on runes was torture in and of itself.
The silver-haired girl sighed. “At the very least, you saved me three-hundred merit points.”
“And I’ll earn one!” Emmy added cheerfully.
Such bright-eyed bile. As expected from a witch.
Esmeralda’s serious demeanor returned. “There is an important matter. If our ships transit the planes, it is inevitable that one will be followed. I have been contemplating how best to resolve this conundrum.”
Sylvia frowned. “Wouldn’t Yaalon’s magic put a stop to that?”
Planes were not still things. Worlds shuffled in the starry void like tectonic plates sliding atop Earth’s mantle. Except, this cosmic process was a million times faster. Despite this, planes weren’t hard to find. As the worlds moved, the ether between would be squeezed like toothpaste in a tube. This would generate a counter force, causing the planes to bounce around in a regular region of space.
The resulting domain become the planar ‘orbit’.
But these orbits weren’t fixed. From time to time, the forces of nature would perfectly align and a major plane would slip through the gap. Astrogation, therefore, was not just the art of sailing a ship through the starry void but the techniques of finding these shifting continents.
Smaller planes were harder to find. Plus, they were more mobile. Not only did they have additional space to bounce around in, they easily slipped between the orbital gaps. World trees took this trait to the extreme. Yaalon was, in many ways, like a colossal ship crossing the sea. It moved not only according to the currents, but according to its own will.
“To an extent,” Emmy answered. “Yaalon manipulates the surrounding chaos, the Great Gyre being the most obvious result. That twist in space not only hides us from prying eyes but from fate itself.”
Sylvia nodded, eyes of fractal pink gazing out into the churning dark. The gyre was a twinkling curtain, separating the Cloud Island Wilderness from interplanar space. To find the tree, Sylvia had required fate and a compass. Even then, the world couldn’t be visually seen until she came within two hundred kilometers of it.
And the starry void was vast. The distance between worlds was often measured in tens of thousands of kilometers. Which was small compared to the frozen void of the material world. Yet, the astral sea utterly dwarfed Earth’s oceans. Finding a hidden space in the dark was already difficult. When chance itself conspired against that discovery, the challenge became all but impossible.
Sylvia knew this for sure. Otherwise, Yaalon would’ve long been claimed by others. A world tree was too precious and many knew of the Fey Federation’s legendary gift to Lucifer. In the thousands of years before their arrival, many adventurers and the Heavenly Inquisition would’ve sought this treasure.
“While Yaalon is mighty, it possesses a great weakness,” Emmy continued. “A world tree’s power is like a storm, potent yet scattered. A sharp knife can only be countered by a blade equally focused. What we need is a fate protector. Thankfully, one is easily acquired. We should hatch from the last Egg of Origin a qilin.”
…
“Are you asking me to babysit Bambi?” Sylvia deadpanned.
“Sylvia, I think you’d look absolutely adorable beside a qilin,” Esmeralda teased.
Qilin were deer-like creatures who ruled over fate. Their wise and gentle nature made them particularly sensitive to malice. There was little doubt that a qilin was the perfect phantasm for deflecting a nation’s ill fortune. Particularly, a qilin born with the System and having a talent exceeding that of Lenape and Nithe.
The problem was, while Sylvia often playfully exaggerated her own wickedness, she didn’t have anything which vaguely resembled a pure heart.
Therefore, her lips curled into a sneer. “You realize it’s never going to bow to me, right?”
“Sylvia, Sylvia, Sylvia, you’re not only an Apostle of Fire, you’re a magical girl,” Emmy explained. “To whom would it bow if not to you?”
Sylvia gave the emeraldette a dead-eyed look. Well, cuteness was justice, so Esmeralda might have a point. But, if that were the case, wouldn’t it bow to Emmy first?
“There should be a fair bit of merit in raising a greater guardian,” Sylvia mused. “But I don’t think I can handle the day-to-day. We should tap Riley for this. But first, we need to confirm Yaalon can actually produce a qilin. Then, we’ll have to get permission from High Queen Telma and Empress Idetta.”
There was no need to seek Lenape or Nithe. Sylvia was one hundred percent confident the turtle would agree. Likewise, she was equally confident Nithe would refuse. Three out of four voices, especially if Yaalon itself were to accept, was more than enough.
“I’ve already checked with the System. Yaalon has the bloodline code required,” Esmeralda asserted.
“I shouldn’t be surprised,” Sylvia said. The Keeper had already brought with him the code of a dragon and a world turtle, so why not a qilin? “I suppose we have a plan.”
Quiet fell between the pair. The silver-haired witch rocked back and forth in her wicker chair, gazing absently into the distance. The sun was low on the horizon, filling the sky with hues of orange. She sampled another treat. Sweet flavors danced on her tongue, washed down by a sip of tea.
“Did you get the magma imp cores?” the emeraldette questioned.
“I did,” Sylvia confirmed. “Should we prepare them?”
“Not today,” Emmy answered, scooting closer. “Today, I want to watch the sunset with you.”
Hand-in-hand and chair-by-chair, the two ladies waited as the sun slowly slipped past the horizon.
-oOo-
♦ Netherworld >> Cloud Island Wilderness >> ClassifiedsTopic: Swift Brooms: We’re looking for a Golem Pilot
CutestSilverBird (Original Poster) (Planar Governor)Posted: 7 days agoHello folks, Swift Brooms has an exciting new opportunity for you. That’s right, you can be a Golem Pilot! Live out your fantasy of piloting a humanoid machine! If you sign up for this job, you’ll be expected to complete a large set of simple tasks. Cutting lumber, stabilizing the essence, mining for materials, and even transporting goods.
This is a full time job with 32 hours per week dedicated to labor and 8 hours set aside for reviewing and correcting the System labels for your tasks. Be a part of the future! Pilot a golem and save your fellow players from the drudgery meant for machines.
Wages start at 10 silver per week. Associated quests and merit points are available.
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► SilverLove [Posted: 6 day ago]
here to view the contents of the post.>
► Npc72 [Posted: 6 days ago]
Wow, we’re going full robot labor now? Get your Sci-fi out of my fantasy ;).
► QuestBasher [Posted: 6 days ago]
The AI takeover has begun.
► LadyKiller[Posted: 6 day ago]
< LadyKiller is on your ignore list. Click here to view the contents of the post.>
► HaremGod [Posted: 6 day ago]
here to view the contents of the post.>
► Npc72 [Posted: 6 days ago]
And not even the afterlife is safe!
► SecretProtagonist [Posted: 5 day ago]
There’s something so fitting about Cutie offering a job where your job is, literally, to put yourself out of a job.
► BeastCatcher07 [Posted: 5 day ago]
@CutestSilverBird: Hey, if I sign up, will you provide transport to Starport?
► CutestSilverBird [Posted: 5 day ago] (Original Poster) (Planar Governor)
No problem. I won’t even charge you for it.
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♦ Netherworld >> Cloud Island Wilderness >> Viridian CityTopic: Announcing the guild: Laughing Coffin!
ZombieMan02 (Original Poster)Posted: 3 days ago
Hey dudes!
I just wanted everyone to know that I’m creating a new guild. We’ll be working out of Mountain Point, twenty kilometers down river from Viridian City. Join us. We’ll tackle the wilderness together.
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► QuestBasher [Posted: 3 day ago]
Now there’s a guild name that inspires trust. I’m betting they don’t last a month.
► DesperateBowman [Posted: 3 days ago]
That’s a sucker’s bet. How many guilds have even made it three months? I can’t name a single one beyond the Viridian Blades and the Sky Scouts. People keep treating this like a game. Guilds are serious business.
► BlueRangerSPD [Posted: 3 days ago]
Northern Forge has been around for more than a year, we just don’t hear about them much because they’re on Starlight. There’s also Harvest Doom, which surprised me.
► DustyLibrarian [Posted: 2 days ago]
(Link) Eighty-percent of all guilds fail in their first three months. Ninety percent in their first year.
► Npc72 [Posted: 2 days ago]
LOL. You guys actually named yourselves Laughing Coffin?
A word of advice: “If you don’t seek death, you won’t die.”
► SongGirl [Posted: 2 days ago]
Is the name a reference to something? I’m confused.
►AD: Swift Brooms
Are you tired of trekking behind the agile hunter, running just to keep up? Are the hunting grounds too far, forcing you to waste half a day just to reach your destination? No more! Cruise through the skies of Pyrinas on a new broom today! Everyone will gaze up at you in envy!
Prices are available here. Financing is available.
► Npc72 [Posted: 2 days ago]
It’s from SAO. Laughing Coffin was a PK (player killers) guild in a game with real death. ZombieMan02 is practically thumbing his nose at Cutie. She’ll probably post pictures of ‘BarbaqueMan02’ a few days from now.
► ZombieMan02 [Posted: 2 days ago] (Original Poster)
Hey, hey. The name’s just a joke. We weren’t actually making a PK guild. I was just using it in a tongue in cheek sort of way. Because, you know, we’re literally dead.
► GrimQuill [Posted: 2 days ago]
Don’t let them fool you. That name isn’t a joke.
► SecretProtagonist [Posted: 1 day ago]
Cutie’s a troll. She’ll definitely use any excuse to be laughing over your coffin. Unless you’re planning to challenge the witch, I’d change your name pronto.
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► ZombieMan02 [Posted: 1 day ago] (Original Poster)
Uh? Are there any tidbits of wisdom you guys want to dispense? I just skimmed DustyLibrarian’s link and wow, there are a lot of dead guilds in there.
@BlueRangerSPD – Harvest Doom? Dare I ask.
► CutestSilverBird [Posted: 23 hours ago] (Planar Governor)
@SecretProtagonist – Don’t ruin my fun. I have a brand-new staff and a new tool to extend the range of divinations. Here I was, ready to try both out. :) :) :)
BTW: PvP is illegal in Axis outside the Arena and a few select locations. The System doesn’t mind one or two murders. That’s all fun and games. But if anyone is thinking of making a PK guild, then… he he he.
► DesperateBowman [Posted: 18 hours ago]
Don’t treat this world like a game. If I want to spend 40 hours a week harvesting resources, I’d take up a job and get paid for it. If you’re planning to start a company, make a company. Don’t string people along and try to exploit them. Guilds are supposed to be fun.
► BlueRangerSPD [Posted: 11 hours ago]
DesperateBowman hit the nail on the head. Most of the guilds that failed tried to turn it into an ordinary job.
A guild has to have something going for them beyond money. The Sky Scouts attracted people who wanted to explore and map the Cloud Island Wilderness. Northern Forge and the Viridian Blades handle the major quests in their territories. Harvest Doom is closer to a club for farmers, they mostly swap tips on how to raise plants and animals.
But if you’re looking for serious advice, I’d talk to TeamCaptain or TrueSoldier
► HaremGod [Posted: 10 hours ago]here to view the contents of the post.>
► Npc72 [Posted: 9 hours ago]HaremGod, your Sylvia fan club is not a guild. Clubs are clubs. Guilds are guilds.
► TrueSoldier [Posted: 5 hours ago]
If I were to summarize why the Viridian Blades is successful, I’d put it in one word: meaning. We here at the Blades are committed to building a community in Axis. The labor we do has meaning behind it. We see that meaning every day in the roads, stores, and infrastructure of Viridian City.
► ZombieMan02 [Posted: 27 minutes ago] (Original Poster)
All that sounds complicated. I think we’ll just start by doing quests and earning merit points then figure things out from there.
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