Ari contacted me immediately when one of Starbreaker’s great-grandkids had died. Apparently he’d done it right in front of Bevel.
My daughter had refused to talk to me, which had hurt. If I’d been there, I was sure she would’ve spoken. I was tempted to leave the airship behind. It wouldn’t even be for long.
That would’ve invited questions from Starbreaker.
More importantly, it was my fault we were still days out from our territory, yet to leave the City on the Water. If I hadn’t spent over a day looking over the gate after getting the update from my system, the Iron Curtain would’ve been most of the way to the edge of our expanded territory. And once it was there, it would’ve fallen under Nexxa’s protection.
My work had seemed reasonable at the time. After all, in addition to the initial pop-up, my System had a number of different suggestions. Ways I could repair the Gate.
It had taken investigation to discover none had been immediately helpful. In fact, I was pretty sure some required entire industries we didn't have. Even the Forgeborn would be hard-pressed to produce half the parts I needed, based off of the list it was giving me. Still, between Althon's studies and the System…
Well, I was certain I’d be able to restore it. Eventually. Assuming the others weren't in even worse condition, all four could be properly operational in under a year.
For the first time since receiving the quest, I could see a clear path forward.
The call had come after I’d spent nearly thirty-six hours investigating the gate. If nothing else, it’d been a good reminder there was only so much I could do at the moment. There’d been several bits of inspiration for my own spells. I’d gotten halfway done scribing a fourth order version of Dimensional Dancing, thought by the time I’d gotten it designed, there’d been enough changes I’d renamed it World Strider.
It worked best for traveling long distances quickly, incorporating Translocation Matrix’s scanning ability to provide ‘safe’ landing spots. It was very much a spell designed for my personal neural dynamics. Even if others had the worlds affinity to keep it running, most under Djinn-souled wouldn’t be able to process the amount of data.
Among my many tests, I checked how much a quarter of my mana pool recharged the gate. According to my new Gate status, it’d barely shifted. According to Althon, that fifteen minute's worth of mana had been equivalent to him expending a full day's worth of his own. The power of a proper affinity, I figured.
I wasn't surprised to see my worlds affinity had climbed over four hundred.
Well, not too surprised.
It was enough that without the interference, I could’ve popped back to Cape Aeternia in a single Recall, and likely had more than half my mana left.
Brushing my knees, I returned with Althon to the City where the Iron Curtain was loading supplies and our new passengers. My inspection of the gate hadn’t been the sole reason for our delay, though the second could’ve been put off as well.
We'd picked up a few ‘recruits’. People Althon wanted to send along. Not every was dealing well with the closed-in nature of this new City on the Water. All of whom I would be having swear new oaths once we got back. They’d been Magus Domini, though I definitely didn’t consider them worthy of the oath they’d taken.
They were, for some reason, taking turns slapping each other.
“Do you know what they're doing?” I asked Althon, who was watching the gathering of former Magus Domini, stroking his beard.
“I suspect they’re preparing to deal with those they abandoned before retreating to the City. I appreciate you taking the time to retrieve the survivors.”
“Least we can do.” Even if I’d made the promise before talking to Bevel, I was still committed to it. It wasn’t their fault the folks’d been abandoned by the mages in front of us. Besides, it was only a dozen mages, according to the message.
If not for the abundance of oaths available, I wouldn’t have wanted a single one of the former Magus Domini on the Iron Curtain, nevermind back in Aeternia. Still, while they might be horrible protectors and leaders, there were other roles. Even an oath for a clerk.
I’d laughed when Sidhe sent me the report with that one. The Oath of Properly Filed Paperwork.
“Something amusing?” Althon asked, raising one of his bushy eyebrows.
“Just thinking about making them into oath-bound clerks.”
He let out a rough chuckle of his own. “A kinder fate than they perhaps deserve.”
“Said like someone who hasn’t dealt with their own paperwork in centuries,” I said. When I’d asked about his familiar, he’d revealed it did all his. Or delegated it away. Wasn’t sure it was worth it. The spell required a sixth Order spell slot to power it. Permanently.
Certainly explained why I didn’t see most mages running around with intelligent familiars. For some reason, I’d assumed it would be a low level spell.
“These are the ones who showed remorse,” Althon reminded me, letting out a sigh. “Those who were simply not up to the task I set before them. Perhaps I asked too much.”
“Happens to the best of us.” I mostly managed to keep a straight face, though it cracked somewhat when he raised that bushy eyebrow. “And to you too, of course.”
Althon stared at me for a time, before looking back at the Magus Domini. They’d transitioned from slapping to screaming accusations at each other. Given their expressions, most seemed more angry at themselves than their practice partners.
“You remind me of her,” Althon said, drawing my attention back.
“Her?”
He didn’t answer. Instead he sighed, pulling a ring from beneath his cloak.
“This is?” I asked even as I inspected it with my magical senses. A tier-5 ring, strong in worlds magic. Simple enchantment.
“Materials. To help with repairs. If you’re able to do as you say… these should allow you to open up routes not just to the Howling Wastes, but to us as well.”
That… was an understatment. A quick check of the ring revealed literal tons of worlds affinity materials. “This… this is…”
“A small investment. You’ve saved me more than that already, with your adjustments to the gate.”
“That… those were minor fixes.” I wasn’t lying. I’d barely touched the Gate. There’d been some targetting errors connecting to the opposite I’d corrected. It’d improved its efficiency by less than two percent, at max.
“And? The contents of that ring are worth less to me than the mana I’ll save in the next few months.”
“Right.” Turning the ring over in my hand, I considered how much using my own mana might be worth in trade value. Something we’d have to talk about. Especially if I’m able to set up a connection to the City.
“Ah, Guni. So good of you to join us, young lady,” Althon said, drawing my attention away from his absurd ‘gift’.
Perth’s former librarian gave a polite bow to Althon, who returned a nod while leaning on his staff. I noted she wasn’t the only one who’d joined us, Starbreaker standing farther back. Doing my best not to meet his gaze, I returned my attention to Lady Guni.
“Thank you, master Althon,” Lady Guni said, giving him a smile. “Still not used to being called young.”
“Forgive an old man his affections,” Althon chuckled. “Have you made a decision?”
“I have. I intend to remain here.”
“Really?” Guess I’d just assumed she was coming with us, what with the healing her half-cast thing.
“Had you made the offer when you first left… I likely would have joined you. Now… there’s work I can do here. Important work. You'll have to come back for me later,” she said, giving me a little smile, Althon nodding alongside her. “Besides, from what I hear it won't be long until I'm able to take a train straight from the City back to your new home.”
“Assuming a few important obstacles are dealt with,” I said, pointedly looking towards the far side of the dome, where the monsters were even now throwing themselves against it.
Althon shook his head. “I suspect we will hear from you again, either way. Those materials should make it easier to do so.”
A hissing sigh from behind us, drew my attention to Althon’s familiar.
“Ah, yes. Well, young Perry, I have things I must see to. This dome doesn’t maintain itself, afterall,” Althon said, nodding before taking his leave in a very wizardly way.
The burst of collapsing bubbles wasn’t one of the spells I was familiar with, though I could tell it didn’t contain any worlds magic.
Before I could bid process Althon’s hasty departure, Starbreaker had already stepped forward. “I do not know how either of you can be so… casual with a Dragon-souled.”
“When you’re a half-cast, everyone’s above you. Not much difference between master Althon and young Perry here.” The last was said with a twist of her lips.
“He’s still a person,” I agreed, nodding my head in Lady Guni’s direction. Then I smirked at Starbreaker. “Weren’t you the one complaining about how lonely it was, growing powerful? I’d think you’d understand better than anyone.”
Starbreaker didn’t respond, simply frowning.
“I will come back,” I promised Lady Guni. “Though I can’t say when.”
“I’m hardly about to be plucked like a weed. With master Althon’s healing, I have many decades ahead of me.”
“Yeah. Think I can manage something by then,” I said. “Hopefully while you’re still young.”
“Oh, don’t you start with that too,” Lady Guni said, swatting my arm.
“At least on that I’m in agreement,” Starbreaker said. “He’s correct, you are young.”
“We all are,” I said, thinking of Bahama. “From a certain point of view.”
At that, Lady Guni rolled her eyes while Starbreaker snorted, the two trading a glance.
Ignoring the latter, I bid farewell to Lady Guni. Only after she’d gone did we move towards the Iron Curtain ourselves, the Magus Domini having finished their ‘preparations’. As we boarded I came across one last person Calbern had recruited while we’d been in the City.
The grizzled captain who’d taken us upriver stomped up, gaze sweeping up and down. Her weathered face bore new scars, though they’d already faded. That there were scars at all was a sign of poor healing spells or emergency items.
She was chewing something rubbery, the end hanging out of her mouth as she tilted her head to the side. “I could do a lot with a ship like this. You serious in your offer?”
“We’ve got two more being built. After that we expect our biggest limitation to be crew. We’d be a captain half as capable as you, though you might find the controls a bit more complicated than you’re used to.”
“Sure I’ll adjust, easy enough,” Captain said, sticking out her hand.
“Glad to have you,” I said, shaking it.
“Come a long way from that boy I met a year ago.”
“Not far enough.”
“Ain't that ever the truth?” the captain said, clapping my shoulder. “Best we get underway then. I’ll go see what I can learn about this rust bucket from whoever you got running it.”
I nodded, and she turned away, the rubbery stalk bouncing in time with her ambling steps.
Starbreaker chose that moment to walk aboard, “A more interesting stop than I expected, boy.”
“Glad we could be of service,” I grumbled as I did a quick headcount, making sure everyone was aboard. A bit more of a task than usual, with all the Magus Domini joining us.
At least Inertia was easy to find, hunched over a collection of old Forgeborn parts she and Starbreaker had pulled from the depths. I hadn’t gotten the full story, but apparently there’d been a battle in the City a long time ago. One from the early days of her people.
At the fore, Calbern and Tresla were staring off into the distance, sharing a companionable silence.
Once both I and the crew member whose job it was to do so were both assured everybody was on board, we set off. Appreciated them allowing me my moment.
Joining Calbern and Tresla instead of staying underfoot, I found myself clenching my hand as we passed out of the hexes. I was certain something’d pop up.
When nothing did, we turned northeast, following the river towards Nexxa’s old territory. And all the other old fortresses along the way. Just because we hadn’t received a message didn’t mean there weren’t survivors. We picked up five people, though only because the beacons allowed me to use their scanning functions. Apparently a perk of Class 2 citizenship.
As I escorted the last of them aboard, I couldn’t help but marvel at how much of the current society was built on technology they barely understood in the ages before.
The mother and daughter had been trapped inside a cave for the last three weeks after the entrance collapsed. They should’ve run out of air and water. But much like the civilizations of Ro’an, they’d scavenged enchantments they didn’t understand. A former wind-shield had provided air. Their water had come from a refrigeration enchantment, that they’d used to condense water out of the air, before melting it with a basic fire cantrip the mother knew.
While I respected their ingenuity, I couldn’t help but weep at how much knowledge had been lost to the general populace. At some point, someone must’ve made concerted efforts.
“Something bothering you boy?” Starbreaker asked after I’d made sure the pair were getting a fresh meal. Not personally. Apparently my presence was a bit unnerving to the daughter, who was in her late teens.
“The amount of knowledge that’s been lost. So much… sabatoge.”
“That’ll happen, when dragon-souled go to war. Ideas are only one of the things they target,” Starbreaker said. There was a weight to his words that was usually lacking.
“You’ve seen it, haven’t you? Dragon-souled at war?”
“No, thank the Crimson Goddess,” Starbreaker said, making a sign I’d only seen from Nexxa. A dual cupping of hands. “But I’ve seen them fight. And I’ve studied them. Rare to see them cooperate for long. Closest I’ve seen is your Hundred Kingdoms.”
“Which is always at war with itself,” I grumbled, turning away from the mess hall.
Starbreaker fell in beside me as we moved down the corridor towards the observation deck. “There was a time it wasn’t like that. And they’re hardly all destroyers of knowledge. But it doesn’t take many, not when they can destroy a city with a single spell.”
“Rags and oil, that’s a terrifying thought.” It also made me slightly resentful about the wall of monsters. “Terra Vista has three Dragon-souled. Couldn’t one of them deal with the wall of monsters?”
Starbreaker broke out into a chuckle as we climbed the stairs to the observation deck. “Most are like the Deceiver, cowards… not like us.”
“Us, huh?”
“You’re many things, boy, but a coward isn’t one of them,” Starbreaker said, clapping me on the shoulder.
“Ah, Master Percival,” Calbern said as we entered the main room. “You’re just in time.”
“Just in time for…” I trailed off as the answer became obvious. We’d reached Nexxa’s territory. Only there wasn’t a handful of people waiting, there were thousands. “That… we aren’t going to be able to fit them all aboard the Iron Curtain.”
“Not a coward,” Starbreaker repeated, clapping me on the shoulder once more. “Bit of a fool, perhaps. But not a coward.”