Demoness 3 - Chapter 4: ​Cladding (11,057 Words) (Patreon)

Elania and Yolani strolled through the bustling streets of the Cloud District. The sun-drenched cobblestones gleamed beneath their feet as they passed by grand mansions and ornate public buildings.

Elania slipped her hand into Yolani’s, their fingers intertwining. A smile tugged at the corners of Yolani’s lips.

“It’s nice not having to worry so much about scraping together enough crit for once,” Yolani said, her voice soft against the distant chatter of the crowd.

Elania nodded.

It wasn’t quite possible for her to rally the same brightness as her companion, but the touch was warm and welcome.

Her gaze drifted to the intricate statues lining the street. “Only as long as we can keep the profits rolling in from the airships.”

Yolani’s expression sobered, her grip on Elania’s hand tightening. “Once our people are back on their feet with their trades and businesses, we won’t need to rely on the airships as much.”

A deep breath escaped Elania’s lips. “As long as the war doesn’t fuck everything up.”

Yolani’s face fell, her eyes clouding with worry. “Feels like it’s chasing us wherever we go,” she said. “I thought we’d finally found a better place.”

Elania nodded, her brow furrowing. “From what we know, it’s probably connected to what happened in Neftasu. The same bastards could be pulling the strings.”

A group of well-dressed nobles passed by, their laughter echoing through the street. Elania and Yolani fell silent for the rest of their walk to the Neftasu Guard barracks.

The guards at the entrance snapped to attention as they stepped up, immediately recognizing Elania. They stepped aside, allowing the pair to enter.

Inside, the raucous celebrations of the previous visit had been replaced by a somber atmosphere.

Hushed conversations drifted from the tables where the men sat, their faces etched with worry. Gaston and several other officers occupied the head table at the end of the hall.

Henri caught sight of them and waved, a flicker of a smile crossing his face. Yolani returned the gesture, her hand brushing against Elania’s as they approached Gaston.

“Have a seat,” Gaston said, gesturing to a set of empty chairs.

Elania nodded, settling into a chair beside him. The other officers’ gazes bore into her almost too intently.

Well, she was essentially their new ‘ruler’ or at least the replacement for Magister Bannon and the rest of the Magistry. They probably had expectations.

She cleared her throat. “As you know, I’ve promoted Gaston to Captain of the Guard. You are the new officer corps he has selected.”

One of the lieutenants leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “What’s in store for us? Does it have something to do with the attack a few days ago?”

Elania met his gaze, her expression serious. “That’s exactly it.”

Elania surveyed the officers gathered around the table. Her statement registered almost immediately, and they all had guarded expressions. She didn’t blame them. Jumping from one war into another wasn’t ideal. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the news she was about to deliver.

“I’ve negotiated a deal with Arlois,” she began, her voice steady. “The city of Contia will cover all the Guards’ wages and expenses.”

The men exchanged glances.

Elania continued, “You’ll be assigned as irregulars, focusing on rescue, security, and anti-boarding defense if the situation escalates.” She paused, letting the information sink in. “You’ll be authorized to carry arms, including artifice rifles, while on duty.”

A murmur rippled through the group.

“Additionally,” Elania added, “you’ll be positioned in the new district with the other Neftasu refugees, providing security and policing there.”

Yolani cleared her throat, drawing the attention of the room. “I’ll be upgrading your weapons to be more effective,” she said, her voice firm. “The older designs can be vastly improved. We’re hoping they’ll be able to eventually stop even paladins if it comes to it.”

The officers shifted in their seats, their expressions darkening. Mutters about paladins drifted through the air. That was only natural, a lot of good men had died due to the Lightbringer action.

Gaston cleared his throat, silencing the whispers. He fixed Elania with a steady gaze. “How permanent is this arrangement?”

Elania leaned back in her chair, considering Gaston’s question. She glanced at Yolani before turning back to the expectant faces of the officers.

“It’s a fair question,” she said, her voice steady. “The offer can be canceled, but Arlois assured me that as long as things work out well, she’ll help ensure we continue to receive the perks and authorization on an ongoing basis. As for my own plans, it’s just too early to know much. We’re doing our best to take things as they come.”

Gaston grunted, his brow furrowing. “Suppose that’s good enough.”

Yolani leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table. “You’ll be working more closely with the Ironfist now, especially in the new Neftasu district. Expect to integrate with the mercenaries.”

One of the lieutenants raised an eyebrow. “What’s the progress on that front?”

Elania met his gaze. “We’ve secured support from local merchants for supplies and permission from the council for the building conversion and possession. The refugees are organizing their labor to prepare for outfitting the area.” She paused, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Surveys are already being done.”

The officers exchanged glances, a mix of surprise and approval on their faces. Gaston nodded, a glimmer of respect in his eyes.

Elania’s gaze drifted from Gaston’s face to a point just over her shoulder. She turned, following his line of sight, and spotted Henri hovering nearby. The young guard’s eyes widened as he realized he’d been caught snooping.

“You might as well sit with us,” Elania said, gesturing to an empty chair beside Yolani. “Since you’ve been listening in anyway.”

Henri’s cheeks flushed, but he nodded, mumbling his thanks as he slid into the seat. Yolani shot him a warm smile.

“I’m glad you figured something out,” Henri said, his voice earnest. “A lot of us have been going stir-crazy cooped up in this hall.”

Yolani’s smile turned mischievous. “Well, I’ll need a tester to help modify the guard muskets. Think you’re up for the task?”

Henri’s eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. “Absolutely. Just say the word.”

Elania grunted, her brow furrowing. She hoped things wouldn’t get “too interesting,” as Yolani put it. If they did, it would mean Arlois’s prediction of war had come true. The thought sent a chill down her spine.

She turned to Gaston, her expression serious. “We need to be prepared,” she said, her voice low. “I know the Guard has been blooded in Neftasu. Everyone who survived, guard or civilian, is a veteran of tragedy.” She paused, her gaze intense. “But things could get worse again, and fast.”

Gaston nodded, his jaw clenching. “We’ll start planning this evening and sort out the men in the morning,” he said. “And we’ll do our best to be ready, no matter what comes.”

Elania leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. They had their work cut out for them, but at least they had a plan. She glanced at Yolani.

“We’ll need to coordinate with the Ironfist,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “Make sure everyone’s on the same page.”

Yolani nodded, her expression determined. “I’ll reach out to Montlas. We can set up a meeting to discuss strategy.”

Henri shifted in his seat, his eyes darting between Elania and Yolani. “What about the refugees?” he asked.

Gaston grunted. “We can start with a census. Get a sense of who we have and what they can do.”

Elania nodded, her mind awhirl. A census would be a good idea. So far they’d gotten summaries and reports from Darius’ connections and the queries from the Ironfist, but nothing concrete. They really needed someone to manage the civilian side better.

She just hoped they’d have time to sort it all out.

*

Elania and Yolani strolled down the bustling street of the Cloud district, their eyes scanning the storefronts. Yolani’s gaze landed on a quaint shop, its sign bearing the image of a mortar and pestle.

“There it is,” she said, pointing. “The alchemy shop.”

Elania nodded, taking in the signage. It boasted of award-winning potions and high-quality wares. Maybe true, maybe not. She wasn’t sure how strict Contia’s advertising laws were. If they even existed…

They probably did, considering her experience with ‘regulations’ so far.

As they stepped inside, unique scents filled the air, emanating from shelves lined with an array of items, most of which were securely stored behind the front counter.

Elania’s gaze wandered, taking in the crystal vials that bubbled with effervescent liquids and the set of ancient scales used for precisely measuring ingredients. The shop was a treasure trove of alchemical wonders.

It reminded her greatly of Aetherhart’s Artifice, but it was a completely different flavor of artisanal.

They waited, and an old shopkeeper emerged from the back, greeting them with a smile that creased his weathered face.

“Welcome to my humble shop,” he said, his voice warm. “How may I assist you today?”

Elania reached into her bag and pulled out a pack of glow moss, holding it out for the shopkeeper to see. His eyes widened, and he reached for a magnifying glass, inspecting the luminescent plant with an artificer’s keen interest.

“Fascinating,” he murmured, turning the Glow Moss over in his hands. “I’ve never seen anything like this on Contia before. Where did you acquire it?”

Elania leaned forward, her voice tinged with excitement. “It’s not native to Contia, you’re right. We’ve been growing some in a Demi-Divine infused plant bed.”

A smile tugged at her lips. For once, her powers were being used for something other than destruction and death. “If we’d like to sell this, how much do you think you could value it?”

“Ah, that explains it. With the right conditions, such phenomena can persist, even become natural.” The shopkeeper said before pulling out an old ledger. His fingers traced the lines of the ancient paper as he flipped through the pages.

He tapped the page, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Based on my records, I can offer you five crit per kilo for the glow moss.”

Elania and Yolani exchanged a glance, their expectations slightly deflated. They had hoped for a higher price, considering the rarity of the plant.

As if sensing their disappointment, the shopkeeper elaborated, “I understand it’s rare, and it may be worth more in the right hands. However, the potions and salves I know to make with it wouldn’t justify a higher price on my end.”

He turned to Yolani. “Perhaps an artificer like yourself would have more use for it? I imagine its unique properties could be harnessed in ways I haven’t even considered.”

Yolani nodded. “I can think of some uses, but we were looking into the alchemical side of things.”

Elania smiled. “Thank you for the insight on it. We were also wondering if you might have any ideas on fungi we could grow. In a humid, warm, dense environment on the island.”

The shopkeeper nodded, his brow furrowed in thought.

“Ah, I see. Those conditions would be perfect for certain types of fungi, even if they aren’t natural for our altitude.” He tapped his chin, his eyes distant as he considered the possibilities. “Give me a moment.”

He disappeared into the back of the shop, rummaging through shelves and drawers. Elania and Yolani exchanged a glance..

The shopkeeper emerged a few minutes later, his arms laden with an assortment of fungi samples and spores. He laid them out on the counter.

There was a cluster of luminescent mushrooms, their caps glowing with an ethereal blue light. Beside them, a tray of spores resembled a miniature forest, their delicate tendrils reaching towards the sky. A jar of dried fungi caught Elania’s eye, their colors ranging from deep crimson to vibrant orange.

The shopkeeper pointed to each sample. “These fungi would thrive in the environment you described. The bioluminescent ones could provide natural lighting, while the red and orange varieties have potent medicinal properties.”

He picked up a vial of spores, holding it up to the light. “These spores, when cultivated properly, can create powerful healing potions. The fungi have a distinct, earthy aroma and a slightly bitter taste, but their effects are unparalleled.”

Elania’s eyes widened as the shopkeeper produced a small crystal vial filled with a shimmering liquid. “This is a sample of the potion,” he explained, handing it to her. “A single vial can speed up healing and prevent infections from taking root.”

Elania turned the vial over in her hands, marveling at the iridescent liquid within. She glanced at Yolani, who gave a subtle, approving nod.

The shopkeeper cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. “I can offer you the recipe for the healing potion, along with the spores and samples, for ten crit.”

Elania’s brow furrowed, the price seeming steep at first. But as she considered the potential for industrializing the process and the competition they would generate for the shopkeeper himself, she reconsidered. It was a fair deal.

She shared a look with Yolani, a silent understanding passing between them. Elania smiled. “How hard can Alchemy really be?” she mused.

The shopkeeper just chuckled.

Elania turned to the shopkeeper, her decision made. “We’ll take it. Can you deliver everything to the northern Arena?”

The shopkeeper nodded, jotting down the address on a scrap of paper. “Of course. I’ll can have it sent over this evening or tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow would be fine. Just have it presented to the guards there,” Elania said.

It took another few minutes to make the exchange with their crit cards, and then Elania and Yolani stepped out of the alchemy shop, the bustling street of the Cloud District enveloping them once more.

They didn’t make it very far before Elania found a quiet spot for them near some railing. She glanced at her companion. “What kind of things do you think the Glow Moss might do for the Regalia?”

Yolani pursed her lips, her brow furrowed in thought. “Well, like I mentioned before, it can act as a reagent when making certain alloys. That’s its primary use.” She shrugged, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “I’m not sure if there are auxiliary uses that could provide different effects, but I can ask Ember.”

Elania nodded. “The alloys it makes are very strong and light, right? And they make excellent mana flow conduits?”

Yolani nodded, her fingers tracing invisible patterns in the air as she explained. “Adding it to most alloys gives them that property.”

Elania hummed to herself as she thought about it. “If we’re making a Regalia, mana flow would be good, right?”

Yolani frowned, her expression thoughtful. “It’s good in some places, but not others.” She gestured to an imaginary suit of armor, her hands outlining its shape. “For example, if it was armor, you wouldn’t want mana flow conduit alloy through the entire thing. It would make it easier for enemies to attack with magic, bypassing the armor’s protection.”

Elania nodded. “Balancing all the different materials, picking the right one for the right spot... it must be incredibly complicated.”

Yolani smiled. “It’s pretty fun.” She met Elania’s gaze, her eyes turning serious. “We should discuss what type of Regalia you actually want. That will help narrow down the materials and design.”

Elania looked out into the clouds, considering.

“Armor, weapon, sword?” Yolani asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

“Why not something that can be multiple things?” Elania said before grinning.

Yolani groaned. “That’s even more complicated.”

Elania’s laughter echoed into the sky. “I’ve always wanted a gun sword,” she mused, her voice wistful.

Yolani’s eyes widened. “The impacts would be terrible for the barrel alignment!”

Elania’s laughter only grew louder. “Alright, alright. How about gun armor, then?”

Yolani sighed, a knowing look crossing her features. “I see where this is going.”

Elania poked at her playfully, her grin spreading across her face. “I know what’s going on in that magic brain of yours. Didn’t you have a gauntlet that shot out fire to increase its kinetic force?”

A blush crept up Yolani’s cheeks, her eyes darting away in embarrassment. “That was an emergency idea!”

Elania’s eyes sparkled. “It worked to stop Keswick’s attack, didn’t it?”

Yolani frowned, her brow furrowing as she countered, “Only once.”

Elania patted Yolani’s back, her touch reassuring. “But now you can make something with the idea of having massive, nearly unlimited [Power] reserves!”

Yolani nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “We could probably reduce the internal power source to a minimum…”

Elania smiled and nodded. As they headed back to the estate, she enjoyed letting Yolani bounce her various ideas off of her. Even if she didn’t really understand everything, sometimes there was just a common sense question she could answer, or a question of her own that would spark an idea.

It was almost enough to dispel the lingering unease that Arlois had pushed on her.

“Are you alright?” Yolani asked, an eyebrow raised.

Elania blinked. “Oh. Uh. Sorry, I was just thinking about you and zoned out.”

Yolani mirrored her blink. “I’m right here, and you’re daydreaming about me, while I’m asking serious questions?”

Elania pursed her lips and attacked with a playful tickle that elicited an evasive action and a panicked, ‘Eeep!’

*

Elania leaned back in her chair, her eyes scanning the schematics scattered across the desk.

Shadow snoozed peacefully in the corner, his dark fur rising and falling with each breath.

Yolani stood beside her, a pencil tucked behind her ear as she pointed to the various designs.

“This one,” Elania said, her finger tapping a large, oversized revolver. She wasn’t a gun nut, but her descriptions of the cowboy weapon seemed to have come through. “I want this one.”

Yolani nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Somehow I felt like that would be it.” She traced her finger along the schematic, her eyes alight with excitement. “Are you sure you want this revolver mechanism? The magazine seemed more efficient… but I guess this will allow for a larger projectile.”

Elania nodded. “I think we should go for stopping power over rate of fire. Machine guns are nice, but somehow I feel like we are going to need to put down elephants, and we already have ways to deal with all the gnats.”

Yolani raised an eyebrow. “What’s an… elephant? What are… gnats?”

“Elephants are giant land creatures, and gnats are annoying bugs,” Elania explained easily.

Yolani’s eyes responded with understanding as she shuffled the firearm papers into a neat stack and set them aside. She then gestured to the remaining designs—intricate swords and bracers, each one a sketch of a unique idea.

“For now, we need to focus on only two versions,” Yolani explained, her voice serious. “Making a base item for the Regalia is complicated enough already. Trying to incorporate too many elements will just make it harder to get right.”

Elania nodded, her brow furrowed in thought. She studied the designs, her eyes darting between the sword and bracer. The sword was a thing of beauty, its blade etched with intricate runes. But… really, she already had a sword, didn’t she?

“The bracer,” Elania said at last, her voice decisive. “The firearm is already offensive. Having a defensive option makes sense.”

Yolani grinned, her eyes sparkling with approval. “That’s a good point. And remember, the bracer is just the beginning. Eventually, we can work up to a full set of armor.”

Elania leaned forward, her elbows resting on the desk as she studied the bracer schematic more closely. “What materials are you thinking of using?”

Yolani pulled up a chair, settling in beside Elania. “Well, the Glow Moss will definitely play a role. It’ll help channel the transformation ability, for sure.”

She tapped the schematic, her finger tracing the intricate lines. “But we’ll need to balance it with other materials to ensure it is flexible enough to morph, while being durable enough to protect your arm.”

Elania nodded. “We’ll need to inset more mana shards. Those have saved my life several times already.”

Yolani’s expression turned serious, and she nodded. “It shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll see if we can work in more slots as well.”

A knock sounded at the door. Shadow’s head popped up, his ears twitching, but he quickly settled back into his nap.

“Come in,” Elania called, leaning back in her chair.

The door swung open, revealing Darius. He strode into the room, a missive clutched in his hand. “My lady,” he said, bowing his head slightly. “I bring news from the refugee camp.”

Elania raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. “Oh? What’s happened?”

Darius held out the missive. “The refugees have finished forming a civil council. They’ve elected representatives.”

Elania took the missive, her eyes scanning the names and titles listed. “This should help organize things,” she murmured. “They managed this quickly.”

Darius nodded. “They’re a resilient bunch.”

Darius reached into his satchel and pulled out another sheaf of papers. “I’ve also compiled profiles on each of the council members,” he said, setting the papers on the already cluttered desk. “Our informants promise the information is accurate.”

Elania leaned back in her chair, her eyes scanning the profiles Darius had compiled. Yolani peered over her shoulder, her brow furrowed in concentration.

[Amara Steelheart (Female, 45) - Amara is a skilled blacksmith who has taken on a leadership role among the refugees. She has focused on ensuring that everyone has access to necessities like food, water, and shelter. Amara is known for her pragmatic approach and ability to mediate conflicts within the refugee community.]

“A blacksmith, huh?” Elania mused, tapping the profile. “Could be useful. We’ll need someone who can oversee production by the craftsmen.”

Yolani nodded. “And it sounds like she’s got a level head on her shoulders. That’s important when dealing with a bunch of stressed-out people.”

Elania frowned, wondering how the election process worked.

It was likely just the most popular or social people who made their way to the top. Would it really be possible for actual honest leaders to filter to the top without some scumbag sneaking in?

Either way, they were going to need to meet these people and judge for themselves. She put Amara’s profile down on the desk and moved to the second one.

[Theron Emberheart (Male, 38) - Theron is a former teacher who has stepped up to help organize educational activities for children and adults within the refugee camps. He believes that maintaining a sense of normalcy and providing opportunities for learning is essential for the refugees’ mental well-being and future prospects.]

Darius pointed to Theron’s profile. “This one’s interesting. A teacher who’s trying to keep things as normal as possible for the kids.”

Elania’s lips quirked into a smile. “Smart. Keeping them busy and learning will help keep their minds off the shit they’ve been through.”

Yolani nodded and took the paper and laid it on top of the first two. Everyone looked at the next entry.

[Naia Silvermoon (Female, 52) - Naia is a healer who has been tending to the sick and injured among the refugees. She has worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone receives the medical attention they need, often improvising treatments with limited resources. Naia has advocated for better sanitation and hygiene access for all refugees.]

“A healer,” Yolani murmured, her finger tracing Naia’s profile. “We’ll need to make sure she has the supplies she needs. Last thing we want is a disease outbreak.”

Elania grimaced. “Agreed. Hopefully, our little alchemy program will be able to help.”

They moved on to the next profile.

[Galen Stormforge (Male, 29) - Galen is a skilled craftsman who has been helping to construct temporary shelters and repair damaged infrastructure. He teaches other refugees valuable skills to help them contribute to the community. Galen believes that by working together, the refugees can rebuild their lives.]

Darius tapped Galen’s profile. “This guy’s been busy. Apparently, he’s been teaching other refugees how to build and repair things.”

“Good,” Elania said, nodding. “The more self-sufficient they are, the better.”

Yolani stacked the profiles, and Elania picked up the last one.

[Selia Brightstone (Female, 35) - Selia is a former innkeeper who has taken on the role of organizing communal meals and managing food supplies among the refugees. She has worked to ensure that everyone receives a fair share and that no one goes hungry. Selia has used her experience in hospitality to create a sense of community and support among the refugees.]

Yolani’s eyes widened as she read Selia’s profile. “An innkeeper? That’s perfect. She’ll know how to stretch supplies and keep everyone fed.”

Elania leaned forward, her elbows resting on the desk. “Sounds like they’ve got a solid group here. Focused on the basics—survival, education, health, and reconstruction.”

Darius nodded. “My thoughts exactly. I think it would be wise for you and Yolani to meet with them. Get a sense of what they need, what their biggest concerns are.”

Elania glanced at Yolani. “We’ll set up a meeting,” she said, her voice decisive. “The sooner we get a handle on the situation in the camps, the better.”

“At least this should reduce some of the workload on us for managing things,” Yolani offered.

Elania leaned back in her chair, her brow furrowed as she considered Yolani’s words. The idea of the refugees managing their own district was appealing, but a nagging worry tugged at the back of her mind.

“We need to be careful,” she said, her voice low. “We can’t let the wrong type of people be in charge,” Elania said.

Darius nodded, his expression serious. “My informants gathered the information, but being skeptical is a good idea.”

He paused, his fingers drumming on the desk. “It’s worth noting that a disproportionate amount of survivors are those that worked in the Magistry district, or were related to them. With a second majority coming from the artisan district.”

Elania frowned. “Because the artisan district was around the Magistry.”

Darius nodded again, his gaze flickering to Yolani.

Yolani’s head tilted to the side. “I’m surprised there weren’t admin or clerical candidates then.”

Darius shrugged. “It’s likely they weren’t popular enough.”

Elania’s eyes flickered to Shadow as he stood up, his dark fur rippling as he stretched. He turned, his eyes locking on Darius as a low growl rumbled in his throat.

Darius seemed prepared and reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of dried meat. With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed it to the darkwalker, who snapped it up with a quick movement of his jaws.

Elania and Yolani stared, their mouths agape. Elania finally found her voice. “Are you... training Shadow?”

Darius’s lips quirked into a smile. “I’m simply ensuring an equitable arrangement—snacks for good behavior.” His expression sobered. “The same might be required for the refugees.”

Elania’s frown deepened. “They aren’t pets.”

Darius met her gaze, his eyes serious. “No, they aren’t. They’re worse—hurt and afraid humans without a firm leader. You should interact with them more.”

Elania sighed.

There were dozens of things pulling at her at once, each one demanding her attention.

And Arlois’ warning to leave Contia was fresh in her mind, souring her mood.

Elania leaned her head on Yolani’s shoulder. “Let’s hope these people can help lighten the load.”

*

Elania leaned against the city railing, her gaze fixed on the bridge leading to Arlois’ tower.

The constant flow of soldiers and civilians crossing the bridge with purposeful strides left her feeling anxious, annoyed, and angry. She pushed down the emotions, trying to relax the tension in her neck.

She glanced down at the simple parchment letter from Arlois in her hand, requesting her presence for a mission. Conflicting feelings ran through her as she shoved the paper into her pocket and crossed the bridge.

One of the Silvers greeted her at the entrance, waving her inside. The lobby-turned-command room looked the same as before, although the intensity of activity had lessened. A servant approached, offering refreshments.

“I’m here to see Arlois,” Elania said, refusing the offer.

The servant nodded. “Please wait a moment.”

As she waited, she watched the Silver officers discuss possible movements along the border. Their faces were serious, their voices low as they pored over maps and reports.

It felt awkward to stand waiting as time rolled on.

Her foot started to tap, impatience growing.

Finally, Arlois emerged from a side door, her purple robe swishing as she strode towards Elania. “Elania, let’s speak in private.”

Elania crossed her arms, her voice carrying across the room. “No, we can talk here.”

The officers paused, their attention drawn by the volume of the refusal. Arlois’ gaze bore into Elania. Silence seemed to stretch between them. Then, with a wave of her hand, Arlois gestured across the room. “Very well. We can discuss it in the corner.”

Elania nodded, following Arlois to the designated spot. “What do you want?”

“I have a mission that the other Towers and I can’t carry out,” Arlois replied. “A scouting mission, one that requires a Demi-Divine.”

“Why can’t any of the Towers go?” Elania asked, her brow furrowed.

Arlois sighed. “Technically, we could, but it would weaken the city. We’re all preparing our followers for conflict.”

Elania grunted, her mind flashing to the changes she’d witnessed over the past few days.

Artifice weaponry and defenses being installed, people growing more furtive and guarded.

The city had slowly transformed over the last few weeks since her arrival with the Neftasu refugees.

“Why me?” Elania pressed. “And why a Demi-Divine instead of an airship?”

“An airship is more visible and slower,” Arlois explained. “We need a large area covered along the northern border.”

Elania frowned, considering the implications. “If I’m away, it could cause problems for me, too. What’s in it for me?” She paused, another thought occurring to her. “Besides, how useful would my scouting be? It’s not like I can call back anything I find. My [Divine Communion] is really flaky and only works to send Yolani a word if we are lucky.”

Arlois leaned against the wall, her gaze fixed on the things outside the corner window. The bustling city stretched out below them.

“I’ll solve the communication problem,” Arlois said, her voice calm and assured. “It isn’t a concern.”

Elania grunted, her arms crossed over her chest. “And what’s in it for me? The city’s going to pay a sizable amount of Crit for the service, right?”

Arlois nodded, a slight smile playing on her lips. “Of course. We value your assistance.”

“I’m not as desperate for money anymore,” Elania countered, her tone sharp. “The Neftasu Guard’s expenses are covered now.”

“But you don’t have much in reserves, do you?” Arlois asked, her eyes meeting Elania’s. “Have you considered what could happen if the Heart or Gold get disrupted?”

Elania’s brow furrowed. “How do you know how much reserves I have?”

Arlois’ smile widened, a glint of amusement in her eyes. “I monitor things closely, but don’t worry. The Bank isn’t informing on your dealings—they’re remarkably straight with their customers’ privacy, even when facing a Tower.”

Elania scoffed, her fingers tapping against her arm. “Still, I don’t think the sum of Crit would be worth me being away for long. This mission sounds like it could take a whole day.”

Arlois grunted, her expression turning serious. “I’ll see that you have the restriction on flying inside and around Contia without an escorting Tower lifted permanently.”

Elania felt her wings twitch in response, the promise of freedom tugging at her. She grumbled internally but found herself already accepting. “I’m listening, but what are the specifics?”

“You’ll start with Lake Astum, to the northwest,” Arlois said, her voice smooth and even. “The edge of the lake to the northwest is the border with Monevoia. Skirt around it to the north and then buzz across the forests there. Then work your way east to the Bterrean border.”

Elania’s brow furrowed. “Who are they? The Bterrean, I mean.”

Arlois grunted, her smile fading. “You need a geography lesson.”

“Sorry,” Elania said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I’ve been a bit busy lately.”

“The Bterrean is a large kingdom with a Demi-Divine royal family,” Arlois explained, her tone clipped. “They’re hostile to the Sun Emperor, but they’re spread thin in the north and east. They don’t get along with Cleviles in the north and frequently skirmish with the Gleian Republic in the east.”

Elania shook her head, her arms crossing over her chest. “Is there any stupid place on this planet that isn’t feuding or warring?”

Arlois raised an eyebrow, her expression thoughtful. “Not that I know of, although the Coin Republic might suit wanderers. Its population is sparse, and it’s mostly desert, covering a wide area. A trader can cross the deserts through the air and make a decent living.”

Elania studied Arlois, the statement pricking an unwanted and recent memory. “Honestly, it sounds like you’ve thought of escaping there yourself.”

Arlois grunted, her gaze hardening. “That would never happen, not now.”

There was a short lull, and then Arlois continued. “After you reach the Bterrean border, turn southeast and follow it until you reach the first large river. Then, turn west and follow the river back to Contia.”

Elania’s brow furrowed, a question forming on her lips. “Why follow the river?”

Arlois’ expression grew serious, her eyes meeting Elania’s. “The border with Moduvia is dangerous. They have mage towers that will target flying Divines.”

Elania blinked, the information sinking in. She muttered under her breath before asking directly, “Just how many countries have borders lined with magic towers that shoot Demi-Divine down?”

Arlois laughed, the sound echoing in the room. “More than one. There was once a time when all Demi-Divine were hunted nearly to extinction after the world almost ended.”

Elania’s mind reeled, the implications of Arlois’ words sinking in. Just how old was Arlois?

The statement warred against her own appraisal of the woman, who seemed more like her mother’s age or something. Ember was even younger.

If the Demi-Divine were centuries or longer old, why didn’t they act it?

How were immortal sages—essentially what they were—supposed to actually behave?

Elania’s mind raced, trying to reconcile the image and behavior of the Demi-Divine Towers. The contradiction left her feeling unsettled, her brow furrowed in concentration.

“If you get lost in thought that deeply too often, you might get caught off guard,” Arlois said, her voice cutting through Elania’s musings.

Elania grunted, her gaze snapping back to Arlois. “Thanks for the advice.”

Arlois nodded. “While on the mission, you’ll have several opportunities.”

Elania raised an eyebrow. “What? More bounties?”

Arlois shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. “There are some rare materials along the route you might gather... some that your Oracle might find useful when crafting a Regalia.”

That was interesting. “Tell me more.”

Arlois reached into her robes, pulling out a rolled parchment. She handed it to Elania, the paper crackling as it unfurled. “It’s a magic map.”

Elania’s eyes widened as she took the map, the parchment thrumming with energy beneath her fingertips. The surface shimmered, the lines and symbols shifting and rearranging themselves before her eyes.

“How does it work?” Elania asked.

Arlois stepped closer, her finger tracing a line across the map. “It’ll show you your location as long as you are within Contia’s borders. The deposits I already marked are blue dots. The borders are clearly there, so you can’t get lost.”

Elania grunted. “What about the communication?”

“Right. I’ll send it over to you this evening. Any other questions?” Arlois asked.

Elania shook her head and turned to go. “I’ll be in touch.”

*

Elania and Yolani carried two small crates of equipment down the staircase of the Mushroohum colony.

The humidity and temperature were almost a shock to the system when coming in from outside.

Elania paused, looking out at the colony forming in the center of the Arena. Her intervention with Yolani to use her divine powers had saved them, but the further refinement to those changes by artifice machines had made it so they could actually thrive.

The caves that the Mushroohums naturally lived in weren’t as warm as the current atmosphere, but the increase in temperature had increased their growth rate substantially.

They’d discussed it with Tre’gat’aru and it had been decided the advanced growth rate was desirable for now, and once the colony was up to full population, they could dial it back slightly.

The mushroohums themselves had already completed a growth cycle. The sick and dying ones Elania had seen had passed on, but their bodies had turned into the roots and nutrients of countless new mushroohums. Life continued in a circle.

The younger mushroohums spotted them approaching and gathered around to watch Elania and Yolani as they brought in the crates to a small building they had put in place outside the colony proper.

“Alright, they should have everything we need,” Elania said, setting down her crate.

Yolani nodded, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. “I’ll unpack and prepare the alchemy stuff. You can go see Tre’gat’aru and collect the fungi barrels.”

Elania grinned, leaning in to give Yolani a kiss on the cheek and a squeeze. Yolani groaned, pushing her away playfully. “Stop that. You’ll distract me from doing a good job.”

Elania giggled. “It’s only fair.”

She turned, heading towards the colony, a spring in her step.

The young mushroohums cheered and followed her, their excitement palpable at having their favorite human... or Demi-Divine present. They bounced and let out tiny streams of spores, their emotions and thoughts floating through the air.

Elania smiled, basking in their adoration. It was… a nice change of pace from way lay outside the sealed environment. She glanced back at Yolani, who was already engrossed in unpacking the crates, brow furrowed in concentration.

Just how much the mushroohums had managed was evident as she picked her way between several buildings toward the tender huts and fungi fields.

The little huts they’d constructed were adorned with materials brought in from the city supplies, which created a weird dichotomy of design.

Smaller mushrooms grew wildly everywhere, mostly as decoration, she thought.

It was fascinating to observe their habits more closely now that communication was possible.

The mushroohums didn’t actually eat things in the traditional sense. Instead, they made compost piles and sat on them, either for the young sprouts to grow on or as chairs to eat off of.

She hadn’t fully grasped that during her previous time with them.

It didn’t really smell great, but it wasn’t as bad as she knew rotting things could smell. Probably because most of that was contained inside the… mounds. Stab them, and it’d stink right up.

Elania spotted the ‘fields’ where larger mushrooms grew quickly, and the expansive, glowing bed of [Glow Moss] that illuminated an entire quarter of the main chamber.

Several large tender mushroohums waved at her, and she waved back, making her way towards the tender hut.

She spotted Tre’gat’aru, his tall form towering over the other mushroohums. He gestured for her to come to him.

Elania quickened her pace.

“Elania, welcome,” Tre’gat’aru greeted her, his voice resonating through the spores in the air.

“Hey Trey, how’s it going?” Elania asked, stepping into the hut.

“The first harvests have been plucked and are ready to be given in tribute to you,” Tre’gat’aru informed her, gesturing towards several small chests.

Elania grunted. “That’s good.”

She felt conflicted about accepting ‘tribute,’ but in her mind, it was fair, since she was paying for their rent and expenses.

He showed her the chests filled with the fungi that she and Yolani had purchased from the alchemist.

“This is a great start,” Elania said, nodding approvingly.

“Several tenders are ready to help carry the chests of fungi and glow moss for you, if you’d like,” Tre’gat’aru offered.

“That would be great, thanks,” Elania said.

As the tenders began to gather the chests, she was hit by a small sense of accomplishment.

The mushroohum colony was thriving, and their partnership was bearing fruit. Or well… mushrooms and moss.

It was a minor victory, but one that gave her hope for the future.

Elania led the way as the tenders carried the crates, their steps echoing through the caverns.

The mushroohum colony’s humid air clung to her skin. She glanced back at the tenders, their fungal faces expressionless, yet their movements were purposeful and efficient.

As they approached the alchemy station, Elania spotted Yolani amidst a flurry of activity.

Several workbenches were set up, each adorned with an array of beakers, glass containers, and an enormous cauldron that reminded Elania of a chemistry set wedded to a witch’s den.

Artifice-powered burners hummed, their soft glow illuminating the stone walls. Two large barrels of fresh water sat nearby, waiting to be utilized in the brewing process.

Elania waved, catching Yolani’s attention. “We’ve got enough of the ingredients,” she called out, gesturing to the crates.

Yolani looked up, a smile spreading across her face. “Great! I’m almost ready here.” She wiped her hands on her apron.

The mushroohum tenders set the crates down, their task complete. Elania turned to them, offering a grateful nod. “Thank you. You can go back to whatever you were doing now.”

As the tenders dispersed, Elania noticed a group of mushroohum younglings gathered at a safe distance, their curious eyes fixed on her and Yolani.

Yolani followed Elania’s gaze, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. “They’re sort of cute, aren’t they?”

Elania raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Cute? I’m not sure mushroohums can be considered cute.” She shook her head. “Besides, you didn’t have to go into the colony and smell their lunch.”

Yolani winced, her nose wrinkling at the thought. “Yeah, I’m good. I’ll stick to the alchemy station.”

Elania watched as Yolani busied herself with the final preparations.

Eventually, Yolani gestured for the ingredients, and Elania stepped forward, ready to assist.

Together, they began chopping the fresh fungi. The pungent aroma of the mushrooms filled the air, mingling with the earthy scent of the cave-like arena.

When she finished chopping the last of the fungi, she handed the chopped pieces to Yolani, who had a boiling mixture ready in the cauldron.

Then she stepped back to let Yolani read the recipe and follow the rest of the steps.

Watching Yolani work was nice. Even if the resulting smells from their work weren’t.

After a few minutes, Yolani seemed agitated, making more adjustments to the mixture as she worked.

“How’s it going?” Elania asked.

Yolani grunted, her brow furrowed in concentration. “I’m following the directions.”

They waited while the cauldron of goop boiled, the bubbling sound echoing off the stone walls.

Yolani siphoned some off and let it cool before asking Elania to move the cauldron off the heat.

Moving it was easy enough with her Demi-Divine strength, although the real trick was the metal glide rails that made sliding it away from the heat source a simple affair.

With that done, Elania turned her attention back to Yolani’s efforts. “How’s it going?” she asked again.

Yolani grunted as she put the cooled mixture into a beaker and heated it.

The fumes traveled through a tube and dripped into another beaker, while the excess was vented.

Elania blinked at the icky color coming out, a far cry from the healing potion the alchemist had showed them.

“I don’t think it’s supposed to look like that,” Elania said, exchanging a look with Yolani.

Yolani shrugged, a sheepish expression on her face. “I have no idea what it is.”

They sniffed the concoction, both recoiling at the horrible smell. Elania wrinkled her nose, shaking her head. “I’m not sure it’s safe for consumption.”

Yolani sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “Yeah, we might need someone with an alchemy skill to help.”

Elania took their experiment and dumped it into the cauldron, the sludge making a sickening sound as it splashed. “I’ll put a notice to the refugees. Maybe someone can help,” she said, wiping her hands on her pants.

Yolani nodded, then glanced at the cauldron. “What are we going to do with the... mess?”

Elania rubbed her forehead, a headache forming behind her eyes. “Do you have any devices designed to obliterate matter ready for testing? Dumping this sludge off the ship could be considered murder if it rained on anyone.”

*

Lake Astum sparkled below Elania as she flew over it, the sun glinting off the rippling surface like a thousand diamonds.

The last time she’d flown over the water, she’d buzzed the lake with Yolani in her arms, the two of them laughing and reveling in the freedom of flight.

Now, her mood was sober. She was being paid to look for an invasion, or signs of one, anyway.

So she kept her altitude high, soaring far above the ground where no one would likely spot her. The view was excellent for spotting any airships below, but it made it harder to see things on the ground.

As she reached the lake’s edge, she tucked her wings and made a shallow dive to the northeast, following the border and scanning for any signs of incursion.

Her list of things to look for was extensive, ranging from arcane beasts to pirates to enemy armies.

Pulling out the map Arlois had given her, Elania noticed several blue markers highlighted on the parchment.

This was the real draw of the mission. The crit would be a little boost, but special material for the Regalia was high on the priority list, even if Ember had granted Yolani access to the city work stores.

The amount of material she could carry was limited, though. She had brought one of Yolani’s weight reduction packs, but that was it. She’d only need to hit one of the blue markers, she imagined.

The others she could pick up later, on another scouting run.

The first marker was coming up, centered in a dense section of forest.

Elania spiraled as she checked out the area, her keen eyes scanning the treetops for any signs of movement or disturbance.

The forest below was a sea of green, the leaves rustling gently in the breeze.

As she descended, the scent of pine and earth filled her nostrils, the sounds of birdsong and the chirping of insects growing louder.

The map zoomed in with her descent, a handy feature that made pinpointing her target a breeze.

As she hovered to a stop just above the treetops, the crystalline pillar she expected came into view, its metallic growths glinting in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy.

Elania landed and approached the spire, admiring its ethereal beauty.

Yolani had mentioned that the stuff would be good for increasing the durability of her Regalia, and Elania trusted her judgment.

She reached down to pluck off a metallic chunk, but it didn’t budge.

Frowning, she pushed power into her hand and tried again, only for a ringing to fill the air as the metal resisted her efforts.

[The noise was uncalled for.]

Elania grunted and pulled him off her back. “Since you’re going to complain, you can help.”

She channeled [Divine Power] through Eziel and slashed at the metallic growth. To her astonishment, Eziel didn’t slice through cleanly, but managed to knock off a chunk.

“Damn it,” Elania muttered, her brow furrowing in frustration.

[That was extremely rude.]

“If you have a better idea on how to collect this stuff, I’m all ears,” Elania retorted.

Eziel remained silent, and Elania shrugged. “Whatever.”

She resumed banging the sword into the deposit, each strike reverberating through the quiet forest.

Sweat beaded on her forehead as she worked.

Slowly but surely, Yolani’s pack filled with the precious metal chunks.

When the bag bulged and nearly wouldn’t shut, Elania stopped.

The ringing in the air persisted, a constant drone that set her teeth on edge.

[The harmonics of the area are likely to cause issues.]

Elania’s brow furrowed. Harmonics?

“What’s that supposed to mean? What’s going on?” Elania asked.

[Your efforts have disturbed the local mana ecosystem and released an arcane harmonic reaction.]

“How can I fix it?” Elania grunted, adjusting her pack.

[There is no fix other than to stop being a loud, stupid human.]

Elania rolled her eyes and started to take off, ready to continue her scouting mission, when a ball of fire hurtled straight towards her.

Instinctively, she held Eziel out to block the attack, curling her wings around herself for added protection.

[Now you are using me as a shield. Don’t you have any shame?]

“You’re a huge ass sword, and your job is to block things for me!” Elania replied.

A lizard with stubby legs burst out of the forest, knocking over a pair of pine trees as it crashed towards her.

Elania quickly used [System Analysis].

[Megabeast - Fire Lizard]

She cursed under her breath. This thing looked like worse news than the digger crabs she had fought with Arlois.

“Why is it attacking?” Elania asked.

[Every creature for a hundred miles is likely irate and on the way.]

Right, the stupid harmonic thing…

Elania blinked, a sudden realization dawning on her.

If she left now, a horde of angry arcane creatures could descend upon the nearby villages and camps, leaving them defenseless.

She grunted, slashing Eziel through the air and chopping a second fireball in half.

Without hesitation, she pulled a light spear out of the air and hurled it into the lizard’s mouth, causing its head to explode in a shower of gore.

Elania swallowed hard, her mind racing.

Should she absorb the creature and see what skill it might grant her, or try to figure out if harvesting it was worth anything?

Before she could decide, a spray of large quills flew towards her, forcing her to shield herself with a wing.

“Shit,” she muttered under her breath. “This is going to be rough.”

Fumbling with the artifice device Arlois had given her, Elania pressed the button. “There’s a bunch of arcane beasts!” she shouted into the device, dodging another spew of spikes.

A giant porcupine-like creature emerged from the forest, its quills bristling menacingly.

“Deal with it.” Arlois’ voice crackled through the device.

“Fuck,” Elania cursed, her grip tightening on Eziel as she prepared for battle.

The event lasted hours before things finally calmed down.

Elania panted, her chest heaving as she surveyed the surrounding carnage.

The once peaceful forest lay in ruins, trees flattened for miles while the ground was littered with the corpses of arcane creatures.

The crystal metallic deposit stood at the center of the devastation, its surface unmarred by the fierce battle that had taken place.

The ringing in the air had subsided at some point during the fighting.

Elania wiped the sweat from her brow. Glancing up at the sun, she cursed under her breath. It was well past noon, and she had spent half the day in this single spot.

Elania eyed the corpses strewn about, knowing that there was no way for her to carry them all back for processing.

With a sigh, she decided to absorb them instead. Her [Soul Siphon - Visible] perk helped a lot with avoiding having to go around and touch everything.

Golden light from the bodies and spilt blood flowed like a river to her, and her [Divine Power] even ticked up a few points.

When she checked her [System] messages, it was a hectic mess. She wished it would at least group the messages.

Almost as if someone was listening, the screen flashed.

[You have gained ten levels!]

[Elemental Affinity has increased by two ranks!]

[Presence Concealment has increased by one rank!]

That was… excellent! Maybe she’d stop using the little x on everything by reflex now.

Her eyes slid over the three key messages again.

The levels were nice—a little step closer to her next perk point.

Maybe she’d get a chance to test out the theory of the choices being different based on what she was transformed into?

Her eyes moved to the skill rank-ups. Would the [Elemental Affinity] help her when combating magic or artifice users? She pulled her wing in front of her, tugging on the feathers as she considered the possibilities.

Making them more resistant to magic could prove invaluable, given how often she used them to block attacks.

Arlois had suggested she drop unused skills, but did her absorb ability from being a lesser-demon actually get restricted by having too many? Maybe gaining ALL the skills via absorption would be a better path.

Assuming that she could gain every skill that way…

Shaking her head, Elania realized that she had spent enough time at the deposit.

With a powerful beat of her wings, she took to the sky, aiming to follow along the border.

The exercise in border-security was much less eventful compared to her little impromptu POI triggering. At least, that was the only thing she could relate it to. Had Arlois intended it as a joke by not informing her of the danger?

Maybe the Tower wanted her dead… or just all the arcane beasts within the area rooted out and destroyed?

Elania shook her head, scanning the sky and ground. There was no point in trying to analyze the Tower’s plan. Maybe she would ask.

But that meant having another meeting with her, and that made her nervous.

Fuck, why couldn’t she just not be a crazy bitch?

The internal monologue and self-gnawing thoughts almost caused Elania to miss the river. But it was there, large and flowing, a blue gash on an otherwise green blanket of trees.

Remembering her instructions, she turned west, following the waterway.

Suddenly, two airships came into view, and Elania frowned as she drew closer.

Little yellow fireballs danced between the vessels, a clear sign of a battle in progress. Without hesitation, she picked up speed, pulling out the communication device Arlois had given her.

“There are two airships,” Elania spoke into the device, her voice urgent. “I think they are fighting over the eastern river, near the Bterrean border.”

There was a garbled response, but she couldn’t make out what was said. Interference from the fighting?

Elania tucked the device away pushed some [Divine Power] into her wings while protecting herself with her [Demonic Aura], speeding up as fast as she could.

Wind whipped Elania’s face as she zoomed toward the airship battle.

The two airships slammed together, a stream of ropes and hooks crossing between the ships like an army of spiders trying to tie each other up in their webs.

A voice crackled through the communicator in her pocket. She caught a few words. “…find out more, help is…”

Elania grunted. That wasn’t very useful. Arlois had talked the stupid thing up, but it seemed like a cheap walkie-talkie knock-off. Maybe that was exactly what it was.

Elania muttered to herself, frustration mounting. Somehow, she had an excellent idea of what it meant: “Deal with it yourself.”

As she closed the distance, Elania recognized the Contia Towers flag on one of the ships—then she recognized the ship itself.

It was the Farwind!

Both ships were totally locked together, and crossbow bolts traded at a rapid rate between the vessels.

Elania spotted four small artifice weapons that resembled small cannons on the ship attacking the Farwind’s upper rear. The elevation gave them a good vantage point, and the two on the Farwind’s side were periodically spitting out bursts of flame.

A dozen sailors went flying off the deck, their bodies engulfed in flame just as she reached the fight.

She swooped in from the side and ripped the first fireball cannon off the railing, using it as a club to smash the second one. The two pieces of equipment went sailing off into the sky along with one of the gunners.

Then one of her wings tangled in a rope.

It nearly sent her slamming into the deck before her feathers sliced through the bindings. The entire ship lurched dangerously, and she flashed out of the mess and back into the sky.

It was very clear to her why neither side was stabbing at the other’s vulnerable balloons. The “sinking” of either ship would likely pull the other down along with it because of the tangle of ropes.

And slicing through the tangle would likely rip the balloons off both ships.

She’d need to take the fight up close and avoid aerial antics.

She flashed around to come in from the Farwind’s free side, landing in the middle of a brawl.

She offered a silent prayer of thanks that she had met the crew back in Contia, the white and purple striped uniforms easily recognizable.

The first man in front of her, clad in red and black, lost his head with a heavy sweep of Eziel.

An enemy crewman charged at her, a short pick raised high. Her wing sliced him in half, sending a spray of viscera across the deck.

The nearby Farwind crewmen stared at her, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear.

For a second, she considered blanketing the area with her aura, but that would be too risky. She wasn’t sure she could prevent accidentally injuring the Farwind’s crew.

Melee it would be.

She focused on targeting individual enemies, carefully avoiding collateral damage. It was a frustrating limitation.

Fighting her way towards the ship’s rear from the middle, Elania spotted Captain Narbor.

The man leveled a hand crossbow at a boarding enemy crewman; the bolt found its mark in the attacker’s eye. Without missing a beat, he parried another attack with his cutlass, his movements fluid and precise.

It was obvious that this wasn’t the Captain’s first encounter with pirates—or whoever the attackers were.

The officers surrounding Narbor were hard-pressed, a concentration of enemies clearly attempting to decapitate the ship’s leadership.

Elania wasted no time moving to join them.

Enemies foolish enough to stand in her way were met with the force of her wings, sending them hurtling through the air and off the ship.

Screams and bellows filled the air as the attackers plummeted to the ground far below.

“Captain Narbor!” Elania called out. “I’m here to help!”

Narbor glanced in her direction, his eyes widening in recognition. “Elania! Thank the gods you’re here!”

Elania nodded, her grip tightening on Eziel’s hilt. “What’s the situation?”

“These bastards came out of nowhere,” Narbor grunted. “They’re trying to take the ship!”

A vicious glint appeared in her eyes. “We’ll see about that.”

*

The evening air was chill against Elania’s skin as the Farwind sliced through the sky, Contia’s silhouette growing larger steadily.

Red flags fluttered from ropes spanning the airship’s length, while spotlights and artifice lamps lit up the ship from balloon to keel, making it a stark contrast against the darkening horizon.

Elania glanced at the Alistar, the captured vessel, its own red flags mirroring those of the Farwind.

The two ships, hopelessly entangled, faced opposite directions while the Farwind’s artifice engines groaned under the strain of pulling both vessels.

Elania’s mind wandered to the fierce boarding battle that had concluded with a resounding victory for the Farwind.

The Alistar’s machinery was silent, disabled by a defeated crew. It had taken quick work just to prevent them from cutting their own balloons free in an attempt to crash both ships.

Captain Narbor had deemed it too risky to attempt separating the vessels, opting instead to bring the Alistar back to Contia as a prize. A smile tugged at Elania’s lips, suspecting that the captain’s decision was heavily influenced by the captured airship’s value.

As she stood at the prow, Captain Narbor approached. “I can’t thank you enough for your assistance, Lady Elania,” he said, his voice sincere. “Things could’ve gone differently if you hadn’t shown up when you did.”

Elania turned to face him, an innocent smile playing on her features. “Captain, I’m curious. What’s the value of a captured airship like this?”

Narbor’s posture stiffened, and he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “Well, the value is quite substantial,” he admitted, his tone guarded. “After confirmation from the port authority, if the ship is proven to have been involved in piracy, it’ll be auctioned off at the wharf to the highest bidder.”

Elania’s smile widened. “And how are the proceeds of such an auction divided?”

Narbor shifted his weight, clearly uncomfortable with the line of questioning. “It depends on various factors,” he hedged, avoiding direct eye contact. “There are certain protocols and regulations that need to be followed.”

Elania nodded, her gaze drifting back to the approaching city.

“I’m fairly certain I should be compensated for my assistance,” she said. “I took the enemy captain’s head and saved yours, after all.”

Narbor nodded. “I am very thankful for that, Lady Elania. As an honorary member of the crew, I can offer you twenty-five percent of the crew’s share of the proceeds from the sale.”

Elania stared at him for a long moment, then tsked, shaking her head. “That’s not very grateful, Captain.”

Narbor shifted his weight, his brow furrowing. “Thirty percent, then.”

Elania turned away, her eyes drawn to the approaching city. “I want your share, half of it.”

Narbor grunted, surprise clear in his tone. “You… you already knew the standard divisions?”

Elania sighed. “I can’t let people take advantage of me forever. After the bounty thing came up already, I investigated the relevant salvage and bounty laws.”

The city and ship’s owner would split a quarter, the captain and the officers would get half, and the regular crew the last quarter.

Narbor’s jaw clenched, but he grudgingly agreed. “Fine. Half of the Captain’s share. That’s a full quarter of the auction proceeds.”

Elania smiled, nodding and reaching out to shake on it. His grip was firm, but he still refused to look her in the eye.

Her mirth at making a good negotiation muted somewhat. Was he the type to hold a grudge over money?

Elania shook her head and pulled out Arlois’ communicator. “Farwind and one captured vessel, in sight, coming for docking.”

There was a momentary delay, but then a crackle of a response started.

“Do you have the prisoners?” Arlois asked. “We need to learn who sent that ship.”

Elania blinked, sharing a confused glance with Narbor.

“We have a bunch of heads,” Elania replied.

Arlois’ voice came through the communicator as a bark. “What?”

“Make up your mind!” Elania replied hotly. “You yelled at me last time!”

There was a muttered curse for a response, and then the channel went silent.

Oh well. Elania looked to Narbor. “I’m going ahead. Are you going to make it back alright?”

Narbor nodded. “We’ll be landing in the emergency cradle so the wharf crews can deal with the mess without risking both ships.”

Elania nodded. “Don’t wreck our prize, Captain.”

He nodded, and then she launched herself into the air.

A smile played at her lips. No more flight restrictions! She angled toward the estate, keeping her speed in check and without coming too close to anything.

Having her flight privileges revoked so soon after getting them would not be fun.

It only took her a few minutes to cross the city, and then she landed gracefully in the garden. Evening was quickly clawing away the light now, and the estate’s artifice lighting spilled freely out the windows.

Elania made her way inside.

She was greeted by a cultist who bowed. She nodded in acknowledgment and headed upstairs, her mind still processing the events of the day.

As she entered the bedroom, she did a double-take.

Shadow was curled up in a ball on Yolani’s chest, but of them snoring softly.

She stepped inside, and Shadow raised his head, meeting her gaze.

“Trying to steal my girl, are you?” Elania asked.

Shadow yawned, stretching his limbs before moving to lick his paw. The movement caused Yolani to grumble, then push him off of her chest.

For a second, Elania expected violence.

But he flopped onto the bed, and Yolani’s eyes fluttered open, settling on Elania.

A smile tugged at her lips. “You’ve lost some weight,” she teased, her voice thick with sleep.

Elania’s eyes darted from Shadow to Yolani, before she burst out laughing. “That was Shadow, not me!”

Yolani sat up, wide-eyed, staring at Shadow, who mewled innocently.

“He’s adapting much better than I hoped,” Elania said.

“He tried to smother me in my sleep, just like you usually do!” Yolani accused.

Elania chuckled, carrying over the weight reduction pack and emptying the crystalline metallic rocks she’d gathered on Yolani’s workbench. “Maybe because we’re both female, he doesn’t mind being in a pack with us?”

Yolani rolled her eyes. “Darkwalkers don’t form harems. He doesn’t have a problem with Darius, either.”

Elania looked at the subject of the discussion, who was clearly aware that he was being talked about. The preening and licking of his paw was all the indication she needed.

“Shadow is a very smart, very bribable cat,” Elania mumbled.

Shadow raised his nose, sniffing in Elania’s direction. She rolled her eyes, pulling out a dried piece of meat, and tossed it to him. He caught it deftly, carrying it off the bed and to his corner.

Elania turned to Yolani. “Are you going to sleep and laze about all day while I’m forced to slay hordes of air pirates?”

Yolani blinked, confusion etched on her face. “What?”

“Oh, and I also have an entire pack of that crystal metal stuff Arlois sent me after,” Elania added nonchalantly. “You know, the super special stuff that’s supposed to make the Regalia super tough?”

“What?!” Yolani shouted. She leaped out of bed and rushed to the workbench, nearly tripping over her nightgown.

Elania chuckled.

This type of moment… made the weight of everything a little bit lighter.