Cira’s master plan to get the upper hand against a demon who existed since the dawn of time by way of doing as little as possible for as long as possible was off to an auspicious start. While the library was enriching enough, this week Eliza started teaching the class about elemental theory.

  Of course, the elements were a subject Cira was well versed in, but how they exist in both the spatial and aethereal realms simultaneously was a treasure trove of academic oddities. They spent an entire day on the difference between a spring and a water well—not to be confused with a well used to draw water—and Cira had enough notes to write a book on spring theory.

  Cira had really been half-assing Fitzgeralt’s request, but she had actually written a book on the inner-workings of Icarus. Multiple, really. More akin to research papers really, but they were indeed long and bound with leather straps. Cira possessed the knowledge to bind a book by conventional methods, but it was a matter of preparing materials and spending time on books which didn’t involve reading. In other words, it was best left for when she took to the skies again.

  So, in the meantime, Cira really appreciated the look of a shoddily bound notebook. The few minutes it took to punch holes in a ream of paper with some pokey tool she found and thread a couple thin strips of leather through was satisfying in a way which could not be put into words.

  Under the kitchen window on the porch, where bricks met the garden was Cira’s newest construction. A simple bookcase. Not one, but two books found a home within it.

  They were both about Icarus’ core, but it was gratifying all the same. This was the first time she had really written a book and binding each one allowed her to place them on a shelf. Simple, but fulfilling.

  It wasn’t much, but Cira smiled each time she laid eyes upon it.

  ___

  “You sure this is a good idea?” Io had done a lot for us and our dear captain, but he wasn’t her. “I’m pretty sure Cira hasn’t been back once over the past few weeks since she left.”

  Dolliver came into view as I did what I did best—steer. The island was much uglier than last time I came this way. There were only trees on one end at this point and the rest was a barren dirt lot quickly being overtaken with weeds. Even the town was lacking in life. Where the hell are all the people?

  “I haven’t heard a good idea in months.” James wasn’t any happier about this than I was, but that old bastard talked him into believing that this was better than sitting around Paradise and doing nothing. “But he’s right. Whatever the hell Cira is, she’s a powerhouse now. And she has no qualms running her mouth without considering how it may affect people with common sense. If we don’t do something now, the Dreadheart territory is as good as gone.”

  I understood they couldn’t reach us in the storm, but I didn’t see what would change if we just left Dolliver as it was. I guess that’s why I usually just shut up and steered. And drank.

  “If you say so.” I channeled mana into a glyph Io built into the center of the steering wheel on my treasure barge turned corvette. That’s what he called it anyway after we left Elysia’s shipyard. All I know’s she’s a wee lass with a bunch of new weapons. Anyway, he built me one like Shores’ except ‘better’ in his words. “Here we go.”

  Like a sunray running late for a drink, a blinding beam stretched over the horizon from the bow of the Stick Mistress where a golden cannon pointed toward the first full-timber structure that caught my eye.

  The air shook as a column of light bored through the sky, leveling a section of the building that hung off the shore. Anything in the light’s path ‘returned to the aether’, as they say, and the rest of the machinery crumbled into the sky.

  “Put that away, idiot!” James slapped the flask out of my hand. “You almost missed!”

  “You fool!” If I didn’t pick it up, hundreds of gallons of ale could be lost. After pushing James away, I wet the ol’ whistle. “I know what I’m doing.”

  It looked like a lever, but it was actually a ‘gimbal’, Io said. Now that she was powered up, all I had to do was squeeze the trigger. I felt that was pretty good for my first try, but just to make James feel better, I focused my aim a little higher. Another sawmill burned away and I noticed a crowd of panicked townsfolk barrel out of the two buildings as they quickly caught fire. I gave Eros and Lero a quick nod then watched them jump off the deck and land on swords of ice before quickly flying off to play damage control.

  “You ready, love?” I glanced at Tawny as she approached the bow and looked over the island in her shadowy coat and black hat to play the role of our missing captain for this raid.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be…” She shook her head and withdrew her sword. A wave of black water carried her away to the imposing wooden palace at the forest’s end where defensive magic circles rose to the sky.

  “Whaddya think, James?” I took my hand off the gimbal, “Want to give it a try?”

  “Don’t mess this up, Jimbo.” With a sigh, he left me at the helm, “I’ll be with the mages.”

  James hadn’t made much progress in the magic department, but even I could tell he was going stir crazy on Paradise. This was the first time we’d had a good reason to fight in a long time, and his sword hand was itchy.

  “Careful out there.” I left him with a smirk and got back to what I did best, which now included demolishing industry.

  ___

  “It’s a beautiful day, boys.” My paladins had never shined brighter. “Today the far prophet shall smile down on us from the great beyond. Is everyone with me?”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The deck of the Saint’s Wing’s was livelier than ever as my men erupted into cheers. We emerged from the storm and laid our eyes and an island we’d all been waiting to see for a long time.

  “This is the whole reason I joined your crew, sir.” Turmoil scarred Gratos’ face but his unwavering gaze reminded me of the day we met. “These fists of mine will accomplish what the church is too scared to do. We’re all with you, Captain.”

  The whole island was practically a mountain, but it was smaller than I remember when my father brought me here as a boy. Where silver streaks once glistened in the sun, vast chasms ran from base to peak. The temple where I once wished for the Saint’s arrival was defaced with the sickening banner of Earth Vein. My heart wept to see this holy place in such a shameful state.

  But that sadness quickly turned to anger, an emotion all my paladins seemed to feel in this moment.

  “Then why wait?” I drew my sword and stepped away from the helm, “Io said she moors herself now.”

  ___

  The last thing we saw was Grandmaster Io waving his hand before a sandy island came into view. Covered in palms, the erratic shore formed sprawling beachfronts sprinkled with cabanas and tents. We landed in the middle of the docks which stretched around about a third of the shore.

  Heads turned at the sight of nine women in golden robes descending from the sky in unison. Merchants, mages, those of noble-birth. They looked at us like some kind of show was starting.

  My sisters and I were nervous for our first official business as the imperial harem, but I wasn’t going to be the one to let Cira down. Us girls would prove we aren’t the weakest link in her empire.

  “Ignore them.” Oasis was just like I remembered—a much higher-class establishment than Wick’s chambers. I already knew where we were going, so I wove through the crowd and the others followed. Flexing my mana, I let faint aether flames wrap around my body and prying eyes gave way to a path. “let’s hurry.”

  Benobal House loomed ahead and the closer we got, the more women became mixed in with the Boreal’s degenerates. They wore thin, silky clothes that you could partially see through in the warm sun and could often be found in flocks.

  Oasis wasn’t a bad place to work, as Madam Benobal had struck a deal of autonomy with the Gandeux. If it weren’t for Mistress Cira I’d probably have come back here, but it would take years to make as much gold as there is in my hat alone.

  As could be expected for a small group of women on Oasis, there were some wealthy drunks who would approach regardless of any sign of danger. As if their money always got them what they wanted.

  “Ooooh, you look like a feisty one.” This pompous man stepped out of the crowd and right into our path. He wore no shirt and his velvet pants were stained with vomit. He was the type of customer typically refused unless the price was right. I stood there for a moment while he ran a quick cost analysis, “How much?”

  “It will cost you your life, dear.” I fluttered my eyelashes and let flame trickle up his arm as he stumbled back to his ass.

  “W-witch! Get away from me!” The man practically tripped over himself trying to get up and hobbled into the crowd, which only thickened while our path grew wider. Even the women were curious enough to stop and gander yet dared not look us in the eyes.

  I thought it would be fun if any remembered me, but I wasn’t here for vanity. We needed a meeting with the madam.

  The first floor of Benobal House never closed its doors, but this time a familiar mage stood before it. She wore the disguise of thin silk, but I would recognize her anywhere. This time however, I could see her daggers hidden in the aether.

  “No need to be alarmed, Midnight.” The woman was startled to hear her own name then her eyes went wide seeing us approach cloaked with mana in golden dress. “It’s just me.”

  “…Ember?” She lunged at me faster than I could see. Before I knew it, her arms were thrown around me in a tight embrace, “Big sister! You’ve finally returned!”

  “Not quite…” I missed the girl dearly, but it wasn’t the best time to catch up. “I’m here to see the madam.”

  ___

  “Thanks for doing this for me, really.” I gave Kuja an earnest bow. She really was helping me out here, but I had to admit she looked odd as a blonde. “I know you don’t want to get too involved in politics.”

  “It was a fair trade.” She put a hand on her pendant. “And I don’t mind getting out of the house every now and again.”

  Forging an artifact to stop her from exuding life mana like some kind of spirit was a simple matter, though she had to empty it out once a week. This resulted in a steady revenue of mana for me, so it was hardly a fair trade. I suspect she will call in a favor in the future, but it would assuredly be something mundane.

  “Again, I assure that you will be in no danger.” I felt the need to affirm her worries, as we could both feel the pressure from the well from as far back as the coastline. “Your barriers should take care of everything, and I will keep a close eye on you.”

  The island we approached was like the silver equivalent of Paradise. The entire surface and all the buildings seemed carved from a single block. Twisted spires wrapped around the center where the silver well pulsed, bathing the entire sky in something akin to moonlight.

  “If you say so… alright.” She shook her body out and exhaled sharply, “I just need to act like Cira. Nothing to it.”

  Kuja dusted off her robes of white and gold before straightening her back. There was a haughty smirk on her face, and I thought she would do alright.

  “That building on the shore should be where diplomats check in. That will be your first destination.” She nodded resolutely and floated away in a shroud of dark lightning.

  I left myself concealed and flew over the buildings toward a silver tower in the back. Cira may enjoy flapping her gullet all willy nilly, but she is sorely deficient in foresight. It doesn’t even need mentioning that she has a child’s understanding of tactics or ruling anything.

  Luckily for Cira, her deal old uncle is a master tactician and ruled multiple skies for centuries. She would likely not have approved my plans for today, but that’s why I went over her head while she took a few weeks off to relax.

  Naturally, it’s all her fault regardless of my decisions. Only a na?ve child would think you can challenge powerful people like that and just go about your merry way on threats and wishes. No, the war is not waiting for the next time she feels like getting involved or someone oppressed crosses her path. The war started the moment she took Marcus Blackwood hostage. Potentially the moment she left Fount Salt.

  And it had to be today, lest Cira’s not-so-carefully woven web of lies could collapse.

  I can’t fault her completely, however. Her big mouth brought us to this very island. While Kuja investigated the silver well, I intended to extract as much intelligence on these skies directly from the Silver Witch’s quarters.

  ___

  The best I could do was stall. I did not want to see a witch on the edge let loose. We would have been here weeks ago, but my quick thinking got her to decide against using the teleporters.

  Unfortunately, that meant it was just me and the Adjutant. Part of me hoped she would take the bait and let me bring a few enforcer teams, but alas. Just me and the Adjutant.

  I thought a few weeks of sailing would cool her off, but this woman’s scorn intensified with each rising of the sun. I was glad to at last reach journey’s end, but my stomach turned as a crumbling lighthouse came into view on the horizon.

  A flash of metallic light burned my eyes and I winced.

  “Hale, I am departing now.” And another flash punctuated her declaration.

  “Madam Silver, wait!” I let out a groan as I tightened the canopy sails and prepared for descent, ruing every insult I ever threw at my comfortable desk.