A weaker man can overcome the strongest foes by leaning on powerful equipment. For a large army, the greatest tool is not the best training regimen, but the most skilled blacksmith.

  -Excerpt from ‘The Power of Artifice’ by Xlat Goldback

  The five men sat on the sand, sticks strewn around them as they panted like dogs. Rose was breathing heavily, but still upright in the centre of the circle with her stick held flat in her palms.

  She gazed along its edge, observing the faults in the wood. She frowned. This was the third day on the island and the stick had yet to break, despite her choosing it specifically for its weaknesses.

  That the boys hadn’t pushed her hard enough for that to happen meant they perhaps weren’t ready to face the navy, but unfortunately they couldn’t wait. Rose pulled a crystal from her belt, the pulsating arcane energy like an alarm to her acute senses.

  Tapping the crystal twice, she winced at the sharp crackle. “Uncle, what news?” she asked as the feedback faded.

  “Rose, it’s a relief to hear your voice. How is the prince?” her uncle’s voice crackled out from the crystal.

  “He’s fine. That’s not important. Is another invasion approaching? I’m not satisfied with this lot but depending on the force they bring to bear we may be fine, provided we apply the right tactics.”

  “I have to ask, the king insisted. I’m not sure how this plan of yours will play out, but it seems to be our best shot. Our scouts spotted another fleet approaching. They’re about a day out from Albumott. Will you make it?”

  “The timing isn’t an issue. I’m only worried about the numbers. How large is the fleet? Did the scouts recognise the flagship?”

  “Five ships. Only a little larger than the previous invasion. They recognised the flags as belonging to a Commodore Pellan. Despite the previous failure, it seems Minenblum still doesn’t see us as worthy of sending a more powerful officer. However, the scouts did say the ships looked unfamiliar. They were ash grey in colour and had odd markings all over. Be careful, Rose,” her uncle warned.

  “I will. Only one commodore, you’re sure?”

  “I can’t be certain, but it seems that way.”

  “That’s great news,” she replied, letting out a breath.

  “It is? I can’t find myself feeling as positively about my country being attacked, niece.”

  “One commodore means I can handle him myself while the others sharpen their skills. It’s beneficial that Minenblum are looking down on the Emerlan Isle. They will regret it,” she said. “Goodbye uncle.”

  “Stay safe, Rose,” he said, ending the call.

  She winced at the irritating crackle that rang out as the crystal went inert once more, slipping it back into her pocket. Looking out at the boys, she flipped the stick in her hands before jamming it into the sand.

  “All of you, on your feet. Leave your sticks with mine. It’s time,” she declared.

  “Where?” asked Everyn.

  “Albumott. A day away,” she replied, nodding as the five men thrust their sticks into the sand, forming a line.

  “How strong?” Daniel asked.

  “One commodore at least. Five ships. Uncle said they were strange, so we’ll need to keep our guards up. I’ll handle the leader, so you can all get used to this style of combat.”

  “I’m not sure I feel right about leaving them to complete the invasion,” the taller guard muttered.

  “We have to trust the army. They aren’t useless. As long as we take out the chain of command and damage the ships enough they can deal with the rest. Taking on a whole fleet with six of us is a tall order, even if I take the commodore down,” Rose explained.

  “That makes sense, I suppose. Still feels wrong,” the guard replied.

  They boarded Silent End, all preparing for what awaited them as they drew set sail for Albumott.

  ***

  A grey mast poked over the horizon and Rose frowned as more of the enemy fleet came into view. None of the five ships had their sails out, yet they ploughed through the waves with the force of a charging war-doori.

  She realised what her uncle had meant by strange markings, the sides of each ship glowing blue with the familiar sparkle of arcane energy. She sniffed the air, the familiar tang of magic unmistakable.

  This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

  “Something is wrong with those ships.” she warned the crew. “Stay on your guard.”

  When she had still been sailing with Trent and Nasar, they’d spoken of advanced arcane technology from the inner seas. Ships powered by tidestones and weapons powerful enough to wipe entire nations from the face of the world.

  Minenblum shouldn’t be advanced enough to field such technology, but Saff & Company were renowned as exceptional shipwrights across the surrounding seas. Perhaps he could’ve made strides, building deadly ships in secret.

  The fact they were confident sending only a single commodore was perhaps further proof that the ships were the real threat. Despite her fears, Rose kept a stoic visage as they approached.

  They would soon be spotted, but hopefully by then they would be close enough that she could deliver the opening strike before they could react. The benefit of a smaller ship was that hitting them with cannonfire would be far more difficult for the large galleons.

  As they approached, she glanced at her status. Finally she’d been able to take some time to devote to her occupation, but it was still far from where she wanted it. Completing Apprentice Scholar and moving onto a more suitable occupation was essential for her growth.

  Name: Rose Everblue

  Blessings: Blessing [Sylack]

  Race: Human

  Occupation: Apprentice Scholar 34

  Title: Quintessential Skill

  Available Titles: Slaughterer, Apprentice, Quintessential Skill, Ambitious Harvester, Godtouched, Traitor

  Bound Items: Sunsplitter 51 (Damaged), Divine Serpent’s Lure ★27

  Skills:

  [General]: Cleaning 12, Fishing 26, Butchery 10, Cooking 8, Herding 2, Crafting 12, Sailing 15, Field Medicine 1

  [Cerebral]: Reading 15, Writing 20, Focus 18, Drawing 24, Appraisal 3, Precision 11, Whispers of the Deep 3

  [Physical]: Swimming 10, Endurance 14, Athletics 19, Toxin Resistance 2, Climbing 6, Stealth 8

  [Martial]: One Handed Weapons 9, Blades 20, Pistols 12, Firearms 6, Unarmed Combat 2, Dual Wielding 17

  [Arcane]: Arcane Attunement 18, Light Attunement 22, Arcane Resistance 8, Water Attunement 7, Frost Resistance 1, Beast Attunement 6

  [Divine]: Divine Attunement 11, Divine Resistance 4

  Traits: Sensitive Line, Deft Hand, Good as New, Tunnel Vision, Endless Inkwell, Quick Consumption, Knot my Problem, Reliable Duelist, Steady Slash, Smooth Strokes, Agile, With the Grain, Ambidextrous, Thick Skin, Energetic, Inventor, Seductive Lure, Keen Eye, Radiant, Acolyte

  As she often did when entering a battle, Rose considered which title she wished to equip for the fighting ahead. Currently she had Quintessential Skill, a title which had been her active one for almost the entire time since she’d earned it.

  The benefits it offered eclipsed the rest of her titles for the vast majority of situations which meant she often had little reason to replace it. The only options here were Godtouched or Slaughterer.

  They were the only two titles which offered potent and alternative bonuses to her skills and strength during combat. The former increased the power of her blessings and divine energy, while the latter turned her into a killing machine—at the cost of her judgement and sanity.

  If they were pitted against a more powerful foe, Rose would’ve considered Slaughterer, but against a Commodore she felt confident as she was. Godtouched wasn’t as beneficial without divine energy to wield and since the fight against Commodore Foulter, she hadn’t figured out a way to harness it herself.

  Only a god could provide her with that resource and she was loath to lean on Sylack anytime she needed a little extra push. Discovering the deep connection between her and the god had been a revelation, but she knew that constantly leaning on outside sources of power would do little to assist her growth.

  That left her with Quintessential Skill still equipped. It made the most sense. Aside from defending her country from invasion, Rose wanted to hone all of her skills for the day she returned to the seas and set out to achieve her dreams once more.

  The tang of arcane energy became sharper as they drew closer to the five ship fleet, the flags of Commodore Pellan now visible to her. She frowned, noticing the flags on two of the five ships were different. Another officer? she wondered.

  If that was the case, Everyn would need to push himself a lot more than they’d planned. Whatever happened, it was too late to turn back. They had prepared as much as they could and this clash would determine if her plan had potential to work.

  “Get ready!” she yelled over the roar of the wind. “Remember your training and don’t forget what you’re fighting for.”

  The five men roared their agreement and drew their weapons. Practice sticks replaced by swords and cutlasses, sharpened in preparation of the battle.

  Rose lurched as the scent of the energy shifted, a burning crackle permeating the fabric of reality. A pulse of arcane power reverberated through the ocean, passing under their ship.

  She looked towards the fleet and saw the glowing inscriptions on the flagship shifting. The blue light was being focused towards the centre of the hull, where a hole had opened and an ash grey cylinder was poking out. A cannon, but far larger than any she’d seen before.

  As though it had never existed, all of the arcane energy on the flagship vanished. However, to Rose’s senses it was as clear as day. There was a flash of blue and a sharp spike of pain in her head.

  She barely had the wherewithal to roar out a warning to the others before the ocean was carved in two.