Into the Storm

by Christopher Johns

  They all roared back at her, Taejon winking at me as he slid by.

  “Is this an acceptable deal, master Zeke?” Captain Holly raised a well-manicured brow in my direction.

  “We have an accord.” I nodded to Taejon’s weapon and then motioned to the cabin with it. “I’ll be in my cabin. I trust that your first mate will be able to return the weapons I enchant?”

  “He will manage.” She smirked, and Joesa just rolled his eyes. “Can I entrust my weapons to you?”

  “Of course.” We walked to the cabin together, and she handed me her blade, of similar make to Taejon’s as well as a small crossbow and a dagger. “Give me some time, and I’ll have them out to you.”

  She smiled and turned to leave, but I stopped her. “Your leg.”

  “What about it?” She scowled at me, her eyes narrowing.

  “Give me your leg.” I motioned at it and made a grabbing motion. “I’m not the absolute best, but my friends and I can make you a better one if you’ll let us.”

  “You may take a look at it tonight.” She frowned thoughtfully. “I have need of it now. Go about your business, master Zeke.”

  She turned and stalked away from me, so I went into the cabin and set to work. Taejon’s weapon I took my time with.

  It wasn’t nuanced, by any means, but his blade would be the sharpest weapon I could muster, and it used wind aspected mana, too. If he swung it fast enough, it had a chance of about 35% to form a wind blade that would slice a target up to thirty feet away, and that was only if he was actively trying to make it happen. Not the best, but it was all I could manage. Hell, I even used a small amount of diamond to increase the blade’s sharpness and durability.

  Overall? I was happy with it.

  I considered being cheap with all of the other weapons, though, but Jaken would hear nothing of it.

  Better to ply your craft here and now and grow from it so that we stand a chance rather than save some cash. We’re liquid, man. Let’s do it right. He paused, then asked, You have enough mats to make it through? I know you can add components to things. You need anything?

  Yeah, any precious or semi-precious stones and metals you guys have would be greatly appreciated. It makes my life easier if I have more components.

  A few minutes later, Jaken came to me with a collection of components from the others. Rubies, pearls, sapphires, emeralds, agate, obsidian, topaz, and other somewhat precious stones. Then he pulled out several small bars of metal. “These are test bars that I was using to check what kind of metals we find to them. Think of them like references. I don’t need them anymore because any new metals I find I take to the dwarves. Like that hunk we found in the dungeon.”

  “Thanks, man, I really appreciate it.” I frowned at all of it. It would last, I hoped. “I’ll work on breaking them down as I go. I’m high enough level now that I’m almost to master. Hopefully, this does the trick.”

  “We can hope.” Jaken grinned and stepped out of the room to give me space to work.

  I turned my eyes on the captain’s weapons and grinned. Time to play.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I wiped my brow, sweat building up in the fur there from the amount of time I’d spent hunched over the items brought to me. I felt like it had been days, the ache in my skull made my vision blur slightly, and I had to stop.

  Everything I had touched, I’d infused with magic to the best of my ability.

  Shadow Swallower’s Saber

  +14 light damage to attacks, sword beats back shadows and brightly illuminates the immediate vicinity around the wielder.

  Darkest night meets the stars and fades from their mighty light.

  Sword created by adept smith Deannie Busch and enchanted by adept enchanter Zekiel Erebos.

  Heart Piercer

  +15 to piercing damage, 10% chance to cause critical damage multiplier if target is shot in the chest.

  Aim true, fighter, and there’s a chance you might not have to fight too hard.

  Weapon created by adept woodworker Brolm Brighthelm, and enchanted by adept enchanted Zekiel Erebos.

  That’s enough of that. The rest of the people who made these weapons are hardly of note, and you guys really just want to hear what they do, right?

  I thought so too.

  Fae Step Stabber

  +13 damage, +15 damage to non-Fae creatures

  Once daily, this dagger will allow the wielder to step into a place they can see within 30 feet.

  That last one I was proud of. When the captain had claimed them, her grin let me know that I was almost forgiven. The rest of the crew got weapons befitting their service. I tried to keep things tied to requests and elements that wouldn’t catch the ship on fire. Of course, that greatly upset the kid who wanted a sword made of only flames, but he got over it when I handed him a hammer that would freeze enemies if hit enough.

  Exhausted and overtaxed, I checked the notifications I had.

  CONGRATULATIONS!

  You have ascended to the rank of Master enchanter!

  Cost of components used will be halved.

  Damage outputs for weapons increased!

  Spell types increased!

  Be warned: in order to use the items you make to full advantage, the wielder may need to meet certain criteria, or the weapon effects will be diluted to match their level. This can be negated only in certain circumstances!

  Good luck creating out there!

  I grinned, that must be why when a grandmaster gave us gear, it always seemed like their work was improving. Realistically, we were, and we could finally see a little more of a weapon’s true capabilities.

  Interesting, I thought to myself. I tapped my cheek in contemplation with a frown. I pulled out Storm Caller, and the stats were the same. Well, there was that gone. Must have been because the second I touched it, the stats solidified. Was it a way to ensure that enchanters and smiths had a way to continually make money as someone improved? They would have to come back for better gear as they grew.

  I made it to master enchanter, I advised the others.

  That’s great! Muu’s whooping from outside made me grin, and I heard the door open.

  A gigantic wood splintering crack echoed through the air, shaking the boat. I was on my feet and heading toward the exit when Balmur piled into the room with Bokaj hot on his heels, both of them a little more grim than usual.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked knowingly. “You guys, okay? The ship, okay? What happened?”

  “The fucking limbs for the ballista snapped, and took part of the rail with it,” Balmur snapped, rubbing his temples in irritation. “We used the metal and wood that we had, even some of the wood that the wainwright had on hand to make it, and it fucking snapped!”

  “I told you there was a chance it might happen!” Bokaj growled back.

  “So we’re fucked on that front.” I sighed and sat back on the bottom cot. I looked at the two of them, fuming and being goofy. “The hell is going on with you both?”

  They looked at each other, Bokaj looking askance of his friend before the other man nodded, and he could answer, “We’re scared.”

  I stayed silent, watching them until Balmur decided to speak up, “It’s the level of the fight. We can walk on water, breath it, fighting on it and in it—but we can’t know what the hell is coming. And that’s getting to us.”

  “I can respect that.” I dragged my nails through the fur on my head. “I’m worried about not having Maebe here. But if anyone should be safe, it should be her. Would that I could make it so Vrawn weren’t here for this, too.”

  “You and your ladies.” Balmur snorted, a wry grin gracing his face. “You’d keep them safe before you would us.”

  “I’d keep them safe because I trust both of you to fight with me,” I corrected him. “We walked through the Hells and back for you. And I know you would’ve done the same.”

  “Yup.” Bokaj slapped his back, joining me on the cot. “We’ll get through this. It’s just going
to be a lot harder without our weapons.”

  “Ship on the horizon!” A dull voice bellowed from above us.

  We glanced at each other, then scrambled to the door and outside.

  I looked to where the others all gazed and saw what they saw. True enough, a ship was there. But I couldn’t quite make out what kind of ship it was.

  Joesa swore. “What's a damnable naval vessel doing this far out?”

  The three of us perked up. Navy ship? Think it could be the one that our tormentor could be on with her demon caretaker?

  I glanced at Balmur after his question and shrugged. It’s possible.

  “We need supplies, if we can raid theirs and check them out to see if they’re on board, we might stand a chance in this fight.” Bokaj frowned, he tapped Joesa on the shoulder. “Think we can catch them?”

  He turned and regarded us coldly. “You want us to close with a naval vessel, potentially accost them and steal from them?”

  “You guys don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to,” Bokaj reasoned. “Our thoughts are on our combined survival.”

  The first mate snorted and turned on his heel, walking away without another word.

  Think the captain is going to try and kick us off the ship? I rolled my eyes, trying to envision her reaction to all of this.

  Everyone, be on the lookout for the captain, Balmur called to all of us. We just suggested piracy.

  Booty? Muu perked up immediately. Swashbuckling and buccaneering?! Can we? Can we please? I’ll eat all my veggies!

  Shut up! James snapped, his voice making all of us flinch. She’s come out of her quarters.

  “Did mine ears deceive me?” Captain Holly shouted as she moved through the crew with a serious glare on her face. “Did I, Captain Holly Jennisovna, hear that piracy has been uttered aboard my Pussy Willow?”

  “We merely meant that we think that vessel might harbor a threat to the continent, a demon, and possibly more.” Bokaj spread his arms and tried to make himself seem more suggestive. “Not to mention, more supplies for the ship and ballista. It could be beneficial.”

  “The benefits of piracy are death!” She howled, her hand falling to the saber I had enchanted for her. “They hang pirates from the gallows. My brothers dangled in the wind for just serving aboard a vessel accused of the act!”

  “Okay, we won’t raid them.” I stepped forward.

  She turned to me, her eyebrow raised. “Who said that?”

  A slow grin spread across her face, whiskers flicking back and teeth glinting in the mid-morning light.

  Joesa stepped out from behind the captain with a tricorn hat that he passed to her and raised his voice, “Mister Taejon! Hoist the colors!”

  The crew roared and set to motion as the eldest crew member pulled the rope with a red flag on it. As the wind caught the flag and pressed it forward, dual sabers crossed beneath a snarling cat’s visage.

  “Let the sea have what she desires!” The captain bellowed loudly.

  “And we keep what we can carry!” The crew returned even louder as they spun around and went back to their stations.

  Are we seriously on a pirate ship? Jaken groaned, looking thoroughly defeated.

  Would you expect anything less? Balmur chuckled. We need to catch them sooner rather than later. Zeke, think you and Odany can get the wind on our side?

  I nodded and spoke aloud, “I’ll reinforce the sails to keep them from splitting from the pressure.” Balmur nodded and made to leave, but I grabbed his shoulder. “I’ll need your assistance for a moment. Let’s do what we can and then get started.”

  Balmur and I climbed toward the sails, and I summoned Hubris. He narrowed his eyes at it, but I calmed him with a look. “I’m strong, but even I run out of mana. I need you to bolster my strength.”

  The child, bring her and have her assist as well.

  I frowned. “And Odany, I guess.”

  Balmur melted into my shadow, a cool chill running down my spine that made me shiver. He returned a second later. “She’s coming.”

  The ropes shifted beneath me and I saw her climbing with a huge grin firmly in place. “You needed my help, too?”

  “Yup!” She smiled harder, and it was too hard not to grin back. “You two are going to help me enchant the mast and cross beams to strengthen them, then we will enchant the sails.”

  I instructed Balmur and Odany both to touch Hubris and focus on feeding it mana. It was a little more natural for Balmur, but Odany struggled with it.

  “Think of the mana in the core of your being like a lake, and as you reach for it and pull it out of you, you’re just digging little rivers through your arms and fingers to the outside.” She glowered at me. “I’m serious, it’s how I do it.”

  “Is it like playing in the mud?” I raised an eyebrow at her, and she barreled on ahead. “You wanna draw a pretty picture, and you gotta use all the wet to draw the lines, so when it dries, it looks pretty?”

  Between you and me? She had me stumped.

  “Sure.,” She grinned and closed her eyes, focusing on what she was doing after I answered her. “I want you guys to think really hard about giving me your mana for now, okay? Let’s hop to it.”

  I closed my eyes and wove the engraving I would use to carve into the wood before us. Funneling the mana from the two of them through Hubris and shaping it with my will was different and much more difficult. Still, the gift I’d earned from Fainne, god of the dwarves, held out. A swirling, looping pattern formed over the mast and the other portions of the wood, all of them wisping toward the sails and their respective goals.

  We bottomed out our combined mana after a moment, the desired engraving having just been placed.

  The edges farthest from us may need to be deepened slightly to be safe.

  “Thank you, Hubris,” I muttered and glanced at my two helpers. Odany seemed heavy-lidded in the eyes, and Balmur was rubbing his temples. “You two rest and recover, I’ll be back and we can begin enchanting.”

  “That wasn’t enchanting it?” Poor Odany almost sobbed. Balmur took pity on her and patted her hand, speaking to her softly as I escaped to check my work.

  Sure enough, some of the engraving needed to be deepened. I used my claws with Hubris to guide me and made short work of the job on the right side of the ship. That took about ten minutes. The left side was a little worse, so I took twenty for that side, but otherwise, it was fine.

  I joined Balmur and Odany back in the center mast’s rigging, where they waited.

  “You both ready?” My question sparked a hint of ire on Odany’s face, her scowl joined by her crossed arms let me know just what she thought of my asking her help. “What’s the issue, kid?”

  She lifted her chin slightly. “You were supposed to be teaching me. And that was just you using me, like the people who brought me from my home had planned to have happen.”

  “Use you?” I tested the waters skeptically. She seemed justified by my reaction to the word, her arms crossed tighter. “Listen, Odany, my leaving you in Vrawn’s care is so that you will survive the coming fight. Us enchanting this ship is so that we all can survive this trip so that you can get home. If you want to survive with us and live to learn how to use your magic, there needs to be a willingness to accept a give and take. I need you to give me your strength and mana so that I can give you a chance to survive. Do you understand?”

  She thought on it for a moment before she nodded once and pressed her hand over to rest on Hubris, “Fine. I’ll help you to help myself. But our training needs to happen.”

  “It will happen, Odany,” I assured her. “We all want you to survive. You deserve a chance. We’re giving you the chance to fight for your future. You have to help us with that. And I will definitely be helping you train your magic soon. Besides, hasn’t Dusty been helping you?”

  She frowned and waved a hand down at the elemental who floated ten feet below us. “She tries, but she’s hard to understand sometimes.”

&nbs
p; Balmur rested his hand on Hubris silently and waited for my instructions.

  “I want you both to think about making the wood stronger and more resistant to the wind. Okay? Just the wood.” They nodded and screwed up their faces with concentration. I did the same, and the enchanting began. Halfway through, I used a full amount of agate to keep things solid, and the total cost put us over 2,000 MP. It wiped me out completely, my ring, and drained Balmur and Odany both a little more.

  The agate and mana mixed, glowing a slightly seafoam color before settling and flashing once.

  I saw no enchantment notification, but I knew that it held.

  “Good work, next, we enchant the sail.” Odany looked mutinous, but she calmed down when Balmur held up a hand to get my attention. “Yes?”

  “While we wait on our mana to recover.” He motioned to Odany. “Why don’t you explain the process of enchanting to us and allow Odany a chance to learn her magic?”

  The little girl perked up, and I chuckled. “Sure. Which would you like to learn more of, right now?”

  “My magic!” She howled and almost fell out of the netting below her.

  I snorted, and Balmur clapped his hands delightedly.

  “Then let’s start with the basics while we wait.” I clapped my own hands and waved to the air around us. “With many forms of magic, you can attune yourself to them. Balmur and I can send our thoughts into shadow. What I want you to do is attempt to focus on sending your consciousness into the air and wind around you. It’s a little hard at first, but you can do it. You seem to have a natural gift for magic.”

  “I do?” She seemed pleased as punch to be complimented like that.

  “Sure do. The wind primordial himself seemed to think very highly of you.” She giggled and clamped her eyes shut.

  “What do I do now?”

  “I want you to focus on your element around you.” She focused a little more, her eyebrows knitting together in concentration. “Use all your senses except sight to take it all in. Taste the air as you breathe it in. What scents do you smell? What do you hear? Feel it moving across your skin and in your hair. With each interaction between the wind and you, let it take you further from yourself.”