Leviathans

The warm wind rushed through Rayne’s hair. The deck creaked beneath her. The ropes were tight against the balloon. She felt exultant. She felt free. A lever moved smoothly under her hands, increasing the ship’s speed. She looked over at Lucy. Lucy looked back, her small smile pained. Rayne’s heart dropped as she was reminded of what had happened. A turn of the wheel kept the ship lined up with the river below. The streaks of clouds above threw their thin shadows across their faces. It had been an hour since their escape. Since the Haralam had died for them to escape. It felt like much less.

Silence, broken only by the rush of wind around them and the quick repetitive sound of propellers. Rayne wanted to say something else. Wanted to add something to the conversation they’d had. She looked over at Lucy again. Lucy was leaning against the railing along the edges of the airship. Her hair, tied in a tight ponytail, whipped away from her head. Her eyes were closed, but puffy from crying. It had hit them when the city was small behind them. When the towers were like thick lines. The Haralam had dropped into the chasm. Someone was dead, by their actions. Rayne could still feel Lucy shaking in her arms. She bit her lip, and wiped away at the tears on her face. She had kept her goggles off. That way, the tears were from the wind stinging her eyes.

Lucy stared out into the desert. The wood of the railing felt strong in her hands. She scanned the horizon. She could still barely make out the rock formation that the city was built on. They had been chased for a while, but it seems their pursuers had given up. Lucy looked down at her open hands and then down at the desert, far below. She imagined she could see the Haralam’s body, broken against the sand. The dunes seemed to leap up at her. She scrunched her eyes shut, and quickly backed away from the railing, nearly falling over when the airship lurched forward. She heard Rayne’s voice, shouting a question. “I’m fine!” Lucy heard her own voice answer as she regained her balance. “Could you try flying this thing straight?” she asked, some of her humor finally returning.

“Ha. Ha Ha. You’re so funny Lucy.” Rayne rolled her eyes, silently thankful that her friend might be feeling a little better. Despite her mistake, it seemed that piloting the ship was much easier than she had expected. Just point it where you want to go, adjust the speed and the elevation, and it works out. She thought. Hopefully it would stay this easy. She made one more adjustment, her hands sliding on the well-worn wooden controls. Whenever she turned the wheel, or pulled a lever, Rayne could almost feel the flow of magic and machinery in the airship. Almost like it was alive. It sent shivers down her spine.

Rayne’s stomach rumbled. “Time to eat, Ray.” Lucy chided. Rayne jumped in surprise and her friend laughed. “You get so focused that you forget to eat sometimes.” Lucy continued, shaking her head. Rayne frowned, realizing that Lucy was right. She was hungry. “Time to get food then” Rayne said. Lucy held out a piece of fruit to her, keeping another for herself. Rayne took it gratefully. After slicing them open to get at the innards, they both bit into the succulent pomegranates. As Rayne chewed, she thought. “Where do you want to go?” she tried to ask around the fruit in her mouth. Lucy hadn’t understood a word, and had to stifle a laugh so she wouldn’t choke. “finish chewing first! She said

Rayne smiled, and swallowed before asking again. “Anywhere, Ray.” Lucy answered, looking out. Away from the city this time. Rayne looked down at the fruit in her hand before she was struck by a thought. “You know, how are these not bruised?” Rayne asked, and Lucy looked at her in confusion for just a moment until she realized what Rayne was asking. “Luck, I guess. Our stuff got tossed around when we… left the city. But they’re mostly alright.” Lucy answered, faltering for a second as the Haralam’s face once again appeared in her mind. “Hmm” came Rayne’s response as she took another bite. She noticed the pack of books that lay on the deck in front of them. Lucy followed her gaze, and waved her away. “I’ll try to make sure we don’t hit anything.” She sighed. Rayne thanked her with a look, and was drawn forward.

Rayne sat, setting her half-eaten pomegranate beside her. She grabbed the pack and started to rummage through it. Books on the leviathans. Ancient runic technology. And one she hadn’t noticed at first. “Runestones and their theoretical uses”. Eyes widening, and a smile forming, she silently thanked Lucy.

She grabbed the book, and began to read, knowing that if Lucy needed her, she would be called. Rayne took another bite out of the fruit. An hour later, as she read, she realized that while the book was interesting it didn’t hold any answers. She sighed in frustration as she finished another chapter. “In theory, it can be used to power things. In theory. Because Runestones can’t actually exist.” She muttered to herself. “Lucy this book is terrible” she complained out loud, and Lucy laughed. “You know what isn’t terrible?” her friend asked, and Rayne looked up at her, curious. The sun lit Lucy from the side, her hair radiant in the light as she pointed ahead of them. Her eyes were wide, and a massive smile was on her face. Rayne stood, and turned, the curiosity that began to well up in her being replaced with wonder.

Rayne’s feet carried her to the prow of the ship. She leaned against the well-constructed railing, trusting it to keep her from falling. Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt as if her heart would stop beating.

The river below her opened up into the deep blue of the sea. She had never seen it before. She had long ago relegated it into the category of things she’d know about, but never experience. It filled the horizon ahead of her, waves breaking onto the sand and stones. Trees grew along the river, and Rayne saw farms, and homes, and dots that she thought were people. She turned to face Lucy, her face glowing. Rayne ran to the helm to join her, wanting to slow down. Lucy was already doing so, before turning the ship so it was parallel to the coast. Lucy felt the taste of salt on her lips, and the scent was unlike anything she had experienced. She longed to set down, but knew that it was a bad idea.

They both stared out into the infinite blue, broken only by the white spittle of waves and the shine of unending motion. It was beautiful in a way that neither of them could explain. Rayne suddenly felt very small but at the same time, felt as if she could do anything. Rayne gripped the lever that controlled their speed. Her hand met Lucy’s, and they both moved the lever smoothly forward. The hum of the engines deepened, and the sound of the propellers accelerated. Still, as the airship sliced across the coastline, they stared outwards. The sea awoke in Lucy a sense of freedom that she hadn’t known she had been missing.

A few hours later, they were both eating again. Sitting on the deck of the ship, looking at what was now the night sky. The three moons floated in a sea of black dotted with bright stars and wisps of color. Warm, comforting silence. Rayne didn’t want to close her eyes. Every time she had looked up at the night sky she had felt it was impossibly distant. But now, as she raised her hand into the darkness, it was as if she could close it around the stars. She looked at her long fingers, and the spaces between them. For some reason, her arm felt far away. She shook her head. Lucy smiled at her and held out a hand. Rayne took it, and the two of them continued to eat, bathed in the soft radiance of moon and starlight.

Just a day and a half later, the two friends were at an impasse. They were running out of the few supplies they had brought. Rayne stared at what was left. Some dried meat. Some stale bread. A few pieces of fruit. And thankfully, plenty of water. They had also identified another problem that neither of them had foreseen. The airship’s engine required a lengthy period of rest after only a few hours of flight. It turned out that this was because airships gathered magical energy from their surroundings, and so had to take time to refill their reservoirs if they were drained quickly.

“We’re bad at the whole planning thing, aren’t we?” she said. Lucy made a noise that was halfway between a snort and a laugh. “Guess so. You’d think we’d have managed to remember to bring more than only a few days of food.” came her answer. The sun was high above them. They had maybe another day of food between the two of them. The water would last longer. “We have to land somewhere.” Lucy said, her tone matter of fact. Rayne walked over to the helm, gripping the wheel. “If we follow the coast, we should come across another town soon. We can set down once we get there.” She suggested, and Lucy nodded. “We don’t have much money, but it should be enough to get food for a while at least.”

They took turns at the helm. Not because either of them found it boring, but because both of them found it so fun. It was, however, different than it had been just a few days ago. Now they didn’t weave the ship around, laughing. Both of them knew that they had to reach a town as soon as possible. Preferably before their food ran out, and not after. Not too long after, Rayne looked out towards the horizon. Something stood out. It looked like a particularly large sand dune, with some ruins on it. Dust swirled around the base, as if a small, localized wind current whirled around it. Rayne stared, looking at it from the ship’s deck. The shape felt strange, but Rayne shrugged it off. She would have to get used to things she didn’t understand.

The coastline still meandered below them. It had been mostly empty for the better part of a day and a half. Makes sense Lucy thought, as she adjusted their course with a light touch, no rivers or oases mean no people. The thrum of magic and machinery beneath Lucy’s feet served to calm her nerves. It reminded her of home. She blinked, trying to push the thought away. She hoped it got easier as time went on.

The sun rose above them, its lazy path overhead and its unforgiving heat a familiar sensation. The overbearing heat of noon gave way to cooler late afternoon breezes, filled with scents of salt, sea, and sand. “Huh.” Rayne said out loud, her hand shading her face as she looked forwards again. “What is it?” Lucy asked, from the helm, and Rayne shook her head, moving towards the prow. “That sand done, or, whatever it is. It’s moved.” She continued, now squinting at the distance.

“Sand dunes don’t move Ray.” Lucy answered, exasperated. “Obviously. So either I’m crazy or it isn’t a dune.” Rayne responded. “We should find out. It looks pretty close.” She said, looking back at Lucy, a gleam in her eyes. Lucy had seen the look before. Rayne wouldn’t rest until she had satisfied her curiosity. Lucy sighed. At least as it wasn’t too far out of the way. She shifted their course.

The sun continued its inexhaustible stride through the sky, settling comfortably downwards towards the opposite side of the horizon. The blue above them darkened, and Rayne knew that if they were grounded, they’d hear the buzz of life beginning to awake to the cool desert night. Out in the distance, what had once appeared to be a sand dune, now didn’t look like it at all. For one, it was still fairly distant from them. The second reason, however, is what had the two girls enthralled, staring across the empty expanse of the desert. “I told you it was moving.” Rayne breathed, and Lucy nodded wordlessly.

The… whatever it was… Rayne and Lucy couldn’t begin to give it words, scuttled across the landscape like a gigantic insect. Over a Dozen legs moved up and down seamlessly, appearing to intertwine as they propelled the thing forward. Lucy pointed at what Rayne had initially thought were ruins of some kind. “Is that… a city?” she asked, confused. It was Rayne’s turn to nod. “I think so? Only one way to find out, isn’t there?”

Lucy and Rayne were now entirely focused on what was in front of them. Lucy bit the inside of her cheeks with worry. She hoped it was a city. That way, they could get food. They could set down, Rayne’s thoughts lingered on what it was that she was looking at. How it worked, what it was made of. She stared as long as she could, blinking only occasionally.

As the sun dropped below the horizon, they were treated to another wondrous sight. The buildings that they could now make out on the back of what Lucy had begun calling “the beetle” began to light up against the darkness. First, slowly, and then faster. Pinpricks of light in what must have been windows and doorways. Rayne swore she could make out lamps moving in the streets between the buildings. The cool air of the desert night blew past them and Rayne closed her eyes against it, feeling its bite against her skin. Her hair, which she had worn down today, swam behind her. Framed in the light of sunset, she watched the city on the beetle.

This, is what Rayne had wanted to see. This is what she lay awake at night, thinking of. She wished she’d left for other reasons and without dragging Lucy into her problems but right now, in this moment, she felt the weight of the past few days beginning to lift. If this is what awaited them, she was looking forward to it. As Rayne turned to face Lucy, she could see on her friend’s face that she agreed.

Now, however, it was time for Rayne to sleep. They were taking shifts, to make sure that someone was always at the helm. Rayne hugged Lucy, as then headed down the stairs in the deck that went towards the inside of the ship. Within they had found, much to their pleasant surprise, what was almost a small house. In the first floor down, there were a few small bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small kitchen. On the floor below that the walls curved inwards, and the space was filled with fishing equipment. Nets, weights, a net cannon, and more that Rayne couldn’t properly identify. At this moment though, as she opened her mouth to yawn, Rayne was interested in the bathroom.

She walked forwards, running her hand along the shiny wooden walls. The warm colors of the wood served to calm her, and she let herself smile. A painting hung across from the door to the bathroom, and she turned the doorknob to let herself in. Rayne hummed to herself, fingers searching briefly for a button that lay flush with the wall to her left. A click, followed by a slight hum, and the light above her turned on. The soft, orange-white light bathed the walls and floor. It lit up the polished mirror, and Rayne looked at herself for a moment. Her hair, which she usually took care of, was disheveled. She looked at her own face. The small silver circle around her pupil seemed larger than it had the last time she’d look at herself in a mirror properly, but her eyes were hopeful.

Rayne shook her head, and turned towards the shower. She pulled aside the curtain and reached past it to turn a knob. She had always found the idea that you could turn magic into other things, like water, amazing. She wished there was someone alive who still properly understood it. She watched the showerhead as warm droplets became a hot stream. She tested the temperature with her hand, adjusted the knob, and then did so again. Now content, she stripped her clothes off quickly. Her bare skin gleamed with sweat, and Rayne made a mental note to wash her clothes the next day. She took a step forward, cursing as her toe met the stone lip that kept water from getting outside of the shower.

Rayne rubbed it for a moment before continuing. The water met her skin with a burning heat, and she almost purred with contentment. A few moments later, and she began to hum as she ran the water and her fingers through her hair, making sure that she got it completely wet. One of the hazards of having thick hair, Rayne thought, was that it took forever to get clean. She scrubbed herself with soap that they had found already in the bathroom. Lucy had always said that Rayne’s showers were too long, but Rayne had always ignored her. The soap ran along her arm. Deliberate. That’s the word Rayne would use instead.

She closed her eyes against the stream of water as she washed off the soap. The quick pitter patter of water striking the stone below her feet mixed with the sound of her humming. Rayne turned her back to the showerhead, and watched the small bubbles ride a stream of water into the drain. She cocked her head as she briefly considered where they were going but then realized that, at least for now, she didn’t care. A few minutes later, finally satisfied, she turned off the shower and grabbed a towel from the rack on the wall. Rayne dried herself off quickly, taking care to not tangle her hair too much. She looked over to find that the steam filling the bathroom had fogged up the mirror. Her hands found the latch holding the sliding window in the shower closed, and undid it, pulling it open. The steam poured out, and the rush of cool night air sent a pleasant shiver down Rayne’s spine.

Rayne opened a small drawer and pulled out a brush. She and Lucy had been surprised at how well-stocked the airship had been. Lucy guessed its owners were preparing to travel. Rayne felt a twinge of guilt at the thought, but shook it off. She methodically pulled the brush through her hair, mind wandering. A couple of minutes later, still humming and surrounded by just the towel, Rayne left the bathroom and headed for the bedroom she had decided was hers. It was the smaller of the two, but the bed was soft. She dropped the towel to the floor, pulled on light undergarments, and lay down.

She could hear the wind outside. It sounded to her much like the storm that had shrouded the tower. It blew past, but it felt different to Rayne. She had once heard Master Ethan read a poem he had called the “winds of change”. A good name, she thought as she closed her eyes. That night she fell asleep cradled by the soft thrum of the airship, and the rushing of wind. She slept better than she had in a very long time.

Lucy stared at the beetle ahead of her, her hunger momentarily forgotten. Her eyes, protected from the biting wind by her goggles, followed the shapes of buildings on its back. She could now make them out even more clearly than before. The three moons, firmly in the sky above her, shone brilliantly down onto the white sands of the desert. Misgivings began to gather in her mind. When she let them, they ate at the edges of her confidence like rats, letting the shadows of her doubts creep into her heart. Lucy didn’t want to admit it to herself, but she was afraid. There was truly no going back, and she hoped fervently that she made the right decision.

The next morning, the two girls watched the city from above. The beetle was much larger than either of them had expected. By Rayne’s estimate, it was at least two miles across. Buildings of varying sizes jutted outwards from its carapace. People, all of whom looked like nothing more than small dots from their vantage point, meandered through the streets like ants. They could see bustling marketplaces, and Lucy could imagine the sights and sounds. The beetle seemed remarkably stable, the legs moving in such a fashion that the “shell” was always flat. Off to one side, docks jutted off of its stony carapace.

They looped around towards the docks, slowly approaching through the small swarm of other airships of all sizes. As they passed, Rayne and Lucy both stared. Some of them were completely different than anything either of them had ever seen. Some were shaped with sweeping curves and beautifully constructed. Others appeared squarish and precise, slow, but tough. Lucy had pulled out a notebook, and was noting their construction. Rayne watched her for a moment, before gently pushing her away from the helm. Lucy thanked Rayne with a smile and went back to her notes and sketches. She had always been fascinated with airships. Her father had once told her that if she hadn’t been recruited into the technomages, she would have made a fantastic shipwright. Her heart sunk for a moment as she thought about her family.

Rayne steered them downwards, finding a space on the docks where they could tie themselves down. As they approached, Lucy looked down from the other airships. The docks were wood, just like the ones from home. The warehouses and machinery grew as they closed the distance. Suddenly, the smell hit, and it wasn’t like anything she could’ve imagined. Instead of the smell of fish, the air was full of the scent of spices. An incredible amount of them, blending into an almost intoxicating aroma.

Rayne noticed it too, her nose twitching slightly as she inhaled the scent deeply and cracked a smile. This is going to be fun she thought. Just before Rayne stopped the airship, Lucy noticed a man shaking his head, writing on a small notepad. He was dressed in an orange shirt, with pads on his shoulders extending outwards. Lucy had to stifle a laugh as he adjusted his hat, which was a large rectangular thing that tied underneath his chin. It had some sort of symbol on it that she couldn’t make out. She stepped towards the door that led into the airship and locked it with a key Rayne had fashioned out of two metal hairpins. Lucy was still confused as to why it worked, but knew better than to ask any questions.

She hopped down onto the windswept docks, excited to find the source of the smells, only to find the man she had seen before arguing with Rayne about something. “What do you mean we can’t stay here?” Rayne asked, confused. “Just what I said. The docks are not open to the public. You must have a permit!” the man answered, his deep voice tinged with frustration. Rayne shook her head, and the man sighed. “If you don’t have a permit, you’ll need to pay the fine or leave.” He said. Rayne was about to answer when Lucy stepped in. “how much is it?” she asked. “Three hundred iron bonds.” He huffed, and Lucy’s mouth dropped open in surprise. Rayne blinked. Three hundred iron bonds was enough money to buy food for the two of them for months. “Can we just stay here for a few hours? We just need to get some supplies and we’ll leave, I promise” Lucy begged, but the man shook his head. “No. The dock authority has made it very clear that this is its policy.” Lucy threw her hands up, frustrated.

They argued for a few more minutes, going back and forth with no solution. The dock official, as it had become apparent that’s what he was, wouldn’t budge. Just before they gave up and moved on, however, a group of people approached. They were loud, and led by a man whose skin was burnt red by the sun. A scar running from the left side of his forehead, across his nose and down past his lip caught Rayne’s eye.“Now now, here you two are. We’ve been waiting for you for hours! Did you just get here?” he asked cheerfully. The official looked at him, and grimaced “Richard Perin. I should have known.” The man’s smile widened, but never reached his eyes. He bowed, pulling his simple hat off his head politely as he did. “The one and only. Now if you’d stop harassing my associates, they’d be able to tell you that I have their permit right here.” The man continued, raising a slip of paper for the official to inspect.

Rayne looked at Lucy, confused. Lucy shrugged in response. Whatever was going on, Rayne was just glad for the help. The man, Richard, glanced over at them and gave them a small nod as the official read through the paper. The dock official, his tall hat now sitting at an odd angle on his head, huffed. “Very well, it seems everything is in order. Good day.” He said, before walking away in what Lucy assumed was supposed to be a dignified fashion. It wasn’t. She laughed.

And Richard laughed with her. “Well am I glad that we got here just in time!” he said, still cheerful. His smile now reached his eyes. “What do you want?” Rayne asked quickly, and the man looked at her, confusion entering his expression for just a moment before Lucy stepped forward. “She means thanks. Right Rayne?” Rayne stared at Lucy for a second before nodding. “Right. Yeah, Thanks for the help.” The man threw his arms wide, “Not at all a problem, but you’re right, I would certainly like some help with something.” He said. “Well, that is to say, me and my friends would.” He continued, indicating his companions with his hands.

Rayne looked at them properly for the first time. Two men, and one woman. One of the men was the largest person that Rayne had ever seen, and she had to keep her jaw from dropping. His muscular form was covered in scars, both those that she guessed were from weapons as well as those from burns. His arms were crossed, and he looked annoyed. His Gray hair spiked up messily from his head, a heavy contrast to his immaculately maintained braided beard and thick mustache. His chest was bare, but his hands were covered with fine leather gloves with a series of metal threads running along the fingers. A thick leather pack was closed at his waist, hanging from a wide belt that also held up long pants.

The other man was of average size, but looked tiny compared to the giant that was the first. He had light clothes on, but carried himself like a soldier. He fidgeted, pawing the large sword that hung at his side as if to make sure it was still there. He gave Rayne a small grin, and then looked away. His long black hair was pulled into a braid that carried many colors, from reds to blues, to purples. An ornate metal pauldron covered his left shoulder, the etched designs so intricate that Rayne couldn’t follow them with her eyes.

The woman, her eyes a fiery orange, stared at Rayne fiercely. The woman was covered in tattoos that were all straight edges and quick curves. They varied widely in appearance but were all an inky black. Her body was protected by thick strips of hardened leather over a tight cloth suit. Over that, she wore a white cloak to keep out the heat. A handle for what Rayne assumed was a weapon poked over her shoulder, and she scowled as Rayne examined her. Her hair was cut short into a shock of silver on her head.

Lucy coughed lightly, and Rayne suddenly realized she had spent the last minute or so staring. “sorry,” she mumbled, and Richard shook his head, “not at all, not at all. We’re a band of misfits, we are. Some staring is expected.” He said smoothly, still smiling. “As I said, we would like your help with something. And I think, perhaps, you could use our help as well. But first, I think we should go somewhere more discreet. After all news travels faster than airships, as they say.” The man continued, ushering Rayne and Lucy towards an alley in the warehouses. Lucy hesitated, and the man’s smile got just a tad smaller, as if sad she didn’t trust him. “I’m sorry to have to do this, but without this permit” he began, lifting up the piece of paper he had gotten back from the dock official, “You won’t be able to leave. Please, come with us.”

The two girls looked at each other, suddenly not so glad to have been helped. At least we’ll get food out of this. I hope. Lucy thought, tightening the strings on her coinpurse. The group of people, who had now surrounded them, guided them into the alleyway. The smell of spices was now tempered with the damp, cold scent of escaping magic. Rayne looked upward and found a poorly maintained conduit. She made a noise of annoyance, and Lucy followed her gaze before grimacing.

“Does this… city? Or whatever it is, not have a technomage guild?” she asked. Richard the man with the colorful braid looked back towards them before answering, his pauldron still somehow appearing to shine in the alleyway. “Not a proper one, magi. Many come through the city, and the merchant guilds hire them for maintenance work.” Lucy was taken aback for a moment. She had never been called a magi before. Rayne either didn’t notice or didn’t care. “Whoever they hired, they did a poor job.” She complained, a tinge of disgust in her words. The giant laughed throatily, the booming noise drowning out the sounds of the docks and causing both girls to jump. “Love fer yer craft. Ah can respect that” he said, a grin almost hiding underneath his mustache.

“I… thanks?” Rayne answered, and Lucy laughed out loud. It was very rare that her friend was struck dumb, and she enjoyed it when it happened. “Told you they’d be right.” Richard said from behind them. “We’ll see.” Came a voice that was almost a whisper, belonging to the cloaked girl on their flank. Rayne stared at her for a few moments, before shaking her head and continuing to walk. She was curious as to why the girl seemed so hostile. For now, the only thing to do was to continue on through the alleyway. The brick and wood structures on each side were brightly colored, and in some cases entirely painted over with art. It gave the alleyway life and light in a way that was difficult to describe. Rayne found herself hoping the rest of the city was this beautiful as she traced some of the lines with her fingers.

The alleyway opened up to a large street, wide and filled with people. Rayne’s eyes popped open, she didn’t think she’d ever seen so many people in one place. Having left the alley, the overpowering smell of magic was replaced once more with that of spices. That wasn’t all, though. As Lucy and Rayne looked around, people pushing past them, they were amazed. Richard, put a hand gently on Rayne’s shoulder and gestured outwards with the other. “The City of Wonders. That’s what this place is called. I think that’s an apt name.” The two friends couldn’t help but agree. Wonder described their feelings perfectly.

Rayne watched as a woman danced in front of a crowd. Her multicolored robes embroidered with small bells that she expertly used to weave a song. The crowd cheered and hooted as she twisted. Off to one side, a group of people in full armor walked through the crowd. The sun glinted almost blindingly off of the metal that encased their bodies. Each of them had a sort of backpack, inside of which Rayne was sure she would find generators to keep them cold in the scorching sun. Their weapons clattered against their armor as they passed. Lucy watched small iron and bronze rings change hands, heard people haggling for goods. Under the smell of spices she could smell meat, fish, and frying oil. Rayne and Lucy looked at each other. Rayne was smiling, and Lucy could see happiness in her eyes. She felt the same way.

“Magi, we will have time to see the sights later, I am sure” said the man with the colorful braid. Lucy nodded, and fell back in step with the rest of the group, as did Rayne. No more than a few minutes later, Richard pushed open a swinging door on the side of a building. Smoke seemed to pour out like a haze, and Rayne’s eyes began to water. The rest of the group ushered them into the building. Rayne took a breath as she stepped in, and coughed violently once or twice. She heard laughter, and grimaced.

Rayne blinked to clear her eyes and began to notice the groups of people sitting on cushions. Low tables were spread around the… bar? Rayne didn’t really know how to describe it. Things that look to her like glass towers sat on the tables, with tubes that the patrons would suck on before puffing out more smoke into the room. Embers were glowing atop many of the glass towers, with drinks and food sitting on tables. Each of the tables was surrounded by a wooden structure draped in thick curtains.

Many of the tables were obscured, and Rayne found herself wondering how the people inside of those booths could breathe as she stifled a cough. Young men and women dressed in light and airy clothing, most of which was see-through, walked slowly past the patrons. In their hands were platters of food and drink. Fruit, nuts and thin cuts of meat as well as water and other drinks she couldn’t identify.

They followed Richard to a table in the corner, and he sat down quickly, leaning backwards onto his hands, his legs crossed. Lucy sat herself next to Rayne, her mouth covered with a sleeve. She was tempted to pull down her goggles to protect her eyes, but was distracted by Rayne playing with one of the tubes. “Hookah. Flavored tobacco.” Richard answered Rayne’s unasked question, flagging down one of the serving girls with a wave.

Rayne and Lucy looked around. Neither of them had ever seen anything like this before, and it was becoming increasingly obvious to both that their little corner of the world was much smaller than they thought. Lucy vaguely heard Richard ordering food and beverages for all of them, as well as some of the flavored tobacco. The giant, his legs barely fitting underneath the table, cocked his head towards the two friends.

“So, do ye plan on tellin’ ’em who we are and why they’re ’ere?” he asked, and Richard looked surprised. “Of course! I haven’t introduced us have I?” he answered, looking around for the serving girl for a moment before continuing. “I, as you heard, am Richard Perin. Explorer, Doctor, and leader of my motley crew of Delvers.” He said with a flourish, the metal bangles around his arms clattering together. “To my right is Heinric, master blacksmith turned alchemist and explosives expert” he continued, nodding towards the giant.

“To my left” he began, the expensive material that seemed to make up his shirt flowing smoothly over his arms as he gestured at the tattooed woman, “is Aria, a warrior hailing from the forest tribes of the northern Koman mountains and the bravest woman you’ve ever met.” He said, “Aye, if by brave ye mean insane” Heinric interjected and she scowled with something akin to amusement before pulling her hood off. “Remind me to stab you.” She said, and the men at the table laughed. Rayne and Lucy shared a meaningful glance. Richard shook his head, waving off both comments. The serving girl, her thin clothes revealing all too much for Lucy to be comfortable, approached once more. Rayne stared curiously for a moment admiring the silver piercing in the girl’s navel, which was deeply at odds with her warm ebony skin, before finding the platter in her hands.

Richard reached out, grabbing it from her with a word of thanks. The girl, a smile on her face, bowed before speaking in a language that Rayne didn’t understand. “Please do.” Richard answered, and the girl nodded. She reached into a concealed fold in her garment and pulled out a small black disc and a pouch. Rayne’s eyes were drawn to the disk. She felt as if she could see the magic inside of it, desperately seeking escape. The serving girl upended the pouch into a small ceramic bowl atop the tower, packing the moist tobacco lightly into it. The scent of berries tinged the air for a moment before she placed a small metal plate with holes atop the bowl and topped it with the disk. She pulled it slightly off center, and then with a precise touch, it lit itself aflame like coal. Airy white smoke began to rise from it.

“That will be all, thank you.” Richard said in answer to the serving girl’s inquisitive gaze. She smiled, and curtsied quickly before pulling the curtains closed and moving away. There were a few moments of silence, broken only by the clinking of glasses and plates as each of the four people reached for drinks. Richard pushed water and a sweet smelling beverage towards Rayne and Lucy. Rayne took it carefully, answering Richard’s smile with a nod. “Now, where was I?” he asked, the smoke from the hookah as he had called it swirling above it. “Ah yes. Sitting beside you is Lynn Featherstone, former royal guard of the nation of Altressa and captain of our soldiers.” He finally finished, taking a small sip from his drink and a drag from the hose in front of him. “Not quite ready yet, it seems” he sighed to himself as he carefully placed it back down.

Rayne sipped from her own drink, finding it pleasantly aromatic. It tasted of mint and honey. She could tell it was slightly alcoholic, and put it down before asking her spoke. “Thank you for the introductions, but you still haven’t told us why you dragged us here.” Lucy sighed at her friend’s lack of tact as Lynn laughed. “As our leader told you earlier, we are Delvers. We find artifacts of value and pieces of runic technology and sell them.” He answered, his lilting accent just a tad hard for Rayne to follow.

Lucy suddenly found herself remembering whispers of master technomages going on “expeditions”. She took a deep draught from her drink. “And you need technomages to appraise whatever you find, don’t you?” she asked, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Ah! Yes! Exactly. Usually, however, we are obligated to sell to the guild that sponsors our exploration. So you two present a very… unique opportunity.” Richard answered, taking another drag from the hose, this time sighing contently as he breathed out thick smoke. “As in?” Rayne asked, and Lynn smiled widely. “As in we can sell to the highest bidder if you agree to help us, dear magi.” He pointed out politely, his eyes glimmering in a way that bothered Lucy. She couldn’t put her finger on it.

Lucy glared at him. How did they even know that? She wondered, not liking the idea of no longer being part of the guild. And then she had to stifle a harsh laugh. Who was she kidding? “According to our sources, you two are no longer affiliated with a guild. That makes you extremely rare, and extremely valuable. We pay very well, and it’ll be an adventure. Dangerous, but rewarding. What do you say?” Richard asked, leaning forward onto his elbows.

“We’ll –“ Rayne began excitedly, “Have to talk about it first.” Lucy cut in forcefully, now glaring at Rayne, who looked at her sheepishly. Richard nodded, blowing more smoke out of his mouth. The thick white mass swirled in the air above them before fading away into the haze. Aria reached out to grab Rayne’s arm as she stood. Rayne’s gaze snapped towards her and she tried to pull away. Aria’s grip tightened menacingly, her fingers digging painfully into Rayne. “We’re just going to let them leave? Without watching them?” the woman asked, her eyes narrowing on Richard, who frowned. “If we don’t show them trust, how are they supposed to trust us in return?” he asked with a shake of his head. After a breathless moment, Aria nodded slowly and let go.

Rayne and Lucy quickly walked away, and out of the smoke. Rayne took a deep breath, and sighed. “How do they breathe in there?” She asked and Lucy shrugged. She’d had much less trouble with it than her friend. “Ray, what were you thinking? We can’t go with them. We’re going to buy what we need to buy and leave.” Lucy argued, and Rayne set her jaw. “We can’t do that.” She responded, and Lucy made a noise of annoyance. “Why the hell not?” she asked. Rayne paused for a moment to rub her temples. She hated fighting with Lucy. “Because what happens when we run out of money? We figure it out then? Why not help them, a single time? We can leave afterwards, once we have enough to not have to worry.” Rayne pointed out.

Lucy grit her teeth. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, Rayne was probably right. She felt the weight of her coinpurse on her waist, and it was lighter than she would have liked. Lucy put her hands on her hips, and looked around. The sun was high above them, casting small shadows. She could hear the indistinct sounds of conversation all around her. The occasional gust of wind drew her hair from her head, and shook the cloth overhangs over the many stalls that dotted the street.

One street vendor was selling fried food to a line of people, smiling widely as he worked. The breeze carried the sound of scattered conversations. Someone complained about it being more difficult to predict the weather than it should have been. Another bystander was telling a story of how his ship had been sunk by a great wall of water that had come out of nowhere.

It suddenly struck Lucy that this isn’t where she had imagined she would be when she thought about the future as a technomage, but that this is what she had chosen. She looked back at Rayne, who seemed almost shy as she held her breath waiting for an answer. Lucy sighed. How dangerous could seeking artifacts be? “Alright.” She breathed, and heard Rayne mutter an excited “yes!” under her breath. Lucy couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s enthusiasm. An image of a dirty little girl being escorted into the tower, eyes wide as if trying to take everything in leapt into her mind.

“Let’s go back inside then.” She said, and Rayne nodded happily, taking Lucy’s hand and pulling her towards the hookah bar. Rayne ignored the artfully decorated walls, and the ornate wooden doors, and quickly made her way back to the group of Delvers, Lucy in tow. They found the four laughing as Heinric spoke expressively, his booming voice audible from across the room. As they approached Richard raised a hand to interrupt his companion, tears of recent laughter in his eyes. “I’m- I’m sorry to interrupt Heinric, but it looks like our guests are back.” He said, and took a long drag from the hookah. He blew it out slowly, enjoying the flavor. “So, what’s your answer?” he asked and Rayne nodded. “We’ll help.”

Richard smiled and looked over at Aria, “I told you’d they’d want to do it.” He said, and she crossed her arms with a huff. “Now then” he began again, leaning forward. The excited glint in his hazel eyes lending him an intense expression. “There are some things we have to go over.”