To Fly the Soaring Tides

Cira took them to the dock and cancelled all her magic for the first time in hours. She instantly slumped, feeling drained. The constant mana output had kept her from realizing how tired she really was. As they walked towards the shore the people there got nervous.

“We don’t want any trouble!” They cried. All of them wore simple but clean clothes that looked hand sewn from some kind of coarse green fabric.

“No trouble here. Just passing through,” Cira casually replied.

“Actually,” Lump interjected like a true stick in the mud, “I would like to see Umon, can you tell me where he is?”

Cira was surprised to hear anger hidden behind his words, “What’s that about?”

Lomp ignored her. Rude!

As he stared at the salt-dwellers, one broke into a nervous sweat and spoke up, “He’s up ahead… In the far house on the left.”

“What’s your business here?” An irate woman with mean eyes cut in then glared at the first man who spoke.

“Just passing through.”

“Seems there’s been some false reports coming from Deep Falls.” Lomp spoke at the same time, louder than her. He sure is rude when he’s working. Wait—

“Hang on, that’s not why we’re here.” Cira rebuked.

“That’s why I’m here.” His stern look was too much for Cira and she burst into laughter, holding her sides.

“No it’s not!” She looked up through teary eyes, “You’re here because you’re an idiot!”

His façade broke and his face turned red, “N-no! That’s not the only reason. I mean—dammit!”

“You’re right,” she agreed proudly, “You’re also here because I am an amazing sorcerer.”

Lomp grumbled it off then headed down the path ahead of her. Cira spared one more look at the angered woman who was now thoroughly baffled and left before the she could come up with anything else to say.

“Seriously,” Cira caught up to him quick, “What’s this false report business?”

As they walked further along the cavern started to light up. Dim, but as they approached a small town it was enough to see your way around. Lomp looked over at her, “You should care too. They’ve been sending reports to the surface saying there are no signs of flooding. Like I said, we’re only a few levels above the salt nymphs. As far as Pappy and Earth Vein are aware, the flooding only reaches the old crossroads—a couple hours by elevator above us.”

“That sounds serious.” She should care, “Truthfully, when I accepted the job, I don’t think I realized the scale. This flooding is going to be tough to fix before the next audit. I imagine there are different colonies like this that rely on water too? That complicates things.”

Lomp scoffed, “You speak as if you can fix the flooding.”

“I’ve got a few ideas,” Cira answered with snark, though she was never sure about this part of the job. Materials would be an even bigger constraint than time. Originally, she thought she could plunder a few empty islands for stone, then so long as she got the salt nymph’s water and fed the pumps, she could dump the rest off the side of the island. Even that much would be near-impossible given the sheer distance at play here. Factor in the multiple routes the water takes to each pump, plus the unknown number of reliant settlements and ecosystems, her head was starting to hurt. Perhaps this island was destined to crumble one day.

As she followed Lomp the buildings were made of wood like the dock but the pathway was paved in stone—both had to have been brought in at some point long ago. Now that there was enough ambient light, she could see the entire ceiling was lit up with some kind of bioluminescent plant.

“What is that?” She pointed up.

“Salt Moss. A lot of places like this have it.”

She wondered if the other places were like this one. There was a row of houses on either side of the walkway. The only sounds present were that of running water and the occasional voices of the townsfolk. None of the homes were run down or had holes like those of the surface, and instead of people sleeping in the road, there were children laughing and playing in the streams. It was a peaceful place that gave the impression of an entirely different island.

There were admittedly a lot of streams tearing through the white ground like roots across the town. Some had even begun burrowing under peoples’ houses. She noticed a hole at the bottom of one of the streams that led straight down. Another underground river flooding down to depths unknown, and the perfect fit for a child to fall down.

Well, better close that up. Aquon didn’t like performing geomancy so she used her hands. It worked in a pinch, but she’d been wielding staves for so long it felt like molding clay after her arm’s fallen asleep. Simple enough for something this small though. Lomp looked at her but didn’t say anything and her thoughts turned back to exploring.

“So, how does the moss work?” She would expect it to be shriveled and dead.

“Why are you asking me? You’re the alchemist.”

“Tch. Some guide you are.” She walked over to the wall and scraped some into a little pouch, noticing Lomp’s judgmental glance, “What?”

“Guard, not guide.”

“Then why don’t you hurry up and guard me to the salt nymphs already?”

He just rolled his eyes, “We’re here.”

The home was like any other, single-story wooden construction with a couple windows. Lomp knocked on the door and a short, middle-aged man with long, dark hair opened the door before turning white as salt upon recognizing his visitor.

“L-Lomp?!” His face was distressed, “What are you doing down here?!”

“You know why I’m here.” He spoke with total seriousness. His eyes twitched when Cira snickered behind him.

Umon was buckling under the pressure, but Cira’s laughter threw him off. He was at a loss for what to say.

“Why have you been lying in your reports?” Lomp demanded, “You know that affects the whole rock! You’re putting everybody that lives here in jeopardy!”

Suddenly, the man flared up in anger and exploded, “And what about us?! What about the people down here?!”

“I’m talking about everybody, you imbecile!” Lomp was really laying into him.

“Wait, I’m a little lost here,” Cira spoke up, “Your home is flooding, shouldn’t you want to let someone know so they can do something about it?”

“So they can do something about it?!” The small man was letting it all out now in a venomous tone, “And just who are you? Another one of Earth Vein’s witches?! We don’t want any more of your kind poking your nose around here!”

“They have witches…?” Why did nobody tell me? When she thought about it, anyone with money and no magical ability had a spellcaster or two under their employ, but the man had said witches specifically. Cira was intrigued, and remotivated to solve the plague so she could really tell them off. Bunch of hacks.

“Aquon, Water Slap!”

Slap!

“Ouch! What was that for, you damn witch—”

Slap!

“I work for no one.” Cira said coldly, “And I’m a sorcerer.”

“If you’re not with Earth Vein then what are you doing here?” His eyelids had receded into his skull and a red mark appeared on his cheek.

“I really wish people would stop asking me that, but now I’m irritated. I’ll be taking over the interrogation.” She held the amorphous staff of springs menacingly.

“This wasn’t really an interrogation—” Lomp tried.

“Why were you lying in the reports?!” Cira demanded.

Slap!

“Blegh! Dammit!” Umon spit water out of his mouth, “Stop this! I’ve seen what kind of living awaits us up there! We’d rather live out our lives in peace for as many days as we have left!”

The piercing hatred in his eyes were directed entirely at Cira and his words were enough for her to second guess herself.

“What do you mean by that…?” She refrained from slapping him to let the man speak.

“Like you don’t know about Silver Lake!” He shouted.

Now she was truly perplexed and turned to Lomp for a lifeline. He sighed.

“Let the man go. I think there’s been a misunderstanding.” He looked at her and Cira’s eyes twitched to see mild concern, “You look like shit. I think you need to get some sleep.

True, under Cira’s bright green eyes were dark bags and her countenance was sagging like a wilted flower. She realized the man in Aquon’s clutches was a victim of her crankiness and released him, letting out a huff, “You shouldn’t throw the word witch around so carelessly, fool.”

Many would kill for such a slight. Cira usually didn’t care, but it was more about context to her. She hated when people jumped to conclusions, then to insult her on top of that? Perhaps she did need a nap.

“What is Silver Lake?” She asked.

The Deep Falls resident looked at her dubiously, leaving Lomp to finally fill her in.

“There used to be a city just above the nymph lair around a big lake. It was nearly the size of Uren City and housed half the people on the rock. Earth Vein thought it was too much water too close to the Prima.”

The prima salts made up a considerable percentage of the money pulled out of Fount Salt. She’d heard it was a luxury item, but it felt like a bad time to ask what was so special about it.

“And then what happened…?” Cira beckoned.

“Earth Vein sent a couple of their witches down, drained all the water out then caved the place in before sealing it.”

“Seriously?!” A cave to fit a city even half the size of Uren would have to be massive. She was starting to think they may actually have some formidable witches. It would take either incredible prowess, or a barrel of elixir and months to accomplish. “What happened to everyone that lived there?”

“You saw the lower district, didn’t you?” Her jaw slackened as she stared at him.

Chip had said people were just shoved down there when the city was rebuilt. So, all the people shoved into those rusted boxes used to live at the bottom of the mines? Thousands of them. It’s downright criminal. I thought the Gandeux Skies were supposed to be well-regulated!

Cira was blown away, “Chip didn’t say anything about that.”

“Most don’t like talking about it. It was a bad time for the people of Fount Salt. Some refused to leave, and it became their tomb.” The conversation turned heavy in an instant and Lomp’s last words hung in the air for a while.

The other man, Umon, broke the silence, “You’re really not one of them?”

“I assure you, I’m not. Sorry for slapping you.” She replied, releasing the man before turning to Lomp. “Do you have anything left to do here? I imagine you already knew why he lied, so we may as well move on.”

“You need to rest first. I think that’s become clear.”

“The man learned a valuable lesson that will surely help him if he runs into a real witch. I could go for a bite though… Speaking of,” She looked at Umon, “What do you guys eat here?”

“I could show you if you want. We aren’t affected by the famine from above.” That was interesting.

Cira allowed the man to lead them further into the cavern past all the houses. The clumps of moss were more abundant, and it became brighter as they continued further. They arrived at an open chamber littered with glowing mushrooms of all different colors.

“Mushrooms, huh? I love it.”

“The moss is edible as well, but the mushrooms are more palatable. You’re welcome to eat as many as you like.” They weren’t affected by the famine, but if this was all they had to eat, Cira thought it was a depressing existence in the dim cave. Though, there was something to be said about those that could find peace with very little. She admired them, in a way.

“No thank you, I could never stomach mushrooms… but I will take a few if you don’t mind.” Mushrooms were valuable ingredients and picking them on a whim had come in handy more times than she could count.

She only had a small bag at her waist, and it was quickly filled, glowing a rainbow of colors until she tied it shut.

“Say, I didn’t hear anybody coughing when we walked through town. Are you not affected by the plague either?”

“Nope,” He replied, “It’s the curse of the damn surface dwellers.” Now that’s curious, though I doubt his sample size outside Deep Falls is very large.

“Hold on, are you serious?” Lomp asked.

“Why would I lie about that?”

“Is that not in your reports? Or did he lie about that too?” Cira cut in.

“No… The criteria for reports are from Earth Vein directly.” Lomp replied, “Maybe if this place were just a level or two closer to the prima they’d care enough to come take a look, but they couldn’t care less about the conditions so long as they hear there’s no flooding.”

Not a single plague victim in Deep Falls. There’s something there, I know it… Maybe I have been up for too long. I’m off my game.

She had been hoping for a meal, but regrettably it would have to wait again. Still, she was fascinated by the small but verdant chamber that defied logic. Mushrooms grew out of the salt like the moss and were all healthy. She cast Spatial Prospecting to see into the ground, looking at the root systems. They somehow seemed to grow deep without issue, but what the salt was doing for them was a mystery to her.

Cira noticed a large clump of mushrooms on one end of the room and expanded her sight. What she saw surprised her. It was so far off from the impression this peaceful little town gave her. She lost her appetite and turned to Lomp, suggesting it was about time they continued on their way.

Umon, wearing a genial smile, showed them the way and they headed back to the waterfalls and she took a sample of the water for later, leaving only one more space in her ring. Cira took one last look at the natural beauty of the depths and let out a conflicted sigh, “Hey, Umon, you said a witch came poking around Deep Falls, right?”

“Huh?” The nervous glint in his eyes was gone as fast as it appeared, but it didn’t escape Cira, “No, I was just talking about Silver Lake.”

“Oh, I see…”

“Sorcerer, come on.” Lomp called out impatiently, “We have a lot of ground to cover.”

“Right…”

The two of them walked along the edge of the lake before disappearing down a passageway.

Her guide was thoughtful for a moment before he spoke, “Now that you mention it, one of those witches went missing a few years back investigating the prima mines.”

Cira didn’t know what to think. She didn’t take Umon for that kind of man, but Spatial Sight never lied. Within that cluster of mushrooms was a human skeleton. Then that man had led her to the very same grave. Cira didn’t look back as they left the peaceful little town behind.