To Fly the Soaring Tides

Well over a hundred nymphs buzzed around the chamber Cira had created. She took advantage of any unclaimed expanse of salt that didn’t run too close to their mineshafts and carved out a massive space for them to live, complete with waterfalls for hydration. Cira had half the mind to move there herself if she weren’t burning with desire to see the sun again.

“I sure hope they like it,” She wiped the sweat from her brow, “I wasn’t made to be underground for this long. I live in the sky.”

Nanri chuckled, “Don’t we all?”

She had been practicing making cubes from salt using a staff Cira crafted. It was nothing fancy, but it increased general geomancy better than her old titanium one. Of course, channeling through the same medium you’re manipulating helps with control, hence the salt staff. Basic enchantment like that was easy and could be done by hand—or more specifically with a series of conjured tools.

“How’s that staff working for you?” Cira asked.

Nanri’s face was strained as she finished a cube, “I’m getting the hang of it, but everything is harder with this hanging around.” She gestured to a ball of titanium in the air behind her.

For training purposes, Cira had folded the witch’s titanium staff in such a way that the enchantments wouldn’t break, then rolled it into a ball. It could be unfurled if one was incredibly careful, “Wielding that staff again one day will mean you have passed a test.” Of course, Cira had no intention of turning it back into a staff herself. Additionally, holding the titanium aloft while making all her salt cubes would further increase Nanri’s control—not to mention the benefits of wielding a levitating staff. In short, Cira had not so fond memories of her old darksteel staff.

“Okay then, Nina.” Cira plucked her up with telekinesis and floated her up to her friends before gesturing around the cave, “How about it? Nice place, right?”

The nymph looked none too pleased about floating through the air under Cira’s control. She was baffled, and mildly offended if one could derive that from the doll-like face. Once she was free Nina only hung there in place. She looked around and then quickly grabbed for her hat with both hands to make sure it was still there. After a second, Nina floated back over to Aquon.

“Hey now, at least give it a try!” Cira floated her back over to her friends, “I can’t turn into a real smuggler.”

Nina gave her the classic blank stare for a while, looking between Cira and the other nymphs. Suddenly she flew away, fluttering around through the other nymphs. On her way back she picked up speed and dove straight for the water staff. It caught Cira off guard, and she started pushing back space itself. Nina’s wings flapped harder, and she picked up even more speed, pushing against the force field.

Eventually Nina looked strained and the faint hint of determination on her face moved Cira’s heart, “Fine, if you feel that strongly about it…” She relinquished her control over space and the nymph bolted straight into the hidden jewel of Aquon, which was not so hidden these days. She disappeared with a plop.

Nanri nervously asked, “Is she… inside that gem?”

“Yeah, I didn’t even know you could go in there,” she shrugged, “Makes me want to try. I guess that explains why water’s so easy to conjure with it… I can’t believe I’ve never thought about that before.”

“You mean, there’s just a bunch of water inside there?!” Nanri was amazed.

“I suppose that’s the case. Dad sure liked secrets in the most meaningless places.” She said that, but it was nice making little discoveries like this from time to time. It did open up some possibilities, too. How much is there? Can I draw more in?

“I bet he had something to say about secrets, too.” The witch laughed.

Cira grinned, “I’ll spare you the quote.”

Now that the sorcery was complete, Cira made one last sandwich for the road. They had grilled the worm with a combination of conjuries and thinly sliced it. After packing the leftovers up and making the cookware disappear, they turned their backs to leave.

Whether the nymphs would stay or share the same indignance as Nina was yet to be determined. Even though this was hours of work that could easily have been for nothing at all, Cira still engraved the words ‘Nymph Sanctuary’ into the wall in a few places. On their way out she had Nanri seal the hallway up to look like it did before.

She was proud of herself. “Like that?”

“Well done. And we’re back down to one nymph. Today has been a smashing success so far, let’s keep it going.”

“Right!” Her smile was broad, and she bounced behind the departing sorcerer, “Do we have to take an elevator now?”

“Of course not.” She lifted them up on a pedestal of water, rising above the spring, “We’ll just head back up the tube… if that’s alright with you.”

“Of course,” Nanri dramatically pointed up, “To the surface!”

Cira navigated the amorphous wave at their feet up the chasm and threw a few Lamplights out until they found the pipe from which they came. Fighting against the pressurized current, she finally managed to squeeze the two of them back in. Cira also fought the urge to fix the hole on her way in. The potential to cause problems by recklessly fixing things was not to be discounted.

Nanri held on tight, and they shot up through the powerful current. This time Cira kept a closer eye up ahead. If she saw anything weird at all it was time to stop. Fortunately for her, and possibly the people of Fount Salt, there were no more major leaks.

Time passed quickly as they sped up the waterway towards the top. Cira expected a fork where they would split off to one reservoir or the other and when she detected it, picked a side at random. It didn’t matter which way so long as they didn’t get split in half. Finally, their shields ground against the walls again as they went through a final loop and were deposited with a bang.

Water splashed high into the air and fell over the edges. The girls were shot deep into the reservoir before bobbing back up and coming to rest, standing on the surface, “We made it!” Cira cried, stretching her arms out like a flower.

“Wowwww,” Nanri trailed off, staring at the sky, “I feel like I haven’t been outside in months. The docks just aren’t the same.”

“Cira?!” A startled woman’s voice drew both of their attention.

“Hmm?” Cira turned and smiled, “My, if it isn’t Rosalie. How are you?”

The woman gawked at her, “We heard a loud crash and thought something broke, so we came running…” There were others gathered around now.

Nanri struck a pose with her salt staff, “Just us witches!”

The crowd dropped to their knees. Cira gave her a side-eye, “Why do people always do that?”

“I-I never questioned it before…” She looked conflicted, “Please… Stand up everybody! No need for all that.”

Cira led them off the surface off the water to make the ensuing conversation less awkward. Rosalie had a very anxious look on her face when the two approached, “Ahhhh, Cira, I didn’t realize you were a witch…”

The sorcerer’s excuse was an easy one. She said it naturally like the truth that it was, “As you well know, I wear many different hats.”

Rosalie awkwardly nodded, “Of course, of course… Well, it’s uh, good to see you again. And you’re friend, uh, madam witch.” She gave a light bow.

“This is Nanri, the Titan Witch. She wanted to help out.”

Nanri gave her a little wave, “There’s no need to be so stiff. You’re Cira’s friend, right?”

Rosalie managed, “Oh, o-of course…”

Cira understood her concerns. Her and her husband, and all of their neighbors, were victims of Silver Lake. Nanri hadn’t done anything aside from move metal around downstairs since she’d arrived at Fount Salt, but she still bore the fangs of Earth Vein for all the people here knew. Cira would bet her shiniest rock that Nanri knew some of the witches responsible for the incident, too.

She didn’t see any of that malice in Nanri’s eyes. In its place she saw a yearning to see the world. Or to see whatever was outside the world she knew. It was that spark she saw, that gaze resting past the horizon, which swayed Cira to allow the girl to accompany her to the surface. She knew she wouldn’t be much help except possibly with alchemy. But she was pretty sure Nanri felt the same way. So, who was she to deny her a shot?

“Well, I have a great many things to catch up on,” Cira said, turning to Nanri, “And I could use a bath. Shall we?” She waved, “Send my regards to Chip. I’ve got a ghost story for him if he gets bored, you guys know where to find me.”

They left the confused farmers to their withered corn and walked over to the edge of the platform. From it she could see Breeze Haven and a smile naturally formed. The two continued down the steps, taking a stroll down the various levels that formed Uren. After a short while of ignoring the people parting in the street to allow their passage, they ended up in front of the gate to her yard.

“Ahh, it’s good to be home,” There was a contentment washing over Cira’s body, “Oh! I should check if I have any mail.” She skipped up to the gate and opened her mailbox.

She had a silly grin on her face as she pulled out an envelope. Nanri was watching her, then spoke up, confused, “You live here? I thought you travelled around.”

Cira noticed a city guard running over from the infirmary and quickly pulled Nanri inside.

“Welcome to Island of Breeze haven!” Her golden hair flashed in the sun, fanning out as she did a little spin at the top of the stairs, “My home travels with me.”

“Amazing…” Nanri walked up and smelled a rose hanging into the path, “You mean to say this whole thing flies?” She looked to the far end past the yard, then up at Cira’s house.

“Sure does. I tried to tell you, my dad was the best.” Cira beamed with unchecked pride. “Let’s go inside. I’ll warm up some tea.” She then skipped through a front door which opened itself, pulling the witch along.

Above ground, Breeze Haven boasted a kitchen and a parlor. Of course, upstairs was the helm spire. For now, she led Nanri into the parlor and ran away to the kitchen with a spring in her step. Cira wasn’t sure what she was in such a good mood for, but she was having fun. The only people she’d allowed onto her island since Gazen passed were the odd rescuee, like Chip.

Moreover, she’d never really had someone her age to talk to, especially about magic. Somebody who didn’t irritate her or wouldn’t become scared of her—could possibly even help her endeavors. And to invite such a person into her home… She didn’t understand what all this together meant, but it felt nice.

So, following that momentum, Cira put some tea on and went right downstairs to the library. Nanri saw her disappear and awkwardly stared around the living room from the couch. The walls were a light-stained wood, and one side was all windows. Tapestries and other decorations filled the space. There was a large, unidentifiable egg on display, attached firmly to the ceiling with a thick bar. It had red spots on it—nothing similar had ever come up in the textbooks.

She stopped trying to figure it out and her eyes wandered to a sword mounted on the wall. It was easily as tall as she was, but the grip was that of a dagger, hardly large enough for a single palm. She shook her head, and her gaze landed on a softly ticking clock about as large as her torso with exposed gears.

Is that pure orichalcum?! The witch was aghast, you… you could build another Zero Stratum if you traded that for titanium. You could buy mother’s estate ten times over with that clock! If she stared at it any longer, she would go mad, so she averted her eyes again.

They landed on a beautiful painting of… perhaps the shore of a lake. Where water met land. A tree leaned precariously over the edge and grass grew in the foreground. It’s… it’s blowing in the wind. She noticed a gentle wave in the grass and the tree’s fronds swayed. The woman in a yellow sundress who sat against a wooden fence looked over her shoulder and waved back with a smile.

“Gyah!” Nanri jumped back with a shriek, turning away only to glance back sheepishly.

“What’s wrong?” Cira appeared in the doorway holding a tray in one hand and books in the other, “Tea’s ready.”