When I went back down to the crystal in the Waygate Nexus, I found a slew of new notifications waiting for me. Most were just letting me know about the success of our repairs, each major part of the work rewarding me a commendation. The last two were a little different. -Warning! Non-standard implementation of Water Control Bypass Detected. Status: Stable. Commendation approved. -Sufficient Commendations collected for Citizen test. Visit an approved Ascension Center to begin the Citizen process. Seemed it had noticed our modifications. Would it have prevented us from turning it on if it hadn’t approved? Worrying thought. The rıghtful source is 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⟡𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵 Now that I had Utility Access, I’d need to see if I could improve the underlying functionality of the system. It was pretty poorly designed. The Citizen status might help with that. In theory, there were still functions locked behind that title. “Anything interesting?” Ari asked from my elbow. I read off the notifications for her, and she nodded along. Then she placed a hand lightly on my elbow. “Shall we investigate the results of our work? I find myself dreadfully curious.” “Yeah Papa, let’s go see the light wall up close,” Bevel chimed in from somewhere on the other side of the floating display, which was no longer as transparent as it had once been. Transparency options had been one of the many locked under Utility Access for some reason. I chuckled, then nodded. Together we loaded on Aeternia’s Shield then departed towards the shimmering barrier in the distance. We chose the direction closest to the Sahevin, since it was both the most important as well as the most likely to have a clear indicator of the barrier’s effect. Xelinda and Bevel both spent most of the journey leaning out the front of the open hanger doors, watching the land slip past below. Considering only one of them could fly, I had to admire Xelinda’s bravery. It clearly wasn’t easy on Xoth’s nerves, as the man hovered near the front the entire time, even if that was the only sign of his discomfort. He'd been standing there ever since Tamrie and Ari had gone up to the observation deck, arm in arm. In the meantime, Inertia and I were working out what all the changes to our infrastructure would mean for our plans going forward. Including how much it might accelerate her plans for visiting her home. “We’ll want to make sure it’s stable first,” I said, gesturing towards the shimmering barrier in the distance, “But if it is, it’ll mean a much earlier trip than we’d been hoping.” Inertia nodded, turning to Tresla, who had her pipe out, and had been pouring smoke into the air for the last couple minutes. Tresla’s cloaked form shifted, dipping as she turned towards me. “Inertia would like to ensure the train is running properly as well. With all this mana, it is likely to have caused disruptions. There is also the matter of the Inferno Drakes.” “Uh, what about the Drakes?” “Inertia would like to bring several dozen of their eggs, as well as two living Drakes to the Forgelands,” Tresla said, tipping her cloak to the side. “She said its because of their exceptional compatibility with Forgehearts, but I personally think she thinks it’ll be amusing to give the Forgeborn pets as stubborn as she is.” “Perhaps she is simply preparing them for her return,” Ari suggested, nodding politely. I glanced to my other side, expecting Calbern to chime in. Except, of course, he wasn’t there. Instead, I met Xoth’s gaze. The older man, inclined his head in my direction, but otherwise made no comment as he glanced back towards Xelinda. We made several tentative plans, or more accurately, ideas that might become plans, not locking anything in since we didn’t even know how well the shield was working, never mind how long it would hold. Soon we passed over the leviathans, who were swimming about with even more energy than usual. Tamrie moved out to one of the observation pods, squatting down, gaze fixed on them as we passed. I moved over, climbing down the narrow ladder to join her. She gave me a small smile, not quite looking away from them. “Might stay a while, if’n it’s safe. For me.” “Do you want them to?” I asked quietly. Tamrie shrugged. “More’n like, I’ll want to head on, once I know you’re all safe. Goodbyes have been said, more’n once. It… there are things to see, and been feelin’ like I’m getting in the way more oft’ than not, as of late.” “You’re not in the way. Whatever is… if you think it’s something you want… I don’t know anything about relationships, I think I’ve mentioned that.” This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. “Possible you have, a time or two,” Tamrie said, bumping me. “My point is, I… would rather have you stay, but not at the cost of who you are, if that makes sense,” I said, leaning on the transparent stone as one of the whales skipped along, held up by nothing but the water at its tail. “And I think Ari and I both have room for you, as friend or… sorry, I’m bad at this.” “Not have’s bad as you might think,” Tamrie said, leaning against my side. “It’s a matter of logistics, in a way, if’n you think about it.” “Well, there’s only so many nights in a week an’ only so many mouths and hands and other fun bits in a bed,” Tamrie said, elbowing me softly. “Logistics means no one’s left behind, if’n you know what I mean.” “Ah, you mean…” I blushed, looking back down and pointing to one of the leviathans on its back, changing the subject with my usual grace. “You’re going on quite the adventure. In a way, I’m almost envious.” “Should be,” Tamrie said after a second of quiet, nodding agaisnt my chest. “Like as not, I’ll see the world in no time. That which lies just off shore, sure enough.” “This barrier holds up, you might not be the only one,” I said, gesturing at the glimmering wall that was rapidly become not so distant. “And won’t that be a right mess. All that fretting and fussing, only to have you popping in on me all the time anyhow,” Tamrie said, elbowing me softly. “Bet you’d be chasing me ‘round on that airship of yours, if you had your way.” “If not for everything else… yeah, I would. Sorry, by the way. About all that,” I said, surprised at how easy it was to smile about it now. Felt like my world had been shattering all over again at the time. Yet it already felt like the worst was behind me. There was still a bittersweet pang there, ‘cause she was still leaving but the sweet was stronger than the bitter. “My fault, more’n yours,” Tamrie said, shaking her head. “Handled you and Ari ‘bout as smoothly as tossing good china in a bag while hoping nothin’ would break if’n I tossed it aside.” “You didn’t toss us aside,” I said, taking her hand in mine. “Near enough, feels like,” Tamrie said, a thin smile on her face, her eyes hidden behind her ever messy hair. “I wanted you to have this,” I said, pulling out a case with one of the storage rings I’d taken from Kallum so long ago. I’d taken the time to rework the crest on it into the image of one of the leviathans, but with the waves behind them in the sort of pattern her hair made when it got caught in the wind. “I promised you a ring. And you know I keep my promises. I know you’ve scribed Spellkey, the code’s scribed into the case. Probably best to get rid of that once you’ve got the code added to your spell. I’ve modified it, so it should be more secure than it-” My rambling was cut off as Tamrie tackled me in a side hug. She sobbed softly against my side as I stroked her hair. We stayed like that for several minutes, silent. Once she was done, it didn’t take her long to recover, brushing at her face for a second before seeming to have a moment of realization. The next, what little moisture had still been on her face lifted away in tiny droplets. Tamrie waved a hand and they dispersed into the air. “Right good I’m getting the hang of this, else you’d have to explain to Ari why you set me to crying,” Tamrie said, smiling as she pulled the ring from its case, turning it over in her hand before sliding it on. “It’s beautiful, Perry.” “Did my best to make sure it’d be worthy of the woman wearing it,” I said, smiling. “More’n like, the woman wearing it needs to be the one worrying ‘bout that,” Tamrie said, so quietly I almost didn’t hear. “You’re going to do great. Just think about what I’d do, and do the opposite,” I said, squeezing her side. Tamrie let out a snort. “That might not work out so well as you’re imagining.” “Maybe not,” I said, attention moving to the barrier ahead. “Looks like we’re about to find out how safe we’ve made things.” Tamrie nodded and we moved up to the main observation area at the front of the ship, where the others had gathered. All along the edge of the barrier, Sahevin were throwing themselves forward. Throwing themselves forward, then disintegrating into charred remnants when the barrier flared. “Think they’ve been doing this since it started?” I asked, not directing the question at anyone in particular. “At least,” Tamrie said, leaning forward. “Rainbow Under the Moon said they were right near knockin’ on his nose afore the barrier went up. Pretty as a pearl, it is.” “Inertia would like to take a closer… and she’s gone,” Tresla said with a musical laugh as Inertia turned and headed down the stairs to the lower deck. “Not a bad idea,” I said, following behind her. “Yes!” Bevel exclaimed, shooting past me and catching up with Inertia right as she leapt off the ship. Together, they skirted along the edge of the barrier to the north. “It seems we shall be going in force,” Ari said, falling in at my side. I glanced back at Xoth, but he shook his head. As did Tamrie, who was running her finger over the ring. Xelinda was grinning, so I nodded to her. A few seconds later, we were falling towards the surface, getting a closer look at the barrier and the Sahevin throwing themselves at it. At first, it seemed to be a random slaughter. Then I noticed a Sahevin in the distance. It was different from most I’d seen before. It had the upper body of a human, albeit with fins and webbing between the fingers, the lower half all snake. It’s upper body was at least six feet tall, while the tail seemed to be at least five times as long, though it was hard to be certain with how many times it folded over itself. I met the being’s eyes, and a chill went up my spine at its slow smile. We’d bought time, but that smile told me that this wasn’t over. A second shield popped into place, pushing the water back. “An Abyss Emperor,” Ari said from beside me, a small frown on her face. “You recognize it? What is an Abyss Emperor?” I asked as it slide back and forth, its thick tail pushing it along as it moved closer. “It is a very rare Sahevin. They only come out during the worst of the surges. A general of sorts,” Ari said, frowning as she narrowed her eyes. “They’re excellent melee combatants. Father has said he wouldn’t fare well were he to face one in combat trapped in a tight space, even as proficient as he is.” “Reassuring,” I said as the Sahevin grabbed a group of nearby Seekers and tossed them closer to the shield, one by one. Each of them disappeared, going up in a flash of light, and it took me a second to figure out what it was doing. “It’s-” “Mapping out the edges,” Xelinda interjected, kneeling down to watch where the dust fell. “Interesting.” “Worrying, I think you meant,” I said, glancing upwards to where Bevel and Inertia were similarly mapping the inner edge. Bevel, completely lacking both fear and common sense, flew straight through the barrier then back in. Not how I would’ve preferred testing if the friend or foe system was working, but at least now we knew. Her little stunt attracted the attention of the Abyss Emperor, who sent a team of awakened to assault the barrier in that location. They all slammed into the barrier when a sudden gust of wind stole their control away. Unfortunately, as I looked past the Abyss Emperor, I was reminded of one annoying truth about the Sahevin.