The First World Sphere

I used my absolute time spell to set the alarm for an hour before midnight. When it went off, I fed the cats and cleaned the cabin. I told them I would be back after seeing the delve team off. I made my way to the Spire’s first floor. Ullmark was here with his fake smile, getting the group ready.

Talia walked over to me, “High Mage Storme!” She was wearing her delving outfit and looked lean and fit. When I had recruited her she was a little soft, having focused on her studies at the Mage Academy. “Are you going to be joining us?”

I smiled at Selina’s great-granddaughter, “No, I have to work on the Harbinger skyships this morning. If I have any aether remaining, I may try to get on the team.”

Ullmark was addressing the group, “The Progenitor Dungeon has a very easy first level. Consider today your final test on whether you will become a Shiny Platinum Delve team member.” The group of mostly young men and women got serious at those words.

“This dungeon allows six members in at once,” Ullmark continued. “Our goal is to harvest aetheric soil and monsters. The man behind you is High Mage Storme Hardlight. He pays your wages and is responsible for your good fortune in being here today.” Eyes turned and studied me, I smiled back.

“We are making four runs today on just the first level for harvesting, five hours each. Lana will be entering at the beginning of each run to fill her storage with aetheric soil. And then leaving the five other team members. We will be focusing on the rabbits and goats….” Ullmark spent ten minutes detailing the attacks of the creatures.

“Now I will read off the teams:

Team one: Ullmark, Lana, Namira, Kindroth, Lachlan, Delphia

Team Two: Talia, Lana, Sammie, Luca, Zinnia, Lorcan

Team Four: Talia, Lana, Kindroth, Namira, Hadrian, Sabina”

Talia was still next to me, and I congratulated her, “Looks like you are leading the delve teams. Nice job!”

“Ullmark spent hours last night going over the monster’s strength and weaknesses. I never thought I would be the adventurer type, but it does kind of grab you after a while. I recruited Zinnia and Luca from the Mage Academy, and I think they are hooked,” Talia said as the group processed Ullmark’s group announcements and found their group members.

Ullmark walked up to me, to me and Talia. As we discussed, he told Talia, “We will camp out in front of the entrance and make switches every five hours. Lana knows where to bring the soil?” Talia nodded. “Good, let us move out then.”

I asked, “So, are you only using twenty hours of the twenty-three we have?”

“Yes, it gives us some leeway in our switches and to review between delves,” Ullmark responded. “Are you going to join any delves?”

“No. But try to leave me two hours at the tail end. If I have any aether left after working on the Harbingers, I may want to explore the dungeon a little bit,” I added. I watched them all leave. Lachlan, my alchemist, did not look too excited. He was the only herbalist we had, though.

I went to the first Harbinger and got to work repairing the runes. It was not difficult work, just very tedious. It was early morning when the captain I talked with yesterday announced himself on deck. “High Mage Storme!” I went up to the deck to find him holding three large old tomes. “These are the references for the aether cannons, according to Admiral Sebastian Woodcraft. He said you could keep them as they are out of date and the design has too many flaws.”

I eagerly took the tomes and paged through the primary reference. The flaws were easy to notice as they were designed to draw too much aether. The weapons had incredible range, almost twenty kilometers, and affected a large area—the reason why the aether drain was so extreme.

I walked the runic cannons for a fourth time, repairing some minor damage and getting a clear picture of what I read. The cannons had some mods to them but generally followed the text. I put the books away and returned to working on refurbishing the first Harbinger. As I worked, I was reworking the runic cannons in my mind to add a smaller one to the Maelstrom.

The cats bounded around the ship, and after I finished, I made sure to clean up after them. After spending hours below deck, I exited into the bright light of the day. The Maelstrom was not near the Spire, and I asked the captain waiting nearby, “Your ship is finished. Where did my ship take off to?”

“You’ve finished already?” the captain asked with disbelief. I gave him an impatient look. He understood, “The Maelstrom went to land by the dungeon. I think they were loading their harvest.”

“You can move this ship, and I will finish the other Harbinger tomorrow,” I waved at the completed skyship.

“I will move my ship and send someone to contact Captain Gershwin. He is at the Naval Academy, and the other ship is his,” the captain answered, and I could tell he was trying to be as accommodating as possible. He was already calling for his crew to board the ship and prepare for departure. At least the Navy understood my value.

I had used just under half of my aether and could have completed the other Harbinger but would wait till tomorrow. Instead, I headed toward the dungeon. The walk was due north through a woodland that was now part of the property. The trees were young and not overly tall. The leaves varied from a dark green to deep purple. I guessed they were planted in the last fifty years. The path was slightly overgrown with shrubbery but still easy to follow.

When I reached the dungeon arc, I found the Maelstrom parked with the ramp down and the delvers not in the dungeon, lounging inside the cargo hold. Piles of rabbits lay on the floor of the hold, and Lachlan was sorting some flowers further in. Talia sat up, “Storme, the third group, just went in. Lana should be out in a little while with her load of aether soil.”

I looked over the harvest, and the red-haired Namira came to stand with me and Talia, “Fifty-nine rabbits, gutted and ready for skinning.”

Talia added, “We decided to just take the rabbits today as the goats were a little heavy without a porter. Lachlan was showing us the two easiest flora to harvest: the black lilies and red ginger. The petals of the lilies are valuable, and the ginger root is easy to dig up.”

Lana emerged from the dungeon and moved toward us. Talia announced, “Sabina and Lorcan! You are on escort!” A young man with long black hair, leather armor, and a long sword on his belt stood. A dirty blonde middle-aged woman joined him. She had a pixie cut and a scar across her face.

Talia explained, “We send two people with her when she goes to drop off the aether dirt at the farm.” The two delvers left with Lana. “It is a very easy dungeon. It is the easiest I have ever seen—at least the meadows on the first level. The only thing is the rabbits are good at hiding and leaping from their burrows.”

“How were the unihorn goats?” I asked.

Namira answered, eager for my attention, “Easy. They are loud and rush you from a distance. A little larger than expected but not overly dangerous if you avoid the horn.”

“How is she doing?” I asked Talia, indicating Namira.

Talia smiled devilishly, “Namira is a decent fighter and improving. Works well in groups but talks too much.”

Namira’s mouth hung agape, “I do not talk too much!”

Talia rolled her eyes in jest, and I could tell the two actually got along well. I asked about the others, “How are the new recruits doing?”

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Talia pursed her lips, “A lot of them are learning on the job. Most never delved before signing on with us. Ullmark is still having trouble finding porters, but Zinnia is doing a great job as our second healer. She even has a decent aether pool.”

Namira entered the conversation with, “Luca is a good earth mage. A little shy but smart. Sabina has a stick up her ass, and it is easy to see why she has had trouble staying on other delve teams.”

Talia added, “Sabina is not that bad. She just does not like stupid people. She is a good front-line fighter, and as long as the fighter next to her is competent, she does not complain too much.” Talia pointed out the remaining people, “That is Kindroth, our other healer. He has a simple mend flesh spell.” The young man was tall and lanky and resting against a nearby tree. “His biggest problem is his small aether pool.”

“Hadrian and Cesar are brothers,” she pointed at two large young men with shaggy brown hair. “They are a pair of jokesters. Both are powerful fighters and prefer a maul. They are not too bright but can give and take a hit. The only other one you do not know is the scout over there, Delphia.”

The woman young and was sleeping on the grass under a tree. “Is she any good?”

“Very good. But she likes to sleep. If she is not scouting, she is napping.” The lean woman rolled over and looked at us. She was forty feet away and had heard us talking about her? “She has incredible hearing. Probably an ability.”

“Has everyone been tested by Ennet and Wynna?” I asked.

“Yes, they all went to get readings. A few talked to Ullmark after but most did not.” I nodded as that was what Wynna would have advised them to do.

“I am planning to capture a pirate ship with the Maelstrom in two weeks. Do you think anyone here is good enough to join me?” I directed my question at Talia.

“I am in,” Namira blurted out. I ignored her and waited for Talia’s reply.

She gave it a hard thought, “Sammie. The brothers Cesar and Hadrian would be good muscle. Delphia would be good as well.” There was a long pause after those three. “Zinnia and myself. That is all.” Namira punched Talia softly, “And this one if you want her. I do not think the rest would go, or their skills are more suited for dungeons than fighting on skyships.”

“The pay will be one hundred gold each. I will let you talk with them and see if they want to participate. It is obviously a dangerous venture, and I can not guarantee the safety of the participants,” I explained to Talia.

“Some would come just for the gold. I will talk to them. If you pay them so much, then they just might retire and live off the coin.” Talia muttered.

“I would not retire, Storme. You can count on me continuing to be on your team,” the fiery redhead exclaimed.

“Send Ullmark to my cabin when his team comes out,” I said, ignoring Namira’s comment. Adrial and Kiara were stalking through the brush toward the scout Delphia. Delphia looked to be sleeping, but when the two miniature displacer beasts got ten feet away, Delphia sat up and looked directly at them. Kiara used her phasing ability before running onto the Maelstrom. Adrial was confused and ran after her white sister.

I joined them in the cabin after talking with Leda concerning my plans. I worked on making long swords while waiting for Ullmark. I fed the cats when they reminded me, and eventually, Ullmark knocked.

As he entered, his smiling facade faded. “How did it go?”

Ullmark winced, “Lot of bad memories in there. The dungeon has changed very little in the years. Your delvers are coming along. You have one good team and another in training.”

“Glad to hear it, Ullmark. It sounds like you are not going to be continuing on with us?” I surmised by his attitude.

Ullmark was silent, so I continued, “We are heading to Stonefell Island to talk with the remaining Wolfsguard there and the wolfkin women who decided to remain in Skyholme. You did not find penance here, but maybe you can find what you are looking for there.”

Ullmark nodded but did not speak. I went and told Cilia she could take off and pick up Asger before heading to Stonefell Island. We landed moments later, and Asger boarded the ship.

I realized I would have to artifice the Wasp-class skyships being built on the island, so this was my chance to see their progress. Asger went to the bridge while I returned to Ullmark.

Ullmark was still thinking when I returned. “Ullmark, about my plan to take a pirate ship.”

“Huge risk for a huge reward. I think you know how to gauge your risk better than me in such matters.” Ullmark replied.

“But you are not going to participate?” I asked, but I already knew his answer.

“No, I will not be going. But I appreciate you helping me look for redemption with the wolfkin and Wolfsguard.”

The Maelstrom was already on its approach to landing, and we went to the bridge. Cila was swinging the skyship into a massive quarry on the island below. The walls of the canyon had a number of paths and doors. Leda was behind me, “This was used to quarry but was turned into a station for storing decommissioned skyships. They usually strip the power crystals and store them at the far end,” she indicated with a hand.

The canyon opened wide at the end, and only one damaged Harbinger ship and one old trader were there. Cilia asked, confused, “There used to be over a dozen skyships here. Most were damaged, but this site contained the retired fleet.”

I had a decent knowledge of what was going on. The new Triumvirate was building skyships at a rapid pace and bringing all the old skyships they could to the skies, “They have been scrambling to get all available assets to functionality before trade opens. They want to look as strong as possible.”

Cilia landed us near the Wolfsguard living in the canyon’s wall. I thought some of the Wasp-class ships would be here but did not see any. As the ramp descended, three older Wolfsguard greeted Ullmark, Asger, and myself. Everyone else was going to remain on board the ship. “Welcome High Mage Storme. We were told you would be arriving to meet with the mother wolfkin.”

“Are you representing the Wolfsguard on Stonefell?” I asked the small group.

“I am Pakkaem. I am one of the captains. The other Captains are out on patrol.” The lead Wolfsguard stated. I recognized him. He was one of the Wolfsguard that had been at my ceremony with Bleiz.

“Where are the Wasp-class ships being constructed? I was asked to artifice them.”

“I know. They are being built in the adjacent canyon. If you will follow me, I will bring you to the wolfkin mothers.” Pakkem turned and walked toward the residences in the cliff.

The lighting was mostly oil lamps. The passage went deep into the rocky cliffside. The stone was a dark granite, and the passages must have been carved with magic because they were smooth. As we got deeper, there were a number of young Wolfsguard in classrooms being taught. The room we finally entered had a classroom of the youngest Wolfsguard and four wolfkin women teaching them.

The wolfkin had more pronounced wolf features, resembling more of an actual wolf with an elongated snout. The Wolfsguard were half-breed and much more human in appearance. One of the wolfkin stood and walked toward us, “We can talk in another room, High Mage.”

We moved to a smaller room with Pakkem and the wolfkin. I introduced my party, “I am Storme, this is Asger, and this is Ullmark. We all have business here today, and I would Pakkem will remain. How should I address you?”

The wolfkin facial features were difficult to read, “My name? They never gave us names. I was abducted when I was seven. Before then, I was called Jaesmin.”

I asked, “Why did you stay? I thought you were allowed to return to the lowlands?”

Jaesmin growled and lost her composure for a short while, “Some of us could not leave our children. We are—content to remain on the floating islands. What business do you have with me?”

This was much more simple in my mind. “I have taken over the Black Spire and the surrounding lands. There are Wolfsguard on my lands, and I have granted them permission to remain. I am paying them to work the aether field, and I wanted to invite anyone here to join Asger and his community.”

Pakkam looked at Jaesmin and then spoke, “We are content to remain here. We have freedom and have been treated well.”

Asger stepped in, “Our community is mostly older Wolfsguard with maimed younger Wolfsguard. It is in the middle of a woodland, and the High Mage has been extremely generous in making us comfortable.”

The wolfkin Jaesmin added, “There may be some of the young ones that I would prefer not to go through the weapons training. Perhaps they will choose to come to your community when they come of age to make their own decision.”

This was not going as well as I had hoped. I did not want to drop my biggest chip yet, but I did not have a choice. Ullmark was also itching to make his own confession as well. “There is something I can offer. You have been told,” I addressed Pakkam, “That you can not have children. It is not true. The way you were conceived,” Jaesmin growled again, causing me to pause.

Asger was interested to hear as well. “It would be voluntary,” I added. “Two Wolfsguard who wanted to have children. I have control of the dungeon by the Black Spire for one day a week. I would allow anyone wanting to use it for this purpose access.”

Pakkam’s body language had changed, “What is your price for this access?”

“Getting right to it?” I responded. “There is a price.” They all waited on me, “I need independents on my land with no connection to the Triumvirate. I need to maintain fifty guardsmen for my skyship stationed at the Spire. I want the Wolfsguard to help train the guardsmen. If they want to become a member of the skyship crew, I would be open to that as well.”

There was silence, and Ullmark fidgeted. Pakkam and Jaesmin were looking at each other. Finally, Jaesmin spoke, “High Mage, we need some time to discuss this with everyone.”

“I will return tomorrow then. This is Ullmark,” I indicated the man. “He wants to discuss something with you. I am going to leave him here.” Ullmark nodded. “Asger are you coming back with me?”

The old Wolfsguard gave me a glance. “I will remain here to answer any questions they have about the Spire.”

I left them to resolve the issue and return to the Spire. It felt like I had so many things happening all at once. I needed to use some energy, and going into the dungeon for a few hours was exactly what I needed. I returned to the Maelstrom, and we returned to the Progenitor Dungeon.

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