They stood by the riverbank just beyond the city walls, where reeds swayed in the breeze and the water shimmered under the afternoon sun. A wide riverboat glided silently down the current and came to a gentle stop before them.
Cyren leapt from the prow to the sandy shore with graceful ease, boots barely kicking up dust. "I presume you were successful?" he asked, offering a smile. "May I see the deck?"
Perona handed it over. Cyren inspected it, then tucked it into his coat. "Very well. We as the Brass Hand thank you sincerely."
"…What's next?" Grango asked.
"We'll see," Cyren replied. "Get on the boat for now. We're meeting Jack at one of our portal hubs. You'll be returned to Calyr until further notice- though I wouldn't be surprised if a new request finds you before we dock. We're stretched thin."
The boat was large for a river vessel, halfway between a rowboat and a small fishing craft. Oars rested on its sides, though none were manned. Beneath the benches were fishing rods, empty barrels, and boxes that smelled faintly of bait and river herbs. Aralynn glanced over them with idle curiosity before climbing aboard.
Once everyone was seated, Cyren placed a hand on the prow and muttered a phrase in a smooth, musical language that Aralynn didn't recognize- likely Elvish. The runes on the boat shimmered faintly, and with a hum, it pushed off on its own.
They glided downstream at a gentle pace. Pebbles gave way to deeper, darker waters. Schools of minnows danced below the surface, darting in flashes of silver and pale gold.
Aralynn blinked, her eyes growing heavy. The rush of adrenaline was finally beginning to wear off.
"You should get some rest," Perona murmured from across the bench. She arched her back in a long, elegant stretch. "It's been a long day."
A long day indeed- dust from Jack's horsecart still clung to her boots, and the tension of the casino heist still stiffened her shoulders. While the boat offered nowhere to lay down, Aralynn leaned against the edge and rested her chin in her hand, eyes drifting closed.
- - -
About an hour later, they approached what looked like a simple farmhouse nestled along the riverside. From the outside, it was unremarkable- weathered wood, a sagging fence, a windmill turning lazily in the breeze.
Cyren gestured for them to disembark. As they approached the porch, Jack stepped out from the front door, his coat slightly dusted with hay. Cyren handed him the deck after murmuring something too quiet for Aralynn to catch.
"Thanks for securing the deck," Jack said. "Its misuse could've spelled disaster. That said, I'm afraid there's no time to rest- you've got another job lined up."
Hadarai sighed. "We don't get a say, do we?"
Jack gave a sheepish smile. "Not really. But there's good pay to be made: 120 gold pieces per person, on successful delivery."
"What's the assignment?" Grango asked.
"You'll be escorting a cargo airship- Blue Locust 2."
Perona perked up, eyes gleaming. "We'll be flying?"
Jack nodded. "You will, through Calyr's trade routes. I've arranged a direct portal to the airship docks."
He led them around to a nearby animal pen, now swept clean save for a few strands of hay. He snapped his fingers, and a swirling portal burst into view. It shimmered with icy sky-blue light, sending cool mist spiraling across the ground. The surface rippled like water caught in moonlight.
"This'll take you straight to the upper docks. Look for two contacts: a blue-scaled dragonkin named Celran and a pearl-grey neko named Cozith. They'll be your captain and first mate."
Hadarai stepped through first, followed by Grango and Derrick. Then Perona and Amon disappeared into the portal, leaving Aralynn alone.
She took a breath and stepped forward. The moment she touched the threshold, her senses warped- the world went quiet. For a heartbeat, she was nowhere and everywhere. Then, light- brilliant and cold.
- - -
She emerged into the roar of voices, boots on wood, and sails snapping in the wind. The whirr of magically driven propellers chopped up the air, and envelopes[1] inflated like the soft undersides of spawning fish, their precious contents keeping the ships afloat.
The airship docks of Calyr sat high atop the city's walls, a massive platform of interlaced metal and stone. Spanning the open sky, dozens of airships floated in and out of their moorings. Each one was a marvel with curving hulls shaped like birds or sea creatures, sails and balloons of shimmering cloth, brass detailing gleaming under the sun. Some ships had crystalline engine cores glowing beneath transparent plating. Others had figureheads shaped like dragons, phoenixes, or mythical beasts.
Aralynn blinked at the sight, wind rustling her feathers. The sky was so close here- open, endless. Then, a soft chime echoed in her ears. A translucent system message popped into view before her eyes.
[You have gained enough experience to level up.]
[Warrior Level 3 -> Warrior Level 4]
[Your status has been updated!]
[Some of your skills and abilities have grown stronger!]
[Achievement: To Swindle a Devil unlocked.]
[One mastery point unassigned.]
By the looks of it, the rest of the party had leveled up as well. Aralynn sorted through her notifications. Her health point maximum had gone up, and several of her skills had leveled up as well. However, the two curious factors were the achievement and the mastery point.
[Achievement: To Swindle a Devil]
[You have successfully pulled off the heist, stealing from a high-ranking devil of the abyss. You have now made many enemies, but have garnered renown and respect of your own… Skills Obtained: Devil's Menace, Devil's Sweetness]
Aralynn decided to check the skills later, as Celran and Cozith were still waiting for them. She swiped once more:
[One mastery point unassigned.]
[Do you wish to invest in a mastery? Y/N]
"...Perona," Aralynn asked. "What's a mastery?"
"Imagine that it's a permanent enchant. By investing points, you can move faster, be more dexterous, learn to inspire, enhance your ability with weapons, and more. Leave it until we're on the ship; Celran and Cozith are waiting." Perona looked around for the blue locust, skirting around miscellaneous cargo and crates.
However, the system wasn't done with Aralynn just yet.
[Firearm God wishes to deposit Objection, the Grand Equalizer into your inventory.]
[Accept? Y/N]
What?
[1] The "balloon" part of an airship